Sharing Stories

In last week`s mailbag, I didn`t get anything from home, but we`ll see what happens tomorrow :) I`ll be sure to let you know everything that comes in and when I got it :)

Last week I sent Alyza`s bday package home, fyi :)

 

About Christmas: We have changes the Monday after this conference (a.k.a. next Monday!) and the 30th of December, but I forgot that we also have changes the 18th of November. There`s a 90% chance I have changes the 18th, so it will be ok to send packages, but, like I said before, PLEASE DO NOT send anything except letters until I let you know. I know it`ll be hard to do, but it`ll be harder to move with extra packages when I already have more stuff to pack (although I have NO idea from where...)  (From Mom: Of course, that means our packages will NOT get there in time if we wait until Nov 18th ;(  I swear, the sacrifices I make.)

 

Next. I can officially say I have met a candlestick maker! Hno. Juan Balague in our Branch is a candlestick maker!! How cool is that!?!? Maybe I`ll send some home for Christmas if he`ll let me buy some :)

 

The story behind the lunch photos (see below): during the week we passed by their house (that`s our Branch President in the photo with my comp, btw) during the week and his wife mentioned something about how her daughter is always eating "plastic soup" (a.k.a. not homemade) and my comp and I both said we like them too. So, this month on Sundays we had lunch with them and she always makes a soup for the appatizer, but this time she put out those. It was awesome :D

 

So, if you remember, I sent a video home about me making "banana bread" (it`s really more of a banana cake, but still) and now everyone wants the recipie and they want me to make it for everything!! Hahaha

 

There`s new photos, btw :) (see below)

 

Eso no más. No hay mucho que pasa aquí. Conferencia sería super bakan y estoy super animado para hablar Inglés por dos días siguiente jajaja ojalá que todos pueden escuchar cada sesión. Papá, sólo hay esta semana y dos más conferencias y después podemos ir todos juntos a comer después de la sesión de Sacerdocio. Para que sepan, aquí la de Sacerdocio empieza a las 9 en la noche y termina a las 11. ¡Que fome! (Rough Translation: That's all. Not much happens here. Conference will be super awesome and I'm super encouraged to speak English for two days next lol hopefully everyone can hear each session. Dad, just this week and two more lectures and then we can all go to eat after the Priesthood session. Just so you know, here Priesthood starts at 9 in the evening and ends at 11.That fome (?) ).

Con amor,

- Elder Daylon Crider

p.s. Next week, Pday is Wednesday, so don`t flip when nothing comes on Monday or Tuesday :)

 

Our "soup"

And then, delicious lunch

 

 

A Good Week

First, about my website (not that I`m most concerned about my website...) Dad has a file on his computer (I actually think it`s an email) about how to update it. The instructions are very detailed and relatively easy to follow. Thank you for helping with that :) I know dad has been super busy with Trev lately which is probably why it hasn`t been updated.

ok, on to the good stuff: (what he got in the mail this week)

Letters

Jenny (July 11, 30)

Packages

Ron/Bev (p.s. can you get me their address? I have a letter ready to send, but I need their zip)

Cocoa/Gpa (The candy actually made it a WHOLE week! I was definitely surprised...)

In response to everything I got, and as my thanks, I hope and pray that the Lord blesses you to have Alma 41:15 be true in your lives :)

My lesson for this week comes from an experiance I had a while ago. The "pure love of Christ" can be found when one honestly listens to the troubles of another, seeking the guidance of the Spirit and saying the the things He would have you say. When I realized that the lady we were with wasn`t just some 40-50 year old woman who just wanted to talk about her problems, but is a beloved Daughter of our Heavenly Father....that`s when the room got bright and pure love filled my soul to tears. That`s what it feels like to be a missionary. That`s why I`m here. That`s why I love what I do: serve.

Gardening

Thanks Cocoa and Gpa!

 

 

With love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Getting Mail Again!!!

Last week I received a Dear Elder package from dad´s side of the family (filled with the most delectable gringo food I have ever eaten!!!!), but no letters. We`ll see what comes in tomorrow :)

 

So, a bit about E` R: He`s from Ecuador, he`s more crazy than the girls when Trevin is tickling them, he`s a neat freak, and he complains all the time about not having taught an "actual lesson to an actual investigator", and if I didn`t already say this, he has about 3 months in the mission.

My lesson this week is no more than a very simple scripture that is found in 2 Nephi 5:27 which says (I`m translating, sorry): "And it came to pass that we lived after a manner of happiness". Think about how Nephi worded that for a second or two. I would encourage you to read the chapter before you continue reading this email, but what can I do way down here in Chile? haha

 

Anyway, from the chapter we learn that only after they had become an industrious and self-reliant people did "it [come] to pass that [they] lived after a manner of happiness." So my question for you is this: What are you doing to become spiritually self-reliant and to keep yourself constantly worthy of the Holy Ghost? For example, I start every day with a prayer and read 3 chapters of the Book of Mormon daily (obviously along with many other things, but to keep it short...), and that is my "manner of happiness". I would encourage you all to write down a few ways that you are "[living] after a manner of happiness".

 

It`s also interesting to note the difference between being happy and "[living] after a manner of happiness". To me, being constantly happy (the "manner of happiness") means always having the Spirit to be with me (remind you of something you heard yesterday?)

 

That is all :)

 

Mom - Yes I got the videos and was able to watch them, but I would suggest uploading them to Google Drive so I don`t have to download them or Flash/Quicktime to be able to watch them. I almost cried cuz Alyza is growing up :/

 

Dad - End of the months, special email with my financial report coming your way :)

 

Trevin - ¿Está saliendo mucho? Debe recordar que tiene que pagar por su misión y los bailes del colegio (¡y le prometo que no son baratos!).

 

Anna - Way to save for a goal :) But remember, you gotta start saving for your mission too!

 

Allie - How was the campout?

 

(Anna and Allie - ..................................I definitely didn`t see where that video was going until it was too late....I thought you were going to refer to E` Bednar`s talk from last Conference where he said "Just stop it" (at least, I think it was him...). AND THEN you had to go and pull that one on me......oh the sisters I have....hahahahaha)  (from Mom: Daylon has a traumatic memory of his 2nd grade teacher turning around to stop his class when they were walking in line somewhere by holding her hand out and singing "Stop, in the name of love." The girls recreated that for him!)

 

Alyza - When I can, I`m going to send a video of me just for you, ok? :)

- Elder Daylon Crider

Yet another new companion

As of Friday morning, E´ H was no longer my comp. He decided, along with Pres. Barreiros, that it would be better that he went home. He´s doing better now :)

E´ R is my new comp. He also just finished his training, but I already know him because his sector is about a 10 minute bike ride from our house. Things are going well :)

(p.s. this new "compose" window that Google finally forced upon me is really ticking me off!!!!)

I´m sure Gigi will be more than willing to join Grandpa with me in the mission field when her time comes :)

Anyway, with all the times we had to go to Maipú last week, I haven´t had time to prepare a lesson, sorry. Just know that I love you all very much :)

Trevin - DUUUUUUUUUUDE!!!!! You weren´t supposed to get your first dunk until I could see it!! Lame, super lame :P

 

Allie -  Lucky!! The ice cream in Chile is....gross :P When I get home you and I definitely going to get ice cream!

Alyza - When Dayday comes home from his mission, are you going to help Tricia make me some cookies? :D

- Elder Daylon Crider

p.s. No photos this week, sorry :/