Tyler Shares a Testimony

This week was really cold and so we tried to stay inside as much as possible.  I got to go to the Sports Academy.  One of the sets of elders were trying to hand off a referral to us and the referral’s name is Martey.  Martey likes guns and hunting so it works out perfectly for me.  Thanksgiving is coming and the Binghams are feeding us.  Thursday we had elder Kopischke [1st Quorum of the Seventy.  Click Here for more info] come talked to us all day [at a zone conference].  It was awesome!! I learned so much.  He told us to stop worrying about numbers and to worry more about what the people need.  I went on exchanges with elder Reni who is my district leader.  He's a lot of fun.   We actually got to teach a lesson too!!!  It’s been a while since I have [taught a lesson].  We got to go eat at a Johnny’s BBQ the other day!  mmmmmhhh so good!  Ya'all should be jealous, ya’ hear!!  

Transfers are in a week in a half.  30 missionaries are going home and so some big changes coming here soon.  Anyway, I love you all!!  Love hearing about everything going on at home.

Missionaries to be, I testify that you need to get ready now!   When you get out here you will not have your friends to back you up on your beliefs.  You come out here with just your companion and people telling you that you’re wrong and that you’re part of a cult.  [Your testimony is] like your muscles.  You have to work your muscles to be strong.  It is the same with your spiritual muscles.  Don't come out here “thinking” is the gospel true?  I testify if you come to “know” that you will have peace of mind and your mission will be a lot easier from the beginning.  Love you all.  Keep up the good work. 

I just want to share my testimony of everything.   I know that the Savior lives and he truly does love each one of us and he has a plan each one of us to make us better.  A good video to watch is the new Mormon Messages (the one that just came out) [I think that the latest one is this one].  This missionary work is truly amazing to see.  We have 88,000 20 years old serving missions...  think about it,  if this wasn’t true, why would 88,000 thousand selfish 20 year olds go on a mission and live strict rules and schedules.  There must be something good about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  But I can testify it is the way our Savior wants us to live and that he wants us to [serve] because it will make us happy and one day [help us to ] become like him.  The Book of Mormon is truly inspired.  Satan tries to keep us from reading it because he knows he will lose all power when we read it.  If you feel like you are stuck and can’t get out of Satan’s grasp, then read the Book of Mormon more and you will be freed by it.  I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Recent Rain Storm

Recent Rain Storm

Picture at Fort Mountain, GA

Tyler's former companion, Elder Harding sent this to his family and his mom forwarded to Tammy.

Fort Mountain - Elder Compton and Elder Harding

Missionaries in the Bible Belt

Hey everyone!  How’s the snow!?!

This week we were able to teach a few lessons with our investigators.  Two with Vinson and we were blessed with Allen Robinson who was a former investigator.   Allen said he is waiting for an answer about whether he should be baptized or not.  He just needs to take step of faith.

That’s all that was too exciting last week.  The rest of the week was mostly was tracting.  On cool thing is that I saw the Provostgaards  [from Salem] at a baptism that the YSA elders had [on Saturday].  That was awesome!!  We talked for a while.  [The Provostgaards texted the pictures to Tammy that were recently posted on Tyler’s blog.]

On Tuesday we were going to contact some old past investigators and this man starts talking to us.  By the way he was talking he probably thought we were Jehovah Witnesses.  But we left him a card and we got his address.   He was willing for us to come and talk with him.  That’s what’s awesome here in the South... everyone is hot on the topic of religion.  Even high school kids are talking about it here.   Talking about religion with my friends was not something that I did a lot.  It’s kinda cool down here.  In schools they have a moment of silence every morning here in all the schools so that you can pray.  How awesome s that?!?!  Anyway, it’s awesome down here.  I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here.

I love the prayers that ya'll give the missionaries out here.  I testify that we need more!  Satan has been [working] harder.  I have heard of missionaries going home.   Pray for us!!   Lots!!

Love you all!   Keep on keepin’ on and never stop!

Tyler Sees the Provostgaards from Salem

Southern BBQ and Some Pictures

This week we ate at a member’s house who received an award winning of the South BBQ.  Dang it was good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Baked beans and [everything was] oh so good.

We found a guy by the name of Joe right in our neighborhood.  He loves the Savior so he loves us and we are teaching him this week some time.  I am excited because this will be our first solid appointment this transfer.  I hope so that’s that.

I went on an exchange with a missionary who has been out for 2 weeks and so two greenies rockin’ the Powder Springs area.

That is about all.  One more thing, we had zone meeting this [past] Friday and went to the temple so that was great.  Anyway, check out the pictures.  I enjoy getting your letters from you all!!!  Love ya'all at home and miss ya!  Bye!

Elder Bowcutt with Elder Compton

Compton Elementary

Elder Compton has a playhouse in his back yard in Powder Springs!

Classic Vinyls!  Contacting in the record store.

Classic Vinyls! Contacting in the record store.

Elder Compton's "apartment"

Where's Waldo (Elder Compton)

Where's Waldo (Elder Compton)

Where's Waldo (Elder Compton)

Where's Waldo (Elder Compton)

Lots of "Tracting"

This week was great!  We got to do what every missionary wants to do.... go tracting every day, all day.  The last elders were a little bit lazy and had zero new investigators.  They taught 5 total lessons for the week.   They were doing very little.   So we are tracting every day until we have a teaching pool.  The previous elders did not make friends with members and so when we go to church no one talks to us.  It’s hard right now.  But hey, we are going to baptize!!!  Because we're missionaries!!!

Saturday was a cold one for us but we tracted anyway.

Hope all are having a great day back at home.  I love the letters that I get from ya'all.  Don't stop sending me letters.  It would make Tyler happy if you sent me some!  Love ya'all.  Keep up the missionary work!