So, as most of you have heard, there was a pretty devastating storm and tornado that went through Joplin, MO this past week. Right now, the number of casualties it has claimed is 166 souls, and 232 people still unaccounted for. They estimated 75% of the city of Joplin has been damaged, if not destroyed, by the storm. It destroyed the stake center there, but all of the missionaries are safe. There was a group of elders that had their apartment destroyed, but they were fine. Seeing some of the pictures is pretty intense. We were speaking to a man in our ward who was giving us a ride to an exchnage about the disaster, and he said it reminded him of the destruction in Germany and Austria during World War 2. Amazing what a storm can do in just a few hours...But, relief efforts have been on overdrive! They have so many volunteers they don't know what to do with them. There are so many people that have gone down there and started helping with the recovery of missing people, and then once that is taken care of, they will move to the clean-up efforts. Right now, we are told that we are to stay in our areas and continue to work. They have too many people that it has made it hard to organize all of them, so they want us to just continue on with where we are.
I was able to see all of the wedding photos, and they are really great. Shay looks really beautiful in her dress, and I am excited to have Taylor as a brother-in-law. It was really great to see the rest of the family. Ben and Will are huge!!! That is so crazy. What have you been feeding those monsters?! 
It was also really great to see many family members from Mom's side of the family like aunty fran, grandma and grandpa Lury, Johanna and her mom, Bishop and Sis. Lauck, and Bro. Shroedter(i hope spelled that right). And I don't know how you talked my mission president into letting me come to the wedding!!! You must have some pretty good connections in order for that to have happened. I'm also really glad I was able to dance with the bride! 
It looks like it was a ton of fun, and I am so glad to see Taylor and Shay so happy.
The work has been going well. I do not know why I do not have much to talk about in regards to the work this week. I am trying to stay really focused, but it has been a bit difficult at times. I thank all of you for the encouragement you gave me in your emails. I really needed that extra. For the last 5 months, I have seen a missionary in our apartment go home...so the apartment has been pretty trunky for awhile, but I'm working out the kinks in myself and I have a rejuvenation of the spirit of missionary work, especially in these last 24 hours.
I promise that I will never, ever give up.
Elder Brad Fellows
3 Nephi 5:13
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