Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

*We got to talk to Skyler on Christmas Day. It was great, you know, like the best present ever! Skyler sounded great. He got our packages in time for Christmas and was especially thrilled to get the two ties we sent that came from his Dad's tie collection, (one of which was the same tie Bob wore when we were dating, Skyler thought that made it an antique!!!!). We would like to thank the Grissom Family for feeding Skyler and his comp, Elder Scholler, and also thank the Brown Family for including them in their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day activities. Skyler said it had been a great day and the food was wonderful, he said that he had the traditional dinner like we have here. So that was cool. While we were all enjoying our "white" Christmas, Skyler was enjoying 50 degree temps! They were anticipating a storm over the weekend which could possibly bring some tornadoes. I asked Skyler what his best experience had been so far. He told me that the best thing he had experienced so far was his own spiritual growth. We have seen how his testimony has grown by leaps and bounds. It has been amazing. This alone makes his mission a successful one. We know he works hard and we are proud of him. Well, below is the letter he sent us on Monday. Happy New Year to all of our blog friends!

Hey how's it going? Sounds like it was an interesting Christmas. It seems like it always snows hard when I'm gone, and that storm that was supposed to hit us, well it did and we got soaked, don't worry, I made a video of it and some day I will put all my pics on a cd so you can see them. But we didn't get any tornadoes, but St. Louis did. So it kinda missed us. But we are going to the Crosby's for New Years Eve. It should be awesome. They have a tradition in their family called "bonya cata", (not sure if that's how it's spelled). Basically, it's a lot of garlic and it's good. So that should be fun. I'm gonna go get fitted for a suit and I will know for sure how much it will be. So I might write you a letter. Oh, and remember Jay D., the one who called you and told you about my ties, (*this was a story about some ties he was given by a Ward member who had bid on them at an auction, and Skyler ended up with something like 100 ties.), well, he is with me right now and he says "hello"!!! Anywase, as I was saying, I will let you know if you need to deposit more money in my account. So ya, does it really seem like I've changed? It's just weird to me to think that. It scared me when Dad said that I have just a little more than a year left. I didn't realize how much time had gone. Anywase, it was a good week. But one of the biggest things that has helped me is my patriarchal blessing. I can read things in there that are happening right now, and that's not when it's talking about my mission! It's crazy! So anywase, I will let ya go. Happy New Year to you to.

December 15 Letter

Hey, thanks for your email. I guess I havn't told you much about the area, huh. I guess it didn't dawn on me till just now how long I've been here. Well, the area here is rolling hills. We are in the "heart"of the Ozark Mountains. But they're not much of a mountain, just hills. In the summer it's green and now it's cold like 20 degrees. We were supposed to get an ice storm this morning but we just got snow. But I guess another one is on the way. I was kinda disappointed. I come to an area where they have extreme weather and I never get to see any of it. Anywase, there are a lot of caves here and not too many farms. I think I told you that it's about the same size of Twin Falls. Anywase, other than that, it's about the same climate and everything, just a church on every corner and one in between.
But ya, for Christmas Eve we are going to the Brown's for dinner, they are a way awesome family, so I'm excited for that. Then on Christmas day we are going to the Grissom's for the main dinner, then probably the Brown's again, because their kids wanted us to come back and see them, ha ha. It should be fun.
But ya, crazy, it is a small world! Meg and Dayne fed Elder Crosby because he served in Rupert, so that was crazy. I guess now he is training a missionary with a severe handycap in Blackfoot. But ya, it's crazy how you can be in the farthest place in the world and still find someone who knows someone you know.
But as for things to send, I don't need pants yet, because it is suit coat season. So I won't wear them for a while. Oh, I got the (sorry, I had to delete this part because it refers to Christmas presents). I will try to get them out this week. Oh, and those guys that called you, their names were JD, and Alan, and Jeff. They are members in the ward here. They are awesome! They help us out a lot. They were trying to tell you the story of the ties that I got. When I have more time I will tell you about it. Anywase, hope I am not forgetting anything. Oh, you could send a phone card, that might be useful and just email me any phone number of wear you think you'll be at, whether it be your cell phones or grandmas or what, just let me know because as of right now I don't know the set schedule. But I will do my best to let you know. Anywase, pray for some extreme weather here. I'm anxious to see it and tell everybody I said hi and stuff.
loves, by!

December 8, 2008 Letter

  So, someone came from Oklahoma to fire everything up at the bbq.  The only thing that troubles me is that I didn't hear anything about sharing the gospel with him.  I don't care what the excuse is.  He could have been in my area or something.  Hopefully you did, you just didn't tell me.  But, if not, I have one word for you - repent!  Just like you were saying about BaiLee, how we take the Holy Ghost for granted, well it's the same thing with the gospel. (*BaiLee is Skyler's niece who had just been baptized and had asked her parents how long she would get to have the Holy Ghost with her)  You don't know how blessed you are until your not blessed.  God didn't have to create us.  He didn't have to send his only begotten son to die for us but he did because he loves us.  That's so important that we understand that.  If you look in "Preach My Gospel" in ch3 the first lesson under the first principle is what?  God is our loving Heavenly Father, then what -  the gospel blesses families, then what - God reveals his gospel in every dispensation, then what - Christ's earthly ministry, then - the apostasy, and then probably something we totaly take for granted, the restoration followed by the Book of Mormon.  Do you see how lucky we are to know these things.  How important is the restored gospel to us. If we really understood these principles we wouldn't need full time missionaries.  In Helaman 12 it talks about how we are less than the dust of the earth.  To me that's disturbing,  I don't want to let God down after all that He has done for me.   There was an apostle who said, (I think it was Elder Packer, not sure) but he said "When I grab a pen and write with it I want it to work, I can't use a pen that doesn't work, it's useless to me. What am I going to do with a pen that doesn't work.  Same thing with us, are we going to be instruments in the hands of the Lord or are we going to be less than the dust of the earth?  I often think of the song in the hymn book, pg 260 "Who is on the Lord's side, Who?",  I love that song because it's so bold and so true.  Who's on the Lord's side, who, NOW is the time to show.   We ask it fearlessly, who is on the Lord's side, who?  Are you on the Lord's side?  Pretty sure Nick was. Not only was he willing to sarcifice his time for the cause of Christ, but he left knowing that he wouldn't see his family and friends again and knowing that he wouldn't have a family in this life.  He gave that up for the cause of Christ.  I wish I had half the faith Nick had, he was such a good example and that's part of the reason I'm on a mission and I hope in my 2 years I can be at least half the missionary he was in 2 months.  We are on a higher plain than most people are because of Nick.  He died sharing the gospel.  We flinch to share the gospel.  I think of the scripture in D and C 68:5-6,  it talks about how the Lord will be by our side when we talk to people about the gospel, and to put that into a different perspective for ya, the Lord said he would be by your side (if you haven't read it yet get your scrips and go read it) well I know that to be true.  Think of the story of Meshak, Shadrack and Abednigo.  When they were thrown into the furnace who was with them?  Remember, the king threw in 3 but saw 4.  The Lord will be by our side, I know that when we share the gospel with others the Lord himself will be there and so will the Holy Ghost.  So now you can tell BaiLee how she can have the spirit with her always, and I think it's interesting to me that BaiLee asked how long she would have the Holy Ghost.  Most people today don't feel it while they have it, they feel it leave and want it back.  We will not have successful missionary experiences until we learn to recognize the spirit when we know we have it.
 So I am almost out of time and I will have to go and get measured for a suit because the one I have now from Ferrals is way big on me. So I will get measured and see what kind of a deal I can get, I wish you would have given me a price range so I would know what to look for, but I will try to keep it under 300 dollars.  Anywase, hope you have a good week and feel free to send Elder Scholle something for Christmas.  His family situation is fine, but still it would be the nice thing to do.  Because we have been given much, we to must give.
 love your missionary, Elder Silcock

December 1, 2008 Letter

  Well, it was a crazy week.  I'll tell you what. I'm still full from Thanksgiving!  Sad to say this, but, I've actually gained weight here because the members are so awesome and they all cook really good.  But I'm still the same weight I was in the mtc so nothing too major.  But, for clothes, I still need a new suit and stuff.  I don't know what you want me to do about that, but there is a mens warehouse here in my area and so I could trade in my old suit and get a discount or something but it all depends on what you want me to do.  I don't want anything from Ferril's because they measured me too big.  The pants they give me, if I didn't wear a belt would fall off.  So I would like to probably get fitted again.  But I might need new socks because mine are starting to wear out and of coarse nice phat polyester ties.  Oh, and I do need a few long sleeve shirts preferably a 17.5 to 18 inch collar.  Probably like 2 or 3, and I gave the money to a member to get the (sorry, readers, I can't tell you what Skyler is sending because they are presents!), so I should get those this week, and what should I do for everybody else? I'd feel bad if I didn't get them anything. What's your advice?  Yes, I remembered Shilo's bday. I sent him a birthday card like a month ago because he said it takes like 6 weeks to get mail.  No baptisms yet, but we are working on it.  Transfers are on Friday and I'm getting a new companion, his name is Elder Schule.  He has been out for like 4.5 months and I'm going to be senior companion, so that's way exciting. I imagine that I'll be training before too long.  So ya, I will be here for Christmas and stuff. So you won't have to worry about me going anywhere.   But ya, nothing too exciting happening, other than transfers. Oh, and the Nativity Celebration here.  It's way cool, they have some of the Branson performers come and perform.  It's pretty cool and they have a bunch of nativities set up in the gym and a live nativity outside.  It's a cool deal they got going on.  Members from 2 Stakes in Springfield put it on.  Anywase, hope I haven't forgotten anything and I will talk to ya next week.
  Oh ya, I almost forgot to tell you what I did for Thanksgiving.  We went to 3 members houses. First the Forsyth's (their son is the one going to Boise). Then we went to the Crosby's for the dinner.  You'll think this is funny.  Bro. Crosby is the High Priest group leader and Sis. Crosby is the Stake Primary president and their son is on a mission in Pocatello and was in Rupert not too long ago.  So anywase, be looking for Elder Crosby.  Then we went to the Brown's and had more food, mostly pie, though it was delicious and then I taught them how to play spoons and B.S., then yesterday at church I talked to one of their kids and she said that they have played B.S. like none stop since we taught them, it was funny, ha ha!  But ya, that's what I did for turkey day.  This week one of the Brown kid's is gonna try and get me some squirrel so we can have a squirrel fry.  So we will see how that goes because they have been trying for like 4 months, ha ha!  Anywase, loves