THE MANY SILLY FACES OF ALEX!

        Alex has a new hobby of making silly faces at the camera, apparently he doesn't think I will post them on his blog. Maybe it is a good thing he doesn't know he has a blog.

                                             I don't even know what to say about this one.

                 In fact I'm not sure what to say about the rest of them so I'll just let you enjoy the pictures.

                                                   Open the package first Alex.

                    So how much trouble will I be in when he sees that I have posted these?

It was very nice to talk to you on Christmas. I really missed being home for Christmas but it was great here too. Transfers are coming soon and I really hope I get to stay here in Alton. I feel like there are so many families here that I want to help but I haven't been able to yet. I have been having fun tie shopping and love getting great deals on them.

More pictures!!!!!

I got to Baptize Jordan!

                                                                  The Santa Train!

                                                           More Santa Train!

More Santa Train.

                                              Alex having fun on the ride to the Santa Train!

                                                       Alex annoying Elder Kennedy again!

                         Elder Kennedy thinking how did I get stuck with this guy as my companion!

Choosing the perfect tie for the occasion.

                                                  Alex modeling his new Christmas outfit.
I have so much to tell you guys and I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas. We went on the Santa train on Tuesday. It is a whole train decorated for Christmas! I can't believe that Teej has been out for 1 year. I got to baptize Jordan this week. He is such an amazing kid he knows the missionary lessons and he can teach them back to us. He is 11 years old and He is super smart. So the ugly shirt and tie are Lynn's we stole them from him and we are wrapping it up and giving it to him for Christmas.

Pictures, Pictures, and More Pictures and a little tiny letter.

ALEX ATTACKING ELDER KENNEDY

OR IT COULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND I CAN'T TELL WHO IS WHO.

ALEX LIKES ELDER KENNEDY'S BACKPACK BECAUSE IT MAKES HIM LOOK LIKE A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR.

                                               ALEX GETTING INTO BED AT NIGHT!

                                               ALEX ANNOYING ELDER KENNEDY!

                                               SOMETIMES I WORRY ABOUT HIM!

       I THINK ELDER KENNEDY IS WONDERING HOW LONG UNTIL I'M TRANSFERRED!

                                                    BOYS AND THEIR TOYS!

                                                               IT'S OVER 9000!

All righty then that is a lot of pictures. I hope you enjoy them. No blackmailing!!!! (Little does he know they are going on his Blog.) So I love ties and I love finding them for good deals. I got a new tie this week and it is my favorite tie ever! I am gaining all the weight I lost in Fredericktown back!!!!!!! Everyone feeds us so well. WE HAVE A BAPTISM THIS WEEK!!! Jordan is way Cool. We are spending Christmas with Lynn so we will get a ton of pictures. Thank you so much for all of the mail and the packages. :) Thermals would be great!! I'll try and call on Christmas (What does he mean he will TRY?) I can't wait to hang up on you, just kidding, it is going to be great. Tell Zach that his Emails are the best ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell Max he needs to write me and thank Sarah for writing me, the letter made my day! Tomorrow is my 8th month mark but I still have forever more to go.  =)
                                                           Love, Elder Campbell

GLASSES ARE HELPING!!!!!

     Sorry I didn't get a chance to email yesterday. I had a meeting with Elder Malm so I am emailing on Tuesday. ( Little does he know that I almost called the mission president to tell him that I know Alex is dyeing of the flu and nobody knows. I am so glad I didn't call!) So Yes I have my glasses and YES they make a difference. It just makes everything easier to see. I have not had a bad headache since I got them. The members are fighting over who gets to feed us so that is great. It was great to hear from Zach. No more headaches is the best Christmas Present ever!!!!!! We have a baptism coming up!  I am so happy. Thank you for your prayers. Sorry it is so short I've just had so much on my mind and what not. Love ya and I'll write more later.  Love, Elder Campbell

THANKSGIVING WAS SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!

     No I haven't got my glasses yet they are being so slow! but, I pick them up tomorrow. We spent Thanksgiving with part member and less active families. We had 4 invitations for Thanksgiving dinner but only made it to two. (The people like us here.) >.< We started by playing football in the morning then we went for Thanksgiving lunch at the Greens home. Joe, the dad, is not a member but he is the one that invited us. He got up at 7 a.m. to start cooking for us. .>.< It was sooooooooo good! There son wants to be baptized, he is super cool and was so happy when he found out we were the one that teach people so they can be baptized. When we left the Green's we went to the bishop's home and there were a lot of non members there. Oh, my goodness it so so goooooooooooooooooood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  sooooooooooooooo goooooooooooooooooood!!!!! That is the most amazing thing this week and we got a referral from the bishop and another member. And we have another investigator that wants so badly to come to church and be baptized. The problem has been finding him a ride. you see he is really big. but I think we have worked that out so he can be baptized soon.
     Yes, I did get your favorite Thanksgiving card and yes I did laugh very hard! I will get Lynn's address for you next week. Tell dad and Sarah Thank you for the letters. Oh and for Christmas I wan Onzies pajamas with footies and everything, with Turtles on them if possible. (That should keep me busy trying to find those). Oh, and lets see I got sick. I'll try not to tract in the freezing wind and rain for a little while. I'm so excited to get my glasses! My headaches have gotten a little better because it has been so cloudy and dark it has given my eyes a rest. I still have some what of a headache hopefully the glasses will fix that.
      Tonight we are going to a park that is covered in Christmas lights so I will have more pictures next week. Lynn went with us to try and visit a referral yesterday we ended up being in the bad part of town where we don't tract because Lynn will have a heart attack because this is apparently where everyone gets shot. Don't worry we only go there to visit appointments, no tracting) but lynn was all jumpy and stuff. It was so funny I told him to just drop us off and we'll tract here. You should have seen his face! Lynn always makes sure we have food and arranges rides for us. One time the elders were stuck in their apartment because of a really bad storm and Lynn called 9 different pizza places to find one that would deliver Pizza to these hungry Elders. Everyone seems to want to feed us. We got 2 dozen farm fresh eggs. So even though I'm coughing to death and I have intense headaches - I am loving it! >.< This is what I signed up for =) I would love some nyquil I am all out of that and as for coats and winter clothing I am good except for some thermals.
     I loved Zack's letter it made me laugh so hard! Tell max I do not agree with griefing in minecraft.The scriptures even talk about it you see Satan can only destroy he does not have the gift of creation like god.. Man are given the ability to create so Max should exercise his godliness and create not destroy.
Elder Mason is becoming a district leader!!!! You should send him a letter. Just address it to the mission office with his name on it. All righty then I think that is everything.
                                                            Love, Elder Campbell

Don't Worry Mom!

So Alex decided to send this picture and let me know that on May 23, 2011 the same day that tornados hit Fredericktown the apartment next to them caught on fire. I guess he thought since 6 months had passed I wouldn't WORRY!

Glasses!

    Well they said I needed my glasses as soon as possible so they started making them right away, even before you called and paid for them. The people there were very nice.>.< So there are a thousand things that I should send pictures of because there are some really famous things out here. Anyway back to the glasses and eye condition. It turns out that I am farsighted and needed a prescription... not to pumped about wearing glasses all the time but if it takes away my headache I'm all for it. So, being farsighted and still having 20-20 vision causes your eyes to over focus, also, my eyes are different prescriptions so that doesn't help with the headache thing. Basically my eyes were over working my brain and I also have enlarged pupils which makes my eyes light sensitive which also causes headaches. I can't explain it well so hopefully the eye place can. So I have tinted glasses that also get darker in the sun and make me look smart. It is hard to find glasses that don't make your face look fatter than it really is.
    I have been too busy to write to the Houghtans. I'll probably write them soon. I hope I get a notice when the baby is born and when they are getting sealed in the temple. If you want to do something for me. Please Pray for us to find an investigator. We have worked for 6 weeks and have not been able to find one investigator. So it would be so kind of you if you could pray for us to find people to teach.
    Thank you so much for all the cards and such!!! I'll try to take more pictures because at this rate I'll only have used one memory card by the end of my mission! Love Ya! I'll let you know how the headaches go with my new glasses. It might take a few weeks to know if the glasses are going to help.

HEADACHES

   Well a quick story for you about my headaches. they have been the worst they have ever been on my mission but I don't let it stop me. I might go through horrible pain but when the lord asks me to do something he always provides a way for me to so it. Wether it is my headache going away for 30 minutes or someone else filling my shoes during my last weeks in Frederictown. I had some really bad headaches and the past week in Alton has been almost unbearable, headache wise. But, there is a reason I came to Alton and why my headaches have been so bad lately. They believe they have found what causes my headaches and why I ge so tense. Remember Lynn the amazing member I told you about? He went through the same thing in his life. It started affecting him in his teens and got worse and worse as he got older to the point where he would black out. Mine have been getting worse and worse. Well remember we never went to an eye doctor about my headaches. Lynn was sensitive to light like I am and we both see really well at night. My pupils dilate often and so do Lynn's. He had to change the amount of light that enters his pupils. This sensitivity to light also causes stress to the neck and shoulder area. Also, his headaches would start in the back of the head that is where light and color are processed by the brain. My headaches were on the right side of my head, I am left eye dominant and the left eye transmits to the back right side of the brain and the right eye to the left. I don't know why I haven't n put the pieces of the puzzle together before (this being stuff I already knew)... Lynn fixed his headaches with tinted glasses and different tints work with different people. I forgot the actual name of what this symptom is called, but there is a name for it and it is something pretty new. I.m sure it is ok if I use our insurance for an eye doctor appointment. The day when Lynn, The Maclaims and I were talking about my headaches we also got a letter in the mail that there was a place giving 50% off of glasses this month.... I don't think all of this is by chance.
    Anyways on a lighter note Alton is great and the future looks good, Things are not going very well as far as missionary work but we can find comfort knowing that we are fight a good fight and not giving up. Elder Kennedy loves cookies and cream bars. Thank you so much for the packages they always make my week so much better. Speaking of feeding missionaries, ( I told him we were having the missionaries over for dinner) people feed us too much here, missionaries have been known to gain 35 pounds here in Alton. I have to be careful not to gain all of the weight I lost back. I just keep working it off.
    I am very excited about the possibility of my headaches going away even if it means wearing glasses the rest of my life. I'll be a new person. I'll be able to think so much better. But, even if it doesn't do the trick I've shown my heavenly Father a strong will and that I won't give up. I know I will be blessed for that! I can't wait to take you and dad and hopefully Sarah and Max to all the places that I have served, you will be so proud. Alright, time to go, I would love to hear from Zack Peterson and Max again>.<
Tell Max he will never beat me at video games because those who do the Lords will are blessed and receive strength in all things. Bye Bye Now.
                                                    Love,
                                                     Elder Campbell

Alex and the world's tallest man

Robert Wadlow is the tallest person in history, he was 8 foot 11 inches and 430 pounds when he passed away at the age of 22. Robert Wadlow was born and raised in Alton, Illinois. Alex looks like he is just a little kid eating his ice cream cone.

Surprise more pictures!

A member gave us 5 packages of Bacon!!!! Me cooking the bacon!!!!
Alex is looking like nobody better try and take his bacon away!

LETTER TO MAX

 I just had to post this.

Max, I'm gonna pawn you so bad when I get home in gears! You better get ready for your mission because if you don't I am gonna beat you to a pulp! I will make you ride bikes with me for 14 miles and then run 2 miles and then do 3 hours of scripture study a day!!! Oh, and keep beating Broc at video games.  >.<

SEND TUNA ASAP!!!!!!

     I Loved Halloween Here!  I NEED TUNA!!!!!!!!!!! I could use some more socks.... Yes, I got the package from Hawaii. Thank you very much! So Training is tough! I don't know why I am training so soon but I learn so much at the same time and I get to go to a ton of great meetings.
     I miss Griffin! I miss Max a lot. He better be getting ready for his mission!!!!! I never had to tract very much in Fredericktown because we had so many investigators. We have to tract here a lot...but it is so ineffective. If members would get involved we could put the Lord's time to better use.
     Did you know that Teej's sister just moved to Hawaii and you we're probably there when she was!!! The Fergurson's ( a family in the ward) just left today for Hawaii.

                                                      My HUGE pile of leaves.

                                                Enjoying a drink in my new turtle mug.

                                     Elder Kennedy looks a little worried about his companion.                                                                                                             So it was Elder Mc Daniel who left to go to the Netherlands. Elder Kennedy is here in Alton with me. There are too many things to tell you about so I'll send some pictures.
                                                              Love, Elder Campbell

MY APARTMENT IN ALTON!

Halloween in Alton

     So I have some sad news...... one of my sons left!!!!! His visa came really early which is sad but also nice because now I can focus on just one elder. Well, that is great that Tutu is doing so well. (Tutu is his ukulele teacher in Hawaii, that we visited last week.)
    Training a new missionary isn't really hard but you get to grow a lot and be blessed. Now white washing a dead area with almost nothing going on and trying to find out where to direct the work, now that is the hard part. So today Lynn a "freaking sweet" member, (am I allowed to say freaking?) is going to take us to see some historical places today and we are going to a Halloween parade. (The thing with floats and stuff)
It is the second oldest Halloween parade in the world. Oh and Alton is one of the most haunted cities in the United States. This is because of an old Civil War Prison was here in Alton. Almost all of the prisoners that were held here died from a small pox epidemic. When the prison was closed down it was torn down and the building materials were used in all of the old buildings in Alton. So, hopefully I will have some cool pictures next week.
     My son is from the North Salt Lake area. So going from Fredericktown and having 23 investigators, 8 baptismal dates to Alton having 4 investigators and 0 dates is kind of frustrating, but the ward mission leader said this is a really hard place for missionary waork. I do not want to fall behind on my goal, so I am going to do all that I can and hopefully we can find those people that are prepared. So I have one great story for you, we were in the ghetto's of Alton visiting a less active part member family. This little black kid about 6 goes " what are you" and I kindly replied "missionaries" and then the little kid says, "well you are one UGLY missionary"! I was laughing pretty hard.
    So along the river there are cliffs. I haven't seen cliffs in 6 months! I miss the mountains. I don't have  much to write about because I have been in leadership meetings and training meets in St. Louis for half of the week. I am so proud that you are reading the book of Mormon! Tell dad that I want him to read all of the standard works before I get back. Anyways I have got to go!!  I Love you and I'll write more next week.    Love, Elder Campbell

New Address

Elder Harold Alex Campbell
112 manor court apt. D
Alton, IL 62002

     So I am a little short on time because we have so much to do today. Yes! I do love Alton it is the most wonderful place ever. A lot of the roads are brick which makes it amazing. My companions are elder Kennedy and elder McDaniel. They are fantastic! You asked if I had ever heard of anyone training two new missionaries at once and no I haven't. But, President Clark must think I am doing something right. I can tell I am going to love this place! I can see so much success happening. The members are wonderful and I can see a missionary work explosion! So in this area missionaries usually gain a lot of weight because they feed you so much! There is a member here his name is Lynn Ennis! He is the Best! He gives us rides everywhere! He also works for a food company so he gives us tons of food! I have to go - I am so sorry this is so short! I have to email the president much longer emails now. I will write more next week.
                                                         Love, Elder Campbell

Alex's district in Fredericktown!

I can tell this is Alex's room because of the turtles in the closet!

IT'S TWINS!!!!!!

I HAVE TWINS! I WILL BE TRAINING TWO MISSIONARIES AT THE SAME TIME!!!
I am being transferred to Alton,  Illinois. Pray for me!!!
                             Love, Elder Campbell

     Alright, first of all I do have the smartest turtle in the whole world. (He is referring to a comment I made about his turtle, Darwin, not being the sharpest turtle in the pond.) I called the zone leaders on Saturday night to report a baptism date, it was Elder Vickers on the phone (a good pal of mine) during the phone call he got a call from the mission office so our call ended early. A few minutes latter I received a call from the zone leaders. I have to go up to St. Louis Saturday morning for a special meeting >.< It is for people that will be training. Now this is really cool and neat but I don't know if I'm ready to train soooo.... there is still a chance that I won't train but It really looks like I'm going to train. I know president has better and older missionaries but young missionaries can learn a lot by being together. But when you train now you stay with your son ( the person you are training) for 12 weeks, that is 2 transfers which means I would be in Frederictown for 9 months if I trained here... So I might be white wash training (that is 2 new missionaries in an area) but if I stay in Fredericktown that will be over 1/3rd of my mission in Fredericktown! ......... I don't know if I can handle that. >.<
     I don't share a lot of my really neat experiences and I probably should share some things >.< So the Ortons have moved to a home a little bit out of Fredericktown! They are doing so great. Brother Houghton (my best friend) shared his testimony this fast Sunday now you know I never cry or get emotional. I had tears in my eyes when Andy was done. He was reactivated by Elder Beatty and Elder Beatty also baptized his wife. Andy had fallen away from the church but now they are the most amazing members ever. Oh and they got some squirrel meat for me to eat >.< Eating Squirrel meat is just part of being in Fredericktown.
     Elder Bullock is doing really well. I promise I will tell you more of my missioon when I get home. We have to head up to Farmington today so I have to cut this short. I would love Broc's and Zach's addresses. The leaves have not turned pretty yet. I think mom will like me leaving Fredericktown>.< Ther are less tornadoes in other places. Did you know the worst recorded tornado was here in the Fredericktown area. It was in the 1920's It started in Annapolis Missouri it traveled 600 miles across 3 states and killed 600 people. The base of the tornado was 1 mile wide. (He should now that I read about that tornado last spring when  all of the tornados were happening) I'll probably send some pictures next week.  Love ya bye,
Transfers are the 19th so keep that in mind when sending packages and letters.

CONFERENCE WEEK

   So it was a very interesting week I also grew a lot this last week. So on Monday as we walk into the Boatwrighst at about 8 o'clock for our appointment I could tell something was either really right or really wrong. Sister Boatwright had big  black bags under her eyes. As she started to explain that they had been praying for two months now that they had not received an answer about the church being true. They had many experiences that day that had told them otherwise. As sister Boatwright started to cry she was not able to speak Brother Boatwright explained that we are always welcome and that we had taught them so much.... as I reflected on the lesson I received much peace. I am not going to tell the whole story about what was said but as of now the Boatwrights are still investigating the church, They are living the word of wisdom. Brother Boatwright has given up alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee! A very long list of things that he quit with nothing but faith that it was a commandment of God. Sister Boatwright gave up smoking the first day she met us without knowing the word of wisdom. She has now also given up tea and her beloved coffee. Not knowing everything that will happen with the Boatwrights because they are moving soon I know I have helped them in their life. They are also reading the book of Mormon everyday. I am very happy in their decision to continue to investigate the church.
    Tuesday was zone conference so we got to hear from President and Sister Clark, which was great. I have come to have a testimony on the holy ghost. If we listen to the holy ghost we will never make a wrong choice, because a perfect being cannot make a wrong choice. General Conference was also this week. The first session on Saturday was my favorite. I have many notes from conference but I'm not going to take the time to type them. One thing I do want to say is " Harken not to mans understanding, but to Gods and then you will not be tossed to and from with waves and winds of foolish doctrine"
    Melvin and Brother Rains and his son came to priesthood which was wonderful. The Rains family is a referral from church headquarters. They live an hour and a half away and are golden investigators! The most powerful first lesson I have taught was in their home. I admonish (I use big words now) the Campbell family to live worthy and invite the Holy Ghost to dwell with you every second of the day. Probably in the next year or so I'll send my study on the holy ghost home.  O.K. I am done being the serious Elder Campbell. Even though it has been a rough week it has been a wonderful week!!! If we didn't have to go through the refiners fire now and again life would be a mock unto the saviors atonement. Remember always strive to become better. For our progression brings happiness to God and to us and the Holy Ghost is needed for spiritual progession. I LOVE YOU MOM AND FAMILY!!! Max do your family history as the apostles have asked you to. The blessing promised with it is to good to give up.
I'M HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME!       LOVE,  Elder Campbell

New Address for the mission office.

The Saint Louis Mission Office is moving. The new address will be
      Elder H. Alexander Campbell
      Missouri St. Louis Mission
      1850 Craigshire Rd.
      St. Louis, MO 63146
Alex's apartment address is still
      Elder Alex Campbell
      404 Villar, Apt E
      Fredericktown, MO 63645

Alex will most likely be transferred within the next few weeks. So it is best to use the mission office address for the next little while.

Starting to feel better!

I'm doing much better now last week was really hard with my headache but I'm doing so much better now. My headache is starting to go away=) We found 4 new investigators and taught 11 lessons and had an amazing lesson with this family in the middle of no where! It is an hour and a half drive from fredercktown. Super far away which is super annoying because they regulate the miles so much but there is a member that takes us out there but the problem is getting a ride back >.< Brother rains has known about the church for some time and has also taken lessons from the elders a few years ago. He has been working with his wife so that she would listen to the missionaries and a few days ago they were ready so we got a media referral from church headquarters to go visit them. It was fantastic the wife really enjoyed it and brother rains wants to quit smoking so he can be baptized. The Boatwrights have agreed to live the word of wisdom. B.J. has the date of October 8th to quit smoking and Sister Boatwright has stopped drinking coffee. Half of the family was at church the other half had to stay home because they were sick. The Ormans are also doing great! Autumn wants to be baptized!!! She loved the young woman activity! The Ormans will continue to come to church=) I'm going to start taking a lot more pictures because I haven't been taking that many.... But Zack wanted me to send some pictures of the leaves changing so I'll do my best but they say it is going to be a really ugly year just because of the weather. And whats up with the weather???? It seems weather is going crazy everywhere. It rained here all day yesterday. Thank you so much for the emails. They were much better that last week! I loved getting emails from Zach and Max those always make my week! Sorry for the short email but I have to email President Clark.   Love,  Elder Campbell

STRESS!!!!!

    YOU GUYS GOTTA SEND BETTER EMAILS THAT THAT!!!!! I send better emails and I don't even write very much:) Today was zone p-day so we are emailing a little late. It is super annoying to have this hurt ankle. It limits so many things I can do! Yes it is super wonderful that the Ortons got baptized! The Boatwrights didn't make it to church =( But don't worry they will be there next week! I had a super bad headache on Saturday and today just because I've been so stressed about the Boatwrights but everything is going well now. The Ormans came to church last week we tracted them out about 4 months ago. Now they are getting active again. Their youngest daughter is getting baptized.
    Oh, It is so super stressful being senior companion so soon but I'm doing a very good job. I want you to know you can be a proud missionary mom because I am working super hard!!! I've been blessed with participating in the baptisms of seven people. >.<
     Elder Bullock is from Alberta Canada. I don't know much about him other than my last two companions remind me of Max. (It seems everyone reminds him of Max) I haven't lost any weight for a while.... I should fix that. So you should totally pray for the Boatwrights. If that family gets baptized it will be the happiest I've ever been in my life! I don't know if I can handle Fredericktown for another transfer but I won't complain if I do because this is a wonderful place. I should probably start taking a lot more pictures because I really don't take that many but I'm going to start keeping my camera on me so you will be getting a lot more pictures. I have no stories or anything other than this week was super stressful!!!!! and I never get stressed..... I love you and hopefully things are going better next week.
                                                  Love, Elder Campbell

WAAAAASSSSSSSS UPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAAASSSSSSS  UPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FAMILY BAPTISM WAS UPP!  I Love the Ortons! I Love Matt he is just like Max! Guess What!!!!????? The Boatwrights came to church and also the baptism!!! I'm super stressed about if they liked church or not .............anyway... I am now senior companion so I have to be super careful not to forget things and I'm also the follow up trainer for Elder Bullock from Canada. So far every thing is going well. Elder Bullock is a really good missionary. I got a letter from Teej. That always makes me happy. Please continue to pray for the Boatwrights because I love them so much I really want them to join the church. I lost my multi tool. Will you send me the red one that is up in my room. Oh, I loved the C.D.'s Thank you so much! I feel so blessed that the Orton's were baptized. My companion is ready to go so I'll email you next week.   Love, Elder Campbell

One More transfer in Frederickton!

     So the mission has a blog now www.missouristlouismission.blogspot.com  So check it out when you get a chance!! It will have pictures of the mission and stories and all sorts of stuff on it. So I'm not getting transferred! But, Elder Rudd is!!! So I am going to be a follow up trainer. My new companion has only been out for 6 weeks and I am kind of nervous because I am still a greeny and now I am going to be senior companion and running Fredericktown. I would love it if you guys would pray for me to do a good job.
      Elder Rudd's back is doing much better! So that is good. Last week was the hardest week of my mission because we couldn't work and we had to stay in the apartment.... It was hard for me to have sympathy especially since I was teaching the night that I broke my ankle and worked full days from then on (not to mention that when he broke his back I didn't take him to the hospital for four days and made him do his eagle project swinging a pick ax for 8 hours) I was a little frustrated that we couldn't do anything last week... but it is all good. Oh the weather is so nice. It is in the 70s and it feels perfect. The Boatwrights are doing really well and the Ortens will be baptized this Sunday =) I am so happy that I am staying in Fredericktown and excited for my new companion.    Love,  Elder Campbell

      Sorry I din't get a chance to email yesterday. Elder Rudd's back has been really bad. We have been going to doctors all over!!! It looks like he is doing better , he can walk o.k. now. This week I have spent a lot of time up in farmington with Elder Mason and Christensen, we had a great time together. The Ortons are doing really well and their son, Matt, who is Max's age has been on fire this last week. He never cared about the gospel and would always leave when the lesson would start but now something has changed and he is doing really great. The Boatwrights still haven't made it to church but they still love us a ton! Keep praying for the Boatwirghts and the Ortons. Brother Orton has gotten really sick he really needs your prayers.
    I'm not looking forward to tonight I have to dig a hole to bury a member's dog in... it has been his only friend for 13 years and now the dog  is in too much pain. So I will dig the hole and then the member will have to shoot the dog, then I will bury it. Not looking forward to this service but the member really needs the support and help. =(
    Oh I am pro at giving myself haircuts now. =) I've stopped losing weight so I started exercising more in the morning. Let's see if that helps.  Brother Houghton is off to repair damage the Hurricane caused on the East Coast. We will all miss him.
     The best missionary story I have this week happened in the middle of no where, we had been to this house about 5 times and no one had ever answered the door. We knew a less active man lived there. This time he came to the door he looked really sad. Before long he started to cry and told us his wife had started using drugs and other terrible thing that go along with hardcore drugs. They had been married for 16 years and now it was over.... he talked about how hard it was to watch his wife destroy her life and her eternal life while he tried to do everything he could to help her. I am sure heavenly father feels that way with us sometimes. He said he would come to church next Sunday, that he is ready to change his life for the better and fix his life... It was a really heart wrenching meeting!
    Oh I got a letter from Teej!!!! I write him every week =) umm lets see I also got a letter from my new fiance. (I really am not sure who he is referring to, I am wondering what I have missed in his letters) Oh I loved my email from Max and Aunt Gayle. Oh and I got a letter from Coleen =) Oh and I got my camera back so don't worry about that. I can't believe how fast time is going. I am hitting the 5 month mark and I need 1 more baptism to keep my goal of double the standard of excellence! I hope to get 3 really soon.
=) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =) =)
I'll know next Monday if I am getting transferred. ??????????????   Love, Elder Campbelll

 

No Letter today! So Sad =(

Alex's Address

Elder Alex Campbell
Missouri St. Louis Mission
745 Craig Road Ste306
 Creve Couer, MO 
                   63641-7122

Want to stay??????? Want to go??????????

   We found the Boatwrights! They are doing super well. They are praying and reading he Book of Mormon They just haven't made it to church. We have even taken them on a church tour...We need to set a new baptism date for them. If I get transferred I won't get to see them get baptized. I love them so much they are a great family. Baptizing the Boatwrights would make my mission, but maybe I'm supposed to go somewhere else and let someone else enjoy the blessings of baptizing someone. I would also miss the Orten's baptism which we just set for September 11, kind of a weird day for a baptism but at least it is a date. I would love to see all of them baptized, so I really don't want to leave Fredericktown but at the same time I really want to leave. This place is wearing me out.... It is super stressful trying to plan for this area and find work... It is hard to stay busy and if you don't stay busy then things start to get really hard. I'll get to spend two days up in Farmington with Elder Mason and Elder Christensen so that will be a nice break for me. Last week I spent two days in Farmington and one in Jackson that was really fun. One thing for sure the meeting house will have to be enlarged because if the Boatwrights do come to church they will have to stand because the church is at full capacity. So if I stay I will have spent 1/4th of my mission in Fredericktwon! THAT IS SO CRAZY THAT I AM SUPER CLOSE TO BEING 1/4 DONE WITH MY MISSION! When you have 25 investigators time flies. I feel like I'm serving a South American mission in Missouri. So if I may I would like to ask the family to pray for the Boatwrights, in the family prayer in the morning. Would you also pray for the Orton's? That would be wonderful. Oh, I know where my camera is I just have to wait for it to come in the mail from St. Louis.  I'll send you some more pictures when I get it back! I'll get some more crazy stories for next week.

Love,
Elder Campbell

Spiders and Bugs

     So this week was interesting........ I've been here 4 months and me and Elder Beatty worked the place over. Elder Beatty was a super hard worker and we contacted everyone we saw and wasted no time. I've met almost everyone in town. Now the people love me here. People are always waving at us and smiling and talking to us because they saw me and Elder Beatty all the time. The Boatwrights have vanished off the face of the earth the last 2 days so they were not at church.  The Ortens came to church though!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so happy to see them there. 

      Thank you for the package. all the other missionaries are jealous but don't worry I share with everyone.   

By the way I love the ties the 3 green ones are fantastic.!!! I will use the Pizza Hut card just not here in Fredericktown the Pizza Hut has a really really bad bug problem. In fact all of downtown Fredericktown is closed down right now (all six buildings) because the bugs were so bad. Some of the kids that lived there had to be placed with family services because the bugs were so bad. I think the worst bug experience I had was I when I was giving a blessing and the bugs started to crawl out of the ladies hair and onto my arms. I will never forget that day! Well bugs don't bother me much anymore. Oh, the spiders out here are so big. There is this black and yellow orbit spider that is huge and the guys wife will not let him kill it, and I can't even tell you how many spiders I have found tearing off the siding of the Vacca's house. 

     Well, I should probably get to the good stories of the week. First up is "gospel basher lady and husband" so we were out tracting on College St. when a vey nice lady let us in and gave us a glass of water and let us sit on her couch then she started yelling at us about Joseph Smith being a false prophet. We just tried to be polite and tried to excuse ourselves and get out with out her becoming anymore upset. So as we were trying to leave she is still yelling at us and then she invites us over for dinner. =)  Anyways on to another story and this one is great. It was about 9:30 at night and it was very dark we were riding home from an appointment we were on our bikes.  I was riding with one hand and carrying a box of raisin bran in the other hand Brother Orton works for a cereal company and he had given us a box of raisin bran. So I hit a little bump and yelled to Elder Rudd that this Raisin Bran was really throwing off my balance. Then I hit a big ditch and went down. I ate the road like a champ. Elder Rudd hears the sound of metal scraping against the road. He gets off his bike and runs back to me and finds me laying in a pool of liquid around my head. It looked like I was mortally wounded. But, have no fear Elder Campbell is a Tank and nothing can hurt him!  The liquid all over the road was a bottle of syrup I had in my back pack and the sound of metal scraping the asphalt was from some butter knives I had used in the lesson I was teaching. I think Elder Rudd almost had a heart attack when he first saw me laying there in the road. I always wear my helmet so no need to worry mom. =) Elder Campbell is safe and his ankle is doing wonderful! It is bigger than my other ankle but very little pain and I have full movement. 

     Max, good job! way to get your learner permit. I can't wait to come home and beat you at everything again! =) Do good in school. How is Sarah? I have not heard from her in a while. I hope everything is great for her. She is probably just busy. Oh and I have a million more stories to tell you about Fredericktown!    Love,   Elder  Campbell

THE BRONZE GOD OF MISSOURI (OLEX)

     I thought I had sent you some pictures of the apartment. I will send them soon =) My Camara is kind of missing =( I think it is in South Saint Louis in an elders apartment). It has been really stormy here lately but it has cooled down 20 degrees so I'm not complaining even though I like biking around when it is 115 degrees outside. Oh, by the way, I am down another belt size! That is really cool, so basically I have turned into the Bronze god of Missouri. I can bike forever now and I am in super good shape. I like the thunder storms now because it doesn't really look like a tornado could pop out of them at any moment.
    The Catholic academy is in the middle of the forest. Fredericktown is surrounded on 3 sides by the Mark Twain national forest. So I am in the most beautiful part of Missouri. I love it out here! I love sweating so much that I drink five bottles of water a day. I love working hard! I had another baptism this week so now I have four. I am trying really hard to double the standards of excellence. I'll keep doing my best and hopefully I'll get there. I really want to baptize the Boatright family before I get transferred. I Love them so much. I will probably be leaving Fredericktown soon. I know everyone in town and I think they are getting sick of me. I have more fans than foes in Fredericktown. Everyone might not join the church but everyone can love Elder Campbell! I would really love to serve in East Saint Louis because the people love missionaries there. ( I have heard East Saint Louis is one of the poorest places in the United States, so of course that is where Alex would want to serve.) Fredericktown has 20 different churches. Every corner has a Pasteur that lives on it.
    I did hear someone yell Campbell when we were walking to the zoo so that must of been Elder Beatty. Elder Rudd is from Sugar City, Idaho. We get along great. He was into Speech and Drama in high school. I don't think I have told you about Elder Mason. He is a missionary in my district. There are only four of us so we are really close. Elder Mason and I are the best of friends he is like Teej and Brad all rolled into one. He is from Ephraim, Utah. He has talked me into going to Snow College for two years when I get back. The super activity was a blast. Elder Mason and I spent the whole time at the zoo.
    So no one has yelled at us lately, oh never mind, some one yelled," the devil loves You," not too long ago. So my Fredericktown story of the week goes to the Orton's this week. We were over at their house house and the father has just told us that a police officer had just shot a deer that had come into town and had broken it's two front legs. Just a few minutes later his son came in with two unskined deer legs, dripping with blood. Now comes the best part, he said, " do you want these in the sink or the tub"? Gahh, I started laughing so hard. So Elder Rudd is the driver right now and he is a really good driver he just  drives a little slower than most people.When we were going to Cape, which is an hour away, we got passed on a one lane highway by a log truck. It gets better though on the way home we got passed like twenty times. We were on a curvy road with a double yellow line when a little old grandma with puffy hair flies past us.
    My foot is doing really well. I am able to walk on it all day. I don't have to wear the boot anymore which is really nice. You guys better be getting in better shape so we can do fun stuff when I get home.
    Oh, and I love the family history please send more. ( I couldn't get him to read family history if I paid him before his mission). Oh and I need more money!  Love,  Elder Campbell
 

Call from Elder Beatty!

   Alex's companion, Elder Beatty, called today! It was so fun to talk to him. He was the perfect first companion for Alex. He was released last week and has been enjoying Missouri with his parents.What a great young man. I can't wait to meet him.

No Letter from Alex today because of the super activity! =(

Pictures and a Letter!!!!

     This week has been really great! We taught 13 lessons this week, 5 member present lessons and 8 others. I see that other missionaries talk about the people that they are teaching so I guess I should start too. Nick will be baptized this Sunday, he just moved in to the the Bass's ranch, out in the country. It is a 200 acre ranch and it is really beauatiful. His mom, Candice, was really against the Mormon religion but over the last month or so she has warmed up to it and is now letting her son get baptized and she is reading thee book of Mormon. The Boatwrights are a family we are teaching. I love them, they are going to make me chocolate gravy for me. They have six kids all within 8 years of each other and they are all well behaved!!!
The Vaccas are another family that I love, they came to church last week, that is a miracle because they are super active in their own church but are slowly converting to the Gospel. There is a bunch of other people but I don't really like to talk about the people I'm teaching and the first presidency told missionaries not to write too much about the people they are teaching.
     Thank you for all the Tuna!!! I don't think you'll have to send anymore because we have a ton. Thank you so much for all for all of the stuff. Thank you for the new bike tube. How did you know mine went flat again? I didn't think I told you. Tell Zach thank you so much for the package! =) That made me so happy. I'll have to send my I-pod back so you can put some new stuff on it. I neat to send a lot of stuff home before I get transferred because I have too much stuff.
     It has been super hot here and this stupid boot I have to wear does not help. Tearing ligaments in your leg is not Cool but it is healing well. The Catholic academy is huge! It is 200 years old! The restaurant  is really nice, they were super busy last time we went there, which is super good because they really need the business. I am blessed to be in this area, I love Fredericktown, even though it is covered in drugs and sinful things we are extremely blessed. I have been able to have 3 baptisms which doesn't sound like a lot compared to other missions but the standards of excellence for this area is twelve baptisms for their whole mission. I am so happy I get to stay in Fredericktown hopefully the Boatwrights will be baptized soon.
      It was really stressful for Elder Beatty to leave. I will miss him a lot. I am sure he will call you sometime. I really like Elder Rudd. He is a really great teacher. It turns out that some of his cousins went to Brighton so I knew a few of them.
      There are some really messed up people out here and they make for great stories. Witch lady is one of them. She told us that witches break into her house when ever she leave. While she was telling us this I noticed she had drawn crosses all over her house and door. Then we notices pages of a book were taped up all over the windows of her house. We noticed they were pages from the Book of Mormon.
She said these worked the best to keep the witches out..... A normal day in Fredericktown, yet again.
     THE SUPER ACTIVITY IS NEXT WEEK!!! We earned it by handing out 1800 Book of Mormons. Elder Beatty and I pulled our weight helping with this. We are always low on Book of Mormons. It is going to be sweet. We get two days off to pl.ay. We are going to forest park in St. Louis! The entire mission is going. Oh and by the  way cous cous is amazing and fast which is Missionary friendly. Oh my new favorite thing to say is from the movie "Joseph Smith, The Prophet of the Restoration" It is a line from when they are here in Missouri, 'Missouri proved to be the refiners fire: hahaha, I love to say it when someone slams the door in our face.   Love Ya, Elder Campbell

GOOD BYE TO ELDER BEATTY ---- HELLO TO ELDER RUDD

    Well I'm still in the boot but I don't think I'll have to wear it much longer because I can walk on my foot pretty well now. We had two baptisms this week and we now have 25 investigators! I think at least 3 of those will make it to baptism There was a big storm on Sunday after Church, I LOVE how the sky just growls with thunder the whole time during a storm out here. I am staying in Fredericktown for another transfer with Elder Rudd. I have not ever met him and I am really nervous about taking over the area. It is kind of hard working in such a little branch because it is rally hard to get a team up for lesseons. We got kicked out of a member house yesterday don't worry it was not our fault. The guy is a little mental. So lthe family that just moved into the huge catholic university are running a restaurant in it. It is so cool, most of the buildings are 100-200 years old. They are trying to restore everything but estimate it will take about 4 million dollars. Their  cinnamon rolls are amazing, they put carmel and pecans in the frosting. They bake all of their bread fresh.
     It has been kind of nice being on crutches because we get to use the car and when the heat index is 120 degrees it isn't very fun to be on a bike. But, the big storm on Sunday cooled everything off. I'm so sorry Coleen got in a car accident I am so glad she is O.K.  I miss her and hope everything works out for her.
Zach, thank you for the letters, they always make me laugh. I love them. Max, you just keep trying to get better than me at any game but I also want you to be in better shape than me when I get back.
     Thank you for all of the packages, they help a lot. Tuna is the best thing to send ever!!!! because we use at least one can a day.  There is a movie out called "On the Lords Errand".  It is about Thomas S. Monson. It is super good. I want you to watch it as a family for family home evening. also there is a new Joseph Smith movie out that is the same as the restoration but they changed it up a little more. And Dang there are a lot of "anti" out here. People do not understand the Bible. And by the way, who the heck tells non members deep doctrine? Gahhhhh that makes things so hard..........................
                     Love ya, Elder Campbell

My ankle isn't broken!

    So my ankle is not broken, which is good! I just ripped a ligament or two.  So I have to be careful with it.they gave me some huge boot thing....Which gets super hot in the wonderful heat out here. I don't really have much to say but I have some pictures which this computer can't send so I'm not sure you will get them today. Nothing really happened this week because I've been hopping around on crutches. Church was full yesterday even though 3 families we're missing, so that is great! A new family just moved in. they live in a old catholic university which is huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully I will be able to get pictures of it. A part member, less active family, started coming to church which is really nice because we've been teaching them forever and they haven't progressed at all but now there is hope for them. We have 21 investigators right now so we are doing really great. We have two baptisms this Sunday, hopefully those will happen this week. I have no doubt that they will be baptized I just hope it happens this week.
     Friday we got to go to the temple which was wonderful. I love the St Louis temple. Apparently we are under a heat advisory so we are so supposed to be really careful about the heat so we don't get heat stroke.
And what do you mean you are in worse shape than when I left! Is that even possible? START GETTING HEALTHIER all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Day at the Hospital

   So we found out why we didn't get an email from Alex today. He was in the hospital with a broken leg from basketball. I did get to talk to Elder Beatty and give him Alex's medical information. So I guess that makes up for the Email. I could really tell how much these two Elders love and care for one another. Ironically Elder Beatty's stitches just came out today.

ELEPHANT ROCKS

     So Elephant Rocks was not so fun because my companion fell and got eleven stitches in his lip! He bit all the way through it. So it was really a bloody mess all the way to the hospital. >.< But don't worry he is o.k. now. We went down to the Houghton's house to watch fireworks and to teach two people that are getting baptized in July and some old lady kept telling us we were no Elders and that we don't use the Bible... I don't know what tot do with those people because they won't listen to us but that is o.k. Oh and scraping off chigger bites is the best way! Trust me! (hopefully I will never find out for myself). Any way brother Houghton is a line man, he climbs telephone poles out here because the cherry picker can not reach the really overgrown areas. The reason I am telling you this is because they might be doing a show about his company like they do with ax men and deadliest catch. Because these guys free climb 40 to 70 foot poles and they have nothing to secure them except when they get to the top they put a leather belt around the pole but that is it. Most line men only stay with that job for about 9 years because it is really dangerous. So if it makes it air then you will be able to see Andy Houghton. He would be the only mormon on the show! 

                 So on the forth of July at about 9 o'clock it started to rain like crazy and when we got back to the apartment the power was out, but that happens all the time in Fredericktown. So there is a lot of Campbell's out here apparently, I haven't met one yet but they say they are out here.

      The latest and greatest is that two new families moved into the branch which is a big deal because it is a really small branch. We found a family that lived in Utah and we started teaching them on Sunday. They were really cool and will probably get baptized >.< Hopefully I get to baptize them because I love them! That would put me at 7 baptisms and that is what the mission asks each missionary to get his whole mission. So we have been having a lot of success and this is not all because of me but I have found if I work hard and I have a good companion that does the same we  really do well=) I'm not slacking off and all the members love me and I LOVE FREDERICKTOWN! =) I have so many stories to tell you about the Boatright family and the people we teach and and how much I love my mission. Time is going by really fast. I was hoping I could hear more from Max. If he could e-mail me and write me now and then I would love it. I sent him a letter this morning.

     Oh and I love President Clark, I don't really get to see him very often because the mission home is two hours away but he is super nice and funny and so is Sister Clark!

     I miss Griffin! Keep him healthy! I want to play with him when I get back, make sure you take him on walks everyday ! Oh and the whole family needs to get in better shape so we can go do cool stuff when I get back! Because I am getting skinny and yolked, one might say.
                                                              Elder Campbell

Chiggers and Ticks

   Tell Max I want to play minecraft but that is going to have to wait a while.  I can't believe it has already been two months, I should be home in no time and tell Max to get in super good shape! Like he should be stronger than I am when I get home.  I don't have a lot of time this week because we are going to elephant rocks with the zone leaders. I'm sure you have been watching the weather here it has been crazy. the storms are super cool even though I sleep through most of them but don't worry because we have plenty of places to go when the sirens go off.
    -SNAPPING TURTLES - I saw a huge one yesterday under a bridge. Then a guy who was hunting snakes with a blow dart gun told us where the biggest turtles in Missouri are. I can't wait to go see them.
     We now have 14 investigators, we teach a whole group of people on Friday nights.  A really old guy plays baptist hymns and we all sing along.  It all started with us doing service. Oh and just to let you now chiggers itch worse than anything in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LIKE OH MY GOSH my left leg was on fire for 4 days. Bug spray does not keep them away!  Don't worry though I think I got rid of them. Oh and the only way to get rid of chiggers is to burn them which i did and all that did was start my leg hairs on fire and look really funny so then we were told to scrap them out while you are in the shower with a brush or something. Which I did and it worked but really hurt. So no more chiggers just legs with scabs all over them. Chiggers are devil bugs. ( I don't know if I should tell him chiggers don't burrow into the skin they are like mosquitos they put an apparatus into your skin. They just stopped itching because the bites had healed.) No ticks yet even though I flick them off of me all the time and watch other missionaries get them.
     The branch just had two new families move in so that is great I taught the whole zone how to beat box yesterday and me and Elder Beatty are pro at singing. We sing almost every week in church. This week we are singing " A poor way faring man of grief".  Every Sunday Elder Beatty and I draw pictures of dragons with the kids at church. It always ends with one kid scratching the others trying to breath fire on them.  I have lost 8 pounds and have put on a lot of muscle.  In other words I'm getting "yoked".  Max had better be in super shape when I get back and have read the  book of mormon. But I do miss him a lot!!!!! Tell dad I think about him often and tell Sarah THANK YOU FOR ALL THE STUFF! Oh and tell Daniel to join the church already. I want to close this letter by saying 3 more tornados have touched down in my zone this week. Love you mom and please don't worry because the members are always watching over us.
                                                         Love, Eleder Campbell

I don't know why he thinks I would worry just because he is burning his leg hairs off while the tornado sirens are going off!

Lightning and Turtles

     We have had really cool lightning storms lately. They are really bright and LOUD! IT SOUNDS LIKE   THUNDER FOR MINUTES AT A TIME. I saved a snapping turtle this week. He wasn't that big but he was definitely strong and wanted to bite my fingers off when I moved him off the road. I am down another belt loop! I didn't really think I was fat when I left on my mission but I guess I was. Well I knew I was fluffy but down two belt loops is nice.  =)
      Thank you for the Walmart gift card and for the bike tools and the tire repair stuff. We did the most "bestest" service ever! A lady came up to us while we we're doing service at the senior center and asked us if we could help her fill sandbags. We didn't hear from her and then we ran into her again and she ask if we could come and help her drive some fence posts in for her. So we get to this place that is in the middle of the country, Elder Beatty drives one post into the ground and she sends me to clear out this section of the forest so she can rebuild a fence to keep her goats in. Now this part of the forest has never been cleared, and then 2 years ago an inland hurricane flattened about 40% of the trees. So it is super hard work and super over grown with vegetation!!!  Like so much green! Oh and it was a swamp... so I just kind of looked at it not knowing what to do. Soon Elder Beatty came down and we both looked at it and had no idea how to handle it.... So we both just started clearing it with clippers and building a bridge of vegetation so we didn't have to stand in the swamp. Until we came to a tree that needed to be moved. We asked for some axes to cut it and she was like, axes? "Those are way too much work use the chain saw" but we insisted on the axes. She went and got us some axes. I was thinking she was just going to get a normal ax. She brought us 1 normal ax and one super huge double ax of death thing. I took the double ax and Elder Beatty took the normal ax (which was still Huge)  and after that and after that things went much faster. We cleared that forest so fast and pro! Then she took a book of Mormon Three days later we came back for service and this time we were tearing out 40 feet of honey suckle vines! Remember this is Missouri and those vines have been growing a very long, long, time They bought us a machete, a sickle ( I didn't know Alex knew what a sickle was) and this tool we call the Egyptian ( I don't know what that is) It is like a sickle and an ax combined that cuts though vines like nobody's business. At the end we had a pile of vines 6 by 10 feet cut up and moved. I have never sweated so much in my life. She also set up a lesson next week with her and her husband and a group of their friends. So that is good. There is way more to that story but I just can't explain all of it, but those people are super nice! and oh they gave us some super old religious documents for an old church out here, dating back to about 1840 really cool stuff. We also started teaching this new family because the kids love us and the kids begged us to teach them a lesson. Turns out that the mom is now interested and we are teaching them again tonight. Other than that just the normal teaching. Some people yelling at us and what not. Edger checked himself into rehab=) I don't know if I told you about Edger but I hope I have time next Monday to tell you about him. Love ya mom and MAX go to swim team and exercise a lot because you have to be in super good shape if you come on a mission like this where it is so hot and you have to bike 40 miles a week and sweat like CRAZY!         Love, Elder Campbell

   Alex and Elder Beatty are staying in Fredericktown for six more weeks and then Elder Beatty will head home to Las Vegas. Alex wanted to  make sure that letters go to the mission home address which is

Elder Harold A. Campbell
Missouri Saint Louis Mission
745 Craig Road Ste 306                                                                                                                              Creve Coeur, MO 63131-7122

Packages should still go to his apartment address which is
Elder Alex Campbell
404 Villar, Apartment E
Fredericktown, MO 63645

His letter is short this week, but he did send some pictures which I will add as soon as I can figure out how to do that, anyway on with the letter.
     I want to take you and dad here because I want to show you some of the places I have to go inside of! We gave this lady a blessing and during the blessing there were ants and all sorts of other bugs crawling all over us. I am super tan from biking in the sun all day. My hair is super short and I can ride with no hands now. >.< I am getting in pretty darn good shape but darn it gets hot here!
     That is cool that Max got braces. (Max doesn't think so) He better be big and strong when I get back because missions are not easy and he needs to go on one.

                                                                              Love , Elder Campbell

IT IS HOT

   It is so Hot here!!!! It was 102 degrees and 83% humidity!!! This week has been great. I don't really have very much to say except this is the 6th week I have been here and so transfer calls are on Saturday. I am 1/12 of the way done with my mission. Time is going by so fast. Sorry I haven't written anyone a letter, I just don't have time. I only get one day a week and that is Mondays and Mondays are usually just as busy as the other days. I think all of the bad storms are over with and now it is just super hot and wet. I've never seen so many bugs in my life... they are uncountable!
     I am so sleepy, we have had to get up at 6 for the last couple of days and when you ride a bike 20 miles a day in 100 degrees it makes you sleepy! We reached our mission goal for the month of May! The goal was to pass out 1830 Books of Mormon, we passed out 2300. We get a super activity in July we might go to a Cardinals game or to the zoo or some other activity. I saw like 30 turtles today. I see about 10 dead armadillos a day and tons of dead possums. I don't look the same anymore. I had to make a new belt hole in my belt (the good way) and my arms and face are super tan!
      I would love to take you and dad around here when I get back because there is a lot of cool stuff to do. Mail should go to the mission office in case I get transferred but I think I will stay here.
                                                                               love you mom and family,
                                                                                Elder Campbell

I'M FINE

    Well I'm fine so don't worry about me, the tornado sirens went off all last week but we were always in a safe place because we always go to a members house that has a basement.=) We have not really been helping on tornado clean-up because Fredericktown got really lucky. Even though two tornados touched down in Fredericktown they didn't cause much damage. We were driving on "00" ( the name of the highway) and trees were ripped out of the ground and laying around. So tornados are pretty scary but you don't need to worry because we always have somewhere safe to be. I'll send some pictures soon.
     It is very hot here and my allergies are diffidently bad! One day I thought my eyes were going to start on fire but Elder Beatty gave me some stuff that took it right away. His allergies are really bad, like super bad, like he almost dies! Uuuggg. I have so many stories to tell but not enough time to write them all! Yesterday I fell in a river! The Houghtens took us up to a canyon which was way cool! On Saturday we had dinner at the Bass's house. They are also one of my favorite members. They have a farm so we had huge steaks, that they had just cut! Fresh whole milk (I don't know if I want to drink fresh whole milk again) and then they gave us fresh eggs from their chickens to take home with us.
     We  had five tornados touch down in our zone last week. But don't worry because the sirens go off like 10 minutes before the storms get to us. ( He really knows how to put my worries at ease.) Oh, and I got attacked by a pit bull. But it was O.K. because the family got me a Sponge Bob Bandaid.
    An apostle is coming to speak to us this week, which will be the 3rd time I've heard one on my mission so far. I'll try to email you some pictures in like 2 weeks. Next p day is a zone p day so I don't know if I will have time to email but hopefully I will! Tell Sarah sorry I haven't written her back yet, I just don't have enough time right now. Tell Max congrats on his flying mount and that I miss him probably more than he misses me and tell dad Thank you for all of the letters and let him know that I am working my butt off. We have talked to pretty much everyone in this town....there is on 4300 people in Frederick town