CCM Episode 5

Family and Friends,

Another great week at the CCM and my experience here is coming to a close. This next week I will be writing you from the field. I got a little more a taste of what Lima is like this last Saturday. We went to an are called Las Lomas where we were walking on dirt roads and the doors we knock on are their garage doors because everything in their house is fenced off. My companion gave me plenty of opportunities to use my Spanish. This whole place is like a big dust bowl with a big crevice down the middle and there is no vegetation at all on the hills. All the houses are super close together but everyone is at least 2 stories. The mission we went to was Lima East so I don't know how similar the places will be.

It is crazy how fast time goes on your mission. I thought you guys were exaggerating but time is a joke out here. I am still loving everything out here and I hope I can have the same attitude in 6 months. This week I read a talk by Tad McCallister I think and he said what are you willing to put on the altar of sacrifice but after our devotional by Elder Godoy, you aren't really giving up these things, you put them on the altar and they will get better by serving a mission. Everything you could every worry about just is put into perspective when you are on a mission.

I am super excited for whatever happens next week. They wont let me leave the CCM for too long because I will be coming back next Saturday anyway for Elder Oaks devotional. Even though it has only been 6 weeks I am still gonna have a hard time saying goodbye to them. You guys can all be my witnesses that I promise to do my best out in the field.

I love and pray for all you guys.

Elder Craythorne

CCM Episode 4

Family and Friends,

Another MTC week has flown by and no way on Earth does it feel like I have almost been out a month. I am getting used to the schedule of being a missionary. I could not be in a better place. This week we had 2 devotionals by Bednar on Sunday and one from Ballard yesterday. This is the best place I cant wait for everyone to experience the MTC. I hope everything is well at home. Next week I will let you know how my proselyting activity goes on Saturday. About 2 weeks more I am breaking free out into my mission. This week Elder Summerhays ate 24 pieces of toast in one sitting, two kids went to the hospital but all is well with Elder Craythorne. 

I love you all.

Elder Ben Craythorne

Week 1

Family,

THE MISSION Here I am living the dream I have been preparing for this for 18 years! I am loving everything here. The food is really good but just a ton a ton of rice on everything and if it is not rice then its bread just so much carbs but for our physical activity during the day I run a ton by playing soccer and pony ball which is like ultimate frisbee but with a volleyball and as you all can testify I am super athletic so everybody wants me on their team. The Elders that I am with are amazing we have the best time and when we heard the talk "Be a Missionary" by Holland oh we were so pumped to preach the gospel our new motto is "Pick up your socks, Elder" (Our old motto was "do you wanna rethink that elder" that's what i said after Elder Summerhay's put cheese and jelly on his toast). Our district is arguably the best district in the world, we just build each other up and help each other out with the language. I love learning Spanish and my classes in high school helped me so much, so someone find Nebeker and tell him I gave him a shout out.

My companion is Elder Jensen from Spanish Fork going to Cusco and we get along really well our lessons have kind of been struggling until our one on Monday which was amazing. Our "investigator" is one of our Spanish teachers. Everyday we have about 4 hours worth of study and 5 hours of class. On Monday we were supposed to go get our visas but instead we stood in line for 6 hours and then left but it was not for nothing because we placed a Book of Mormon, imagine that!  A few novice missionaries and we gave someone in line a Book of Mormon. I love you guys so much and I am excited to be here. It is crazy the responsibilities the Lord gives us lowly 18 year olds and the trust he has in us.

Love you all,

Elder Craythorne