Christmas is Coming :)

11:30 works for me :) (That's 3:30 my time, right?)  (this is about our Skype schedule for Christmas)

DAD! Can you look up my login info for me? Seeing as I've only done this three other times in the past two years, I kinda forgot my info haha

Mom....that video is upside-down hahaha but this is for her: "Alyza B! You gotta listen to mommy! You gotta stay healthy for when Dayday gets home so we can play games!"

Anna - Congrats on the grades!

Trev - How's Mission Prep going? Don't forget I expect my annual letter for 2015 before I go home!

Allie - I believe in Santa :) Do you? Also, you should ask Santa for an extra set of Pokemon cards so I can play with you when I get home :)

In the airport I just want Mom, Dad, Trevin, Anna, Allie, and Alyza there. No one else. They could all just come over like an hour or two before Trev's game and then we'll go to his game. Obviously depending on when I get released. Hopefully it's not too late!

QUESTIONS:

1. Did you really get acupuncture? How did that go?

No, I decided the thought of having three-inch needles shoved in my neck could wait until I was home and in a more....American health clinic place.

2. 70 boxes came??? We got a pic of you hauling boxes! Were any of them yours? From whom? Did you open them? If so, reactions please.  If not, wow, I'm impressed. We got a letter from you but we can't open it and it's driving us crazy!!!!

I have gotten both the package from grandma and the one from you. And seeing as I'm a very impatient person, I already opened them haha. That gift seriously took some stress off my shoulders! (Which helps the pinched nerve too hahaha) And obviously I loved (and devoured) all the food :D

3. Where do you go shopping for gifts in Chile? Do they have Target there? :)  

We have what's called "La Feria" (basically a flea market) that has mostly Farmer's Market type stuff, but sometimes you'll find a shirt or something like that. We don't have Target, but we do have Walmart :)

4. Will you get a Christmas dinner at President's house? 

Not on Christmas Day, nor Christmas Eve, but we are having a dinner at his house :) And the rest of the week we'll be with members all day haha (except for when we Skype, obviously!)

I didn't send you a b-day letter?? I knew I was missing something...but hey! At least I sent that pic on the right day, right? :D hahaha I can never remmeber if it's the 7th or the 8th :P Sorry Mommy!!!

Anyway, I'll keep it nice and short today so that we have lots to talk about on Christmas Day at 11:30 :)

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Great New Comp

This week flew by! I finally have a companion, but the first week of changes for the office it's almost always impossible to get out to the sector :P Hopefully next week we'll start getting out more :)

Elder Nielsen from Gilbert AZ is my comp :) He went to Highland (High School) and did track, so I'm sure we've crossed paths before. We get along super well, us two and Elder Salisbury (he's in charge of the missionary's houses). The three of us do a lot together because Elder Salsibury's comps are only here until the 18th when a handful of missionaries who should be going home with me are leaving because BYU's classes start the week we'd be back. And for some this would be their 3rd Christmas away from home, so Pdte is sending them home early.

E' Nielsen is catching on super quick, so I've taken up reading the Book of Mormon in French to see if I can learn it this change :) Wish me luck!

About technology. I think I'll be fine with my laptop for now as long as I have the Windows Phone so I can work on my app dev'ing. I have been thinking about getting a tablet for school because it would be easier to take notes, but I'm not planning on getting one for this first semester. I've already got way too many expenses on my plate :P

1. Have you guys decorated the mission home for Christmas?

We're not allowed to decorate the Mission Office (or maybe it's because we can't find the tree they used last year...), and I've got no idea if Hna Barreiros has decorated her house yet or not.

2. I heard you are training someone. Tell us about that.

See above :)

3. Is "watching over" the sandwiches your favorite job? haha

Haha, it is now that I have nothing to do :P Actually, the Assistants are supposed to watch them, but Pdte had some more changes to make before the meeting started, so they were all with him in his office.

4. How long have the Bertagna's been on their mission, and how long is their mission in total?

They leave on February 6th. They'll have been here for 18 months.

5. You never told me if there was any chance of you being able to visit the Cortez family before you leave?

There was. Then Pdte changed his mind. Now there's not :/

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Plan Piloto

Yesterday, around 7pm, we get an email at the office from the Secretary of the Area Presidency: "All meetings with Elder Evans this weekend have been cancelled. Because of a greater calling he was needed back in the States immediately. Sorry for any inconveniences and have a great weekend!"

But that's ok cuz two weeks ago we saw Elder Nelson :) But Pdte was able to tell us that the Plan Piloto (a.k.a. "El Rescate" in our mission) has been approved for all of South America. That's awesome!! (from Mom: by this, I think he means a program to work with all the inactive members that they rolled out in Chile a little while back)

And to calm everyone's curiosity, yes, we did get the van open without having to call any professionals :D (from Mom: Last week Daylon sent us a video of him and another Elder trying to get into their car when the keys were locked inside)

Questions:

1. Are you warm now? What is the average day time temperature? We finally just this week got a bit of night time chill in the air, but its still 71 or so during the day.

It's a comfortable 70-80 degrees during the day, maybe dipping down to the upper 60s at night. Come the end of December it should be a good temp for me, but two weeks later I'll be suffering in the cold again :P

2. If the Bertagnas have a good oven in their apt, I suggest you try making your famous pretzels for the office one time before you leave. Cement your legacy, you know?  Your thoughts?

Mine is better (or at least it's bigger). The only hard part is I'm not sure if all the ingredients are available here in Chile and I'm scared to "estimate" the oven temp based on the flame (the thermometer you sent me last year got lost in my move :/)

3. Do you drive a stick or automatic right now?  So much for your 'walking' mission!

The van was automatic and it's been in the shop for about two months because there's dirt and water in the pistons in the engine. The truck (our only car right now) is stick, but I don't drive it too often. Although (and feel free to tell this to Tricia) I haven't stalled it since my first day driving it way back when I first got to the office :D

4. What will you be doing for Thanksgiving this week? We will be doing our usual dual-feast interspersed with some Balluff football and the annual foot race. Tony has been running 5ks in preparation for schooling Trevin!

On Thursday we're going up to Pdte's house from 3 to about 9 :D And that's about it haha. In the morning we have to be in the office because they're coming to clean the carpets, but other than that Pdte wants us to take the day off. The day after, however, we need to get back to work haha.

And that's about it. I don't want to say it was a boring week just in case we end up having to go to the Hospital again :P

- Elder Daylon Crider

Elder Nelson's Visit

Elder Crider's Weekly Email

Daylon's Mission Email

10:33 AM

To: Mom, Dad, Jenny Harris

Well. I just shook hands with an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He also gave us an Apostolic blessing in fluent Spanish after having a translator for his whole talk! I think that was the coolest thing ever! 

Anyway, accompanying him were Elder Christensen and Elder Viñas (along with their wives).

First I'll respond to your (Mom's) email, then I'll talk about how it went this morning.

(We got Daylon's return home itinerary this week and I wondered about when he would be released): I'm sure he'll want to release me quickly, but as long as it's before 7 I'll be fine. I just want to make it to Trevin's game.

(Mom told Daylon she couldn't have made it through this particularly chaotic week without some help from extended family): We're definitely not leaving Arizona and we aren't planning on leaving Mesa.

Sis and Elder Christensen spoke in Spanish and talked about the joy (not just happiness) that comes from being exactly obedient and helping others.

Sis Nelson talked about knowing our pre-mortal selves and our eternal "to do" list. She also reminded us that we made covenants with God before coming to Earth (like serving a mission in Chile, being the Deacon's Quorum President, etc.) and how we should pray to have the Spiritual eyes to see the ancestors of those we share the Gospel with. They are always present because they're pleading that those on earth will accept the Gospel that they now know to be true.

Elder Nelson was definitely following the Spirit because I'm still trying to find the connection between everything he talked about haha. He started by talking about wanting to go off Sis Nelson's topic and give us a vision like God did to Joseph Smith. He told us that if we could look into Heaven for just 5 minutes, we would know more about a subject than if we studied it all our earthly life. He explained the Greek and Hebrew meanings of "I am" - how it's both a subject and a verb that means the same thing in past- present- and future-tenses.

     Then he mentioned how Eve was the crowning center-piece off the Creation.

     After he asked to show, by raising hands, what tribes we are from. All but about 4 of the 500+ missionaries present are from either Ephraim or Manasseh. He explained how that right there was the fulfilling of the Abrahamic Covenant - that through Joseph would the gather of Israel happen. He talked a good amount of time on the Abarhamic Covenant. Baptism is the gate we enter in and the Temple is where we receive a fullness of the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant.

     He ended by talking about how if someone we want to marry doesn't put the Lord first in EVERYTHING, then they are not the one we should marry - it will only end in conflict.

So pretty much it was amazing :D

Let me know what the bishop says about my release!

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Photo Bomb!

Great seats for the meeting!

One Day's Difference

So, being in the office has it's perks, but also it's downsides. Yesterday the office got an email saying it would save the Church $500-600 USD if they could send my group home on Tuesday instead of Monday....and Pdte approved :/ So I'll be flying in Wednesday morning around 9:30AM (we don't have my itinerary yet)

That was pretty much the most depressing thing I've heard since about this time last year! Not because I'm staying one day more - me da lo mismo - but because I was SO excited to see Trevin play again!! When is his next game after that???

Have you ever used public transportation, like a bus or train or cab, in Chile? What was that like?

We use public transport almost every day (except here in the office because we have a car). Now it's a normal experience for me, in fact, I started wondering if we had that in Mesa because I couldn't remember. I looked it up and actually planned a pretty nice route from our house to the MCC campus at Southern and Dobson because I figured I won't have a car right when I get home :P

Are you sending Alyza any candy for her bday? She really wants to know!

As soon as I find a box that's the right size I'll send it. Probably at the end of next week. Sorry for the tardanza, but we've had so many problems with the cars lately that I've had to fill out reports for and coordinate the payments (and every once in a while try my hand at haggling - with success!) so I completely forgot when I had to send it for it to get there on time. But I'm sending it!

Did you share Grandma's box of goodies? :)

A little, but I hid most of the good stuff :) Hahaha

So, here's my schedule:

ECN211 MWF 9-9:50

PSY132 MWF 11-11:50

CIS162 Online

SPA265 Online (starts Feb 2nd)

I plan to use TuTh 8-8:50 and 9-9:50 for my online classes

For Sis Peterson:

Well, I could make some Chilean food, but it's a very acquired tasted haha. My banana bread is more of a banana cake, but I did learn it in the mission :) And I'd love to help out once in a while!

Mom:

When is her class? During Sunday School, or on Sunday afternoons or when?

Hey! Does Dad happen to know when Elder's ball starts??

I'll start working on what to put in my resume and maybe Dad can help me put it together?

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Registering for Classes in my Free Time

I've been watching the count on available seats in the classes I told you about and ENG102 with the teacher that everyone seems to like only has 12 more seats available. But you think I should wait till my second semester? What class should I replace it with? (p.s. If you could reply today it would be awesome so I can sign up first thing Monday morning)

I'll probably take the Spanish test just to have a certificate that says I'm bilingual because that'll help with the job search - especially in Arizona.

Meet the Mormons isn't in Spanish, so I doubt I'll see it here in the mission.

(Mom jokingly told Daylon he should serve pretzel bits with different dipping sauces at his future wedding reception) Hey, pretzel bits may not be a bad idea...this sounds weird, but I kinda miss pretzel season. It was stressful, yes, but I enjoyed it :) Looking back, that is hahaha

1. Did you get Grammy's package yet??? 

Nope. I'll have Elder B send you a pic when it shows up, but so far I haven't gotten it.

2. Did you know Trevin has a game the very night you get home, just like he did the very night you left? Weird, huh? Will you be up for it? I want to do an open house, but I was thinking we could do it a couple nights after you get home, to give you a little breathing room. The family will want to come over and see you, though. They'll probably all just end up coming to Trev's game to see you and I won't have to clean the house or make food! Yee haw, it's a plan! What do you think? 

In all honesty I was hoping he would have a game that night! Just tell everyone I'll be at his game and they can see me there :) You know I'm not to keen on an open house, but I guess it'll be necessary, huh?

3. Do you ever get to teach anymore? If not, do you miss it? 

We haven't gotten out much lately (we're down to one vehicle so coordination is difficult at best), but I do miss it - that feeling of knowing someone's life is going to be better because God trusts in you lo suficiente como para dejarte enseñarles el Evangelio de Jesucristo.

4. Do you think you'll go back out in the field at all before you come home? 

President said I'll train the new financial secretary in December so that we end the year on a good note (those are his words! I couldn't help but feel a little proud), so I'll be finishing up here in the office.

5. What do you want for dinner your first night back?

I've really been craving a nice bean and cheese burrito enchilada style with a side of rice and beans :D

6. Have you tried any new Chilean food since you've been in the office? 

In the office we usually eat McDonalds or Burger King so we can keep working and not lose too much time, so we only eat with the members on Sundays :/

7. How can I teach the YW about charity this weekend?

"Which way do you face?" - Elder Robbins (Saturday Morning) as well as "Are we not all beggars?" - Elder Holland (Saturday Afternoon)

I would base my lesson on these two talks. If we want to keep the first commandment, we have charity. If we want to keep the second commandment, we have charity. And if we live worthy so as to represent the Lord to those we meet in our lives, He will bless us with added charity because we will be doing His work. Does that help a bit? Elder Holland really covers it well in his talk.

We just got back from playing soccer. It was intense! We had a great time, totally wiped out (I barely have the energy to write this! Consider yourselves lucky haha) and I'm definitely out of shape :P

Lots of love!

- Elder Daylon Crider

I Love Conference!

First of all - Conference has been incredible! I had three questions/inquetudes and all three were answered in just the first two sessions! I need to think of more questions! hahaha

Elder Perry's talk really gave me some good advice for the future! Actually, looking at my notes, the entire Afternoon Session was perfect for what I have been thinking about lately :)

I'll try to write a bit later about Conference but I need to keep this short so I can pick up the stuff to make Pan de Plátano before the Priesthood Session (9-11pm!)

1. Did you get our "family" letter? could you figure out who wrote which part?
I got it yesterday :) And the first two paragraphs were hard, but I figured them all out :) And tell Trev I'll count it as his annual letter as long as he sends me another one in the first 10 days of next year haha
2. Did you get a package from Grammy recently? What was in it? Did you share?
I have not gotten any packages recently. Speaking of which, please remind everyone NOT to send me anything for Christmas. I'll be home two weeks after and it'll be much more exciting in-person :)

(PS from Daylon's Mom: Daylon is really stressed about going back to college. If you were planning on sending him a Christmas box (see his comment above), would you save the $40 to $65 in postage you would have spent and consider contributing it to his spring tuition instead as a Christmas surprise for him? I thought I would send him a copy of the tuition statement and put everyone's names on it that contributed as his Christmas present in Chile this year!!  I can take any contributions down to MCC at one time to make the payment, so just get with me if you're interested.)

3. Any adventures with Elder B and the gang this week? 
Umm...well, the van is about to blow a rod in the engine so we had to rent a car. Unfortunately Elder B is the only one (legally) who can drive it. It's a stick and the other day he said that sometimes he forgets it's not an automatic...we usually get going about 60 mph before he shifts into 2nd gear...thankfully on Monday we give it back and the Area Office is getting us a temp. A Toyota Corolla, but it's better than our current situation :P
4. Did you hear that Chase Bank was hacked?
I did not, but I'm glad everything is safe! It seems like more and more places are getting hacked, no? Thankfully it was just contact info! I need that money for all the real-life expenses I'll have when I get home :/ (Not looking forward to that part of being home, fyi)

Thankfully as the mission's financial secretary I don't have to worry about quarterly or semi annual or annual stuff. All I do it the CC report at the end of the cycle, rent every month, paying bills on almost 100 houses in the equivalent of four different counties (each with different procedures for different types of bills), and making sure missionaries have the money they need...speaking of that...I need to call Salt Lake on Monday...

Anyway, I'm gonna go buy stuff before Priesthood Session starts. Love you all!
- Elder Daylon Crider