Dear Mom,
I apologize right now if my letter is really short. I´m fighting off an illness right now. Nothing too serious. I think it´s just food poisoning. It´s bound to happen at least once during the whole two years here in Guatemala. I´ve just had water diarrhea for two and a half days. I´m taking pills and stuff just waiting for it to course through my body.
As far as the one family is going, we haven´t had a good chance to actually get a lesson in or progress at all. He´s trying to get work off for at least one hour. He works all day every day selling shoes and his boss won´t give him even one hour off. They live with her parents and the dad always tells us when they´re not home that we´re wasting our time. Their names are Fransisco and Marilena. I haven´t gotten TOO excited about them yet because we haven´t had the chance to explain to them well what a baptism means. I think they might be able to pull through. We´re hoping.
Thanks for all your support. I look forward to hearing from you next week.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Counters
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
May 8, 2011 The phone call!!!
Talking to Landon on Mother's Day was such a highlight! He seems to be doing well and his Spanish is great! He talked to his Dad in Spanish for a few minutes while we listened. It was fun to hear. He referred to his lovely living accomadations as "The Bat Cave". It's an unfinished cement hut that they have plastered the walls with a sandpaper consitancy that he frequently scrapes against leaving him a bit scratched up. He always did take corners too fast at home... :) Anyway, he loves his companion and said he is a hard worker and they get along great! He wishes they could find people who would truly listen to the message they have to share. Most people won't listen and many are afraid of them because of the preaching at other churches that tell thier congregation to fear them. They do service when they can but he wishes that they could have more of an impact. He misses spending time with family but is enjoying the mission experience. He loves learning and teaching the Gospel! He wants more than anything to feel that he has done the work the Lord sent him there to do. We pray for that as well. He feels there is much to do in the short time he has left. Only 9 more months!!!!! He has gotten so used to the size of the people there, that when they do occasionally run into some North Americans, it feels strange to be around them. It was great to hear his voice and laugh again. Only one more phone call and then he will be back with us again!
May 10, 2011
Dear Mother,
Don´t worry about the phone call. It actually made me feel really refreshed and ready to work whereas after the one for Christmas, I just was super tired and wanted to sleep.
Yesterday was not P-day apparently. They didn´t really let us know why but they told us that we needed to stay home in our house until 12. So we did until the assistants showed up to take away our phone and then told us we could go to work now. So we just tried coming up with stuff to do seeing as we hadn´t planned anything to do. Anyway, so now nobody has phones again. I´m hoping it´s because they´re trying to get cell phones to all the areas. It´s something president told us he was trying to do when I first got into Momos... So maybe now they´re actually doing it.
We´re still finding lots of people. A few people seem like they might become positive but we really can´t tell right now. We found a family last night that said they were willing to accept a baptism and they seemed pretty exciting. The only thing is we haven´t really taught them anything other than baptism and it´s going to take a while to get them all ready seeing as they aren´t married. But, I have hopes for them. They are poor and don´t go to any church so their minds are open to learn more about Jesus Christ. The hard thing is they don´t understand that much of Spanish, especially our church vocabulary, so we´re having to try and simplify it a lot. Even more than normal. I think I´m going to try and learn a little bit more of the dialect here again. It might help and it´ll give me something entertaining to do.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and love. I´m really going to need them these next few months. Pray that I may be able to endure to the end.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Don´t worry about the phone call. It actually made me feel really refreshed and ready to work whereas after the one for Christmas, I just was super tired and wanted to sleep.
Yesterday was not P-day apparently. They didn´t really let us know why but they told us that we needed to stay home in our house until 12. So we did until the assistants showed up to take away our phone and then told us we could go to work now. So we just tried coming up with stuff to do seeing as we hadn´t planned anything to do. Anyway, so now nobody has phones again. I´m hoping it´s because they´re trying to get cell phones to all the areas. It´s something president told us he was trying to do when I first got into Momos... So maybe now they´re actually doing it.
We´re still finding lots of people. A few people seem like they might become positive but we really can´t tell right now. We found a family last night that said they were willing to accept a baptism and they seemed pretty exciting. The only thing is we haven´t really taught them anything other than baptism and it´s going to take a while to get them all ready seeing as they aren´t married. But, I have hopes for them. They are poor and don´t go to any church so their minds are open to learn more about Jesus Christ. The hard thing is they don´t understand that much of Spanish, especially our church vocabulary, so we´re having to try and simplify it a lot. Even more than normal. I think I´m going to try and learn a little bit more of the dialect here again. It might help and it´ll give me something entertaining to do.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and love. I´m really going to need them these next few months. Pray that I may be able to endure to the end.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, May 2, 2011
May 2, 2011
(The beginning of this letter needs a little explanation. Zac is my daughters husband and they are expecting a baby. After discussing children being named after dead people, he said they should name their baby Osama bin Laden as a joke. That night, it was announced that Osama bin Laden was killed. Freaky, huh?)
Well! Zac is the amazing hypothetical master it seems. He better be careful with that kind of power. If he can assassinate someone with that power it´s got to be dangerous.
I hope the operation goes well. I pray for your health every night. As for the washing machine... I´ll be so happy when I will be able to use stuff like that again.
Missionary work has gone very slow. We´re still just mostly contacting and although we´ve got a lot of new investigators... none of them are progressing at all. Nobody is doing what we ask them to. Nobody wants to change... yet. We´re doing the best we can but the people here in Joyabaj are just a little too relaxed. They don´t understand and they don´t feel the responsibility or the eternal consequences of what they do. I´m trying to find a way to get these people to take this seriously but... it´s a struggle. So, no positive people yet but I´m trying really hard this change. I feel I have slacked off a little bit the past couple of changes because of discouragement and it´s time I refocused.
For Mother´s Day, I haven´t heard anything yet, no rules no anything, so I´m planning on just doing it the way we did it for Christmas. I´ll just call you on Mother´s Day sometime in the afternoon, probably more sooner than later, like in between 12:00 and 3:00.
I will talk to you Sunday. Thanks for all your prayers and love. I really appreciate it. It really makes all the difference in times of discouragement, and this mission brings a lot of it.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Well! Zac is the amazing hypothetical master it seems. He better be careful with that kind of power. If he can assassinate someone with that power it´s got to be dangerous.
I hope the operation goes well. I pray for your health every night. As for the washing machine... I´ll be so happy when I will be able to use stuff like that again.
Missionary work has gone very slow. We´re still just mostly contacting and although we´ve got a lot of new investigators... none of them are progressing at all. Nobody is doing what we ask them to. Nobody wants to change... yet. We´re doing the best we can but the people here in Joyabaj are just a little too relaxed. They don´t understand and they don´t feel the responsibility or the eternal consequences of what they do. I´m trying to find a way to get these people to take this seriously but... it´s a struggle. So, no positive people yet but I´m trying really hard this change. I feel I have slacked off a little bit the past couple of changes because of discouragement and it´s time I refocused.
For Mother´s Day, I haven´t heard anything yet, no rules no anything, so I´m planning on just doing it the way we did it for Christmas. I´ll just call you on Mother´s Day sometime in the afternoon, probably more sooner than later, like in between 12:00 and 3:00.
I will talk to you Sunday. Thanks for all your prayers and love. I really appreciate it. It really makes all the difference in times of discouragement, and this mission brings a lot of it.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, April 25, 2011
April 25, 2011
Dear Mom and Family,
This week was kind of interesting. We had a lot of difficulties going
to Xela this week. There was a conference, but there practically
weren´t any buses at all the whole week, because all the bus drivers
were trying to get all the money they could taking people to Guatemala
City. So all the rest of us who had to go somewhere else were on our
own. We were lucky to find some nice people who were willing to take
us with them half way to Quiché. From there, we got a micro-bus to take
us the rest of the way. After that, we had to take two buses. One
headed towards Guatemala City from Quiché and the other heading back
from Guatemala City to Xela. It was a little ridiculous but we got
through it OK. Other than that, a few of the things we saw during the
week:
- Some sort of parade of people marching around the street with a giant
virgin Mary figure on top of them. I thought someone had died because
they do that too when someone dies. They march around the entire city.
- Pan Para Judas: which was a bunch of kids running around to all the
houses begging for bread for this ugly satanic doll on some kid´s back
which is supposed to represent Judas Iscariot. Saturday they burn
him...
- In some areas they do a crucifixion impersonation but that didn´t
happen here in Joyabaj. It´s too small of a city.
Other than that we´ve been trying to get some new investigators. We
have a lot of news this week. One is a reference of a family of 4. The
wife is extremely critical of all religions and is about fed up with
all the false doctrine in the world. We are going to have to be really
prepared if we want her to even think about what we´re teaching her.
First thing we´re going to try to get her to understand is that her
knowledge will help, but in the end she´s only going to know if she has
the faith, and is humble enough to ask to know. If we can´t get her to
do that... we´ll probably not focus on her too much. I have high hopes
for her and her family though. Their names are Erwin, Veronica, Doris,
and Yovani. So we´ll see how this goes. Those are the most positive of
the news we had this week.
Thanks for all your letters, they mean a lot to me. I´ll talk to you next week.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
This week was kind of interesting. We had a lot of difficulties going
to Xela this week. There was a conference, but there practically
weren´t any buses at all the whole week, because all the bus drivers
were trying to get all the money they could taking people to Guatemala
City. So all the rest of us who had to go somewhere else were on our
own. We were lucky to find some nice people who were willing to take
us with them half way to Quiché. From there, we got a micro-bus to take
us the rest of the way. After that, we had to take two buses. One
headed towards Guatemala City from Quiché and the other heading back
from Guatemala City to Xela. It was a little ridiculous but we got
through it OK. Other than that, a few of the things we saw during the
week:
- Some sort of parade of people marching around the street with a giant
virgin Mary figure on top of them. I thought someone had died because
they do that too when someone dies. They march around the entire city.
- Pan Para Judas: which was a bunch of kids running around to all the
houses begging for bread for this ugly satanic doll on some kid´s back
which is supposed to represent Judas Iscariot. Saturday they burn
him...
- In some areas they do a crucifixion impersonation but that didn´t
happen here in Joyabaj. It´s too small of a city.
Other than that we´ve been trying to get some new investigators. We
have a lot of news this week. One is a reference of a family of 4. The
wife is extremely critical of all religions and is about fed up with
all the false doctrine in the world. We are going to have to be really
prepared if we want her to even think about what we´re teaching her.
First thing we´re going to try to get her to understand is that her
knowledge will help, but in the end she´s only going to know if she has
the faith, and is humble enough to ask to know. If we can´t get her to
do that... we´ll probably not focus on her too much. I have high hopes
for her and her family though. Their names are Erwin, Veronica, Doris,
and Yovani. So we´ll see how this goes. Those are the most positive of
the news we had this week.
Thanks for all your letters, they mean a lot to me. I´ll talk to you next week.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, April 18, 2011
April 18, 2011
Dear Mom, family and friends,
It´s quite interesting what happened to me this week. Yes I did end up losing my wallet but I didn´t get mugged or anything like that. No, I just dropped it on the bus I was getting off, and now I´m just wishing I hadn´t had you guys cancel the card, but... It would have been bad if I lost all the money on that card. Anyway, what happened after was kind of interesting. I got a call from the assistants a couple days later saying a man called them who had all my ID cards and everything and was calling to return them to me. So what ended up happening was the person who found my wallet threw everything out of my wallet (except for the money of course) onto the floor and kept the wallet. So the next night the guy stopped by our church while we were having an activity and returned everything I had in my wallet... Too bad I had you cancel the card right? Oh well, I did end up pulling 1,000 Quets from the account before I lost my wallet and kept that in the house for emergencies (I didn´t know exactly why then but I guess I do now). I´ve been living off of that for now since I canceled the card from the mission too. So now I´m just waiting for them to get me a new one. I would just say to get the card mailed off as soon as possible and as hidden as possible so it doesn´t get stolen and hope that the government doesn´t decide to withhold that package as they randomly do sometimes. I´ll do what I can to get it as soon as possible but for now it´s not urgent that I have it.
Apart from that, we´re still just mostly doing the mundane door knocking technique trying to find new people to teach. We´re also working with members trying to gain their confidence so we can receive some good references. Even though we haven´t had much success as far as the work goes, the branch is improving. The branch president is making a lot of callings in the branch and they are starting to organize themselves. On the 30th, we´re going to go with all the leaders of the branch that they are calling right now to have a training meeting in Xela, so that is kind of exciting. Apart from that, not much more is going on. The craziest thing that has happened all week just happened about 5 minutes ago. We just watched someone get the snot beat out of him just outside our window. We´re not sure if it was provoked or not. It ended really fast with a kick to the face... so ya we´re all just kind of amazed at what just happened.
Apart from that... not much else has happened. We didn´t end up having that other conference last week. We just wasted 2 days in Quiché waiting for them to tell us to go to Xela but they just ended up telling us to go home and that we´d have a conference this next week... so... I hope it really does happen this time and we don´t waste days here in Quiché again. Until next time.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
It´s quite interesting what happened to me this week. Yes I did end up losing my wallet but I didn´t get mugged or anything like that. No, I just dropped it on the bus I was getting off, and now I´m just wishing I hadn´t had you guys cancel the card, but... It would have been bad if I lost all the money on that card. Anyway, what happened after was kind of interesting. I got a call from the assistants a couple days later saying a man called them who had all my ID cards and everything and was calling to return them to me. So what ended up happening was the person who found my wallet threw everything out of my wallet (except for the money of course) onto the floor and kept the wallet. So the next night the guy stopped by our church while we were having an activity and returned everything I had in my wallet... Too bad I had you cancel the card right? Oh well, I did end up pulling 1,000 Quets from the account before I lost my wallet and kept that in the house for emergencies (I didn´t know exactly why then but I guess I do now). I´ve been living off of that for now since I canceled the card from the mission too. So now I´m just waiting for them to get me a new one. I would just say to get the card mailed off as soon as possible and as hidden as possible so it doesn´t get stolen and hope that the government doesn´t decide to withhold that package as they randomly do sometimes. I´ll do what I can to get it as soon as possible but for now it´s not urgent that I have it.
Apart from that, we´re still just mostly doing the mundane door knocking technique trying to find new people to teach. We´re also working with members trying to gain their confidence so we can receive some good references. Even though we haven´t had much success as far as the work goes, the branch is improving. The branch president is making a lot of callings in the branch and they are starting to organize themselves. On the 30th, we´re going to go with all the leaders of the branch that they are calling right now to have a training meeting in Xela, so that is kind of exciting. Apart from that, not much more is going on. The craziest thing that has happened all week just happened about 5 minutes ago. We just watched someone get the snot beat out of him just outside our window. We´re not sure if it was provoked or not. It ended really fast with a kick to the face... so ya we´re all just kind of amazed at what just happened.
Apart from that... not much else has happened. We didn´t end up having that other conference last week. We just wasted 2 days in Quiché waiting for them to tell us to go to Xela but they just ended up telling us to go home and that we´d have a conference this next week... so... I hope it really does happen this time and we don´t waste days here in Quiché again. Until next time.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, April 11, 2011
April 11, 2011
Dear Mom and family, Thanks for the recipe (for granola). I did make it last week and it was really good. It wasn´t exactly cheaper as I had hoped, but it does taste so much better and it´s more nutritional too I think. I´m glad to hear that everyone is at least getting by. Here in Joyabaj, things are pretty tranquilo. We had the conference and we didn´t get into our area until Friday so... not much really happened. The Conference was good as always. They taught us more techniques on teaching and baptizing and all that fun stuff. I finally got pouch this week and I was surprised to have two packages. One from Grandma filled with all sorts of really good food from the states. I´d forgotten how good REAL food is. The other package was from a very special person for my one year mark... it´s been that long since the last conference. So this next week looks like we´re having interviews with Momos and Huehue in Huehuetenango tomorrow and then supposedly we´re having a "Gringo conference" this week too, but I don´t know if that´s really going to happen. We´ll just have to see. If so, I´m not going to have much to say about Joyabaj this next week either. Thanks for all your letters, prayers, packages and support. I love you all and miss you. Love, Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, April 4, 2011
April 4, 2011
Dear mom and family,
It has been quite an interesting week actually. The conference was canceled after we had canceled all of our citas so we practically didn't have anything to do for the week. What we did end up doing though was organize everything so that the branch could go to General Conference. We made invitations and arranged for the buses to come pick them up and all that fun stuff. It was a good thing too because the branch president didn't even know that we were going to have General Conference. He kept telling us that he wasn't even sure that we were going to have it or not because none of his leaders had told him about it. We had to explain to him that it is ALWAYS the first week of April and October. It's just kind of interesting the things we take advantage of growing up in the church and I've learned that I know a lot more than I realize, things that I take for granted and assume that it's common knowledge.
I really enjoyed conference this weekend though. I found a TON of things that were applicable to me and to my area. Every question that I had in my mind, both that I was looking for and not looking, for were answered. One thing I found interesting was that if you wanted a description of what it is like here in Guatemala, listen to the talk from Walter F. Gonzales from the first session. We all were laughing when he was describing his experience because it was exactly how it is. (We were all alone in the English room far away from everyone else) I will definitely be able to show that talk to many of the investigators that we have right now.
That's one of the main ones I can think of. I loved Priesthood session a lot. Apart from that, this next week looks like we're going to have the Conference that we were supposed to have this last week... We will see what happens; We're not sure yet.
I have to cook for myself in this area and I was wondering if you had any good recipes to make a granola or something like that for cereal because cereal is extremely expensive and I'm getting very bored eating oatmeal all the time. Thanks for your love and support and I'll talk to you next week.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
It has been quite an interesting week actually. The conference was canceled after we had canceled all of our citas so we practically didn't have anything to do for the week. What we did end up doing though was organize everything so that the branch could go to General Conference. We made invitations and arranged for the buses to come pick them up and all that fun stuff. It was a good thing too because the branch president didn't even know that we were going to have General Conference. He kept telling us that he wasn't even sure that we were going to have it or not because none of his leaders had told him about it. We had to explain to him that it is ALWAYS the first week of April and October. It's just kind of interesting the things we take advantage of growing up in the church and I've learned that I know a lot more than I realize, things that I take for granted and assume that it's common knowledge.
I really enjoyed conference this weekend though. I found a TON of things that were applicable to me and to my area. Every question that I had in my mind, both that I was looking for and not looking, for were answered. One thing I found interesting was that if you wanted a description of what it is like here in Guatemala, listen to the talk from Walter F. Gonzales from the first session. We all were laughing when he was describing his experience because it was exactly how it is. (We were all alone in the English room far away from everyone else) I will definitely be able to show that talk to many of the investigators that we have right now.
That's one of the main ones I can think of. I loved Priesthood session a lot. Apart from that, this next week looks like we're going to have the Conference that we were supposed to have this last week... We will see what happens; We're not sure yet.
I have to cook for myself in this area and I was wondering if you had any good recipes to make a granola or something like that for cereal because cereal is extremely expensive and I'm getting very bored eating oatmeal all the time. Thanks for your love and support and I'll talk to you next week.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, March 28, 2011
March 28, 2011
Sorry about the details that I keep forgetting. My new companion is Elder Anderson from Idaho. He's in the picture of our zone from last change; He's the third one in on the left on the top. There's another I know from St. George but that's not him. My comp is a little bit of a goof ball but I think I've needed the relief. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. I don't have any leadership responsibilities. What I meant by we're training the branch president, is that if we don't remind him or do some things ourselves, they won't get done, like the agenda for sacrament meeting, the assignment to bring bread, small things like that. He just doesn't have much experience. Besides that, everything has been pretty calm here. We're teaching a few people but they come and go so fast I don't feel the point of mentioning anyone yet. We're teaching English classes now and so that's been an adventure. I'm not sure what exactly we're going to be doing for conference, but I do know that we are going to have a conference type thing Wednesday, Thursday, AND Friday this week with president and then we're going to have General Conference, so that should be interesting. I hope your results come out well. I'll be praying for you. I hope to have more to say next week. In the mean time, I have a crazy video I took this week of a confused chicken that thinks its a man. Love, Elder Landon James Crapo 
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
March 21, 2011
Changes!
I have been sent to the furthest area in the mission I think; I´m not really sure. Both of us got changed out so I was packing until 1:30ish and then got up at about 5 to gather my things and go. We had a 2 1/2 hour ride to Xela in a runaway bus as usual. Then waited for them to tell us our changes for 1 1/2 hrs. Then I got sent on another runaway bus all the way to Quiché which took about 3 1/2 hrs. By then, there weren´t any more buses that went back to our area so we stayed at the Zone Leaders´ house ´til Thursday morning where we took another runaway bus for another 1 1/2 hrs to Joyabaj, my area. It´s a small branch that doesn´t have a chapel, just a rented house right next to our house. Our house is an unfinished cement house with no windows. It´s quite the house. The branch president is brand new and we were there in the orientation meeting or whatever with the District President and the Mission president´s counselor, President Rosales. It was President Rosales who asked us to be there in the meeting. During the meeting I got the impression that what he wanted was for us to help in training the branch president. He asked me after the meeting if I´d written down what was said. Luckily I had, and he asked me if I would type up what was said for the branch president so he wouldn´t forget. So the new area is awesome and the members (as few as they are) are awesome and ready to help. I have a good feeling about this area.
So, we´re out here in Quiché. There are only 6 elders in the entire zone and it feels kind of secluded but I kind of like it. I hope things get going better at home and that Nick does well at state. Happy anniversary Ashley and Zac.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
I have been sent to the furthest area in the mission I think; I´m not really sure. Both of us got changed out so I was packing until 1:30ish and then got up at about 5 to gather my things and go. We had a 2 1/2 hour ride to Xela in a runaway bus as usual. Then waited for them to tell us our changes for 1 1/2 hrs. Then I got sent on another runaway bus all the way to Quiché which took about 3 1/2 hrs. By then, there weren´t any more buses that went back to our area so we stayed at the Zone Leaders´ house ´til Thursday morning where we took another runaway bus for another 1 1/2 hrs to Joyabaj, my area. It´s a small branch that doesn´t have a chapel, just a rented house right next to our house. Our house is an unfinished cement house with no windows. It´s quite the house. The branch president is brand new and we were there in the orientation meeting or whatever with the District President and the Mission president´s counselor, President Rosales. It was President Rosales who asked us to be there in the meeting. During the meeting I got the impression that what he wanted was for us to help in training the branch president. He asked me after the meeting if I´d written down what was said. Luckily I had, and he asked me if I would type up what was said for the branch president so he wouldn´t forget. So the new area is awesome and the members (as few as they are) are awesome and ready to help. I have a good feeling about this area.
So, we´re out here in Quiché. There are only 6 elders in the entire zone and it feels kind of secluded but I kind of like it. I hope things get going better at home and that Nick does well at state. Happy anniversary Ashley and Zac.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, March 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
Dear Mom and family,
I don't know exactly what to write this week. A lot of things have happened but it's all become a normal routine. I went and did a few interviews and the elders in Cuchumatanes married and baptized a couple this past week and it was really neat to do the interviews. It amazes me some times the faith that these people have and how prepared people can be before baptism. It makes me so happy when I can talk to people who actually think about things and feel the spirit. Here Satan has built about a million churches that only shout and scream and play rock music and all sorts of stuff and then they call their excitement "the spirit". It drives me nuts to the point I just want to run inside and shout to all of them how lost they are and show them how much more there is than going to a church made out of thin sheets of metal EVERY DAY only to pay money, listen to crazy music, and shout gibberish for hours. No joke, there are churches on every block. There are almost as many churches as there are houses. So when someones spiritual ears haven't gone completely deaf, I get excited.
Apart from that, we found some positive news. While I was doing interviews, Elder Tellez was in my area contacting with my comp and they contacted some school students living together. So we went to teach them Saturday and after teaching them about the Plan of Salvation, they asked questions that lead to baptism and then they asked questions that lead to the restoration. By the time we were done answering all their questions, we'd taught them everything there is to teach them. And then they came to church yesterday. So... Today we have a family night with the bishop and those that came to church today. I feel it's not going to be very much time before they get baptized.
Apart from that, everything else has pretty much fallen. Rolando and Juana didn't come and we're not going to focus on them until they actually decide to come. So... that's that. We have changes this week so we'll see how that goes.
I'm finally sending a few pictures. The baptisms from left to right are Luis, Maynor, and Alex. We went to go see some ruins one P-day and so I have a couple of pictures of that.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
I don't know exactly what to write this week. A lot of things have happened but it's all become a normal routine. I went and did a few interviews and the elders in Cuchumatanes married and baptized a couple this past week and it was really neat to do the interviews. It amazes me some times the faith that these people have and how prepared people can be before baptism. It makes me so happy when I can talk to people who actually think about things and feel the spirit. Here Satan has built about a million churches that only shout and scream and play rock music and all sorts of stuff and then they call their excitement "the spirit". It drives me nuts to the point I just want to run inside and shout to all of them how lost they are and show them how much more there is than going to a church made out of thin sheets of metal EVERY DAY only to pay money, listen to crazy music, and shout gibberish for hours. No joke, there are churches on every block. There are almost as many churches as there are houses. So when someones spiritual ears haven't gone completely deaf, I get excited.
Apart from that, we found some positive news. While I was doing interviews, Elder Tellez was in my area contacting with my comp and they contacted some school students living together. So we went to teach them Saturday and after teaching them about the Plan of Salvation, they asked questions that lead to baptism and then they asked questions that lead to the restoration. By the time we were done answering all their questions, we'd taught them everything there is to teach them. And then they came to church yesterday. So... Today we have a family night with the bishop and those that came to church today. I feel it's not going to be very much time before they get baptized.
Apart from that, everything else has pretty much fallen. Rolando and Juana didn't come and we're not going to focus on them until they actually decide to come. So... that's that. We have changes this week so we'll see how that goes.
I'm finally sending a few pictures. The baptisms from left to right are Luis, Maynor, and Alex. We went to go see some ruins one P-day and so I have a couple of pictures of that.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
March 7, 2011
Happy Birthday Mom!
I'm sorry I don't have anything special for you for your birthday today... I'll have to make it up to you next year I guess.
Thanks for the letter. It still seems really weird to me that so much is changing so quickly in my absence. I'm so glad that all of you are happy and having success in the things that you are doing. I miss all of you so much too. I can't wait to be able to spend time celebrating with all of you once again.
So, the cookies didn't quite turn out as well as planned. They expanded a ton and ended up being really flat and burnt and crispy... but they still tasted pretty good and they still liked it (even though I was hoping for the soft moist cookies that I remember).
Juana and Rolando (relatives of Alex) have been kind of frustrating lately. They like when we come and teach but they never come to church. Every Saturday we go to invite them and they say they can come but then the next day someone calls in for him to work, or family shows up and they stay home for that or whatever reason. We would have left them by now but they seem so positive and they promised us that they'll be able to come next week... so we'll see what happens. Apart from that, I've been working a lot out of my area. I did interviews in Chiantla (Elder Bown and Elder Cuellar) for a family of 8 on Friday and Saturday. Saturday they got married and yesterday they were baptized and confirmed. It was awesome and Elder Bown always continues to amaze me with his success. It´s looking like the entire district is going to have successful baptisms already this month too. Apart from that I'm just loving my mission. I love being able to study every morning and enjoy learning with my companion. I don't know why but I feel an excitement in the things I will be able to witness this last half of my mission.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
I'm sorry I don't have anything special for you for your birthday today... I'll have to make it up to you next year I guess.
Thanks for the letter. It still seems really weird to me that so much is changing so quickly in my absence. I'm so glad that all of you are happy and having success in the things that you are doing. I miss all of you so much too. I can't wait to be able to spend time celebrating with all of you once again.
So, the cookies didn't quite turn out as well as planned. They expanded a ton and ended up being really flat and burnt and crispy... but they still tasted pretty good and they still liked it (even though I was hoping for the soft moist cookies that I remember).
Juana and Rolando (relatives of Alex) have been kind of frustrating lately. They like when we come and teach but they never come to church. Every Saturday we go to invite them and they say they can come but then the next day someone calls in for him to work, or family shows up and they stay home for that or whatever reason. We would have left them by now but they seem so positive and they promised us that they'll be able to come next week... so we'll see what happens. Apart from that, I've been working a lot out of my area. I did interviews in Chiantla (Elder Bown and Elder Cuellar) for a family of 8 on Friday and Saturday. Saturday they got married and yesterday they were baptized and confirmed. It was awesome and Elder Bown always continues to amaze me with his success. It´s looking like the entire district is going to have successful baptisms already this month too. Apart from that I'm just loving my mission. I love being able to study every morning and enjoy learning with my companion. I don't know why but I feel an excitement in the things I will be able to witness this last half of my mission.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, February 28, 2011
February 28, 2011
Dear Mom,
Things have been going pretty good in the mission... more or less. I'm more happy. I've found a new love of the morning. For the past few weeks Elder Fuentes and I have been getting up between 4:30 and 5:00 so that we can have more time to study and it has become a pretty big blessing for me to help me stay calm during the day. There's still been a lot of people getting after other people here but I have been more careful in doing things exactly as they should be done, when they should be done, if not to be more efficient, to save my neck. I've avoided quite a few "machetes" as they call them here. I still have the hope that I can remain in influence here in the mission and that I can be more sure, confident and bold in helping each Elder that I become acquainted with, learn the principles of loving those who you serve and serving those you lead. I've found many friends who feel the same need for this in the mission. Yes the mission requires good business skills, and we are being taught these things. Nevertheless, some have forgotten or never learned how to do so in a loving, uplifting, edifying manner. Everything is mechanical. There is a balance between the two and my goal is to find out where that is and teach that to everyone else that I can.
Elder Bown still has his amazing experiences every day and even though I love hearing his amazing stories, I try to keep his daily reports down to 20 or 30 minutes. This week he's going to baptize a family of 8 that has received a dream just about every night about the elders visiting them, baptizing them, fighting off demons and all that crazy stuff. In my studies I've found in the scriptures that people will be visited by angels, preparing them for our message. That has been fulfilled in many different ways here in my district. I truly have been blessed with such a good district. They've had success in ways people doubted were possible. If I've learned anything these past couple of months it has been from my companion and my district.
Love Elder Landon James Crapo
Things have been going pretty good in the mission... more or less. I'm more happy. I've found a new love of the morning. For the past few weeks Elder Fuentes and I have been getting up between 4:30 and 5:00 so that we can have more time to study and it has become a pretty big blessing for me to help me stay calm during the day. There's still been a lot of people getting after other people here but I have been more careful in doing things exactly as they should be done, when they should be done, if not to be more efficient, to save my neck. I've avoided quite a few "machetes" as they call them here. I still have the hope that I can remain in influence here in the mission and that I can be more sure, confident and bold in helping each Elder that I become acquainted with, learn the principles of loving those who you serve and serving those you lead. I've found many friends who feel the same need for this in the mission. Yes the mission requires good business skills, and we are being taught these things. Nevertheless, some have forgotten or never learned how to do so in a loving, uplifting, edifying manner. Everything is mechanical. There is a balance between the two and my goal is to find out where that is and teach that to everyone else that I can.
Elder Bown still has his amazing experiences every day and even though I love hearing his amazing stories, I try to keep his daily reports down to 20 or 30 minutes. This week he's going to baptize a family of 8 that has received a dream just about every night about the elders visiting them, baptizing them, fighting off demons and all that crazy stuff. In my studies I've found in the scriptures that people will be visited by angels, preparing them for our message. That has been fulfilled in many different ways here in my district. I truly have been blessed with such a good district. They've had success in ways people doubted were possible. If I've learned anything these past couple of months it has been from my companion and my district.
Love Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, February 21, 2011
February 21, 2011
Dear family and friends,
I'm amazed at how fast the weeks are coming and going. The big battle every day is to do something significant every hour of every day when some days it feels like nothing significant happens that day. This week the pressure of other missionaries has gotten stronger and I have calls interrupting my personal study sometimes to ask me why the heck I'm not having success with certain people and why I'm not reaching the goal I made. I don't want to go into details because that would be a waste of time but it sufficeth me to say that there is a lot to learn in the mission even sometimes to relearn what you learned at home. I have found that I've become more dependant on my inward feelings than the shouting of others, even when they are other men on my same team fighting for the same righteous purposes that I fight for. I've found I can recognize those feelings more clearly when I do study the scriptures intensely. I get impressions of "why is this person telling me this" and "despite such a poor approach, is the council I've received valid and worth working for?" It is also easier to act correctly in all situations if we, as stated in Doctrine and Covenants 27: 15-18, put on the whole armor of God, more specifically, the "Breastplate of Righteousness". When I take a step back from the situation, evaluate my desire in that moment, and place Righteousness in it's place then react with that in mind, that's when I feel I qualify for those feelings of discerning the motives of others and acting accordingly. I've saved myself a lot of anger when receiving chastisement that felt unjust when I look inward and don't judge. At times that takes little bit of time to let immediate personal feelings pass, and then I can ask myself, "what can I change having received this council to make things better?" It is a long process and takes patience. I can't act instantly, at least not for now. I hope one day these reactions will come instinctively so that in the heat of reprimand I can act in a dignified manner towards a solution.
I've come to the conclusion that we're not going to meet our goal for this month, but that does not differ from the norm. Nonetheless it has been a great couple of changes. I've learned a lot. I love my companion. I've been blessed with a companion who is willing to be obedient to all the rules. My biggest struggle in life has been to be able to act with confidence and diligence upon righteous desires. For that reason I hope I have many many opportunities to be a leader in the mission so that I can learn that one lessen and earn that gift of the spirit. I pray at the same time that in receiving any leadership position, I may always remember the importance of love and charity as taught in what has been my favorite section since the CCM: D&C 121.
Even though I have had little success this month, the rest of my district has done great. E. Griffey and E. Monge had a baptism this week. That breaks the ice Las Rosas has had for almost a year now. E Bown and E. Cuellar had a baptism on the spot last night without me even knowing. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to be the one who interviewed them this time but they now have two baptisms, and they're preparing to have many more with the plans they're making for San Mateo. I will be able to go do those interviews. I look forward to that.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
I'm amazed at how fast the weeks are coming and going. The big battle every day is to do something significant every hour of every day when some days it feels like nothing significant happens that day. This week the pressure of other missionaries has gotten stronger and I have calls interrupting my personal study sometimes to ask me why the heck I'm not having success with certain people and why I'm not reaching the goal I made. I don't want to go into details because that would be a waste of time but it sufficeth me to say that there is a lot to learn in the mission even sometimes to relearn what you learned at home. I have found that I've become more dependant on my inward feelings than the shouting of others, even when they are other men on my same team fighting for the same righteous purposes that I fight for. I've found I can recognize those feelings more clearly when I do study the scriptures intensely. I get impressions of "why is this person telling me this" and "despite such a poor approach, is the council I've received valid and worth working for?" It is also easier to act correctly in all situations if we, as stated in Doctrine and Covenants 27: 15-18, put on the whole armor of God, more specifically, the "Breastplate of Righteousness". When I take a step back from the situation, evaluate my desire in that moment, and place Righteousness in it's place then react with that in mind, that's when I feel I qualify for those feelings of discerning the motives of others and acting accordingly. I've saved myself a lot of anger when receiving chastisement that felt unjust when I look inward and don't judge. At times that takes little bit of time to let immediate personal feelings pass, and then I can ask myself, "what can I change having received this council to make things better?" It is a long process and takes patience. I can't act instantly, at least not for now. I hope one day these reactions will come instinctively so that in the heat of reprimand I can act in a dignified manner towards a solution.
I've come to the conclusion that we're not going to meet our goal for this month, but that does not differ from the norm. Nonetheless it has been a great couple of changes. I've learned a lot. I love my companion. I've been blessed with a companion who is willing to be obedient to all the rules. My biggest struggle in life has been to be able to act with confidence and diligence upon righteous desires. For that reason I hope I have many many opportunities to be a leader in the mission so that I can learn that one lessen and earn that gift of the spirit. I pray at the same time that in receiving any leadership position, I may always remember the importance of love and charity as taught in what has been my favorite section since the CCM: D&C 121.
Even though I have had little success this month, the rest of my district has done great. E. Griffey and E. Monge had a baptism this week. That breaks the ice Las Rosas has had for almost a year now. E Bown and E. Cuellar had a baptism on the spot last night without me even knowing. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to be the one who interviewed them this time but they now have two baptisms, and they're preparing to have many more with the plans they're making for San Mateo. I will be able to go do those interviews. I look forward to that.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
February 14, 2011
Dear Family,
It's been strange this week. A lot of unexpected things have happened. Tuesday we had the "Equipo de Apoyo" come over for the week. The Equipo de Apoyo is a group of missionaries that spend most of their time being trained by president and the assistants and then go out to whatever area to train the rest of the missionaries. The purpose was finding as many new people as we can. Right now we don´t have very many new people at all. Every person we contacted, we dropped because they don´t want anything. It´s been interesting to say the least. My companion and I made the risky goal this month of 6 baptisms. Everyone in the district as well made goals and now, as usual, everyone is in a panic because the assistants are getting after the Zone Leaders and the Zone Leaders are transferring that to the missionaries. It´s times like this that I feel useless in helping the rest of the missionaries grow and learn, especially since I am so inexperienced. I feel, personally, when someone pressures the rest of the people, they try to rush things and then, at the end, people forget that they need the Holy Ghost when they teach. I have studied about feeling the spirit and learned that one feels the spirit and receives revelation most when they are calm. So... I don´t know what to think about what is going on right now. The assistants have told everyone to call directly to them and bypass all of us leaders. It is hard for me to tell you this because I´ve tried so hard to get rid of all the complaints against assistants and president. I know that President is an inspired man, and I have also studied in depth the apostasy of the church in Kirtland and know that the first steps were to exalt themselves and then complain about the decisions made by the Prophet and other leaders. Thomas B. Marsh complained when Joseph Smith called Parley P. Pratt and Orson Hyde on their missions when he felt that it was HIS responsibility. The result is D&C 112. Thomas B. Marsh is the one who ended up apostatizing because of the milk and cream incident with his wife. Apostasy is a theme that frequently comes to my mind on the mission and it is something that I´ve covenanted to fight against. I have a lot to learn still and I hope I can continue to learn quickly so that my mistakes aren´t many.
I´m glad to hear that you all had the chance to celebrate. (his one year mark) I was able to teach the family of Alex for the first time that day and that was how I celebrated. This week our goal as a companionship is to depend on the spirit in order to be able to achieve our goal. I prayed hard last night asking if our goal for 6 was the right goal and if it was still possible to achieve. I felt that it was right but also felt the need of assistance from the Lord every second of every day in order to do so. This requires complete obedience to EVERY RULE of the mission and a willing heart. I ask for your prayers as we try to reach all these goals.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
It's been strange this week. A lot of unexpected things have happened. Tuesday we had the "Equipo de Apoyo" come over for the week. The Equipo de Apoyo is a group of missionaries that spend most of their time being trained by president and the assistants and then go out to whatever area to train the rest of the missionaries. The purpose was finding as many new people as we can. Right now we don´t have very many new people at all. Every person we contacted, we dropped because they don´t want anything. It´s been interesting to say the least. My companion and I made the risky goal this month of 6 baptisms. Everyone in the district as well made goals and now, as usual, everyone is in a panic because the assistants are getting after the Zone Leaders and the Zone Leaders are transferring that to the missionaries. It´s times like this that I feel useless in helping the rest of the missionaries grow and learn, especially since I am so inexperienced. I feel, personally, when someone pressures the rest of the people, they try to rush things and then, at the end, people forget that they need the Holy Ghost when they teach. I have studied about feeling the spirit and learned that one feels the spirit and receives revelation most when they are calm. So... I don´t know what to think about what is going on right now. The assistants have told everyone to call directly to them and bypass all of us leaders. It is hard for me to tell you this because I´ve tried so hard to get rid of all the complaints against assistants and president. I know that President is an inspired man, and I have also studied in depth the apostasy of the church in Kirtland and know that the first steps were to exalt themselves and then complain about the decisions made by the Prophet and other leaders. Thomas B. Marsh complained when Joseph Smith called Parley P. Pratt and Orson Hyde on their missions when he felt that it was HIS responsibility. The result is D&C 112. Thomas B. Marsh is the one who ended up apostatizing because of the milk and cream incident with his wife. Apostasy is a theme that frequently comes to my mind on the mission and it is something that I´ve covenanted to fight against. I have a lot to learn still and I hope I can continue to learn quickly so that my mistakes aren´t many.
I´m glad to hear that you all had the chance to celebrate. (his one year mark) I was able to teach the family of Alex for the first time that day and that was how I celebrated. This week our goal as a companionship is to depend on the spirit in order to be able to achieve our goal. I prayed hard last night asking if our goal for 6 was the right goal and if it was still possible to achieve. I felt that it was right but also felt the need of assistance from the Lord every second of every day in order to do so. This requires complete obedience to EVERY RULE of the mission and a willing heart. I ask for your prayers as we try to reach all these goals.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
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