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)