Alrighty! So I'm actually in Cape Gerardeuo(or something like that) today for exchanges for the next 2 days, but for the last week, I've been in Carbondale.
First off, today is not P-Day, but because Martin Luther King day was yesterday(Monday), we had no access to computers, and since it is a requirement to email every week, we get to spend some time Today(Tuesday) to email.
Anyway, let me tell you about Carbondale. It is a college town, where Southern Illinois University is the very heart of the city. The city itself has about 20,000+ permanent families that live here, and about another 17,000+ students that come in and out every semester. We live about 5 blocks from the University entrance and have access to a booth inside the school once a week; which is pretty cool! Our total area is actually pretty big...the church is in between Murpheysboro and Carbondale, and we have majority of Murphysboro in our area. The most northern city in our area is Dequin(Prenounced De-coin), which is 20 miles north of Carbondale. The most southern city is, I believe Dongola, which is about the same distance south of Carbondale. We cover quite a bit East and West, but no one really lives out there, so I don't know what the cities are called.
Our apartment is tiny. I didn't realize how small it really was, until we stayed at the apartment that the missionaries in Cape were staying at. It has 2 bedrooms, which we pretty much entirely fill one up with our two beds; the second room is where we do our studying. Our kitchen is extremely small...we have a microwave and a toaster oven that have to sit in the living room because there is no room for them in the kitchen(no complaints though...we work pretty well with what we have). We have a crockpot and a ton of pans, so don't worry about sending us any cooking supplies...I believe we have everything that we may need. Our dining room/Living room is really crammed cause the last missionaries left their bike in the middle of it, as well as some of their other supplies, so it is kind of a mess...oh well.
My companion is Elder Bassett. He's from Layton, Utah and has been out for 4.5 months. He is extremely motivated and loves to work, and trust me...we have gotten a lot of work done :) Anyway, he is training me, and so far we've worked really well together. He is a bit of a health nut, which I'm ok with...just means I have to deal with skim milk and whole wheat bread(I honestly don't mind lol). He actually was originally assigned to Chile but they sent him home in the MTC for medical leave...so this is his second attempt for a mission, and I think that is why he is so motivated to work as hard as he does. It's been great for us because we don't ever just sit around for anything. We are actually Whitewashing this area, which means that we are starting off completely new here...both of us, and because of this, our first week had nothing to go off of and nothing to really do, but we found things to do and were always busy, and it has paid off immensely! I'll share a bit more on that in a minute. So far, we have gotten along really well...Just bonded from the very beginning.
So just to tell you guys a little bit about our mission president. His name is President Stephen Clark. Him and Sister Clark used to live in Provo before being called to being the mission president. They have a daughter who suffered an extremely severe plane accident. They actually made a Mormon message about her and her accident. She was severely burnt and has received skin grafts to fix as much of her skin as possible. Since the accident, she has started a blog where she expresses how the Gospel has continued to change her life and help her cope with the pain of the accident, while raising a family and living in normal society. The blog is actually extremely famous and has changed many lives, with all the advice she gives to her followers. You can see the Mormon message on her here: http://bcove.me/vql1kayb. Sister Clark shows up in the video :) Anyway, President Clark was really nice while we stayed in their house, and I'm really excited to work with him!!!
Our first day, President Clark took us to the St. Louis temple and explained the story about the temple. The plot was originally owned by the Baptist church, where they used to have a school. Prayerfully, our church decided that the location for the St. Louis temple, was supposed to be in that location and approached the Baptist church about purchasing the lot. The Baptist church declined any offer, and told them that they would never sell the plot to our church. When the local members found out that they declined any offer, they began to pray for a miracle that may take place that would cause the land to be sold to the LDS church. Such an event happened. The baptists ran into financial trouble and decided that that lot was costing them too much money and put it up for auction. The LDS church put up a bid for it, but because they would not sell to us before, they completely declined the churches offer.
A local member who was extremely rich(he is the founder of the pixi stick...they call him Willie Wonka here) offered the baptist church $6,000,000 for the plot of land...The baptist church accepted under one condition; He was not allowed to ever sell the land to the LDS church. He accepted this condition, and handed them a check. Immediately after, he went to the church and gave the entire plot of land(that he just paid $6,000,000 for) to the church for free. Because the contract did not say that he couldn't give it away(because that is pretty much an unheard of act), it was a completely legal transaction. The miracle that the local members prayed for was completely full filled!!! So cool! :D
Anyway, let me tell you a little bit about the progress in our area. As I said we started out pretty much completely fresh. Neither of us knew the area, we didn't know any members or any investigators or anything. They did leave us with 2 sort of progressing investigators, but we haven't been able to meet with them, due to specific circumstances involved with each of those families. Now, less then a week later, our investigator pool is now 5. Let me explain who they are and how they are doing :)
The Stamm family: One of the families that the other missionaries did leave us. They are currently going through some personal legal issues that has them in a situation that they don't want to get us missionaries tied into. It is personal for them, so I won't share, but it is nothing that would prevent them from being able to continue to progress and be baptized. We haven't met them yet because of the situation, but President Bartholomew(ward mission leader) says they are pretty close to ready, and so I figure we just need to teach a couple lessons to refresh them, once things cool down and their family of 5 will be ready for baptism.
Shenika Hatcher: The other investigator that was left for us. She left for Chicago for the 3 day weekend break, so since she was gone we did not get a chance to meet her yet. We do know that she has received all the lessons, has been going to church regularly, but is struggling with understanding the BoM so we plan on just working with her to teach her how she can learn how to understand the Book more fully. Otherwise, she is ready. Just need to meet with her :)
Dillion Minks - 9 year old boy who has member parents. He's received the first lesson, so once we get the opportunity to teach him the rest of the lessons, he will be ready to baptize(And by his dad no less). His dad is way nice, and sat next to us during priesthood meeting. He has a speech problem, but is really funny, so we look forward to their family having us over :)
Kevin Klien - A media referral. Has a friend in Washington that he grew up with who is a member and told him to read the BoM. We called him(because the other missionaries hadn't bothered with his referral) and he offered to drive up to the church to meet with us...He lives in Dongola; That's a 45 minute drive! We gave him a church tour and told him a little bit about church and the members, then we started teaching the Restoration. He sucked it all up and understood everything... Like, he's seriously been prepared for us! We committed him to come to church next week, to read the BoM and pray about how true it is, and committed him to Baptism! He then told us "Every time I read this book[BoM], it's like it is talking to me"...It's amazing! He is already receiving revelation and everything!!! I'm really excited for him. We meet with him again Thursday.
Henry Dews - Another media referral. He called the number on one of our pass along cards, and I guess told the guy on the other line he wants to be baptized. We went over yesterday(during our P-Day time) and talked with him. He is about 60 years old and has lived a very hard life; He used to curse god, but he received some personal Revelation in his 20's that shaped him up and has drove him to do his best for the last 40 years. He is totally into history, and loves world religion. He has been looking into so many churches and desires to find the church that lines up to all the things that he knows God is, and that he knows Jesus Christ is. We taught him a tailored version of the restoration(not originally our plan...we just wanted to introduce the BoM to him) and included all the very specific historical events so that he was on board with what he was saying. As we taught, the lesson became more and more the lesson that I think Henry was looking for. He really appreciated everything we shared with him and for someone who knows so much history and so much scripture, the church fit exactly all the things he had been looking for. We committed him to read the BoM and we will be meeting him again next Tuesday!!! So exciting :)
Anyway, yeah...in 6 days, this is what we have been able to do...Not only that but we are booked out with appointments all the way into next week. Quite a good start, don't you think? :)
So the story behind me being in Cape. Actually, it's because Elder Bassett has leadership training, so he is going up to St Louis with the District leader who is in Cape, so me and the District Leader Buddy are now companions until tomorrow night, so I will be treading new territory for 2 days :S Anyway...I wanted to get pictures up, but I left my cord in Carbondale(I know...I'm sorry...) so I will remember next week...I promise!
Anything else?? Hmmm... The ward here is amazing! They sacrifice a ton for us, and we are so grateful!! I really enjoy getting a chance to meet and teach the members, because they really are so nice, and they teach us so much. They are a really dedicated ward!
My new address is
514 S Wall St Apt #11
Carbondale, Il 62901
So send your letters there. I haven't received many so yeah, write me so I know what to say in future letters and emails :)
Also, if you send a package, if there is a way to make them hold it at the Post office or something, that's what you should do. Our door step is super easy to see from the street, and I'm sure it wouldn't take too much to convince someone of swiping it away from us. If not, then I'm sure it will be ok...Just better safe then sorry. Also, I will be in this area for 3 months, and possibly more then that. I'll let you know when I find out :)
Anyway, got missionary work to go do...hopefully this long letter is sufficient enough for everyone :) I love you all!!
Elder Tyler Robinson
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