Pauls Valley

The area that eventually became the city of Pauls Valley was one of the earliest European settlements in what was then known as Indian Territory. Smith Paul, born in 1809 in New Bern, North Carolina, discovered the fertile bottom land which is now Pauls Valley while a member of a wagon train traveling to California. Paul described the land as "a section where the bottom land was rich and blue stem grass grew so high that a man on horseback was almost hidden in its foliage".
The Tri-Party Treaty of January 1, 1837 ceded this part of what is now the State of Oklahoma to the Chickasaw Nation. When the Chickasaw Indians were relocated to Indian Territory that year, Smith Paul moved with them and married Ela-Teecha, a Chickasaw Indian woman. In 1847, the Pauls settled on the rich Garvin County bottom land which became known to locals as "Smith Paul’s Valley". By 1871, postal service was established in the area, although the Post Office was accidentally called "Paul's Valley, Arkansas" as the Indian Territory was being administered out of Arkansas. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway shortened the name to "Paul’s Valley" when the railroad came to town in 1887.
The railroad brought growth and prosperity to Smith Pauls Valley. The first newspaper was published in 1887. The Pauls Valley townsite was laid out in 1892. A U.S. Court house was built in 1895. The first white school in Indian Territory was established and brick buildings were built downtown. In 1909, the streets were bricked. 

Today, Pauls Valley has more brick streets [17,986 square yards (15,039 m²)] than any other town in the United States.
The Oklahoma Cartoonists Hall of Fame located in the Toy and Action Figure Museum was opened in Pauls Valley in 2005.

Helping Hands in the Storm

 

I am sore! Haha I love it! This past week has been a different kind of hard work than I'm used to. So like all of you know there were a couple tornadoes this week. Moore was devastated the most. Since my area is south and pretty far from Moore we have been assigned to work in the Shawnee area where a tornado ripped through. Shawnee has been kind of neglected, over shadowed because of Moore, but there is still a massive amount of damage. We as missionaries are limited as to what we can do when it comes to power tools, so we are able to be the grunts of the task forces. We have been movin', draggin', chuckin', rollin', and dodgin' branches, bricks, logs, trees, home walls, silos, sheds, dressers, every thing you can imagine. It is a truly incredible sight. Being on scene is nothing compared to what has been shown or talked about. It's very difficult not to bring up the Plan of Salvation when you are working next to a victim who has lost a loved one. They believe they have been taken from their family and will never see them again. Our Mission President has stated that this is not a time for teaching, but for a time of serving. We were told that like the good Samaritan we need to first address the wounds, then we can help with the coping and healing process. I am thankful my family, brother and father mostly, kept me in shape and able. I see some of these volunteers who have been here non-stop for a week and they are dead and drained. But when we, strong young boys show up its like a rallying call has been made and we are able to work and keep going. We truly don't know how at points, because we want to fall over and just not move. But with the extra strength from our Heavenly Father we are able to keep carrying logs, and trunks. I know I couldn't perform the tasks I have and will perform without the help of the Lord. It just seems non humanly possible.

 

...So I am being transferred to Pauls Valley, same stake about 45 minutes away. My new companion is Elder Haskall. The things I have felt, experienced, and see on my mission are AWESOME. Their is nothing else that can bring as much happiness and fulfillment as serving the Lord and bringing others who have not had true joy in their lives to a knowledge of Christ and his all-encompassing love! I'm thankful for my family and the support and prayers. Keep them up. Continue to pray for those who have been devastated.

 

Not a Second Wasted

Elder Burnham (B2)

Keep those who have been devastated by the storms in your prayers! Love you all so much! Have fun in California! Oh and the turtle is named Bandit. I found him in the middle of the road, so he was my pet for 2 hours then we gave him to a member who collects them since we cant have pets. And yes I gave him lettuce from a taco from taco bell.

I got caught biking in a flash rain storm!!! FUN TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

All Missionaries are Safe!

Dear Parents:  All of our missionaries serving in the Moore, Oklahoma area are safe.   The City of Moore, Oklahoma located just south of OKC sustained heavy damage and loss of life today as a very powerful tornado cut its way across the city during  about 3:15 pm CT.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the people who have lost so much today.  Again, all of the missionaries serving in the affected area are safe.  The rest of our missionaries checked in safe earlier today.  We were blessed again today.

In the coming days our missionaries will be called upon to help with the cleanup from this devastating storm.  We are asking the missionaries who do not have leather gloves to buy some in the next couple of days.  We are also asking those who can afford to buy work boots to do so.  These boots will help prevent foot injuries (from nails) that could be sustained during the cleanup.  There will be some ability in the future to reimburse missionaries for the boot purchases.   As future storms occur, I will keep you updated (provided we have power).  If you do not hear from me by email after the storms clear following a tornado outbreak, call the Missionary Department.  I will have notified the Missionary Department by phone and confirmed the safety of our missionaries.  Thank you for your prayers and for your wonderful sons and daughters. 

 President Taylor

Weather Update

Subject: Weather Update

Dear Parents:  As you may know, yesterday we experienced severe storms including several large tornados in our mission area.  All of the missionaries are safe.  Damage occurred in localized areas.  While two of the larger tornados caused substantial damage in the Carney and North Shawnee communities, we are grateful that most of the tornados touched down in more remote, unpopulated areas.  

While severe storms can occur in any month of the year in Oklahoma and Texas, May is the month when the most tornados have occurred historically.  We have a system of alerting the missionaries of approaching storms.  This system includes text and telephone warnings well in advance of the storms and updates as the storms continue.  Each companionship is to have a local weather contact with whom they communicate about local weather conditions in the event of severe storms.  Our missionaries have been given written materials and periodic zone conference instruction informing them of what to do in the event of severe weather.  We also have a communication system which we use to confirm the safety and location of our missionaries in the event of severe weather. 

We are grateful for the Lord’s protection of His missionaries.  We are also grateful for your prayers.  You have wonderful sons and daughters and you should be very proud of them.  We love them and are privileged to serve with them.

When we experience tornado outbreaks in the future (and we expect more today) we will keep you updated once the storms pass and we confirm the safety of all our missionaries.

Warm Regards,

President Taylor

"Humid as Heck!"

WOW!!!

 

That letter was jam-packed with all sorts of craziness! I love it! Well, to answer Dad's question: honestly I haven't even really thought of it. I guess it is similar to what y'all had said, but at the same time it is 110% completely different! I feel like Mom's mission was probably very similar, but I'm getting the impression that Oklahoma isn't quite like Bolivia. But.... It is all the Lord's work and that never changes! I'm just glad I can eat fruits and vegetables that grow in the ground with out getting some deathly disease (however tasteless it may be.) This week has been a preview as to whats to come this summer! It has been in the upper 80's low 90's and humid as heck! I don't like it but hey what can you do about it? Also I got a canker sore and it still hasn't gone away :( Its really hard to teach when it hurts to speak! But it hasn't stopped me yet! So we received a phone call from the assistants this Saturday informing Elder Anderson that he will be training again. That means I'm getting shipped out to somewhere else. In fact out of the 4 missionaries here in Ada I'm the only one not training. We have some solid missionaries here! I love these guys to death! I will find out where im headed and who I'm joining this Sunday. I have mixed feeling about leaving, I really like elder Anderson, I like our apartment, but at the same time I'm ready for change. New scenery is needed, even if Oklahoma does all look the same (flat and brown.) So now that we are teaching so much and trying to pinpoint the elect, the time has been flying by! The days scream passed you and the weeks are like days! Today is my 3 month mark already! That means only 21 left :) So regarding the weather: we haven't gotten much of anything, some strong winds but that's it. Its not pleasant to bike in but we are just racking up spouse points :) hahaha. I know that Edmond had a tornado touch down there, but that's all I'm aware of. Elder Jones is going there this coming transfers to train. I think Edmond is pretty known for tornado's. Lucky him! Well I think this coming week will be good for member meals because we kinda guilt tripped everyone into feeding us if they haven't since we have been here! ;) righteous guile! Oh, this past Wednesday (I think) we got caught in a flash downpour! It was awesome! ha ha I wasn't too happy right at first but then it just got fun! Luckily I wasn't in one of my suits but everything else got soaked! It was nice warm rain! Well that's all I can think of. I'm sure happy you guys have had a great week! I love you all! I love my companion. I love my Mission President and Mission Mom. I love my mission. I love the Book of Mormon. I love learning. I love bearing testimony, and feeling the Spirit. I love sleeping after a hard day of work! I love studying every morning! I love this Gospel. I love the Lord's work. I love our Savior. I love our Heavenly Father! I love the Plan of Salvation! I am thankful for all the support of family and friends!

 

Not a Second Wasted

Elder Burnham

 

Zone Conference May 13, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (Ryan is right above Sister Taylor the Mission Pres. Wife)

Grand

Dearest Mother,

 

This week has been grand! Besides all the success we have been having I got to converse with my whole family! So I also found out that another missionary here, who leaves in like a month and a half, is the son or grandson of the owner/groundskeeper for the duck club right next to Burnham duck club. What a small world! His name is Elder Clements. This past Thursday was zone conference and it was wonderful! President Taylor gave a lecture/lesson/talk on the Gathering of Israel and who we are! It was real interesting and cool to make some connections. Sister Taylor spoke on the role the Holy Ghost plays in conversion. Sister Taylor is awesome! She reminds me of you mom! Just one of the most amazing women I know, you cant help but feel the spirit every time she bears testimony! We also had a little course on "real-playing" Or as the rest of the world knows it role-playing. It was real good as well! We talked of the importance of real-playing, and how we retrieve revelation for our investigators.

 

 So have you gotten the SD card yet? I hope so. Anyway send it back as soon as you can :) 

 

Oh at the Zone Conference we were introduced to President Walkenhorst by President Taylor via slide show. He is 7 feet tall, played ball for BYU. Has a business in which family of inmates can buy and ship select items to the convicts. Very interesting! 

 

Hey I'm going to need stamps, so if you could send those when you send the SD card back that would be awesome! Hey mom you need to look up a singer named Cherie Call there is a song I like from her called "It passes all my understanding". One more thing, I remember you were able to serve alongside Aunt Laurie, and I was curious if that still occurs today? Or have they done away with that? I'm just throwing that idea out there, I figure Sean will be pretty busy with his school life and all those beautiful women that will drool over my gosh darn handsome brother, but if he ever considers it I would love to have that man as my companion! Just curious. 

 

Well I love my companion. I love my mission president. I love the area I am in. I love the Lord's work. I love being a missionary. I love the Book of Mormon. I love my family! I love my mother. I love my eldest brother, my Savior. I love my Father in heaven. Stay strong and write often!

 

Not a Second Wasted

Elder Ryan Burnham.