Hey Fam!!
How the heck is everyone? Man, it seems like the weeks and days and everything are just flying by! One of my best friends here in the mission, Elder Lopez, from Utah goes home on Monday. I am going to miss that guy! He was my companion those 4 days when I was bouncing around. So I lived with my zone leaders in their home with the Rosequist family- the farmers from Sandy Valley. I don't know if I ever told you guys that. Sorry. I am just super busy and it's hard to remember what exactly happens all the time. None the less, we are chugging along here and working as hard as we can!
I like my new zone. They are all really good dudes and one of my zone leaders is Elder Werner - who was my district leader my first transfer in the field. He is a stud and it is dang fun to get to work with him again! Then there is his grandson, Elder Stewart (which means it is Elder Werners trainee's trainee) if that makes sense in mission genealogy :) Ask Regg- he will know what I mean! Elder Stewart seems to follow me around I have served almost 6 months in the same district as him. He is a cool kid from Seattle, Washington. As for Elder Frost, my comp, he is a total STUD! I love him so much! We are becoming really close, the Lord definatly has blessed me with good companions and I am positive Elder Frost and I will chill when this is all said and done. He is a really good guy who likes Chevy and rides dirt bikes. What else do we need to be friends???
As for the work right now, things are going well. I am not totally sure why, but last week was kind of a tough one for me. Not sure what was going on, but Satan was working me over. But just like Joseph Smith said, we experience the most adversity when we are going about the most good!! Yeah, its tough, but life is tough, right??
We have had some pretty dang good experiences, though! We were coming home the other day from district meeting and all seemed to be going well. When we were walking toward our apartment there were these two drunk dudes sitting on the bench next to our building and they were looking at us all funny. I was like what the heck is going on? What's up? And then I looked away and then I had to do like a double take. The dude was just peeing right there in the middle of the apartment complex like it was no big deal!! Haha It was so funny. Me and Elder Frost just busted up laughing!! It was awesome! I figured I had to share that one with you - at least to give you a little laugh:)
We are having a hard time getting people to be serious about the work that we are doing. I just want to go and shake people and just be like, "why don't you understand?? I have the gift of ETERNAL LIFE and you don't want to listen to me??" haha I think that's why I had a rough couple days. I was just annoyed that people just don't understand what we do. I also have to realize we can't infringe on their agency as much as I would like to...
There is so much work going on, though. We are really trying to push forward the way that the Lord would have us do it. I figured it up today and our zone needs 8 baptisms a month in order to reach the mission goal of 864 baptisms this year for our mission. I think this is definitely possible. Tell all the young men who are getting ready to go on their missions to be prepared to work. The Lord is changing His pace and it is awesome to be a part of it! I know that what we are doing is the MOST important thing we can do in our entire lives. I can't begin to imagine where I would be without the experiences I am having here. We as a mission have been focusing on the Preach My Gospel section about recognizing the Spirit. To be able to help train in that is a huge honor to me that I really probably don't deserve. If ye have desires to serve God, you are called to the work. He will qualify those He calls and I have seen him work miracles here in Las Vegas. We have gone out and worked with people. In fact, there was just a baptism in my old area last week that we found! Her name was Courtney she was so awesome! They invited me to go, but there was just too much going on. So I didn't even ask. Hopefully, I can be forgiven. haha I am going to write her a letter and let her know I am stoked for her!
Now, Jerry that sneaky dude! haha I am sure President wouldn't have allowed a visit, but it was super good to see him and to talk to him. I now owe him money for all that he brought us. He is such a stud! It was good to see a familiar face and get to kinda show him where we live and what's been going on and how the work is going. It sounded like he is doing good and that his son, Will is going to be going on his mission to England? That's pretty cool, almost as crazy as LV but hey what do you do??;) haha
How is the missionary work at home? Do we have any people getting baptized? Anyone I know? Also, Dad you would know, but there is some lady from Saint Anthony who is working at the Employment Center here in my mission? Any ideas who that is? Sister Black pulled me aside and told me that and I was like dang that's pretty sweet. I wonder who that is?
Also do you or George know a guy with the last name Talbot?? I think he was a salesman for Nonpereil at one time. His son or grandson or nephew or something, Russ Talbot, is the first counselor in my ward that we are serving in.
Oh, and the biggest news of the week!!! We met Wheels!! The guy in the wheelchair off of Nitro Circus!! He is in the singles ward the meets at our building!! So we are trying to set up a lunch with him and see if we can set up a lesson with Travis Pastrana... haha We really are going to see if Wheels will let us take him out to lunch. Elder Frost and I were so Pumped!! We couldn't believe that he was Mormon. And tell Regg that If I go to lunch with him I am going to have him look up Regg's back flip on Facebook- so make sure that baby is on there and ready so that Wheels can hook you up! haha
Things are going well and I really appreciated the packages that everyone sent me. They were awesome!! Mom, by the way, we wear the aprons everyday! I love them so much! They remind me of Dad a ton. I remember those shirts very well. You guys are going to make me fat. So hopefully you will still love me when I am 300 pounds:) We run and lift weights every morning at 6 am because I do not want to be a fatso when I come home. It will probably still happen, but I am going to try and prolong the process. So Jeff, if you have any sick cross fit work outs - you should let me know. I need something to really work us hard. We are running a mile and then lifting and then running a mile home which is a pretty good work out - at least for me because I am on the mission diet! We have actually been trying to eat good and only take in like 2500 calories a day... I know that is still a ton, but for us it isn't much. We have been walking all over the place this week!!
I love you all so much and thank you for all of the support. You are awesome! I know, I say it every week, but I have the best family ever! Thank you so much, really! And tell Jerry Higham he is awesome and I really appreciate all that he did to take time out of his vacation to come and see me. It really meant a lot and made me feel good. But no- that doesn't mean that everyone can start doing that now haha.
I just want all the nieces and nephews to know that I miss and love them all! I hope that they are doing good and preparing hard for when they can come out here and do the same thing I am. I know that our Heavenly Father wants you all to come out and serve. I know that it is because of the family that I have that I am here. I am so blessed and am so grateful for all that He has given me. I know that through this gospel, we can return to live with Him again forever. We can all be together and have more Joy than we ever imagined. I know that God lives. I know He is aware of each and every single one of us. He hears and answers prayers and watches out for us all. I know that it is because of the Atonement of our Savoir Jesus Christ that we even have a chance to return to live with our Father in Heaven. I am so glad I am able to serve him everyday. I know without a doubt that this is God's work. And I hope that you all can get something from the experiences He is allowing me to have so that I can grow. I love you so much and will talk to you next week!! Until then- enjoy the cold:) I'll be here in my shorts playing football today!! hahaha
Love,
Elder Crapo
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
2/6/2013
Dear fam,
Hey everyone! Things here are starting to roll again finally! I have been staying super busy and having fun with a lot of things going on. We had a baptism in my old area on Saturday. We were able to get a ride and I got to baptize her it was awesome!! Her name is Mason. She is the neighbor of Sabrina. We found her from teaching Sabrina. It was awesome. The work here in my ward is really starting to pick up, but it is definitely a different type of ward and a different type of work. We are just doing all that we can to keep busy and find new people on our own. Some missionaries in the past have really turned the members off of missionary work, which is never good. Now we are just trying to smooth all of that over, plus hasten the Lord's work. He really is changing the pace of things. I guess in a missionary meeting a few weeks ago they talked about how they would like to have each stake in Las Vegas baptizing 1000 people a year!!! Last year our stake only baptized like 39 people, so there is a ton of work to do.
The Super Bowl was definitely no fun for us. We didn't like it at all. You would have thought that it was a dang national holiday and that we shouldn't be allowed to roam the streets on such a day. We would have went to a members home, but they all wanted us to watch the Super Bowl. If the work really is going to pick up by that much, we can't be doing stuff like that. So we just tracted and tried to find some new people to teach, which was super fun... But no one said missionary work is just all fun and games!! Elder Frost and I have been gettting along great, though. He is a really good kid. We work super hard and I haven't felt so good about my mission since I have been out here. Definitely a change of things, having to worry about other elders and how they are doing. But it is a super good thing and makes it really interesting.
One thing that we have been doing to help the members get more excited about the missionary work in the ward, is we go around and share a lesson with them and then talk to them about people that they might know that need the gospel in their lives. The other night we were going to a family with the last name Dree's. Well, come to find out that is Shailee Simmons' in-laws!! Kinda Crazy how small the world is! And this one is even crazier! We went to go and teach a less active family that the bishop had asked us to go and visit. Their last name was wood. So we go over there and he asks me where I am from. And he is like, "oh yeah, I have a niece that lives in Parker"... "I was like haha What? Really? Parker, Idaho?? Well, then I am sure that I know who they are." Well, come to find out that is Angie Peterson's uncle!! That's crazy!
Other than that, all is well. We have a few people that we are working with and hoping to get ready for baptism this month or next month. We have had a lot of potentials, but no one is really serious right now. That stinks, because we want so bad to be doing what the Lord wants. Last month was the lowest baptizing month in the history of our mission. We only had 32, which is really bad. I am not really sure what is causing all of that, but hopefully we can all get to work and turn that around.
Weather here is doing good. I'm sure it is much nicer than at home:) It is in the 60's and keeping me nice and warm. I do miss the snow sometimes but I am sure that the snow will get back to me soon enough! Winters here really are super nice. I am just dreading the SUPER hot summer months of July and August. They seem to be looking at me laughing.
One struggle we have been having is with the Elders Quorom president. I swear he sometimes is a little to over board. He honestly makes me feel like the worst missionary ever to walk the face of the earth. I think that he is here for a reason. It jut stinks when you think you do something good and then you didn't. It is teaching me a lot about leadership and what kind of a leader I Don't want to be. It is also showing me how to be more diligent in my work, because I want the ward to be on our side. Another thing it has taught me is that I am only accountable to the Lord - not to the Elders Qourom President. So it doesn't matter what he thinks, as long as I do what the Lord wants me to be doing. That is all that I can do, which really is a comforting feeling! I am really enjoying the work right now. It has taken me out of my comfort zone, which is a good thing and is showing me another area where I can improve.
I am going to get going. I love you all so much and hope that you have a good day! I will talk to you on Monday! I love you all so much and thank you, mom for the posters. They really livened up the apartment and we needed that BAD!!! Thank you all so much for the support and I miss you all. Keep up the good work at home and find people who are in need of the gospel! This message is so important and the Lord really needs our help right now. I know that this is His church and that His gospel is restored here on the earth today. As we do His work, He is here with us, helping us along the way!
Love
Elder Crapo
Hey everyone! Things here are starting to roll again finally! I have been staying super busy and having fun with a lot of things going on. We had a baptism in my old area on Saturday. We were able to get a ride and I got to baptize her it was awesome!! Her name is Mason. She is the neighbor of Sabrina. We found her from teaching Sabrina. It was awesome. The work here in my ward is really starting to pick up, but it is definitely a different type of ward and a different type of work. We are just doing all that we can to keep busy and find new people on our own. Some missionaries in the past have really turned the members off of missionary work, which is never good. Now we are just trying to smooth all of that over, plus hasten the Lord's work. He really is changing the pace of things. I guess in a missionary meeting a few weeks ago they talked about how they would like to have each stake in Las Vegas baptizing 1000 people a year!!! Last year our stake only baptized like 39 people, so there is a ton of work to do.
The Super Bowl was definitely no fun for us. We didn't like it at all. You would have thought that it was a dang national holiday and that we shouldn't be allowed to roam the streets on such a day. We would have went to a members home, but they all wanted us to watch the Super Bowl. If the work really is going to pick up by that much, we can't be doing stuff like that. So we just tracted and tried to find some new people to teach, which was super fun... But no one said missionary work is just all fun and games!! Elder Frost and I have been gettting along great, though. He is a really good kid. We work super hard and I haven't felt so good about my mission since I have been out here. Definitely a change of things, having to worry about other elders and how they are doing. But it is a super good thing and makes it really interesting.
One thing that we have been doing to help the members get more excited about the missionary work in the ward, is we go around and share a lesson with them and then talk to them about people that they might know that need the gospel in their lives. The other night we were going to a family with the last name Dree's. Well, come to find out that is Shailee Simmons' in-laws!! Kinda Crazy how small the world is! And this one is even crazier! We went to go and teach a less active family that the bishop had asked us to go and visit. Their last name was wood. So we go over there and he asks me where I am from. And he is like, "oh yeah, I have a niece that lives in Parker"... "I was like haha What? Really? Parker, Idaho?? Well, then I am sure that I know who they are." Well, come to find out that is Angie Peterson's uncle!! That's crazy!
Other than that, all is well. We have a few people that we are working with and hoping to get ready for baptism this month or next month. We have had a lot of potentials, but no one is really serious right now. That stinks, because we want so bad to be doing what the Lord wants. Last month was the lowest baptizing month in the history of our mission. We only had 32, which is really bad. I am not really sure what is causing all of that, but hopefully we can all get to work and turn that around.
Weather here is doing good. I'm sure it is much nicer than at home:) It is in the 60's and keeping me nice and warm. I do miss the snow sometimes but I am sure that the snow will get back to me soon enough! Winters here really are super nice. I am just dreading the SUPER hot summer months of July and August. They seem to be looking at me laughing.
One struggle we have been having is with the Elders Quorom president. I swear he sometimes is a little to over board. He honestly makes me feel like the worst missionary ever to walk the face of the earth. I think that he is here for a reason. It jut stinks when you think you do something good and then you didn't. It is teaching me a lot about leadership and what kind of a leader I Don't want to be. It is also showing me how to be more diligent in my work, because I want the ward to be on our side. Another thing it has taught me is that I am only accountable to the Lord - not to the Elders Qourom President. So it doesn't matter what he thinks, as long as I do what the Lord wants me to be doing. That is all that I can do, which really is a comforting feeling! I am really enjoying the work right now. It has taken me out of my comfort zone, which is a good thing and is showing me another area where I can improve.
I am going to get going. I love you all so much and hope that you have a good day! I will talk to you on Monday! I love you all so much and thank you, mom for the posters. They really livened up the apartment and we needed that BAD!!! Thank you all so much for the support and I miss you all. Keep up the good work at home and find people who are in need of the gospel! This message is so important and the Lord really needs our help right now. I know that this is His church and that His gospel is restored here on the earth today. As we do His work, He is here with us, helping us along the way!
Love
Elder Crapo
1/28/2013 A New Area
Hey fam!!!
How is life for you guys? Things here are going good and we are having a good time. Elder Frost is one of the new 18 year olds and he is a stud and is ready to be here so that is good. He and I are working hard and having fun together. There's not a lot of work as of right now, but that will change hopefully here in the next couple of weeks when we are able to get running. Our apartment is super nice and we each have our own closet and bathroom... Yeah we are pretty spoiled:) The only downfall to where we live is that we are a good 6 miles from our area. That's kind of weird because there are like 4 companionships that live in the apartment complex that is actually in our area. I talked to Elder McMillian and he said that the next transfer we will probably be moving to those apartments and then a new set of Elders will be brought to our apartment. I will be sending a bunch of letters today because today is what is call park and clean day. That means we can only drive to shop and email and then we just have to go home and clean. The thing is our apartment is brand new and our car just got vacummed because we had to take it to get serviced on Saturday, so we don't have a ton to clean. So I am going to try and take some time to write letters to you guys.
The weather here is actually cooling down, too. It seems like it gets cold for a couple of days and then there is a glimpse of hope for some warmth and then it gets cold again. But definitely not your cold. I think it is like 48 degrees, which to me is freezing now! It is sad that I am so acclimatized, but it is also good. One of the members here in my new bishopric is from the Driggs area. His last name is Talbot. Do we know his family? He said his dad used to own a farm up there and they still have a little bit of land up around Driggs. He's hoping he can move back. He is a total stud and we get along great. He flies up to Idaho two or three times a year and goes snowmobiling whenever he hears that there is a good storm. Not too bad of a life if you ask me:) Stay here for the awesome warm winters and then fly back when we have really good snow. YEAH BUDDY!
But our new ward is super young it is almost a little weird, I kinda feel like I am in a married college ward. That really is kind of what we are in. Everyone is just a few years older than me and it just freaks me out that they already have like two kids. I am like, "dang you people need to slow er down!" And our sacrament meetings are SO noisy because of all of the kids. It is not so good, but what do you do? Kids will be kids, I guess. It has been going well. We have an awesome Elders quorum President who is pretty cool, but he is just a little over bearing at times. It might actually be what our ward needs. I guess that in October and November the home teaching in this ward was 0% so the only thing we can do is go up!! But from what I have seen, it is just because the ward is young and everyone is in like dental or law school, which I am sure can be super time consuming. But we will be able to turn all of that around. The work is definitely changing before our eyes with all of these new missionaries coming in and new areas being opened up. Work is going to start booming! The new wave of missionaries we just got in are STUDS! They really are good guys.
I got the opportunity to go on exchanges last week with my zone leaders and one is Elder Werner, who I have served around back when I was in Spring Mountain zone. He was just a district leader at that point in his mission. And holy cow, I can't even believe how much different he is just in these last couple of months. He has grown so so much. I just hope that I am also growing so when I get to that point and you all see me again you aren't like, "wow he is still the same kid" haha. I was just literally amazed at how much the mission can change a guy. I guess it is all making sense each and every day why the Lord wants us to be out here serving missions. He is building up His church- not only by helping people who haven't yet received the restored gospel, but also by building future leaders of the church and of the community. I have felt a lot of different pressures with the new responsibilities that I have and it has given Satan an opportunity to work on me a little. I have found myself liking those moments because it gives me a chance to really grow and change. I know that what I am doing is at least effecting my life, even if it isn't changing anyone else. It's like Elder Holland said, "You better come home with at least one convert, and that's yourself." It is fun to see how much you begin to love the mission and love the people. The area change has kinda been tough because my last ward seemed like home to me. But I can't wait to get to work here and hopefully make an impact on someone here. Or maybe I am here to meet someone that will help change me. I love the gospel and I know its true. I have seen the changes it has made in other peoples' lives and I am excited for whatever the Lord has in store for me.
In a talk that I watched this morning, Elder Holland said that we as missionaries are always excited to say that we are representatives of Jesus Christ... which we are. But if we are going to call ourselves that then we better be prepared to walk at least one step or shed one of those tears that he had to shed in order to be his disciple. Christ is involved so much in this work, I can't believe it. Like it says in D&C 38, "He is with us." It's like President told me in my last interview. "I don't get interviewed once every other transfer. I get interviewed everyday, because Christ is here working right a long side of us." I know that it's true and I know that this is His work that He has called all of us- even the 18 year olds to do! I love you all and hope you're doing good at home!! I miss you all and can't wait to hear from you! Have a good week!
Love,
Elder Crapo
How is life for you guys? Things here are going good and we are having a good time. Elder Frost is one of the new 18 year olds and he is a stud and is ready to be here so that is good. He and I are working hard and having fun together. There's not a lot of work as of right now, but that will change hopefully here in the next couple of weeks when we are able to get running. Our apartment is super nice and we each have our own closet and bathroom... Yeah we are pretty spoiled:) The only downfall to where we live is that we are a good 6 miles from our area. That's kind of weird because there are like 4 companionships that live in the apartment complex that is actually in our area. I talked to Elder McMillian and he said that the next transfer we will probably be moving to those apartments and then a new set of Elders will be brought to our apartment. I will be sending a bunch of letters today because today is what is call park and clean day. That means we can only drive to shop and email and then we just have to go home and clean. The thing is our apartment is brand new and our car just got vacummed because we had to take it to get serviced on Saturday, so we don't have a ton to clean. So I am going to try and take some time to write letters to you guys.
The weather here is actually cooling down, too. It seems like it gets cold for a couple of days and then there is a glimpse of hope for some warmth and then it gets cold again. But definitely not your cold. I think it is like 48 degrees, which to me is freezing now! It is sad that I am so acclimatized, but it is also good. One of the members here in my new bishopric is from the Driggs area. His last name is Talbot. Do we know his family? He said his dad used to own a farm up there and they still have a little bit of land up around Driggs. He's hoping he can move back. He is a total stud and we get along great. He flies up to Idaho two or three times a year and goes snowmobiling whenever he hears that there is a good storm. Not too bad of a life if you ask me:) Stay here for the awesome warm winters and then fly back when we have really good snow. YEAH BUDDY!
But our new ward is super young it is almost a little weird, I kinda feel like I am in a married college ward. That really is kind of what we are in. Everyone is just a few years older than me and it just freaks me out that they already have like two kids. I am like, "dang you people need to slow er down!" And our sacrament meetings are SO noisy because of all of the kids. It is not so good, but what do you do? Kids will be kids, I guess. It has been going well. We have an awesome Elders quorum President who is pretty cool, but he is just a little over bearing at times. It might actually be what our ward needs. I guess that in October and November the home teaching in this ward was 0% so the only thing we can do is go up!! But from what I have seen, it is just because the ward is young and everyone is in like dental or law school, which I am sure can be super time consuming. But we will be able to turn all of that around. The work is definitely changing before our eyes with all of these new missionaries coming in and new areas being opened up. Work is going to start booming! The new wave of missionaries we just got in are STUDS! They really are good guys.
I got the opportunity to go on exchanges last week with my zone leaders and one is Elder Werner, who I have served around back when I was in Spring Mountain zone. He was just a district leader at that point in his mission. And holy cow, I can't even believe how much different he is just in these last couple of months. He has grown so so much. I just hope that I am also growing so when I get to that point and you all see me again you aren't like, "wow he is still the same kid" haha. I was just literally amazed at how much the mission can change a guy. I guess it is all making sense each and every day why the Lord wants us to be out here serving missions. He is building up His church- not only by helping people who haven't yet received the restored gospel, but also by building future leaders of the church and of the community. I have felt a lot of different pressures with the new responsibilities that I have and it has given Satan an opportunity to work on me a little. I have found myself liking those moments because it gives me a chance to really grow and change. I know that what I am doing is at least effecting my life, even if it isn't changing anyone else. It's like Elder Holland said, "You better come home with at least one convert, and that's yourself." It is fun to see how much you begin to love the mission and love the people. The area change has kinda been tough because my last ward seemed like home to me. But I can't wait to get to work here and hopefully make an impact on someone here. Or maybe I am here to meet someone that will help change me. I love the gospel and I know its true. I have seen the changes it has made in other peoples' lives and I am excited for whatever the Lord has in store for me.
In a talk that I watched this morning, Elder Holland said that we as missionaries are always excited to say that we are representatives of Jesus Christ... which we are. But if we are going to call ourselves that then we better be prepared to walk at least one step or shed one of those tears that he had to shed in order to be his disciple. Christ is involved so much in this work, I can't believe it. Like it says in D&C 38, "He is with us." It's like President told me in my last interview. "I don't get interviewed once every other transfer. I get interviewed everyday, because Christ is here working right a long side of us." I know that it's true and I know that this is His work that He has called all of us- even the 18 year olds to do! I love you all and hope you're doing good at home!! I miss you all and can't wait to hear from you! Have a good week!
Love,
Elder Crapo
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