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

August 10 Letter

Holy cow, it sounds like a lot has happened back home. I can't believe that Reble is gettin' married, wow that's crazy. I'm anxious to see it (the invitiation) now. Anywase, we had a pretty good week. Transfer calls were Saturday and I'm going to be training a new missionary. It will be fun, I'm looking forward to it. But ya, we had a pretty cool week, we were able to set 2 baptismal dates this week. One of them was a member referral, we basically didn't have to do anything, but teach the guy because it was at the members home. We set a date with him after we taught him the first time which was the plan of salvation. After the lesson, the Spirit prompted me to invite him to be baptised, so I did, and he accepted. He is really excited to be baptized and loves the Church. But ya, it was way good. And I'm glad my letter made Bryson's day, hope it will make a difference, just keep me posted with him, ok! Anywase, that's about it for the week, and I will look for your package either Wednesday or Thursday, and I think I will just get the pants here, that way I will know they fit me, you know. So anywase, tell Grandma I got her package, it was really good. Anywase, I think that's about it so I will talk to ya later, ok! Thanks for everything.
Loves, Elder Silcock

August 3 Letter

Hey what's up! So it sounds like things are the same ol same ol. Ya, I got the package, thanks for that. I can't believe how much everybody is changin'. Like Jake, he looks likea grown man, it's crazy, I can't believe it. And Shilo is doin' good, so is Trevor Searle, he comes home November 3 or something like that. You know what's crazy, I was just thinkin' about Bryson this week, I actually felt like I should write him a letter, so I guess I will. Anywase, I will just send the letter to Bryson to you so you can give it to him. Anywase, tell everyone I said hi and I'm looking forward to your letter (*I'm sending Skyler a detailed letter about my time at Education Week at BYU-Idaho last week, woohoo!!!), and I will just tell ya all my stories when I get home. Anywase, talk to ya later, hope I didn't forget anything.

Loves, Elder Silcock

July 27 Letter

Hey y'all! What's up? Glad to hear everything's going good that way, nice to know. we had a busy week which is way good. We had exchanges with the assistants which was cool. We were able to set 2 baptismal dates with people this week which was way sweet. The one guy is just golden but the only problem is that he is sick a lot because he is recovering from a heart attack. Anywase, that was cool. But ya, we had some pretty cool teaching experiences this week. One of them was when we were leaving a less active members house and Elder Clark heard a lady crying (I couldn't hear it because you know I'm because I'm deaf, so it's a good thing he is serving with me, haha) and he was like "Elder, should we go talk to her?" and I was like "Uh, ya!" so we did. It was wau cool becuase we told her that we felt prompted and inspired to come and see her and that we were represetatives of Jesus Christ, and then she started crying and opended up to us. This was Elder Clark's first time ever experiencing this, so he was kinda scared, so I kinda did most of the talking. Basically we taught her that she was a daughter of God and that Jesus christ knew what she was going through (she was having a lot of problems with her family and other things and was very devastated). You could tell she appreciated it and that she knew that God loved her no matter what, you know. Anywase, it was way cool. we are going back to see her on Saturday. But ya, there have been a lot of miracles happening here. So everbody is excited, it's cool, I like it. But ya, you know how my patriarchal blessing says how my work ethic will inspire my companions, well, Elder Clark is kind of a layed back missionary and he has never jumped 6 feet (meaning teaching 40 lessons a week or getting 140 otm's which are street contacts) so he was relly excited, I saw him change you know, he became more dilligent. So it was way cool. We worked really hard and saw a lot of miracles and that made him excited too. He told me that his faith grew this week. So it's been a rewarding past couple of weeks. Anywase, I might need some money for some new pants because some of my pants are just falling apart now and it's only been in the last week, and I don't care what you say, I still feel bad. But they have a Stage retail store, it's like a TJ Maxx you know, so they have nice name brand clothes for discount prices a lot like a JC Penney. So I figured I'd just buy some pants there, they should last a couple more months. Anywase, I will talk to ya later. Ok, thanks for everything. By.

Loves, Elder Silcock

July 20 Letter

Hey what's up, and ya, I got the pictures on saturday and man, everybody has changed a loy, holy cow! Man, I can't believe Anniston has hair that long, it's just wierd, I've missed out on all of it, dang! Anywase, just a regular week for me too. It seems like it just flew by, I don't know where it went, but you know I guess that's supposed to happen. But ya, the new mission president is way cool. He is very loving and there is a big difference between him and President seal. President Merkley is very humble and loving while on the other hand President seal was very bold and at the same time loving. Just cool how people can have 2 different Christlike attributes but still be loving, you know it's cool, I think.

(* I am leaving out this part of Skyler's letter because I didn't think you would be interested in his detailed list of things he needs. Although I do think it is funny that he wants me to send him some Isagenix drink mixes for weight loss. He is worried that he will be coming back fat and wants to be able to fit into all of his old clothes! Anyway, back to his letter.) but ya, I think that's about it for now, so I will talk to ya next week. And oh, remember the Chapman's in Springfield? Well, they are still making chicken and dumplings and when I went to Springfield to Zone conference I stopped by and they gave me some left overs. So that was way sweet, anywase, just thought you would like to know that, haha!!!
Loves, Elder Silcock

July 13 Letter

Hey what's up? About the stuff you could send me, I could probably use some white shirts. And I don't know how the whole ctr clothing thing works, but some of my sirts are pretty worn and stuff, so I could probably use some new ones and I like the ones they gave me because they are athletic fit and I like it, so maybe you could figure something out there. But I'd rather get them from there than from another store, you know what I mean. Anywase, I think that's it. And I can't relly think about what to say for the family reunion, just tell them I'm too busy to tell stories, so I will save them for when I get home. Anywase, tell everyone I said hi and stuff. that's so cool that all the reservoirs are over 100% full, definitly a blessing. Anywase, I got to go so hopefully I'm not leaving anything out, there is just not much to talk about. We are gonna meet the Merkley's (new mission president) for the first time this Thursday, so that's cool, looking forward to that. I guess they are changing things around quite a bit, so it's kind of a weird transition right now. Anywase, I will talk to ya later.
Loves, Elder Silcock

July 6 Letter

Hey what's up, man, that was a long email. (I re-sent last weeks to Skyler so he got it this time) Sounds like there is alot of drama in that Ward back home. You know it's funny of all the people that should be in there to handle the situation it should be Dad. Because he will be staight up with ya and won't take any crap from anybody and that is the Christ like attribute of humility!! That's why I think Dad could easily be a bishop. Dad is on good relations with the ward (for the most part). Anywase you can just see why Dad is in there right now. Anywase that's good that Chris is gettin' his house started. Man 6 months before it's done, man if he doesn't hurry and build it that means I might have to help build it, tell him to hurry, haha!! Ya, anywase we didn't really do anything fun on the 4th. You see, us, as missionarys don't get holidays off, apparently we should be able to get into homes and teach families. Well I'm not gona put a limit on God, but man, on holidays nobody wants to hear us, but we sill go out and try, you know the whole faith and works principle. So anyways I'm just glad it's my last 4th of July on my mission. But ya, we still had a pretty good week. The area is very pretty. There are alot of big hills, I guess you and I would call them buttes, but here they call them mountains, haha! And it's really green just like all my other areas, and Mt. Home is the same size as Burley, so sometimes it makes me feel at home, kinda funny, huh. But ya, I like it here and oh ya, I'm driving a car now after all I went through to get my bike fixed, haha!! Anywase I still use my bike alot, my comp, Elder Clark is from Flagstaff, Arizona and he is about as big as me, but about an inch shorter and 20 or 30 pounds lighter(I have more muscle than him) and he wants to be a Marine when he gets home, so I use my bike every once in a while to help get him prepared. Let's put it this way, he has a long way to go, but hey, small and simple things, right. But ya, he is really fun we get along great. But ya, hope I dint leave anything out. Anywase hope you have a good week and hope everything gets settled between the Teeters and the Downs'. Anywase, talk to ya later.
ok, by!!

p.s
Dad, if you get a truck I would prefer you get a 7.3 because that was Fords best diesel. The reason I say don't get the 6.0 is because, yes, they do have problems and are not as reliable as a 7.3. Now they can be fixed, but I know you wouldn't want to put those aftermarket parts on a truck to fix it. So I think your best bet is to get a 7.3. And if i were you I would buy the truck and depending on how many miles it has, rebuild the transmission and the engine(and this is if it has say more than 150,000 miles on it). The reason I say that is because the 7.3 is indeed a work truck and people tend to use it just like you use your truck. Now this is just cheap insurance. If you did that, have a rebuilt engine and transmission + all the other powertraine and suspension systems, it would be a brand new truck and be more reliable than the one you would buy brand new from a dealer. Now that's just my opinion you don't have to listen to me, but that's what I want to do when I get home because it can be cheaper to buy a used truck and put, I don't know, $10,000 + or - into it, you can still end up on top if you know the right people which I know you do. And if you did go buy a 6.0 there are afermarket parts for it that still keep it reliable and if you talk to the techs at the Ford dealership they will install it for you so it won't void the warranty. Now that's just some dealerships. I don't know if they are all like that. But some of these aftermarket parts are better than stock and are more reliable. The 6.0 is a very good engine and have been out now since 2003 so there are companys that know alot about them and what their faults are, it's just a matter of researching what ever you feel like doing. And no matter what you do, your truck could still end up in the shop even a 7.3. For example your truck hasn't had too many problems, but someone else who does might have had several problems with them. So you see it's a gamble no matter which way you go. But anywase don't just listen to me, there are people out there who know more than I do this is just my opinion and it would make since to me to do the 7.3. and oh, if you do the 7.3, I don't know if it will get the gas mileage your 6.0 does, but again there is the aftermarket and it won't be too much different than yours, but I'm pretty sure they could get less, don't take my word for it. Anywase, good luck buyin' your next truck! Talk to ya later. If your have anymore questions you can write me or have Mom email me. So, talk to ya later.

June 29 Letter - Skyler's transfer

Hey what's up. Glad you got my packages, that was all of them. The one is full of letters and the other is full of ties and the other clothes I won't wear on a mission, haha!! Anywase here is my new address:

229 Hillcrest Rd.
Mountain Home, AR 72653

So ya, you better wright me and send me pics and stuff now, now there is no excuse, haha. Anywase today is kinda wierd. I'm driving a car again, wierd, we get a new mission president today, wierd, and some of my past companions went home this last weekend with transfers. Man it's wierd, everything is changing here. I got to stop in Springfield and say hi to some people on the way to Mt. Home, so that made it all worth it. But that's pretty much been my week, good but just plain weird. It's amazing how things change so quickly. Anywase hope things are goin' good for y'all because I never got an email from ya (* just a note to our readers to let you know we did send an email, but for some reason Skyler didn't get it, go figure, I hate it when that happens!!) and by the way I ended up just fixing my bike, it wasn't reasonable to buy a new one and with the money I saved I was able to send that stuff home which I've been needing to send home for forever. Anywase, I will be looking for the letters and pictures and stuff. Talk to ya later!
Loves, Elder Silcock

June 22 Letter

Hey, what's up? So it sounds like a crazy week from the sounds of things. Hope things get settled ok for Sterling and the Downs', you know, because they are all nice people. Speaking of the Downs' there is a member here who served with Shane Downs and he called him when we ate out, it was crazy, it's a small world. Anywase tell Dave and Connie to look for Elder Crosby from Springfield. He is serving in Salmon right now, cool beans, huh, it's a small world. Oh ya, I almost forgot to tell ya I'm getting transfered again. I'm going to Mt. Home Arkansas, which is in the same Stake Springfield is in, which means for Zone Conference and maybe Stake Conference I'm going back to my other home, hahah!!! I thought it was kinda sweet but it could be tough you know. Anywase, I think that's about all, so I will let you go, so tell everybody I said hi and stuff, so by!
Loves, Elder Silcock

June 15 Letter

(*In this letter Skyler talks about a friend of his, Ben Field, who just recently came home early from his mission in Africa because he developed malaria and had complications.)

Well ya, we had a pretty good week. A lot of appointments fell through, so we got around to see some less actives and stuff, so it was good. Elder Robinson and I get along great. He is a pretty cool guy, not bad for a utard, haha!! Anywase thanks for the money for the bike. I almost couldn't take it anymore because everytime I turned around something was wrong with it. But I got a guy that will take me to the bike store to hook me up, so cross your fingers. Man I can't believe Ben is home, that is crazy, I feel bad for him. That would be so hard to deal with because I know he was so excited to go and serve. I hope he still gets a chance to go back out, but I bet if they do they will send him state side. But anywase tell the Field's I said hi and stuff and ya try to get Ben's address for me, I think I have it but you know, whatever, just to make sure you know. Anywase nothing new is really happening here just gettin' ready for the new mission president. We're all anxious to see what he will be like. But anywase, thanks again for everything and tell everyone I said hi.
Loves, Elder Silcock

Hey, what's up. Sounds like you had a pretty good week. Mine was fast and they just keep getting faster. Anywase about the whole thunder thing, I usually don't go inside till I get soaked by the down pore, and if there are tornados outside, I don't care about the rain, haha!!. Anywase, I guess I don't have a whole lot to report on either but we had our last zone conference with President and Sister Seal, it was kinda sad. We will get to see President Seal 1 more time but not Sister Seal. I just can't believe where the time goes you know, holy smokes. Anyways, PresidentSseal told us he talked to like a general authority or a seventy or something about our miraculous month and the general authority said that that had never been done in this part of the country, no other mission like ours has done that before, sweet huh. Anywase tell every one I said hi and stuff and that its ok to write me, I haven't gotten any mail for like a month which I don't care what Chris says about that. Anywase hope to hear from everybody soon, it's just nice to know that everybody is still alive and that they haven't forgot about me. So talk to ya next week. Loves, Elder Silcock

June 1 Letter

Hey how's it goin'. Sounds like a pretty interesting week and stuff. I still haven't seen pics of Meg pregnant and by the way, I did get your package Saturday because one of our investigators works for UPS and me and him are tight, so he gets my packages for me, and he collects John Deere stuff, sweet!! Anywase, ya my area is pretty sweet. I don't know what you want to hear about it, it's just like any other part in the US or my other areas. It's really green and humid. So nothing spectacular. But ya, we had some way awesome sweet miracles in the mission in May. We had a grand total of 116 baptisms in one month. President Seal was pretty emotional because this is what he has been shooting for the whole time he was out here, so we were all pretty excited. Needless to say it was nothing more than a miracle. I just can't believe the Seals leave the first week of July, that's crazy, time is flying, holy cow. But ya, we set a baptismal date with a 9 yr old kid on Saturday. The rest of his family is less active, but they are the nicest people you'll ever meet. We finally got them to come to church and nobody believed us when we said they were coming. I had people in the ward come up to me and say "Hey, good job on getting them here." So that made me feel good inside, you know. But it was way funny, on Saturday night, when I set the date, I was like "So Matthew, do you have any questions", and so he asked a few questions and I was like "Anything else you wanna ask?" and with all seriousness he said, "How much does it cost?" and everybody just started laughing, it was funny!! So ya, we should have a few more baptisms coming up. You know, Mom, people told me before I went on my mission that I probably wouldn't see as many baptisms, and they are right, but we as a mission, are seeing a lot of baptisms and every thing a missionary does counts, so I probably won't see a lot of baptisms, but we as a mission will!! I think a lot of people would be surprised of how much more work there is to do here, we need more troops. But anywase, have you had any missionary opportunities lately? But ya, I got to go, so talk to ya later and tell everyone I said hi and that it's alright to write me letters every ounce in a while.
Loves, Elder Silcock

May 25 Letter

Hey, how's it goin'? Congrats on your baby Meg and Dayne, tell Alli I said hi, haha!! and I'm looking forward to some pics. And for the rest of your email, those pics I sent y'all were pics of members. I wrote on the back, and I got a letter back that had some more pics I had sent. So I will get them sent to y'all. I can't think of anything else to put in my package just lots of love. My comp now is Elder Robinson from Utah, he is pretty cool, we get along good. So how fast were the winds that came through the other day? Just courious. Anywase, so Cole has been having problems with a few kids at school. I say let him kick their butts! I know he could. I don't care how big they are! That family has no right to just walk all over my family. Anywase, love your enemies, right!!! Oh well, hopefully nothing happens and everything gets taken care of. Well things are goin' good here. It's gonna be a good month for baptisms, so that will be good and then in July President Seal goes home. Man time flys, doesn't it! Wow!!! Anywase have a good one. I got to go, tell everyone I said hi and stuff. So talk to ya later, loves,
Elder Silcock

May 18 Letter

Hey, what's up? And ya, about my Duty To God letter, I sent it last week, but it didn't go through, so I will re-send it, and as far as packages we have an investigator who works for UPS and he pics them up for me, so as of now you can send them anytime. And if your thinkin' about church movies the best thing you could do is just send me the money because we actually have a LDS book store here in our area and they have every movie and thing you can think of, you know. But anywase, we did have the 2 baptisms on Saturday, it was awesome. So now I'm up to 3. Just pray for my mission, Mom, we are trying hard to double convert baptisms and we are shooting for over 100 for the month of May, so we need as many miracles as we can get right now. I think Elder Jurgensmyer told me we had about 60, so that's way awesome. But ya, Elder Siola'a is gettin' transferred to the other side of Springdale. We will still be in the same district, cool hugh! So I'm getting a new companion, Elder Robinson, who I think is from Utah, so it should be interesting. But anywase, hope y'all get the move done and stuff. So I will talk to ya later and keep it up with the missionary opportunities. Sometimes you really have to come out of your shell but you feel like a stud afterwards. So I will talk to ya later and could you do me a favor? (1) I would like to get Lauren's address and (2) could you send some pics of me from high school because some of the elders here don't believe I was that skinny you know. But anywase, talk to ya later. Loves, Elder Silcock

April 27 Letter

Hey, so sounds like a pretty crazy week. And it sounds like things are changin' fast back home. It won't be the same when I get home you know. But ya, 2 more weeks and I get to talk to ya again, that's crazy. But ya um, let's see, a list of movies I already have, well, The Restoration, Together Forever, Finding Faith In Christ, Lamb of God, and Joy To The World. I think that's it. Oh, and The Best 2 Years. So ya, that will give you something to work with and my comps first name is Tevita which in translation means "David" and his last name "Siola'a" means "sunflower" so he really likes Davids Sunflowr seeds. They don't have them in Tonga and he likes sunflower seeds, pretty funny I think, haha!! Anywase, so did Kyle change physicaly at all, you know? Anywase, tell the punk I said "Hi", haha!! Anywase, sounds like things are goin' good back home and everybody is doin good. Has Dad lost weight yet? haha!! Well, I have, but I haven't, because I put muscle on really easy! So right now I weigh about on average, we will say, 270 and all my clothes still fit the same and some of them even looser, so I don't know what to tell ya! Everybody says that they think I weigh like 240, so I don't know. Well, I will talk to ya later. Hope I didn't forget anything, so by.
Love, Elder Silcock

April 21 Letter

Hey what's up? So you had a crazy week, that's awesome. So it sounds like you learned a valuable lesson at conference. The Lord blesses us when we open our mouths. I don't know why we are so supprised when He does. He says He will do it you know. But anywase, just another normal week for us. We set a baptismal date with an investigator on, like, Tuesday. So that was cool. And we have a few more people we are gonna try to baptise this transfer as well. One of our investigators, get this, collects John Deere tractors too! So we have a tight bond. He is the only non-member in his family and he has been an eternigator. So maybe that's one reason I've been sent here, you never know. But ya, we will be looking for your package on Thursday and yes I got grandma's package. Tell her thanks a bunch. And ya, I was gonna get some pics for ya today but wolly world's comps were down, so I didn't get the chance. But hey, I will talk to ya later so, love you. By,
Elder Silcock

April 13 Letter, Skyler's been Transferred, Again!

Well, Easter was great. I got stuffed. But my new area is sweet and we have a full excercise gym here that we use, so I excercise with the missionaries here for 1 hour every morning. It's awesome, so hopefully I can lose a few of those un-wanted pounds, you know. But ya, we share an apartment with the Spanish elders, so that is way fun. There are a lot of Spanish and Marshalise people here. So I'm lovin' it here, I really can't complain. Elder Siolaa is way cool! He still doesn't speak very good English and stuff, so it's way awesome, because I just took it for granted, you know. But we get along great. He is a really hard worker and hard to keep up with on the bike, ha,ha!! And he is really funny. So ya, his family is still in Tonga and that's why he doesn't get much mail, you know it's expensive. But ya, just whatever you want to send I think he would really appreciate it. But let's see, oh, on Thursday, the day before transfers, we had a bad tornado and thunder storm (and you might have seen it on the news) but Mena, Arkansas got destroyed by a tornado, and yes it's in our mission, and yes I know the missionaries that were there. They said their house was destroyed, but they were ok. So now I'm jealous because they got to experience an f-4 tornado that was at least a mile wide. But ya, I was out tracting during the storm and there was a sweet funnel cloud behind us and some guy driving by in his truck insisted that we get in his truck and he took us to some members houses. But I got that on video and stuff and then like 30 minuts later it was really dark outside and the sky was a dark green, so there was another tornado close by. But I didn't see it, dang it, but it was sweet. But ya, just thought I'd let you know. But I'm trying to figure out how to send videos. I have made some, you know. That's what I'm waiting on, but I promise you will get pics 1 way or another. But as for now "nofo a" which means good by in Tongan.
Loves, Elder Silcock

April 6 Letter

Well, I got some news for you... I'm getting transferred, ha,ha! It's crazy, I'm so used to these 7 month areas you know. I'm actually goin' to serve with a Tongan, myself. (One of Skyler's friends, who is serving in Argentina, is now serving with his second Tongan comp). Elder Siolaa, which is pronounced (see oo la ah) for all you who don't know how to pronounce it. So that will be cool, and I'm serving in Harbor, Arkansas, which is in Springdale, which is right by Fayettville and Bentonville. And my suggestion, don't send the package yet, and send Elder Siolaa a big package, because he doesn't get much mail and he would appreciate it more than me, you know. So please get him something worthwhile, plus, I don't even need anything special, so that gives you another reason to spoil him. Anyhow, I got the address for ya, its:

4193 Links Dr. Apt. 206
Springdale, Arkansas
72762

and ya, I was supposed to go to the dentist, but I canceled because my appointment was at 8 and I thought it was at 10, and I guess it was a 2 hour thing that they were gonna do to my tooth, so that I was like, no way, I'll just pull it out, that's rediculous you know. And our ride couldn't come get us any earlier because we had to drive 30 minuts to the dentist, so you know how that goes. So I will just wait till it falls out or till I get to an area that has a dentist that will do it for cheap or somethin' it's like they think that us missionaries are made of money or somethin' you know. So, hopefully I'm savin' you some money. But, then again, I need to get my bike fixed again because my rear rim is toast. I think I should be able to survive in Springdale because it's for the most part flat and that's good, (because I don't have rear brakes). But, when it gets down to the point that I can't ride it I will let you know. So how high did Clinton jump? I would kinda like to know. Anywase, what did you find out with Meg? Anything? Are things stayin' busy at the shop and on the dairy farms? Oh, and we set a baptismal date with Rolland Nelson, one of our investigators, for May 9. He is excited for it. What's cool was last week we gave him a ride to church because he can't drive and this weekend he told us he was goin' campin' with his family and wouldn't be there on Sunday, but we prayed that he would be there anywase, and of coarse (with our faith) he was there. We said, "How did you get here?" and he said, "I walked here!!!" Now that is faith! He walked nearly 4 miles up hill to church and he is not even a member yet! Is that sweet or what. Too bad I won't get to see him get baptised, same with Liz. She just needs to quite smoking, which she is close. She slipped a few times last week so we have to reset a date with her. Overall we have about 10 investigators, so hopefully that answers your question. But anywase, don't forget about that package and stuff you know. But anywase, tell everyone I said hi and tell Nathan Brown he needs to write me and Shilo Hawks, he needs to write me. I sent off a letter to them last week, so hopefully they will write me, you know, ha,ha!!! Those slakers, ha,ha!! Well anywase, I'm still fixin' to get y'all some pictures and stuff, I haven't forgot ya!!! But I will talk to y'all later, most likely next week! But hey, take care!
Love y'all. By. Elder Silcock

March 30, Letter

Well, how's it goin'? Sounds like a pretty exciting week. Well, the same here. And no, the storm didn't turn out like it should have, it never does. We just had lightning and a little bit of hail. But I guess today, according to someone I talked to on the street, it is supposed to be pretty nasty, but we will see. But we set a baptismal date yesterday with an investigator for April 12, kind of a cool day, don't you think. We will see how it goes because she is trying to quit smoking, so, ya. But I have faith, so I don't worry. Then, lets see, we had 2 investigators at church. One was Liz, the one I just told you about, and the other is Rolland Nelson, and we will set a date with him on Wednesday when I see him. And don't worry Mom, Elder Brady says he thinks I'm a pretty humble missionary, but I don't know, that's just what he says, haha!! I'm serious! That's what he says! So ya, it was a pretty good week. Elder Brady is doin' awesome and he says hi. And you know what's crazy? General Conference is this weekend and that means this transfer is almost over. Where the heck does the time go? Holy smokes! But I'm excited for GC, it should be pretty interesting. But since transfers are almost here, I don't know if I will be stayin' or goin', because Elder Brady wants to stay here and he wants to go senior companion, and I think it would be good for him to go senior companion. But I don't think he will do any better by me stayin', so I think when I talk to president tommorrow, I'm gonna see if I can go, not because I want to, but because I need to. And that all depends on if Elder Brady stays or goes. And usually if a missionary wants to stay (and in his case, go senior comp) then he will probably stay. But if he does, I'm happy for him, he has really pushed himself and he has a heart of gold. So we will see on Saturday where we will be goin'. So how is Brother Ringle doin'? That guy was cool. His son was pretty cool too, it's just crazy that it (a car acident) happened on the way home, you know, that's tough. I played with his son in football, that's crazy. So, I'm glad to hear that the Spjute family are doin' good. That's just awesome, they deserve something like that you know. It just makes me feel good to think about it. And now Savanna is pregnant, that's crazy! Holy cow, everybody is just growing up. So Clinton already came to Arkansas, huh. That's too bad he took 8th. What was the competition like? Did he jump as high as he normaly does or what? And I don't think they make sugar free bbq sauce, and I won't eat it any other way. You can make things healthier, but don't mess with my sauce, ha,ha! I'm scared I might not recognize Dad because he will be so skinny when I get home, ha,ha!!! So how much does he weigh, so I can see how much fatter he is than me, ha,ha!!! Well dang, tell everyone I said hi, and tell the snow I said hi, (I miss it) you could probably send it my way if you want, ha,ha! Well, I guess I will let you go. So talk to ya later!
Loves, Elder Silcock

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

February 9 Letter

Hi Friends,
Sorry about the long wait.  We have had a few technical problems and we are finally able to post Skyler's latest later.  Thanks for checking back.

February 9, 2009

     Hey, how's it going? Sounds like things have been going good down there. Steph said she was worried about the farm in her email, but with a little bit of faith and the will of the Lord they will be ok.  But I know things will get better.  Man, don't remind me it's been a year! That's just crazy. I don't know where the time goes, you know.  Today was cool, we went bowling with one of our investigators named Ryan Klebe.  I set a record for myself, bowling a 157, woo hoo!!! So that was coool! As for our baptisms last week, they didn't happen.  Remembr the elderly couple I told you about.  Ya, well Richard, the husband, he has cancer in 6 organs and had a doctors appointment that week and told the doctor he was getting baptized and the doctor said "No your not.", so that was devastating. We just have to wait for his health to get better.  So it is but one trial of faith for us, so that must mean we are gonna have more success.  But ya, that's cool you got to meet Elder Jerginsmyer's mom.  She told ya about our miracle, huh. Ya, it's pretty cool.  What happened was in December (I can't remember if i told you we had a 40 day mission fast so that we would have 100 baptisms for Dec.), well, it ended and we didn't come close, we had like 40. Isn't it ironic!  Well, the next day, President Seal got a call from the area Seventy, saying, your mission will be getting 14 new missionaries.  That's on top (I think) of what was coming in, so we will have 14 more missionaries. So President Seal said "Why? Why are they sending them? What for?",  and the area Seventy said "Bcause the First Presidency said that there are people in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission that need baptized".  Isn't that cool! So you see we had a miracle in a very different way, awesome, huh.  So those missionaries will be coming out at the end of February.  So you never know, I might be training one of them.  Anywase, things are going good. As for the ice storms, we only had like maybe half an inch, so it wasn't bad at all. But then we got like 4" of snow, that was the most snow I had seen since I was home.  But ya, now the weather is about 70 degrees and tomorrow a chance of thunderstorms and most likely, you betcha, TORNADOS!!!!!!! So maybe I will see one.  Oh, and be careful when you compliment me, it might just go to my head, ha ha, just kidding!!!! Tell Dad his letter didn't count. I could barely read it, ha ha!!!! Ya, I got it laminated the other day and put it in a sheet protector. That thing is worth some money.  I said to Elder Sholle when I got it in the mail "Do you know what this is Elder? You have no idea! It's a letter from my Dad! Is that crazy or what? Wow, I do believe in miracles!!!  I don't think he fully understood, you know what I mean. Anywase, elder Sholle says hi as well.  As for b-day stuff, I don't know, ties, I guess and oh, I could use like a new John Deere shirt, my other one shrunk, so if so, get me a xlt in that as well, but if all else fails, just put some money in my account because I might want like a new camera or a gps if I ever get a car! You can never go wrong with ties, you know, and oh, I might need a new pair of shoes, you know like some work shoes.  You could probably send the ones I wore back home, my Nikes that are worn out. They are comfy, anywho, I don't know what I want for my b-day, I'm already blessed. But ya, maybe you could think of something I need, I don't know.  Gift cards are fine, but when I get transferred I don't know where I will go to. I might get transferred to Chacota, Oklahoma(that's where Carrie Underwood is from), it's a really small town, so you know what I mean.  But hey, maybe I'm wrong, I'm sure if you gave me something I could  find good use for it.  Oh, tell Dad he has to send me some duck and goose jerky. I haven't had wild game for ever. I'm gonna go crazy!!!! Anywase, talk to ya later.
love, Elder Silcock

Some recent pictures!

Skyler called this his "pet" brown recluse!

Do you think we will ever get a picture

of Skyler where he isn't showing off????

This pic speaks for itself!

Taking time to enjoy the Nativity Celebration!

Skyler, Elder Scholer,

a Ward friend - J.D. and his little bro

Yes, Skyler's t-shirt really does say

"Fear The Poo"! A Springfield missionary tradition is to get
a t-shirt from Kickapoo High School!

January 12 Letter

         Hey, thanks for your email.  So, they finnaly got the mortuary open, huh. You'll have to send me pics of the finished product.
       Anywase, that's good to hear that there should be enough moisture. I don't know why I worry about it.  I guess that's what I get from Dad, and I guess that's just the farmer in me (ha, ha)!  You know, that's what I tell everybody I'm gonna do when I get home, is be a farmer, because, hey, that's what I wanna do(ha,ha)!        Anywase, this week has been good.  Found out that I'm gonna be staying here in Springfield another transfer.  SWEET!!! That will put me here in Springfield for 7.5 months, that's just in this ward.  So I will reach my b-day and my year mark in Springfield, awesome, huh!
       So ya, funny story. You mentioned Lindsey, well the other day I was on exchanges with the zone leaders and Elder Wride, the one with me, saw my picture of Nick and asked who it was. So I gave him my speell and he said "I was reading in the church news a few months ago about a missionary who died named Spjute" and I instantly knew what he was talking about and went and grabbed Lindsey's funeral program thing and I said "Is this who you are talking about?"  He said "Ya, that is so crazy. How did you know her?"  So I told him (that Lindsey was my sister's roomate), and he said, get this, "Her brother was my MTC companion".  Is that crazy or what?  It's just a small world.  So ya, I thought I would tell you that.
       So how was the wedding? I need to see pics of them. I never got a wedding invitation, I kinda feel left out, oh well.  Anywase, thanks for all the advice. Talk to ya later. love ya, by!!!!!!!!!!!  Elder Silcock

January 5, 2009

           Hey, thanks for the email.   Sounds like a lot of stuff has happened.  I still can't believe he (Skyler's cousin, Clinton)is getting married.  That is so crazy.  Did they send me an invitation?  Because I would sure like to see a picture of them.  Anywase, so another storm is about to hit, huh. That's good. So are they getting the moisture they need and stuff or will it just look like we are getting enough moisture (you know what I mean)?  Anywase, New Years was good.  We went to the Crosby's like I told you and had what they call bonya cata and I really liked it. It was good.  We had to wear our p-day clothes because the smell of garlic was so strong.  It was crazy, but it was really good!  But ya, reflecting back on my patriarchal blessing, the part where it says "many will find peace from your teachings", well, one of our investigators has been going through a lot of trials and then we met her. So we shared with her the Book of Mormon and taught her a bunch of stuff and it really made a big difference in her life and stuff.  Well, one day she said "You will have to come over and meet my sister.  She is coming here to visit from Texas and she is going through some of the same things that I'm going through and she is thinking about changing religions like me".  So I was like "ok, we can do that".  So we came over a couple of days later and met her sister and the first thing she does when she meets me is gives me a big hug and said "Casey(our investigator)has told me a lot about you and all this stuff".  So we sat down and started teaching.  Casey says "Chris(Casey's sister), I have found a lot of peace in what they have shared with me.  That's why I am so different".  It was cool to see that people in Casey's family noticed a difference in her and wanted to know what it was.  So that was way cool.  But when she said that she had found peace in things we had taught her I instantly remembered my blessing and it gave me comfort knowing that I must be doing something that the Lord wants me to do, ya know. So it was awesome to hear that. But ya, Casey will be baptized some day. She is so close and way awesome. Their actually feeding us tonight, so that will be awesome.  Another thing I've noticed in my blessing is where it says the spirit will speak to you in your heart and in your mind.  I guess for me I've always struggled, trying to recognize those times, and so I started acting upon those promptings from the spirit when I had thoughts or feelings, and good things came from them.  It was way sweet.  So anywase, I'm not gonna apologize for being preachy, because that's what I'm called to do.  But ya, I liked the story of Nick, it was way awesome.  I've even showed it to a few members here.  One of the members will probably be writing you soon, I'd imagine, just as soon as I give her our home address.  Anywase, looking forward to your letter and stuff. Hopefully I didn't forget to tell you anything. Until next week, happy trails! 
Love, Elder Silcock