An Unexpected Transfer

Today we got two emails from Daylon, and one from his "Chilean mom": His 2nd mom gave me a heads up that "her son" was getting transferred out of her area and that she and her husband would miss him, as they love him a lot. She promised to keep tabs on him and reminded me that he was always in Heavenly Father's care.

Then Daylon wrote:


Hey, I have special changes today because another missionary needs to go home. I´m leaving my sector at 2 today, so I don´t know if I´ll be able to email when I get to my new sector.

 

My new comp, E´ C,  is from Peru and he ends his mission in about a month and half, a.k.a. after this next change. He is also the District Leader. That´s about all I know about him 

 

I may or may not be able to email later today, so if not, don´t worry. I still love you :)- 

- Elder Daylon Crider

And later we got this email:
So, first and foremost, IT IS RAINING LIKE CRAZY HERE!!!!!!! I have my full suit, a sweater, a scarf, gloves, long underwear, a huge rain jacket, and earmuffs and I´m STILL freezing!! I should probably go pick up an umbrella, huh?....good thing we´re going to do compras next :)

So, about the book, mom. We´re only allowed to read the approved "Missionary Library" and the Church Magazines. Even if the Prophet writes it, we have to get permission, which is SUPER hard. Just save it for me to read when I get home :) (note from Mom: I wanted to send him a copy of the Totally Awesome book The Power of Everyday Missionaries for him to share with the members there)

This week I´m going to do my email a little different to see how it goes. Ready?

What is Faith?

       James 2:17-18 says that faith is action.

What is Repentance?

       Repentance is an act of faith. Therefore, we show and build our faith when we repent.

What are the steps of Repentance?

       1) Recognize

       2) Stop (Mosiah 5:2)

       3) Confess (To both the Lord AND anyone who might have suffered from the consequences of your action/s)

       4) Fix it (Try to help alleviate the pain of anyone you offended. Ex: offer a bag of ice to someone you hit, offer to pay for the damage in a car accident, etc.)

       5) Keep the Commandments (Through keeping the commandments, you will gain strength to Stop)

       6) Accept Christ (This means you admit that you have weaknesses and are willing to work on improving them through constant Repentance)

When do I need to repent?

       Whenever you sin. A sin is defined as "anything that is against the teachings and Doctrine of Christ". That includes thoughts. Mosiah 4:30)

We all sin every single day, but through utilizing the Atonement, with a sincere heart and a Spirit that is willing to change, "then will I make weak things become strong unto you". (Ether 12:27)

My favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon is Alma 7:11-12. Christ suffered EVERY sort of affliction for us. Yes, the most important was His suffering for our sins, but He also felt the pain of childbirth, the misery of an upset stomach, and the difficulty of watching a child fall away from the Gospel. He can, and is willing, to help us in every situation. He knows EXACTLY what we need in EVERY tribulation. Go to him, confess your sins, and plead for help. He will not deny you liberty from your pains and discomforts.

Of that I can testify from experience. There is no path from which we cannot return. His love is infinite and is waiting for all those who humble themselves before Him in a sincere prayer of Repentance. There are not many things I know to be 100% true, but there is no doubt in my mind of the power of the Atonement.

I bear this testimony, with the desire that all would remember to repent for the small things as well as the big ones, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

-- 

- Elder Daylon Crider

p.s. Please reply with you favorite Book of Mormon scripture :) And mom, I want the favorite scripture of everyone in the family, too :)

The Power of the Spirit

First off, let me giv you a heads up. When a Holiday falls on a Tuesday, a lot of people take Monday off too, especially the people who run the cyber places. So if you don´t get an email from me one week (as was almost the case today) don´t flip out! It´s most likely a random Chilean holiday :)

Anyway, ALYZA! I love you :)

Yes, I´m eating fruits and veggies. We rarely cook for ourselves so I would probably only use 2 recipies per month and with three of us we take turns cooking so I haven´t cooked since my second week here. Thanks though :)

As missionaries we always stop to help and give service whenever possible, but we can´t afford to dedicate time to looking for them. One, there just aren´t that many in my sector right now, and two, our daily schedule is always full with lessons so we don´t have much spare time. But when we do find an opportunity, even if it takes 30 minutes, we are still on time to our next appointment because God moves things around for His servants ;)

President King asked us not to bring a backpack because the mission provides one, and when they have excess they get in trouble from Salt Lake. So I do have a backpack to carry everything in, no worries :)
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So, on Friday we had a super spiritual lesson with C. We were talking about MIT (the Most Important Thing, a.k.a. Eternal Life) so that she can better understand the importance of keeping the commandments. We talked about the purpose of God (Moses 1:39) and the difference between immortality (Alma 11:45, 2 Nephi 9:13) and Eternal Life (TG, D&C 14:7, Mosiah 2:41). Then we discussed the Celestial Kingdom and how awesome it is (Ether 12:32, D&C 76:62, 66-67, 70). By the end of this two hour lesson, every single one of us (her, us 3 missionaries and a sister who is preparing to serve) was in tears from the power of the Spirit and the beauty of our inheritance.

Also, us missionaries got to speak in Sacrament meeting yesterday :) I had all my scriptures marked except one that I thought of Sunday morning, so as I tried to turn to it I was glad I had spent the last week memorizing it! I couldn´t, for the life of me, turn to 3 Nephi, but thankful I know 3 Nephi 27:19 :) I spoke about Faith and how it helps us gain Eternal Life.

On Friday night, we had our first English Class! About 20 people showed up and we taught them the ABCs and how to pray in English :) It was super fun and we are going to have them every Friday night at 8 :)

Packages recieved as of 5/20/12:
Mom - Office suplies. Thank you! I´ve used everything almost every day since I got your package! And I´m starting to like the pens, so don´t worry about what I said about the other ones :)

Grandma - Easter Package. Like I said, my comp and I are very greatful for the American candy.

I´ll probably get Tricia´s this Wednesday :)
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Mom - Those post-it notes you sent are really coming in handy :) Also, now I´m starting to wear the long underwear under my pants and I´m so much warmer than my comps haha. Question: If I send you a letter, can you copy it and send it to everyone? I have a list of the people outside our family that I´ll include, plus I want all our family members, including extended, to read it :)

Dad - Whenever you have a hard time teaching a lesson, just remember your oldest son, in a foreign country, teaching 5 different lessons a day in a language that he´s a beginner in. You can do it :)

Trevin - Voy a escribir una carta a Ud. porque tengo muchas cosas que quiero decir a Ud. Espérame un poquito :)

Anna - Haha, I should have warned you about Shamoo, sorry! I hope you´re not too sick!

Allie - Thanks for doing such wonderful service projects to help keep our family happy :)

Alyza - You´d better not be a little sass-master when I come home! You´re my baby sister and baby sisters aren´t sassy!

-- 

- Elder Daylon Crider

Almonds from the Tree

Let me start by saying that yesterday was so much fun! I loved being able to talk with all of you :D Thanks for all the questions to help keep at bay the awkward silences haha Anyway, I will definitely remember that Hna. C. is putting motherly love in all the meals. I actually think we have lunch with them tomorrow or Wednesday, so that´ll be nice :) (Mom asked how to approach some neighbors she wants to introduce to the missionaries): About John and Amanda. The best way to start, from my experience here, is with an FHE where the missionaries just answer any questions they have, or, if they don´t have any, they teach our basic beliefs and the "usual" questions (Joseph Smith, prophets, priesthood, etc.). Just a very informal kind of thing. But talk with the Elders and make a plan. Their teaching techniques are probably different from mine because we´re teaching in two different cultures. (Mom said that we got to church after the Skype call yesterday just in time to get my Mother's Day candy bar) You´re welcome for your candy bar ;) You know I´ve always been a timely person when it comes to meetings haha And Dad, props on putting together a great day for Mom! That trait is definitely something I want to have so I can treat my wife as well as you treat mom. -------------------------------------------------------------- Now for my stuff: What´s the name of the RM in our ward who served in Chile? So, Hno. Dwyght (yes, he spells it like that) has this giant tree in his back yeard, and you´ll never guess what it is! An ALMOND tree!!! They taste so good!!!! It was funny at first, though, because I´ve never seen one with it´s shell. It sorta feels like a peach haha WANTS - If they are less than $3 per pen, can you find and get me a box of "Pilot G-Tech-C4" pens, preferably black? They´re super awesome and I love using them, but I can´t find them here :/ If they are more expensive than $3 per, then I´ll just buy this other type that is almost the same. Thanks! - Elder Daylon Crider   dayloncrider.com eldercrider.blogspot.com

The Fourth Missionary

So, attached (below) is a picture of the rat we killed :) Hno. C and E´ L (my comp) were the ones to kill it and I threw the blanket over it so it couldn´t keep running around while they hit it with brooms. But there´s no blood, so technically we didn´t "shed innocent blood" and break the commandment hahahaha

 

In regards to your summer plans, I would suggest that everyone find at least one new friend. I´ve learned recently that my lack of a social life is a huge disability here in the mission. We got a third comp on Friday, so we´re running in a trio for at least the rest of this change, and so far E´ L and E´ G (that´s the new one) are hitting off like best friends because they can talk about the same movies and share similar experiences. I don´t regret anything I´ve done in my life, but if I could change one thing, it would be to be more socially outgoing, like Trevin. And so, my challenge for everyone reading this email, from Alyza to Gigi, and everyone in between, is to find a new friend this summer. ¿Lo harán? ("Will you do it?")

 

On that same subject (I´ll finish responding to mom´s email at the end this time), I´ve realized this past week that I need to change the kind of missionary I am. Or rather, I need to BECOME a missionary, not just be ON a mission. I read a talk that my new comp brought with him entitled "The 4th Missionary". It explains how there are four types of missionaries and I hope I can do the talk justice with this brief description:

 

The first missionary either chooses to return early or gets sent home. This makes up about 5% of the missionaries worldwide.

 

The second missionary finishes his mission, but he should have been sent home. He was just a good liar. This makes up about 20% of missionaries.

 

The third missionary finishes his mission honorably. He was obedient and changed the lives of many people. However, his mission did not change HIS life. This makes up about 70% of missionaries.

 

The fourth missionary forgets himself and goes to work. He sacrifices the worldly pleasures of home just like the rest, but he also sacrifices himself. The one thing God cannot take from us is our agency, but the fourth missionaries allows himself to bend to the will of God. This makes up about 5% of missionaries.

 

I realized this week that I´m at the lower end of the third missionary. My mind and my actions may be here, focused on the people in Chile, but my heart and my thoughts are not. Also, our Zone has taken the initiative to be known as the most obedient Zone in our Mission. As a result of the change that needs to take place within myself, as much as I REALLY don´t want to do this, I must request that our email conversations stop. I´ve spent 5 minutes writing that last line...today will be the last day of email conversations. (per a later email, the conversations themselves are not against the rules, but he has a one hour time limit per week for emailing, and he has been exceeding that time. His regular emails will still come as usual.)

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Please give everyone in the ward my love! I know that the Lord may shortly need Sis S back in Heaven to further the missionary work in the Spirit World. She is a faithful woman who is overflowing with the Spirit and as such has been well prepared to bring the Gospel joy that she has experienced to those who have passed on.

 

I don´t have much else to write this week, but I got to experience my first earthquake on Tuesday! It only lasted like 2 seconds and no damage was done, but the stupid thing did manage to wake us up 30 minutes before our alarm :( But at least we were up on time hahaha!

 

Oh! I do have something else! I learned the other day that the Area President has been pushing really hard to stop having families pick up their missionaries at the end. He says either don´t do it, or wait at least 6 months. So I have a proposal. How about you meet me in Georgia on a Wednesday afternoon and we can drive up to Heinz Field to watch the Steelers play TNF. Would that work? :D

 

Mom - I´m definitely missing summer planning, but mostly because I miss the warmth! The sun sets around 6:30 and we put on a long-sleeve shirt, sweater, AND suit coat! ¡Hace frío!

 

Entonces, la obra acá está progresando muy rápido. ¡Tenemos cualquier bautismos! Nosotros vamos a tener un nuevo bautismo 12 de Mayo, la próxima Sabado. Estoy tratando mushísimo a cambiar el lugar de mi corazón y tengo much ayuda del Señor. Ahora, con ocho semanas en Chile, puedo entender más personas y también pudo hablar con más traquilidad. Más frasas completes en contra de algúnas palabras, tiempo para pensar, algúnas palabras...como así. Doy gracias cada noche y manaña por el don de lenguas y el Espíritu Santo, quien me da mucha ayuda y apoyo.  Google Translate: Then, the work here is progressing very fast.We all baptisms! We will have a new baptism May 12, next Saturday. Mushísimo'm trying to change the place of my heart and I have much help from the Lord. Now, with eight weeks in Chile, I can understand more people and also able to talk with more quietness. More complete FraSas against some words, time to think, a few words ... as well. I give thanks every night and moring for the gift of tongues and the Holy Spirit, who gives me a lot of help and support.  (from mom: Obviously, Google does not have the gift of tongues!)

Les quiero,

- Elder Daylon Crider

 

A's Baptism

My First Rat Homicide