Home! - Gilbert, Arizona

A long day with lots of airplanes, but worth every minute! Thank you all for the adventure; it’s great to be home!

Tender Mercies - Paducah, Kentucky

Hello everyone!

This will be my very last email. I get home this week! I am quite excited and a little nervous. I am afraid I may have forgotten how to be a normal human being, but it will be okay. On my mission I have gained a strong testimony of the truth in First Nephi chapter one, verse twenty: “But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.” I know that Heavenly Father watches over us each and every hour and cares very much about our lives. His hand is everywhere in many small and simple ways to touch our hearts. 

I have seen this again and again throughout my mission. There are so many days when the chapter I studied in the morning helped answer someone’s concerns later in the day. We have gone to visit someone right at the exact moment they were thinking about us. I have been placed in the right spot to bless another’s day. I have been so privileged to see the hand of the Lord working through me to bless all those around me. At the same time, I have received so many small and powerful assurances and blessings at the hand of others. It seems we always seem to meet the right people who know just what to say when I need it. The “shuffle all” feature on the iPad has a very funny way of always bringing up the right conference talk when we need it. We have been cared for again and again by the Lord. I love him and I know he is there. Yesterday I experienced something that really touched my heart. 

'Thank You' pies from the Sister Missionaries

Do you see these cute little baby pies? They are so amazing, but the story behind them is even better. You see the Sister missionaries made us these pies to say thank you. About 48 hours ago, they got a call explaining that their area is closing. They have to transfer over all their investigators and records to Elder Titus and Elder Shank. They have to clean out the entire apartment. Everything must be packed up and sent back to Nashville, and then all of the house must be scrubbed clean. The best part is that they have until tonight to do all of this. If that wasn’t stressful enough, Sister Falke became very ill yesterday. She was sick in the middle of church and then had to spend much of the afternoon at an urgent care. We have tried to do all that we could to help with the moving and were able to give her a blessing yesterday. We didn’t think anything of it - just trying to make their burden lighter. 

When went by last night to help them move, they had made us these pies. In the midst of all their stress and being too sick to move, they made pies! They were still thinking about others and trying to serve and show gratitude. I know that I would not have been that nice. I certainly haven’t been in the past. It seems I have a tendency to wonder why so much bad is happening and to wish more people would help me. However, these sisters taught me a powerful lesson with one simple act of kindness. Their actions reflect wonderfully on the character of Christ. Our Savior never did anything for himself. He never worried about why more people weren’t helping him or feeling bad for him. He simply wanted to love and serve others. In the moments of his deepest, most painful turmoil - the atonement - he was thinking only of us and how his gift would help all of us. I love him. I know He lives! We shall live with him again! I am so grateful for all that he has done, and I am grateful to know that his power allows normal people like you, me, and the Sister missionaries to become like him and to learn his character. 

I am grateful for all that my mission has taught me to become more like Christ. I never could have learned these things anywhere else. I love him and I love you all. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Basham

Patterns of Repentance - Paducah, Kentucky

 Hello Everyone. We had the amazing privilege of meeting with Elder Gerrit W Gong and his wife. They were so wonderful. I especially loved her testimony. She talked about all the challenges she faced as a missionary and how she has been able to learn and overcome them in all the years since. She talked a lot about how wonderful and diverse life is. I'm grateful for all her teachings because they really helped me as I have been worrying about transitioning to no longer being a missionary.

Elder Gong talked a lot about patterns that take place in order to teach us. There are certain ways that Heavenly Father uses to help all of his children come back. Even though our personalities and
situations are all different, the steps back to him will be very similar for all of us. I am glad to recognize that the same things I have done before my mission and during will continue afterwards. All that I taught investigators will apply to me and my family in the same way. I'm looking forward to doing all of that.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Basham

Glow in the dark dodgeball as a district

In which elder basham has his last zone conference - Paducah, Kentucky

It is such an amazing time to be a missionary. We have had so many miracles over the last two weeks. We have some of the greatest investigators I have ever met. They are honest seekers of truth
looking for the truth and they already know many members from the ward. It is going to be amazing to see them change and draw closer to the lord.

We had my last zone conference this week. It was very exciting. So many great things are happening. It would be amazing for a new missionary to be starting here now. I gave my departing testimony and
then had a departing interview with President Stone. Too much sentimentality all at once.

Anyway have a great week!
Elder Basham


We all came out together and we are going home together in a few weeks. I am happy to have served with them all. 

In order from left to right: me, Elder Jessop,
Elder Overfield, Elder Maxwell, and Elder McCoy.

Here is the superman statue in metropolis Illinois. It isn't much of a metropolis. But they have a super museum and their newspaper is called the daily planet so it's cute. 

superman statue in metropolis Illinois

Paducah Life - Paducah, Kentucky

This week has been amazing. We found so many great new investigators. Our ward is working together to make missionary work a priority. We have referrals from members. Our mission is jumping ahead like crazy.

We have a new chapter of preach my gospel titled "How do I fulfill my purpose." It is the single most brilliant thing I have ever read and I will actually use the things taught in it for the rest of my life. It replaces chapter 8 again so I never have to read how do I use time wisely. No more terrible weekly planning sessions. Life is great. We have Facebook now and we are using it to work with the ward and the members. It is certainly something very different from what I am used to but I am learning a lot. I am learning how to actually manage my technology use and be productive instead of just avoiding all social media. Things are great and they are getting greater. We will see many more miracles before I come home.

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!

Elder basham

Transfers - Paducah, Kentucky

Elder Titus and Elder Basham

Hello everyone, I am still in Paducah for my last transfer. I have a new companion though. It is Elder Titus. Hope you all are well. See you soon!

When the Latter Day Saints Go Marching In - Paducah, Kentucky

Paducah Zone Band (Video)

So we tried to have a band but somebody kept messing up.

Blooper Reels:
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