Hey Mom! so oh man, I have so much to tell you! Monday was great! and Tuesday we taught a lot of lessons and also had to get a lot of things done because other missionaries just can't always take care of them selves or are to  lazy too. Well, it was hard to say goodbye. to Alex, Amy, and Emily. I loved Champiagn and the people there. I had a GREAT COMPANION. I was leaving somewhere I loved and going some place I din't know. I didn't know my companion or the branch, Well let me just tell you the ride down here was hard on my heart. I didn't want to be down here. I knew that when I got down here and started working hard and teaching people about Jesus Christ it would be better but it was still hard on the ride down. Well let me give you an over view really quick overview. We have found 5 new people to teach in half a week. The branch loves me so far! I have proved to them that I am here to work my hardest. That I can change the area and the missionary work with the branch's help. If we lean on Heavenly father he will work through us to bless his children. When I got here we had 0 people that we were teaching. Now we have at least 5 and we have have already made appointments set up for next week to find about 5 more. There is a strong spirit here. I Love it I am so happy to be here because I feel like I can help. The branch did not trust the missionaries here before. The leaders of the branch were getting complaints and the branch president was getting upset with the missionaries here. But they just think I am the best missionary ever. I won't let them down.  The ward mission leader almost fell off of his chair when I told him of all the new investigators we are finding. He has alway been very, very nice to me. He always showers me with praise and I always give it back! Don't worry I will not get prideful!!! So that was a quick overview. Now lets break it down. Wednesday were transfers. we got here and I walked into the apartment and it was HORRIBLE!!! IT WAS SO TRASHED!!! I have taken out 10 huge garbage bags of trash! I spend every lunch hour, morning, dinner time, and even night time to clean. I bet I have spent over 15 hours cleaning. Well Thursday we had service in the morning we serve old people there food. It made me miss the old service in Champaingn, It was way better and more teaching came from it. Then we had to spend a lot of time cleaning... I spent $50.00 on cleaning supplies! I have 0 dollars to my name. Ha Ha but the mission would give me extra money if I asked. They already gave me extra miles on the car. Friday we had weekly planning,... That was frustrating. We visited a family that was taught a few years ago and they said dthey would like to take the lessons again and that was sweet. The Watkins had us over for dinner. It was great. They have a sweet house. Turns out that they were also getting frustrated with the old missionaries too.

Alex showing off his turtle snuggie

Another shot of the snuggie

A package of salad mix Alex found while cleaning out the refrigerator in his new apartment.

Oh, good news.... There is an ankle doctor here wand he said he will check my ankle and make sure it is healing right. There is also a dentist here. Saturday we did some tracting in the morning and found a new family. Then we had lunch. Oh, send lots of tuna because my companions loves tuna he also loves green olives stuffed with anchovies... but don't sen any of those... Sunday I gave a talk! I din't find out until Friday and my companion could not remember what we were asked to speak about!!! Well his talk lasted about 5 minutes and I had to fill the rest of the time. We were the only speakers. Well not a  problem for me.  I took up the time and the spirit helped me every step of the way! Well that helped the branch know the I love missionary work and that I am here to work hard and make them happy. Well we had a few referrals that the ward gave us.  We treat what ever they give us like it is golden! That way they love us and they are happy and start helping us out more. So when I got  here we had no dinners. Now we have people calling us and setting up dinners all the time. It is just such a great thing happening here. Then we went out to this place called Oran and visited a less active sister that the relief society had asked us to stop by and see and well we visited and boom! Two new investigators! She gave us a referral!!!!

I called the Ortons in Fredericktown to tell them I was down here. They were so happy to hear from me! I was pumped to hear from them. They are the people in Fredericktown that have a special place in my heart. William Petty also has a special place. Amy, Alex and Emily in Champaign will always be in my heart too! I can't wait to find more here in Sikeston that will have a place in my heart! I just really wish I had longer on my mission to help here. I sure love you mom. I am going to need a few extra prayers. I don't have time to email Max. Tell him I Love Him!!!!

                     Elder Campbell

Alex wearing some of his Christmas Presents.
For those of you who have worried that Alex was getting too serious this should be a great relief.

Hey, Mom! Yup, I am going to Sikeston. Back to the South Baby!!!! Better storms! Crazy people!!! Home sweet Home! It has been a long time. I hope I love it as much as I did the fist time! I don't know what I am going to do being a normal missionary! It is gonna be great! I can see it now! 300 people join the church in Sikeston, Missouri!!!! Then go apostate and start worshipping a giant gold turtle! Well I lost my planner for a little last week so it is not filled out and I can't remember anything!!! Oh, before I forget I sent a box home today! It is full of ... well I don't remember. You can open it if you want. I should of put a note in there saying I love you or something but I spaced.... Maybe next time!! Well I know Elder Williams and I had a great week! A lot of work got done! Yeah it is hard to leave it makes me sad every time I think about leaving all of my cool friends up here! It is hard to leave the people you love and care about a lot. But I'll just have to wait 3 months until I can talk to them again! I will miss Alex a lot He is such a great person! He gave a talk on Sunday! Wow it was so good! Emily is a great girl and has a lot of faith and drive to live the gospel and share it with others. I am going to miss her a ton! Amy is so funny I am going to miss her as well. I know me leaving is all"part of the Plan". Well yeah... I'm becoming a soft little baby, mom!!!!I might cry sooon!  I'm just playing but it is hard on the heart! I just don't cry on the outside but on the inside I am getting torn up to leave. But I am off to go help another soul find Christ! Well I sure love you mom! YOu are the best mom ever! Well at least the best mom for me =) At least that is what Heavenly Father thought when he sent me here to be you son =) I do love you a lot mom! Now stop crying!  Haha,  I'll make you proud,prouder and maybe even proudest! ( I just made up some words, Huh)
Love, Elder Campbell

Hey Mom, alright so about the dentist... well, I called Dr. Hick and they could not get me in until the 29th of Jan, which I'll be gone by then. So yeah the Lord will take care of me or something will work out! and the jaw thing is very different from my cavities. Well my planner is in Danville so I hope I can remember most of the week.  I think this was the fastest week of my mission. Hey by the way I never got that package that you said you sent in the last email. I blame our new mail man...(turns out it was the mail man, he sent it back saying Hillary Campbell no longer lived there.) Anyway... Monday was zone p-day it went really well everyone had a good time we all had a lot of fun. Then we had a meeting with everyone to share the goal we made in ZLC for the years baptisms. Well the meeting was great. We had some great trainings by some of the elders. Tuesday came and we went down to Paris to do our exchanges.. They went really well and we interviewed some people for baptism. Wednesday our appointment fell though so we went to Mahomet's district meeting. It went really well Elder Gubler is doing a great job. Well Thursday we went to Danville for their district meeting. Oh yeah we had president interviews on Thursday. they went really well. I love President and Sister Clark. Then we had stake correlation and that went really well. Friday we finally had some time to work on campus and guess what!! There was a high school drama camp going on and so campus was flooded with high schoolers. They are so lame!!!! I am glad I've grown up since then. So we can't really work with high schoolers. So we thought we would spent he next day in Danville. We have a lot of young Elders in that district and wanted to teach them that it is all about Love up here in our zone. Sunday was good. Church was great and we had a really solid former investigator show up at church so we are going to work with him as much as we can and find out what held him back. Well my headaches are doing better. I have a lot more peace right now. I am doing really well mom =) . The 23rd is transfers and it is like a 90% chance that I am otta here. Which is bitter sweet. There is a guy named Dan here he is great. I love meeting with him because he always makes me laugh by saying something funny and it has been really neat to see how much he has changed in the past 3 weeks. I would love to see him baptized but I might not be here for it. But if there is one thing I have learned it is that if I am doing the right thing then "It is all part of the Plan"  Sure love ya mom!!!! I had pictures to send but this computer and my camera are not working things out... haha hopefully next week! sure love ya,
                  Elder Campbell

All the students get back on the 14th and I am so excited. On New years Eve we had dinner at teh Payne's which was great! The kids were playing super smash bros and i wanted to play and kick their trash but I couldn't... but that is O.K. Then we stopped over and saw the Jayne's The Janyes are great people and they bring a lot of people to the gospel.  A lot of our lessons canceled this week. But we did have a few good lessons. Thursday we had Danville's district meeting. We had dinner with Brother Kremer He is a really cool guy that is teaching me German... kinda... Schildkrote is turtle in German. I also know turtle in Hebrew and and few others but I don't have a Hebrew key board so I can't type that one. Turns out turtle in Chinese is Ugway like the turtle in kung Fu Panda. But I don't know how to draw the Character in Chinese yet. Friday we did some contacting on campus, there was only like 6 people on campus but we got 2 appointments set up. Saturday we were in Danville withe the office elders having a meeting with the bishop about opening a new area in his ward. Bishop Fulton is the best ever! He took us out to lunch after and it was way good. Amy and Emily came to Dan's appointment and they did a great job! Emily is still the best member ever she came to every on of our lessons this week! Sunday we had church then weekly plan and then dinner at the Allan's then DLZLD. Oh man this week was so stressful we had to plan for Zone p-day and DLZLC and CDM.

Oh man I thought I was going to have a stinky man sit next to me again but it turns out he is not bad smelling but this week I have a man next to me that can't read unless he is reading out lout but at least I know he isn't reading this. So I think I am safe from bad smells this week. So tonight is CDM. It is a meeting with the whole zone. Things should get back to normal after that.

Well, I have a question for you, and well I am pretty sure you will not like this question. What do I do if I have a cavity in a tooth and I think I might have cavities in two teeth. I have been using mouthwash 2 times a day and flossing every night and brushing every morning and night. And I get a cavity!!!!!! What the Heck! Anyway also my jaw has been killing me!!!!! I don't know what to do about that or who to see... but yas. alright so the guy next to me just got up and picked up a book and is just reading it out loud.... Anyway now a spot for a nice smelly person has opeNed up. Well SARAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ALRIGHT THAT IS ALL I HAVE THIS WEEK! THANKS FOR THE PACKAGES MOM THEY ARE THE BEST! THIS WEEK MY HEADACHES HAVE BEEN THE WORST THEY HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE!!!! I LOVE ELDER WILLIAMS HE WORKS HARD AND HE IS EASY GOING AND FUN. WELL MOM I SURE LOVE YA!!!!! I am down to three months Left!!! I wish I could stay a little longers so that I could spend more time in my last area so I can really get to work anyway.. Love You Mom.
                    Love, Elder Campbell

MOM, You would not believe how bad the guy next to me smells!!! He smells like... Lizard Poop.... mold, and beer! With a little bit of smoke mixed in. Maybe he has pooped his pants... but I am not going to investigate it any more. It was great to talk  everyone on Christmas!!!

 TEEJ IS THE BEST!!!!!

Well let me tell you about some of the people we are teaching... oh poop , I forgot my planner... Anyway so Hang is from China we taught him shortly outside in the cold one night and we set up a time to meet with him. Well, We had our first real lesson with him. He has never learned about Jesus Christ.He has only been in the United States for 3 months. Well we had a great lesson. He said the closing prayer. He thanked God that he was in the Americas and then asked  "God are you there?" Then he closed his prayer. This was the first prayer ever that he has given. He said he felt warmth when he asked "God, are you there?" He said it filled his whole body. We told him it was the spirit and he agreed. So that was a great lesson. Dan is someone else we started teaching this week. His parents are members. He said he has never felt the spirit. He is a little mad at God. But, he doesn't want to be and the gospel confuses him. But, even though it was a harder lesson the spirit came often and softened his heart. It is still a hard heart but it is going be soft by the time the Lord is done with him. Throughout the lesson his countenance became brighter. Which is a good sign. We had another lesson with Serina. Someone else we found this week. Serina is a longer story. It is a huge miracle that we are teaching her but maybe that is a story for when I have more time. Maybe even when I am home. If she is baptized it will be quite a story. But she was so happy to meet us! Emily met with her. Serina has such a good spirit about her if she investigates the church she will be baptized. I have talked to Serina's aunt almost everyday I tell her how she is doing and what we are going to do to help her. Her Aunt is always so grateful and happy to hear about how things are going. I can tell she is holding back tears of gratitude sometimes. Next week I hope to report good things about these 3 people we have six other students with great stories.  to tell but it is just to much to explain. Serina is also from China. I don't want to say any more though because these things are so spiritual they don't belong on my Blog.

Elder Williams is great!!!! He is such a hard worker and loves to do missionary work! Emily has been a SUPER STAR with team ups she is the only member in town!!!! WE called everyone and even the people that live here are gone! She has come to every lesson with us! She is the BEST MEMBER EVER!!!!! Well pretty cool huh? We work with a lot of really neat people here on campus! I thought you would like to know a few of the people we are teaching.

Well, we had Zone Leader Conference on Friday is St. Louis it was a good meeting we had a lot of things to go over for the new year. President Clark wanted to have me and Elder Williams role play our stake corrdination. He loved our stake coordination. He just kept on bringing up how well we did with the Stake President! We went on exchanges with the assistants ! We always have a great time with them. I wish the Guy next to me would leave he smell so bad!!! I think I might barf soon... It really smells like Lizard poop! (In case you are wondering how Alex knows what lizard poop smells like, we have a big bearded dragon named Godzilla who makes toxic waste poop).

Sorry I don't have any pictures! The harder I work the less pictures I take but I will make sure to get the important pictures. I sure love you mom! Thank you for all you do! I am down to 236 right now which is 18 pounds less than when I got here! I need to keep on losing weight!!

THE LIZARD POOP GUY LEFT!!! I was getting sick to my tummy... Well tell dad he can be proud this week. I worked really hard and got a lot of things done and that his advice he gave me really helped this week!!!! It was put to good use! Well, I keep on aiming to make you proud mom!

Another view of the thanksgiving football game

Elder Buys enjoying a burger.

Elder Campbell and Elder Buys Prepared dinner for Elder Gubler and Elder Gisht this was there menu.
I noticed Alex made sure to mention his fine collection of hot sauces.

Alex taking the orders.

Busy working in the kitchen.

                                                       These pictures are from Elder Gubler.

So I don't have any pictures this week, sorry about that. Don't worry about sending a lot of emails mom I love reading them, they always make me happy. I am a changed man for sure if I like hearing from you now! Elder buys is a great guy!!!! We had so many fun times together and I felt like we helped some people lives for the better. I felt like him and I changed the zone a lot and helped some great missionaries! He has a great leadership ability to make people want to be more like him and he also is really great at finding the strengths in others. Well Elder Williams is great! I knew we would get a long really well. Working on campus has been a blast with him. We talk to so many people, we have almost filled up a whole planner page  full of names and numbers of people in less than a week.. Elder Williams is a very hard worker. Something that I struggle with.... no I am not a huge slacker but I want to be a harder worker and Elder Williams is helping me do that! We had our stake coordination meeting with the new stake president and president Clark. It went really well. There was a great spirit in the room and it was just so great!

I can't believe I forgot to say happy birthday and send you a hand written letter mom! But, I can try and make up for it. Mom you have always been a light in my life. I know you care for me and I know you have impacted my life in a very real way that has made me most of who I am today. All the things that you say you are proud of me for are actually things you should be proud of yourself for. You are an amazing mom and you do more than any other mom does for her kids and for the people around you. I know you might not think you did everything right and no one does everything right but you are a perfect mom. I love you mom and I hope I live up to your expectations. That is great to hear that you had a great birthday!
( Just a little side note from mom.... I received this email while Bob and I were out finishing some last minute Christmas shopping. We were at Sportsman's warehouse so I was in the camouflage section reading this email with tears streaming down my face thinking at minute there is going to be an announcement coming over the loud speaker say do not sell any weapons to the lady dressed in black) =)
Well, lets start with transfers. We had 6 hours or more of driving on Wednesday. Then we went with an area here that had been white washed and needed a ride to Wallmart to get food for the week. Thursday we had a district meeting in Danville. Elder Orme is still doing a great job. I am sure Elder Williams was happy to be back in Danville. We came back and we were able to get some contacting on campus done. Then we had Stake coordination with President Stole. It was so great it was one of the most spiritual meetings that I have been to on my mission. Not like a crazy doctrine or life lessons learned just a really good feeling there. Then we had dinner and contacted some more until it was time to go home. Friday we had Service in the morning! We had lunch and then we went and contacted. We had a lesson with Ben and it went really well. Then we contacted some more. Then we had dinner and contacted some more!!! Saturday we had a lesson with Juno in the morning his teacher is Mike Bednar, Elder Bednar's son, he is so great I love Juno he is so smart and has an open mind and a quest to find God! We then helped the branch do some service at a less active/ part members home. Then we had weekly and zone planning it was great planning with Elder Williams! We then contacted some more that we got to go to the YSA branch Christmas Party! The YSA have been doing such a great job bringing non members to things like that. There was a guy named Dan there, his parents are Mormon and he wants to take the lesson! But that is going to have to wait for 2 weeks because he cannot meet until after the new year. Everyone is leaving.... All of our investigators and stuff but we are going to keep finding. Sunday Church was great, Brother Price , the stake Patriarch, spoke and so did President Stole! They talked about prayer and living according to our testimony.

Hey do you know where my retainer is,  for my teeth,. If you could send that out that would be great.
(kind of a funny request since he only used if for about 3 weeks and most of that time it was in his pants pocket) Well I think that is most of the week! I can't wait to talk to you all next week. How is Sarah doing! How is Dad Doing? Well don't worry mom you can buy all of the turtle stuff you want when you go Christmas shopping just keep some of it at home. Barns and noble has this cool turtle that projects stars. I think that is everything I wanted to talk about... Oh that is great that you got to meet all of the Elders at Elder Buys homecoming that is a great group! Mama and Papa Shep are great! I'll get to see Lynn on the 20th so that will be great! Oh and Me and Elder Williams are performing a song on the 20th... Elder Williams is also teaching me how to sing! He is such a great singer! Yes Ethan in going to BYU Provo! Oh and I think SLCC would be a good place to start and I can transfer somewhere. But I don't know.. about all of that stuff yet and I am going to wait a little longer until I do that. Alright mom this time no smelly person has sat down next to me yet!!! Did I ever tell you that the Freemans that I was teaching in Chesterfield for 5 months got baptized like 2 months ago? That made me so Happy! Alright mom I love you ! Email you next week! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PACKAGES!  LOVE, ELDER CAMPBELL

It is called the big fat ugly - It weighs 6 pounds and has 20,000 calories!
Don't worry Elder Buys and I split it!!!!!

Hey Mom,
Yeah Elder Buys goes home the 13th. So let me run through the week. Monday we had dinner at the Paynes. It was great! They are so nice to us... They are going to be out of town for Christmas... So are the Sheps...I don't know what I am going to do... Any way Tuesday was, I don't remember.... but Brother Bode took us to Papa Del's for dinner. It was great! Papa Del's is a really good deep dish pizza place. Wednesday we had district meeting in Champaing. Elder Furlong has been doing a great job. This week a few of our investigators dropped us which was really lame but that is how the work goes. Thursday we had DLZLC. It was a good meeting. We went to Danvilles'a district meeting as well. Then Alexis took us out to dinner! Alexis is full of the spirit, she glows because her spirit is so strong. She is a super star member! Friday we went to a funeral It was very different  from  a mormon funeral. We listened to a preacher and clapped along.  Oh, Emily had us over for dinner. She made breakfast for dinner and it was really great. Ethan came with us to that and to a lesson after. Ethan is going to move to Provo this month. And yes we already have plans to chill when I get back. =) Saturday we had the ward Christmas party. It was fun. I learned how to say turtle in Hebrew!  ( Only Alex) We also had to run around and get people's stake reports. That took four hours! Then we had dinner. Sunday we had church. Planned miles for the mission Christmas party, that was a headache. Anyway then we had the Sheps for dinner maybe one of the last dinners that I have with them, actually it probably was because they are leaving to go out of town.

Elder Buys and Elder Campbell

Santa in Urbana

Danville's District

Well I am glad you are feeling better. I did not hear from Max this week. What up with that? I am glad Sarah got my leter. I need to write dad. I am just so short on time right now. Alright so for transfers. I am getting Elder Williams! He is a yellow- white, I would say! I love him he was a district leader that I worked with as a zone leader. Elder Bullock is also a Zone leader now and so is Elder Belnap. 3of the 4 district leaders I worked with in Chesterfield are now zone leaders! I am pumped to work with Elder Williams! He is a really hard, hard worker! Which is going to be so great! Yeah it is going to be hard to see Elder Buys go! He has so many strengths that I don't have it made to work go smoother. Yes, Lambert's is way cool Alright so all the members are going to be gone for Christmas!!! The dorms close!!!!! The Payne's are going away and the Sheps are Leaving! I AM GOING TO STARVE TO DEATH!!!!!  Alright it might just be a way to loose more weight. We just have to find someone to have Christmas dinner with. The branch is going to be down to like 6 people.... Maybe the Allan's will help feed us... Anyway, you are the best mom! Sure love you mom!   Love, Elder Campbell