Some Questions Answered

Prologue by Mom: Wow! Daylon did an excellent job of answering some long standing questions I've had in this email. Mom is a happy camper today!

Mom (and anyone else wanting to send a package before January...*coughJENNYcough* *coughGRANDMAcough*) PLEASE DON´T! With my experience having changes in the past, I realized I had managed to accumulate more stuff than I thought I had and I barely fit everything last time. Plus I have to travel an hour in bus to Maipú with my luggage and everything, so it will seriously be an inconvenience to get packages before changes. HOWEVER, there is a possibility I will have changes at the end of the next change and if that happens (obviously I´ll let you know if it does) THEN it would be ok to send packages before the year´s up. Sorry if that upsets any of you, but I seriously won´t have room for even a lollipop...

Speaking of packages, I got one from you (Mom) last week and I definitely didn´t have the patience to wait 3 more weeks to open it..... :) Happy birthday to me hahahaha. Actually, I´m glad I opened it when I did because that morning my last pen ran out of ink. Luckily there were a few in the package :) Also, I´m keeping the poster in it´s plastic so I can keep it for after the mission. I love it! Thanks :) (from Mom: It was a poster of Helaman's Army)  Oh! And don´t tell the other kids this, but when I looked through the album and saw Alyza standing in all those flowers with her hands on her hips.....I may have shed a tear or two....and taken a photo of it....and plan on printing it and keeping it in my journal.....yeah....  (from Mom: I sent Daylon a photo book. To see the photo he is talking about, click here)

I did happen to send a letter to Gigi about the time I sent yours and Anna´s, if memory serves, because I felt that I needed to. The first thing I want to do when I get home, after I get released, is go visit her, no matter where she is. If she´s with Great Grandpa in Utah then we´ll take a road trip :) (from Mom: Daylon's Great Grandma is getting older (91!) and more bedridden. I mentioned that if he wanted to tell her anything special, this would be the time to do it, but it sounds like he was already impressed to do so.)

Yes, I wrote the H. family the same day you first told me to :) If I don´t write things down, I usually don´t remember by the next week, sorry :P But I wrote them and got a nice response back last week :) (from Mom: The H's are a great family we know who have helped very generously with Daylon's mission expenses)

The street names, well, only exsist for those who´ve lived here a while. We´re on the street Los Andes, but I have no idea if it´lll show up with a name on Google Maps. But anyway, Los Andes (street) Isla de Maipo (town) is where I´m at. It might be easier to find Talagante and go a little more South...East, I believe. A little more South-east.

Mom - Read the first part of 1 Nephi 1:1

Dad - Do the same as mom :) Also, you said I had a letter in the mail about 2 months ago....did you ever send it?

Trevin - private, not posted here :)

Anna - When do you start at Stapley?

Allie - Good luck with your baptism :) (Is it this week, or next?)

Alyza - Dayday will send you some more candy for your bday :)

I don´t have a lesson this week because I just don´t have time to type it all up, sorry!

- Elder Daylon Crider

p.s. For pictures, two short videos will be coming in seperate emails :) (from Mom: I inserted the videos below, but I don't think they're working. Grr. Okay, I'll try posting them on Facebook too, so head on over to Lecia Crider and maybe you can see them there. Who knows?)

 

 

Six Months Already!

From Mom: apparently Daylon is forgetting English, so I've added the English words after all his Spanish ;)

 

So, justo (haha, just, I'm sure you figured that one out!) after emailing home last week, we went to do compras (shopping) at Líder (a.k.a. Walmart!) and a Lady A song was playing (ask Jenny if you don´t know who Lady A is). For the first time in almost 6 months (8 more days!) I got to enjoy some good music :) I am so sick of walking down the streets and hearing the same "buh buh-na-na buh buh na-na" over and over again. I´m definitely NOT listening to Chilean music when I get back home haha. I miss my Country! :(

Anyway, a surgencia (suggestion) for Christmas: We have changes on December 31st and if I don´t go the change before, that´s when I´ll get moved to a new sector. As a result, PLEASE DO NOT send packages UNTIL AFTER the New Year so that I don´t have to worry about packing all the extra stuff :) Thanks! (from Mom: Yeah, that's gonna happen! Just send edibles that will be gone by Dec 31st!)

Elder Zabellos (of the Seventy) was here on Wednesday and we had a great capacitación (training) with him (sorry I´m using so much Spanish, I don´t remember what they mean in English haha). He told all the Latins that they need to learn English and then Pres. Barreiros stepped up for a second to say that for the end of the year conference, we´re going to do it in English, without translators! Talk about "prove me now herewith" in regards to the gift of tounges! haha

Also, we got to church about 10 minutes early, like normal, and with about 2 to go, I was asked to give a talk along with one other person. He was going to talk first and I last. I didn´t know anyone else had been asked to talk last minute, so I preped a talk on faith. Then Alejandro got up and guess what he spoke on......yup, faith. As soon as I realized that, I had about 15 minutes to come up with another topic and write a talk on it. Thank goodness for the Gospel Principles book I had with me! I managed to fill all 10 minutes with about 5 scriptures and passages from that book. The Spirit was absolutely helping me with my talk!

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This week I don´t have much more than a suggestion: On Saturday, take about an hour and read the lessons that are going to be given the following day. There are many awesome stories and ideas to help you grow your faith that the teachers don´t always cover. Not only will it help you, but you will come to class prepared with other scriptures you may have found and stories that you may have that can help the class and especially the teacher.

I would suggest getting yourself a hardcopy of the manuals (ask the Ward Secretary) and making notes in the margins and writing it scripture references. Then, if you´re put on the spot last-minute and have to give a talk, you can just flip to any of the previous lessons and give your talk on that - the stories and scriptures are already there :)

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Mom - Jesus once said: "He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt 10:39) I would venture to change the last part to: "she that loseth her son for my sake shall find him". I´m big on memories, but don´t worry too much about talking about who isn´t there, but focus on making the most of the moment with who IS there. I love you, and I´ll always come back. (from Mom: Ummm, I just said we went to the beach and missed having him with us. I guess that's the problem with email...)

Dad - I remember one time I was "looking for shells" and endud up finding out what was in clam chowder....it still makes me sick to even think about eating that again haha (from Mom: Daylon left his shells sitting in the bucket for a couple of days, and apparently there were a few living things in there that died and started to smell really bad...that's why Daylon will never eat clam chowder again)

Trevin - Hay que recordar que todavía tiene su juventud y debe disfrutarlo. Yo quiero que he pasado más tiempo con amigos y mi familia, no con deportes y otras cosas. Sólo tiene éste tiempo de su vida una vez. ¡Disfrútalo, hombre!  (Remember that you still have and should enjoy your youth. I want to have spent more time with friends and family, not sports and other things. Just this time of his life once.Enjoy it, man!) (from Mom: haha, I encourage Trevin to stay in sports just so he Won't spend more time with girls, errr, I mean friends!)

 

Anna - Did you build a big castle with an awesome moat?? Digging the moat was always my favorite part :)

 

Allie - Hey! Save some snuggles for me! "Woman, give me a huggie!"

 

Alyza - Your birthday is in a few months. Can you give Dayday some ideas of what you want? Some more candy from Chile?

- Elder Daylon Crider

El Presidente

Sometimes I confuse what I told you last Monday and what I wrote in my journal over the week, but I guess I forgot to write home about my new MP. (from Mom: Finally, I complained enough!)

 

We have seen a lot of changes (not to mention we literally just had changes (a.k.a. transfers) earlier today), but most of them have come from higher up than our President. We have Zone Conference on Wednesday so I´m sure he´ll announce more changes. Some of the changes include: Elders can now wear sweaters without a suit coat over them and sports coats without a suit coat under it; Sisters are not allowed to kneel in prayer outside of their houses; Both Elders and Sisters can now wear hats (beanies and the such) outside of the house. I´ve also heard that several other changes are on their way, but I won´t spread those around until they come :)  (from Mom: I'm so glad about the hat. He's been really cold this winter and hasn't been allowed to wear his warm hat)

 

The past, well, transfer basically, I haven´t written about any teaching experiences or about any of our investigators mostly because neither of the two exist....we have been given about 5 references, but 3 we have tried to contact for the past month and can never seem to catch them, nor are they willing to come to FHE when invited by the members, and the other 2 we have a great first lesson with, basically just getting to know them and their situation, but since then we haven´t been able to have any contact with them. Obedience doesn´t mean success, it means you´ll be better able to persevere in your trials (that made more sense in Spanish haha).

 

Mom - no, I haven´t been praying for death, but I have been praying that your sufferings will be alliviated :) (from Mom: Okay this requires some explanation. I've had a mosquito living in my bedroom with me for about a month. The pest is absolutely merciless. I asked Daylon to pray for its death!)

Dad - Oh sure, now that Daylon isn´t home let´s tour the country! haha, I still love you ;) (Dad's been going to bball tourneys with Trevin)

 

Trevin - Escuché que ha tenido mucho éxito con su deporte. ¡Bien hecho! Hay que trabajar por un "scholarship", ¿no?

 

Anna - Way to be awesome with service! Don´t forget to thank mom for teaching us so well :) (Annalyn won a service award at camp)

 

Allie!!!!! Happy bday! I´m glad you liked my present :) (Daylon, through Jenny, gave Allie some Pokémon cards. And Allie said, "Wow, those must have been really hard to find in Chile!")

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So, I´m nearning the end of the Book of Mormon and, believe it or not, the Book of Ether talks about more than just Faith! Hahaha

In Ether chapters 2-3 we read about the Brother of Jared and his seeing the finger of the Lord (and later His whole spiritual body). I would recommend specifically reading Ether 2:16 - 3:6, and also Ether 3:19-20 (which should be crossreferenced with Alma 32 and Ether 12:18)

 

In these verses I learned that we first need to believe in Christ, and if we believe in Him, we are going to want to follow His counsel. When we follow His counsel, we will see miracles.

 

I would encourage you to write in your journals tonight some of the answers to the following question: "What miracles have you seen in your life?" For example, I´ve been able to watch my siblings grow and learn because I followed the Lord´s counsel to participate as a member of my family; I´ve seen friends turn their lives around because I followed the Lord´s challenge in Matthew to shine forth and be an example; I have felt the love and protection of my Heavenly Father because I choose to be obedient with the small things.

 

Miracles come in many forms and at varying times and in different places. Are you worthy to receive them and is your faith sufficent to recognize them?

With Love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

p.s. photos :)

#3 is for mom :) I saw that while we were in Santiago today haha

#2 is a photo of the Elders in La Islita, us in La Isla de Maipo and the Sisters, also in La Isla de Maipo. The Sister in the middle finished her mission today, and the big guy on the left( E´Brow) goes home with my comp in 6 weeks

 

Thank Goodness for Daylon's Best Girl

From Mom: For some reason Daylon's email did not come through to us this week, but it did make it through to Jenny's computer (a day late) and she immediately told me she had it and then forwarded it to us. Thank you, Jenny, I was missing my weekly Daylon fix!

First of all, to anyone sending a package to me anytime over the next two years: I MISS AMERICAN CHOCOLATE!!!! Especially chocolate milk! I had a glass the other day and about threw up because of how horrible it was. Granted, the milk here is sold in a cardboard box lined with plastic and they way they´re produced allows them to sit on the shelf like any other product.....sending milk probably isn´t the best idea, but I would absolutely LOVE some chocolate :D

Mom - Yes I´m still congested, but it´s slowly getting better. Usually you just give me stuff to take and it´s gone in 3 days, but I had absolutely NO idea what to do so I´ve had this for a little more than a week. But I think it´s almost over :) I heard a quote on Sunday that went: "Life doesn´t come with a manual, it comes with a mother" and I definitely needed my mommy this past week! (awww)

Dad - Keep Trevin healthy and on the team! I wanna see him tip-off and take his team to State when I get home. More than the players, the game depends on how well the coach taught his team. That goes for life in general too, Coach ;)

Trevin - I´m proud of you for not playing on Sundays, especially when your team is sufffering like that. That´s a man who knows where his priorities are, and God will bless you for that!

 

Anna - You aren´t old enough for girls camp!!! Who do you think you are?? Growing up on me like this.....tsk!

 

Allie - Just for you, I´ll dip something in chocolate and eat it on Friday :)

 

Alyza - I love you too Alyza :) Are you gonna be a good swimmer when Dayday gets home?

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So, a few things before my lesson.

 

Everyone should look up the band "Buenos Aires Norte" and listen to the song "Snakes". It´s all true!!

 

Second, did you know it´s a commandment right from Jesus Himself that we study the words of Isaiah? 3 Nephi 23:1

 

Third, there are three quotes that really hit me on Sunday: "I am the Gardner here. I know what I want you to become."; "Life doesn´t come with a manual, it comes with a mother."; "This Church is true because we progress." I´ll let you all ponder on those quotes this week :)

 

My lesson for the week is entitled "Be True To Yourself".

 

Before you can be true to yourself, you must recognize who you are. I would encourage you all to write down some personal commitments (not necessarily goals) that define who you are AND who you want to become. For example, Pray Twice Daily, or For Every 10 Texts Sent, Read 10 Verses, or Do Not Drink or Smoke, or anything you feel defines who you are and who you want to become.

 

In order to stay true to yourself, you must constantly review your Personal Commitments. I would recommend reading them with breakfast, or anytime before you leave the house. Also, the hardest thing to do is stand alone, so surround yourself with friends who share your standards and stand together.

 

I have commited to being exactly obedient with the missionary schedule, and as a result my health has started to improve. Blessings come as we do the things the Lord would have us do.

 

Love

- Elder Daylon Crider

P.s. the photos :)

#1 Estación Central. They also have Burger King there :)

#2 is where we went today. It´s called Santa Lucia and that´s about all I know about it haha

#3 is a shirt I bought today :)

#4 is a sweatshirt I also bought today :)

 

Patching Up The Leaks

So, we had a nasty rainstorm Friday-Saturday and on Sunday during church there was a lot of water damage. We went around the whole Zone helping (because EVERY church building was leaking!). We started at 9am and didn´t get home till about 10:15pm, hence the reason for no email yesterday. Obviously we didn´t have time to go shopping or do internet so they gave us an hour today to email and we had to use our study time to go shopping. Normally on Tuesdays we have our District Meetings, but we have interviews with President on Friday so they cancelled the meeting. The new President wants to have interviews with all 250+ missionaries before we have changes on the 16th because he wants to do them instead of the APs, like they had planned. So that´s the gist of yesterday :)

My lesson for this week comes from Alma 31:5, about bearing testimony.

 

There was a talk given in the MTC (I don´t have my notes in front of me) that stated something along these lines: "If your conversation with a non-member or less-active member didn´t help build their faith through your testimony, what was the point of your conversation?"

 

EVERY conversation we have with those not full active in the church should include our testimonies about something. We can share our feelings about the Book of Mormon, the gift of Repentance, FHE, how the gospel has brought peace and love into our home, how listening to a living Prophet has given your guidance and help, or anything like that.

 

When we share our testimonies with our friends, our testimonies and faith grow and we will see more blessings because of that.

 

I know that, like the scripture says, the "word" (or our testimony) is the most powerful thing because the Holy Ghost HAS to testify of truth and His influence is pretty powerful.

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Mom - mom had a cavity??? Is the world ending???? I don´t want to die in Chile!!! They don´t have good chocolate milk!!!!!! aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Allie - I can´t wait to see your baptism pics!! Also, Jenny has your birthday present from me so don´t worry because nothing came in the mail :)

 

Alyza - Are you being a good helper for mommy? Cuz if not, Dayday might tell Trevy to tickle you!

 

p.s. If anyone is sending a package this week, I could use some Mucinex.... :P (from Mom: Please tell Lecia if you are going to mail him some of this, otherwise I will put some in his birthday box)

Me and my companion Elder C.

Our District Leader holding an average size Completo

(supposedly) South America's tallest building

- Elder Daylon Crider