Christmas 2010

Elder Craven had a wonderful Christmas with the Cunningham Family who have been SOOO good to him for four months (his birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas)! However, that night he got a transfer. He has so loved working in Moberly and has grown quite close to some wonderful investigators there and will really miss them.

So far all we know is that he is keeping Elder Hatch for a companion and they have really enjoyed working together. They will be opening a new area and have an added companion making a tri-panionship. We wish him the best in this new area.

A New Mission, Transfer and Catch Up on the News

Yea!!! My wonderful nephew just came and FINALLY helped me figure out how to update this. Sorry I'm so computer impaired.

As of July 1st, Elder Craven is officially in the St. Louis, Missouri Mission. Currently, he is in Moberly, Missouri with Elder Hatch. He is living in the basement of an awesome member who takes such good care of them! He said he hasn't cooked a meal since he got there.

This is a picture of the Heyder Family who were so great to Caylen in Pittsfield. He has met so many wonderful people on his mission.

Just last Saturday, he was able to go back to Pittsfield to participate in the baptism of Ryan Skirvin who he has loved working with.

The cold weather and holidays are coming soon, but he has a great attitude and is (according to the last letter) "trying to keep the Spirit, be myself and teach the gospel".

This is from his first area, but I realized that I didn't have a picture of his second companionship. Elder Tanavasu has finished his mission now. Caylen said he would come and visit, but we're still waiting. Elder Hansen was a great companion, too and is now in the Iowa DesMoines Mission. It was a great part of his mission.

Third Area--Pittsfield, IL

Elder Craven was just transferred from Pekin which is a town he loved and really had a great companion, Elder Bell. They had good success and there were some wonderful members who took very good care of them.

With this move he is now in Pittsfield which is even a smaller town! I got a surprise telephone call last Sunday from Brother Hibbert. He said that Caylen was in his house right then and that Caylen told him that his mom had served a mission in Taiwan. Sister Hibbert is from Taiwan. I talked Chinese with her for 15-20 minutes and it was so fun!! She told me that both the elders bore their testimonies that morning. We pray that the Lord will bless them to help the Pittsfield Branch grow while they are there.

With this move, we now know that he will be in the St. Louis, Missouri Mission as of July 1st. His new address is: 112 1/2 East Perry Street, Pittsfield, IL 62363 (it is an apartment above a mechanics shop--he says it's pretty scary)

New Area--Pekin, Illinois

Elder Craven has survived the long, cold Illinois winter! He loved living in Pontiac and since he has received his first transfer, he has really missed the wonderful people and the family type feeling of a small town and small branch. He also had great companions while he was there.

He is in Pekin, Illinois now with a new companion, Elder Guymon and was called as District Leader to a small district of four. They are all great elders.