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:
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six

Eclipse - Paducah, Kentucky

So today we saw a full total eclipse. Our area was right in the perfect spot to view complete totality. It was so cool. There was over two full minutes where the sun was completely blocked out. All you could see was a shiny silver circle. It was unlike anything else I have ever seen. I am so lucky and grateful that I could be here at this time. 

When the sun was covered it looked like sunset in every direction of the horizon. The crickets were chirping and everything was just amazing. We could see Venus and Mercury in the sky. They looked like amazing stars. I had an awesome time! It is so cool to see God's creations!

Something funny my mom sent me

Alma 30:44

"The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

Have a wonderful week! I love you

Elder Basham 

Is cactus a fruit or a vegetable? - Paducah, Kentucky

Hello Everyone

Guess who came and visited Paducah.  It's Elder Nez from Snowflake, Arizona. He was my very first Zone leader. He went home last January. If you look all the way back in time there you'll see a selfie we took then. He was visiting the ward and we were surprised and happy to realize that I was here at the same time. He is such a great guy and was an awesome missionary. I'm grateful to have known him.

This week was fantastic. We met a new investigator named Tyler on Tuesday. We came back on Thursday and he had actually read the Book of Mormon. He read the first 9 chapters. He understood it and thought about it. When we talked to him on Thursday he wanted to get baptized. He was ready to change his life and follow the savior Jesus Christ after only two days. All he did was read the Book and it touched his heart. This is because it is a true book of scripture given to us by God. It is a record of Christ and contains His words. Reading it is an act of faith that invites the Holy Ghost into our lives. It is showing Heavenly Father that we are willing to listen to Him and give Him our time. He will answer that prayer and reward our faith. 

The Book of Mormon is the greatest tool God has given us for missionary work, to unite our families, and to change our hearts. This is why President Ezra Taft Benson asked everyone to read the Book every single day. In his most recent conference talk, president Monson spent all of the three minutes he was physically able to stand asking and pleading with us all to read and treasure this gift from Heaven. I know I have been blessed so much by following this council. I know it will bless you too. I love you all.

Have a wonderful week,

Elder Basham

Elder Nez visiting from Snowflake, AZ

Elder Basham & Elder Nez January 2016

- Paducah, Kentucky

Hello Everyone,

This week was pretty amazing. We had an investigator come to church for the first time. He really enjoyed testimony meeting. His name is Warren and he is planning to get baptized on the 26th. It has been great getting to teach him.

Yesterday we got to teach the lesson in 3rd hour because the teacher left to go to the doctor in the middle of church. We just taught an impromptu restoration lesson. Although it was really simple and
everyone had heard it many times, we all felt the spirit very strong. It reinforced for me the importance of the spirit. No matter what we know or have experience we always need the help of the spirit so we can keep learning and teach others. I'm grateful for my testimony of the gospel and how it has blessed my life.

I hope you all have a wonderful week.

Elder Basham

Also a member did a caricature of us as we taught their family home evening.

A Miracle - Paducah, Kentucky

Hello Everyone! 

This week I want to share with you a very special story. It is about my MTC Companion Elder Hickson. He is from Arizona so he is actually the very first person I met on my mission. Two years ago we were little greenies sitting in sky harbor airport together not really knowing what to do.

Elder Hickson is the one on the left in the very front. 

This is a really special story told from the perspective of his current companion Elder Brown:

"Well this week was especially special because last week we got a text saying the temple president has requested that Elder Hickson and I go to the temple this past Saturday to do some temple work for them. We didn't question it at all because we were excited to go to the temple since it's the temple. Anyways we planned it out to go and the guy we talked to said it would be about 4 hours which is a lot longer than a session so we were a little confused but we went along with it...we went inside and the matron comes and says Elder Hickson the temple president needs to speak with you privately for a minute. So he leaves to talk with him. Come to find out he was getting sealed to his family that day and they had all come from Arizona to be sealed together as a surprise. Now pause the story and rewind back a while ago. Elder Hickson's mom was a member and married a nonmember guy. He didn't care if they went to church but he didn't want anything to do with it. After a long time and while elder Hickson was on his mission a year ago his dad got baptized in a lake right after a trek youth conference. Then two weeks ago his dad and his brother got their endowments taken out and they all came with his 6 year old sister too, to come be sealed as a family. I got to sit in and be a part of it with them and what an experience it was to be there. Other family traveled with Elder Hickson's family to watch the sealing and it was just great. Sunday Elder Hickson gave a talk on the Savior and how He helps and saves us and it was just so great. I tell you I was blown away and so spiritually enlightened by this experience. This is topping the charts for my mission. It really was tender and even though I don't remember too much of when I was sealed to my family it still made me think about me being there with my parents being sealed when I was 4-5. Unsure on the exact age but I had such peace and such a feeling of the Spirit in that moment listening to the words and hearing them again and being able to really understand them this time and take in the meaning. It reinforced for me my testimony of eternal families and made me think about how much I love my family. I'm almost to the down hill half but it doesn't mean less work or slacking, it means work harder, work prouder, work better. And do all of this through the Lord that will be your strength."

Now I cannot really think of anything more amazing than that. I love knowing Heavenly Father's plan for eternal families. I know that this plan is true and that God loves each and every one of our families. I am so grateful to have been born into a family sealed in the temple and blessed by all of those wonderful promises. I sadly take it for granted so often but I know my life would not have been the same without it. I would look forward to creating my own wonderful eternal family one day. I love my family and I love my Savior who makes all of this possible. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Elder Basham 

Paducah! - Paducah, Kentucky

Hello Everyone!

Paducah is such an amazing area. I just love this town. It's just like downtown Gilbert, but instead of just one street, there are several blocks of cute little old buildings. We have an amazing bakery that's
been here since 1927 and it's just delicious. The Ohio River is cool and they have a giant mural wall and a steam train by the flood gates. We are full-time bike and bus so we actually get to just be out and talk to people. I am loving it.

We knocked on a man's door and he was just kind of hesitant and trying to find a polite way to tell us away. We just kept testifying anyway and when we realized he wasn't yet ready to let us in we just sat down on his porch chairs and invited him to have a seat too. He did and we had a whole restoration lesson. He accepted the invitation to read the Book of Mormon and actually really liked all we shared. It turns out he was more interested than he thought he was. If I would have feared or just walked away accepting that he wasn't interested then he still wouldn't know the truth about the Book of Mormon and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Love you all
Elder Basham

Josh made us a rabbit on my last night in McMinnville. It tastes like chicken! 

My new companion is Elder Hatch. He is super awesome! 

Elder Tolman trained me. He was my first companion

He is heading back to Idaho now. We were both

greenies but it seems that I only have 12 weeks left.

Where did the time go? 

Paducah! - McMinnville, Tennessee

Well everyone it happened! I am now finished with my time here in McMinnville. I am being transferred to Paducah, Kentucky tomorrow.

This will be my first time serving in a Kentucky area although I've always thought Kentucky was probably way better than Tennesee. I guess I now get to see if that is right. McMinnville has been an amazing place for the last several months. I have loved the people here and really enjoyed getting to serve them. It was certainly interesting having so many different companions, but I had a great time.

Here was our awesome district. Elder Weight and Elder Wadsworth are going home on Wednesday. That is pretty crazy. I have been with them for a long time. Fortunately, Elder Weight only lives 15 minutes away in Chandler, so we will still have lots of fun together. 

Our Awesome District

Also here is an adorable kitten just because it's awesome. I love cats!

Achievement Unlocked: Tight like unto a dish - Clarksville, Tennessee

Hello everyone! 

I would like to start by saying that Kentucky is definitely as awesome as I thought it would be. To start out, we had dinner at a little local drive in -- the kind that only has two people working and only accepts cash. They made what I will call the best milkshake I have ever eaten in my entire life. I can seriously never go to Sonic again for it simply cannot be as good. Then we went to go visit a family in their trailer. We read the Book of Mormon with them and as we read the testimonies of the savior healing the multitude, the spirit filled the crowded little room. A change came over the family and the frivolous arguments of siblings ceased for that time. The next day, we had the privilege of serving them by helping build a deck so they could use their back door. I loved getting to work with them and learn more about them and the things they enjoy in life. Often we can become so preoccupied with our own busy lives, opinions, and lifestyles that we forget to see the beauty in others around us. We forget that all of us are children of God and each individual's life and desires are important to Him. I love the advice from Elder Patrick Kearon: "Meeting ... families and hearing their stories with your own ears, and not from a screen or newspaper, will change you. Real friendships will develop and will foster compassion and successful integration." I am grateful for the opportunity we had to work with this family and grow a real friendship with them. Here is a picture of John and our handiwork; his more (mother?) took the picture for us. 

The rest of the day in Morgantown was awesome. We got to walk the whole way around town and talk to people as we went. I love that everyone was so approachable and willing to talk with anyone. It also amused me that directions around town included, "right next to where John lives," or, "across the street from the Jordan's house." The Mayor's actually name is Billy Bob. It was a great experience for me all around and I enjoyed speaking with the people. 

We had a few miracles as we worked. After knocking on someone's door, I felt prompted to ask, "what is the purpose of life?" The woman who answered replied that she did not know and had been reading and searching for the answer for quite some time. I opened the Book of Mormon and read to her Alma 34:32 which reads, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God." She liked that and accepted a Book of Mormon as we promised her that it would help answer her question and bring direction to her life by helping her prepare to meet God. Afterwards we taught a lesson in a family's home. They had their friend over who has been coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon with them. Their testimonies of the savior and His gift of repentance led to a desire within this man's heart and he is now preparing for baptism in October. After all our planned activities were done, at 8:50pm, we decided to go out walking even though we had but ten minutes left. In this short time, we had opportunity to bear our testimonies to one more person and receive a wonderful referral. My testimony of missionary work was definitely increased that day and I am so grateful to be serving the people here. 

We had a lot of cool opportunities to do service this week including cleaning out gutters and giving priesthood blessings. I think my favorite though has to be this right here:

"[A]nd lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul." I am actually very grateful that I was taught how to use a large variety of farm tools by my stepfather so many years ago. As hard as it was at the time, I am grateful for how it has helped me to serve others. Whenever someone asks if we know how to uproot a tree, dig a trench, or even use a sickle, I am happy to surprise them by saying yes. This was a fun job though definitely a work out; the weeds were taller than my head when I started. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week and I am so happy to hear from you guys and write each Monday. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Elder Basham

PS. Ten awesome points to anyone who can tell me why I came up with the subject/title for this week's email 

PPS. Here is a picture of the Morgantown district

Morgantown District

America! - Clarksville, Tennessee

Today a couple of cool things happened. One, I cut my own hair for the second time. I am getting a little better I think...

New Self-done Haircut

Second, Elder Weight took us to a western store to look at boots. I was confused about this since we actually live in the west where people really have cattle ranches and wear boots. I couldn't see why you would travel all the way to the east side of the country to the land of overalls and straw hats to buy boots and a Stinson. Anyway, I found a hat in the store that I liked as well. Decided not to buy it though.

Third, we are going to Kentucky again. This time I am not just visiting. I get to spend a few days here and actually do some missionary work in a tiny farming town called Morgantown. It isn't quite as small as Russleville, but it is not even half the size of Clarksville. It was a really cool car trip.

I hope you all have a great week! I love you guys :)
Elder Basham

Actually not that tired / President Stone - Clarksville, Tennessee

This was an amazing week. The investigator who came to church last week came again. We were able to teach him in a member's home again! We taught him about repentance and he really got it. The member shared a great testimony of the principle and the spirit was there. He really felt that we loved him and are inviting him to do something that will make him happy. The lesson we had in church this week was on eternal marriage and that was exactly what he needed to hear. He now knows what he needs to do to get closer to the lord and his family. He loves the Ward and is enjoying getting to know them all.

We got to go to Kentucky on exchanges again. If anyone is wondering what Kentucky is like, this picture pretty much sums it up. There are tiny weird towns like this surrounded by miles of corn. This is Elder Cox and he has only been out two months. We had a fantastic time together.

Elder Cox

We had our first zone conference with President Stone. He is absolutely excited about his campaign to simplify our lives and cut out nonsense. One of my favorite examples is that we get to go to bed on time. Yup! It's crazy right. We actually are allowed to sleep. Previously, zone leaders had to make all sorts of phone calls and fill out paperwork at night time instead of going to bed. Do you want to hear the funny part. Two years ago, when they came out with missionary iPads, they created a system in the iPad that would do all of the paperwork and reporting for us. For some weird reason, we just never used it. Now it is amazing. We got to bed at 10:10 last night and I feel amazing. For the first time in ever I actually feel rested and awake!

I want to share with you something special that I learned. If you were to ask me what is my biggest goal in life, I would tell you that it is to be a father and the leader of an eternal family. This is something that has pushed and motivated me throughout my life. I know that the lord will teach me how and help me achieve that. It is one of the largest reasons I decided to go on a mission. I am a very firm believer that a mission is meant to prepare you for marriage and family. This has been proven true again and again in so many small miracles and simple truths learned throughout my mission. I can clearly see that He is teaching me and I am very grateful for that knowledge.

I have learned over the past few weeks that there is yet an even greater goal. The reason family life is so joyful and fulfilling is that it helps one become a more devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. It is the purest way to learn true love and genuine selflessness. Through it we learn to care about others above ourselves and what it truly means to sacrifice for someone else. All of these things help us become more like Jesus Christ. The purpose of marriage and family is to prepare us to live with God. This is the very same purpose of a mission. Here in the mission field, we are learning those same lessons. We make sacrifices to help others, even when many don't recognize or want it. We strive to work in unity with those around us and find Christlike love for each of them. The whole point of missions, temple work, and families is to help us get closer to our Father in Heaven and His Son.  The greatest joy in life and the highest goal is to become a true disciple of our savior Jesus Christ. I don't have to wait till marriage to become that. I can learn it right now as I strive each day to fulfill my calling and use the Atonement.

I hope you all have an amazing week! I love you
Elder Basham 

- Clarksville, Tennessee

Hello everyone!

This last week was pretty fun. We got to go to Kentucky. For some reason, I have just had this feeling in my mind throughout my whole mission that Kentucky is better than Tennessee. There isn't much logical evidence to support this nor any reason for me to think so. However, I just know it is better there and have been waiting for 9 months to get transferred to Kentucky. That hasn't happened yet, but here in Clarksville, I have been able to see Kentucky a couple of times. It's like all the way on the other side of the wheat field. I might be able to throw a stone there from a member's back yard if I wanted to. Fortunately though, I was finally able to go there for myself. We drove to Morgantown for exchanges. I'm not entirely sure if it actually counts as a town, but oh well. 

The drive was so great. There were big old red barns and miles and miles of wheat fields. It looked like a painting. (I guess a lot of the Arizona landscape is also very painting worthy, but this was a different style than I'm used to so it was cool). I really love the way old wooden barns look - especially the old and dilapidated ones. The really fun part was stopping by a country store on the way there. They had farm fresh milk there. It came in really cool glass bottles. The first bottle I bought was actually not quite as fresh, so all the cream had floated to the top and turned into butter. The milk underneath was all buttermilk. At least we knew then that it was actually good whole milk. I traded it for a second bottle that was a lot fresher and quite delicious. I wouldn't normally spend $2 on a quart of milk, but after growing up hearing dairy farm stories from two grandmothers, I thought it would be worth it just this once. 

Sadly, I never thought to take any photos of Kentucky while I was there. Now we are back in Tennessee but oh well. It is pretty great here. I do really love Clarksville.

We had our very last interviews with president Andersen on Friday. They only have two more weeks before they leave for home. It is really weird thinking that the mission president is leaving. I am really going to miss him and his wife; they were very wonderful. 

Anyway here is a random story for you all. A few emails ago, I wrote something about not owning a dog. Since then I have received many letters and emails from various friends and loved ones. Apparently nobody was very happy about what I said. So I am sure you will all be glad to know I am slowly in the process of changing my mind. Maybe. There are still lots of dog stories that concern me. However I have had some good experiences lately that persuade me otherwise. 

First, there were thirteen little black Labrador puppies that were super adorable. They were all squirming around and licking my hand and just being about the cutest thing ever. It reminded me of Hannah's puppies that gave me lots of joy and comfort last year and the little one that I tried to kidnap and name Samantha. Unfortunately they stopped me and sold that puppy to someone who didn't understand that her name was supposed to be Samantha. So many fun flashbacks from so long ago. 

Then there was a dog named Sidney. (I never asked, so I had to spend a great deal of time trying to decide if her name was Sydney or Sidney. It was a great struggle, but I have finally figured it out). She is a two year old mini Australian shepherd that one of the members owns. She has probably the cutest dog smile I have ever seen in my life. And she had the softest fur in the universe. I literally could have hugged her forever. Then to top this all off, she never even barked once. She just walked around super happy and curious, being a complete dork. If it were not for the mission rules against pets, I would totally have kidnapped her. It reminded me of angel a lot. Angel is a really amazing dog too. Anyway so the point of the story is that I may actually buy a dog someday provided it is a girl and adorkable. 

I think I am out of random things to talk about for now so I will have to say goodbye until next week. Have an amazing summer everyone!

Love Elder Basham

P.S. This is on of my favorite Father's Day messages. I hope you all enjoy it. 

Earthly Father,Heavenly Father (3:59)