See if you can find the pirate talk in this email

Well, you all got super lucky this week! We were going to go to a lake and play football (American football), but it turns out that no one else wanted to go :/ So I got back early and, would ya look at that, an email from Mom ;)  (from mom: I was late today!)

Anyway, on Monday I'm getting comp #13 because E' L is going home.......that's not just comp #13, but #4 this change.....I swear God's trying to tell me something, but apparently I still haven't figured it out. Oh well, there's still 6 more months and who knows how many comps for me to try and figure it out. Maybe He's trying to give me a bit of a social life because I never really had one and when I get home I'll only have 2 months.....hopefully I figure it out before my 2 years are up!

How's life with your new comp? What is his job at the office?

See the paragraph I just wrote :) Oh, and he really doesn't do anything here. The past few days he's been doing family history research and writing. He loves writing and is super good at it!

Can you still feel the spirit strongly in the office like you can when you're teaching people, or is it harder? 

The Spirit is definitely stronger out in the field. And with the schedule we have in the office, we don´t do much studying, but we normally have a few hours in the sector every day. These past few weeks, however, have been harder to get out mostly because I'm on my own and trying to put this puzzle together when I'm not even sure I'm playing with the right pieces, ya know?

Do you want me to forward Austin's mission emails to you every week, or just once in a while?

Weekly please :)

What have you been eating? packing any lunches or fast food every day?

Well, today we went to Applebee´s :) Unfortunately Pdte told me to pay for Elder L because he doesn't have money (because he's going home on Monday) so I blew through about $42 and change.....but other than that we usually eat at three places: 1) Pollo Stop, 2) McDonald's, and 3) Burger King

Not the best choices, but I just don't have time for anything else. I want to practice me cooking, but even on Pday I'm in the office working! I'm not going to take a job where I work Saturdays because this is getting ridiculous....

Anywhat, time to go. Lots of love for everyone!

- Elder Daylon Crider

Top of the List

Just so those who have sent packages can sleep calmly, I got one from Jenny two days ago and I don't remember if I ever told you that I got one from Dad's parents a week or two ago, but if I didn't, I also got that one :)

Also, before I forget: Mom, Jenny, have you tried to make Mariqueta bread yet? Did it turn out? I'm going to miss that bread so much...

(Mom told Daylon that he is at the top of the list now on the church program showing all the missionaries out from our ward. They are in order by when they come home, so he's next to come home)  Am I seriously on the top?? I remember watching other people's names move up that list, but wow! I've still got about 6 months to go too :P Time really does fly....

Speaking of time flying, I'm now with companion #12, Elder L. There was an Elder who went home yesterday and Pdte wanted Elder B to go replace him, and another office companionship was a trio so one of them is now with me. However, E' L is set to go home sometime within the next three weeks, so shortly I'll be with my 13th companion haha. You'd think the Lord was trying to teach me something with all these different companions haha :)

I think it'll be a weird vacation for you all this year after hearing that! And next year's will be even crazier because I'll be back and Trev will be heading out for the mission! Life is officially starting :P

I'll be sure to give Sister B your email, but so she can send you pics, not cute pics ;P Hahaha

Anyway, that's all I've got. I think we're going golfing later today, but we'll see.

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Biscuits, Gravy, & America! Happy 4th!

A gift from Jenny :)

Driving Stick Shift, oh man

So.....remember how last week I drove for the first time? Well, yesterday (or two days ago, I really don't remember :P) thanks to Tricia and Grandpa (I feel like I already wrote this...maybe I wrote it in my journal....hopefully I didn't send this last week....) I DROVE STICK SHIFT!!!!! I stalled twice pulling out of the church onto a pretty busy street and three times in stop-and-go traffic uphill, but other than that I did pretty well :D Plus I had to merge on and off three different freeways!! I'm just a bit proud of myself :D Hahaha, but I refused to drive back. You can only handle so much your first time :P

Anyway....

* Do you remember the name of the ASU track you were on? Was it Computer Information Systems or something like that?
 What I want to do is Software Design (sometimes called Software Programming). I don't remember which track it is, but it's probably under CIS. You can double check with Corky though just telling him I want Software Design/Programming.
 
* What is the funniest, weirdest, or dumbest thing that someone else in the mission home did this week?
 Just to be politically correct, we're in the mission office, not the mission home (thankfully! It's like a 45 minute drive WITHOUT traffic to Pdte's house :P). As for the answer, well, this week was sorta tranquilo because one set of missionary couples serving (Elder and Sister Lewis) is going home on Monday and they're well known and loved throughout the mission so we've been having different small parties, breakfasts, and whatnots for them. Not too much out of the norm has happened**
 
* How do the elders get their money? Does everyone get a pay card, cash, a check..?
 All missionaries coming to our mission, upon leaving the MTC, get a Visa Pre-paid Credit Card that I put money onto monthly. Actually, the church has a system that automatically does it, but ony when I approve it. Same thing happens with the rent for the houses we use.
 
* Is there anything special that you'd like me to send with your birthday box?

I would absolutely love a bag or two of chocolate chips and maybe some brown sugar. Those two things don't exist down here and I'm DYING for some fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies :D Unfortunately real milk doesn't exist either (one of the first drinks I'm hoping to have when I get home), but I'll make it work :P

     Also, it wouldn't hurt to add in some of that protein powder.....I've renounced from trying to gain weight my way, so I have no option but to go back to Dad's way.... :/ :/ :/

MOM AND ALLIE - A few weeks ago I sent you letters and they got returned to me :/ I'll be sending them again sometime this coming week (one of the perks of being in the office is we can send mail whenever we pass by it and I'll be passing by on Monday) along with a package for Alyza, and a letter for Anna.

 

DAD AND TREV - Good luck with those college coaches! Just don't forget the scriptures and your studies, both of you :)

ANNA AND ALYZA - Love you :)

- Elder Daylon Crider

**One of the meetings we had this week was "Consejo de Guerra" (War Council) and Pdte wants all the office Elders in that meeting because he says that when we leave the office we're going to be Zone Leaders. We'll see what happens. I might stay my last change in the office, or I might be a ZL for one change (but I doubt it).