Pontiac has beautiful sunsets but it sure gets cold when the sun goes down. Lately its cold when the sun is up!!! He is still smiling and loves the Lord.

Corn fields are everywhere in Illinois. Sometimes they are the only thing that will listen:)

This is Elder Rosequist, Caylens trainer and firs companion.

Christmas Call!!

We heard from Caylen tonight! In fact each of us talked to him for about a half an hour. He has a new companion, Elder Tanavasu. They "hit it off" really well from the start! Elder Tanavasu is at the end of his mission and will be going home in the next month or so. Even though it is -15 degrees and they fight 30-40 mile per hour winds, they are biking and tracking all through the town of Pontiac. He reported that they tracted three straight days this week and never got one call back. It's kind of sad that everyone is so busy at Christmas time, that they don't want to hear about Christ. He doesn't sound discouraged at all, just very interested in the investigators they have and very interested in learning about the gospel.

He talked to Dad and expressed his concern and love for all of the youth in our ward and the leaders. He wanted us to encourage them to live the gospel, not taking it for granted and to do what is right.

He must be eating well, since he reports that he has gained ten pounds. His new companion is about 300 pounds, so he probably still looks a little thin by comparison!

Teaching Isaiah to the Smiths

Caylen had a wonderful experience this week where he can see the fulfillment of his patriarchal blessing. The have a family--the Smiths-- who have four children and they are struggling with Word of Wisdom issues, so even though they have had all the lessons and believe the gospel, they can't be baptized until they get smoking under control, so they are just reading the scriptures with them on a daily basis and they currently are reading in 2nd Nephi where the Isaiah chapters are. His senior companion is quite knowledgeable in the scriptures, but turned this part over to Elder Craven. Caylen reported that he really felt guided and knew that the part in his patriarchal blessing that said he has the gift of teaching the gospel was being fulfilled.

They have several investigators, so are teaching a lot. They still have plenty of time for tracting and ITLs (Invitation to Learn). A lot of people still are pretty vehement in turning them away, but he is staying focused and "losing himself in the work." The Lord is blessing them!

The new Mission Office Address is: Illinois Peoria Mission
2610 West Richwoods Blvd. Suite G
Peoria, IL 60604

If writing a letter or sending a package please still send it to where he is living:
Elder Caylen Craven
1407 4H Park Road
Pontiac, IL61764

Caylen's First Area Address

Good news and bad news today. One of my student's grandparents are in the Mission Office and sent a picture of the group he came in with. I also got back the letter I sent meaning for him to get when he arrived. It was "returned to sender". I'll just mail it to his new address which is:
1407 4H Park Road
Pontiac, IL 61764
Pontiac is a small town, but it sounds like he and his new companion/trainer are keeping busy with teaching and baptizing. He says that a lot of people smoke and drink and that he appreciates how well we fed him for 18 years. He is getting a little tired of Ramen and peanut butter (I guess I won't be sending him that for Christmas! :-))

He is in Peoria now!

Caylen called from Chicago on Tuesday to let us know that he was catching a flight to Peoria in five minutes! I was sad I missed his call since I was teaching right then and didn't get the voicemail until lunch! I did listen to it about four times! We haven't heard anything from the mission field yet, but he did send pictures from the MTC. When I figure out how to put on pictures I'll post a couple. He does look GREAT! and has loved the MTC, his companion and district and teachers and learning everything.

The mission address in Peoria is: 5105 North Glen Park Place Ste G
Peoria, IL 61614-4680

Almost finished at the MTC!

We received letters and pictures today!!! Yea! Caylen has loved the MTC and has grown immensely in the three short weeks he has been there. There must be a super incredible spirit there to just envelop him like it did.

His companion is a friend he had on the swim team at his High School a couple of years ago and he really likes him.

He was called to be the district leader and he has really loved each of the elders and sisters in his district. He thinks it is the best district in the MTC.

He wrote each of us in our family long letters--like three pages each. We sure treasure those! I've had friends tell me that we would eventually get letters like this after the "teenage years" and it is great to have a "payday" like this!! They are keeping him busy and he is actually enjoying all the studying and learning about the gospel. He reports that he has some wonderful teachers that have really impacted his life. He leaves to go to Peoria on Tuesday.