Osage Beach

Hey what's up yall? Well I guess first things first is that I am not getting transferred so that is nice. Second I am still with Archibald and he will be going home after this transfer. Third thanks for the package the ties and reeses and marshmallow bow it was pretty sweet. I didn't get any pie maybe Archibald ate while I was asleep haha! Jokes! Jokes! Well I guess I am okay with where I am it will be for sure the last transfer possible. Plus I got a lot of other missionaries that all are helping me with my ordeal just like back in Arkansas. Well I am not sure what time I am calling? We are eating with Bishop Skelton and then he said we could call or do whatever, but I do not have specifics I will let you know I am guessing late afternoon. Don't take that as a for sure though. Well this last week was pretty good I can complain but I won't haha Jokes! Jokes! No it was fine just kind of the same old same old nothing really anything new. Just seeing people trying to do my best. I guess I'll tell you a quick story. So I was on exchanges with Elder Van Woerkem who is my District Leader he is a cool guy and we have some fun together. Well we went to see a couple of Less Actives up in my area. The first guy has been in a couple of Motorcycle accidents and doesn't have a good memory and is just a nice odd man. Well he was telling us of his dilemma of having to choose which daughter to spend Christmas with. The next guy we visited I have only seen once and he seemed nice but we were running late for the next appointment so we had to hurry. Well this guy comes out and he was friendly but he was also kind of a jerk. He said that they were offended in Alaska and all this stuff. Then he said that the Word of Wisdom wasn't a commandment just a guideline. Then he called Elder Van Woerkem stuffy. So Elder Van Woerkem was like, "yeah I have been a little congested since I got to Missouri" Well this guy was actually saying that he thought he was a an arrogant a-hole in the simplest terms. We didn't have time to tell him that the Word of Wisdom was a commandment and settle his other problems but we said we would come back. Elder Van Woerkem is a pretty chill dude so he was like well that was weird so I can't wait for this less active to meet Archibald. It will be like the Korean War. Did I ever tell you guys that once a week with a Filipino lady who is less active we go over and sing karaoke? We do it with her and her non-member husband I am telling you I am getting good. I sang Under the Boardwalk last time and I killed it, Bishop Lines would be proud. Well that is all I have, have a happy holidays.

Osage Beach

Well hey I don't have a super long letter this week. Wow sounds like everything is going really good around home and 56 that sounds awesome I am not super cold up here I mean I think we are avergaing around 25 or so and it actually is kind of nice I am not going to lie I thought I was going to hate it. I mean I do hate it but its not bad. We had a little snow but not a whole lot so its not bad.

Well things went okay this week, DJ now has a baptism date for the 11 of January and we are taking her cigarettes away from her Friday so here comes the second time she is going to try to quit smoking we'll see what happens. No really cool stories we did go back up to visit the goat people and luckily the snow kind of takes away the smell of the goat but the Goat no longer has a head it has decomposed or coyotes or the dogs ate it. So you have a huge Goat head which is now a skeleton and the body is still there. I actually took a picture of it. Kind of cool right. 

Well I guess that is all I have, just know that I am enjoying myself and the gospel is true. I wish the best for Jordan and Bishop Lines and all of them. Love you guys.

This is how I dress for winter

Yuck...headless goat.

Osage Beach

I am thankful for the atonement, plan of salvation.
I am thankful for thanksgiving
I am thankful for the Holiday season
I am thankful for the Osage Beach ward
I am thankful for ASU chance to possibly be in the Rose Bowl
I am very thankful that they do this when I am on my mission (not really)
I am thankful for Family

The main things that happened this week obviously was Thanksgiving. Well we played football with one of the crazy families in the ward called the Kilpack's and so we get there all and they are all like okay "tackle except for the elders" third play I got tackled and that rule was thrown out the window. We played a good game and it was really fun I haven't played tackle football in a good long time. The rest of that day and the next day up until this day I am still feeling pretty sore that is the most exercise I have got in forever, it was sweet.

Well we had thanksgiving dinner with the Garceau's who are an older couple in our ward and there family. The rest of their family are not members and we went to this house which was an old heat and AC company building. We got there and sat down and one guy put on these four wheeling mud boggin videos and that was like there entertainment. See by this time in my mission this is normal but for you guys are probably like wow that is very Missourian of them. We ate and it was interesting one guy that was part of the family only had one arm the other was a prosthetic and on the end was a hook.

Speaking of people missing body parts yesterday in Wal-Mart there was a guy who was in an electric wheelchair and from probably his belly button down there was nothing there he was just a torso. Crazy Right? Well back to Thanksgiving after the Garceau's we went to the Skelton's he is our Bishop and it was fun we played scene it with his family. Then after that we went to our investigator DJ's house and that was also good. So thanksgiving was awesome.

Yesterday we had a giant nerf war in the church with the Camdenton, Lebanon, and Eldon elders we played for like four hours. I had to act like a zombie and eat people as they ran around and shot me with all the lights off that is what we do for fun on P-day's. Well that is all I have for ya guys. I am sorry to hear about the baby but it sounds like everything is good. Keep it up family talk to you in a few weeks. I hope I don't get transferred.

Osage Beach

Holy smoke everything seems to be really happy and awesome.

I am grateful that I can grow facial hair
I will be grateful that I will return to ASU where they allow facial hair
I will be grateful when I can start growing facial hair again and not have to shave
I am grateful for a new baby on the way
I am grateful for the new website thing that Parker just shared
I am grateful for thanksgiving
I am grateful for the gratefuls they are entertaining
I am grateful for Stake conference and dead goats (I'll explain)

Well yeah that is cool that Sis. J called you guys yeah she is just a sweet old lady and she loved me because I come from the homeland of Arizona. Stake conference took place in the Civic center in Lebanon because it is big enough to fit everybody. Well big news is that they split the stake out here. We were the St. Roberts stake and now we are the St. Roberts stake and West Plains stake so it was exciting. We had two seventies there one of them was Elder Bowen and he gave a very good talk that I loved. He said "Is there one person that you know that could benefit from the gospel?" Most everybody raised there hand and he said easiest thing to do is invite that person to family night. He then committed everybody who raised their hand to work on that person/family I thought that was really cool and we talked to a few families and they said that really impressed them and they were going to step forward in faith so that was good. But going back to Lebanon was sweet to see some people from the ward and old investigators it was fun.

So Katie is having a baby hooray they both better be able to say my name when I come home. I think it is going to be a mexi this time it would only make since right? Jokes Jokes Jokes! Nah I have no idea what it would be but that is awesome. It is weird that Thanksgiving is just a couple days away es Loco! We are going to the Garceau's and spend it with their non member family which will be fun they are all pretty crazy so it should be good. I'll get you a picture.

So about the Goats; so the C's are recent converts and we went there to drop off some food for them for Thanksgiving because they live in a shack and have no running water and they have 22 dogs and most of their money goes to buy food for the dogs and they eat one to half a meal a day so we delivered food to them. Well one of their goats just passed away the big goat his name is Spock. He probably weighs over two hundred pounds and he has already been dead for four days. Sister C has a knee that was turned inside out because one of her other goats head butted her so she walks like Dickie Bennett from Justified and Brother C, his left arm doesn't work it dangles off his body like a dead fish. So both of them aren't really physically qualified to get rid of this goat, but their idea was that they were going to burn it, but it died right next to their shack so they needed to transport it to a small clearing with a bunch of wood that they had so they can burn it. Well I lovingly volunteered us to drag this goat about 20 to 30 yards away so they can burn it. We walked over to see the damage and the smell was pretty bad a nasty already smelly goat when its alive has now been dead for four days and man I couldn't believe it. Archibald wimped out and wouldn't go 30 feet near that stupid goat so it was all on me. So what do I do...I put the team on my back I grabbed the goat by a small chain around its neck about a foot and half in length, and I start dragging that SOB. remind you I am in full proselyting gear and it has been raining so I am slipping in the mud and fallen leaves and Archibald was still not helping. Sister C was helpful enough with her limp that she helped the best she could she lifted the hind legs as best as she could and we dragged it the 20 to 30 yards to its new resting place. The entire time I am dragging this thing I can smell the decaying death scent coming off of it and it was bleeding from its mouth and every once in a while it would get on my shoes. Archibald still wouldn't go near it. We finally got it to the destination and I was so sick that we said a quick prayer without having a lesson and we left. The entire drive home I could still smell that goat. It even overwhelmed the smell of cigarettes that I had on me from our previous person we visited which is a miracle in itself. Well now I realize that a miracle has taken place. I should have thrown up at least three times during this experience but I didn't which goes to show you that Heavenly Father has truly blessed me. I am also blessed that I don't have to smell this thing when they burn it (maybe). Maybe next time we go over there I might be the one burning it,who knows? Well that is the big story this past week good one ain't it? I was pretty pissed at Archibald that day he didn't come near it and made Sis. C help me out but I was patient and didn't say much but I think he could tell.

Well I am glad that everything is going good for you guys it is so jolly this time of year for everybody I think. It snowed a little yesterday nothing crazy but it is getting really cold and I am excited but not looking forward to it. Well I think that is all I have for you guys this week. I am grateful for my life! Thug Life!!!! 4 eva!!!! Yeah, I just hold my head high like Tupac. Elder Heywood

Osage Beach

(The Heywood Family has a group text every day in November where they each name one thing they are grateful for. We sent the cumulative list so far to Luke this week and he replied with things he is grateful for. We could list MOST of them in this blog...maybe not all of them were blog appropriate.)

I like the grateful thing most of them were pretty entertaining I like that. So I gathered a list together:

I am grateful that in this crazy town I have investigators
I am grateful for Elders Babb and Martin they are my boys
I am grateful for Missouri, Arkansas less grateful for Oklahoma and Kansas
I am grateful for the loving family at home that always seems to support me
I am grateful for President Shumdog Millionaire (Shumway)
I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the amazing changes that come from living it
I am grateful for the repentance process and the opportunity to become like our Heavenly Father
I am grateful for Jesus Christ and his Atonement and Plan of Salvation
I am grateful for the Book of Mormon
I am grateful for the life and oppurtunities that I have been given to make my Heavenly Father happy and to be happy myself and to have family, friends, companions that make me happy.
I am Grateful for friends they are the best.

Well that was kind of fun I like that idea I try to do that every morning and night in my prayers and it feels good and then if I have a good day then it grows and if I have a bad day then I say these things and it makes me feel better about where I am, Who I am with, and the people I am teaching.
This week was good and bad but I'll focus on the good The investigators are doing good and we are working hard and I think patience and sincere is paying off and I am really excited about the holiday season and everything it is fun to think about. Our small town out here goes bananas for Christmas the park in the town (only park in a 20 mile radius) has a Pretty big light display and it opens up after thanksgiving and it looks really cool. Not quite like Temple lights but close. I wish we had a Temple that would open up somewhere in our mission so we could have that opportunity that would be so cool. I wish we had a temple in our mission but not yet the Lord will give it to us when we are ready and that is why I am here to prepare people to go to the temple so all in good time. Well things are getting less crazy last week and the one before were very crazy but things are settling down so I am happy. I think we are going to have a baptism in the beginning of and mid December I am keeping my fingers crossed and that will be DJ and her daughter N.

You asked about P day well this last week we were with the Camdenton elders and we went to Ha Ha Tonka state park which is just a little place where you do a small hike and screw around. There is an old castle there and we had fun playing Knights Tale in there (ha), but apparently you are not supposed to climb and play in the castle we didn't see the signs, but yeah we were told to get out. It was fun regardless. I see Babb and Martin often not this past pday but the one before that they came up and hung out I love those guys they are the best.

Well it was so good to hear from you and all of you.
Elder Heywood

Osage Beach

Elder Babb and Martin came up P day and we had a good time; gosh I miss that guy he is so funny and he is with Babb who is my other favorite person. So that was good especially after the week we just had. This week was better but it is getting very cold and I hate the cold. It was supposed to snow yesterday but we got lucky but it will be snowing pretty soon. Fall is kind of over and there are no leaves on the trees which was super cool because we don't really have fall back home. This week was pretty good we found a couple of less actives people who are good people just live about 50 to 60 miles away from the church and aren't very wealthy to begin with so they just can't make it to church but they are pretty cool guys and they have nice families so I hope we can influence them to come back to church and have them receive the blessings of going to church and progressing further so yeah some good stuff. We have been doing a lot of less active work and it is going fairly well. The problem with the lake is that when fall started everybody moved out and now if we go out and try to contact people they are all gone so that is a problem and there aren't a lot of people over here to start with, unless you go back into the hills where the inbreds eat you. So I guess that will be our next plan of attack; teaching blue hill people haha just joking we are not supposed to go to Ivy Bend. Well as DJ is back out of the mental hospital and they took her girls away from her so that sucks and it just makes it more complicated for us to teach her and her family. So just another speed bump and what not. Just try to maintain some optimism and do what is right that is all I can do I can't make choices for other people. You know what I am kind of excited for Thanksgiving even though it won't be at home, I am still just excited. Six flags huh? I bet that was really fun, don't worry it sucks for me but I know when both Parker and Jared were on their mission they got the same letter and all of that stuff. So I'm not bummed at all in fact I don't like riding roller coasters at all there is nothing fun about riding strapped into a seat going 80 miles an hour on a big track that does flips and spins and stuff like that. Who would want to waste their veterans day doing something silly like that? You guys missed out I got to go to Target and read gun magazines then I went to eat lunch then we played basketball at the church. So in reality you guys missed out I think I had the more fun veterans day. Cold Missouri weather vs. sunny California weather hah! you guys missed out and the Temple you mean that awesome beautiful building where we do sacred ordinances that are just awesome and you feel so good. Yeah don't know how that would be spiritual uplifting? Seeing someone besides me on their mission yeah have fun with that. haha Just kidding it sounded like an awesome weekend. Well momma bear and family I love ya.

Osage Beach

Yep I am still in Osage West and still with Archibald so fun right? They are splitting our stake here in Missouri so that will be interesting it will be happening in two weeks and who knows what happens except that I will still be in the farthest north place in the mission just workin and chillin and what not. Well this week was interesting and I am going to tell you it was pretty rough. But before I go off and ramble how are you guys doing? How is everybody in the family I just get little snippets here and there just from everybody. Football is done for Chris how does he feel about this last year it sounded like he did good. Dana usually sends bubbly Dana letters, sounds like everything is good. So I went on exchanges twice this week with the District Leader and Zone Leader which is good it gives me a break, but DJ our most promising investigator went crazy and that is no fun. She has a slight pain pill addiction and she ran out of her prescription early and so she was trying to drink her pain away and she is also on anti-depressants so me and the Zone Leader go over there for a lesson and she flipped out and was talking about suicide luckily we had some members with us and Sister G talked to her for a long time and we kind of sat there after we left I told Elder Gregory "well usually it doesn't go like that" so we left. Well that night her daughter that we are also teaching called us to say that she is in jail. She flipped out again and hit her and her youngest daughter called the police so they took her in and then she was put on a psych evaluation and now is in the mental hospital for like 5 days. So it has been super fun dealing with that; her daughters are okay except for the youngest one she was shook up pretty hard. We have some good members that are helping them as much as they can and we are trying but dang... So that was the big thing that happened this week. Other than that a less active member who died so that is no fun and we are dealing with that but his family might come back I don't know we are seeing them right after we finish emailing. On the bright side this week we have found a couple less actives that actually want us to come back so that is kind of nice right and I didn't get transferred and Elder Babb who is still in Lebanon is getting my MTC companion so I'll get to see Elder Martin a little more. I am kind of excited for that. Later

Osage Beach

Well sorry I am in Camdenton today. This week was pretty good. By the way Happy Anniversary; one of my investigators J, had his anniversary this weekend too. He has had the same girlfriend since seventh grade and they have been living together for 3 years I think. They are still not married haha yeah I think it will be a while. So I heard Chris got pulled up to Varsity; that is pretty awesome. Sounds like from Dana's letter that everything is really good; I also like the story of the less active lady bearing her testimony I thought that was classic fourth ward. Also good for Thomas pumpkins in the pool, genius. Well as for my week same old, same old, we went looking for a lot of less actives I think it was Thursday that we went up to Stover which is in our area but it is pretty far especially with a mile limit, but I think we drove about 130 miles that day just trying to hunt some people down and did fairly well. We met two guys that are both less active and one of them has a throat cancer and he goes into surgery this Friday so we are going back this week but when we were talking to him every other minute he would spit up a nice pool of blood into a dish, mmmmm. They were nice guys though. I also saw my official dream house this week and I have said that about three people's houses but it was this one for sure it was beautiful I am going to buy it someday. The only thing is I didn't take a picture of it I was like "ahh geee wiz" but whatever I know where it is now. Our investigators are still the same just trying them to overcome smoking and blah blah blah it will happen next month fa sho. If I don't get transferred the calls this week I hope I stay I really like this area but I have never been in a area for more than three months maybe I'll break the curse this time around at least I hope so. I guess another thing that is cool is that Fall is upon us it won't snow until the middle of November at least that's what the members say, but the leaves changing are awesome I'll take some pictures. All the yellows, browns, reds, and purples are pretty cool. Well I am sorry I don't have much to say but that is all I can think of. I am sending pictures though they are a thousand words per pic at least that is what I hear.

Osage Beach

Well this week was pretty good kind of the same as last week a lot of finding and trying. About the documentary I have to watch it first to make sure it is appropriate because Elder Babb and Woods came up to our area and sometimes we can get a little crazy but I so it should be coming next week sometime. You asked about others, Logan is in Mexico he says he hasn't felt more out of place but he says he has a good comp and he is having a good time. Nelson is doing good he just left his first area and he is in a really nice place so he is excited. That is about all I know bout them. Things are going good here since we only have two suburbs and they probably only consist of like 15 houses we go country road tracting which is a dirt road that has trailers so can't really promise much about being visiting sketchy people, because they are all over the place. Don't worry though I won't go down to Ivy Bend which is a magical place where every rapist, murderer, and meth head in Missouri gathers. The police told the elders before us that they shouldn't go there unless they have a police escort and even the police themselves don't go there unless they absolutely have to. So don't worry I will stay away from there I have only been out there twice and that was twice to many. Well it is getting tough out here I hate cold weather and it is getting colder with every day I hate it. I am going to shoot myself when snow starts falling. Investigators are doing good still kind of stuck with them: Dj is still struggling with smoking the two daughters are just still not sure but they are reading now so it should be getting better. J is still struggling with Word of Wisdom and I don't think marriage is happening anytime soon. So... yeah... bummer. Brother N who is less active with a part member family got out of jail and has a good job so we are going over there more which is better and I am super glad something might come out of that. That is about it. Yeah a lot of work to do. Sounds like everything is good and dandy at home. Seth is awesome, a temple is going up, Stephen is going to leave for his mission ( I am actually pretty close to St. Louis) and life moves on. I am happy for ASU brother Howell keeps me updated. Have a good one family.

Osage Beach

Well it is very hard it is really weird I don't know why but if feels like everyone is dying I am so sad that Grandpa is gone there are so many good memories that have been shared with Grandpa. I also have some bad news Rick the guy that me and Elder Babb were teaching he passed away Sunday morning. Elder Babb called me up and he seemed super bummed. Rick was the old crazy guy that loved us and we would go to his trailer and he would watch Ellen before we could talk to him about church and stuff he was the one with four toes. Yeah so the weekend was pretty sad. I am sorry I don't have my Bolo I left it in my trunk back at home. President Shumway shared with me a scripture it is Alma 40:10 I believe it talks about the souls of the righteous and how they will dwell in paradise. It might not be verse ten but it is around there. Well I am doing pretty good I guess I'll tell you about Archibald he is nice he says I am pretty chill and that it is a pleasure serving with me. He has about 3 months left, just doing our best to find some people in this small town to teach we are kind of running short on our teaching pool since we dropped a lot of people. This week we invited J one of the people with a date to be married that went pretty rough he exactly doesn't have a huge desire to be married I think but he has been living with this girl for like who knows how long. A long time I'm sure so that was kind of crazy. DJ is doing okay still smoking but she loves us and the church we started teaching her oldest daughter as well and that is going pretty good so hopefully some good will come out of all of that. Conference was really good I feel like there was a huge focus on Repentance and doing our duty and bringing in any less active, part member, potential, Investigator that is out there. My favorite talk was Eyring in priesthood session he talked about how the Bishop would call him up and take him out to visit people in the ward and they would kick the beer bottles under the couch, or they would send the kids to answer the door because the parents wouldn't want to talk, and stuff like that. It feels like that for me every single day but he said that he felt that it was more for him than those he taught and I feel the same way with every rejection and slammed door we get in our face it is sad but that only helps me in a way. Even Christ was rejected and he was the greatest teacher that the world will ever have. Not saying that I am even close to Christ but I feel like I learn to love people better with every rejection kind of weird but that is how it feels. Well that is basically all I have this week. Best wishes to everybody back at home.

Osage Beach

This week was pretty good a lot has happened well we have officially two baptisms set up for November second. J who is the man and DJ we are teaching Dj's daughter N but she is still not sure she just needs to read. I have a pretty funny story for you this week at least its funny to me I hope you guys enjoy it. So I was on exchanges with our District Leader Elder Montano and we were teaching J the Word of Wisdom because he has a few minor problems with it. He was pretty ecstatic about the whole thing; I told him the first step is to remove all temptations and right then and there he got up in the middle of me saying that got all the beer from his fridge and gave me his tobacco and said here you go. After we said a prayer and finished up he was looking at his Busch Lite and was like "oh s___ what have I done" but we comforted him and then we went outside and opened it all up and dumped it in a dumpster. He was doing pretty good for the first couple of days and then Saturday his mom was getting married and at the reception he drank...a lot he showed up at our door a little after 6:30 A.M. on Sunday right as we were getting up and was like, "yep I turned into bad J last night" We said that it was most likely gonna happen and that he could still overcome it; well after talking to him he took us to the diner close by and bought us Biscuits and Gravy it was sweet then he went home got dressed and came with us to church. As for other news elder Horlacher is getting transferred and I am getting Elder Archibald who I know a little. As far as other people we are seeing DJ and N are pretty good it is going to suck getting her to quit smoking she goes through a pack when we are teaching her not to smoke, I guess it is better than crack. N just needs to read and she will commit to baptism and DJ's oldest daughter who has gone through a lot actually wants to talk too. This last week she was free from work and school so we taught her the Restoration and if we keep meeting her consistently then she will be baptized too. So good things are happening. Again why is everybody dying the news about Jake is a bummer. I swear I don't think I am getting that old why is everybody dying it is strange. So Brother Howell keeps me updated College football wise he is a bigtime fan so He knows that he needs to give me an ASU update. I am glad about Wisconsin and I had a little more hope for Stanford I predicted the loss but not by that much that stinks. Seems like they had a really rough game I hope they bounce back though I still have hope. Yes! everybody in Missouri smokes, drinks, and has awesome beards. Brother Stokes in our ward has a glorious beard it goes down past his chest. I am going to have one just like it. Jesus had a beard so can I. Sorry for emailing on Monday again we are hanging out with Camdenton elders again. Elder Heywood

Osage Beach

What up family okay I am sorry I told you guys I would never email Mondays but I am in Camdenton for the day so I have the oppurtunity to email on Mondays because their Library is open on Mondays. The baptism went really good I'll send you a picture it was a good bunch that are in it with me. To be honest this week was a little crazy first part of the week we had exchanges with district leader then a day later we had the Assistants over for an exchange and then two days after that the Zone Leaders came out with us for an exchange so a lot of running around but it was all good. So J is going to be baptized Nov. 2 he one of our investigators he is a really cool guy later this week we are going to go hiking with him. He is doing good just needs some time he needs to be married and stop drinking both easy things just have to get the deal done and all that stuff. Dj and N are our other investigators who are going to be baptized they are both girls one is a mom (DJ) and the other is her daughter. They are pretty set to go the mom just needs to give up smoking which will take some time, but all is goods in the woods. Notice I didn't say hood because we don't have hoods up here just woods. This last week I went to a Jamaican restaurant with my companion and one of our zone leaders elder tateouli (not quite sure if I spelled it right) we had a good time they had a few legit jamaican chefs that came out and talked to us. The dude was straight out from Jamaica and his favorite artist was Boys II Men and Backstreet Boys. Nothing wrong with either band but it caught me off guard I thought he was going to be reggae all the way but I was wrong. Another interesting thing is that we had the Laurie Hillbilly fair this last weekend not going to lie it was pretty lame it was like the Houston Carnival but for an entire town and I am pretty sure more people show up for the Houston Carnival. My companion Elder Horlacher bought a cane he is kind of like Chris when Chris was really obsessed with brief cases but he buys canes and hats and some other stuff, but that makes it all the more better being with Elder Horlacher. So I haven't told you the last couple of weeks I keep forgetting but something awesome and amazing happens about once a week. We have this guy in the Ward named Bro. H just a normal down to earth guy and he has had surgery so we go and visit him and what not. Well the guy and his wife have five monkeys and we go in and teach then we say whats up to the monkeys. They are capuchin (not sure if I spelled that right) but they are sweet and only one of them is mean. The most of them wear diapers and a few sleep with them. Oh man it is crazy but their house is really nice though it smells a bit like..... Well I think that is all I have for now. Peace

Osage Beach

Hi there Momma Bear everything is going good our baptism for T is this Saturday I'll send you a picture you'll see what a true Missiourian looks like. Yeah Logan is in the MTC I got a small message from him and he seems to be doing good. He told me that the Gospel is true and like every other MTC missionary that means that he is enjoying for reelz. He said his companion is a little odd but we are all kind of odd. I was so sad to hear about Katie I read her email before yours and I was excited beyond all reason then very sad but I can assure you that all my prayers are going to be focused for that little baby. If it Gods will that it will live,it will live. And Kimberlee now that is weird where do these random weird illnesses come from and why do they keep happening in my stomping grounds? Well I wish the best for her. Things are starting to wind down season wise here in Missouri it is still green and warm but I can feel it in my bones and to be honest even though I hate the cold this will be the first time I ever live in snow so I am kind of excited but two weeks into winter and I'll probably be complaining. Trees are not really turning yet but it sound like near the end of September they all fall victim I can't believe we are in September and almost halfway through by the end of this week. So things are going good in Laurie I have the feeling that I will be here for a long time but anything can happen. Most of our investigators are pretty non-committal so we are at the pivotal moment of dropping the lot of them and finding newbies in a town of 900 which can be hard. Only few are progressing. T will be baptized and confirmed the only problem with him and his wife (who is already baptized) is that they live about 50-60 miles from church and their car is a piece, and all the members on this side of the lake aren't the kind of people who have the time or money to pick them up so we run into problems there. Others are J who is a nice guy and he likes to learn but I don't think he has a real desire to be baptized I think he is learning just to learn. Then we have DJ and N. DJ is a girl and Naomi is her daughter and they are doing good and probably our best chance of joining but DJ has a very bad habit of smoking and I think it will be hard to crack her habit. I personally think if the daughter goes through with it that will be the best chance we have so wish us luck on that. But those are all the ones who we are keeping as investigators. So talk about the biggest miracle of the week Dad watching a TV show I never thought I would see the day. The end is surely coming soon! haha Jokes! Jokes! but really that is strange. Oh and the dude you are thinking of with the limp is Dickie Bennett he is also Daniel Faraday on lost but his role as Dickie was better. Well that is all that is happening with myself, the church is true and peace out!

Osage Beach

So I am sorry I am writing Tuesday but tomorrow is very busy so we chose to write today. Basically I will write any day of the week except for Sunday and Monday those are the days the Library is closed.

Well this week is good we have a baptism coming up for the fourteenth and his name is T he is the one who lives in the shack and has all the dogs and goats and cats and whatever else. He is a very quiet but nice fellow and it will be cool to see him baptized. We have just been visiting a lot of people and trying to do our best. This last week was the only week where I would have agreed that is was hot, but it wasn't AZ hot. I just hated the feeling of being sticky especially dressed up in Missionary attire it bothered me but oh well. So this last week since I wrote... we had a Zone Conference Elder Ellis the area seventy spoke and it was very good and as always very inspirational; missionaries need that every one in a while.

After the Zone Conference we ran out of miles to drive the truck so we were forced to walk to where ever we went and it just happened to be the hottest week in the year. So we walked and visited our peeps. There are a few people that are pretty promising and hopefully will be baptized soon. We have the P's who are a young couple that are really nice. S the girl is very nice but shy and J is a real character he reminds me of someone but I can't seem to remember who it is... Well they are doing good they are just busy like a young couple always is and we need to get them married and all the good stuff like that. Piece of cake, the good thing is that they don't have terrible word of wisdom problems like the other 98% of Missouri. Whhhoooo Hoooo. Well the other Investigator is DJ who is a girl and N her daughter they are pretty promising just encouraging them to read. She unfortunately has a smoking problem but we will work with that. Also we have to find them a ride to church because they don't have a car so a lot of work to do but it is easier then getting the gopher out of his hole.

With the holiday the lake was crowded yesterday just as it is on the weekend, we tried fishing but had no luck. But on the weekdays especially early morning the lake is calm and just trying to torment me. Well it has been good. I'll catch you guys later. Logan goes to the MTC tomorrow. I think Colton gets his call this week. Well lot going on. Peace.

Osage Beach

Well this new area is pretty crazy everybody around is pretty nice even though they don't talk to us. Within weeks you can meet everybody in the town because there is only like 900 people. I though my last two places were small towns. Well the boat races were pretty sweet I wish I took pictures of all the boats they were crazy awesome. The most expensive boat was like 5 million dollars 250,000 of that was strictly in the paint job, it also had two helicopter engines that powered it. I know Dad would have liked to been there to check out the boats and all their hardware.

Well everything is going good like I said we have 5 active members on our side of the lake so we are desperately trying to get less actives and investigators baptized. We have a few promising investigators and investigators. Nobody wants to drive into Osage Beach to go to church. They don't realize the blessings that they are missing out on and they honestly don't care so the fun begins.

Some crazy things happened this week we cut down a tree for service at an investigators house, but the problem was they didn't have an chainsaw, axe, saw or anything. All they had was a blunt hatchet that we couldn't sharpen, some wedges, and a hammer that you pound nails in around the house and the tree was good size. So we found a rope tied it to the top and I had Elder Horlacher bounce up and down on the rope while with I small hammer tried to pound these wedges in. It sucked and after two hours it came down. This week I also caught 8 roosters with two little kids, because one of the members in the area wanted them so he could eat them. It took us a long while to get those buggers. I will also be participating in the slaughtering of these roosters. Also we had a recent convert who wanted the sacrament at her house so we brought it to her, and we did it outside because their shack was too small. Outside they have eight dogs, numberless amount of cats, and 3 goats. So while I was kneeled down blessing the water. I had Goats coming up sniffing my face, cats trying to steal the leftover bread, and two dogs sniffing my back end and the other six barking. They were thankful and I guess they felt the spirit somehow because it was nuts.

Elder Horlacher is good just kind of quiet but he is a nice guy and I am enjoying my time working with him. Once you get him talking he is pretty funny. Well I sent you a letter yesterday. These older people in our ward are kind of obsessed with me because I am from AZ and it turns out that I am related to them and they invited us over and showed how we were related. It turns out I am also distantly related to Elder Horlacher and the Prophet Joseph Smith. The letter explains it better, but they are nice and they helped us out with the genealogy.

Well that is mostly it for this week I do love this area it is a pretty sweet place and I am having some good fun. Well Peace. Can't wait to slaughter those roosters it is going to be a good chicken fry

Osage Beach

Bass Pro Shop Deluxe



Luke & Logan in Lebanon Missouri



View of Lake of the Ozarks from Mission Leaders House



Osage Beach

Well hey howdy hey what is up everybody? Okay so a pretty big change. The library up here is closed on Monday's so I will be writing either Tuesdays or Wednesdays, most likely Wednesdays, Tuesdays are kind of busy. I am only writing today on Thursday because we ran into some trouble yesterday. One of the lady's they just baptized up here; her and her husband have been having car trouble the registration is three years expired, it has a leaking brake line, and the road to their house is so rough that a tire gets flat about once a month. So we helped them almost all day yesterday. Sorry I wish I could have come and said I'll email you tomorrow or something I know how you freak out about these things. Well Leaving Lebanon was a bummer things were going good and me and elder Babb were just having a blast. But all things must come to an end. I'll send you pictures of our departure they were pretty good. Well so transfers I met up with Horlacher he is a very nice kid. He loves yu-gi-oh and vanguard and stuff like that. He wants to be a video game designer. He has flaming orange hair. And he is awesome he is easy going and you can work with because he is fun to talk to. So I like him a lot and we will have fun. So about the area it is pronounced exactly like it is spelled O, Sage people in Missouri aren't the smartest so everything is pronounced exactly how it is spelled, one town near by is Versailles and they pronounce it Ver Sales silly right? Well we live in Laurie so not in Osage we have one big ward and we have four elders that share it. The Camdenton Elders, and the Laurie Elders, Us or Laurie is the more beaten down redneck side of the lake. We have 4 active members on this side of the lake and a lot of work to do. That is why they split it up is because the Osage elders wouldn't venture up into our neck of the woods unless they had too. We live about 30-40 miles away from the church building so that kind of stinks, but oh well I love it up here and Yes! it stinks looking at the lake every single day but awesome. By the way, look at Lake of the Ozarks Shootout its like the biggest boat race in North America and it is happening Saturday everything is getting pretty crazy all these rich guys are coming in from out of town with these huge speed boats all ready to race in the shootout. So crazy story I am at church meeting everybody and then some guy comes up and says I heard one of you is from AZ. Every ward I have been in there has been people from AZ but no one that I ever knew or knew someone they knew. He comes up tells me he lives in Mesa and then I start to talk to him a bit about AZ then he looks at my tag and says Heywood. HuH? Are you related to a Parker and I said Yep! that man is as mean as a snake! not really I said he is my brother then he said that Parker was in Montana and he had Filibertos with him a few weeks previous. I guess he originally comes from Missouri but he lives in AZ currently. So that was pretty cool and then he got a pic with me and that is where that comes from. I really like it up here it is beautiful our ward mission leader, Brother Howell is a cool guy, and he has like my dream house I'll show you a pic. It is up on a hill overlooking the lake and you walk down like 50 yards and you are on his dock on the lake. That lucky dog. Well it awesome. So we got a lot of work to do getting members active working with the investigators. The one lady that we helped with her car her and her husband live in a shack, probably the size of our family room, they have goats that live in a beat up mobile home behind their shack and they have twelve dogs that bark every time you drive up, and one that as you walk nips at your heels I hate that thing. Well she has a hurt leg because one of her Male goats rammed her and broke it a while back so it is kind of messed up. it is interesting on this side of the lake. But I love it here, I love Horlacher, and everything is good except for the fact that I am not with the Babb. Well I'll send pictures now and don't call Pres. I will email most likely Wednesday of next week. Your Son

Lebanon

Well today was a pretty good week a lot happened and I'll try and remember all of it because right now for some reason I am really tired. Well first of all Sharron was baptized, I am sorry I forgot my camera with pictures but I'll try my hardest to remember next week to share those with you guys. It was a very good baptism, Bro G who is Sharron's boyfriend baptized her and pretty soon I'll think they'll get married but we'll see I guess. We had a few investigators at the baptism a lady named J who we just met a couple Sundays ago she is a nice lady going through a tough divorce so we are helping her out as much as we can. And no other than R and R, R is the jolly old man that looks similar to Santa Claus.

 

So everyone we worked with got baptized and now we have a whole lot of new people that just appeared this week to be taught besides our usual investigators. Lebanon is a truly blessed place. There are a few less active people decided they wanted to come back so that is good one is named R I think I mentioned him last time but maybe I didn't well he is a younger guy in his 20's and he wants to come back and he is pretty cool. Then this other guy who we are meeting this week he had a huge battle with cancer I guess so he is now starting to get back on his feet. Some other people we have J who I mentioned above once she gets over the divorce and gets all that stressful junk off her mind she'll be ready. J who is 18 or 19 and is a non member son to a guy in our ward. He is kind of like he is smart and communicates though has some kind of aspergers or something, but he is reading the BOM and Gospel Principles manual like a savage. We haven't spoke to J lately, the guy with CP we saw him a couple weeks back and he still was having physical problems. R and R are as Jolly as ever just being R and R. So that is all that is going on around here.

 

The weather isn't bad really nice actually. It is not very hot and I don't really feel the humidity is so bad; everybody exaggerates it and says its the worse but it is nothing like working in 115-120 heat nothing. Actually we have had a lot of rain lately;I think we have had 5-6 days of straight rain and there has been some flooding especially people who are kind of outside of town. They can't get somewhere because of flooding or their basement is full of water so that has been crazy. So far everybody in the ward is not affected by the mass amounts of rain.

 

The bad news about this week is that I am getting transferred it feels like I just got here which sucks. But I am heading up to Osage Beach which is on Lake of the Ozarks and everybody is telling me it is a cool area and I am excited the only problem is I leave Elder Babb who is the man and my new companion to be is Elder Horlacher who I know kind of. Whatever it is all good because I am still in the same zone and I will see Babb at least once a month. Well I think that is all I got for you guys.

 

Everything sounds great at home school starting everybody getting back to the normal thing I bet Katie is excited that she is not going back to Kino and she gets normal kids. Well tell Seth to keep getting more chubby and in case I don't see you again good afternoon, good evening and goodnight.

Lebanon

Man sure got your hands full. School, Norwegian Kid, Dana in Norway; if anything got more crazy I would have to say that you were living in Missouri. It was awesome to see Logan I enjoyed that so much. Sorry about the phone I couldn't hear a word you guys were saying on Statton's phone, but I could hear crystal clear on Megan's phone so I talked to Parker. Again I'm sorry but you understand right? It was quite fun. Yeah Colton has his papers in and I think he will be going to Japan. That is my guess. So it will be interesting to see exactly where that old boy goes. That is cool that Thomas knows the politics and economics about his country. I think that our youth should know that stuff instead of who Justin Bieber is dating or when his next haricut is. You know learn something that matters.

Well our week went by pretty fast; the entire thing is going by pretty fast. On the thirteenth it will be my six month mark, crazy right? S the lady who smoked and had to be postponed is scheduled back for this Saturday. It will be good she will be able to officially quit this time she has got that kind of desire to do what is right. This week we have been working with some less actives we have been running into them in random places like Wal-Mart or on the street. Which is a sign that we should help them out. One guy named R is a pretty cool guy he is about 23 and works at a local country radio station even though he hates country music, but he is funny and a normal person. In Missouri you don't meet to many normal people.

As far as other investigators they are doing good. Slowly yet surely it will happen. The best that we visit is still R the jolly old man that looks like Santa Clause. We usually go over and he is watching Ellen or Jerry Springer so it is pretty funny because he has bad things to say about both of those people. "She is Queer" and "What a Smuck." So we enjoy that for a little bit and then we start to teach and usually get about half way into the lesson or a principle and then he interrupts and he spends the rest of the time about a recent problem in his life. That is usually how it goes but surely he will be in the water I don't know if I will be the one but maybe down the road.

Another cool thing is that A's 9 year old son now wants to be baptized. After seeing his Mom be baptized and the change and blessings that come with it, it was only a matter of time. So we went over there and taught J. He is a very nice kid, a little quiet but he is pretty funny. He likes the Wii Michael Jackson dance game. So he all about Michael Jackson. Elder Babb found the Michael Jackson greatest hits CD in Wal-Mart and bought it for him.

One more thing we went into Springfield Tuesday and guess what I got to eat HuHoT!!! Oh and it tasted so very very good. The end results were also very extroadinary as always but well worth it for the meal. Another interesting fact the Bass Pro HQ are in Springfield so we had some extra time and we checked that out. It is like 5 Bass Pros put together it is sweet.

Well keep on going on. Remember to also stay classy.

Your Son

Lebanon

Elder Babb took out my stitches we didn't have time to go to the Hospital.

Sounds Like everything is awesome and crazy but I guess once school starts it will settle down or speed up who knows? Dana should have an easy year if she lets it be easy only she can stress herself out senior year. How is Chris and football Jared is telling me that he is getting pretty big and he was already almost taller than us when I left so good for him can't wait to hear what happens.

This week went by pretty quick the bad news is that S who was supposed to get baptized this last week slipped up and had a couple drags of a cigarette she then called us and told us she was sorry and felt really bad so the baptism will be postponed for a couple of weeks. Good news is we have a few more people we are seeing they are all old people. So hopefully we can bump up our ward age average to 80 instead of 75. I am just joking we do have a ton of older people in our ward and older people and youth are the best ward missionaries because they are not afraid and they care about their friends and stuff so we get a lot of referrals for other older people. It is swell we hear a lot of interesting stories and they are just so nice so I am not complaining. A is doing good she seems to be getting along very well and yeah we still go and see her and answer questions and such so that is nice. I am trying to think of anything else happened. Well I guess that is all I have. Love you guys see ya next week

Peace.

Lebanon

What? A kid from Norway? And I don't even get to meet him, come on? Of course this would happen. First Arizona starts snowing once I'm gone and then all of the sudden a kid from Norway is living in our house probably going to be sleeping in my bed, and I don't even get to meet him. What's next Hell freezes over? Whatever that is really cool just unexpected and really fast.

I heard about Savana's baby I do hope everything goes well I know I will be praying for the little guy. I'm sure it will be fine.

Well this week was good as always I am glad to be in Lebanon, Transfers are not for another three weeks or so and If I had to guess they are keeping both of us here again, but then again I do not know anything can happen.

The Highlight of the Week is that A was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She was excited and ready to get dunked this time. Elder Babb performed the ordinance in an old 70's style baptism suit, (looked kind of like Elvis). It was very good and we were both very happy.

Also Saturday we had a pretty good rain storm it flooded the streets and blew over a tree that took out our power whoo hoo. Its all good now but that was a little bit of excitement.

As for the rest of the week just going around trying to see people mainly nobody is home or answers the door, but that is just part of the job especially in Missouri. We did happen to catch R who is the guy with a few toes that sued his daughter and we went and watched. We mowed his lawn in the trailer park. Well anyway; their housekeeper/ Nurse lady we talked to and she seemed a little interested in the church. We went back to R's a few days later and they said that she was asking about us. So who knows at this point maybe we'll have something out of it. Every time we go to R's its in the afternoon and he and his wife are always watching Ellen and he doesn't like Homosexuals so he'll always say something like, "She is as queer as a 4 dollar bill" it makes me laugh and think of Dana (who also loves watching Ellen). So R doesn't like that she is a lesbian but he thinks that she should be a Christian because she gives away free things to the audience and he thinks that is awesome. So going over to his trailer is always fun. He believes in everything we say but I don't know how committed he is, but we will find out. Oh he also told us that because of the Alien crash in Area 51 that is how we have all of our technology now. Of course good ol' Missouri nothing like it in the rest of the world.

Well I think that was everything interesting for this week. You'll have the Norwegian kid and Jared at home and Seth every other day and now that he is 1 he'll be a rascallian. Sounds like you will be pretty busy. Promise me that you'll give the exchange student a nice time take him to the lake and give him cinnamon toast crunch, and take him shooting. You know all the good stuff that AZ has to offer. "Well in case I don't see you again, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight."

Lebanon

Wow I read about twenty emails all about Jackson Hole I am going to be honest it was pretty hard to get through all of them and the pictures I miss that place so much. But Oh well I only have to endure that torture one more time.

Well everything was pretty good this week I felt like we were pretty busy with all the baptism stuff and getting stuff set up. K the girl who just got baptized is not the one who hates me; that girl is already baptized and she says I'm okay now. K's baptism was good I'll send you pictures I brought my camera stuff today.

Elder Babb, K and Elder Heywood

The next two weeks will also be baptisms both girls no guys. So far S is doing really good with the smoking she is holding strong. She gets cravings and goes through withdrawls but she handles them like a champ and we just keep telling her like 14 more days and stuff like that. She reall has a strong desire to be baptized it is pretty amazing to see.

A is the one who backed out last time and she is this Saturday; she came to Katilyn's baptism and we talked to her afterwards. She was really excited and really comforted because I think she understood better the covenants she was making and how it was going to bless her life.

I also found out something kind of amusing we have a very old guy in our ward he is like 80; everyone calls him Norman the Mormon well we were at his house for dinner and he has some family somewhere in either Safford or Thatcher. Well he told us his mom passed away this last year. She was 101 and she was like a big deal when AZ had it centennial she was like one of two people in Arizona that were there from literally the beginning.

Other than working with the three people now two being baptized not much has happened. Oh we had a Zone Meeting and we were already on exchanges with the our District Leader Elder Buck Nasty A.K.A. Buckley and we drove down to Houston which is where they are stationed and they live with members on a farm, so because we missed fireworks we had our own little show that was a pretty good time. We threw firecrackers at each other and I have like three burn marks now.

Other than that I am doing good I'll send the pictures now Elder Babb is still awesome and yeah. Peace

Lebanon

Well I didn't know sis Shumway called you I thought that was only for big stuff. I guess you already know but I have three stitches in my nose and I couldn't be happier. That was part of my Fourth of July, we went with some other elders to the Fort Leonard Wood Base Bash. Which is the local army base nearby and we were having a gay old time every single one of us went to Wal Mart earlier that day and bought some America Gear. Well basically on the base it was a big carnival with inflatables kind of like the Houston Carnival and they were having an Army man talent show. Where people would go up there and perform there were some that rapped, played the guitar, and one sang the Hunchback of Notre Dame song he must have been the weird one of the group. Well anyways we were having a good time and we were in line for the obstacle course when I went I was going through pretty fast trying to beat the course record. I then slipped and came down on my fist and then I got up and started running again when I looked down I saw blood and I was like "wow been a long time since I've had a bloody nose" when I came out of the course the others were waiting and they were laughing and we took some pictures. We went over to the food stands to get some napkins and I cleaned it up a little. Babb asked to see it to get another picture and when I took off the napkins he just kind of went "ooohhhoohhffffff" and he was like you split your nose. The other elders looked and all had the same reaction. They showed me a pic and it was pretty gross not like running over your foot with the lawn mower though. Well we went to first aid but since I was not in the service they said they couldn't do anything so Babb drove me back to Lebanon to the civilian hospital and they stitched it up and we missed fireworks. Stupid. Although it was still kind of fun but its all good now it didn't really hurt the only part that hurt is when the doc gave me a shot to numb my nose that hurt but everything else was mild. Well that was my Fourth it was alright.

Ow!

Can the Heywood boys escape the emergency room on their missions?  NO

We have a baptism this weekend for the 9 year old girl we have been teaching. That will be fun she is one of those crazy out of control funny 9 year olds that just entertains you by whatever comes out of her mouth. Kind of like Dana.

Also more good news another investigator has now officially given up smoking and has been clean for 8 days so keep your fingers crossed on that one. Other than that everything is good as grapes. I am just havin a dandy time out her with Babb. All is good and well and gravy. Well Peace Muchachos




Babb has all the pictures I will have him send them to me

Lebanon

So I guess the first thing I got to address is the meeting, because it seems that it was quite a big deal which it was. A whole lot on members stepping up and finding people for the missionaries which is great because it is the best way to do missionary work. Even though knocking on doors is so fun. Ha. The bretheren did say some great things in that conference and it will be interesting to see how everything will play out. I already know it will be fantastic because when a prophet of the Lord speaks and tells the saints to go out and do; well the saints will surely go out and walk the walk. That is the great thing about saints whohooopeee!!

Anyways beside the fact this week was bangin as always. A has a new date. C a 9 year old girl we have been teaching just finished the lessons will have a date. R says he knows it is true and he hasn't even started to read the Book of Mormon, but  I will wait to tell you if it all goes well because  people are unpredictable I learned my lesson from crazy people in Arkansas. RJ is coming along but we haven't been able to see him lately he has been busy. It seems really weird to see them together but when you talk to them and hang out with them; they really are a good couple which is weird but whatever tis all good. J is still kind of the same I think he will come around, and that is how our peeps are doing.


As for Elder Babb and I we are swell. Elder Babb had a little speed bump the doctor forgot to fill up his medication for his insomnia so he didn't sleep a lick in like three days, but it was all settled and now he is back to sleeping 3-4 hours a night. I can't remember if I told you that he was an insomniac but he is. So when I go to bed he will usually stay up and write letters, read, or play the guitar. He is pretty good at the guitar he writes songs and he played me a few a couple weeks ago.

Well well so how is JH is seth just watching tennis or is he out there conquering the world by red headed storm? Man I really wish I could go to jackson just for a couple of days. So Chris, Dad, and Dana are coming up who else is going to be joining or is that the whole gang? Are you guys going to be celebrating a late birthday for Jared? Let me know if you guys do anything new and cool up there this time. Oh I think you will see a bunch of trikes up there. They have two wheels in the front and one in the back and you lay down in them and pedal. I don't know why but they are kind of a big thing now. We rented a tandem trike and I think I would have rather just rode a regular bike but it seems like everyone is going trike crazy.

Well that is all peace to all and have a good time in the Hole.







 

Lebanon

Well it has been one good week so good I can't remember anything from my week ha just kidding. We have a Baptism this Saturday for a lady who used to be a JW actually but she was inactive and a guy named Bro Price who is just one of those wonderful old guys who likes to share the gospel with everyone referred her to Babb and Houston and they taught her and she realized that this was the truth and the way she needed to go. So we are preparing for that it should be pretty good. Her family also has a ranch and horses I think a good service opportunity awaits us there.

Oh and Brostock yeah I knew that was coming we were contemplating whether to go or not, but it is out of our area and most of it occurs on the lake and it is more of a party than a wakeboarding competition so we didn't go I don't think the Osage Beach Elders went either that is the area that is right on the lake. They did tell me at Zone Conference that Saturday they were doing service at a Fishing tournament on the lake they called out boat numbers then helped with other stuff. I'll ask if that went well, but yeah it would be pretty cool to go to Brostock except I don't think a lot of missionary work would get done, just saying.

I got a story for you so our investigator who has cerebral palsy and a  guy in the ward named Doc. Morter and he is hard of hearing so he talks really loud and that is just his normal voice. Bro. Morter is about 70-80 and is a convert and he is pretty intense. So J has been having a few problems with the church mainly because of the pastor that gave him anti stuff to read. So we go in there try to clear the air when Bro. Morter took over and he talks pretty loud normally, but when he wants to get a point across he practically yells so I am sitting there in the middle of this between a guy with who I can't even hear and old Doc Morter who is blowing out my ear drums it was kind of hard not to laugh, but I kept it together. Moral of the story is do not mess with Doc. Morter he'll rip you a new one and that is basically doctrine. It was great but we'll go over and see J again and see how well he survived.

As for the rest of the week not to much happened we taught our usual investigators, we had a zone meeting, and yeah that is most likely it. I don't know if you heard but on the 23rd of June there will be a world wide missionary meeting intended for everybody in the church. But we don't know exactly what it will say but the rumor is, is that the apostles want to get rid of missionaries finding people and they want to put that responsibility solely on the members, because that is the most effective way, and that the missionaries in the ward our mainly just the Bishop's tool to teach these people. So it is going to be a big deal Crazy Insane Dope.

Dad said a lot of Sisters are coming into the Gilbert Mission well that would be good for Dana she would love going on splits with them. Your girls camp idea seems good to me. Sisters always have trouble in the MTC we gave like all the sisters in our district blessings like 3 times to each one kind of ridiculous, but its cool that they are willing to serve. Well that is it Peace

Lebanon

Well all sounds good. 

I wasn't hit by any tornadoes this week, just heavy rain storms is all. I like the storms I think it is kind of cool especially coming from Arizona when you never see anything like it.

A little bit about my week I now visited all the investigators that we have and a lot of them are ready to go or really close. We had a baptismal interview for A the other day she is a single mom and she is really cool so it will be awesome once she is baptized which will be in two weeks I think the fifteenth. Some other people we have is RJ who is a sixty year old rough and tough man who has Ostrich skin boots and he is engaged to a 17 year old girl in the ward. It was super weird when I first found out, but now that we have been over there they are a pretty good match for each other. We are teaching an older guy who has cerebral palsy.  Some pastor gave him anti stuff so last time we visited we had to clear up a lot of things. We don't bash on other churches stupid people just need to give it a rest those dumb nuts. Last serious guy we have is seventy and his wife; they live in a trailer of course because all normal people here do (that was a joke). But this man is just funny he is Pentecostal so he is loud and proud and yeah that explains and he ignores his preacher and lets us in because he thinks we are good Christians which we are so he is a pretty cool guy just a funny old jolly man kind of like Santa. Well all those people are our serious investigators and then we see a couple recent converts like a 13 year old girl who doesn't like me because she had a crush on Elder Houston who went home and I replaced and a couple less actives. One guy who I can't understand a word he says.  For the most part you can understand some people but him I can't so I nod my head and agree with everything and look like an idiot. Its like on that one Seinfeld episode where they don't understand anything that girls says except Kramer so they nod and agree with everything then they find out they volunteered for something outrageous that is what I feel like. That is basically my week it is good and it is just so awesome because a good companion just take a whole lot of stress and everything that comes with it out of the picture; so I am happy.

Siloam Springs

Well Hello there everybody, Elder Heywood is doing okay. I'll start at the beginning of last week: Monday we drove down to Praire Grove for a zone dinner held at Brother Battles house that is when things got crazy and the big storm rolled in so I was not in Siloam Springs. When Tornadoes come the clouds are like a weird yellowish color super cool but I was bummed about the tornado though I missed.  It touched down in West Siloam which is the Oklahoma side of the town and another one started to form over Wal Mart but never touched.  When tornado storms hit it gets super windy and trees look like they are doing the limbo because they are bent sideways and a lot of trees were uprooted. One tree fell through a guy's house and we did some service to help clean up but the tree was still in his living room.

Well I am so sad to leave Siloam Springs I love that area and I am super bummed I had to leave and move on with my life. Transfers happens though.

Elder Babb who I met and I absolutely love he comes from Portland Oregon and he loves classic rock, is very good at the guitar and he is really funny, but normal. Lebanon is a lot like Siloam except because they don't have a college near it is a bunch of old old people. The average age in the ward has got to be like 65 or close to that. I am enjoying it here mainly because Elder Babb is entertaining. It has only been the first week so it will get better it always does. Sorry about not emailing Monday it was Memorial day and yesterday was Zone Conference so I am getting it done today.

So I talked to Brother Ellis who is my favorite guy in the ward so far who works at the barrel factory they only have 45 and 53 gallon barrels and they cost about $800 so I don't think that is happening. Sorry. Well, what we have been doing is just preparing a few people for baptism who Elder Babb and Elder Houston prepared. Elder Houston went home and he is from Mesa Stapley and Southern I talked to him for a little at transfer point I wish I knew him better. Elder Chriss who was in my last district is from Gilbert and I told him if he wanted to call and talk to you guys that would be cool. I think his family is on vacation right when he got home, but in a month or so if he calls I told him you would probably love to hear from him.

Well that is basically it so far. Love you guys and I'll catch you later.

Tornado Update

Thank you to all the friends and family who have texted and called with concern.  Elder Heywood is 194 miles from Moore, OK.  He is fine but our prayers are for the people in Moore.  He wrote early this morning before the tornado had hit.  I am sure we will learn more next week. 

Siloam Springs

"Well hello there" I am doing awesome. Some things have transpired this week that make me sad and excited. I am getting transferred and I am going to.... Drum roll please.... Lebanon Missouri. I haven't heard a whole lot from Lebanon except that there is a lot of dairy cows and they make good cheese.  It is a lot like Siloam and that as service the missionaries shovel manure every Friday.  The last one is a rumor. I also hear there is an old fashion barrel factory there, where they make wood barrels that you can ferment wine in. Bro. Migliori wanted one; do you guys? I'll see if I can get a hold of a couple. I am serving with Elder Babb I know nothing about the guy. I guess he is funny and kind of a goof, but I am not sure if he is like me that would be ideal because I am a goof I am just not an over the top goof I guess. Well I won't know; until I know and I am very excited about the news. However I am grieved because I do like this part of the country I do love the Siloam area and the families here like the Wheelers, Hublers, Palmers, Miglioris, and Fitzmaurices they are all the people that I have built good relationships with.

This week we were having some success we have three kids in part member families that were all really close to getting baptized it was just a matter of teaching the last lesson and getting an interview. Also we had two investigators that we finally committed to coming to church Gabriel and Morecio (and family) but now I am going to be leaving and I will miss it. Elder Bunch felt really inspired to work this week and guess what happens when we work hard. Shiz happens. Whatever I am just glad that I get a break. Wednesday, we were on Zone Leader exchanges and Elder Pope came down. Elder Pope is a huge fan of the great Jackson Hole Wyoming he has a friend who has a cabin up there and he goes up there frequently I was super excited and he is an awesome guy and wednesday was my most productive day even though it was in a downpour hooray. Well the week was good and the work increasingly got better then to end the week I got transferred. Bummer. But I am super excited for my new area and it will be a good experience. I am going to miss the Spanish Elders in Springdale I got to be good friends with those guys and it will really stink when I can't see them weekly. Well that is the big news I don't have to much more to say I should be sending home all of the Siloam pictures in the next couple of weeks.

To answer your questions...the wilderness safari is a pretty cool place. We have no Tornadoes in this part of the country if we do they are only weak like a 1 or 2. I guess in frontier times Indians were fond of this part of the country because it was blessed from natural disasters not saying that it is true just saying what I heard. Up in Lebanon they get some pretty crazy storms so I am excited, but Oklahoma and Kansas take the cake when it comes to tornadoes. Hey give this piece of info. to Bishop Lines the members in Siloam love going to the temple they drive about three hours to go to Oklahoma city temple.  We have some old ladies that go once a week and have a hard time paying for anything else like groceries but they get to the temple. I know the temple people have a certain process but a temple in Rogers, Springdale, Fort Smith, or even Joplin would be a great place for a temple. And if you want to get a little crazy just build one in Siloam Springs it would be awesome. Well that is all I have to say I know I didn't talk a lot about stories or anything like that because my mind is kind of elsewhere.

I am excited for Lebanon and ready for a new start. I can't believe about the Peters kid that is just awful but I always get comfort from Alma 40:12 best scripture ever. Chad played on my volleyball team I wonder how he is holding up in Spain; that has got to be super stressful and hard on a mission to not get home for your brother's funeral.

Peace love all

Siloam Springs

Well, I am going to try and clear something up about the question you asked. Everybody around here is very nice like I said it is like the Music Man town and it doesn't matter what religion you are as long as you are from God's country. When religion does come up between friends it gets a little heated and turns into a "your wrong" bash session, but they drink another beer and they are friends again. A lot of people will talk to us they just won't believe what we have to say because they are too hard hearted. That is the main reason why we don't have a lot of help from the ward because they are afraid of talking to neighbors and friends about their salvation. I understand but people are willing to listen you just need to give them a chance and having people from the ward invite their friends to take lessons their is an openness that talking on the street doesn't get you. A few families in the ward are really helpful Migliori's, Hublers, and Wheelers. The Wheelers have us over every Monday for dinner then we have family night and we try to get our investigators there and we read a chapter from the Book of Mormon and discuss and that is really helpful because having something like that inside a members home is just begging for the spirit. I think I want to do that when I come home have the missionaries and one of there investigators come over once a week for a lesson or something like that.

Well this week was really interesting and a lot happened so I will try to do my best to get everything. In Gentry seven miles north of Siloam a lady owns a wild wilderness safari. It is a mini safari where you drive around on there 400 acres and look at animals it was pretty cool. They also have a petting zoo, I'll get you some pictures, but Brother Migliori knows the people very well he actually raised a female lion, wolf, and an emu for them. Me and elder bunch had some fun.

We taught a lot of restoration lessons this week very short and to the point with a bunch of people at the door. It is a new thing we are trying and we have been given a little bit of feedback but not what we hoped for. Our usual investigators are the same as last week they love us to come over and they feel the spirit they are just not willing to make the commitment yet.

Saturday we ran the 5km our zone leader elder Pope came out really big and overweight he has really committed himself the last year to exercising and eating right and he has lost 80 lbs. The 5k was his idea and it was very fun we had the zone do it and we all wore Mormon Helping Hands shirts I wore a beanie so I could do Rocky at the end of the race.

Later Saturday is when we went to see one of our investigators, we sat down and he gave us the usual spiel about it is a shame and we are leading people astray and that we are doing the devil's work, but we had hope for him. I asked if Elder Bunch could give a prayer and he said "I guess if you want but what you are doing is not right you might as well pray to that stereo" Elder Bunch must have had it and he asked him to stop harassing us, and then Boom the Book of Mormon we gave him a few weeks earlier zoomed past Elder Bunch's head and flew into the wall.  He yelled, "that thing is BS" except he said the word and then he flipped out and said really really bad things Elder Bunch got out of there in a hurry I picked up the Book of Mormon he threw and stood at the doorway and tried to say sorry, but he said, "get out of here before I throw something else at you" I was scared because the guy is crazy he told us story about how he has shot people. If he had a gun he would have pointed it at us and threatened us for sure I hope he wouldn't shoot but he is crazy so it could have been a possibility. So that was exciting and really scary the man sincerely wanted to kill us.

Yesterday was great though it was nice to see you guys and Seth and we were at the Taylor's for elder Bunch to skype then the Migliori's so I could skype and we could eat then we went to the Hurts and visited with them for a long time. We got permission to give them the sacrament so we did that with some tortilla that they had. That is the week it was fun.

I forgot to mention the 5k was in fayetteville "Hog country" well that is basically all I had to share.

Siloam Springs

hahahaheyyyhey. Well where to start; a lot happened this week. First of all I got to be part of History. It snowed May 3rd and it has been the latest snowfall in Arkansas history. I took a couple pictures that I'll send next week. About the whole skype thing I am really not too sure, but what happens happens. Everything sounds great from home. I wish I could go to the lake.

Well this week was kind of a struggle of course all the investigators we had are just inching along at the slowest rate possible. We go over twice a week and just sit there and encourage them to read and pray, read and pray, read and pray and when we go back they didn't do it so we read and pray with them haha the Gospel will triumph. We also need to get all those hootin annies to church that is another chore in itself.

Everybody seemed to blow up about stake conference which sounds good, don't worry about sending the notes grandma and Dad already took care of that. Dad said that Roberts talked about the slow changes of the world and such. That has been discussed on and off with everybody we talk to here. Since everybody here is a bible scholar they all hate what the world is coming to these days, and we sit there and agree and talk a little about that. Even though they hate Mormons and think we are devil worshippers they do respect us for staying constant with are beliefs.  We then tell them well it is what God wants us to do then they pull out their Bible and try to explain that Joseph Smith is false. Fun Stuff right? hohoho.

Well I got an interesting story we were at an investigator's house teaching a lesson and it is the guy that is going to like every church in town and he told us a story when he was a bible salesman. "I was selling bibles and I was going through the neighborhood on my way out of the neighborhood I saw one more house and I went and knocked. A man came out and offered me a drink of water I tried to sell him a book but he said, I already know what those are." He then told me about heaven and what it was going to look like and I could just see perfectly what he was talking about and how little boys were going to be riding lions and playing with them." He then looked at me and Elder Bunch and said "it had to be God! it just had too." Well I am not sure about Elder Bunch but I was just amazed and about to laugh. I came up with a couple possibilities of the true interpretation of this story. 1) It was a lie. 2) It was true. 3) The man was on Acid or Shrooms. So that was my story for the week and it was weird but somehow we were able to make it a half-way decent lesson.

Saturday the ward had a Star Wars Party; it was a decent turnout at the Migliori's we had Alligator Gumbo, Pizza the Hut, and when it got dark we played with light sabers and had a ceremonial burning of Darth Vader. It was a good time and probably the highlight of the week. I am so glad I am out here everyday is an adventure itself.

Well Peace.
Elder Heywood

Siloam Springs



He does look a bit bigger!



No more Tornadoes unfortunately although we are officially in tornado season. The siren sounds like what you imagine when a nuclear bomb is coming down its loud and it plays at the community building which is only like a quarter mile away from our apartment. It sounded like someone just put an air horn to my ear while I was sleeping, but instead of being angry I ran straight to the window to see if I could see it. I didn't bummer.

Well to be honest this week went by a little slow we got see our important people but all the others we just could not find them home at all. The one guy that I was telling you about a couple weeks ago is making some progress it will be a little bit but I feel like he is really changing and turning his life around. So that was pretty good. Everyone else is still kind of stuck in Bible fantasy land, and we are just desperately trying to get them to read the Book of Mormon. It sounds easy but it is like trying to wrastle a gator n his favrite feedin' pond.

Random note I hope you get the pictures that I sent from Sister Hubler (see below) only in Arkansas would you find a true redneck weddin unfortunately we were on our way to an appointment so we could not attend.

Well, like I said the beginning of the week was slow. The end of the week we were able to volunteer at the Dogwood Festival here in town. The Dogwood festival is the Houston Carnival, Arizona State Fair, and the Alleys in the space of a square 1/4 mile. It is pretty small but everybody knows everybody and it is just a get together in the town. I thoroughly enjoyed it because we just went around picked up trash and talked with every vendor and person that was attending the festival. The only downside is that Friday and Saturday the days we attended it was raining but the festival does not cancel for rain it just means that a lot of people will not show up. The biggest disappointment was that they held bed races but they were canceled because of rain. Bed races is where you put a bed frame and mattress on bicycle wheels and you basically do the push cart race from cool runnings except somebody sleeps on the bed while the others push I was looking forward to seeing this event but it was canceled. But I made contact with every single vendor and we are pretty much best buds I got free kettle corn and pork rinds because these people are my buds. The Festival was fun and I enjoyed myself for two days.

The Spanish elders also came down for one day to help and that was good they keep me sane. The deal is because we don't have a lot of Spanish elders in the mission they cover a large area so they still cover Siloam they just live in Springdale so I get to see them once a week and I am grateful for this.



Elders Duclos, Heywood (with his spicy pork rinds), Freeman and Bush at the Dogwood Festival



Yesterday we went to the Pritchett's for dinner, its the 15 year old that made the chili that I told you about. Sister Pritechett is a very good cook and Woody the kid even though he outweighs me by like a hundred pounds is the iron chef I can't believe it he is truly talented at cooking. So they make us dinner and I just get fat it is so good. Yesterday they made spicy taco salad with Doritos and finger chicken quesadillas, with their famous homemade guacamole I about died from eating so much.

Well that is it I am doing good and things are pretty good. Problems happen everyday but whatever they are not that big just something that I have to go through. see ya.

joke: How do you know that the toothbrush was invented in Arkansas?

If it was invented anywhere else it would have been a teethbrush. Not really that funny but whatev.

Peace

Elder Heywood