New Apartment in Manchester, Missouri

Elder Craven's Mom isn't too great at the Blog stuff, so this is catching up. Since the February post, he moved to Florrissant, MO. That was after he had really enjoyed Warrenton. He met some of the greatest people there, too. He thought he would be in Florrisant for a while and had Elder Hatch for a companion. They really worked well together and was having wonderful success and loving it, so he was really surprised only to be there for one transfer period.

He was moved to Ballwin and it's been a hard move with much more difficult work. Also, he was so concerned about many of his investigators that he had to leave. The word we got today was that after some serious prayer, they have decided to refocus their efforts in finding investigators through the members. They really feel good about this direction. He is moving (within the same area) and this is his new address:

Elder Caylen Craven

816 Apt. B Westbrooke Village Dr.
Manchester, MO 63021

We are grateful he is there and not in Joplin (which is south of him) where there was an F4 tornado and there has been a death toll of over 400 people so far. That was pretty close to where we lived in Oklahoma--pretty devastating. We pray for those people.

"Pay Day" for Elder Craven

This is a picture of Caylen with Sister Cunningham who has been such a blessing to him! She was his "mom" in Moberly and made his birthday and Thanksgiving and Christmas all wonderful and nursed him through a couple of things and drove them everywhere. She's the angel you pray your son has on his mission! We love her!!

Elder Craven has a new companion again. He continues to be in Warrenton, MO with Elder Kadleck who he really likes and they are doing some great things!

One sad thing that happened is that one of the members made a very insensitive comment that really discouraged one of their investigators. They have had some really wonderful investigators that are progressing well. He has also found out that four of the people he taught that were baptized are also planning on temple sealings soon. That is a real pay day for missionaries!!

February 3, 2011

Hey all!!! For those of you who don't know, Cay has been transfered to Warrenton, Missouri, where he is in a tri (that means he has TWO companions (as if one wasn't enough!!!)) with Elder Waymont and Elder Burrows. If I remember right, Elder Waymont was his companion in Moberly as well. He misses Moberly a lot, but is also really enjoying where he is and who he is with now. Well, he was until the big snow storm this week. They have spent the last several days shoveling snow off cars, driveways and sidewalks for the community. His favorite kind of service, as I recall ;)

They were even featured in the local news, (Here's the link: http://www.kmov.com/video/featured-videos/Snow-report-Steve-Templeton-115131754.html) however, as he says "a REALLY BIG snowstorm in Missouri=an average snowstorm in Utah." It didn't look average to me. His new address is 745 Craig Rd. Ste. 306, Creve Coeur, MO 6314 for anyone interested. We love you all and he really loves to get your letters.

Love, Nat

New Area-Warrenton, Missouri

Elder Craven just got a new assignment. He received it on Christmas Day which he was enjoying spending with the wonderful family he has been living with for four months, the Cunninghams. He really loved Moberly and was sad to leave that area, but reports that he thinks he will end up really liking this new area.

He is currently in Warrenton, MO and his new companions are Elder Wayment who was his last Zone Leader, and Elder Burrows. They are living in a very small apartment with another companionship--so five Elders in a one bedroom apartment. He says it's "quite a party". He also said that he thinks they have pretty overwhelmed the ward. There are more missionaries in PEC meeting than other leaders. They have been asking the missionaries to speak in church a lot, so he thinks the ward should be getting the message about missionary work.

I guess that at least currently he feels like Missouri is pretty "cold and dark and gray". Utah is looking better to him because even with the cold and snow, their are green pine trees and beautiful things.

We got a letter from the ward mission leader, Brother Ridgeway, who reported that Elder Craven is a natural leader that understands his calling. What a blessing it is to serve the Lord!

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.

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.