This week I´ve noticed that the district is beginning to get more references now which is good and there are a few baptismal dates coming up too.
I did divisions this week with Elder Cifuentes in his area. It was a really good experience. We set a baptismal date with one of their investigators and had an unplanned finding experience which could very quickly lead to another baptism. I enjoyed the experience a lot. While I was there, Elder Cifuentes complained a little bit more about Elder Lopez. Elder Cifuentes is a hard worker but he very frequently has negative things to say about other people so I always have to take that into account when he tells me things. He told me that Elder Lopez has a worldly movie, Prince of Persia, but I looked through Elder Lopez´s movies and didn´t find it so he could have taken it with him on the divisions. I don´t have any evidence right now that he has anything, only Elder Cifuentes´s word, so I´m not doing anything about it right now until Elder Cifuentes gets some evidence.
This next District meeting my goal is to help the district understand more fully the gospel and to recognize how well they are using it in their lives. I´ve chosen to talk about this because I´ve learned in my studies a lot about Faith and how to really use it and to confide in God more. In reality, what I want to teach touches a lot of different topics: Faith, Dignity, Repentance, Grace: the enabling power of God and how to qualify for it to take effect in our lives and how to use it to help us meet our goals. The problem is that we make goals but then we doubt. We are constantly saying things like, "The members in this ward don´t want to help at all." or "These people are pure Catholic and don´t want anything to do with us." and we begin to doubt and deny ourselves the blessings and help we could receive through exercising faith. This is what I´ve learned in my studies this week and I want to communicate this concept to my district.
I have a request for a return home present. I´ve been thinking about it a lot for the past couple of months but I never remembered to put it in my letter until today. I would like and urge Nick to begin his mission papers now so that the week before I come home he can turn them in. That way, soon after I get home, he can receive his call. I want to be able to teach him some vital things I´ve learned on the mission and also, if he ends up going Spanish speaking, I can begin to teach him Spanish. It´s something I want to do so that he can have better success in his mission than I have had so far in mine.
For conference we´re just going to stay in our zone to watch it. I really love Conference and am excited to listen for my last time in the mission.
Already beginning to plan my first few weeks home huh? Well, I don´t know what day exactly. The 14th is the Tuesday but that´s the day of changes. From what I understand I may not get home until the 15th or even the 16th depending on how the flight plans go. But I´m almost positive I won´t be getting home on the 14th exactly, unless I specifically ask that they find a way for me to be home before the 14th or on the 14th.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Counters
Monday, September 26, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
September 19, 2011
Dear Mom and Family,
There have been a lot of good and not so good things this week. First of all, there is a problem here with the bishop and our new ward mission leader. As you know, we´ve been waiting for months for the bishop to call a new mission leader and he finally called a future missionary, but since that point we´ve had a lot of problems. I don´t know if you know about this but I had keys to the chapel here in Las Rosas, but I lent them to the elders in the office one Saturday so they could play basketball. When they left the building, they closed the keys inside and left them there. They called the bishop to let him know what had happened, but from there nobody has been able to find the keys. Now we´ve learned that the keys were the ones that belonged to the mission leader, so the new mission leader doesn´t have any keys to open the chapel for correlation meeting, or for any activities that we may plan. The old mission leader also has lost the manual. The new mission leader is frustrated because he is asking the bishop for these things and the bishop is telling him that he won´t do anything about it. He´s telling him that we had the keys so we need to find them or he can´t have any, and he says the same thing about the manual. So, in summary, we have a new mission leader but he doensn´t have any of the tools necessary to do anything. I´m kind of at a loss of what to do about this one. The bishop feels satisfied with himself in exercising justice and punishing us for having lost the keys, but I feel he doesn´t understand that he´s also hindering the work out here in the process. We can´t change what has already happened, but we should do our best to make things better despite what has happened. That´s not the only run in we´ve had with the bishopric. Saturday we had an unexpected opportunity to help some people with an interesting problem. We were walking home that night when a woman across the street waved for us to stop and ran across the street to talk to us. She told us how she and her two other friends were on their way to Huehuetenango from the coast, but they had to switch buses here in Xela. The only problem was there weren´t any more buses going to Huehue. They didn´t have a place to stay, they didn´t have enough money for a hotel, and they were freezing cold because they were dressed like someone on the coast. She asked us if they could stay with us for the night (which gave me a good laugh). We responded that WE couldn´t take them in but that we´d try and find out something to do. We started first by trying to call the bishop... didn´t answer. Next we called his counselor. His first response was that he couldn´t let them in their house. I explained to him that we weren´t just asking him to take in complete strangers, but to help us, as a member of the bishopric, to find a place for them. Then we called the Zone Leader to ask if they could call President Bautista (Line of authority :) ) to ask for advice in what we could do. After all those phone calls we decided to go ask a member if she could let them in for a little bit and give them something small to eat. She gladly did so and as she did she talked all about the church. Through a lot of interesting phone calls, the counselor decided to use fast offering funds to pay for a night in the hotel, but afterwards pulled us aside to talk to us. He ended up chewing us out, telling us that he had used the WARDS FAST OFFERINGS to pay for it and that it was meant ONLY for members and that he only did so because he didn´t want to stain the name of the church, then in his own way suggested that we don´t let something like this happen again.
We also had a chance to help a member who was sick with pneumonia. She is a tough old lady who is extremely opinionated and not very easily swayed, but loves and takes good care of her family and has a very strong deep testimony. I love talking with her. Anyway, we were able to help her with providing a couple of beds for her daughter and her kids who were coming to visit her for fear that she might die. There was an old mattress that we didn´t need in the house that we were going to throw away and I have a small inflatable mattress that I bought after having been in Momos and sleeping 7 elders to 3 beds. We were layed out like sardines and I didn´t want an experience like that ever again... so I bought the mattress. I haven´t used it myself too much, but it´s come in handy quite a few times.
This is how things have been going more or less with my district. First is Salcaja with Elder Olsen and Elder Bench. They´re doing great and working hard out there. I´ve run into some the members of that area and they´ve had nothing but good things to say about them. Next is Elder Cifuentes and Elder Lopez here in Las Rosas. I´ve been getting some complaints from Elder Cifuentes about Elder Lopez sleeping in, not studying and all sorts of stuff. I just told him to try and encourage him and remind him what he´s supposed to be doing and that if he still continues to ignore, then to tell him the situation, that Elder Cifuentes has already told me and that I asked him to try and encourage him to do these things. I´m thinking of doing divisions with them soon so I can be with Elder Lopez and hear what he has to say about all of this. Elder Bergeson and Elder Monge are doing well in their area. they are working and have had baptisms. I think what they could use some help with though, is using the planner and the area book. The reason is because when they call to report, if they remember to call, sometimes they don´t remember what dats they have and they have to take some time thinking about it. So with that, I´m assuming that they don´t write stuff down. Of course, I know that I´m not the perfect example of all these things that I want to help these elders with, but I think that´s one of the blessings of being a leader is that I´ve been able to learn and grow as I try to help other people. That´s about all this week. We didn´t have very much work because everyone was celebrating independence week in the center of the city and left this place desolate.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
There have been a lot of good and not so good things this week. First of all, there is a problem here with the bishop and our new ward mission leader. As you know, we´ve been waiting for months for the bishop to call a new mission leader and he finally called a future missionary, but since that point we´ve had a lot of problems. I don´t know if you know about this but I had keys to the chapel here in Las Rosas, but I lent them to the elders in the office one Saturday so they could play basketball. When they left the building, they closed the keys inside and left them there. They called the bishop to let him know what had happened, but from there nobody has been able to find the keys. Now we´ve learned that the keys were the ones that belonged to the mission leader, so the new mission leader doesn´t have any keys to open the chapel for correlation meeting, or for any activities that we may plan. The old mission leader also has lost the manual. The new mission leader is frustrated because he is asking the bishop for these things and the bishop is telling him that he won´t do anything about it. He´s telling him that we had the keys so we need to find them or he can´t have any, and he says the same thing about the manual. So, in summary, we have a new mission leader but he doensn´t have any of the tools necessary to do anything. I´m kind of at a loss of what to do about this one. The bishop feels satisfied with himself in exercising justice and punishing us for having lost the keys, but I feel he doesn´t understand that he´s also hindering the work out here in the process. We can´t change what has already happened, but we should do our best to make things better despite what has happened. That´s not the only run in we´ve had with the bishopric. Saturday we had an unexpected opportunity to help some people with an interesting problem. We were walking home that night when a woman across the street waved for us to stop and ran across the street to talk to us. She told us how she and her two other friends were on their way to Huehuetenango from the coast, but they had to switch buses here in Xela. The only problem was there weren´t any more buses going to Huehue. They didn´t have a place to stay, they didn´t have enough money for a hotel, and they were freezing cold because they were dressed like someone on the coast. She asked us if they could stay with us for the night (which gave me a good laugh). We responded that WE couldn´t take them in but that we´d try and find out something to do. We started first by trying to call the bishop... didn´t answer. Next we called his counselor. His first response was that he couldn´t let them in their house. I explained to him that we weren´t just asking him to take in complete strangers, but to help us, as a member of the bishopric, to find a place for them. Then we called the Zone Leader to ask if they could call President Bautista (Line of authority :) ) to ask for advice in what we could do. After all those phone calls we decided to go ask a member if she could let them in for a little bit and give them something small to eat. She gladly did so and as she did she talked all about the church. Through a lot of interesting phone calls, the counselor decided to use fast offering funds to pay for a night in the hotel, but afterwards pulled us aside to talk to us. He ended up chewing us out, telling us that he had used the WARDS FAST OFFERINGS to pay for it and that it was meant ONLY for members and that he only did so because he didn´t want to stain the name of the church, then in his own way suggested that we don´t let something like this happen again.
We also had a chance to help a member who was sick with pneumonia. She is a tough old lady who is extremely opinionated and not very easily swayed, but loves and takes good care of her family and has a very strong deep testimony. I love talking with her. Anyway, we were able to help her with providing a couple of beds for her daughter and her kids who were coming to visit her for fear that she might die. There was an old mattress that we didn´t need in the house that we were going to throw away and I have a small inflatable mattress that I bought after having been in Momos and sleeping 7 elders to 3 beds. We were layed out like sardines and I didn´t want an experience like that ever again... so I bought the mattress. I haven´t used it myself too much, but it´s come in handy quite a few times.
This is how things have been going more or less with my district. First is Salcaja with Elder Olsen and Elder Bench. They´re doing great and working hard out there. I´ve run into some the members of that area and they´ve had nothing but good things to say about them. Next is Elder Cifuentes and Elder Lopez here in Las Rosas. I´ve been getting some complaints from Elder Cifuentes about Elder Lopez sleeping in, not studying and all sorts of stuff. I just told him to try and encourage him and remind him what he´s supposed to be doing and that if he still continues to ignore, then to tell him the situation, that Elder Cifuentes has already told me and that I asked him to try and encourage him to do these things. I´m thinking of doing divisions with them soon so I can be with Elder Lopez and hear what he has to say about all of this. Elder Bergeson and Elder Monge are doing well in their area. they are working and have had baptisms. I think what they could use some help with though, is using the planner and the area book. The reason is because when they call to report, if they remember to call, sometimes they don´t remember what dats they have and they have to take some time thinking about it. So with that, I´m assuming that they don´t write stuff down. Of course, I know that I´m not the perfect example of all these things that I want to help these elders with, but I think that´s one of the blessings of being a leader is that I´ve been able to learn and grow as I try to help other people. That´s about all this week. We didn´t have very much work because everyone was celebrating independence week in the center of the city and left this place desolate.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
September 12, 2011
Dear Mom and family,
This week I had divisions with Elder Frodshom, my Zone Leader. I really enjoyed it and learned quite a bit. We´ve been working a lot with less active members lately. We are working with the Martinez family (of which I have mentioned before), more specifically, Hermana Alma is working with Margarita once again and we have an appointment on Wednesday. I´ve been trying harder this week to plan together with my companion our lessons because we´ve struggled to be on the same page. My companion has a great testimony and knows quite a bit. In our lessons sometimes he just gets excited and starts to share everything he knows and it overwhelms the investigators and afterwards there isn't much time for me or the investigators to talk. I´ve talked with him about it and we have the goal to plan our lessons and to focus on the doctrine and commitments. I really am beginning to understand how absolutely necessary it is to plan the lessons. I am now more excited to teach my lessons and less worried about if the lesson will be good or not. That´s really all I can think of about this week... The root canal went well, I think. I´m just waiting for them to finish it all up. The bad thing is I had an appointment to finish it today at 10 but they weren´t there and I´ve been told they won´t open back up until next week... the temporary filling they gave me is not meant to last that long so... I´m waiting for the nurses to figure out what to do. I´m sorry this letters really short... I really just can´t think of much to say, other than thanks for all your love and letters.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
This week I had divisions with Elder Frodshom, my Zone Leader. I really enjoyed it and learned quite a bit. We´ve been working a lot with less active members lately. We are working with the Martinez family (of which I have mentioned before), more specifically, Hermana Alma is working with Margarita once again and we have an appointment on Wednesday. I´ve been trying harder this week to plan together with my companion our lessons because we´ve struggled to be on the same page. My companion has a great testimony and knows quite a bit. In our lessons sometimes he just gets excited and starts to share everything he knows and it overwhelms the investigators and afterwards there isn't much time for me or the investigators to talk. I´ve talked with him about it and we have the goal to plan our lessons and to focus on the doctrine and commitments. I really am beginning to understand how absolutely necessary it is to plan the lessons. I am now more excited to teach my lessons and less worried about if the lesson will be good or not. That´s really all I can think of about this week... The root canal went well, I think. I´m just waiting for them to finish it all up. The bad thing is I had an appointment to finish it today at 10 but they weren´t there and I´ve been told they won´t open back up until next week... the temporary filling they gave me is not meant to last that long so... I´m waiting for the nurses to figure out what to do. I´m sorry this letters really short... I really just can´t think of much to say, other than thanks for all your love and letters.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
September 5, 2011
Hey Mom and Family,
Things are quite a bit better with my new companion, Elder Chavez. He has 6 months in the mission and is a lot more willing to work than my last companion. He´s from El Salvador and as a result, a couple of members have bought pupusas just for us. Apparently that´s all they eat there.
I had a few interesting experiences during my studies this week.
During one session I started reading chapter 9 on how to find people to teach. I reached the section "talk with everyone". As I did, I read in one of the scriptures where the Lord is speaking to some of the missionaries and mentions that he was angry with them because they did not open their mouths. It hit me hard because it has always been something I´ve struggled with, to talk with everyone I pass by or even a few people I pass by. I have had a hard time talking to random people I don´t know and offer what I know to them. I always knew it was something that I needed to do, but when the moment came to act, it became very difficult. When that specific scripture described the anger the Lord had towards them, I could feel it.
After reading that, I went to the bedroom to pray and ask for forgiveness and help and strength to be able to overcome this struggle I have. Then I went back to study and felt I should open the Liahona. I opened it to a random talk. I was even more amazed when I read the title of the talk I decided to read; “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten”.
Yesterday, I also decided to look through a list of printed off talks that a friend gave me and found another one that helped me: “Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence”. As I read this talk, I remembered the plans I had at the beginning of this last change and how it all just kind of fell apart. I also was reminded of my own words; don´t confuse the failure to carry out a plan as the failure of the plan itself. Just because you didn´t manage to follow through, doesn´t mean it wouldn´t have worked if you had followed through.
"I wish to encourage every one of us regarding the opposition that so often comes after enlightened decisions have been made, after moments of revelation and conviction have given us a peace and an assurance we thought we would never lose."
" The reminder is that we cannot sign on for a battle of such eternal significance and everlasting consequence without knowing it will be a fight—a good fight and a winning fight, but a fight nevertheless."
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. …
“… If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
“… We are not of them who draw back unto perdition.”
"I acknowledge the reality of opposition and adversity, but I bear witness of the God of glory, of the redeeming Son of God, of light and hope and a bright future. I promise you that God lives and loves you, each one of you, and that He has set bounds and limits to the opposing powers of darkness. I testify that Jesus is the Christ, the victor over death and hell and the fallen one who schemes there. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and it has been restored."
"Fear ye not.” And when the second and third and fourth blows come, “fear ye not. … The Lord shall fight for you.” Cast not away therefore your confidence.
I thank you for all of your support and hope that you can pray for me to be able to be strong and carry out the will of the Lord.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
BIG PS. I broke my tooth the other week eating an extremely hard nut a member gave me. I went to the dentist so that he could fix it but he found a cavity that went almost to the root and so I´m going to be having a root canal tomorrow morning. I still don´t know what I´m going to have to pay for, and what not, but maybe it´d be a good idea to add a couple hundred dollars to my account just in case. I´ve tried to figure out the whole insurance thing but all I have is the little card. Maybe, if there is any kind of coverage for me out here in Guatemala, and you know what to do, maybe you can call president and tell him what my insurance can pay for. It´s going to be a root canal, and then something they called a Muñón? and then a crown. That´s all I know, and that it will cost somewhere between 200 and 300 dollars.
Things are quite a bit better with my new companion, Elder Chavez. He has 6 months in the mission and is a lot more willing to work than my last companion. He´s from El Salvador and as a result, a couple of members have bought pupusas just for us. Apparently that´s all they eat there.
I had a few interesting experiences during my studies this week.
During one session I started reading chapter 9 on how to find people to teach. I reached the section "talk with everyone". As I did, I read in one of the scriptures where the Lord is speaking to some of the missionaries and mentions that he was angry with them because they did not open their mouths. It hit me hard because it has always been something I´ve struggled with, to talk with everyone I pass by or even a few people I pass by. I have had a hard time talking to random people I don´t know and offer what I know to them. I always knew it was something that I needed to do, but when the moment came to act, it became very difficult. When that specific scripture described the anger the Lord had towards them, I could feel it.
After reading that, I went to the bedroom to pray and ask for forgiveness and help and strength to be able to overcome this struggle I have. Then I went back to study and felt I should open the Liahona. I opened it to a random talk. I was even more amazed when I read the title of the talk I decided to read; “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten”.
Yesterday, I also decided to look through a list of printed off talks that a friend gave me and found another one that helped me: “Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence”. As I read this talk, I remembered the plans I had at the beginning of this last change and how it all just kind of fell apart. I also was reminded of my own words; don´t confuse the failure to carry out a plan as the failure of the plan itself. Just because you didn´t manage to follow through, doesn´t mean it wouldn´t have worked if you had followed through.
"I wish to encourage every one of us regarding the opposition that so often comes after enlightened decisions have been made, after moments of revelation and conviction have given us a peace and an assurance we thought we would never lose."
" The reminder is that we cannot sign on for a battle of such eternal significance and everlasting consequence without knowing it will be a fight—a good fight and a winning fight, but a fight nevertheless."
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. …
“… If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
“… We are not of them who draw back unto perdition.”
"I acknowledge the reality of opposition and adversity, but I bear witness of the God of glory, of the redeeming Son of God, of light and hope and a bright future. I promise you that God lives and loves you, each one of you, and that He has set bounds and limits to the opposing powers of darkness. I testify that Jesus is the Christ, the victor over death and hell and the fallen one who schemes there. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and it has been restored."
"Fear ye not.” And when the second and third and fourth blows come, “fear ye not. … The Lord shall fight for you.” Cast not away therefore your confidence.
I thank you for all of your support and hope that you can pray for me to be able to be strong and carry out the will of the Lord.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
BIG PS. I broke my tooth the other week eating an extremely hard nut a member gave me. I went to the dentist so that he could fix it but he found a cavity that went almost to the root and so I´m going to be having a root canal tomorrow morning. I still don´t know what I´m going to have to pay for, and what not, but maybe it´d be a good idea to add a couple hundred dollars to my account just in case. I´ve tried to figure out the whole insurance thing but all I have is the little card. Maybe, if there is any kind of coverage for me out here in Guatemala, and you know what to do, maybe you can call president and tell him what my insurance can pay for. It´s going to be a root canal, and then something they called a Muñón? and then a crown. That´s all I know, and that it will cost somewhere between 200 and 300 dollars.
Monday, August 29, 2011
August 29, 2011
Dear Mom and Family,
This week was kind of an interesting week. Elder Potter went home this week so his companion, Elder Bergeson, stayed with us for the rest of the week. It was interesting. We talked about it a little bit on Tuesday before he came, and we determined that it was going to cause problems with my companion, Elder Merlo. We were right. The problem that Elder Merlo has with me is that I don´t like doing anything that seems even the smallest bit against the rules, like watching TV, or listening to music that´s just a little iffy like "The Singles Ward" and "Sons of Provo". He get´s really mad at me and feels like I think I know everything. So when Elder Bergeson came in he tried as hard as he could to befriend him and then talk bad about me so that Elder Bergeson would start to hate me too. Elder Bergeson had decided even before he came that he was going to be neutral and not pick sides, which I am grateful for. However, the unnecessary comments and the backbiting still got really ridiculous. It got really annoying, but with all the experiences I´ve had with all these different missionaries, I´ve stopped caring about any of that kind of thing.
To be honest, that conflict is the reason why we haven´t got much done around here. We have not been able to teach together and the only thing he wanted to do was hang out at members houses and become their friend. He talks all the time and I´m not the kind of person who interrupts someone so I usually just sit there and listen. I know that that is something I need to change and I´ve been working on it.
Yesterday was kind of a fun day in church. We managed to get a less active member to come to church with us. Her name is Kendra and she stopped coming to church soon after her baptism. She has a lot of questions like why are there three separate kingdoms if our families are supposed to be together and why can´t women be in the bishopric or pass the sacrament. During Sunday school we helped a little in primary. One of the sisters asked me to Sing "I know that my redeemer lives" to the class and explain about the resurrection. It was kind of fun, but I realized I´m losing a little of my singing ability because almost nobody can sing down here. All the little kids got quiet when I started singing and were all staring at me intently while I was singing. I really enjoyed it. It was a lot more fun than sitting in priesthood listening to all the smart-alec comments from the peanut gallery.
Last week with the P-day activities... It went ok. I didn´t play dodge ball because I spent all the time making the food and most of the Latin missionaries didn´t like it, but it was worth a try. The truth is these people are hard to please and I think they just have the habit of complaining no matter what happens.
I know the changes now! Last night the Zone Leaders called me and let me know the changes of my district. Elder Merlo has changes and I´m staying, so I´ll be getting a new companion tomorrow.
Melisa has kind of avoided lessons now. She really likes it when we visit but after my companion tried to get her to commit to a baptismal date, she kind of shies away from lessons. I plan on teaching more about the commandments and commit her to commandments, one-by-one until she has committed to them all, and then commit her to baptism, because then she can´t say that she doesn´t feel like she´s ready.
That´s about all that´s been happening lately. We still don´t have a Ward Mission Leader so it´s a little difficult but we´re helping organize the ward a little bit more with their meetings and everything. We´re planning an activity to help unify the ward. If we can do that, I think the Lord will bless us with people to teach.
Wish me luck, I´ve got 4 changes left and I´m hoping I can make them count.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
This week was kind of an interesting week. Elder Potter went home this week so his companion, Elder Bergeson, stayed with us for the rest of the week. It was interesting. We talked about it a little bit on Tuesday before he came, and we determined that it was going to cause problems with my companion, Elder Merlo. We were right. The problem that Elder Merlo has with me is that I don´t like doing anything that seems even the smallest bit against the rules, like watching TV, or listening to music that´s just a little iffy like "The Singles Ward" and "Sons of Provo". He get´s really mad at me and feels like I think I know everything. So when Elder Bergeson came in he tried as hard as he could to befriend him and then talk bad about me so that Elder Bergeson would start to hate me too. Elder Bergeson had decided even before he came that he was going to be neutral and not pick sides, which I am grateful for. However, the unnecessary comments and the backbiting still got really ridiculous. It got really annoying, but with all the experiences I´ve had with all these different missionaries, I´ve stopped caring about any of that kind of thing.
To be honest, that conflict is the reason why we haven´t got much done around here. We have not been able to teach together and the only thing he wanted to do was hang out at members houses and become their friend. He talks all the time and I´m not the kind of person who interrupts someone so I usually just sit there and listen. I know that that is something I need to change and I´ve been working on it.
Yesterday was kind of a fun day in church. We managed to get a less active member to come to church with us. Her name is Kendra and she stopped coming to church soon after her baptism. She has a lot of questions like why are there three separate kingdoms if our families are supposed to be together and why can´t women be in the bishopric or pass the sacrament. During Sunday school we helped a little in primary. One of the sisters asked me to Sing "I know that my redeemer lives" to the class and explain about the resurrection. It was kind of fun, but I realized I´m losing a little of my singing ability because almost nobody can sing down here. All the little kids got quiet when I started singing and were all staring at me intently while I was singing. I really enjoyed it. It was a lot more fun than sitting in priesthood listening to all the smart-alec comments from the peanut gallery.
Last week with the P-day activities... It went ok. I didn´t play dodge ball because I spent all the time making the food and most of the Latin missionaries didn´t like it, but it was worth a try. The truth is these people are hard to please and I think they just have the habit of complaining no matter what happens.
I know the changes now! Last night the Zone Leaders called me and let me know the changes of my district. Elder Merlo has changes and I´m staying, so I´ll be getting a new companion tomorrow.
Melisa has kind of avoided lessons now. She really likes it when we visit but after my companion tried to get her to commit to a baptismal date, she kind of shies away from lessons. I plan on teaching more about the commandments and commit her to commandments, one-by-one until she has committed to them all, and then commit her to baptism, because then she can´t say that she doesn´t feel like she´s ready.
That´s about all that´s been happening lately. We still don´t have a Ward Mission Leader so it´s a little difficult but we´re helping organize the ward a little bit more with their meetings and everything. We´re planning an activity to help unify the ward. If we can do that, I think the Lord will bless us with people to teach.
Wish me luck, I´ve got 4 changes left and I´m hoping I can make them count.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Sunday, August 21, 2011
August 15, 2011
Dear Family,
This week has gone fairly slow. We haven´t gotten hardly any new investigators this week. We´ve spent most of our time with members, since my companion can´t really be standing all the time. I´m already pushing him fairly hard as it is. He tore a ligament in his knee about 8 months ago and made it worse by playing soccer with a bad knee about 6 months ago. Now he´s hurt it again this last Monday trying to play soccer, once again, even though the nurses told him not to. So now he´s limping behind and complaining a lot. (I get all my frustration from all the complaining out though, when I make him put ice and hot pads on his knee to stop the swelling. That may not be very Christlike of me, but at least I know that it´s actually helping and not just causing pain.)
Melisa is still progressing but we haven´t set a baptismal date yet because we haven´t had a real lesson in a while. We go over there and help her brother with some chores he has, or we help her with her homework that she´s struggling with, but we didn´t have time afterwards to have a lesson. I´m hoping on Tuesday to set the goal with her.
We are only teaching Luis´s older sister, Naomi, now. His mom doesn´t want to go to church any more and Luis is always out playing soccer when we come, even when we make an appointment with him. So we´re working with his sister. We´re trying to get some members to come with us to the lessons too. The last lesson we had with her, she told us that she´d go to church until they changed us out because then she wouldn´t know anyone in church.
We still don´t have a ward mission leader. We keep asking the bishop about it and there´s always some problem with the person they were going to call, so we´re still waiting for that.
Today I´m in charge of P-day. We´ve planned on playing dodge ball (because I´m sick of everyone playing the racist card when we say either soccer or basketball, and because I like dodge ball better than either of those) and afterwards, I´m making pineapple burgers with hash browns for everyone. It´s going to be a lot of work but hopefully everyone will be pleased. I´ll let you know how it goes next week.
Love Elder Landon James Crapo
This week has gone fairly slow. We haven´t gotten hardly any new investigators this week. We´ve spent most of our time with members, since my companion can´t really be standing all the time. I´m already pushing him fairly hard as it is. He tore a ligament in his knee about 8 months ago and made it worse by playing soccer with a bad knee about 6 months ago. Now he´s hurt it again this last Monday trying to play soccer, once again, even though the nurses told him not to. So now he´s limping behind and complaining a lot. (I get all my frustration from all the complaining out though, when I make him put ice and hot pads on his knee to stop the swelling. That may not be very Christlike of me, but at least I know that it´s actually helping and not just causing pain.)
Melisa is still progressing but we haven´t set a baptismal date yet because we haven´t had a real lesson in a while. We go over there and help her brother with some chores he has, or we help her with her homework that she´s struggling with, but we didn´t have time afterwards to have a lesson. I´m hoping on Tuesday to set the goal with her.
We are only teaching Luis´s older sister, Naomi, now. His mom doesn´t want to go to church any more and Luis is always out playing soccer when we come, even when we make an appointment with him. So we´re working with his sister. We´re trying to get some members to come with us to the lessons too. The last lesson we had with her, she told us that she´d go to church until they changed us out because then she wouldn´t know anyone in church.
We still don´t have a ward mission leader. We keep asking the bishop about it and there´s always some problem with the person they were going to call, so we´re still waiting for that.
Today I´m in charge of P-day. We´ve planned on playing dodge ball (because I´m sick of everyone playing the racist card when we say either soccer or basketball, and because I like dodge ball better than either of those) and afterwards, I´m making pineapple burgers with hash browns for everyone. It´s going to be a lot of work but hopefully everyone will be pleased. I´ll let you know how it goes next week.
Love Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, August 8, 2011
August 8, 2011
Dear Mom and Family,
I´m so excited to hear about my new niece. I can´t believe how quickly time is flying as I am away. I can´t wait to see all of you once again.
I´m just going to apologize right now because I´m being rushed. They´re cracking down on the rules and I have to comply. Internet starts at 10 and ends at 11 on the dot and I got held up on the way to Internet so I don´t have much time left. After last week, I am more determined to write more diligently in my journal and I´m beginning to write in it all that I can remember and I´m trying to focus on as many details as I can so I can explain everything just as you want it when I get home. This week was quite the week to begin and I don´t know what I should tell you now with the little time I have. I´ll just start the basics and hope I get a chance to explain later.
I have a new companion now, his name is Elder Merlo. I´ve known him and seen him for quite some time. He´s from Honduras and he loves to joke around and make people laugh. I have to admit that it´s a little strange some of the things he does and says, but he´s not a bad companion. I´ve had to tell him he can´t do some things that are against the rules and he´s gotten mad at me but he doesn´t hate me yet ;)
Last thing before I completely run out of time. Luis is probably fallen. We´ll see on Wednesday. Melisa is doing great and I´m almost positive she´ll get baptized.
I love you all and I´m sorry I´m getting cut short.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
I´m so excited to hear about my new niece. I can´t believe how quickly time is flying as I am away. I can´t wait to see all of you once again.
I´m just going to apologize right now because I´m being rushed. They´re cracking down on the rules and I have to comply. Internet starts at 10 and ends at 11 on the dot and I got held up on the way to Internet so I don´t have much time left. After last week, I am more determined to write more diligently in my journal and I´m beginning to write in it all that I can remember and I´m trying to focus on as many details as I can so I can explain everything just as you want it when I get home. This week was quite the week to begin and I don´t know what I should tell you now with the little time I have. I´ll just start the basics and hope I get a chance to explain later.
I have a new companion now, his name is Elder Merlo. I´ve known him and seen him for quite some time. He´s from Honduras and he loves to joke around and make people laugh. I have to admit that it´s a little strange some of the things he does and says, but he´s not a bad companion. I´ve had to tell him he can´t do some things that are against the rules and he´s gotten mad at me but he doesn´t hate me yet ;)
Last thing before I completely run out of time. Luis is probably fallen. We´ll see on Wednesday. Melisa is doing great and I´m almost positive she´ll get baptized.
I love you all and I´m sorry I´m getting cut short.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, August 1, 2011
August 1, 2011
Dear Mom and family,
This week was a little better.
Luis still hasn't come to church, we haven't even been able to meet with him at all this week. The thing is, he changed work and now works farther away and doesn't get home until late. Despite that little problem, we started teaching his mom and sisters. Yesterday, after a lot of encouragement, we managed to get the three of them to church. Tomorrow we're going to see how they liked it.
Melisa is progressing a lot. She still has doubts about the Joseph Smith story, but she's not denying it either. She's just waiting for that answer from the Holy Ghost. Our next lesson we're going to focus on the importance of the Book of Mormon.
We found out this week that Madelina is already a member, she's just less active. So, now we're just working on activating both her and the Martinez family.
Yesterday, we contacted a lady by the name of Gladys Gonzales. She lives with her son and his three children: Luis (11), Madeline (10), and Dulce (4). We'd seen Luis and Madeline before because of Herman Alma Martinez (the less active we're working with) Her daughter is their school teacher and they take their classes in her house, so we'd seen them a couple of times already.
That's about all the news I've got. We still don't have a Ward Mission Leader so... that's causing a few problems.
I love you all and look foreword to seeing you all soon.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
(In response to my asking for more details of how he is doing and feeling. I'm crying all over my computer!)
OK, I have a little bit of time left to maybe try and explain in summary how my mission has gone for ME and how I feel about things right now. Very often I feel lost, like I don't know what I'm doing; like I'm not too effective and there are things I could be doing better. I have a desire to work but I find it difficult to fill in the day with effective activities to do. I get frustrated and anxious a lot when I don't know what to do and I end up just walking around looking for something to do. I feel like a slacker sometimes. Knocking doors is my least favorite thing to do and it's the only thing to do when you don't have anything to do. I get frustrated with the people I talk to because I will have nothing to do but contact and when I contact, nobody wants to really listen to me. That's how the majority of my days go and that's why I don't say much, because not too much happens usually. However, I recently had an experience with my new companion that caused me to think about all the progression I have made personally. My companion had a meltdown on Friday and began to explain to me how he couldn't stand the area anymore and how he wanted changes because he was afraid he couldn't continue on anymore. He told me he knew I was a good missionary and that he didn't want to bring me down and for that reason he wanted changes. What caused me to ponder so hard was that what he was trying to describe to me as far as how he was feeling: like a fish out of water, claustrophobic, incompetent, all these feelings he was describing, I have never been able to get rid of myself, in the mission. Only those few moments right after a really good lesson or a baptism or something I've done where I feel like I was some sort of help to someone; only then do I get a moment to breath and relax and say I'm doing what I came here to do. Yesterday, after finding Gladys, was one of those moments. I felt I needed to contact but I really didn't want to. But, we did it and we found someone. When my comp was to the point of giving up, with tears in his eyes and his face in his hands I began to wonder, how have I been able to withstand all this time, the disappointments and anxiety; the boring areas and difficult branches and companions. I wanted to help him but I wasn't sure how I could even do it. It isn't until this very moment as I am writing to you that I think I know the answer. In those moments when I had tears in my eyes and my face in my hands, I've done the only thing I know how and that was to just pray for the Lord to have patience with me and to help me become better, to help me understand, and to help me have a little success. I've found in the moments I'm just about ready to give up, that's when He blesses me with a little booster, whether it be a good lesson, or finding someone positive, or an opportunity to give someone a blessing. Ever since that day that my comp has told me he can't keep going in this area, we have given one or more anointing and blessings a day.
I have learned self dominance in a lot of ways and I know that I have grown so much more in these past 18 months almost, than I would ever have in 20 years. I wouldn't trade a mission for anything.
This week was a little better.
Luis still hasn't come to church, we haven't even been able to meet with him at all this week. The thing is, he changed work and now works farther away and doesn't get home until late. Despite that little problem, we started teaching his mom and sisters. Yesterday, after a lot of encouragement, we managed to get the three of them to church. Tomorrow we're going to see how they liked it.
Melisa is progressing a lot. She still has doubts about the Joseph Smith story, but she's not denying it either. She's just waiting for that answer from the Holy Ghost. Our next lesson we're going to focus on the importance of the Book of Mormon.
We found out this week that Madelina is already a member, she's just less active. So, now we're just working on activating both her and the Martinez family.
Yesterday, we contacted a lady by the name of Gladys Gonzales. She lives with her son and his three children: Luis (11), Madeline (10), and Dulce (4). We'd seen Luis and Madeline before because of Herman Alma Martinez (the less active we're working with) Her daughter is their school teacher and they take their classes in her house, so we'd seen them a couple of times already.
That's about all the news I've got. We still don't have a Ward Mission Leader so... that's causing a few problems.
I love you all and look foreword to seeing you all soon.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
(In response to my asking for more details of how he is doing and feeling. I'm crying all over my computer!)
OK, I have a little bit of time left to maybe try and explain in summary how my mission has gone for ME and how I feel about things right now. Very often I feel lost, like I don't know what I'm doing; like I'm not too effective and there are things I could be doing better. I have a desire to work but I find it difficult to fill in the day with effective activities to do. I get frustrated and anxious a lot when I don't know what to do and I end up just walking around looking for something to do. I feel like a slacker sometimes. Knocking doors is my least favorite thing to do and it's the only thing to do when you don't have anything to do. I get frustrated with the people I talk to because I will have nothing to do but contact and when I contact, nobody wants to really listen to me. That's how the majority of my days go and that's why I don't say much, because not too much happens usually. However, I recently had an experience with my new companion that caused me to think about all the progression I have made personally. My companion had a meltdown on Friday and began to explain to me how he couldn't stand the area anymore and how he wanted changes because he was afraid he couldn't continue on anymore. He told me he knew I was a good missionary and that he didn't want to bring me down and for that reason he wanted changes. What caused me to ponder so hard was that what he was trying to describe to me as far as how he was feeling: like a fish out of water, claustrophobic, incompetent, all these feelings he was describing, I have never been able to get rid of myself, in the mission. Only those few moments right after a really good lesson or a baptism or something I've done where I feel like I was some sort of help to someone; only then do I get a moment to breath and relax and say I'm doing what I came here to do. Yesterday, after finding Gladys, was one of those moments. I felt I needed to contact but I really didn't want to. But, we did it and we found someone. When my comp was to the point of giving up, with tears in his eyes and his face in his hands I began to wonder, how have I been able to withstand all this time, the disappointments and anxiety; the boring areas and difficult branches and companions. I wanted to help him but I wasn't sure how I could even do it. It isn't until this very moment as I am writing to you that I think I know the answer. In those moments when I had tears in my eyes and my face in my hands, I've done the only thing I know how and that was to just pray for the Lord to have patience with me and to help me become better, to help me understand, and to help me have a little success. I've found in the moments I'm just about ready to give up, that's when He blesses me with a little booster, whether it be a good lesson, or finding someone positive, or an opportunity to give someone a blessing. Ever since that day that my comp has told me he can't keep going in this area, we have given one or more anointing and blessings a day.
I have learned self dominance in a lot of ways and I know that I have grown so much more in these past 18 months almost, than I would ever have in 20 years. I wouldn't trade a mission for anything.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
July 25, 2011 PICTURES!!!!!!!
There was no explanation with the pictures but I'll take whatever I can get!!! Those that follow this blog know that pictures are few and far between! SOOO good to see his smile again!!!
Dear Mom and Family,
I can't believe I forgot to tell you that I did get the package. I got it about 3 weeks ago. I really enjoyed all the candy and the rice was really good. I got the card and it works. Thank you so much for sending it.
This week we have been working hard with three people.
Luis Juarez: We have/had a baptismal date for him for this Saturday, but the problem is we keep losing contact with him and he hasn't come to church for four weeks because something always comes up. He has attended church two times but that was before I was here. We set an appointment with his sister for today and we're hoping he's there.
Melissa Godinez:The sister of a recent convert and friend of our next door neighbors. She is a reference from familia Velasquez our neighbors. She has come to church once with them and since then, we've had two family nights with her. Our next appointment we plan to invite her to get baptized.
Familia Martinez and Margarita: The Martinez family is inactive. The Husband says that there isn't any "amistad" in the ward and that's why he doesn't go. The wife want's to go but won't go without her husband. Despite them being inactive, they have strong testimonies that the church is the true church of Jesus Christ. Our approach with them was to get them involved in the missionary work in hopes that when one of their friends begins to progress, it will strengthen their testimony and they will have to help bring their friends to church. Margarita is the friend that Sister Martinez chose to invite. Tomorrow we're going to meet with Brother and Sister Martinez to know how the invitation went.
That's about all that is going on right now... Except I almost forgot to mention that we had changes this week and the district has been changed a lot. I now have a new companion, Elder Sunun (the same one who was in my district these past few weeks); One of the two other missionaries that I was having trouble with has made the decision to go home and his companion was changed out. so there are three new elders in the district.
Thanks again for the package and I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I hope you all get feeling better soon.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
I can't believe I forgot to tell you that I did get the package. I got it about 3 weeks ago. I really enjoyed all the candy and the rice was really good. I got the card and it works. Thank you so much for sending it.
This week we have been working hard with three people.
Luis Juarez: We have/had a baptismal date for him for this Saturday, but the problem is we keep losing contact with him and he hasn't come to church for four weeks because something always comes up. He has attended church two times but that was before I was here. We set an appointment with his sister for today and we're hoping he's there.
Melissa Godinez:The sister of a recent convert and friend of our next door neighbors. She is a reference from familia Velasquez our neighbors. She has come to church once with them and since then, we've had two family nights with her. Our next appointment we plan to invite her to get baptized.
Familia Martinez and Margarita: The Martinez family is inactive. The Husband says that there isn't any "amistad" in the ward and that's why he doesn't go. The wife want's to go but won't go without her husband. Despite them being inactive, they have strong testimonies that the church is the true church of Jesus Christ. Our approach with them was to get them involved in the missionary work in hopes that when one of their friends begins to progress, it will strengthen their testimony and they will have to help bring their friends to church. Margarita is the friend that Sister Martinez chose to invite. Tomorrow we're going to meet with Brother and Sister Martinez to know how the invitation went.
That's about all that is going on right now... Except I almost forgot to mention that we had changes this week and the district has been changed a lot. I now have a new companion, Elder Sunun (the same one who was in my district these past few weeks); One of the two other missionaries that I was having trouble with has made the decision to go home and his companion was changed out. so there are three new elders in the district.
Thanks again for the package and I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I hope you all get feeling better soon.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, July 18, 2011
July 18, 2011
Dear Mom and family,
This week has been kind of crazy. I've had to deal with a few elders in the district and am still trying to finish with some of the details, but in the end, two elders have been taken out of the district and what has happened or is going to happen to them I don't know. All I know is that they are no longer under my jurisdiction. That took the majority of my time this last half of my week.
I don't know what to tell you this week. I've kind of lost focus of my area. This week they released our ward mission leader and they haven't called a new one yet. I'm working on a plan for the district this next change to help us work more with the members. The idea is that we help the members know what to do to help teach the references they give us. I thought of explaining it with an illustration.
We as missionaries are in a long hall with a bunch of doors to rooms that represent the hearts of the people. Some are members some are not. There are some rooms where the door from the hall (us missionaries) is locked but the door from neighboring rooms (family and friends) are not. The problem that we have is when we ask for references, the members give them to us and then expect us to go to their house and contact them. This is the equivalent of us going to the locked door in the hall and trying to get in when we can't. Instead, we need the members to go a little further in making the invitation and preparing them so that they can unlock that door to the hall and let us in. It's a really basic illustration but it makes the idea clear.
Luis didn't come to church yesterday which means that his baptism on the 30th might not happen if he doesn't come next week. He seems really positive but he hasn't come to church once since we got here. So... It doen't seem like I've got a lot to do right now. We're just kind of starting over and trying to find new investigators this next week, working with the members and all. Thank you so much for sending me a letter every week though. I really appreciate it.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
This week has been kind of crazy. I've had to deal with a few elders in the district and am still trying to finish with some of the details, but in the end, two elders have been taken out of the district and what has happened or is going to happen to them I don't know. All I know is that they are no longer under my jurisdiction. That took the majority of my time this last half of my week.
I don't know what to tell you this week. I've kind of lost focus of my area. This week they released our ward mission leader and they haven't called a new one yet. I'm working on a plan for the district this next change to help us work more with the members. The idea is that we help the members know what to do to help teach the references they give us. I thought of explaining it with an illustration.
We as missionaries are in a long hall with a bunch of doors to rooms that represent the hearts of the people. Some are members some are not. There are some rooms where the door from the hall (us missionaries) is locked but the door from neighboring rooms (family and friends) are not. The problem that we have is when we ask for references, the members give them to us and then expect us to go to their house and contact them. This is the equivalent of us going to the locked door in the hall and trying to get in when we can't. Instead, we need the members to go a little further in making the invitation and preparing them so that they can unlock that door to the hall and let us in. It's a really basic illustration but it makes the idea clear.
Luis didn't come to church yesterday which means that his baptism on the 30th might not happen if he doesn't come next week. He seems really positive but he hasn't come to church once since we got here. So... It doen't seem like I've got a lot to do right now. We're just kind of starting over and trying to find new investigators this next week, working with the members and all. Thank you so much for sending me a letter every week though. I really appreciate it.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, July 11, 2011
July 11, 2011
Dear mom and family,
These past few weeks have been interesting as we have been trying to get to know our new area and find some new investigators. When we got here, we were left with two investigators: 1) Rogelio, the father and husband of a recent convert family, and 2) Luis Juarez, an 18 year old boy who´s really positive. We had a baptismal date for the ninth when we got here for Rogelio but he just doesn´t want to commit. We have stopped visiting him because the other companionship here in Las Rosas started visiting them a lot (because they get fed every time they go there. The first visit we had with Luis we set a baptismal date for the 16th and he was really excited, but afterwards, he missed the appointment we had and we lost contact with him until yesterday when we went to his house. He explained to us that he lost his phone and had no way to contact us which also explains why he never answered our calls. So now, we´ve reset the date for the 30th, which gives him time to learn more AND tell his family that he´s planning on getting baptized... That usually is where the complications come in. But he is extremely positive and loves what we´re teaching him.
I´m being cut short on my time today because of complications with some elders but I love you and can´t wait to hear from you next week. Hang in there Ashley.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
These past few weeks have been interesting as we have been trying to get to know our new area and find some new investigators. When we got here, we were left with two investigators: 1) Rogelio, the father and husband of a recent convert family, and 2) Luis Juarez, an 18 year old boy who´s really positive. We had a baptismal date for the ninth when we got here for Rogelio but he just doesn´t want to commit. We have stopped visiting him because the other companionship here in Las Rosas started visiting them a lot (because they get fed every time they go there. The first visit we had with Luis we set a baptismal date for the 16th and he was really excited, but afterwards, he missed the appointment we had and we lost contact with him until yesterday when we went to his house. He explained to us that he lost his phone and had no way to contact us which also explains why he never answered our calls. So now, we´ve reset the date for the 30th, which gives him time to learn more AND tell his family that he´s planning on getting baptized... That usually is where the complications come in. But he is extremely positive and loves what we´re teaching him.
I´m being cut short on my time today because of complications with some elders but I love you and can´t wait to hear from you next week. Hang in there Ashley.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
July 4, 2011
Dear Mom,
I guess I didn´t explain where I am very well. I´m not back in my first area, just in my first zone and right next to my first area. I´ve seen people from my first area as I've passed by in a bus but I still haven´t run into any of them.
It´s kind of awkward for me to be back in a big city ward again. I have lost a lot of practice. I´ve been trying so hard all this time to explain things in such a way that a two year old could understand it that now when people want scriptures and bible bashing and accusations and all that fun stuff that comes from more learned people, I'm out of practice. My companion, on the other hand, has the location of every key scripture memorized and has helped me in every situation to find the scripture I know exists but I don´t know where. I hope that I can learn a lot of them from him as we teach.
This first week was kind of tough because we didn´t know where any of the members lived and contacting isn´t as fruitful as in the Aldeas. Yesterday, though, we managed to go out with the Bishop and he showed us a lot of houses of old investigators, members, and inactive members.
We have lunch every day again! I have been so lucky to have been in almost every area where the members give you lunch. We´re both worried though (from past experience) that we will be gaining a lot of weight again. I had the chance to weigh myself once again and I was surprised to see a 166. I was kind of dehydrated and I hadn´t eaten since the day before when I measured, so I´m probably more like 170 now but I was still shocked to see that. My goal is to get down to 160 by the end of my mission, just because that´s the supposed ideal weight for my height.
The district this time is a little different. I´ve been put over a few problematic elders this time. It will be a challenge to gain the confidence of these elders especially because one of them doesn´t like me too much. He was my Zone Leader in Huehue and he may never humble himself. I think he was aspiring to be an assistant or in the office or somewhere "high up" and he gave reports of things others were doing and even bent the truth a little bit so that things would go his way. Now that he did not get what he wanted, he is very bitter and I´m probably the last person he wants to be under... I´ve been praying every day that I can receive the right revelation to be able to act as I should and to perhaps help these elders remember what their purpose in being here is. Unfortunately, I´m not strong with words so I appear weak, especially amongst the Latin missionaries.
Someone else who has been struggling with the language this week is President. He hasn´t really used his Spanish for 40 years now and it´s amazing he remembers the things he does. I like him a lot because he´s so humble and just ready to get things done. He gives me hope and encouragement to keep going because of his example of being fearless amongst such missionaries who, as we listened, gave negative remarks amongst themselves as our new president spoke. There is a lot of humbling that needs to happen and I hope that these missionaries can learn it before they go home.
I thank you for all your prayers. They really make a difference and I hope you never stop praying for me here.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
I guess I didn´t explain where I am very well. I´m not back in my first area, just in my first zone and right next to my first area. I´ve seen people from my first area as I've passed by in a bus but I still haven´t run into any of them.
It´s kind of awkward for me to be back in a big city ward again. I have lost a lot of practice. I´ve been trying so hard all this time to explain things in such a way that a two year old could understand it that now when people want scriptures and bible bashing and accusations and all that fun stuff that comes from more learned people, I'm out of practice. My companion, on the other hand, has the location of every key scripture memorized and has helped me in every situation to find the scripture I know exists but I don´t know where. I hope that I can learn a lot of them from him as we teach.
This first week was kind of tough because we didn´t know where any of the members lived and contacting isn´t as fruitful as in the Aldeas. Yesterday, though, we managed to go out with the Bishop and he showed us a lot of houses of old investigators, members, and inactive members.
We have lunch every day again! I have been so lucky to have been in almost every area where the members give you lunch. We´re both worried though (from past experience) that we will be gaining a lot of weight again. I had the chance to weigh myself once again and I was surprised to see a 166. I was kind of dehydrated and I hadn´t eaten since the day before when I measured, so I´m probably more like 170 now but I was still shocked to see that. My goal is to get down to 160 by the end of my mission, just because that´s the supposed ideal weight for my height.
The district this time is a little different. I´ve been put over a few problematic elders this time. It will be a challenge to gain the confidence of these elders especially because one of them doesn´t like me too much. He was my Zone Leader in Huehue and he may never humble himself. I think he was aspiring to be an assistant or in the office or somewhere "high up" and he gave reports of things others were doing and even bent the truth a little bit so that things would go his way. Now that he did not get what he wanted, he is very bitter and I´m probably the last person he wants to be under... I´ve been praying every day that I can receive the right revelation to be able to act as I should and to perhaps help these elders remember what their purpose in being here is. Unfortunately, I´m not strong with words so I appear weak, especially amongst the Latin missionaries.
Someone else who has been struggling with the language this week is President. He hasn´t really used his Spanish for 40 years now and it´s amazing he remembers the things he does. I like him a lot because he´s so humble and just ready to get things done. He gives me hope and encouragement to keep going because of his example of being fearless amongst such missionaries who, as we listened, gave negative remarks amongst themselves as our new president spoke. There is a lot of humbling that needs to happen and I hope that these missionaries can learn it before they go home.
I thank you for all your prayers. They really make a difference and I hope you never stop praying for me here.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Monday, June 27, 2011
June 27, 2011
Hey Mom and Family!
Well, I have a lot to tell you all about. First of all, one of our investigators that we have, Marcedonio (I don´t remember if I´ve mentioned him or not), is preparing to get baptized on Saturday. He has miraculously stopped drinking all together without much more help from us than just telling him. He seems so much more happy and walks around with a pride like he is in control of his life. He was all ready for church and on time without our having to do much of anything at all. We just need to finish teaching him all the commandments and everything so he can pass the interview. It´s all great and I´m so glad that all our work has begun to pay off. The branch is doing so much better than when we got there and members are starting to figure out how to help us a little bit. We´re teaching the Priesthood brethren their responsibilities and it has surprised me how little they know of what the have the authority to do. We´ve begun many small things that are going to make a big difference in the branch.
Yesterday, we had a Meeting in Quiché about a mission plan for the District that involved a heavy involvement of the members and coordinated and carried out with the missionaries at the head. It was an interesting plan and I was interested in seeing how it was going to turn out... but, I have been called to a new responsibility.
Right after the meeting, I was very passively informed by the zone leaders, almost in mid sentence of a completely different topic, that I had changes today. I had to ask them again to make sure I heard right and they finally told me they weren´t kidding and that I really did have changes. That changed plans very rapidly and we went back home and I packed the rest of the afternoon. At 3:30 in the morning we got up so I could take the nice long ride all the way to Xela. We got here at about 9:00 and I stayed in the chapel, where they were doing interviews, practically all day. I got a really quick interview in saying goodbye to president and him telling me how much he depended on me to be a good missionary for the new president. And then I was finally informed that I´m going to be a District leader in the same zone I was born in, El Bosque. I´m in the area Las Rosas and my companion is going to be Elder Whittaker. He´s not with me right now though because he´s still with Elder Allison my "dad" who is going home tomorrow! It´s CRAZY! Anyway, I´m here with my Zone Leaders, Elder Moody and Elder Hearsch. I´ll be spending the night with them :) I know Elder Hearsch; he's a really good guy always happy and obedient. I don´t really know Moody but he seems like just as good of a guy. I´ve also been told that Elder Whittaker is an extremely good missionary and I´m excited for the new changes that have happened. So, that´s my quick info for you tonight. The Internet is closing soon so I won´t be able to use all the time I usually can today. I might get another chance tomorrow, but if not, I will talk to you next week! I love you all.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
P.S. President Boutista comes in tomorrow. I think there´s a conference on Thursday with him so... We´ll see what happens.
Well, I have a lot to tell you all about. First of all, one of our investigators that we have, Marcedonio (I don´t remember if I´ve mentioned him or not), is preparing to get baptized on Saturday. He has miraculously stopped drinking all together without much more help from us than just telling him. He seems so much more happy and walks around with a pride like he is in control of his life. He was all ready for church and on time without our having to do much of anything at all. We just need to finish teaching him all the commandments and everything so he can pass the interview. It´s all great and I´m so glad that all our work has begun to pay off. The branch is doing so much better than when we got there and members are starting to figure out how to help us a little bit. We´re teaching the Priesthood brethren their responsibilities and it has surprised me how little they know of what the have the authority to do. We´ve begun many small things that are going to make a big difference in the branch.
Yesterday, we had a Meeting in Quiché about a mission plan for the District that involved a heavy involvement of the members and coordinated and carried out with the missionaries at the head. It was an interesting plan and I was interested in seeing how it was going to turn out... but, I have been called to a new responsibility.
Right after the meeting, I was very passively informed by the zone leaders, almost in mid sentence of a completely different topic, that I had changes today. I had to ask them again to make sure I heard right and they finally told me they weren´t kidding and that I really did have changes. That changed plans very rapidly and we went back home and I packed the rest of the afternoon. At 3:30 in the morning we got up so I could take the nice long ride all the way to Xela. We got here at about 9:00 and I stayed in the chapel, where they were doing interviews, practically all day. I got a really quick interview in saying goodbye to president and him telling me how much he depended on me to be a good missionary for the new president. And then I was finally informed that I´m going to be a District leader in the same zone I was born in, El Bosque. I´m in the area Las Rosas and my companion is going to be Elder Whittaker. He´s not with me right now though because he´s still with Elder Allison my "dad" who is going home tomorrow! It´s CRAZY! Anyway, I´m here with my Zone Leaders, Elder Moody and Elder Hearsch. I´ll be spending the night with them :) I know Elder Hearsch; he's a really good guy always happy and obedient. I don´t really know Moody but he seems like just as good of a guy. I´ve also been told that Elder Whittaker is an extremely good missionary and I´m excited for the new changes that have happened. So, that´s my quick info for you tonight. The Internet is closing soon so I won´t be able to use all the time I usually can today. I might get another chance tomorrow, but if not, I will talk to you next week! I love you all.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
P.S. President Boutista comes in tomorrow. I think there´s a conference on Thursday with him so... We´ll see what happens.
Monday, June 20, 2011
June 20, 2011
Dear Mom and family,
Last week was interesting. The conference got canceled AFTER
we already went to the Zone Leaders house the night before. So we
didn´t have anything to do that day because we were planning to have a
conference all day... So we went contacting all day long. :P Despite
all that mess we have gotten a ton of new people once again and they
all filtered out to only one of them being a good potential baptism.
He keeps telling us he really wants to get baptized, so we set a goal
for the 2nd of July. The only thing that might hold him back is that
he might be drinking. He says he stopped a while ago but some
neighbors say they saw him drunk just a few days ago... so we have to
keep good contact with him every day so that we can make sure that he
doesn´t drink. If he does we will have a problem with knowing for sure
if he´s being honest and it will be difficult to baptize him. All that
being said he is EXTREMELY excited to get baptized.
His name is Marcedonio and he has kind of a sad story. He´s probably
in his mid to late 30´s he lives in a little scrap-made shack on the
side of the mountain with a little land where he grows corn. His wife
died not too long after they were married not too long ago, and that´s
what got him started drinking. He has a desire to rebuild his house to
be nicer but doesn´t get very much money at all. What makes that worse
is that the little money he might get he has probably spent on beer.
I´m hoping he can get some of these things straight and that he can
start getting support from the branch to help him find a job and that
he can start the long and slow climb in his life.
This week is going to be interesting as well. I don´t know if we´re going to
be able to get much done. We have planned two conferences tomorrow and
Wednesday. Tomorrow for all outside of Xela and then Wednesday for all
the mission. That pretty much takes away the whole week. we´ll probably
be getting back Thursday morning and then we´ll be in Sacualpa (where
Eulalio and Manuela live about 30 minutes in bus from Joyabaj) that
afternoon. Friday in Chuaquinum (where Marcedonio lives about 5
minutes out in the other direction and then a few minutes hiking a
dirt path.) And then Saturday possibly changes or just organizing
everything so that sacrament meeting goes well and inviting other
people.
That´s what we´re looking at for this next week. Then Monday we get a
new president. It´s sounding like plans are already changing though
since the Zone Leaders are talking on the phone with assistants. So I
don´t know... We probably just won´t have the conference that we
outsiders are supposed to have that the people in Xela got a couple of
weeks ago. There´s been a lot said about President being Baggie (our
word for trunkie out here) and seeing as all these things are
happening it wouldn´t surprise me. Things are kind of falling apart
but we all are hoping that President Bautista brings a few changes to
the mission. I appreciate the service our President has given us and I
don´t want anyone to think he was a bad president because he has done
many great things for this mission. I just think that there will be
complaining by missionaries no matter what happens, good or bad.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Last week was interesting. The conference got canceled AFTER
we already went to the Zone Leaders house the night before. So we
didn´t have anything to do that day because we were planning to have a
conference all day... So we went contacting all day long. :P Despite
all that mess we have gotten a ton of new people once again and they
all filtered out to only one of them being a good potential baptism.
He keeps telling us he really wants to get baptized, so we set a goal
for the 2nd of July. The only thing that might hold him back is that
he might be drinking. He says he stopped a while ago but some
neighbors say they saw him drunk just a few days ago... so we have to
keep good contact with him every day so that we can make sure that he
doesn´t drink. If he does we will have a problem with knowing for sure
if he´s being honest and it will be difficult to baptize him. All that
being said he is EXTREMELY excited to get baptized.
His name is Marcedonio and he has kind of a sad story. He´s probably
in his mid to late 30´s he lives in a little scrap-made shack on the
side of the mountain with a little land where he grows corn. His wife
died not too long after they were married not too long ago, and that´s
what got him started drinking. He has a desire to rebuild his house to
be nicer but doesn´t get very much money at all. What makes that worse
is that the little money he might get he has probably spent on beer.
I´m hoping he can get some of these things straight and that he can
start getting support from the branch to help him find a job and that
he can start the long and slow climb in his life.
This week is going to be interesting as well. I don´t know if we´re going to
be able to get much done. We have planned two conferences tomorrow and
Wednesday. Tomorrow for all outside of Xela and then Wednesday for all
the mission. That pretty much takes away the whole week. we´ll probably
be getting back Thursday morning and then we´ll be in Sacualpa (where
Eulalio and Manuela live about 30 minutes in bus from Joyabaj) that
afternoon. Friday in Chuaquinum (where Marcedonio lives about 5
minutes out in the other direction and then a few minutes hiking a
dirt path.) And then Saturday possibly changes or just organizing
everything so that sacrament meeting goes well and inviting other
people.
That´s what we´re looking at for this next week. Then Monday we get a
new president. It´s sounding like plans are already changing though
since the Zone Leaders are talking on the phone with assistants. So I
don´t know... We probably just won´t have the conference that we
outsiders are supposed to have that the people in Xela got a couple of
weeks ago. There´s been a lot said about President being Baggie (our
word for trunkie out here) and seeing as all these things are
happening it wouldn´t surprise me. Things are kind of falling apart
but we all are hoping that President Bautista brings a few changes to
the mission. I appreciate the service our President has given us and I
don´t want anyone to think he was a bad president because he has done
many great things for this mission. I just think that there will be
complaining by missionaries no matter what happens, good or bad.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Thursday, June 16, 2011
June 13, 2011
Dear Mom and Family,
Well, nothing has changed. I´m still here in Joyabaj with Elder Anderson. We might get changes on the 24th though. That´s what the assistants said during a Zone Conference Thursday. President leaves and President Boutista comes in this change on the 27th and that´s why they´re going to have the last necessary changes on the 24th just to leave everything in peace for the new president I guess. They told us if we needed out all we had to do was call before the 24th and they´ll get it done. I always have a hard time saying whether I want to stay or go though because I´d rather rely on the President´s revelation but... I´ve kind of learned that knowing what we want is part of that revelation. If we really desire to receive revelation we must first learn all we can know about a situation and then carefully plan and try to make a decision. Then if necessary the revelation comes to make changes that might be necessary to our plan for reasons we may never know until much later. That being said I still have no idea if I want to stay or not. I don´t want to leave this area in the same condition that I found it in but maybe I have no choice. I´m not sure.
Baptizing Eulalio and Manuela isn´t happening any time soon. We´ve found tons of problems with their papers, the worst of which is a mistake in Manuela´s Fe de Edad (Birth Certificate basically) in that it says that she´s a boy. In order to change that mistake that THE GOVERNMENT made, THE GOVERNMENT will charge us about 1,000 Quets to correct it on top of the costs that it´s already going to take to get them married, and it will take between a month and a half to two months to get it done. I kind of hate this country right now. I still love the people and I love the beautiful topography but I´m not liking the Government too much right now.
Apart from that we´ve just been doing the same old. We´ll see how things go these next few weeks.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Well, nothing has changed. I´m still here in Joyabaj with Elder Anderson. We might get changes on the 24th though. That´s what the assistants said during a Zone Conference Thursday. President leaves and President Boutista comes in this change on the 27th and that´s why they´re going to have the last necessary changes on the 24th just to leave everything in peace for the new president I guess. They told us if we needed out all we had to do was call before the 24th and they´ll get it done. I always have a hard time saying whether I want to stay or go though because I´d rather rely on the President´s revelation but... I´ve kind of learned that knowing what we want is part of that revelation. If we really desire to receive revelation we must first learn all we can know about a situation and then carefully plan and try to make a decision. Then if necessary the revelation comes to make changes that might be necessary to our plan for reasons we may never know until much later. That being said I still have no idea if I want to stay or not. I don´t want to leave this area in the same condition that I found it in but maybe I have no choice. I´m not sure.
Baptizing Eulalio and Manuela isn´t happening any time soon. We´ve found tons of problems with their papers, the worst of which is a mistake in Manuela´s Fe de Edad (Birth Certificate basically) in that it says that she´s a boy. In order to change that mistake that THE GOVERNMENT made, THE GOVERNMENT will charge us about 1,000 Quets to correct it on top of the costs that it´s already going to take to get them married, and it will take between a month and a half to two months to get it done. I kind of hate this country right now. I still love the people and I love the beautiful topography but I´m not liking the Government too much right now.
Apart from that we´ve just been doing the same old. We´ll see how things go these next few weeks.
Love,
Elder Landon James Crapo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
