July 29, 2013 Whiskers, Werner's baptism, Memorizing Scriptures

Talofa Lava Fam!!!

   Boy, does time fly and things seem to just keep plugging along! We are having some good success here in the Nevada, Las Vegas West mission.  As for our zone, we have been a little bit slower this month. But we have been tearing it up for the past couple of months, so it always seems to do that. When you kill it for a while, eventually it slows down a little and then it takes off again. But Elder West and I have a baptism in the ward that we cover coming up this Saturday.  So we are super excited for that!!

   The guy that is getting baptized, his name is Werner.   We found him by typing in all of the less active members in our GPS.  Then as we were close to them, if an appointment fell through we would go and try to visit these less active members. Well, when we knocked on their door they were super welcoming and we soon found out that Werner was a non member!!  That was super exciting and we later found out that the only reason he hadn't been baptized was because his grandma, who raised him, got offended a lot of years ago and so she never had him baptized! He is 33 years old and we have really gotten close and he has warmed up a lot. He is such a nice guy and is really smart. He has graduated college and he said that this is his next step. So we are really looking forward to that. That will be Saturday at 2:30 and his uncle is going to baptize him.  The best part is that his Grandma who hadn't been to church since Werner was like 8 came to church last week!!! So it has been a really cool journey to be with them through the whole process!

   As for the 24th of July celebration... I won't lie.  That is the one celebration that I truly miss going to. It seems like some of my best memories are from that day. The parade and all of the work that goes into the float.... I will be stoked to see it next year!!  Hopefully people will stop confusing me with Foster!! haha I guess that just means one thing - Fos your dang good looking:) How did the softball tourney go? Did we even have a team? Sounds like the rodeo wasn't too bad. I am glad that the weather wasn't too terrible and that you were able to enjoy some of the summer in Idaho. Trust me, Idaho summers are the best!

  As for my wonderful Vegas summer.... well, we are still right in the middle of things. This past week we went on exchanges with a compianship who is on bikes and I was able to get out and feel the heat for the day.  Holy cow! I feel bad for all of these Elders who are on bike. It was probably 112 or so, which isn't too terrible for here, but it still sucks! Anything above 105 is way too hot for me. It is interesting, though.  I am actually adjusting a little bit to it. I think that 80's are going to feel somewhat cool haha. We won't be back under 100 until at least September, I am sure. It has been a little cooler the past couple of days, but nothing below like 95.

  We did have some really fun stuff go on this weekend, though.  On the 27th, the day you were all partying back at home, we had dinner with the Palepoi family who lives clear on the other end of town.  That was super fun to get to go and see them and get close to my first area!! That place seriously feels like home to me. I miss it sometimes haha.  Then that evening one of the Sisters in our ward, Sister Cripe, had her 85th birthday party.  So we went and told her happy birthday and got to sing to her with a bunch of the other members of the ward.

   Also, this Sunday was a really cool Sunday because Debbie one of our  recent converts that I was able to help teach got her first calling!!! She is now the Gospel Principles class president and she is super excited! So that is a lot of fun to see.  We also got the chance to pass the sacrament with our 12 year old recent convert, Christian Curtner. I know one thing, I have had a lot of Spiritual experiences. To see someone that you were able to help get baptized, pass the Sacrament with you is a pretty awesome feeling! He is a super good kid who is kind of starting into the teenage years.  He is going to be at scout camp this week and so his mom, Olivia who is also a recent convert, will be home all alone. She lives in our apartment complex and so does Debbie, our other recent convert.  So she will be well taken care of. Those two really have bonded together because they live so close and because they are starting their journey together.  It is really cool.

    I wish you could just meet some of these people!  I love them all and this area is really cool. I have met the Hawk family, who is like the best family in the world. They are super cool and we get to teach Tiffany each week, so it is worth it. We have transfers coming up in a couple of weeks, but I am hoping to stay here in this area for 1 more transfer.  That would make it a 6 month area for me. Can you believe I have been here almost 18 weeks now?  It is crazy!!!!

  But now the most important story of the week..... So last night Elder West and I parked the car, wrote down our miles and then got out of the car and were headed up to the apartment.  Then out of no where, in the grass.... we see this white bunny!!! Both of us stopped dead in our tracks and looked over and didn't even think twice.  We dropped our stuff and started to creep up on it. Well, let's just say we caught us a bunny!!!:) haha It was awesome!! Totally made our day! And we called Elder Stewart and Elder Reel and we all messed with it for a while. His name is Whiskers!  He is the man! But we, of course, couldn't keep it. So we had to leave him outside.  Then this morning when we left, he was still there!! So he is just chilling out in the grass by our apartment.  It is pretty much the coolest thing ever.

   But lastly, this week I have been memorizing scriptures about diligence.  Since I struggle with scripture knowledge, this is my way to get caught up. I have been picking a topic every week and then I memorize a verse every day that pertains to that topic. This week is baptism, but last week was diligence. My favorite one comes from 1 Nephi 16:28-29:  "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.  And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it.  And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things." It is talking about the Liahona and how it helped guide Nephi and his family through the wilderness. It was interesting because we also just got our Ensigns and there was an article in there that talked a lot about this scripture. In the scripture it says that the things that were written on the Liahona were changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence that they did give unto it. Now in our lives, we don't have the Liahona.  But we do have the scriptures. The writing doesn't change, but we do.  As we continually read from the scriptures the things that we need from them will stick out to us. The scriptures have the things we need to know to get through this life.  We just have to continue to read and study them with all diligence and then we will be guided the way that the Lord wants us to go.

   Thanks so much for all that you have all done for me!  I hope that you had an awesome week this past week enjoying the Pioneer Days!!! I love you all so much and cant wait to hear from you!!!

Love, 

Elder Crapo

July 22, 2013 One year mark, Training from Pres. Ahlander, Thankful for Hillman's welding class!, Mt. Charleston Fire

Talofa fam!!

    Sounds like things back home are going really well and that you are staying warm:) What I would give for some 90 degree weather!!  Things here are going really well and the adjustment from President Black to President Ahlander seems to be going pretty smoothly.  Some of the Elders are trying to take advantage and test the limits, but I really like how President Ahlander has handled it.  He says that all of President Black's rules stay unless you hear otherwise. That is good and he really seems to be getting the hang of things around here.

   We had a leadership training this last Friday and it was good to see President Ahlander up giving some more trainings.  He is already getting famous for some of the stories that he tells and some of the things that he says. For example one thing he always says is, "I know God loves all of His children, but if he loves any of His children just a little bit more it is definitely his missionaries." You can really feel the love that President and Sister Ahlander already have for us and so that is really cool to know how much they care about us already and we hardly know them. There is definitely a different feel to the mission now, though. I know that doesn't make much sense but it really does change things.  I am just excited to finally go on exchanges with him this next month and get to know him just a little bit better. He has been super busy this first month because he has had to meet with all of the Stake Presidencies and talk about the work and I am sure with transfers coming up in about 3 weeks he is stressed to the MAX!  He is doing great and I am sure that Mark and Jennie's parents are doing awesome! Mission President has got to be one of the toughest callings in the church. I can't even imagine.

As for this week, not too much exciting happened.  Although my roommates made me a nice little poster for my year mark.  It was pretty funny. It will be cool because if we all stay one more transfer we will be here for Elder Reel and Elder Stewart's birthdays and also for Elder Stewart's year mark. I actually didn't burn anything on my year mark or my six month mark.  I think I am a no fun haver when it comes to all of that. If I'm feeling it, I will burn something when I am all done, but who knows.

   We did have a pretty cool experience where we got to meet a less active family that lives in our ward that no one knew about. The other day we were going to go and visit a less active family and when we got out of the car I looked over and saw this couple and their kids outside doing something with this little welder. It looked like they were struggling with it, so I went over and started to talk to them and we ended up being able to figure out the problem. They were a younger Hispanic family. After talking to them and helping get their welder figured out, we found out that they were members and that a year ago they were active, but because of the move they just felt uncomfortable coming to our ward. I guess all of those welding classes I took from Hilmdog had some real importance!!!:)  They weren't able to make it to church on Sunday but we are hoping to start work with them and get them back to church.

   Another fun thing we had was our ward Pioneer Day activity!!!! It was really good.  It was held Friday night and we had some good food the kids sang pioneer songs.  Then we had some amazing dutch oven deserts. And after having that dutch oven I wanted to call Hillman right there and have him bring me some dutch oven potatoes and chicken!!! haha Not many people out here even know how to do it! It is crazy how this is so close to Idaho, yet it is a totally different world. Never fear though, Brother and Sister Hawk know how to make it and so I might have them make me some if I get close to transferring. I am hoping that maybe we can do it on like a P-day and then Elder West and I can go and help! But who knows.  We will see.

   As for the thunderstorms....we did get a few but they were all in the evenings. Vegas is crazy when it rains.  It really does pour, like you said Mom. And the thing that stinks is non of it soaks in the ground because everything is either concrete or hard desert clay and so it just runs like a river.  We were dead asleep when the storms went through and I was way too tired to get up and see how bad it was. It seems like every night when I hit the pillow I can hardly move.  I am so tired.  It is always such a good feeling when you have had a really good day and then you get home and you hit the pillow dead tired.

   We also have been doing a lot with the members and trying to get to know them all and also showing them all of the tools that we can use in our missionary work. As I hope you know, one of those is Mormon.org  We can all go and make profiles on there, sort of like a Facebook without all the annoying posts and stuff. But I was on Mormon.org last week and I couldn't find any of our family! So this week, will you all go on there and make a Mormon.org profile?? I know it seems so simple, but it can be a really good missionary tool if we will use it the right way.  Who knows?  Maybe someone will read what you say and then the Spirit will go to work.

   Thanks for all that you guys do every week for me! I feel your prayers working in my life every day. I know God is watching out for all of us and will continue to guide and direct us as we are faithful in keeping all of His commandments. One thing that has been continually on my mind is to pray not only for physical strength for you, but also for Spiritual strength and safety. That was talked about in General Conference and I think that Spiritual Safety is just as important as the physical safety. Continually pray for missionary experiences and I promise that you will have the opportunity to share the Gospel with someone and help them feel that same joy that we feel everyday in our lives. This really is the greatest thing we can do right now, because as we strengthen others we are strengthened as well! I love you all so much and again, thanks for all that you do for me! Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you guys!! Keep having a fun summer and enjoy the good weather!

Love,
Elder Crapo

This is a picture of the Mount Charleston fire from our apartment.

July 15, 2013 Support from the Savior, Reflections, Testimony

Talofa Fam!!

    Dang, it sounds like things are going really well and that the heat is starting to get you, too. No worries. I think we still have you beat.  I don't think we have seen below 100 for several weeks now during the day.   Honestly, you just adjust and learn to live with it as a missionary. The other day we were coming into the apartment and saw these people moving in and so we went and offered to help. We moved this lady in up three flights of stairs and it was like 107 in our shirts and ties. When we were finished we looked like we had just got out of the shower.   It was really funny. Things here in the mission field are going really well and I am enjoying everything that has been going on.

  As the Finau's told you, I got to go and invite them to a Tongan fireside that the ward is having. We had a dinner right next to their home and I couldn't help but going and inviting them. It was good to see them, but different at the same time. I could tell how different I really was and honestly I just didn't feel the same sitting in their living room as I did 6 months ago. I feel like I have changed a lot, which in a way makes me sad.  But I know that it has definitely been for the better.

   I got a letter this week from Dallin Brower and he was talking about how he was getting ready for his mission next year and he was asking for what advice I would give him. It was crazy!  My mind just had a flood of memories of what I was and what I am now. I wish sometimes I could go back and prepare more in high school. One thing I would have done was have a different attitude about seminary.  I thought that it was just a punishment the Lord was putting me through. Little did I know He was actually trying to help me be prepared for what was ahead.  I was too proud to listen, as I was with most other things.  Really learning what this was all about would have been nice, but I think it was something I had to learn when I was finally really on my own and had to decide if this was really what I wanted. Don't get me wrong, I always knew that this was the right decision and that the church was the one and only true church on the earth today.   But once I got out here and I was literally all alone with people I had never met, it forced me to come to really make dang sure of it myself.

   I am with you, Dad....I honestly wish we could just sit down and have like an interview type a deal where I could just go through experience after experience of what has happened to me on my mission and what I have become. It would be super cool to see if you think I am still the same or quite a bit different. But one thing I do want to share is one thing I have come to know on my mission or how it has changed me, and then next year we can go over all the minor details. I remember being in the MTC and thinking holy CRAP! Am I really going to go through with this and stick this thing out for two years?? It was so unnatural to me at first kneeling every night to pray and then every morning waking up and the first thing I did was fall to my knees begging for strength.  I think the only thing that helped me through it all was that I had a determination that I WOULD NOT go home no matter what. I had made the decision and I didn't care what happened I wasn't going back now.  I had also set another goal for myself. A few months before I left some people told me that everyone hated the first 6 months of their mission and that just didn't sound too fun for me. So I had made up my mind that I would not go home, and that I would not hate the first six months of my mission.  I remember how hard I would pray and ask for strength and thank heaven it came, because I soon found out my determination without the Lord just wasn't going to be enough.

  I found that as I was obedient and as I kept the commandments that the Lord laid out to us in the white handbook I was happy.  Even when I was going through hard times, or my companion and I didn't get along, as long as I was obedient and I tried to be happy the Lord would make up the rest. I won't lie, the first 6 months was probably the most challenging 6 months of my life. I would wake up with this huge weight on my chest worried sick constantly, feeling like I didn't measure up. I was afraid to speak. I was nervous about everything.  Luckily I had learned to pray A LOT and to do everything I could to just have fun. It did suck at times, and it was really challenging.  But I LOVED that first 6 months.  Why, I will never know.  As much as I worried, you would think that I would have hated it. But I loved it and those first 6 have laid the foundation for my mission. I can still remember when I would get those moments, when I would have doubts or worries or would want to go home.... I would just think of Bishop Stoddard's voice in my head telling me he didn't care if I didn't go but if I went I could not come home.:) What good advice!

   I was glad I got that letter this week because it helped me to reflect a little about where I have been and where I want to continue going! I have been doing good and having a ton of fun.  It has only been because of the support of the Lord.  He really has given me the strength to keep going on and to enjoy even the bad days. It is cool too, because He does it through you.  It seems like every time I start to feel down or lonely or something dumb like that I will get a letter or a package. Or I will find out my awesome family had pizza sent to my apartment on the 4th of July just because they are awesome!! I am so so so grateful to my Father in Heaven for you and all that you have done for me. I could go through each member of the family and tell you what you have done to help me throughout the past year, but that would take way too long and it would bore the junk out of you. So I will save it for when I can say it to you!!!:) I just want you all to know how much I love you and how much you mean to me.

   I have been thinking a lot about the Savior and the love that he has for each of us. At the moment I am reading the New Testament and I have been reading in John. Today I read about the Good Shepherd and how Christ is the Good Shepherd to us. I have seen how much He has done for me and the love that He has shown me.  I know that he is definitely watching over me each and everyday. I just hope that when he calls my name, just like a Shepherd does to his sheep, that I will come running.  Brother Ford, in my first area, put it best.  He would always say when he is done here on this earth and he goes to meet his Savior that there will be no doubt that he will know who Don Ford is!!! haha May we all strive each and every day to continue to get to know our Savoir so that we will know exactly who He is when we see Him. I love you all so much and hope you have an awesome 24th of July!!! I sure do miss that parade!!! haha But I am going to get going I will talk to you all soon!!

Love,
Elder Crapo

July 8, 2013 4th of July; Another baptism; B of M lesson about idle time

Talofa Fam!!!

Happy 4th of July!!! Dang, things here are going so good right now.  I am living the dream and loving life. My new companion is Elder West from Alberta, Canada!! Yeah buddy!  You know I am totally headed up there to go snowmobiling when this is all over.  He is a really cool guy and we work together really well. It has been a huge adjustment for me because he is kind of quiet and my last companion, Elder Peacock... well, he wasn't. But I love them both and I begin to see what the Lord teaches me with each companion. We are still rolling in our sexy van and people love it!  They think we are the coolest missionaries ever.  Elder West comes from a really small town and understands the small town jokes, which is good. He is super knowledgeable, too.   It is kind of embarrassing for me because I am not that smart when it comes to the gospel or book stuff.  He is brilliant, you can tell. He knows a scripture for everything!  It is crazy! We actually compliment each other pretty good. One thing I have learned as that no matter what, there is going to be things that you do not like about each companion but you have to learn to ADJUST, like I have talked about before. And by the end, you don't want a new companion because you are used to the one you have had.

This past weekend was a really touching one for me because Daniel, from my old area got baptized. And holy cow has he changed!  I haven't been able to see him since I left my old area and to see him and see how the Atonement has changed him really was almost unbelievable. I just wish I could help other people see that and see the change that can happen in their lives.  The thing is, he thought he was happy.  He thought he had it all. He had quit doing hard core drugs.   He had quit drinking.  He was living with his brother just getting his feet back under him and then the Gospel brought him real Joy.  He is so so much happier. Honestly, there is no better feeling in the world than the work that we are able to do out here.

So now my favorite person to work with Tiffany.  She has been doing really well.  After her stumble a few weeks ago, it has been really hard for her to recover. She is still doing better but she definitely isn't at one hundred percent where she was. On the fourth of July, we of course had to be in by 6:00pm, but we could be at a members home if they would invite us. So of course, her family came through for us.  We got to spend a lot of time there just relaxing and then watching some fireworks with their family. Tiffany was there but the Fourth was a really hard day for her and you could tell she kind of avoided us. It is a dang hard road to recover from and I want to just put all the info into her head and tell her what to do. But it doesn't work that way:( All I know is that when she is reading the scriptures, praying, and coming to church she seems to do much better.  That's not to say she doesn't have bad days or trials.  But when she is doing those things she takes the trials with a much different outlook and it doesn't hurt her as bad. I see all this and I am trying to get this all engrained so when I am off the spiritual high I am on now and I go through a trial, hopefully I will fall back to this experience.  Because the Gospel is the only way to go.

Also today is Tiffany's bday!!!!! So we have dinner and a lesson with the her family tonight and Tiffany got to chose what she wanted for dinner.  Guess what her choice was?.... SUSHI!!! I am quite nervous!!  But of course when they asked if we liked sushi, I smiled and said yes:) So tonight will be eventful.  I think you should definitely keep me in your prayers, please!!

Honestly though, things are going really well.  I am learning a lot and the heat is finally calming down. There has been a huge fire up on Mt Charleston and so there is smoke all over the valley.  It has made for some pretty cool pictures.  Elder West and I were talking and the conclusion we came to was that the longer you have been on the mission, the more you love it. Now I'm not saying I have been out a long time because I still think I am a green missionary.  But it is a lot of fun! There are a ton of missionaries going out and it is so cool. I am so glad I have had the opportunity to be a part of this work at this time and where I am as well. Could you even imagine if I had missed this chance?? Dang, would I have missed out on a lot of fun and so much Joy. In Preach my Gospel it says Greater Joy and Happiness than you have ever experienced awaits you as you serve the Lord with all you heart, might, mind and strength. That is so true!  As Elder Holland said: missions are a family affair. I hope that you can feel how much good is happening in the missionary work not only at home but all over the world. I know without you I couldn't be here doing what I do.  I am so glad that I have so much family support and it means a ton to me. I pray for your Spiritual and Physical safety every day and I know the Lord is watching over you. Keep working hard at home and doing the things that I would be if I were there!!! Sounds like boating season is on!! Have fun and be safe. Last thing, today as I studied I made a connection in the Book of Mormon that I am sure all of you have made before. But me, being the idiot, just realized it today. haha. So at the beginning of the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi, right after Lehi dies. Laman and Lemuel begin to get angry with Nephi because they think he is trying to be a ruler over them. So Nephi asked all his family who will follow or flee for fear of their lives. But it says that the Lamanites became an idle people, the way I looked at it was like they have way too much time on their hands because they aren't out doing productive things.  So they begin to think up all the bad things they can do. And now people today are the same.  Almost everyone we come across, if they have addictions or are struggling with something, it is because they have too much down time. So it is good that you are all staying so busy and doing good things. Keep working hard and having an awesome summer at all your camps and sports. I love you all so much!!! I'll talk to you soon!

Love,
Elder Crapo

July 1, 2013 New Companion, Elder West; New Mission President Ahlander

Talofa Fam!!

Well, I am glad to hear that you have been watching the news and seeing how hot it is down here. I have honestly never felt anything like it, it is crazy!!!! When we walk outside in the morning at 6:20am it is already in the 90s and right now it is 11am and it is already 110.  But it isn't too bad because I have a nice mini van to keep me cool:) But yes, there are elders out on bike in this stuff it is crazy!! I don't know how they do it.  In fact my last companion Elder Frost is going to a bike area this transfer.  I feel really bad for him!

It is transfer time, though and I will be getting a new companion. His name is Elder West and he is from Canada!! I always wanted a foreigner as a comp! haha He seems to be a pretty cool guy.  I don't know him too well.  All I know is he has been a Zone Leader 1 or 2 transfers longer than me and I think he has been out for about 14 months or so.  Elder Peacock and I are just finishing up together and it really has been a pretty good two transfers. To be honest, I can't believe that this transfer is up. It seems like we have transfer right after transfer, but it is good that way. I am still living in a four man apartment.  I will be there until I transfer again, which I am thinking won't be at least for 12 more weeks would be my guess.  I really like having six month areas because it allows me to get to know the ward members better and really fall in love with the area. I am beginning to like this area a lot. The members here are awesome and living in a four man makes life exciting.  Sometimes it is a little hard, but we are all guys.  We fight for a little bit and then we forget about it.  I did also find out that Elder Stewart is going to be coming to my apartment so we will be living together. I am not sure if you remember me mentioning him in emails before but we have served around each other A TON!!! I have been out for 8 transfers and I have served 5 of them with him in my district and now this one will be 6, which is really almost unheard of. haha  No one can believe it. He has family that lives in Plano that know Kurtis and Emily.  I'll have to get their names from him tonight when he is in the apartment.

We did get to meet President Ahlander this week and that was super exciting and fun. The whole mission came to one building and he gave a little presentation on his life and they both spoke and bore testimony. It was crazy how all of that worked.  We didn't even really get to say goodbye to President and Sister Black because the Ahlanders were only with them for like 2 hours. It was pretty sad to see President Black go just because of the huge impact he has had on me and the example that he was. But President Ahlander is AWESOME! I love him already and I hardly even know him. It will be an exciting week because we have mission Leadership Council this week where the Zone Leaders come together and we talk about the mission and make goals and things like that.  So we will actually get to meet him and get to know him then.  Not only that, but right after that meeting we have interviews and our zone is the first zone he will be interviewing, which will be sweet! Elder West and I will get to be his very first interviews, so that will be really interesting to see what kind of questions he asks and what he talks about. In his presentation he gave to the whole mission they had a lot of pictures from their home lives and even a wedding picture which was super funny.  He had a sweet mustache when they got married.  You can tell that they have a lot of connections with the church. For one, Sister Ahlanders Dad is Neil A. Maxwell and then they were dropping General Authorities names that they had interviewed with and talked to like it was nothing!! So it is going to be a really cool thing to get know them and feel the transition of the mission.

We also had a really eventful week in terms of missionary work. This week we met with Tiffany again on Monday and she seemed to be doing pretty good. She decided that she wanted to fast so that she could gain a desire to quit smoking and also so that she could come closer to the Lord. So Elder Peacock, me, and her family all fasted that day. Well, it was the WORST day she had had yet. She really came apart and told her Dad she wanted to head back to Utah and be back with her husband who had left her and all of this crazy stuff that she normally wouldn't do. It was really rough. Her mom ended up texting us and told us about it so we were praying really hard that it would all work out. Bishop even tried to go over and see her, but she refused to come out of her room.  Finally she agreed to let us and the Bishop come by the next day so we could talk about what had happened and then help her hopefully see what was happening. The crazy thing about all of this was even while she was going through the worst day of her life she still continued to fast! Well, the next day when we got there she had calmed down and we talked for about an hour with Bishop Levanger and her about what had happened.  She admitted that she really just wanted to go back to Utah so that she could get drugs and take the pain away. It is so sad to see her like this because she is so normal and trying really hard.  If she even lets up a little, the Adversary is throwing everything that he has at her.  She is so strong and she has been doing really well the rest of the week. We went over there last night so Elder Peacock could say goodbye and she seemed to be doing really well.  That made us really happy. And her mom gave us some BOMB desert!!!:) haha It made my night.

Last night we also had a really good meeting at the Stake Presidency's home. He set up this meeting for all Recent Converts, Less Actives, and Investigators. It was cool.  He just shared a quick message and let the people get to know him. We had 4 of our recent converts there and they felt really welcome and it was a really neat experience to get to be in his home and feel of the Spirit there. The recent converts loved it.

But all is well here!! I hope that everyone at home is doing good, I will try not to melt this upcoming week. We talked to some members last night and they said it was supposed to cool down to like 110 this week....... hahah shoot me now!!!!!!! But it is worth it and I am gaining some good experience.  I now know both extremes. I know the Idaho Cold and the Las Vegas hot.  What else do I need to know, right??  I love you all so much and I am grateful for all that you do! Stay safe and keep on keepin on! Ill talk to you soon!!!

Love,
Elder Crapo



P.S.  Have a sweet 4th of July!!! We have to be in by 6 that night so I will be chilling, enjoying a nice mountain dew in the AC:) haha

June 24, 2013 Two baptisms, Missionary Broadcast, Loving All People

Hey fam!!!

It is good to hear from you and hear that all is well! Things here in Vegas are going really good and we are having a ton of success. I hope that everyone got to go and see the broadcast yesterday.  It was unreal! As I looked out over those young missionaries coming into the field all I could think was that there is no doubt that this is without a doubt the Lord's work. Don't let yourselves miss out on this. There is so much to do and so many people who are being prepared right now in our places like it says in Alma 13:24.

We had a really busy weekend and I feel so blessed to even be a part of the work that is going on here in our area and in my old area. I had the opportunity to get in the water and baptize two different people that I have taught and that was so cool. The first lady's name is Cathy and she is in the area I am serving in right now. That was quite an experience.  She was SUPER nervous I was going to drop her or leave her under the water too long. So every time I put her under the water her foot would come up and she would let go of my hand and try to catch herself which was not good! I ended up having to put her under the water 3 times, but we finally got it done and she was confirmed a member of the church yesterday.

Then on Saturday I got to go back to my old area and Baptize a lady named Chaquita.  She is a really cool lady that we met through some investigators in my last area and Elder Frost, my boy finished teaching her and she got baptized. That was a really neat experience to be back with all the people from my second area and get to touch base with a lot of them. That area really seems like a blur to me because I was only there for 12 weeks and Elder Frost and I worked so hard and built it up from nothing because of the double transfer. It is crazy how the Lord works!  I love that I have had the opportunity to be here at this time.

As we watched that broadcast yesterday the excitement was definitely in the air. I was so stoked to be there and to be there with the whole zone watching it was really fun. There was a pretty good turn out from the stake. I was able to say goodbye to the Mays and I also met Dorla Jenkins son!!! He is in my stake and Bishop Stephen's cousin is serving in his ward, which was pretty cool. I didn't really put it all together but after he explained it I was like, "oh that makes sense!!"  He is heading down to visit today and was asking if I needed to have anything taken home, but I really didn't have anything for him. SMALL world, huh?? I seem to meet people with connections to St. Anthony every single week. I am sure that Elder Peacock is sick of hearing about my small little town. It is crazy to all of these missionaries that I wouldn't ever live in a city... I do love my mission and I love Las Vegas but I would do almost anything to work in the tractor for a few hours. So have fun with it!!

The one big thing I took from yesterday's meeting though, was love. We should just love everyone!! I know that is pretty tough to do sometimes, but it just seemed like the message that was being restated was that we should love people into the Gospel. Even if they won't accept the message, that doesn't matter.  We have to just keep loving them. I find that hard when people slam the door in our face or we get yelled at for some stupid reason or people are rude, but remember people can always change. For instance, there is a guy from my old ward that Elder Frost and I started teaching.  His name is Dan. Now Dan had been into some pretty heavy drugs and has served ten years in jail for dealing them and doing things that he shouldn't have been doing.  When we started to meet with him he wanted nothing to do with God or our message. But his brother and sister in law, who he is living with are both members. His brother also is a recent convert and served 10 years in prison for the same thing. Well, anywho Dan has kept talking to the missionaries every time that they come over and they were just friends with him. That is all we ever did with him.  We just tried to connect and then we would share like a 15 minute lesson at the end of dinner. Well, I guess since I left his interest has sky rocketed and now he has a baptism date of July 5. His family just loved him and never tried to push, but he could see that there was a difference in their lives and he wanted it.

I see now how easy it would have been to just invite people to talk to the missionaries. And I know that there is a fear that people might get offended. But as stated by Elder Holland last night "an invitation that is extended sincerely out of love for the person and the Savior will never come across as offensive."

I don't want anyone to miss out on this awesome opportunity to share the gospel. I know this sounds crazy but it gets you going.  My adrenaline pumps and I get super excited. Last night I wanted to run out of the church building and just go find people to teach!!! I really do believe that if everyone would just listen, this message would ring true to them and they would desire to come into the fold. Now all we need to do is show people love and extend the invitation.  First we must prove to people that we love them and that we really do care about them and that we aren't just trying to baptize them. That really isn't my purpose out here.  I really am just trying to learn how to love everyone and help them feel the love of Christ. I know I am on one today so I am going to shut 'er down. haha I am just so pumped about the work and how it is progressing forward:) I know that you can all be a part of it, too.

I hope that you all have an awesome week! I love you and if there is anything I can do for you please let me know. I am going to get going. I'll talk to you soon!!

Love,
Elder Crapo

June 17, 2013 Father's Day, Service Mishap, Baptism

Talofa Fam!!

Dang, it is good to hear from you. I thought a lot about the fam yesterday seeming how it was Father's Day and how proud I am of my Dad. I won't lie, though. I am pretty ticked that I wasn't there to get to see the '57.  That thing looks so sick!! I can't believe Regg got to see it and not me! haha I am glad that ya'll are enduring the heat there because I am making an attempt here. I would give anything for 80s or even 90s! We are in the 100s every day without fail. But welcome to Las Vegas, right?? I am surprised to find out that 100 really isn't too hot to me any more.  It is just when it gets up to like 104 is when I really start to feel it. But things are going good!! We had a pretty good Father's Day, but yesterday our dinner ended up having to cancel on us because they all got the flu!! Total bummer because it was the Bishop of our Samoan Ward.   But no worries!  They went and bought us KFC haha It was so funny!! Only in the Samoan ward right??

As for news on this week, Elder Peacock and I had the opportunity to go and do some service for a former investigator in our ward. This is the same lady that we set up the trampoline for. She wanted us to come by and set up some shelves. Well, Elder Peacock and one of the Assistants had gone by last week to start it and when they went they ended up not being able to finish.  Honestly, kind of messed it up haha. So I went back and we were trying to fix it and get it set up right and we got it all put together standing up and looking nice.  Then the lady was like, "oh the one side looks a little off." Well, I quickly saw what it was and I went to trying to fix it.  I had the thought run through my mind to lay it back down to fix it.  But I was like oh no I'll just fix it standing up... BAD idea!!  About the time I undid one of the last screws it came crashing down!!! It was so bad and none of us really even knew what to say. Let's just say we were quickly invited to go out back, take the trash out and then we left! It was so funny.  I will have to tell you this in detail later on in life, but I am sure that you can imagine my face, her face, and Elder Peacock's face as it crashed down.

We also had one of the best lessons of the week with one our less active members that we are teaching. All I can say is she should be the woman on the Mormon message called courage!! She has been through so much.  If I were even to begin to tell you all of the stuff you would want to cry for her. She has such a testimony that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very real. Her husband is now out of the picture and she is left here with her parents and three kids who she can't even see every day because of some legal things. So the kids are at her sister's house. It has been so cool to see her come along and use the Atonement to heal the wounds that couldn't other wise be healed. She had nothing left and all she has to lean on is our Savoir. We were able to take her some flowers and a quote from a talk in the last general conference and we are going to see her tonight, so that will have to be continued until next week.

 On other exciting news this week, I got a really funny letter from Kenny D. You should totally call his mom and tell her this story. So I went into the office the other day because we were picking up a bike rack for our sexy van.  Sister McMillian, the lady who works the front desk of our office goes Elder Crapo you have a letter. So of course, I am stoked!  I mean mail time!! And then she says,  "I did notice one special thing about this letter."  I was a little confused.  Then she said,  "It seems to have a prediction as to the next transfers."  Sure enough, this is how it was addressed:
"Future AP"
Elder Braxton Crapo

Only Kenny would put that!! I laughed pretty hard and so did everyone else in the office.  I have to give him props on that one.  It was pretty creative. And thankfully, he is very wrong. haha That won't be me!!

This coming week is going to be a super crazy one!! We have a baptism in our area on Friday and then my son, Elder Frost called me yesterday and I am going to be going back to my old area for the baptism of Chaquita!!! I am so excited!  She is a really awesome lady that we started teaching. Also Max, the kid that we tracted into that ended up getting baptized called Elder Frost and he has decided he wants to go on a mission!! The work here is going forward like crazy!   I love it!  You really don't know or understand the Joy you feel as a missionary until you get here. I am glad that you say I have grown.  That makes me feel like I am really doing something here. I know at times I look around and I am like man, am I really helping anyone??  I know without a doubt that it is changing me, if nothing else.  I have learned a lot! I feel like and I have so so so much left to learn. And no, mom I won't come back thinking that you are all sinners!! Trust me, I am constantly repenting of things I make mistakes in and also of things I fail to do. I look back and think about all of the opportunities to share the gospel and it makes me so sick. I really could have done a lot more good if I would have just applied myself.  But the problem was, I was trying to do it on my own. It makes much more sense now that we can't do anything on our own.  Everything that we have and everything that we will ever get comes from our Loving Heavenly Father.

I was sad to have missed Father's Day with my awesome Dad and we are all dang lucky to have him. I am so grateful that you always set an example that I could follow and have always taught me to work. There was a talk given in General Conference and they talked about a Christ Centered home. I am so grateful that I grew up in a Christ centered home. Mom and Dad, you are awesome!! Dad, Grandpa Happy Fathers Day!!

I am going to get going, but I love you all so much! I hope that Taia makes it home safe and tell her I love her and that I want to hear all about her trip! I am so glad everyone is doing good and let me know if there is anything that I can do for anyone in the fam. Know I am doing good and I am very well taken care of.  We have such great member support here.  It is awesome!! I love you all so much and I will talk to you next week!!

Love,
Elder Crapo

June 10, 2013 Heat Wave, Mission Leadership Council

Talofa Fam!!!!

   Man, things here are going really well and we are just enjoying us some good old Las Vegas heat!! All I can say is I would give anything for 80 degree weather!! We have been up above 110 everyday since Saturday. I was talking to Elder Peacock the other day and we came to the conclusion that we absolutely love the people here, but I could never stay in this climate. It is so hot and so dry.  I am very grateful that I have my sexy mini van to roll around in.  I want to cry for the Elders on bikes! The poor guys, but the Lord is on our side and many people take us in to give us water so we don't end up like Jay at the hospital!! haha But it has been a pretty eventful week and for me to explain it all is tough, but I will try!!

   We had a Mission Leadership Council where we were able to hear some trainings from our awesome President and Sister Black. It was a really sad day because we knew that it would really be the last meeting for them. At the end, Sister Black and President got up and bore their testimonies and that was a really neat experience. I truly am going to miss them like crazy.  They have made a huge impact on me and how I am going to try and live the rest of my life. They remind me so much of you, Mom and Dad, it is almost scary. President always has a comb in his back pocket and he also always has a handkerchief, just like Dad. And Sister Black takes care of us like she is our Mom.  She is an awesome lady.

   Now as for my talk.... it went alright.  It is tough because I have no one here who will give me any real feedback as to how I really did. So I am going to be sending it home so you guys can let me know. I didn't do quite as well as I would have liked, but I only had 5 minutes and to try and get my point across in that amount of time is kind of tough.  It was really good and the meeting went really well. It was all centered on missionary work, which is awesome!!! I know the church is pushing this as hard as they can.  Now we just have to all "catch the wave!" Things are going crazy and we are really pushing hard to get some work going here. We have picked up a few new investigators which is always fun. This area has been a new challenge for me because it isn't quite as busy as my old area. I talked to Elder Frost the other day and I guess that our old area is blowing up like it was when I left. That is awesome for them! I just wish we could get all of our areas to be like that.

   The other day I also had the opportunity to go to a dinner down south by my very first area.  That was super fun and I loved to be by my old place and see it. A flood of memories came back, which made me really really miss that place. I never thought that I would get attached like I did to that area, but it seriously feels like home whenever I get around it. I am sure with Wes back in New York this last week he probably had a flood of memories like that. But I can really feel myself getting attached to this area as well.  I am really hoping to be here for quite a while.  I really like the people.  They are so welcoming and anyone I bring to church, I am positive that they are going to get awesome fellowship from pretty much everyone. I want to be able to stay longer in all of my areas just because it gives me time to get to know the ward and really get to know the people.  I feel like in my last area I didn't have the time to really get attached. We still have 3 weeks until a transfer and I am pretty sure that I will stay here. Elder Peacock only has 1 and a half transfers left because he is going to be going home early for school. So he thinks he will get transferred and finish his mission there.  But I am not really sure what he will do. Either way it will work out the way that the Lord wants it to!!

    To add to the good news, I found my camera!! We were helping Elder and Sister Sudweeks move into their apartment and we took our van to get a desk from the DI right across the street and when we went to put the desk in I could see the string from my camera case hanging out from the folded down seat!! I was so stoked. So I will try and send you a couple of pics from the last month or so.
  
   But enjoy the 80 degree weather and know I would trade you in a heart beat!! Tell Kaden Simmons I love him and hope that he gets better soon!! Dad, I hope that you get your car for Father's Day.  That would be so awesome!! That will be my present to you;) haha

   Oh, I almost forgot!! While I was speaking on Sunday I sat down and guess who the speaker right after me was... It was Brother May!! The guy who is getting ready to go to Seattle on a mission and he knows you guys. That was pretty cool and we got to talk afterward.  It is crazy how many ties I have been able to make with people who are like, "oh Saint Anthony. I know that place!!" We are a dang small town, but it seems like everyone knows someone from good old Saint A!! Speaking of Saint A.... I am really craving some good Chiz's.  They are still open, right?? And I know you talked about Jay, but how is Duke doing?   Just enjoy the fencing and the riding horses and know that I am missing it!! I love you all so much and hope that you have an awesome week!! I will talk to you soon!!

Love,
Elder Crapo

June 3, 2013 Splits with Elder Blanco, Major successes

Whats up Fam!!!

    Dang, seems like just yesterday I was here e-mailing and sending you an update on life here in Las Vegas. Things are going really well and we are having a really good time here  in the heat! Yesterday it got up to like 104 where I am at... I am not excited for the heat I can tell you that. But you learn to live with it.

  The other day I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Blanco from Utah and he and his companion are on bikes.   So that gave me the chance to feel the heat in full force.  In all honesty you just kind of get used to it I guess you could say.  Don't get me wrong - it was dang hot, but there wasn't much you could do about it but keep knocking doors and having fun! He is a stud missionary and I was glad that I got to spend the day with him. He has been out about a year as well and is doing a really good job. He is training a missionary from England which is pretty cool to get a little English accent in the zone.

    We are having some MAJOR success with less active work here in the ward. Tiffany, one of my favorite people that we are working with, got called to be in the Activity Day Assistant.  Then Christian, who just got baptized 3 weeks ago got the Aaronic Priesthood!! It was really cool and we are trying to prepare them to get to the temple so that they can do baptisms for the dead.  I really have been realizing a lot these past couple of days. How many people you help come into the fold does not matter. But how much you help them gain their own testimony does.  I worry sometimes that I may have failed a few people at that.  One thing I have learned is that we are all going to make a ton of mistakes.  What we have to realize is that we did the best we could with the knowledge we had at that time.

   Also another testimony meeting experience that was actually really cool was when we were at the Tropical Breeze ward. There are two things that I absolutely love about that ward.  One is how the women dress. If the rest of the world would shop where these women do, we wouldn't have too much of a modesty problem! haha They have these awesome colorful dresses that go down to like their ankles and they are always modest.  It is really cool. And then on Testimony meeting day as soon as they open it to the congregation, everyone goes up!! Yesterday there were 8 people that headed to the stand. We should all be like that trying to boost others up and share our burning testimony of the Savoir. But not just at testimony meeting - all the time in all things and in all places. I am beginning to think the best way to be a missionary is to love the person you are trying to help. I struggle with that sometimes, because I really don't make a connection with some people or honestly some people are just hard to love. But I look back at the Chaing family that I taught in my first area, and the love I felt for them is the love I feel for my family. I just need to try and get that love for the people I am teaching here.

  One good thing about it, God doesn't expect us to be perfect today!!:) Thank Heaven!  All we can do is work as hard as we can to one day become like Him. I love you all so much and I hope that you are doing well! Sounds like you are going to have an adventure fencing this week on the steep hill!! Be careful and have fun with it!  I would actually love to come fence.  Some good, hard manual labor would be awesome!! Missions are just a mental battle.  The Lord is always trying to teach me something. I am usually just kind of slow figuring it out.

  Let me know if there is anything I can do for you guys and please let the Simmons family know I am praying for them! Is there anyway I can get a letter to Kaden at the hospital? Tell him I love him! If there is anything I can do for their family, please let me know. I love you and hope that you have a good week enjoying the cooler weather!!

Love,
Elder Crapo

May 29, 2013 Memorial Day, P-Day

Talofa Fam!!!

   Thank you all so much for all of the letters and the packages this past week with my b-day. It was a super good day and fun to be out here serving for it. As you saw from the mission blog, today was our temple day so we get to email after the temple. It was so awesome!!! I love going to the temple and feeling the spirit that is there. It really made me feel so good and will definitely help me out for the upcoming weeks.

   As for the weather, yeah it is getting pretty warm here! Consistently in the 90's, so tell Ethan to be prepared for a hot summer!!:) But also tell him to be prepared to come to an awesome place.  He is really going to love it. I have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with a few of the missionaries from the East mission since we go over there every week for church. That would be so cool if Ethan got put into the Samoan Ward with me. Or even if he got put into the Civic Center Ward, which is the Palagi ward that meets in the same building as us.  As far as I know, they just got double transferred into there, so he probably won't go there - but you never know!!!

   This past Sunday I had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament meeting and that was a really neat experience and a good time for me to reflect on some of the good old days moving cows. That will make a little more sense when you get my letter I sent you on Monday because it has the talk in it. 

   We had a really good Memorial Day.  We started off by playing some sick basketball. That is one thing I love about this zone - most people enjoy balling it up every Monday.  So that always gives me something to do.  Then the other half of the zone plays board games up on the stage.  The best part is that we have a ton of people that aren't missionaries show up to play ball, too. Several less active members from all over the Stake come and then even a few non-members come. Also missionaries who are preparing to go on missions come and play with us, so I am sure that is a good opportunity for them to see that we as missionaries are normal people. It is pretty funny how different it is to play ball with a bunch of missionaries than it is to play with just people up at the college. For the most part people are trying to be on our best behavior and so that makes it much more enjoyable.

   Then that evening after p-day was over, our Samoan dinner wanted us to come and pick up dinner at their house about 30 minutes away from where I live. So we headed up there and when we got there she texted us and was like hey elders, sorry I am running a little late I will be there as soon as I can!! Well, little did we know but she was coming from Henderson! So 45 minutes later she came and we barely made it to our appointment. But it all worked out so it was good and they are super awesome! They just seem to take Mormon Standard time to a whole new level! haha

   Then the highlight of my week, we have been teaching a less active couple.  They are the ones who have been on drugs and we are teaching and trying to help them come back. Last week we had assigned her to read to 1 Nephi chapter 12 which from Thursday to Monday would have been a huge task for any of our other investigators. We thought that she would have read it but when we got there and asked her how her reading was going she was like, "well, I only got to Mosiah 7.  But it was really good so far". I seriously about fell out of my chair.  I couldn't believe it. It was so cool because this week her husband went back to Vernal.  He couldn't stand to be cooped up here in Vegas anymore.  That is really scary because if he falls into temptation and does any drugs at all then he won't be able to come back to Vegas with his wife and kids. She said that she has always turned for drugs when things got hard and the only thing that has been able to help her this time has been the scriptures. She said sometimes she finds herself reading for 4 or 5 hours a day because she feels so bad and it is the only thing that can help her.

  That is so amazing and such a testimony of me as to what the scriptures can really do for all of us!! I love you all so much and I hope that your doing good. Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. Once again thanks so much for the letters and the gifts for my birthday.  It really meant a lot!! I will be back emailing again on Monday so I will talk to you all soon! Have a good rest of the week!!

Love,
Elder Crapo