Letter from a Member

Dear Vickie & Bob,

We just through we'd drop you a quick note to let you know how wonderful it has been for us to have your son in our Ward for this past 3 months.

Our family has truly been blessed with the fantastic example that Elder Blackburn has been to all our 5 children. We have had the opportunity to have the Elders in our home for meals and Elder Blackburn has been a really positive influence of how a Missionary should be in his fun-loving and spiritual nature. He, along with his companion, have shared Gospel messages with our family and both of us have had the opportunity to be a part of teaching a couple of investigators with him too which was a real blessing to be a part of.

Elder Blackburn has probably told you about our garden which we bought a little over a year ago now (an eighth of an acre within sight of our house). Unfortunately I was admitted to hospital after an accident within a day of completing the purchase and was unable to walk for months, I have since had several operations on my knees with more lined up in a couple of months. On top of this Steven was admitted to hospital just over a month ago and to cut a long story short Elder Blackburn and his companions have on several occasions spent a couple of hours of their 'service' time helping us which has been very much appreciated as they have been able to do things that we are currently unable to do (though I am now able to walk around to the garden and 'potter' around!). They have been helping us get the ground prepared for the swing-set that the children saved their birthday money for, the photo was taken this Tuesday as they were digging out some of the ground!

We have found him to be very hard working and he has been seen on a number of occasions running up to people in the street in order to start up a Gospel conversation. He and his companion have managed to get a number of investigators out to Church and despite the disappointment with the Baptism falling through on his birthday he has continued to work hard and a number of investigators appear to be progressing well towards baptism.

We shall certainly miss him!

Kind regards,
The Reynolds
(Ashton 1 Ward)