Welcome to Casper and Riverton, WY!!

(Only two more weeks and it's transfer time. He mentions two new stakes being added to his mission and that he's not sure he'd like to serve there. I'm wondering if he just JINXED himself. We shall see on May 11th!)
Mother and Father,

   This week was a really good week.We found 3(!) new investigators. And they're all quite promising. M and J were a referral from the Bishop in the Terry Lake Ward and they are people of incredible faith. When we knocked on their door, they were so happy to see us. Jana is from the Czech Republic. That's so cool, because our other new investigator, A, is from Slovakia. They should get together and form mini-Czechslovakia. She just came out of nowhere, and she's already read the Book of Mormon, and believes every word we say. She's moving to Longmont this week, though. (Maybe he'll get transferred to Longmont...I'm not even sure where that is!)

   I got your package, as well as a little package from the youth. They gave me cookies and some very nice notes. (Thank you Lodi 1st Ward youth!!) I've been taking the supplements. I haven't seen a difference yet, but I'm sure I will. I did some dieting this week as well as additional exercise, and I lost some weight. Could you send me a Doterra supplement for weight loss? I really need to get back down to a healthy weight. (I can send him supplements, but they really aren't magical...diet and exercise are what it takes!)

  (We had a baptism in our ward.)  I'm so happy for J. I'm glad he made the first step, and as long as he applies it in his life continually, he will get it.

   I'm so sorry, I forgot to acknowledge your birthday. (I'll attach the picture I sent him of me with a birthday bouquet I received from a friend...not from any of my boys!!)  However, Mother's Day is coming up soon, and you are for sure getting something. Could you send me Grandma's address as well? She deserves something too. You are just too good to me, Mom. I love the Apple and Banana chips. Banana chips must be one of my favorite things ever. I get so much candy that I always have a stockpile, but I ate almost none of it this week. I'm done with unhealthy eating!  (I will  have to find HEALTHY snacks to send from now on!)

   You're going to North Carolina? (First we're going to washington DC and THEN NC) That's so exciting! Airbnb did work out really well for us. I highly recommend it. In fact, you could rent out my room on airbnb if you'd like. (Sorry, I'm already using it for storage...HA!) I hope Jerry gives you some tickets. I won't mention the name of the man who could have given you some tickets...(You can write to your Congressman and request tickets to the White House, the Capitol, etc. Hopefully we'll get some.)

   M and A have stagnated again. A has been stuck in Longmont with his broken-down car for two weeks now. We've tried to get him help, but nothing has seemed to work. He could have been baptized this transfer until he broke down...I feel like Longmont steals everyone from us.

   You know, I'm going to try to take some pictures this week. We just haven't done anything worthy of photographic recognition recently We'll do something exciting, just for you! Today we're going to go to Moroni Books! I want to get a journal because I've been a poor journal writer. If I could get a dedicated journal, I'd be much more inspired to write in it.

   Our mission gets Riverton and Casper in two days, I have mixed feelings about whether I want to go there or not. Regardless, I will go where I am called.

Love,

Elder Andrew Campbell

"I can't be perfect tomorrow, but I can certainly be better."

(No mention of his last week's "sickness"....so I guess that's good. Andrew has always been his worse enemy, so I'm glad he might be figuring that out. Thank you, Bro. L.)

Mother and Father,

   Last night, I sat down with my favorite person, Brother L., and we had a talk. Basically, he made me understand what countless others have failed to do: That I worry too much. (Are you kidding me???!!! We have ALL told him that!) But, rather than suggesting that I give up and live a life of apathy, he recommended that I direct my "worry" towards the work. In other words, that it would be much better for me to be anxiously engaged in the service of God, rather than to be filled to the brim with anxiety over my own spirituality. In a way, I'm very grateful for my anxiety disorder. If I can learn to control it, I can direct a lot of passion towards what is good and right. As it was, I was letting it destroy me. In summary: It's not about the doing, it's about the becoming, but I was missing the mark by worrying more about what I was, and that I wasn't becoming what I wanted to be fast enough. Last night, I realized that I can't be perfect tomorrow, but I can certainly be better, and it is only possible if my goal is to do good, not if my goal is to be perfect. (HALLELUJAH!!!)

   That likely made no sense, but to me, the path is clearer than before. Just be humble! Thanks for the incredible supplements you're sending me. I'm really excited to take them. (Sending him some Essential Oils DoTerra supplements and Wild Orange oils.)  Energy is something I've been craving. You know, as much as I'd like Twix in the package, could I get something healthy like banana chips instead? I'm fat, and Twix would not help. Maybe Fort Collins is turning me into some sort of hippy. (That made me laugh. I picked up some banana chips and apple slices.) 

   M. came to church this week. He hasn't come in a month, so that was pretty great. He also seemed really happy; he usually seems really uncomfortable. A. is a great guy. He just got laid off from the oil fields, and he is using his extra time to complete community service requirements he has. He has, so far, read every reading assignment he has been given, and then some.We have to text him more during the week because he finishes it all, and then wants more. He, too, is afraid of baptism because of the great commitment involved. He doesn't want to mess up and be even more condemned. The same goes for M., and just about every other investigator in the mission.

   (I wondered how many sister missionaries they had serving in the Fort Collins Mission?) As far as your question about sisters, the number of sisters serving has dropped significantly. When Elder M. started his mission, there were 90 sisters in the mission, and now there are only 30. They are, however, amazing. Elder M. is district leader over 3 sets of sisters, and week after week their numbers blow ours out of the water. Well, I've got to go, but I'm feeling a lot better than I've felt in a long time. By the way, why did you guys go to Provo? Just curious, and you're all amazing. (Brian's mom's funeral was in Idaho and since I had 5 bereavement days...we headed to Provo to visit with BJ, Michele and the Verdoorns!)

Love,

Elder Andrew Campbell

(I'm attaching a picture of a food truck we took in Provo. Andrew's favorite food is mac and cheese. Another picture is of our family at Grandma Campbell's funeral. We're at the cemetery.)

Tired, Dizzy and a Headache

(We're in Idaho at Elder Campbell's grandma's funeral. I always hope for a good week and it looks like it was a good and a not so good week. I never know what to expect from Elder Campbell!!)

Mother and Father,

   This week was a rough one for me. I came down with some sort of sickness. I felt tired, dizzy, and had a headache all week. It's gotten a lot better this week, but the headache is still there. The mission nurse thinks it might be related to allergies, and wants to talk to me about them. I may be getting an allergy shot this week. After having a runny nose 24/7 since I was 14, you can say I'm pretty excited by the possibilities. I need you to do some research for me, Mom. What are some supplements I can take and foods I can eat to increase my energy? My ability to do the Lord's work is being hindered by my constant exhaustion. (I think being a missionary is exhausting. I wonder if his medication he takes causes tiredness. I know allergies can make you tired too. So....does anyone have ideas about supplements or foods he can eat to increase energy?)

   (Since his grandma and grandpa are both gone now....the grandkids were told to pick out favorite things for inheritances. This is what Elder Campbell chose.) Personally, I would really like the metal Campbell insignia that has been hanging on the wall in the basement, in the room at the end of the hall on the left. I asked Dad once if I could have it, and he said no, but I'm going in for a second chance?! (BUMMER...another cousin already took it. Ooops!) BJ finding that pin is a good find, I would like something "Campbell-y" as well. I wish I could be with the family, but I know where I need to be. (Luckily, Aunt Connie Jo found some Campbell signs we'll bring home for him. Hopefully that will be okay.)

   The positive highlights of the week: 1. We had a lesson with Albert, which went really well. We have another scheduled for tomorrow. I believe he is the most likely investigator to be baptized this transfer. (I'll pray for him!!!)

2. We had a zone meeting! I think the best way to describe the Fort Collins zone is it is "stacked". There's a lot of good missionaries working here and we may even set a record for baptisms in Fort Collins in a transfer. We shall see!

3. We taught Michael the final investigator discussion on Saturday. He is seriously considering baptism. Prayers are needed all around for him. (This investigator has come and gone so I'm hoping he'll be baptized.)

   I'd like to ask another favor. Could you work on getting me my priesthood line of authority? Oh yeah, I also got a letter from Molly this week. I guess the song we made is on Amazon and Itunes now. You and all your friends should go buy it. (I'm not sure what the name of the song is...I'm guessing it might be this that I found on Amazon.http://www.amazon.com/Now-Free-Progressive-Trance-Remix/dp/B00UHB16A0/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1428968960&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=molly+bohman).  Do you think you could send me her email address? I would like that pedigree chart and Grandma's life story as well. I'm just a beggar today. I hope the funeral is lovely, and have a safe trip back home. (I'll attach the family tree to this email so everyone can see what Michele Campbell created while she was in Swan Valley for the funeral.)

Love,

Elder Andrew Campbell

 

 

Happy Easter

(Happily, this is a much more positive email this week than last week....THANK GOODNESS!! His companion knows lots of Lodi folks...YEAH!!)

Mother and Father,

   Things are a lot better this week. Elder Mangrum is a good man. We talk a lot about how we can grow closer as a companionship and be more consecrated disciples. Wow, I feel really ill right now. I just feel dizzy and tired. I got a call from President Brown about Grandma this morning. He asked me to call Dad and talk to him, so a call will be coming this afternoon when he gets home from work. (Brian's mom passed away. Peter got to call, too. Not a fun way to get a phone call from your missionary....but I'll take it!)

   Elder Mangrum knows all the folks from Third Ward. He knows Mikayla Kidd, Patrick Kelly, Clay Shields, and of course, the Andersons. He wants to be a good district leader, and is doing the very best he can. It's going to be a good transfer! (HALLELUJAH!)

   (I asked about his favorite talks from our Church's General Conference this past weekend. The speakers all spoke in Salt Lake City and we watched it on BYUtv.) Sister Burton's talk really touched me. I think a lot about being a father and a husband. It weighs on my mind very much, and to hear her speak about it gave me hope. (He'll be a wonderful husband and father...but right now he needs to be more concerned about being the best missionary possible.) Elder Anderson's talk was also very excellent. I like to hear leader's talk about the current and living state of the church. It's clear that president Monson's health is not good. I will be praying for him.

  (I asked about his Easter dinner and his favorite meal, so far!)  Last night we ate a pork roast with the H. family. It was really good. I ate the best thing I ever had on my mission. It was macaroni and cheese made by Sister J. It was one of Sister McC's recipes. It was SO GOOD.

   Thank you for the kind messages. I just feel futile in my efforts sometimes. Missions are hard! I often feel like I'm making a terrible use of my time. Bringing people to Christ is tough business. In good news, we have an appointment with A., R's friend, tomorrow, and we also discovered a way to contact a referral we got from R., so we have some great prospects for teaching this week. M. has been silent this past week. He sent me an email about how coffee was becoming less and less appealing to him. Oh, and it's an AP, not an MP. We don't have military police, haha! (When I mentioned MP...I meant Mission President...not Military Police. Silly b

Love,

Elder Andrew Campbell

P.S. Attached is a picture of Annie. I met her on my second day in the field. She was born the week I entered the field. Essentially, this puppy has grown with me! (The other pictures are of Easter dyeing...I'm guessing and maybe a picture from Horsetooth Mountain.)