The Office and David's Baptism

Dear Family,

It was awesome to talk to some of you on Christmas.  It was really fun to talk to Ryker, even though his Spanish had me dying laughing.  

I am not sure if I have mentioned this before but usually the hardest part about having a good baptismal service is whether or not any members show up to support. That was not the case yesterday.

I really haven't written a lot about David, he started investigating 6 months ago and was kind of on and off in some things good and church but then he disappeared. In october we found him again but he said he was busy, this entire time they have been teaching Myrta, his cousin. About 3 weeks ago we go to teach Myrta and David is there too. Of course the focus is baptism because Myrta is ready and she knows it she just doesn't accept it or something Idk its weird. And we had been planning a baptism for yesterday, the 28th of December and David just shoots up, "so can anyone be baptized?" And it didn't take too much time to think about our answer for us to say "um yes" and he responds "yeah I want to get baptized on the 28th of December." He completely changed his life, big changes easier to notice and smaller changes you had to look for like him being more helpful, comes to the chapel and asks if he can help clean and stuff like that.

Elder Kirby thought it would be a good idea to help the investigators have a more spiritual experience is if we say a prayer way before the service starts where they can thank Heavenly Father for the chance to be here, and that was a really good prayer. I remember a part in particular where David promised God that he would be one of his strongest soldiers.

I love Christmas.

Another tidbit about David is he somehow always always finds us in his little motor taxi when we are on our way home and he gives us a ride. Last week we left a lesson at around 9:45 and Elder Kirby goes "Now would be a really good time for David to show up" and wouldn't you know it we got someone honking at us telling us to hop in. Its like a Bat Signal but the Spirit.

Here are some words from Elder Kirby (my comp). Yes, I got my shout out.

"So the highlight of the week was definitely the baptism of David. He showed up that night looking like a different person, I had never seen him so happy. Before the baptism we went to another room with him and congratulated him for the changes that he had made in his life and told him that he was entering through the gate to the covenant path and then there was still more to be done. We then invited him to pray and thank the Lord for giving him another opportunity and for helping him get to that point in his life. He offered a prayer that I will never forget and he promised the Lord that he would be one of his strongest soldiers. The rest of the baptismal service went perfectly and the spirit was super strong and we sure hope that all of our investigators were able to recognize it. I sure love seeing the Atonement of Jesus Christ take action in the lives of these people that we love and I know without a doubt that this path of the gospel is the only path that brings true joy and peace to our lives. David has made a 180 degree turn and has now experimented a change of heart and is truly converted to the Lord and it definitely has strengthened my testimony as I have played a small part in his conversion with my companion Elder Craythorne!"

Tuesday was really fun and good, we were able to meet with the zone, something we don't do often. And it was actually super good I remember laughing a lot (and making other people laugh).

The mission is so good.

I love and pray for all of you, like always.

Elder Craythorne

The Office and Transfers

Dear Family and Friends,

Being in the office I am blessed with being able to listen to a lot of General Conference talks and BYU speeches. So this week in particular I watched and listened to a BYU speech by David A Bednar about Joy and saw a familiar face leading the music. It scared me out of my seat it's been so long since I have seen anyone I know haha. Hi Bianca!

Week 1 of every transfer will always be on top of the most stressful days. In the middle of doing all the trainings to the new missionaries and their trainers and the 6 weekers I got a call from my boss and had a huge task that usually takes me 2 weeks and he gave me 2 hours. "woo hoo" -Boog.

No way, Tad ran into Elder Halliday?  Elder Halliday is the best I love that guy, one of the most consecrated missionaries we've had. He trained my trainer and he was my zone leader while I was in Ica so yes we have been on a couple divisions. That is crazy he was here a month and a half ago and now he is framing a house in West Point?  He was also in the office. Grandpa Health Secretary, Dad AP and me Finances. Super small world but I knew he lived close to me. Went to Ogden High. There are like 4 missionaries here from Layton High School so I think they are the closest.

For Christmas this Friday we are going to have a traditional turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy and that’ll be about it.

ANDERSON

Remember Liberjhon, well Anderson is his brother from another mother. They consider themselves brothers but I'm pretty sure they're just super homies. Anyway, so we had taught him before but he is harder to get a hold of. Last time we taught the plan of salvation but it was not one of my proudest lessons, he wasn't really sure what his question was but he was really confused. He was saying "these people say this, science says that and you guys say God created everything." So we left him with 2 Nephi 2 and that was like 3 weeks ago. One thing we really want to focus on is that our investigators really read the Book of Mormon and if they don't read we say they can't go on if they don't progress personally and we read with them.

Short email. I'm trying to be better haha.

This weeks shout out goes to West Point 4th ward YM for sending me a letter haha.

Love all you guys.

Elder Craythorne

Pictures

Assembly line to help new missionaries with their luggage

Meeting new Missionaries (Elder Lopez, pro boxer)

Joy, brought to you by the WP 4th activity days

The Office and the Return of the King

Family,

LAZARO

As some of you may remember our Cuban investigators went back to their homeland so they could get married and they were gone for 3 weeks so we were pretty worried to find out if the flame of their faith had gone down a bit. On Monday we went over without having called them because their phones didn't work and it was holy a good lesson. The spirit was so strong and they can feel it. When we got out in the street I gave Elder Kirby a chest bump, it was that good. I described as being that part in Narnia when Aslan comes back and its awesome and he just goes ham (sorry for my slang) it was like that.

One thing I like in particular about Lazaro is he is already trying to do missionary work. As soon as we said the prayer in his house it was like we were have correlation with our ward mission leader, he was asking us about other investigators and if they were going to church or if they had decided to be baptized it was just amazing. He already loves this gospel.

He shared with us that 20 years ago someone tried to give him a Book of Mormon and he only read the last verse to try to see if there were any spoilers. He said that throughout his life he has met Mor---members of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints who have lead him to where he his now.

He is incredible.

MIRACLE

On Monday (I don´t know why all my miracles happen on Monday) we were looking through the ward directory and found the name of a less active family felt impressed to go so we went, passed by but they weren't there. But not 2 seconds after we walked away a sister we didn't know walks up to us and says "are you the new elders in this ward?" and we said surely and she goes "there is a family over here and I said I would take someone from the church to go give them blessings". That was pretty cool. Set return appointments.

OTHER MIRACLE

Last week we ran into a crazy member, ok only a little crazy but he was with his friend, Alvaro, and he says "yeah you need to baptize him" so we set an appointment and it fell through and then he said he would go to church and he did! So we set an appointment for that night and it fell through, and the next, and the next and the next BUT ON THURSDAY OUR MOMENT CAME. We taught him and I walked out of that lesson and mentioned to Elder Kirby "I think that guy has a better testimony than I do" of course joking but he was SO prepared.

Time is hard here in the office but it is not impossible, I think with more sacrifice we could be proselyting a whole hour more.

My apartment is really nice. We have to wash our own clothes though, also we don’t have the luxury of a pensionista so during the week we eat at restaurants and Sundays believe it or not we have to cook for ourselves. I was actually gonna ask mom for some ideas on what to cook because let's just say last week was ham and cheese sandwiches.  I guess it is a trade off because other than the office the apartments are not as nice but we get our laundry and all our cooking done for us.

I love all you guys. Forgive me for no pictures.

Happy Dutch Christmas,

Elder Craythorne

The Office

Dear Family,

Yes one of my investigator's names is actually Liberjohn he was super proud to tell us it was an American name, maybe you guys know better than I but let me know the next time you see a gringo walking around with that name, take a picture of him and send it to me.

All jokes aside Liberjohn is amazing and last night we had a really good lesson. He is Venezuelan so his conditions are super rough because his family all lives in Venezuela and he is working here and sending money back there. One time a Venezuelan told me that to buy a kilo gram of meat you had to work for a month, so obviously the economy is suffering over there. Liberjohn is a very sincere guy and he just tells us up front instead of trying to lie he just goes, "look I will not go to church because i work" we haven't taught super doctrinally the Day of Rest yet but we will get there don't worry.

The Plan of Salvation

Last night Elder Kirby and I had a really good lesson with Liberjohn about the Plan of Salvation. It wasn't even good because he had some recent death in the family and he needed to know that families are eternal but we taught in more in the sense centered around the Atonement (which we taught him how to say it in English) about the Fall and why we needed redemption. He was paying so much attention and asking such good questions I felt on fire. We explained every point so well, after the lesson I couldn't help but give a bro hug to my companion, it just felt so good especially after not teaching for awhile. You could just see how it was making so much sense in his eyes just the "oh yeah God loves us, gave us bodies, oh shoot we sin, THANK GOODNESS FOR THE ATONEMENT, (and we even went above and beyond with the) now what? what do we do because of the Atonement? Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receive the Holy Ghost and Endure/Progress to the End. Alley Oop slam dunk.

Like I said, normally people connect super well with this plan because of its promise of Eternal Families and see loved ones again, but for Liberjohn he really connected and dove (not the bird) into the idea of repentance and forgiveness and progression after sins.

That was a real tender blessing from the Lord no doubt, after working in the office so long, time is so much more valuable being of the street contacting the right people, serving in the right time. There are so many things to get done during a day I just pray asking the Lord that I do his Will during that particular day.

I love all you guys thanks so much for all your prayers and support.

Elder Craythorne

The Office, Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday to Easton

Dear Family,

Like I mentioned last week, turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing are not at all popular here in Peru, but it was celebrated with a lot of stressful breakdowns as we had the entire mission come up to Lima again for another devotional with Elder Falabela. That is 186 missionaries who all need reimbursements and money to go back home. And I(the mission) paid for all their lunches.

Let me tell you a little more how Thanksgiving was super stressful. We bought chicken for everyone but the place showed up an hour late and everyone was getting antsy, even Elder Falabela. So we kept calling and calling and they didn't answer and then in the midst of all the chaos a guy from our apartment rides by on a bike and shouts, "Hey the floor above you flooded, and your floor flooded, and the floor below you flooded".. That was pretty fun. We couldn't do anything about it because we were waiting for the pollo but eventually we got back to look at the damage and there was hardly any damage or sign of a flood, but the girl next door got hit slightly hard so she stuck her head in to look at our room and she goes "wow nothing happened to you guys" and we said "its because we go to church" and left.

BLESSINGS OF THE OFFICE

On Thursday after the first training with Elder Falabela he had another meeting that we were in charge of with all the recent converts in Lima! It was so cool. Of course not everyone came but it was so good to see the Mateo Family again after a year, we also saw members from Pamplona and Las Lomas. So cool and really only a privilege from being in the office so it has its perks haha.

HELPING HANDS

Today for service we cleaned garbage at the beach with those yellow jerseys so the picture is from us returning.

Quote for this week 

We should not feel we need to be perfect to be ‘all in’ Latter-day Saints.

Time is flying it is so weird.

Elder Craythorne

The Office and Thanksgiving

Family,

I hope everyone is doing well.  I am on the downside of fighting off a man cold and I was losing that battle for a long time haha.  Don't tell my mom though because she doesn't believe in "man colds". Everytime I get sick in my mission doing normal things are just so much harder but as soon as I leave to proselyte or teach I can't feel anything its awesome, like Airborne but on steroids jacked on the spirit. Then we get home and I feel like I got ran over by a bus again.  This coming week is sure to be a huge blessing, we are having the area president Falabela come to our mission on Thursday and Friday to speak with the whole mission. So for my Thanksgiving I will be eating a Pollo a la Brasa instead of the traditional American Turkey. Either way I am blessed.

My studies this week have lead me back again and again to being grateful for all things. I am pretty sure lds.org is doing that on purpose and not just because this Thursday is where we stuff ourselves so much we can't walk up the stairs but also because I really want to exert myself to be more grateful. I have watched probably 30 times that one video "think to thank" and also "in the spirit of thanksgiving" where that one guy says "donuts and muffins" #throwback to young mens. I also had these good quotes I wanted to share.

 

President Gordon B. Hinckley taught that the more often a person says thank you, the happier he will be

An excellent way to express gratitude is by giving sincere praise. Praise lifts both the giver and the receiver. Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment,” and most of us feel the same way.

This week Lazaro and Lieti are in Cuba getting married so we can get them baptized.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and an awesome Thanksgiving.

Last quote I want to end on. God trusts us to do our part, and live our lives.

God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and glories of creation.

Love you all,

I love my mission,

Elder Craythorne

The Office

Family

Just in case you are reading through this quickly only to look at my pictures the one I have attached is of today (Saturday) this morning when we had to wake up early and run to the office for something. On our way a Venezuelan lady called us over asking for some help she said she just wanted us to stand guard at her little Tamale Cart while she went and took something to her daughter. She said she wouldn't be long so we said yes. Thus lead to me yelling "RICO TAMALE 2 SOLES" to everyone who passed by. Elder Peregrino thought that was pretty funny so he stole a picture for me.

The other picture is from all the people that were originally in the office and the people they were training.

MIRACLES

This week we really wanted to get to know the ward well. We went to visit a family Negrete and they gave us a reference to Cecilia and as we were walking out we ran into her on the street not knowing it was her we contacted her. She is really awesome and super prepared so we decided to start praying for her everyday. She actually called the Negrete Family and confirmed the appointment for today at 5. Sad news is we learned she is in the other area... But we are on the same team so no harm no foul.

SHOUT OUT

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday and those who know her know what a blessing she is. A literal superhero in my eyes. I don't want to say too much because I know she will start crying but I want you to know mom that I really love you so much.

Thanks for everything, I am not sure if I should include our office shenanigans in these emails because other than that not a ton happens around here.

Love you all,

Elder Craythorne