Family,

Well... I did get transferred. I am back in Grand Junction! And I am so excited! I am living in the same apartment I was last time... however I am covering a different ward. So my address is once again: 480 32 1/8 Rd. Clifton, CO 81520. My new Companion is Elder Sherman.. He's from Lebanon... Oregon. So NOT the country in the Middle East. He's a good guy and a hard worker. He isn't really liked by a whole lot of missionaries because he's a little strange but I really like him and we get along really well.. I think we'll do great together.
I love my new area.. it covers parts of Clifton, Palisade and the all the "mountain towns" between Palisade and Collbran. I really like it because we a doing a lot of teaching, which makes me feel less homesick, less stressed, less irritated with my companion(whoever he maybe). I love teaching. One bad thing about the Clifton and Palisade area of Grand Junction is that ... it is basically the "ash-tray" of the state. EVERYONE here smokes... every night I come home smelling like smoke... however luckily the missionary I replaced(which happens to be Elder Plunkett, the one that was in Craig almost the whole time I was there) left behind some Frebreeze which I just spray my clothes down with until I can get them to a dry cleaners, or just wash them.
Speaking of suits.. I would love to send you those pants but they are to my suits and I need them a few times a week when we have the meetings that I am supposed to wear them too... so I don't know how that'll work out. However I think I've thought of a solution... Sister Hamilton ... she's in the 6th ward who Elder Englund and I became very close with lives right around the corner from me and would be more than willing to help me out with that... I'll ask her tomorrow when we have lunch with her. But I'll keep you updated. Thanks.

Being so close to the BYU games really hasn't had much effect on the missionary work the only ones who really talk about it are a few missionaries and the members... no one on the streets has said anything to me about it.

My health is doing fine... I haven't had any headaches in a while which is good.. and my retainer is still intact and fine. I am also doing fine with garments and yes I am gaining weight ... but not much I am between 145-150 now.. so between 25-30 pounds gained in 16 months... pretty good.

I am doing great loving my new area and everything right now.

Thanks for everything and I love you all very much. Please take care and know I miss you all.

Your son and brother,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon

Family,

Well,... we moved into our new house on Saturday morning... and after about two hours we realized that .. they have a cat. And Elder Larsen is very allergic to cats... so he cannot stay there. So we've had to do splits ever night so he doesn't suffocate in his sleep. So that's been an adventure.. we think we've figured out what we're going to do. I feel bad for the Olenders because we just moved into their house and now we're going to have to move out again because of the allergy.. so the missionaries here are going to be moving into another family's house in the other ward because they have the room. But it won't really affect me any, because I am getting transferred.

I asked the APs when they called last night about transfers if I was staying "Metro" or "Out West" and he just said "You'll be going on a trip" So I am going back out west! I am so excited I love it out there... The only thing that's not cool about out west is that you can't go to the Temple. But I went a year without going to the Temple I think I can make it.
Also through deductive reasoning (and a few phone calls) I have discovered that I am going to one of three places. The Grand Mesa Zone, in Grand Junction (if I go there I will be living in the same apartment that I was as a Greenie), the Monument Zone, the other Grand Junction Zone (where the Monument National Park is at), or the Meeker Zone, serving in Rifle (that was my Zone when I was in Craig ... so I'll only be about an hour away.. and could possibly go and see some people there) I am very excited.. and from what I hear the work is going very well in Grand Junction. So that's good news as well.
I will miss a lot of members here... but I am excited for a new chapter in my "Mission Story".
The past two weeks here in Highlands Ranch, the work has picked up a bit which is a good thing at least I can say I did that.. But it still needs a lot of work. I'll put it this way... here we were averaging about 9 lessons a week (between Investigators, Less-actives, and Recent Converts) and other places in the mission are averaging around... 20 lessons a week. So its pretty slow here... But like I said its picking back up.

Anyways... I am being transferred tomorrow and I am trying to pack everything I can tonight... always a fun night... not really but its not bad.

Today as a one last "hurrah" in our district... we all chipped in about five dollars and bought some chicken, and bratwursts and are going to a park and barbequing and playing baseball and frisbee and stuff... so that'll be really fun... then later this afternoon I will be saying goodbye to a lot of people and then packing tonight... so its gonna be a busy day... We've been up very late the past three nights trying to get things ready for transfers and the moving situations and stuff... so I am very tired... But I'll be able to (hopefully, if they don't make me drive) sleep in the car on the way to Grand Junction. But we'll... so rest for the faithful.. at least I hope I am faithful.

Well... I am very sorry but I cannot think of anything else to say today... I'm very sorry...

I love you all and miss you.
Please take care. Moroni 8:3

Your son, and brother,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon

Family,

Last Saturday was a CRAZY busy day. We had a baptismal interview at 9 in the morning and I was able to interview him for his baptism... it was funny because I asked him if he'd feel comfortable with sharing his testimony with me... but he said he wasn't ready for that... but then I asked him to share with me the things he has come to know are true and that have blessed his life... so he preceeds (without knowing) to bear his testimony to me.. it was great. I then told him that he shouldn't worry because whether he knows (or even likes) it or not he's got a testimony. He was surprised.. It was a pretty spiritual thing.
Then after that we went and helped a family move into the ward.. we did that for about two hours... that was nice. I love doing something like that where I can see the progress happening before me.
Then we had a lunch appointment with the Jardine's (bro. Jardine's brother is Jeff Jardine) It was fun.. they heard that I like singing and Elder Larsen ratted out that I know how to play one song on the piano... so they asked me to play for them.. So I played Nearer My God To Thee. It was pretty nice.. they have a very nice house and an equally nice piano.
Then we rushed over to the Temple to see the Shannon's be sealed... that was the first sealing I've ever been to. And with it being one where their adopted daughters were sealed to them after they were sealed together was amazing. The spirit was so very strong... I could not believe it.
There was something that Elder Englund said that jumped out to me while I was in there... apparenty a General Authority said that "The two times in your life where you'll feel the Spirit the strongest are your baptism and when you are sealed."
The missionaries who baptized the Shannon's over a year ago where both able to come down from Alberta Canada. And they were BY FAR the most emotional people there. It was amazing. And I couldn't help but think of the families I've taught and gotten to know. The Clarks, Trent and Carry Hill, The McGruders, Everyone... and I cannot wait until I get to see them being sealed for time and all eternity. It'll be the best day of my life.
Then after the sealing they had an open house where we were able to meet Bro. Shannon's family who are not members of the church. Then we went to our dinner appointment... and then we went to a baptism of an 11 year old girl... and we took our investigators... It went really well... I think they enjoyed it.

So ... that was our Saturday.. it was BUSY.. and I loved it.

Then on sunday we went to our early morning meetings with the stake and one of the wards. Went to sacrament, and then we went to a church called Mission Hills... Our investigators invited us to their church... and we went... it was WEIRD! they had a rock band and there were a ton of people with their hands in the air... and they passed around a collection plate and everything.. but the funny thing is this church is HUGE! and they have a STARBUCKS INSIDE THE CHURCH!!!!
They said that first time visitors got a coupon for a free Starbucks drink... but it was fast sunday.... so we didn't. ;)

I'll tell you more about that later.

Other than past Saturday things have been going alright... I'm getting pretty tired of this area... its hard work... we haven't found ANYONE new to teach and the ones we are teaching are pretty "wishy-washy" they aren't very solid... or relilable. .. But I'm trying my very best to do what I can. We're using the ward members even more.... and I agree with you. The members are truely essential when teaching people.

Transfers are two weeks from tomorrow...and we're moving into another member's house on that day too... so whether I stay or not I'll be getting a new address then... so I'll let you know.

Well... thank you so much for everything I love you all so very much and miss you just as much.
Moroni 8:3
take care
Your son and brother,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon

Moroni 8:3
I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.

Dear Family,
It sounds like you had a fun time in Utah. And that you were still able to do some missionary work as well. That's great.

When you were telling me about dad talking with those men and I was able to look at those pictures it really made me proud that I have the father that I do.
Dad, Thank you so much for being such an amazing example of how a father really should be. You've been so great and willing to sacrifice so much of your life for us and I want to thank you and tell you that I love you and am so lucky to have you as my dad and father.

I wish I could have been there to go through Temple Square. I think now if I did that I would have a greater appreciation for all of the history and everything there. I can't wait to go back. In fact there is a couple here that was baptized a year ago and they are going through the temple the first week of March. Well, I've become really close to them and they invited me and Elder Larsen to go through with them. I am very excited. They also want to plan something when I get home to meet them at Temple Square to walk around and see everything because they've never been. I think that would be so much fun.

President Maynes, this past Sunday came to both of or ward's Ward Council Meetings to train them again on the Ward Mission 15 Names Process.. and to help motivate them to use us more and invite their friends. President said that our two wards are the wards he is worried most about in our Zone because the wards aren't using that process.. and the work isnt' going that well there.. he's even told the stake president "I've got my best two missionaries there and I don't want to waste their talent.. If you don't use them I will put them somewhere where the wards will use them." I was really honored that he'd say that about us. It felt like I am doing something right.
The wards had a good response although. One Bishop, who is a very funny guy by the way, was conducting sacrament meeting and during his announcements he asked "where are the missionaries?" it surprised me.. but we stood up. He said for those of you that don't know these are two great missionaries! get to know them and invite your friends to listen to them. It was funny.
I love you and miss you very much but I am so excited to be here teaching. I love when I get the chance to teach.. it makes me so much more happy... I'm not a huge fan of the whole "finding people" but I love teaching. It makes me feel like I'm doing something worth it. So if you could pray that we find more people to teach I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

Please take care and be safe. I love you!
Your son and brother!
Elder Cameron Landon

Love the letters....

Dear Family,

I am glad everything is going well with you. It sounds like you are having a great time going out with the missionaries. It is an amazing feeling to share the gospel with someone.. I love that feeling.

Well, we had a pretty good, week. Not too many exciting things happened. We're still trying to find more people to teach.. this is probably the hardest area I've had so far. But I am trying my best to stay positive.. and happy... its been tough though. The members are great but they are afraid to reach out and share the gospel with their family and friends. We really can't do much more now until the wards FINALLY get the ward mission process working.

I am very glad to hear you are working with the missionaries there because that is the best way missionary work can go forth... is with the help of the members. Its tough here but like I said I chugging along.

I told you several weeks ago about the former investigator that we finally were able to contact. Penny Wilkenson? And I think I told you that when we had our appointment with her she actually invited her neighbors to come as well. David is the fathers name and his daughter can as well. Her name is Krisin. She's 19.
After we first met with them we invited them to come to church on Sunday... Which would have been a week ago yesterday. The day they cancelled church. So we had no way of contacting them to let them know that it was cancelled.
They, luckily, came this week. and we were able to apologize to them for the mishap. They were fine with it. They were only able to stay for sacrament meeting, but the daughter actually went out and bought a dress to wear... she said she hasnt' owned one in a long time.
Both coming back a week after the meetings were cancelled without notice, and buying a dress to come... that's a big indicator how interested she is. Her father was very nice but not really as interested as she is... we are hoping to meet the wife and other daughter soon to see how they respond to the lessons. But I am excited for them... I knew we needed to see Penny... maybe it wasn't for her... it was for her neighbors.
I did get the package. Thank you so much I loved it! It was great... and it couldn't have arrived at a better time. Thank you. The cookies and homemade peanutbutter cups were amazing... Elder Martinez says he loves your cooking... (the salsa, the jam, the cookies, and everything else you've sent.) He's a good guy.

I don't think I've appreciated it as much as I do now. but thank you so much for cutting my hair for all those years... I've done it myself twice now and it doesn't look bad at all (in fact I'm pretty proud of myself... and now the Elders I live with think I can cut hair so I've cut theirs... with Elder Fischer's clippers) but its just not the same as when you've cut it... I really want to do something different with it but there is only so much you can do with a missionary haircut/style.

I have decided that when I get home.. .I am not dating anyone who is not a member of the church or possibly a less-active member.. because I've seen WAY too many returned missionaries who are very inactive now... and it really breaks my heart... and I don't want to be like them... I am not trying to be stubborn or rude to those who aren't active members but I do NOt want that to happen to me. At all...

Yes, you can tell Bishop that thats totally fine that he asked someone to write to me... I just thought it was kinda funny. I always love getting mail.

The weather here is weird... I don't like it... its nice weather but it changes too much... early last week it was in the teens with quite a few storms... and the past three days its been in the 40's and 50's and almost in the 60's ... its wierd.. my body isnt' used to adjusting to the weather that fast... it either needs to stay warm or stay cold. So all the snow is melting and its pretty warm. But that's nice because people seem to be more receptive... sort of.

Happy Valentine's Day, by the way!
The member we live with, Sister Kevan, she is taking all four of us out to dinner tonight. She's taking us to the Outback Steakhouse... Its funny because we keep teasing her that we can't date until AFTER our missions... she just laughs and says she's been lonely for a long time... she is a hoot... I love her so much... she's very funny. So that's kind of exciting.

Well... I love you all so very much and I hope everything is well with you. I miss you so much. Give everyone my love.

Moroni 8:3

Your son,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon