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