The Best Two Years

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

letter from Skyler

Dear Family,
Well, things are going good. Yah, I've Bible bashed a lot, but it ain't bad. Usually you can use their scripture against them or ask them why there are so many churches, something to that affect. They usually get stumped, feel the Spirit then shake it off and throw another scripture at ya, it's really pointless. The work is going good though, so far we got two people committed to baptism. The latest is a really cool story. We were going to see a less active family because they were feeding us. After dinner we gave a lesson and challenged them to invite a nonmember friend to family home evening. Turns out the person they invited wants to learn more about the gospel so she can be baptized. We are trying to get the members to do the finding and us missionaries do the teaching because that's what we are, teachers, not finders, plus everybody knows a person they could invite into the home and have missionaries teach them, they just have to pray to find someone whom they could invite. Not just nonmembers but less actives because they are lost sheep too. What's sad is since 1999 when Pres. Hinckley said he wanted to double convert baptisms, since that time it has decreased. The solution is putting I think it was David O. Mckay's quote to work, every member a missionary. The statistic is like 1 out of 1000 doors we knock, 1 person gets baptized. 1 out of like 500 people we talk to get baptized. But for every member that has a nonmember in their home, get this, 1 out of 2 get baptized. See the difference, it's huge! I'm not saying that we can't do some finding, but what's more affective, us or you. Now, if we could activate all of our 350 plus less actives and have them invite some one to a church activity could you see the growth rate, it would be huge. We would more than double the convert baptisms. This is even more true for where you are back home because more people are of the same faith, but everybody knows someone they could have the missionaries teach, we just have to open our mouths. It ain't that scary, just do it. The Lord won't let you fail.
Well, I haven't gained weight, I've lost weight, about 10 pounds. We ride our bikes everywhere, we have a huge bike area. Oh, the coolest part about Springfield is the Bass Pro Shop, it's like the first one ever built. It is huge, probably the biggest one ever, it's amazing. We went there the other day to go to the bathroom, seriously, we did just go the the bathroom. Honestly! Then when we came out, some guy tripped and dropped his kid, and his kids head hit the rock floor pretty hard and we were right there, so we called 911 cause it was a hard fall. We ended up giving them a pass along card so hopefully they will check out the website and get baptized. Oh, and while this was going on, our bishop was there and he came out and talked to us. What do ya think he was thinking, "What the heck were these elders doing here?". Oh well. That was kinda funny, but the kid got a concussion or something. It's amazing how the Lord can lead you places and certain things will happen, huh. Well, hopefully I didn't forget anything important that you wanted to know. So, well, gotta go. Love y'all, miss y'all. Don't know for sure when I'm gonna be calling on Mother's Day, but try to stay at home cuz I can remember the house phone number, ha, ha. Seriously though!
Elder Silcock

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,
Here is Skyler's current address if
you would like to write to him.

Elder Skyler Silcock
517 E. High St.
Springfield, Missouri
65802

(Mission Home Address)

Elder Skyler Silcock
Oklahoma Tulsa Mission
5215 East 17 Street Suite #300
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Skyler's first big day

Skyler says that President Seal is real cool and
that we would like him.
President and Sister Seal greet all of the new
"Greenie" missionaries to the
Okahloma Tulsa Mission. Looks like Skyler
is out shining or is it out sizing the bunch.
Way to go Skyler!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Good-Bye!

"I hope they call me on a mission!" Oh yeah! They did!!!! On March 5, 2008, Bob, Steph, Chris, Meg, and I took Skyler to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah, where he began his mission. We had to make a stop in Salt Lake first to take Steph to the University of Utah Medical Center for some blood test. Skyler and I got off at Temple Square to gather materials for Bob and I to take to Jamica for some of the Branch Leaders there. While we were ther we visited with a woman who knew Skyler's misssion president, President Seal. That was cool. After that it was off to the MTC.

After we arrived, Skyler took his luggage to an assigned spot before entering the building. The girls and I went with him while Bob and Chris parked the car. Bob and Chris heard somebody holler at them and turned to see non other than Skyler's buddy and our sort of other son, Elder Shilo Hawks. Skyler, the girls and I missed him but we figured that Skyler would be seeing him soon.


Note the sign above the door! Watching Skyler go through that door was a bitter sweet moment.



Once Skyler entered , he was given a packet which included his name tag. Bob had the honor of pinnin it on for the first time.










Saying goodby to Skyler was about what you would expect it to be. However, Skyler helped make it a little easier for us by following the example of his older brothers. I know that some missionaries have a hard time saying goodby to their families, but our boys all had smiles on their faces and walked with confidence out the door. Skyler followed that example. We have a family tradition that started with Chris, which is, that before they walk out of sight they turn at the door and wave so that I can get one last picture of them. This time as I was taking Skyler's picture I hit the wrong button and turned off the camera instead. After the picture was finally taken, I turned to leave, and, standing behind me was a line of missionaries waiting to go out the door. As I started to pass them, one of them announced to everyone there "Scrapbooker!" He was so right and we all laughed.