March 23 Letter

Hey, how's it goin? Another slow week, huh. About the same thing here, but hey, not bad, and I don't want to make you jealous, but the other day the weather here was about 82 degrees! It was nice, but then again the humidity made it feel like 90, but hey, I didn't complain. So who does Dad think his councilors will be in the bishopric? Has he decided yet? ha,ha!! (Skyler is definitley way off on this little joke!) Anywase, you might have to send me pics of Chris' boat and the truck, ha ha!! But ya, I'm planin on sending pics soon. Well, today should be a pretty cool day. The forecast is calling for severe weather meaning, heavy rain like y'all nevar seen and some lightnin' and some thunder and even tornados! woo wee!! So it should be interesting if anything cool happens, I will let you know next week. As for the dumb dentist, I had an appointment with him tomorrow but he canceled because someone died. So I go back on the 6th of April. I was wishing he would have just pulled my tooth out man and you know something funny? Before I came to Arkansas, Bro. Brown said "Yup, as soon as you get there all your teeth are gonna fall out!", ha,ha! So that kinda scared me because it almost came true. But ya, I haven't had any pain with it so far since he worked on it the first time. So I will fight it as long as I can. It was kinda nice having a sore tooth because I didn't eat as much. And Mom, let me tell you what. There is some good cookin' out here in the mid west, mmm! I've learned a few bbquen' secrets, if you know what I mean. So anywase, I'm hopin' this 10 pds I've gained will melt off again. Anywase, we will see. But ya the work is goin' good here. There are many miracles happenin' here. Our zone is actually leading the mission: so that is sweet. I think the Lord is trying really hard to get the Fort Smith Stake split. The branch in Sallisa, Oklahoma need (what I heard) 12 more members and then it can become a ward, and all we need in the Stake is 1 more ward and they can split it. As of right now the elders there in Sallisa have 11 baptismal dates set. So, sweet, Mom, miracles are happening! And keep this on the down low, but as soon as our stake splits, so does the mission. It needs 1 more stake before it can split, so no wonder our zone is leading the mission, pretty cool, huh. I'm not trying to brag, but this is what the zone leaders said in district meeting last week. They said the best missionaries in the mission are serving in the Fort Smith Zone. Pretty sweet huh! I guess I must be a pretty good missionary, I don't know. But anywase, I just wanted to tell you that, because no matter how ignorant some people are here, the Lord provides a way, and I think 1 way he is doing it is through the economy. But hey, the stone cut without hands to fill the earth must grow, right? ha, ha!! Well anywase, it's a great time to be a missionary. I better get gone, but anywase, have a good week and tell everyone I said hi and stuff. Loves, Elder Silcock

March 16 Letter

Hey, how's it goin'? Got your emails. I guess I kinda laugh at Dad, because he has to eat less now, but in a way I feel relieved, because it could have been a lot worse you know. But ya, Arkansas is pretty sweet. I still can't figure it out, why in Kansas, it's you know, Kansas; but in Arkansas, you put the Ar on front of Kansas it becomes arkansaw, you know??? Just a mystery. But ya, world's strongest redneck is exactly right. All that stuff you see on CMT is right. I just might have to send you pictures of some funny stuff I've seen. But the Ward is pretty cool. It's small, not very big. It's older, a lot of old people. Which reminds me, a member here wants to get some information on our Preston property because he has a friend that wants to buy some property in Idaho. So I better get some commision from this, ha, ha!! But ya, it's a nice Ward, but I will definitely miss my last Ward, it was just so awesome!! But I will be fine, I already get along good with some of the members here. As for the storm, it didn't happen, not even thunder or lightning. The saying out here in the midwest is, "if you don't like the weather, just stick around it will change", and what's sad is it's true you can't predict the weather here. Like today for example, it says it's a 10% chance of rain but the clouds say more than that so you just never know sometimes. So you haven't sold my fourwheeler yet, hugh. Well, if you get the chance, you can sell it, and tell Dad he needs to get as much out of it as he can, I want to use that money when I get home to put down a payment on a truck or something, you know. Oh, and I know this is still forever away, but tell Dad to look for some acreage for me. The way the economy is, I want to be prepared, to you know, even though I'm on a mission and all. But anywase, who do you think the next bishop will be (besides Dad, ha, ha)!! I guess it is time for a new one, hm, man, the time really flys doesn't it. Well, let's see what else could I report on? Oh ya, I did get your packages and every thing and that tie is the sweetest tie in the whole mission! (I can't wait to wear it to zone conference!!!) And the shirt is sweet, it fits great and I promise I won't dry it in the machine. The shoes you got me, well I returned them because I already had b-ball shoes. I needed some work shoes and those were a little nice to work in you know. So I got some shoes that were like, 10 or 5 bucks cheaper, so it's all good. But ya, I will try to get some pictures out to ya, you know. So I will keep my eye peeled for some hick stuff. Well, I guess it's everywhere I go, but you know what I mean. Well, I will let you go. Tell everyone I says hi and stuff. So I guess I will talk to ya later. By. Oh, and tell Dad I think he is looking a little skinny, ha ha!!!-----Original Message-----

March 10 Letter

Ya, don't worry, I'm not in a hurry to get stuff, (I think he is referring to the gps he wants to get) your fine. I guess I will be looking for a package from you this week. But, ya, I had to get a partial root canal last week. It sucked! What it was, was in one of my fillings. It was too deep, I guess, so it killed the nerve and then it got infected, thus causing me to get a root canal. It really sucked. I don't want to get another one. Unfortuntely the doctor only had time to do a partial root canal. So I've got to go back in on the 24th so he can finish it. Talk about bummer!Anywase, you want to know more about the tornado, ok, I will tell you. So it was like 10:20 pm and it was my turn to pray, right, well we knew that there was a tornado watch going on (which means that they haven't spotted a tornado and there is nothing on the radar but conditons are right so they are thus watching), well, Elder Scholle and I wanted to see a tornado even though it was night time. So as I was praying I asked the Lord to humble the people if there was a tornado so that we could serve them (so basicaly I prayed for a tornado, ok). So it is like 10:28 and I go to wash my face. Not joking, 2 minuts later, after I prayed, we hear the wind pick up and then it got really intense, and then I heard what sounded like a freight train hitting our apartment. The windows were shaking and so was the apartment. Elder Scholle was scared to death and I was, like, so excited that I was getting hit by a tornado all I could do was stand there and smile. Then the thought came to me go try and see it! So I go running out side only to catch a glimpse of the tornado, but, hey I saw a part of it, so that was way sweet. (So much for thinking that Skyler had played it smart and safe!) But ya, it actuly hit my apartment. My dream came true, not only did I see a tornado, I experienced a tornado! Mom, it was sweet!!!!! Now I have an even bigger itch for tornadoes! And guess what? Tonight it's supposed to storm which means a chance of tornadoes. And guess what? It's my turn to pray again, ha, ha!! But don't worry, Mom, I won't do anything stupid. But ya, I got to drive a car for a week. Now I bike for a week, and next week I get the car again and then repeat the schedule. But ya, I took a drivers test so I could get undotted, so that's how I can drive. I was just excited to drive a car because I haven't driven for a whole year, so I was like, this is weird. And we get brand new cars. I never got to drive a brand new car, I always had clunkers you know. But ya, there are alot of differences in Missouri and Arkansas. One is the language and the landscape is alot different. Missouri is much more rolling big hills and Arkansas is a lot closer to mountains than anything I've seen so far. They actually have valleys and stuff, it's pretty crazy. It's much warmer in Arkansas than Missouri, much more humid in Arkansas than Missouri. But I think of all the places in the mission I could live it would be Missouri. But ya, there are a lot of differences. And people here all know about the church, they just don't really know the church history. Any successes we see is through the members here(which is the same anywhere else). But ya, I hope I answered some of your questions and stuff, and thanks for everything you have helped me with lately. I really appreciate it and I can't wait to watch those movies of Nick, I could probably use that. But hey, keep steadfast and the Lord will bless you, He always does. D&C82:10 says, "I the Lord am bound when you do what I say. But when you do not what I say ye have no promise". It's a true principle don't forget it! But hey, have a good week and tell Courtney and Kiersten I says good luck. by!
love, Elder Silcock

The following are two letters that Skyler sent Meg and Dayne. We thought you might enjoy reading them.

Sorry, I just found out about this email I never read from you, today. But ya, basically everybody here is a freakin' hill billy. And I learned something new here. The tooth brush was ivented here because if it was ivented anywhere else it would have been the "teeth" brush. People in Arkansas only have about 1 tooth (I'm serious, it's true!). And here is the big question down here in Arkansas, "If a man divorces his wife can they still be brother and sister?" I don't know about that one, ha ha!

Hey, thanks for the email glad to hear that your gettin' fat like me, ha ha!!! Now tell me what you mean you don't like drivin' tractor! That's the best part! Your crazy, I guess it is a girl thing. But ya, I thought of a good name for your baby. Tell me what you think about Abish. Now before you say no, just remember that Abish was a great missionary in the Book of Mormon, probably the best female missionary I might add. But hey, don't take it from me, pray first, the Lord will tell you, ha, ha!!! But hey, I got the package from Steph, so I guess your all sending me another package? Anywase, have a good one by. Oh, and there are chances of a tornado again tonight and guess what? It's my turn to pray, ha, ha!!

March 2nd Letter and some pictures from his closest encounter yet to a tornado!

Following the path of an F-1 tornado!

The building in the upper right hand corner

is Skyler's apartment. If you follow the

path of the tornado you can see where it

looks as though the tornado was headed straight for it!

Skyler said that the woman who lived

in this house slept through the tornado

ripping off her roof!

These people didn't!

That's not plastic wrapped around a power line.

It's a metal sign!

Ice storm transformations!

The service project!
Looks like we finally got a serious

picture of Skyler.

**Dear Friends and Family,

Well, we finally have our computer problems worked out. We gave in and bought a new one! We missed hearing from Skyler on his birthday, but we are back on track again. After 10 months in the same city, Skyler finally got transferred. He is now in Alma, Arkansas. Thanks for not giving up on us!

* * * * * * * *

Hey, it's good to hear from ya. You know what's funny? Elder Jergensmyer told me about Dayne on transfers. So I had already heard the story from someone else. (Skyler's brother-in-law, Dayne was stuck for two days in a white out while snowmobiling. He was with a friend and they found shelter at the look out on the top of the mountain.) I'm just glad he is alright. That could have been alot worse. Well, that's good you got your computer problem all fixed. The new area is sweet. It's a small town of 4000 people and they are all really nice. We actually cover a few other small towns around the area. So that means we have a car, but we share it every other week with other missionaries in our district. So now I have a car and will get to drive it on Wednesday. SWEET!!! I haven't driven for a year. But I definately miss my last area. Springfield was a way sweet place I look forward to the day I go back and give everybody there a hug for what they have done for me. They fed me so much my last week that on Friday I didn't need to eat breakfast or lunch and barely dinner. That's how full I was. It was awesome. Needless to say they took, way, good care of me. So now I can basically say I have 2 homes, Burley and Springfield, ha ha!!! But my b-day was, way, sweet. We went to the Brown's because they had signed up to feed us. So they made me a German chocolate cake with 20 candles and I got a few presents from them. It was pretty cool. But I must say the best part was when I finally got to eat squirrel. It was so good!!! So my b-day was just like all my others I guess you could say. But, anywase my new comp is from Blackfoot. So my first comp from Idaho. His name is Elder Todd Brady. He has a strong testimony. He is a little shy, but he has a great personality and is fun to be around. He has been out about a year and a half and so he goes home in like 6 months, which is wierd because we graduated the same year. That just makes me feel old. But anywase, 1 year on Thursday! How bout that, huh, ha ha!!! Sweet! But, ya, you mentioned videos of Nick. Please send them to me. That would be way sweet. The only thing that could come from it is I would become a more determined missionary, I mean, come on! Anywase, Alma is cool, Mom, and there is a sweet church site here. Ya, Parley P. Pratt is buried here. Don't worry, I will send you pics. I would like to buy a gps because we do cover a big area here with a lot of small towns. So I personally feel it would be a good investment. But, anywase, let me know if I can get one as soon as you can, like preferably your next email if not sooner. Anywase, take care, have a good week. I will have a good week. Elder Brady and I are gonna tear it up down here in Alma and we are gonna baptize the heck out of these people, ha, ha!!! talk to ya later

love, Elder Silcock