Letter from Jerry and Jamie Scriver

My husband and I moved to Georgia in 2006. I had been a member of the Church for about 2 years but was not active (my husband would not have anything to do with the church and was not a member) I would try and have the Sister Missionaries come over while he was at work but when he found out he said he did not want them in our home. He would not tell me why at that time. Fast forward to 2011... One of my best friends from high school who lives in Oregon became very ill. We knew a specialist who could help her so I invited her to come and stay with us so she could get the medical treatment she needed. What I didn't know was that she was LDS. When I found out, I told my husband. I knew how he felt about the church but she needed to go while she was here and it was our responsibility to make sure she got there no matter how he felt. He went to the church with us for the first time that Sunday. It happened to be a fast and testimony meeting. I was so excited and just kept praying. He met Elder Crofts, Elder Robison, Elder Taggart, Elder Howell, and the sisters too. Immediately he felt a bond to them and he has been attending ever since. He was baptized on October 13, 2011. Elder Crofts and him bonded over football. Elder Robison and him bonded over hunting. Each one of the missionaries and him have found some kind of connection. We now think of them all as our adopted kids while they are away from home. We try to have them over to the house for dinner at least once a week. We try and sign up for them on Mondays so we can have Family Home Evening with them because they are so much fun. We learn daily from them. I learned tonight that Elder Crofts loves dogs. Our American Bulldog LOVES him and she normally does not take to men because she was abused by her previous owners. I am so thankful that y'all have allowed your sons to come on a mission and be such a blessing and example to my family. My husband and I will be going to the temple to do baptisms next month for the first time together. We are planning on being sealed in the temple on our anniversary next year in December 2012. Your sons are such blessings to us. There are no words to adequately express the love we feel for them. They helped to make being an eternal family a possibility for my family.

facebook message I received from Luisa

Hello Angie Today I was able to see your son bare his testimony in english and in spanish....I was super proud of him!!! You must be proud of such a wonderful missionary son!!! I hate to see him leave but he will do great things for the Lord in this lifetime. knocking on Keyandra's door has changed her life so much and i am proud of her for continuing the Lord's path. So delighted to have spent so much time getting to know Elder Robison . Charley almost made me cry today when he bore his testimony and said that he looked at Elder Robison like a little brother. Your son has been a great blessing to the Dalton Ward !!! We all are truly blessed to have met your son
I thought you would have appreciated knowing your son has definitly transformed into a wonderful young man. The Lord knew what he was doing when he sent him here to Dalton...He is preparing him for something Greater in the future. I am super blessed to have met him and you . You Idaho people are super super nice Charley is for sure funny he would crack me up when he would bring them over to my house. And I am so glad I was able to help you with much great news about your son. His spanish is only a little shaky when he gets nervous...just like me...I do the same. Other then that his spanish is fine But he did super good helping those that needed that help or encouragement here in Dalton . He truly is unique.

A facebook message I received

If this is Elder Robison's mom I just want to thank you and your family for supporting him while he is on his mission. I actually live in Oregon but had to come out here to Georgia for medical treatment. When I looked online to find out where I would be attending church while I was here, the phone number on the Ward website ended up being Elder Robison's cell number. When I called it he was so super nice and reassuring that the members here are nice and would help make sure I would get to church. Then when I got here, my friend Jamie's husband who was so opposed to the church before decided that he wanted to check it out and was baptized on the 13th. Elder Robison wasn't the one to teach Jerry, yet he did touch Jerry's heart. Elder Robison is awesome! So thanks to you and your family for supporting him while he is out here touching families like Jamie and Jerry.

Your New Friend,
Kryssi Heitman

Letter 10/21/11

Dear family well everything is going so so.  We are doing good but we are off to find more elect.  We had some potentials drop us and it really bummed us out but we are excited to find new investigators.  Well this past week has flew.  We have been praying for some service opportunities well guess what we might have prayed a little to hard because we had 4 service projects we got to do.  I really missed doing service we helped the B family move to our side it didn't take to much time.  Later that day we went to an investigators and less active house and put sheet rock up.  I really enjoyed that because it's actually something that I'm good at so it's good I took 3 years of building because no one really knew how to do it so I had to teach them and we got quite a bit done.  We did not finish because it is a full house but our goal is to get the ceiling done so he can quit renting the lift.  We have 2 rooms done and 2 more to go.  The next day we moved V D into some apartments so the power of prayer is great.  We are going to take that power into baptisms.  So everything is going well.  K is still strong as ever so that is great but I'm a little worried about her after I leave so hopefully she stays strong.  The best part of the week is we had a baptism.  J S they are great he helps us so much and feeds us usually every Monday.  They are a great family.  Well we had some visitors last night.  We went out with the Taylors, Devin, Carly, Tammy and Alan.  It was great.  They took us to Outback.  We really enjoyed being with the 2nd family.  When we left they spoiled us with a whole bunch of fruit and nuts and a whole bunch of food so we really appreciated their company.  Well I might be out of here on the 2nd of November and might go somewhere new but not 100% for sure yet.  Well it sounds like everything is going well back at home so keep up the good work and Love y'all  Elder Robison

PS  How are the potatoes looking this year and how is the market looking this year?

Letter 10/15/11

Dear family well this week has been totally different from last week.  On Monday we went and played basketball at the rec center.  There were a whole bunch of brothers, if you know what I mean.  We played pretty well against them.  We went tracting the next day and had some great success.  We started off by running into a guy named R B.  He is a nice guy.  He goes to the Pentacostal church so we taught him the Plan of Salvation.  It just so happens that's where the conversation went so he found some new things he liked and invited us back next week at the same time so off to a great start and we actually found another girl to teach.  Her name is B.  She was really nice and wants us to come back as well.  Well later on that night we went to a subdivision that was straight hispanics.  We ended up getting 3 lessons and 7 return appointments.  It was a great night to get some more new investigators.  It was great.  Well the next day completely turned around.  It could have been the longest day of my mission.  Well we still pressed forward with tracting and it turns out we run into a guy that gave us his own theory about life because he does not believe in religion.  He went on about his beliefs for an hour and we couldn't get out of there.  After that we had had it and went and had dinner.  Well this week Brother and Sister Cox dad died so we helped them as much as possible.  Well Sunday rolled around and I had to interview J S he is getting baptized this Thursday.  When I usually interview I take 15 minutes but this one lasted for 30 minutes because he is very spiritual and we just shared some experiences about life and I really enjoyed it.  He has been ready for a long time.  Well y'all be safe and take it easy thanks for the package.  Elder Robison
Pday we went to JS, he is the one preparing for baptism.  He fed us and we roasted marshmallows.  It was way fun.  He is a good guy.

Letter 10/5/11

Dear family this week has been great as well as slow it seems.  Well this week we have had a lot of meetings and they were wonderful to be at.  The big meeting this week was in Knoxville.  We had to drive up to Athens TN and slept over at the elders apartment.  It was fun to go meet new elders.  This meeting was for missionaries with leadership positions so all trainers, District Leaders, zone and Assistants so Crofts went with one of the Elders in Athens and stayed there and did work with them.  Elder Wixom and I went up to Knoxville.  Wixom is from Pocatello and he knows Jeff Driscoll.  We were on that subject because he loves airplanes.  We talked about the P-51 he told me he knew a guy with one.  It turned out to be Jeff.  He is a pretty cool kid.  Well we had a pretty good training with President.  He trained on Doctrine of Christ in 2 Nephi he took an hour and a half and gave great points of view and reasons then Sister Irion gave light on love through scriptures.  they both did great then 2 guys from the MTC came and taught us how we should be studying in companionship study.  They did a great job and taught us how to gain that much more success with our investigators.  In their training they had us plan a lesson plan for an investigator that they played on the projector.  Out of all the people I was put with Sister Maynes as my comp.  She was the sister that was in my district for 6 months.  We ended up making a lesson plan and it went well.  She is a great missionary.  Her brother was in Matt's mission.  The next thing we did was finished off by our new assistants little training and then we ate pizza and went home.  The ride home was long.  We went with a member from Athens and it was crammed and stunk.  Then we hit bad traffic, then to top that all off we ran out of gas so we called Crofts and Thompson to bring gas and pick us up.  Then from Athens we had Charley pick us up we ended up getting home at 7:30 so our day was gone.  On our way home the sisters called and they set a date with Tim.  They have been working with Tim for 7 months so I took them out for shakes.  I'm trying to be the cool supportive District Leader.  The sisters are working hard, its great to see. The next day was Friday and we had District meetings and it turned out great.  I followed President Irions exercise in 2 Nephi.  Everyone participated and got a lot of insight out of it.  I also extended a little exercise we had the day before.  After district meeting we practiced some Hymns because they want to do a musical number for church.  I'm not to sure about that.  I think I'm a better listener.  Earlier this week we had a lesson with this new lady named Dedra Simpson.  She is great.  We asked her to read the Book of Mormon and get on Mormon.org.  She did and took great notes.  We had a great lesson with her.  We taught her the plan of salvation.   It is my favorite lesson to teach.  It went well so this week has been great and I'm hoping for some dates with some of our investigators at the end of this week so hopefully we can get some.  Y'all have a good week and enjoy conference.  Elder Robison

Letter 10/3/11

Dear family well this week has went by great.  We had our highest numbers yet and we are planning for them to keep getting higher.  Well Saturday I found out that I'm staying in Dalton for another 6 weeks( not sure if this is old news or not) so at the end of this next transfer I will have been here for 9 months which is almost half of my mission.  I'm really enjoying everything out here.  It seems time is flying by.  Well there has definitely been ups and downs this week.Lets start with the bad then go into the good.  Well Keyaundras aunt Sherry she loved our last lesson but she told Keyaundra that she does not want to learn anymore.  We have got to find out what is her problem.  Last Saturday we had a spanish activity with the ward.  There was a whole bunch of food it was great.  Well today is Thursday and we are waiting for Charlie to pick us up to go to a district leader meeting.  He is late and I'm not for sure if he is coming but we'll see.  Our plans for today are we are going on an exchange and Elder Sexton is coming here and I'll stay here then we have a lesson with Jesse Johnson it went well.  He has a couple of concerns so we are helping him through the Book of Mormon.  Everything seems good out here sono worries and y'all be safe love ya Elder Robison