Details of Skyler's return home and his report

Hi Everyone,

Well, it's been a long two years (Bob says it's been five), but our missionary is finally coming home. Skyler has served well, has touched many lives, and, just like our other sons, is coming home with honor. We are proud of Skyler and a little sad to see this wonderful phase in his life come to an end. We hope you will join us for his report on Sunday, March 14, 2010, @ the Unity 2nd Ward building, @ 9:00 a.m. We will have a dinner following his report for all who came to hear Skyler speak in Sacrament Meeting. The dinner will be held at Morey's Event Center here in Burley. If you need directions to any of these places give us a call or leave a message on Skyler's blog. We also invite all who would like to join us at the airport when he arrives on Friday. He will be flying into the Pocatello airport at 6:00 p.m. and then we will be going into Pocatello to eat at Winger's and invite all to join us. I am including Skyler's last and final email (although it is really short and not much to say). We thank you for checking in on how Skyler has been doing while on his mission and for your comments. I will do one final entry (hopefully next week) that will contain any pictures Skyler would like to share with you. We hope to see you this weekend!

March 8, 2010

Hey, so I still haven't gotten my plans for flyin home yet. You know more than I do. So great, I have along layover in Salt Lake, oh well!! Anywase, I don't have too much to say. But it might help to put some more money on my card because I want to send some packages home instead of going through the hastle of taking them on the plane you know!! Anywase, I will see you Friday!!

Loves, Elder Silcock, over and out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

February 23 & March 1 Letters - Touching lives!

March 1, 2010

Hey how's it goin! And ya, I got your package and stuff and loved it!! It was nice to see pics of Trevor and Shilo! Anywase, I don't have a whole lot to say either because it was just a normal week nothing too crazy happened to us, just the usual gettin guns pulled on us and gettin shot at and you know nothing too crazy and anywase I hope you get this email! Anywase I will let you go. So talk to ya later!!

Loves,
Elder Silcock

February 23, 2010

Hey, how's it goin! Sorry this is a day late! Yesterday while emailing our computers at the library just shut off and we had to wait till today to email again. The worst part was that I had just finished up a nice long email to ya when it shut off so it was kinda frustrating! Anywase I got your package yesterday and it was awesome!!! I think those movies will be cool to watch with investigators. So ya about the investigator we found a couple weeks ago! His name is Jurrell and it was on a Saturday and it was kinda dark and usually we don't talk to people outside if it's dark because they might shoot us or something or get scared! But on this occasion we were going to see some Spanish ivestigators that lived in an apartment. Well while walking to the stairs a guy came out to smoke a cigarette. Elder Poulsen and I kinda kept walking to the stairs when Elder Poulsen and I got a strong prompting to go talk to him!! And it was cool cuz at the same time Elder Poulsen and I just started walking to him at the same time with out even saying anything to each other!! We found out that he had just gotten a phone call from his mom and she told him that is 3 year old son was diagnosed with a severe case of asthma and was in the hospital! Well his son is in Minnesota and Jurrell came here to find work and so things weren't working out like he thought they had!! Well, in the phone call his mom said you need to find you a church and get some beliefs! Well, being sad, he walked outside to smoke a cigarette to calm himself!! Then along came two missionarys!! It's awesome to tell someone they are a child of God and to see the light of Christ work in them! He asked that we say a prayer with him. So I offered the prayer. Then I asked him if he knew how to pray and he told me about his life and how he never really grew up in a church or going to church for that matter! He told us he didn't know what to believe, but thought it was crazy that as soon as he got off the phone with his mom telling him to find a church there we were! He told us that he had friends that followed the devil and that he had been shot twice and stabbed twice! And the whole time he is telling us this he is crying and so we teach him how to pray and then asked him if he would like to pray right there! He was scared, but we talked him into it! He gave the most sincere prayer I have ever heard! He truly plead with the Lord and at the end of the prayer all of us were crying! And the cool part was that he came to church the next day! Unfortionatly he had to go back to Minnesota to see his son, but promised us he would find the church and stuff!! And I think he will, but if not some point down the road missionarys or a member of the church will find him and he will remember how he felt the day we found him!! Anywase it's just cool to see how the Lord prepares people and then puts them in your path! Anywase, tonight we are going the the Steins house to celebrate my b day. They are an awesome family and do alot for us! Anywase I think thats about it and I will be looking for your letter in the mail. And oh, I did get my extension. (***his drivers license extension) they actually sent me 2 card extensions for some reason! Anywase, read some of the book "The Transfer"! It was cool to see Lindsy Spjute's story in there as well! (****This is the book that has Nick's story in it) Anywase, I will talk to ya later and tell everyone I said hi! And just so you know mom, I love you!

Loves,
Elder Silcock

Skyler's Coming Home & his last few letters

January 25, 2010

Ya, I got the news that Chris was in Springdale and I talked to President Merkley about it and he says I can't go see him. Which is sad because he is only 30 minutes away!! But ya, I'm aware!! And I fly into Pocatello!! I told them Twin Falls, oh well, I guess it's alright as long as I get there, right!! I wonder when they will let me know all that stuff!! Anywase, I havent started the Isagenix yet, I'm waiting for the right time which might be this week!!! Anywase, I will let you go! Nothing too exciting to tell you other than I will be finishing up my mission here in Berryville with Elder Poulsen! But ya, if you want to call President Merkley, sweet talk him in to lettin' me see Chris, you can do it, you can probably do a better job at it than me, just don't tell him I told you so!!! Anywase, I will let you go. So talk to ya later.

Loves, Elder Silcock

February 1, 2010

Hey, what's up!! So I got your letter and you said I will be released Feb 10 and fly home Feb 12. Did you mean March 10 and 12? Hopefully you did, because you scared me, haha!! It better not be that soon. (* * * I did put the wrong month, just anxious I guess, but Skyler flys into Pocatello on March 12 @ 6:00, p.m. and we invite all, who would like to, to come join us at the airport that day!!!) Anywase, we had a crazy week. We had the ice storm and then it snowed like 6 inches. We didn't get it that bad we only had like 1/4 of and inch of ice but it shut the town down. We didn't loose power or anything, so it wasn't bad. Anywase, that's pretty much my week, not a whole lot to talk about either, so talk to ya later.

Loves, Elder Silcock

February 8, 2010

I don't want anything for my bday. I'm good! I just need to know when we plan on coming out here to see my people in the mission!! Anywase, not a whole lot happened this week basically the same ol, same ol!! And I'm thinking about going to Utah State. Trevor Searle wants me to go there and it feels right! I don't know when maybe next year because I really want to help Jay and Dayne on the farm and make a lot of money so I can affford college if I so choose to!! So I have definitly got a lot of options, that's for sure. But I will just have to take it to the temple when I get home!! But anywase, tell everyone I said hi and happy Valentines day!!!

Loves, Elder Silcock

January 11 & 18 Letters

January 11, 2010

Hey, how's it goin. Ya, I haven't gotten your package yet. But I talked to the dmv here and I also talked to our office missionary and I will need to get a new drivers license because I need to drive and also for the plane ride home, I need a renewed drivers licence, so either way I will need to get my drivers license renewed here and get an Arkansas one!! But ya, we had a good week and we had 2 investigators at Church! So that was good! But ya, I will need a birth certificate and our office missionary said I need to do it asap! But anywase, I can't think of what else to tell you! I guess you wanted to know what the country is like here! Well, it's rolling hills with alot of oak trees and cedar trees and a few maple trees! There are a couple other kinds but I don't know what their called! But ya, that's the country here and there are a lot of chicken farms and ranches and stuff so it makes me feel at home here! But ya, anywase what week do you plan to come back to the mission? I just want to know so I can tell the people here when I'm coming back you know! Anywase, I will let you go, nothing too exciting is happening other than Berryville was shut down for like a week with only 1 inch of snow!! They even cancled church because of it!! And school was out for a whole week over 1 inch of snow, is that dumb or what!! Anywase, I'll talk to ya later ok.

Loves, Elder Silcock


January 18, 2010

Hey how's it goin. So how was your week!! Mine was good and busy, but still not much to say! It's basically the same ol same ol! But I have been told that Elder Poulsen and I are in charge of the 5th Sunday this month and so we got to pull something together for that! So it should be fun! I got Dad's letter and I'm impressed because his hand writing is gettin' better!! And I also talked to Trevor Searle today on my email and he said he is gonna try to stop by sometime soon! So anywase, I'm sorry it's short, but there is really not much to talk about. But anywase, I will talk to ya later!!

Loves, Elder Silcock

December News

Hi Friends,

Sorry about the delay on updating you with news from Skyler. What can I say? It was December!!!!! Anyway, here is an update plus last weeks letter from Skyler.

Skyler was transferred just one week before Christmas, which was a sad thing since he would be in un-familiar territory with a lot of strangers for Christmas (I think we need to put pressure on the mission office in Salt Lake to make a rule that there can be no transfers right before Christmas! What do you think?) Anyway, you will see his new address in the left hand column. We didn't know what to send Skyler for Christmas since he will be coming home in a few months and he didn't really need anything, so we sent him a few personal items and then we also sent him a box of gifts to give to a family of his choice. So on Christmas I asked him what he did with the gifts, and he said that he and his companion knew a family that could use it and left it on their doorstep, rang the bell and ran. He said it was a lot of fun and knows that the family will really appreciate it. He did have a baptism a week before he left Mountain Home, which was a great experience. The man's name is Frank Pfeifer. His family has waited a long time for him to get baptized (like 17 years). You can find out more about this family by reading Skyler's December 7 letter. Anyway, this has been a cool experience, even for us because Brother Pfeifer's daughter, Tiana, has been sending me text messages and pix of the event and of Skyler, and as soon as I can get what I need to download the pix off of my cell phone, I will post them for you to see!!!! Here is one of the messages she sent to me:

"My family has waited 17 years for my Dad to join the Church. I think God has sent your son here to help my Dad, with as many things they have in common who could turn him a way? We thought to say thank you and gave him and his companion a gallon of egg nog. I don't think it lasted long."

Tiana Pfeifer

Thank you Tiana!!!!

We also got another letter on Christmas eve from the Brown family that Skyler got so close to while he was in Springfield, MO a year ago. It was a real nice letter and the following is part of what they said:

"Elder Silcock served in our Ward during Christmas time last year and we even had the missionaries over on Christmas Day. It was a fun time. The misisonaries have such a spirit about them that helps carry over in our home. One thing that Elder Silcock shared with us was how your family writes letters on Christmas to your son, Nick. I was very touched at the letter about your son's death. (Skyler had asked me to write a letter to them last year, telling about Nick). Elder Silcock, as you know, can be very silly, but it was touching to hear of your son, Nick, and also of Elder Silcock's desire to serve. ..... I just found your brief history of what happened to Nick. What STRONG people you are to let your next son serve a mission. I felt like I needed to let you know what an example you are to many people. What a touching story. I have 2 sons who will eventually be old enough to serve missions and knowing that they may never come home is a sad thought, but with the gospel it makes it worth it. Thank you for sending out such a great son & for letting him share your story with our family. I hope you have a wonderful, Merry Christmas & know that our thoughts are with you during this holiday season.

Love, Sis. Julie Brown"

We really appreciated Sis. Brown's letter, it came at a time when we were missing Skyler and Nick, and lifted us up. Thank you Sis. Brown!!!! I would also like to take the time to share something with each of you (and I don't mean to detract from Skyler, but this is something that means a lot to all of us). A new book titled "The Transfer: Stories of Missionaries Who Gave the Last Full Measure of Devotion" is available on line at:
www.latterdaylegends.com

It contains the story about Nick and his mission. This is a project that was started about three years ago and we are honored to have Nick's story told. It also includes the story of one of Megan's friends, Lindsey Spjute, who died a year and a half ago while serving in England. This is a great tribute to all that serve missions. Anyway, back to Skyler:

Skyler had another baptism scheduled, but he wasn't going to be able to attend that one because it was scheduled for Christmas Eve. But he has been given a new challenge. He told us on Christmas that the town he is in is called Berryville and is small (he is still in Arkansas and only about 60 miles away from his previous area). They only have a Branch there and many of the members are Spanish speaking and even some of the meetings where said in Spanish. Fortunately, Skyler's new companion can speak Spanish and is teaching Skyler, which will be a big plus when he comes home. Below, is the letter we got from Skyler last week. Thanks for checking back with us.

December 28, 2009

Hey, how's it goin? So ya, for Christmas we went to the Jones family and we had some food and then we watched the Emma Smith movie that goes along with the new Joseph Smith movie!! It was pretty good, I liked it alot! But other than that we just relaxed and wrote letters and stuff so nothing too exciting. And it was kinda tough being in a new area because I was in Mt. Home for so long that it was hard not being able to be with some of those people, but it's alright, it was good for me to relaxe and take a load off, I needed it. But ya, I do pretty good on the excercise thing because we are supposed to exercise every morning for at least a half hour! So anywase, I will let you go, I can't really think of anything else except that on my address cr stands for Carrol County, so it's a common thing out here to have cr or some abbreviation on your address!! Anywase, talk to ya later and can't wait to get your letter and whatever else your were gonna send me!!

loves Elder Silcock

December 7 Letter

Hey, how's it going! Ya, I'm pretty sure I'll be out of here on the 18th, but you never know, I could stay, but I've been here now for 6 months and that's usually the longest they will keep you in an area. If you send them (his Christmas presents) to me this week and I stay, I won't open them till Christmas unless I need to. Or even if I get transferred I can carry them with me on transfer loop! Just whenever you want to send them I'm not to pickey. So Boise State plays TCU huh, that's awesome!! That will be a good game, you should record it for me, I would love to watch it!! Anywase, we had a pretty good week and this Saturday, Frank Pfiefer is getting baptised, so pray that Satan won't stop it!! He finally decided this last Saturday and wants to do it before I leave Mt. Home! So it was awesome! The best part was Sister Pfiefer (his wife) told us that their daughter, in her patriarchal blessing, it says she would see her Dad get baptised and be a leader in the Church, how cool is that. So the most rewarding part for me was when he called his daughter and told her he was getting baptised!! Way awesome, huh!! Anywase, and we are still gonna have a baptism on the 24 too, so 2 baptisms in December, not bad, huh!! Anywase. Isagenix is going good. Couldn't tell you as of now how much weight I've lost, but I can tell in my waist!! So thanks a bunch for that. Anywase, for Thanksgiving we just went to some peoples houses and ate turkey and pie and then went to the apartment and cleaned up a bit and studyed the scriptures because nobody was home for us to see and it was kind of a day off for us!! Anywase, hopefully that answers your question and hopefullly I haven't forgotten anything else. And oh, I don't know for sure when or where I will be flying into, but they usually wait to send me that stuff. I'd imagine you'll probably know before I will! Anywase, talk to ya later, and how did the temple go!! I guess you'll let me know in your letter, I hope! Anywase, talk to ya later!

Loves, Elder Silcock

November 30 Letter

What's up!! So ya I will definitely pray for that!! Wish I could be there, that would be awesome! (Skyler is referring to our family trip this week to the temple in honor of Nick's birthday. Doing a sealing session was our gift to him and will be a family tradition from now on. We know that Nick is still very much a missionary and we never know when we do the ordinance work for someone at the temple that it may be someone Nick has taught! Cool, huh!)
I always write him (Nick) a letter or something and put it in my pocket for remembrance! Anywase, we set a baptismal date this week with the Spanish lady I was tellin' you about for Christmas eve so that should be way sweet, huh! And another cool story, we have an investigator, his name is Frank Pfiefer! His wife and kids are members, but he isn't, yet! Anywase, me and him are good buddys and according to his wife he thinks alot of me! But back to the cool part, we taught him on Saturday( he is a truck driver so that's the only day we can usually teach him) and I asked him how his praying was going and stuff and he said that the Book of Mormon is true, so I asked him when he wanted to get baptised( which he wanted to be baptised before I leave here which will probably be Dec. 18th) so ya, in a couple weeks we are going to have another baptism, sweet huh! And his wife came to me at church and said, "You don't realize how awesome it was to hear Frank say what he said about the Book of Mormon!" They have been working on him for a long time! They said I don't realize how cool it was to hear him say that!! sweet huh! But ya, this place, when I first got here, there was nothing going on and was kind of a dead area! That stuff Elder Oaks talked about with the member area book and stuff, well, I'm sure that's what he told ya about. (Elder Oaks came to our Stake Conference last month and told us that conversions here in the U.S. are up considerably) anywase, my companion and have worked hard to get it established and the Ward is doing so much better, it's not even funny! It's amazing, when I first got here I didn't like it, but it's amazing how much you come to love people while serving them. Even when the people do things to you that could make you mad you still love them! I'm pretty sure that's what charity is, huh! Anywase, that's my week! And I'm sure your gonna be asking me the question, what I want for Christmas, well, I really don't need anything and I'm sure there's people out there who could use it more than I do! I know Steph told me they are going to have another humble Christmas, so maybe get something for them. I don't need anything and I don't want anything! I got everything I will ever need, so I will be ok! Anywase, talk to ya later and hope to hear from you soon!

Loves, Elder Silcock


p.s.
And by the way, I've lost like 7 pounds, thanks!!!!!!!!!!!! (I sent Skyler some Isagenix as he had asked to help him lose some weight. Glad to hear it is working for him!)

November 23 Letter

How's it goin! So sounds like it's gonna be a good Stake Presidency! That's cool, wow, everything is changin! Anywase, we had Stake Conference yesterday and I got to see a lot of members from Springfield that I knew! So it was awesome! Didn't have any General Authorities, but some good speaking! Anywase, I can't remember if I told you about the lady and her daughter that came to Church, not yesterday, but last Sunday! Anywase, this lady from Chile and her daughter came to church! The daughter was a member and she is like 17 but her mother is not, but has been affiliated with the Church for over 45 years when her mother got baptised and stuff. Anywase, we set up an appointment to see them and we went over and got to know them. Then when we were getting ready to leave she starts bearing her testimony to us about the Church and she said I have a testimony of Joseph Smith, 100% (with a Spanish accent) it was awesome, then she was like, who do I talk to to get baptised!!! We we are like, well, you would talk to us, ya you would talk to us, haha!! Pretty awesome, huh. We were both kinda like, wow, did that just happen, I think it did. Anywase it was awesome! But ya, I haven't gotten your package yet but I will let you know when I get it and thanks a bunch for that I need it, haha!!! Anywase, I will talk to ya later, I can't think of anything else to tell ya, so later!

Loves, Elder Silcock

November 16 Letter

Thanks Mom, your the best! (I just let him know that I was sending him some Isagenix as he had previously asked to help him lose some weight. Let's hope he sticks with it) I hope I can loose some weight before I go home, we will see how I do. Anywase our week was pretty good. We did a lot of service! But it payed off, on Sunday we had a lot of less actives there and kind of a sweet miracle. There was a mother and daughter that came to Church that no one recognized! So we went and talked to them. Found out that they are from Chili and the mother told us that she had been affiliated with the Church since her mother joined over 45 years ago, but she has never been baptised! She has a strong testimony, we just need to help her have a desire to be baptised. And what's cool is that her mother was one of the first converts in Chili, I guess, is what she said! But ya it was cool. Her daughter is already a member, we just have to work on her mom! Anywase, that's pretty much it! I will be looking for the package and ya! Hopefully I haven't forgotten anything. Tell everyone I said hi!!!!

Loves, Elder Silcock

November 9 Letter

hahahahahahahahahahahahah!!! I knew it hahaha! Just tell Dad I told him so!! It may not be the Bishop, but hey, Second Counselor will do, haha! Anywase that's awesome. (Bob was put in our Ward Bishopric on Sunday)
Well, it was a good week for us too! Ernie Sylvan got baptised finally, so we are way excited. So Elder Woodward got to perform a baptism on his b-day! And it was cool because when Ernie came out of the water he just couldn't stop smiling and the same thing at Church, he was tellin' everyone he was getting confirmed today! So anywase, sounds like things are going good back home and so what's gonna happen to the shop, because I can't see it keepin' up with all those jobs! Are they gonna hire more people or what! Anywase, let me know who the new Stake Presidency is and how Elder Oaks' talk was. I always miss out on the big General Authorites, oh well, some day I guess. Well that about covers our week and oh Elder Woodward got your package and really appreciated it, he says thank you! Anywase I will talk to ya later and look for your letter in the mail by!

Loves, Elder Silcock

November 2 Letter

We had a pretty good week. We have a baptism this Saturday so pray it will happen. It's actually Ernie Sylvan the guy who almost got baptised a while back, so pray Satan won't stop it this week. Anywase, I got your package and stuff and thanks a bunch! I loved the pictures and I still can't believe how tall Cole is!!! Anywase, I'm gonna be stayin' in Mt. Home another 6 weeks which means I will be here for a grand total of 6 months! That's pretty rare out here! Anywase, Elder Woodward's birthday is on Saturday, so maybe you could send him a little something! His Mom sent me a tie and some other things so maybe y'all could send him something(and if you send a tie send brown ones he needs brown ones). So ya I will be looking for your letter and my email next week should be bigger! So anywase, I'll talk to ya later, tell everyone I said hi!

Loves, Elder Silcock

October 19 Letter

Hey, what's up! Hopefully I didn't sound too angry, I just want to hear from everyone. (Skyler wants to get more mail from someone else besides me, so if you are reading this he would probably like to hear from you. His current address is in the left hand column. Thanks!)
Anywase, we had a pretty good week! We saw some pretty sweet miracles. There is a less active family that we are working with. Their names are the Gadows. Anywase, they have a lot of health problems and it was causing them a lot of grief and plus they were not reading the scriptures or praying or any of that stuff. So you wonder why they were suffering! Well, anywase one of their things was that Brother Gadow had a quadruple bypass about a month ago and now he can't find any doctors to work on him plus he has arsnick(rat poisning) so he was pretty bumbed, well anywase, last Wednesday we went over there and called them to repentance and promised them that if they read and prayed and all that stuff that in less than a week they would find doctors and there body's would heal! So ya it was a pretty bold promise! Well 2 days go by and they call us and they had been faithful in keeping the commandments and they got the test results back for their poison and it was no longer there and they said that out of nowhere doctors were there to help them and stuff so it was a pretty cool miracle! Anywase, thought I'd share that with you. Anywase, I will talk to ya later and I will be looking for your letter and package soon. Anywase, talk to ya later!
Loves, Elder Silcock

October 5 Letter

Hey, what's up! So it sounds like it was a pretty good week. Well, we had a lot of miracles this week. First, we had gotten back from our appointment and had like 20 minutes till our dinner appointment so we went out to knock on doors and talk to people. Well, we knocked on this one door and nothin'. So we knocked on the next door, nothin'. Finally, the last door an old lady answers the door and we do our speel, and she says, "So your Mormons" and we were like "ya, sure" you know. And she says "Hold on a second" and she comes back with this Book of Mormon that had been read like what looked a million times! She said she loved the Book of Mormon and because of it she quit reading the Bible! We then set up a return appointment to see her which was the next day. So we go back and she invites us in and we were like "Well we can't come in unless there is another male here. So she said "Go get my son-in-law, Joe, he lives next door and is "ex-Mormon" so we were like "What!ok!" So we get Joe and he is very less active but is married to Marjorees daughter and in the space of 24 hours she talked to her daughter and told us at our appointment with her that her daughter wants to learn more about the Church and is actually looking for a church to join. So she already set up an appointment for us on Tuesday, so that was awesome haha!! It's not every day you knock on someones door that has a testimony of the Book of Mormon that is not a member. And let's see, another one, we were going through our Ward roster which consists of more than 600 people and only about 200 are active. So we see this name and decide to go see him and we find out that he had a wife that wants to learn more and they have an 8 month old baby and want to get it blessed, so that's awesome, I think. And at General Conference, the Sunday morning session, a guy showed up that was 85 years old and I guess the story behind it was Wednesday night he showed up at a church and apparently a pastor told him that there was no way he and his wife could be together for eternity (his wife has recently died) so he came to church and came to General Conference and loved what he heard. His name is Bill and he is a character. But it just makes you realize how blessed we are to have the knowledge that families can be together forever. So ya, it was awesome. So ya, I watched General Conference and I think that President Monson's talk on doing good to others or Elder Holland's talk on the Book of Mormon and laying the smack down why it's true were good. Anywase, there was a bunch of good talks this time, but of course they always are, aren't they. It seems like the main message of conference that I got was that God loves his children. I think it was the most repeated. Along with repentance and recognizing and recieving personal revelation. Anywase, tell everyone I said hi and as for garments just send the regular ones and I got the shirts, so I'm good there. Anywase, can't wait to see the pictures. So I will talk to ya later.
Loves, Elder Silcock

September 28 Letter

Hey what's up! How are things goin'? Sounds like things are going good. But we might be moving nicks baptismal date back to the later part of October. which is OK with me because i want our converts to retain. so ya i am excited to stay i kinda like it here. i am still training a missionary his name is elder Woodward he is a stud. we get along great and have alot of fun together. he is from a town by riverton UT which is right by salt lake city. but i forgive him for that haha!! so ya it awesome! anywase that's to bad that the windmills are spreading false rumors about us just be glad that we don't have to be judged by the city of burley or them because that just wouldn't be fair would it. that's why I'm grateful for justice and mercy. because of Christ those 2 principles can both be inforced. so i know how stressful it can be but be the better people and share your love to your enemy's. i think the savior said it best to love your enemy's bless them that curse you. now unfortunately that's easier said than done, but we call ourselves Christians so it is something we do it is an action. it may be the hardest thing in the world to do to love your enemy's and bless them but if the savior can do it then surely he can help me have the strength to do it. anywase so dad did get his new truck that's awesome please send me pictures and stuff. that's awesome that declo is doing great I'm so glad they beat filer because i hate filer. and Boise state is #5 that's way awesome is that the big pole you know with all the big dogs on there or a smaller one you know what i mean. anywase tell everyone i said hi and stuff and i will talk to ya later and oh could you send me like 4 more pairs of garments those extra support ones didn't last very long some of them are coming unstitched so that's not good. anywase hate to do that to ya and wish there was a better way. but anywase talk to ya later. By.
Loves Elder Silcock

September 21 Letter

Hey what's up! So it was a slow week, huh. Ours was kinda disapointing. Ernie, the guy I was tellin' you about, dropped us, it was kind of a bummer. It's a long story, I will just tell you when I get home. But we still have Nick, so it should be good. So did Dad ever get the truck? Anywase, you want to know how small of a world it is. President Merkley was trained by DR. Joe. Crazy, huh! President Merkley said to tell him he sends his love, so could you do that for me. Anywase, I will be looking for the shirts and could you do me a favor? Could you put some money on my account, I need to fix some stuff up on our apartment because Elder Sattler is gettin' transferred, because I trained him so good! Their givin' me another greenie, ha,ha. Maybe I should take the humble test, ha,ha! Anywase, so ya, transfers are on Friday, so hopefully, before then, but if not it's no big deal, I just like to have the apartment in good shape when I get a new missionary. Anywase, I'm trying to think if there is anything else to tell you but I get a blanc sign, so I will let you go, and so I will talk to ya later.

Loves, Elder Silcock

September 14 Letter

Hey, what's up? So Dad finally might be getting a new truck, that's awesome, I can't wait to see pictures of it. It sounds like a nice truck. I just hope he takes care of it, you know what I mean! Anywase, we had a pretty good week. We were able to set another baptismal date. It's a kid named Nick, and he was taught byt the missionaries about a year ago and he couldn't be baptised because his Dad wouldn't let him, but we miraculously found him and he set a date with himself. We didn't really have to do anythig. So that was cool, and this week we have a mission tour, which is where a General Authority comes to the mission and speaks to us. It's going to be Elder Jensen, so nothing major. But it's still cool. I'm not complaining. But ya, there hasn't really been anything major happen here. Same ol', same ol'. And ya, I got your package and everyting fits good. And thanks for keeping me posted on the football thing right now. I really hope Declo can go to the championship again. Anywase, I think that's about it for now. I will let you go, so talk to ya later.

Loves, Elder Silcock

September 8 Letter

Hey what's up? So it sounds like it's been a good week. Your the new Beehive advisor huh, that's cool. I think you'll be good there. Ya, it's really unfortunate about the whole Fine Furniture thing. Hopefully they won't hate us, but you got to do what you got to do. Tell Chris he needs to quit showing off on the saw, haha! I bet that was a bloody mess! I wish I could have been there, haha!! (*Chris had an accident with a table saw and nearly cut off the tips of two fingers, but Dr. Joe was able to fix him up. He will have two more deformed fingers, but at least he has them!)
Anwase, that family that I was tellin' you about that we found, well, they kinda dropped us. They had a date for the 19th of September, but not anymore, kind of a bummer. But our other investigator, Ernie, we were able to re-set a date with him. So on the 26 of September we should have a baptism. But Ernie is really a funny story. He has some learning disabilities, so he is kinda slow. But he is like, 50 years old, and lives by himself. The house he lives in is the one his parents moved into when he was a kid. And it's kinda sad, because they still have half the house packed with boxes from when they moved in. So the house is a disaster. And on top of that he has about 12 outdoor cats in the house, and they don't really care where they go to the bathroom and everytime we go over we get fleas, and Ernie doesn't have very good hygiene, so we challenged him to take a bath every day and to brush his teeth every day. It's sad that it's that way, but that's just how he was raised. So last week we bought his a suit at the thrift store and a white shirt and tie and gave him a haircut, got him looking good for church, so we have really helped him clean up, him and his house. It's so much nicer now, even though we still have a long ways to go with him. At least he's getting baptised. The gospel will bless him so much. It's already changed him a lot. But anywase, I got to go, so I will talk to ya later.

Loves, Elder Silcock

August 31 Letter

Hey yall, so it sounds like it was a crazy week. But ya, I kinda had a low week as well. Our baptism fell through. We had some way crazy stuff come up. Too crazy to tell you now. So that was a bummer, along with some others, but I don't dwell on them. Because the Lord blessed us yesterday, we had a family come to Church and theya re all getting baptized right now. It was kind of a miracle, becuase we prayed to find a family and the Lord led us to one, so that cancels out all the bad I think, even though we didn'y have a baptism on Saturday.
(The next part refers to a building we own and are trying to decide what to do with it) But if you ask my opinion on what to do with the furniture store, either *********** (sorry, can't let you in just yet as to what our plans may be), would be way sweet, but that's just me, there are a lot of possibilities. So things are changin' in the Ward huh, that's good to hear, I guess, and don't worry about where you go because the Lord knows where you can go. (Skyler is referring to my release from my Stake Primary President calling this week) So Bryson gave a talk, huh. I'm glad that something I said touched him. I was really hoping something would. So anywase, that's pretty much my week and tell everyone I said hi, especially Scott. I need to get his address and write him a letter. So ya, I will be looking for the package. So ya, talk to ya later!!

Loves, Elder Silcock

Letter from President and Sister Merkley, Skyler's mission president and his wife

August 14, 2009

Dear Brother and Sister Silcock,

We are pleased to inform you that your son Elder Skyler K. Silcock has been called to be a "trainer" in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission. Elder Silcock has been called of the Lord to fullfill this assignment, for the Lord knows that he is qualified and capable to succeed in doing this work.

In this mission, the calling of "trainer" is the most sacred and important leadership position. We personally feel that the first few months in the life of a new missionary will generally determine his success as a missionary. Your son has accepted the responsibility to see that all is done, through the diligent use of the gifts with which he has been blessed, in the development of the new missionary.

Elder Silcock is a fine missionary and we are honored to serve with him. Please accept our personal thanks and appreciation for you and your family, and especially for your support of your son.

Sincerely,

President Richard E. and Betty Lu Merkley
OKLAHOMA TULSA MISSION

August 17 & 24 Letters

August 17

Well hey, what's up? Man, I'm glad I was sittin' down when you dropped that on me, holy cow! (One of Skyler's friends just got married, a big surprise because he had just returned home from serving his mission a couple of months ago because of an illness.) Anywase, I'm happy for Ben and I think I know the girl he married. Anywase, that's crazy, but ya, I'd like a Cat Country (local radio station) t shirt that's x -large, it would fit perfectly. And I didn't get the wedding invitation from Rebel, did you throw it in there, maybe I just didn't see it. But ya, if you see Ben, tell him I said hi and stuff, and ask him if he got my letter. Anywase, ya it's been a good week. Our one investigator, Ernie, said he would like me to baptize him, so that's awesome because it will be my first one. All the others were done by members. But ya, this is my first time trainin', it's way awesome. My comps name is Elder Sattler from Grantsville (by Tooele) Utah. Ya, we get along good, he is pretty funny. He has what I call the "baptism spirit", but ya it's all good. Anywase, tell everyone I said hi and stuff and I will talk to ya later.
By!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Skyler Silcock

August 24

(The first part of Skyler's letter is in reference to our last Friday events where Bob had to fill in for our Bishopric andwas needed to help a couple of families in our Ward that had accidents and were at the hospital.)

I'm tellin' ya, Dad is being prepared to be the next bishop whether he likes it or not. But ya, so that's cool you got to talk to some Southern Baptists about the gospel. They can either be really nice or really mean. But most of them are taught to either bash with us or something. So I'm glad that you were able to share the gospel with them, the thing with those people is it's not what you say, it's what you do. A lot of people are taught false things about us and so that's why they are so ignorant because they just don't know. So an example is so important for those people. They know you believe in Jesus Christ, which in Elder Perry's talk, the first time we share the gospel with someone is to testify of the Savior because a lot of people think we don't worship Jesus Christ. So the next thing you should talk about is the restoration. That is from an apostle, not me, and the last thing you will talk about is the Book of Mormon. That was in Elder Perry's last talk he gave at General Conference. Anywase, so how is McKay doin'? He is plannin' on serving a mission or did it take this accident to humble him? I hope he serves a mission. Well, trainin' is goin' good. We definitly got the "baptismspirit". We now have 5 investigators with baptismal dates, and will probably have 3 more at the end of the week along with a baptism this Saturday. So ya, the Lord is blessin' us, that's for sure. But ya, the accent here is ok. (I asked him if he had developed a southern accent.) A lot of people here retire from Chicago, so we get a lot of stiff necks up here that are old and arrogant. But you talk to the rednecks and they have an accent, it's pretty cool, and I think it's rubbed off on me, what do you figure! I will be looking for the package and here it doesn't matter when you send it, I will get it, so just send it when you can. I will go get some pants and stuff probably today, so thanks for that. It should be plenty. Anywase, I will talk to ya later, and thanks again for everything.
Loves, Elder Silcock