District Leader Elder Craythorne Episode 2

Dear Family,

As you can tell from the Subject transfers came and went, my District Leader Elder Styler's mission life died and now I am District Leader again, let's see if we can do better than last time ha ha. Other than that not a ton changed, my companion is still Elder Streber and we still get a long super well. In total, if I remember correctly, 27 missionaries went home this transfer. A huge group. But that also means that 27 news are coming in, a lot of training. And the group in August will be about the same size.

This is also the last week for President McGinn which is one of those sad goodbyes happy hellos for President Richey. We had our last multi zone a couple of weeks ago but I think I might be able to see him again because this Friday all the District and Zone leaders with Elder Godoy. It is going to be super weird with a new president but I am really excited to be apart of the change. We already have our first multi zone planned to meet the new president on the 4th of July! Again, I am super excited and super sad to see President McGinn go. They were already planning our reunion for when the other Lima Temple gets dedicated which I don't know when that will be.

The World Cup fad came and went and Peru did not win.. Eh there is always next time. 2022 in Qatar and 2026 in the US Canada and Mexico.

Like I said before Elder Styler finished his mission and nobody tell him this but I will really miss him. He was a super good friend and an incredible missionary, he took wherever he was with whoever and made it better. I am working for that same ability. When I left Solidaridad I had no doubt I was leaving the area in good hands.

I saw a monkey this week but I was not able to take a picture of it. Monkeys are not native to Lima don't get the wrong idea it was someones pet.

I love being a missionary, I am beyond blessed.

I love all of you.

Elder Craythorne

Feliz Dia Papa

Dear Family and Friends,

This week we had our last multi zone with President McGinn and his wife. It was really good and super fun I will see if I can get some pictures sent to you guys from that. My favorite part was Sister McGinn's life hacks slash tips of which I will try to do a brief summary. It wasn't really necessarily anything new that I had not heard but it was a good reminder.

...Don't go to sleep and miss everything and she shard the story from Rip Van Winkle that some of you will remember from General Conference a couple years back.

...Avoid the phrase "I will be happy when..." that one hit really close to home. It goes a long with what President Nelson taught the youth about not comparing which just so happens to be the next point.

...Don't compare. Work with your strengths and strengthen your weaknesses. She shared a quote from Pat Holland who explained how it was to be married to the popular Jeff Holland.

...Be modest.

...Be kind, be kind, be kind.

...Be careful. Do not take that first enticing step to somewhere you should not go or in doing something you should not do. (Summarized quote from President Nelson).

...Don't do dumb things. Then she showed us a picture of her and President's wedding and all the men had on bright orange suits and she regrettably told us that was her idea. Conservative will always be fashionable.

...Live a life of service. Quote from Marjorie Hinkley where she said she doesn't want to show up to the pearly gates in a fancy car or nice clothes. FIND QUOTE.

...Be grateful. Grateful people are happy, not the other way around. Be grateful and express gratitude.

I also read a really good talk by Elder Uchtdorf about what matters most. He quotes Ghandi and says "There is more to life than going faster" or something like that also someone said something like "Simplicity will always be sophistication". Trees understand that when they are going through rough seasons they focus more of their efforts on what matters most so you can tell the history of the seasons based on the rings of a tree. Sure, maybe it didn't grow as much but it continued living.

My study of the Book of Mormon has lead me to more than a few examples of ministering usually Lehi to his sons or Nephi to his brothers. Unlike his brothers Nephi had looked for the reasons as why to be obedient. I imagine that Laman and Lemuel were not too much into reading books and when their dad told them to go back to get one from Laban it didn't sound too flattering. Yet, they go back and everyone knows that story. A short time later their father sends them back to find wives... I imagine there was less murmuring with that last task.

Being so close to the ocean with winter closing in has forced me to bare the cold, and its getting colder. The climate is super humid so the cold is so much worse. At home you could put on hoodie and be fine, here you'd need three.

This week Friday came around and we had zero things going for us when out of no where 5 miracles popped out. When an appointment had fallen through we went to visit Kelly Gil (hill) who we always joke around about visiting because she is never home or if she is we set an appointment for another day and she isn't there. So we passed by and the same thing happened, said she was busy which she really was I don't accuse her of always giving us excuses. So as we started walking away her son who had just pulled into the driveway said he was interested in listening. Raul! It was such a good lesson but a little weird because he knows almost perfect English. So 50% of the time I was talking in English and 50% Spanish. He had spent 8 months in Wisconsin and North Dakota as a life guard. Fast forward to Saturday afternoon and we had an appointment with the mother of one of the recent converts Marjory a 14 year old who has just about as much excitement to share the gospel as a full time missionary. We had been trying to teach her mom forever but her schedule makes it almost impossible. The only time she had was our lunch time so we ate super fast and ran over. Oh it was the perfect lesson. We basically taught 4 lessons in one because after hearing about the Restoration she asked what we believed about tithing and why the Word of Wisdom and the Sabbath Day. She was asking all the right questions. Almost perfect.. But she works on Sunday and she isn't married. But I have no doubt those problems will be solved.

I love my mission, I love everything about it. And I love you all.

Elder Craythorne

Busy Week

Dear Family and Friends,

We had a really busy week this week as you will be able to see from the pictures. On Thursday we went to the temple which ended with a good old Subway foot long Chicken Bacon Ranch melt. It was really refreshing to go back. That was by far the spiritual highlight.

AND IF THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. We also got to listen to Elder Stevenson twice this week. Saturday and Sunday. It was really cool because on Saturday that was the first time I have seen or heard of the entire mission getting together. Missionaries traveled 12 hours in a bus or by plane to come to Lima. I will send the picture of that too.

The other set of pictures are from this morning when we went to the beach. Instead of saying "it was too cold to get in and swim" I will just blame it on the mission rules. But we did play dodge ball. I also got my typical name tag pic, mostly just so mom could post it on instagram.

I learned a lot from Elder Stevenson. He told us that the way we teach repentance is by extending commitments. He focused on the importance of promising blessings. That makes two general authorities in the last month telling us the same thing.

Other than that I think our biggest need/goal is contacting like locos. I hope we can get something good cooking up here.

I love my mission and I love all of you.

Elder Craythorne

Las Lomas and Los Perros

Dear Family and Friends,

I mentioned awhile ago about the study of the Book of Mormon that we started as a mission. Well the purpose of that was to be able to read the Book of Mormon in 3 months and I am proud to say I will finish this week. We are marking it with 4 colors to identify all references of Christ, His attributes, Doctrine, and prophecies. One thing I have noticed is how much power Satan has right before Christ comes. The people begin to be prideful and war again and again and it explains that is due to their hearts having been turned to Satan as soon as they started getting prideful. There is a talk by Jeffrey R Holland, I can't remember what it is called but he talks about in Joseph Smith's First Vision right before he saw God and Jesus Christ he was seized. He goes on to explain that before a spiritual experience in any one of our lives Satan will be present in one form or another.

Elder Streber and I are working super hard here. It makes the bad days a little less bad when you got someone to talk to about Star Wars, Avengers, world history, and the buckets of other things we have in common.

Yesterday was stake conference here in Pachacamac and President McGinn spoke along with his wife. Sister McGinn shared how her family were all members but not 100% active but that all changed when her mom gave birth to a little brother Gwayne, and he only lived for 60 seconds. In her poor Spanish she tenderly spoke of how this tragedy is what re sparked a testimony inside of her mother. Her mother remembered and felt connected with the divine plan and promise that families are forever. Shortly thereafter the family went to the temple and were sealed. This baby with the lifespan of a minute was a ministering angel who came and planted in his family a love for the Gospel. If it were not for him, Sister McGinn said that she would not be here in Peru. In one way or another I have to thank Gwayne for what he did.

This week is going to be fun filled. Thursday we are going to the Temple so that's awesome. And turns out we are going back to the MTC on Saturday to listen to a devotional from Elder Stevenson, yeah they let us know about that 3 days ago. Then next Monday we are going to the beach for a zone pday. (Lots of pictures coming)

I love the gospel and I know its true. The truths that it offers to us are eternal and only for our benefit.

I love you all,

Elder Craythorne