Fiesta!

First things, first.....¡feliz fiesta patria! There's some videos I'll put up sometime today from the activity on Thursday. I thought it was going to be today, but it was dieciocho mismo entonces ya les tengo los videos :)

Ooops...I have a bad habit of finishing my sentences in Spanish hahaha. That'll be fun...if you thought my English was improving the last time we Skyped, just wait till you hear my Spanglish in three months!!

About the jacket...I also noticed I tend to use the same two long sleeve shirts about 9 or 10 months out of the year. Good thing summer is almost here! I'll have some nice short sleeved shirts to use when I get back home though :)

Hopefully I get rent done and get the missionaries paid correctly and on time because if I don't, signing up for classes probably won't happen till the week after it opens :P But I'm confident that it'll all get done on time :)

(re: breaking the news to Jenny that he had the option to come home before Christmas and declined) Well, there wasn't much to work out with her. I have no doubt that she'll apoyarme en todo lo que hago como también la apoyo a ella en sus metas y aspiraciones :) ¡Por eso nos casaremos!

....sorry...spanglish is getting the best of me today...good thing Trev can translate!

Anyway, about your questions:

1. What have you been doing with yourself for two days?

Pdte said we weren't supposed to be in the office because it's a national holiday. On Wednesday was the Stake party from noon to about 7pm. Yesterday we had to move the secretaries into our apartment because the dueña raised the rent from ~$380 USD to ~$600 USD and there's still a bit of cleaning to do before we give her back the house on Tuesday or Wednesday. And today is Pday :)

2. Does Bro B have to stick with you like glue again because you have no companion?

Not necessarily. Elder B just kinda does his own thing and if I need a comp to go pay bills or something he'll come with me, but that's about it. I'm usually in the office most of the day anyway.

3. Or, do you have a comp now? If so, details please.

Still no comp, but in 4 weeks there's changes, so I might be getting another.

I think in the States the focus has changed a bit to help those who have already made covenants and therefore under greater condemnation come back to the light and be saved. At least, that's what the other missionaries' friends say.

I have a letter that I was going to send on Monday, but I forgot that Chile sort of shuts down for the entire week to celebrate their independence :P I'll send it on Monday or Tuesday though :)

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Single Again (no, not a Dear John!)

Well, I am once again without a companion....why does this always happen to me??? Haha, but I've been with the Pensionists (the Elders over housing) because E' S is waiting for his license to get here and they don't have a driver until it does :P But it's fun to be out of the office a bit.

Sometimes when I'm googling stuff here, tech ads show up and, well...I CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY WITH ALL MY BEAUTIFUL TECHNOLOGY AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......er...*cough* Yeah, I'm looking forward to learning how all the new technology can help us spread the Gospel :D

Hahahahahahahaha :P

Anyway, tell all the YM that they're going to wish they had aprovechard (taken advantage of?) opportunities like that when they're on the mission. You're only young once and I just realized I'm 20...

Haha, our family would find the one puzzle with only 999 pieces! But I like your idea, Mom! You should send me a pic of it if you haven't already (I haven't checked the drive yet).

I've learned the same thing. You have to do activities on the weekends or no one goes. Unfortunately, down here Mutual is Thursday/Friday nights so we're having a bit of trouble with activities, but Hna C (I was with her when she started her mission back en La Isla de Maipo) still manages to get the ward motivated :)

I'm seriously upset that I missed the most awesome rain storm Arizona will probably ever have! But Hna B was showing me some news footage, so that was pretty cool :)

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Workin' the Budget

So, I just did something amazing yesterday that I'm sorta super proud about! :D I think I told you about the two different accounts for finance, the 400-xxxx and the 000-xxxx, right? Well if I didn't, the 400 account is for missionary expenses (no budget given to us from SLC) and the 000 account is for administrative expenses (this one has a budget).

I got the August expense report yesterday and it gave me the following info:

% of year completed - 67%

% of budget used - 87%

.....20% over the budget. That stinks :/ BUT I went in and checked that all expenses were put into the correct accounts. Turns out that not everything was where it should be, so I played with the numbers a little bit. I then sent the "new" numbers to the Area Office and the Church Financial Department and they came back saying the adjustments were approved and we have used 68% of the budget. THAT'S ONLY 1% OVER!!!!! :D :D AND that's the best the mission has been in the past 4 years! :D

Yeah, just a little proud of that :)

Anyway,

1. Elder Bertagna seems a bit like a father/grandpa to the office elders. Is that the case?

     That is 100000000% true! It's awesome :)

2. What is one important thing you've learned this week?

     3 Nephi 4: 1-4 I noticed something cool when I was reading it. You can compare the "thieves" to temptation and sin, and you can take "together in one group" (I'm translating, sorry) to mean unity and harmony in the family and ward. Basically, when we love each other and stick together, when trying times come we will be able to lean on each other for strength and help until we make it through.

3. Where do you get your hair cut in Chile?

     Elders :)

4. Have you cooked anything since your birthday cake?

    I used the other half of the ingredients you sent me to make another batch of choco-chip cookies :D

5. What is your favorite scripture right now?

     Alma 37:37 I'm working on bettering my communication with my Heavenly Father.

6. Do you ever get fed by the members at night anymore?

     At night? Never. We only eat with members on Sundays.

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Hot chocolate from the Boylards!

The office group

Santiago, Chile