Elder Covington has just starting his sixth month as a missionary. He loves the work and the people he is working with. He continues to stay in his original area and we think this is where he'd like to be for now. The area has not had a baptism in a couple of years and now there are 5 or 6 schedule for this month. He and his past 2 companions have worked tirelessly in visiting members who are not active and reactivating as well as teaching the gospel to those who have not had the opportunity. Here is an excerpt from his last letter.

"this week has been nuts. we have 18 baptisimal dates!!!!!! i dont know how many will make it to the end but im still way excited. we set our december goal for baptisms at 3.... we might get 5 or 6! i sure hope so. me and elder graham pretty much spent the last transfer turning the area around but now its up and running again. one of our baptisimal date is a 17 year old named justine. she is way cool. she asked me if i had a girlfriend and if not, are missionaries allowed to have girlfriends.... awkward!!!!! but she is way solid she is gonna get baptized for sure.... end up going to byu.... and have a bunch of little mormon kids that go on missions. thats pretty neat to think about. her mom was an inactive for about 20 years. her name is letti. we set letti up with this guy in our branch and they might get married!!! way cool."

They have a family getting baptized this Sunday. A husband, wife, and their kids. Too exciting. It's so great see how Trace has grown in his testimony of the gospel and as a missionary. Our favorite part of the week is reading his letters home and being able to feel a part of it.

It's been a couple of weeks since I've written. Trace had sent a couple of emails and to our surprise his camera chip that had all his mission pics and a video. Loved it. It was sooo good to see him. He took us on tour of his apartment. It's very humble and we are impressed that he doesn't complain about it. He looked pretty good and sounded happy to be there. We did, however, watch 95% of the video with our heads tilted 90' to the left because he was filming himself with the camera on its side. Ha Ha. It was great anyway. He's adjusting to the food, which is an answer to all our prayers, including his. In fact, he seems to be enjoying the whole experience. At one point Trace reminded us that before he left on his mission we suggested he might want us to pick him up from his mission. At that time he was very against it. Didn't think he'd want to "vacation" in the area he was a missionary. Didn't think he'd want to prolong his stay. Figured he just want to get home and back to "life as usual"... Well, he now says he thinks it'd be cool if we were able to pick him up. Says that Port Isabel is actually and nice little community. We'll see what we can do about picking him up but we'll see about it in another year or so :). Elder C got a new companion 2 weeks ago. Says he's okay but apparently they have a different sense of humor. We're confident that he'll adjust. Trace is working on reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish. He reports that he is slow but getting it done one word at a time. Before long he will only be using his Spanish scriptures. He says his testimony with the "gift of tongues" is growing. Says that his Spanish is improving all the way around but is 10 times better when he is teaching a lesson or sharing his testimony than in regular conversations. He says they really working hard at getting inactive members reactivated. They have between 25-35 active and about 75 inactive. He says as far as new members they are few and far between and this is why this area is considered one of the worse areas to work in. In the past two years they've had only 4 people baptized. But Trace is confident that things will change. They have gained peoples trust and this has made a big difference. They have a goal to baptize 6 people over the next 2 months. We're excited to hear that Trace isn't worried about the reputation of the area. We predict he will have much success in his personal growth as he helps this area grow. On a funny note. Trace does admit that knocking on doors has its challenges. He says the most powerful people in the area are the police and the missionaries. When either travel down the streets all the people scatter :) Here's to changing that.

Tomorrow Trace ought to receive his box of about 5 dozen cookies and beginning a three day sugar high. Yeap, We think he'll enjoy them. In his last letter he said when they eat at home he does okay with the food. He lives on toaster waffles, instant mashed potatoes, and tortilla shells. Notice the lack of green - although that's not different from him being home : ) Mostly, it's his lack of motivation to cook for himself. He is craving my brown sugar meatloaf, homemade mashed potatoes, and fresh broccoli (just for garnish of course) about now. On Saturday he and his companion went to a taco stand where you can eat all you want for $7. He said he ate 20 tacos. Said he won some competition and could have eaten more but they had an appointment to get to. Trace has shared how cool it was to see a sister be baptized after overcoming a lot of struggles with drinking, drugs, and other lifestyle choices that ultimately made her unhappy. She's the perfect example of how it's never too late to repent and change your life to be the life that God intended you to have. He is also getting a kick out of teaching a guy who sits on him porch most everyday and waves and calls out "Hello!" to EVERYONE who passes by his home. He even does it while they are trying to teach him :). The most challenging thing for Elder C now in actually not the food :) it's their lack of investigators. He says they could sure use the support of the members to help the missionaries find people to teach. Tracking is mostly unsuccessful. Always has been, statistically, but all missionaries do it in hopes to find someone who was waiting for them. And there are those times when a door is opened and the person answering has been waiting for them to come. However, by far the best way to find investigators, is with members introducing the gospel to others through example and invitation. Trace really emphasized this and encouraged and asked us all to be mindful and diligent in sharing with everyone. Neighbors, those at work, and even those we associate with on the soccer field at our kids games :). There are a lot of missed opportunities that our missionaries don't want to pass by...for them, for us, and for those who do not have the gospel in their lives.

Trace has actually taken the time to write more than three sentences. He actually wrote on three pages, both sides. After we picked our jaws up off the floor we thoroughly read it word for word and then read it again just in case we missed something. He seems to be doing very well. He mentioned that the time is passing quickly. He still misses home on P-day but the rest of the time he is busy and doesn't have time to think about it. We can see him grow as a missionary and grow in his testimony. He reports in the last three months he has read the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the New Testament. Says he loves reading and studying the scriptures and wishes he had discovered its validity when he was growing up (instead of whining that he HAD to read with us as a family - ha ha). His commitment to missionary work, he promises, will not end after he returns. He encourages us all to me missionaries and share the gospel. He also challenges his younger brother and sister to share their testimonies next Fast Sunday. We'll see if that happens :) Trace narrowly escaped a viscous dog attack when a dog ran out from underneath a car and bit him. (no skin broke) Trace said it scared him so bad that reacted by kicking at the dog like a football. Sadly, the dog was only as big as a football :) After landing the dog ran off and both he and Trace moved on (waiting to meet another day) Trace has learn to eat more foods. WOW?! Not actually liking more foods but had figures out how to swallow without looking like he is in pain somehow. Trace shares that the Port Isabel area in lovely and he and his comp will run a couple of times a week along the shores. Not bad scenery for exercise, eh? Their investigation pool is small but their hearts are big and even with the doors getting slammed in their faces, they continue on everyday wanting to share what they know to be true and what brings them happiness, in hopes that others can know too. What an amazing Elder he becoming.

Trace flew to Texas on Monday, September 6th. He was able to call us while he waited for his plane at the airport. It was great to hear his voice. He was excited and nervous at the same time. He's heard so many great things and some things that sounded dangerous, involving the drug trafficing, but all in all he seems to be antipating the good. We were sad that we had to say goodbye when we did so we could go to work but we know he is where he is suppose to be and know we will talk again soon through letteres. We, along with Tamber and our grandchildren, made Elder Trace a large care-package with a lot of goodies. We're crossing our fingers that it arrives undamaged and dry. Trace told us that his area has had a lot of rain. We got a letter from his mission (Pres. and Sister Trayner) on Wednesday letting us know that Trace had arrived and was doing well. We also recieved a letter from Trace. He reports that it had been raining non stop for the three days he'd been there. His apartment is about 1 1/2 hours away from the mission office but he can see the ocean from his front door. He said he was surprised with how green everything was. He had expected it to be like the desert. The town he is in is a little fishing town, Port Isabel Trace is not a fan of fish so dinner appointments will be interesting. His first teaching appointment was that first night and we was looking forward to that. His new address is listed on the side as is his mission office address should anyone want to write. He loves letters and packages. We're looking forward to more letters and pictures to come from him and will be sure to post weekly for those who are interested.

No, No, it's this way...


I like to call it..."Breakfast"


a.k.a "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego"

It's hard to believe that Trace has been at the MTC for 6 weeks now. He reports that his language is coming along great. He has had the chance to see and spend time with other missionaries who left from our area. His companion at the MTC is the District Leader and is a "no fun","no frills" kind of guy. This we find humorous because Trace tends to be an "all fun" kind of guy. Perhaps their differences will help them both become better within themselves. Trace shares that he is happy to be where he is at this time and is very thankful to all those who have written him and sent him care packages. Apparently the packages are great for "bragging" rights. Time has passed by quickly for us. Trace is good about writing us weekly and we here are committed to writing him a couple of times a week. Once in a letter and again when we send him his weekly care package with goodies and ideas for impromptu lessons, talks, or spiritual thoughts. He's in our daily thoughts and therefore our daily prayers. We've seen the blessings of having a missionary already. Maybe it's because our prayers have become more specific and earnest in his behalf; maybe it's because we know the challenge that mission life can be; maybe it's because we are trying to improve our own testimonies as he is sharing his; or maybe because it's because we know the worth in the work he is preparing to do ...whatever it is we find ourselves feeling closer to him and closer to our Savior and Heavenly Father each day.

Before he was Elder C. ~enjoying the jokes and laughter







Elder Covington has been at the MTC for 2 weeks. His first letter there was hand written instead of the normal email system because the system was down. We were thrilled he took the time to write at all :)He tells us the Spanish has come right back to where it was when he left last Fall. His teacher tell he and his fellow elders that they will be fluent in Spanish before they go into the field. His companion comes from a military background with his father being in the army for 40 years and the elder served in the navy for 3 before entering the mission field. Elder Covington says his comp. tells him there is no time for joking and laughter at the MTC but we are confident our elder will change his comps way of thinking before too long:). Elder C reports he has never been more tired and will find himself waking up in the middle of class without realizing that he even fell asleep. Elder C. has enjoyed all the letters and packages he has recieved and tells us they help make the time go by faster. He says he feel like he has been there for a long time. This is good. He will be even more excited to head for Texas when it is time. We love our Elder and are very proud of him. We know he will be the best missionary (especially when he has the ability to stay awake)!

WE LOVE OUR ELDER!

Trace has been back at the MTC for 24 hours now. He was set apart as a Missionary on the 6th with his family present. After a brief goodbye to some of his family members he returned home to finish packing and spend a little more time with his friends. On the morning of July 7, 2010 Tim and Misty took Trace to the airport at 4:30am. No tears this time (although eyes might have been a little damp with pride) Trace was a tired Elder but excited to get back to the MTC. He's been ready to go for some time now. Some of his last statements on the ride to the airport were "you can start letter writing" and "I'll look forward to those packages". Not wanting to disappoint we went home and had a care package of cookies sent that same day through dearelder.com. We love that company. Makes letter writing and sending care packages easy and quick.

So, we'll do our best to keep every posted weekly with updates and photos that he sends us. Please keep in your thoughts and prayers.