Elder Campbell and Elder Campbell in Scottsbluff, NE!

Mother and Father,

   (A friend wanted to send him a birthday card since his birthday is Saturday...luckily he did send me a temporary address!!)  I do wish I could tell you my new mailing address, but we are getting a new apartment this week, but I do not know its address. I will try to work something out to tell you.
   Now, it is time for the big news. My new companion is named....Elder Campbell! (That did make me LOL!!) Yes, it is not a joke. He is from Las Vegas. His full name is Konrad Joseph Campbell. (Our missionary is Andrew Joseph Campbell...so they have a lot in common!) He comes from a part-member family and he was the only active member of his family for most of his life. He said his favorite candy bar is Twix and his favorite snack is Goldfish. He is into engineering and golf. I asked if he liked disc golf and he said it is all right, but it's just not golf. He is so green; it is awesome. I have been feeling a bit of that fire as well. Being with him is quite enjoyable. (I am so glad to hear this since they will be together for 12 weeks!!)
   Everyone told me that Nebraska was going to be flat as all get out. That, however, is just not true. We have a bunch of bluffs to the south and the Wildcat Hills, which are essentially a pine forest. It is honestly more pleasant scenery than Laramie. It is honestly kind of hot. It has been pushing ninety. The whole area reminds me of Lodi. It is more humid than the rest of the mission and it is very green and full of agriculture...with a sub-urban cityscape similar to Lodi. There is a giant regional hospital here that is the main employer and there is a sugar company undergoing major expansion. There is also a ton of corn farms. (Sounds pretty.)
  So, my district consists of Elder Midgley and Elder Christianson who serve in the Scottsbluff Ward. Elder Midgley is from Leeds, England, and Elder Christianson is from Pasa Robles, California. Elder Gardiner and Elder Borges serve in the Alliance Branch. Elder Gardiner is from Alberta, near Cardston, and Elder Borges is from somewhere in Brazil. The Sister missionaries serving in Sidney said where they are from but I do not remember. I think Sister Kaupert is from San Jose. Then, serving in Torrington, Wyoming, are the Winders. They are a senior couple
from Blackfoot, Idaho.
   We live with the Scottsbluff elders in their apartment while we wait for our apartment to close. They are a lot of fun to live with. I like it a lot! There is a Wal-mart just two blocks away and we have a washer and dryer in our apartment (Nice!). My ward actually covers the city of Gering and Terrytown and a whole bunch of outlying areas. We actually have two additional counties, Banner County and Morrill County. (That's a lot of area!)
    Our ward is a bit on the smaller side. We are working on doing what we can to strengthen it. I honestly have no idea what the size of the nursery is. (Hey, I was just wondering!)  We have a golden investigator named A. We have been doing a lot of tracting because we need new investigators and referrals are not coming and we have an empty area book. Our zone has a goal of finding 300 new investigators and I have been trying to inspire the district to find as hard as they can. (That's a mighty lofty goal!) Also, there is a zoo here and we do service there. (That sounds very fun!)  I need to go but I love you all.

Love,

Elder Andrew Campbell

(He sent two cat pictures. One is of a BIG cat and the other is of a normal-sized cat.) 

(The new missionaries with Elder Midgley's flag. Elder Campbell on the left.)

Heading to the Chimney Rock Ward in Scottsbluff, Nebraska!!

Mother and Father,

   (He's getting transferred!!) Well, here are the details! I am leaving Laramie! I have been assigned to be a trainer and a district leader and I will be serving in the Chimney Rock Ward of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. (I am so excited. Now we can visit three states next summer on our road trip visiting his mission!) So much for being
done with leadership. President McMurray said that when I see him to pick up my new missionary, he will give me the interviews for the temple and BYU. I'm excited for my new district as well. Also serving in Scottsbluff will be an elder from England and he is training a new missionary, too. We'll also have a senior couple serving in my district! I believe Fort Laramie is in the Torrington Ward where they serve, so I may be able to fulfill Dad's request and go see it. (But now Brian says he has LOTS more requests for him. HA!)
   The G's seemed to really like the Fort Collins Temple Open House. Brother G said he hopes he can be sealed to his wife there next year. We'll see how she feels about that. My companion's investigator in their ward committed to be baptized on September 17th, so that's exciting!
   My ward is going to be covered by Elder W and a new missionary, and he will be covering the Overland Trail Ward right next to us.(I love the names of these wards...so pioneery!)  I feel good about it, because Elder W had two trainers who both were assistants to the president, and I hear he is pretty good as well. Our mission has 31 new missionaries coming in this transfer (WOW!), a little less than half of the mission is going to train. I am really excited for my district, which will have four missionaries in training. It includes Scottsbluff, Sidney, Alliance, and
Torrington, Wyoming.
   Some elders on their departing temple trip brought down my birthday box.(Yay!) I opened it and ate a few things, but the wrapped gifts are waiting for my birthday. (Sept. 3...my baby will be 21!) Thank you so much for the awesome stuff!
   Also, we saw S again this week and went to the dump to unload stuff with him. He talked about his interest in dream psychology and its spiritual aspects. I told him that First Nephi is about dreams and then he got really excited. I think he is really going to read it now!
   All right, I'm going to work on getting you some good pictures. Thank you for all you do!

Love,

Elder Andrew Campbell

He attached a lot of pictures. There is even a very silly video. I will see if I can attach them all or if I'll have to send some in another email. .

1. Maybe the G family?

2. Half of the zone.

3. Elder L, going home this transfer.

4. K, his companion, when he didn't have any companions.

5. Elder J...backing like a champ. He left for Australia today.

6. A silly video of Elder J talking to cows.

Going to Visit the Fort Collins Colorado Temple!!

Mother and Father,

  (I heard that Elder Campbell's companion was heading home early, so I wasn't sure where he was going to be moved and who he would be with. Here's the answers.....)  As a matter of fact, I am in Laramie. I don't have much time to email you though because I am going to the temple today. That's right, they gave the missionaries a chance to go! We get to go as long as we bring an investigator, and the Gs are coming! (I am so excited for him!! This is the brand new Fort Collins, CO Temple!)
   I am now in a trio in the Snowy Range ward. We cover West Laramie which is kind of the old, run-down part of town. The area has approximately two paved roads. It's a change coming from Ridgeview, otherwise known as "Richview". We are covering both areas right now. (That should keep him busy!!)  My companions are Elder Underwood and Elder Jeong. Elder Jeong was born in Korea and lived in Toronto, Canada and is a visa waiter for the Sydney, Australia North Mission. He just got his visa and he leaves next Monday. Elder Underwood is his trainer. Elder Underwood is from Southern Illinois and joined the church in high school. He has a fiery desire to be a missionary that is fun to be with. He actually lived in Heritage Halls Building 30 during the Summer of 2013. He said he remembers seeing me there. You can send my package to the same address, I get to check that box every few days. (His birthday is September 3, but I'm nervous about sending a package where he doesn't live anymore. I'm trying to figure out when transfers are. I might just have to be brave and send it.)
   (He needs a new temple recommend and an ecclesiastical endorsement to get back into BYU.) President McMurray simultaneously answered my question and gave me a transfer hint. He said he could give me the interviews when I see him on transfer day. That means I should be headed to the mission office for that. (Maybe I will send his birthday box to the mission office!!) 

   Sister G is still progressing well and coming to the temple today. J...has fallen off the earth. R came to church and substituted in Primary, so that's exciting. You should call Sister C back. She is an old woman who is not a member but loves the missionaries. (She called me last week and left me a sweet message saying how much she loved my son and all the missionaries who visit with her. She's 88 years old!) We also have an awesome progressing investigator in the Snowy Range ward named S. She is fully converted like R but is afraid of her family's reaction, like R. Please pray for those people, S as well. We have been so busy holding down both areas.    Something exciting we did was go contacting less-actives in Centennial and Woods Landing. I saw some really pretty sites. It's not all forest but there are also some pretty valleys. We didn't have much luck except for finding some people had moved.

   I am proud of Dad for his truck. (Brian got a brand new Ford pickup truck for work. It's BEAUTIFUL!!) On my mission I have learned how much I loved my F-150 back home. Fords are great! (Well, "his" Ford was bought by his brother, Peter, so he will have to drive our Silverado when he gets home.)  I'm excited for the kitchen as well. (I've been sending him kitchen upgrades. It will be a new kitchen when he gets home.) All right, I need to go get ready for the temple.

Love,

Elder Andrew Campbell

1. Goodbye to Elder Biggs.

2. Elder Jeong connecting to his roots.

Complex Carbohydrates Are the Name of the Game For Our Health!!

Mother and Father,

   (Sadly, Elder Campbell's companion is going home due to severe depression. It's a real problem with missionaries. There is a lot of stress. I hope he enjoyed his time with our son.) This whole week has really been a build-up to Elder B going home. He is still with me, but we're just waiting for the call from President McMurray telling him when he is getting picked up. I just sent an email to President McMurray that I needed those two things. (He needs a new temple recommend and an ecclesiastical endorsement to get back into BYU.)
   On Saturday we had a huge wood chopping party. We chopped about 16 cord in total. I think that's what someone told me. Apparently, the snow will be coming soon here and people get ready pretty early. So, we got a lot of free food and chopped a ton of wood for people. I was really sore yesterday. (Good exercise!)
   (Andrew s still dealing with health issues.) I had another meeting with Brother J on Friday. He, President McMurray, and I got things figured out after our last meeting. He said it is likely that I have some form of sleep apnea, but my neck wedge is helping there.(Hallelujah!) But, most of my problems are likely stemming from other sources. He said I have the fun opportunity of having a body that is very sensitive to what happens to it. (That is so true! That's why he always wore sunglasses. His eyes are very sensitive to light. I wonder if it has anything to do with his autoimmune disease, vitiligo??) So, if I take my medication at the wrong time, or eat what I shouldn't, I suffer immediate effects. This is evidenced by the health boost I experienced when I controlled my medication times. Our current goal is improving my diet. He explained a way I could actually lose weight, and I truly have been doing it all wrong. Sorry, I've just been stressed about the situation and not worrying about my mouth guard at all. (I sent a mouth guard that is supposed to help with sleep apnea. USE IT, son!!!!)
   J actually texted us yesterday, but I haven't been able to see him yet. R is still doing really well, but nothing has changed there.(But I will keep praying for her mother to have a change of heart.) We had a fun lesson where we role-played them inviting people to the temple open-house. Sister G is still progressing and awesome. (YAY!!)
   So, I am probably going to be in a trio with another companionship in the zone. The jury is still out on who, where, and when though. Wish I could tell you more! (Next week!)
   Brother J said complex carbohydrates are the name of the game for my health, so anything whole grain would be appreciated in my birthday box. You are too good to me. (So whole wheat bread and pasta for his birthday?? That sounds kind of dull. Any suggestions, friends and family members??)

Love,

Elder Andrew Campbell

(Picture #1) After teaching the G's for over a month, their cat finally let me pet it.

(Picture #2) Me with Elder P, my mission brother serving in the zone. He had a scholarship to play football at USC but they revoked it when he went on his mission. He just told me Elder Moala signed with BYU.

(Picture #3) with Elder D. The zone leaders were having a meeting when we had appointments so I got to see some friends.

(Picture #4) Elder C!

Cafe Rio is Coming to Stockton!

Mother and Father,

   (I sent him the news that we are getting a Cafe Rio in Stockton...which is pretty close to Lodi. Remember, Elder Campbell wants his wedding reception catered by Cafe Rio. This is his reaction to the news.) That is some pretty glorious news you just shared with me. I am pretty stoked. 

   (A sweet sister in Laramie sent me a message that my missionary had spoken and had made them all laugh, but she couldn't remember why. This is what he had to say about that.) I did speak in Sacrament meeting, and the point of humor was that I got dressed this morning and couldn't find my suit coat. So, on the Sunday I was speaking, I went suit-less. I told them how my one job is to get dressed up, and I failed. Don't worry, I know where it is. The talk in general was about getting people to the temple open house. I got so excited I pounded the pulpit. (That would be entertaining!)

   J gets back today, so that should be good. Sister G has a baptismal date of August 19th. We are still working towards that, but we are quite excited that she committed to work for it! They are such a great family. I love going there. We also just met our new investigator R, who was in the YSA ward, but she married a member so it's all us now. She told us that she believes every part of the gospel is true, but her mother doesn't support her getting baptized at all, and she really wants her to be there. Please pray for softening of hearts there. (Will start tonight!)

   This week I read an article in the April 1975 Ensign called, "Atonement: The Only Wholeness", by Arthur Henry King. It was a philosophical review of the human condition in light of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He talked about how the Atonement makes us "at one" with God, and thus, at one one with our families, our surroundings, and our societies. It was especially interesting when he talked about how sin is a false form of atonement, an attempt to make us at one, but a failure. I don't know if this makes any sense to you, but it makes incredible sense to me. Christ had to perform the Atonement because mankind by itself is fully incapable of achieving absolute unity, and as we've been told, "If ye are not one, you are not mine." I will just say...this is really exciting to me.

  Yesterday in our fifth Sunday meeting, they asked for examples of times when our prayers appeared menial and unimportant, but we recognized it as important to our Heavenly Father. I recounted a time when I had just enjoyed an excellent Papa Murphy's pizza and I was enraptured in its bliss. I was so joyful that I said a prayer thanking Heavenly Father for the gift that is Papa Murphy's pizza. I truly felt the spirit tell me that Heavenly Father was pleased that I chose to share that. The ward found it hilarious, but poignant. Plus, our dinner appointment tonight has already committed to feeding us Papa Murphy's. You could say we scored pretty big. (Such a silly boy!)

   I love you and have a good week.

Love,

Elder Andrew Campbell

(No animal pictures this week. Instead, there are two pictures. The first is with the F family and the second is one of just Elder Butler and I. Either he is really skinny or I am really fat. Maybe both. Too much Papa Murphy's, my son!)