August 30, 2010

Elder Robbins trained us this past week. It was a very good conference. I will share notes when I get home. He did tell us that Elder Bednar would be coming next month to train us. I am very excited.

President Church gave a lesson in a combined Preiesthood and Relief Society class. He mentioned that we were sharing a lesson with the members to help them find someone to have us teach by Thanksgiving. We have been stopping by whenever we can and leaving notes on their car, or front door to remind them that we were praying for them. He said that after we gave him and his wife the lesson, they have continued to pray and make covenants and his wife had her first missionary experience ever the other day! She came home very excited. Hopefully the members will continue to have missionary experiences and this area can get going.

Brother Frazier, a returning less-active member, brought one of his friends to church. His name is tommy. He came a few weeks ago during a fast and testimony meeting but he wasn't so sure about it. He wasn't used to different people going up to the stand and talking. But he enjoyed this past Sunday and we are going to teach him the first lesson on Friday.

That is all for this week. Love ya.

-Elder Oliekan

August 23, 2010

We had stake conference yesterday for the Birmingham stake. President Church was called to the presidency... He will still be the Branch President until they call someone new. It is a little discouraging becasue he is wanting to get missionary work going here but the Lord needs him there now.

We have started visiting some of the members and sharing a lesson with them to help them more with their missioanry work. We are having them pray for someone to share the gospel with by a certain date that they will pick. We will see what happens. It is looking like this area may be closing.

Nothing else really to report. It is just slow. Elder Robbins from the 70 will be training us tomorrow. He spoke during Stake Conference. It should be a good training.

Love ya.

-Elder Oliekan

e-mail trom Travis

The last week was alot of fun. Last week, at about 3 AM, our entire apartment lit up with light for about 3 seconds and then thunder, that litterally sounded like a bomb had gone off, shook our entire apartment. I have never heard anything like that in my life! It was crazy. Then, the next day, we were driving up in Tennessee and saw a sign for "Buford Pussers" house. So we figured we would stop and get some pictrues. When we got to the house, all the doors were locked. The hours on the sign said that they were opened so we kept trying different doors until, finally, a guy opened a door for us and told us there was a Tornado warning! He told us to come inside and go down into the basemen, where there happened to be a whole bunch of girls! I guess a dance group had come by to see the house as well. So, Elder Rau and I were downstairs in a room that was completely crowded, me and Elder Ray being the only guys there! But, we got to tour his house and his daughter happened to be there too so we got to talk to her for awhile. She is a very nice lady but, she truly is living in the spotlight of her dad. She told us that when "Walking Tall" was made (The one with the ROCK) that the Rock came and toured the house. He tried on one of Buffords jackets thinking that it would be too small for him but, after he put it on, he found that it was too big for him! She thought that was hilarious.
For Easter, we were invited to a guy named Brother Hawkins house. He has a non member friend that has taken a liking to us and he put together an easter egg hunt and made a big roast beef dinner for us. He also bought us bunny ears to wear during the Easter Egg hunt... Fun... :)
We went fishing again today, of course. I caught two catfish and four bass. So, I would say that it was a pretty successful day. I got my cord for my camera so, I am going to add some pictrues as well. Let me know if you get them.


Love ya.


-Elder Oliekan

2nd area, Corinth, MS

March 19, 2009 Travis was transfered to Corinth,MS. It is about 25 miles north of Booneville, and right on the border of Tennessee. His companion is Elder Rau from Cedar City, UT. Elder Rau was been a real help to Travis in adjusting to missionary life.
Travis says that Corinth s a very hard area. Many strong members have moved from the area because of the economy. They are having a hard time getting the ward to help them. They don't feed them, go on splits with them, or fellowship anyone that they bring to church. They are quite discouraged. They volunteer in a food pantry and go fishing on p-days. He has caught some really nice fish.
He has been to the Shiloh National Cemetary. There are many Civil War sites in his area.

Booneville

I am way behind on this blog. Travis served in Booneville until March 19, 2009. His companion was Elder Rowley from Montana. He really enjoyed having him as a companion. I think he helped him a lot. While in Booneville he met and helped teach Gregory who was the first baptism he attended. He also traveled to Tupelo and visited Elvis's birthplace. On p-days, he liked to go fishing.

1st area!

Travis is in Booneville, Mississippi!

I called the mission home to get his address so I could mail his valentine box. I talked to Elder Smith and he said it was a great area and Travis's trainer is "The Cream of the Crop"!

I got on the internet and found out that Booneville is 173 miles from Birmingham and has a population of about 8500 people. They have one ward. We will have to get more info from Travis.

February 2, 2009

We have had several letters and e-mails from Travis. He seems to be doing well. It is hard to be in classes all day- he's been out of school for two years. He likes what he is learning. He likes his roommates, and his companion, Elder wright. He says that their room is the only one that passes inspection- will wonders never cease!!!!!
He is anxious to get to Alabama so he can spend some time outside!

Travis is scheduled to leave the MTC on Wed the 4th so letters can go to the mission home until we get a new address.