One Day's Difference

So, being in the office has it's perks, but also it's downsides. Yesterday the office got an email saying it would save the Church $500-600 USD if they could send my group home on Tuesday instead of Monday....and Pdte approved :/ So I'll be flying in Wednesday morning around 9:30AM (we don't have my itinerary yet)

That was pretty much the most depressing thing I've heard since about this time last year! Not because I'm staying one day more - me da lo mismo - but because I was SO excited to see Trevin play again!! When is his next game after that???

Have you ever used public transportation, like a bus or train or cab, in Chile? What was that like?

We use public transport almost every day (except here in the office because we have a car). Now it's a normal experience for me, in fact, I started wondering if we had that in Mesa because I couldn't remember. I looked it up and actually planned a pretty nice route from our house to the MCC campus at Southern and Dobson because I figured I won't have a car right when I get home :P

Are you sending Alyza any candy for her bday? She really wants to know!

As soon as I find a box that's the right size I'll send it. Probably at the end of next week. Sorry for the tardanza, but we've had so many problems with the cars lately that I've had to fill out reports for and coordinate the payments (and every once in a while try my hand at haggling - with success!) so I completely forgot when I had to send it for it to get there on time. But I'm sending it!

Did you share Grandma's box of goodies? :)

A little, but I hid most of the good stuff :) Hahaha

So, here's my schedule:

ECN211 MWF 9-9:50

PSY132 MWF 11-11:50

CIS162 Online

SPA265 Online (starts Feb 2nd)

I plan to use TuTh 8-8:50 and 9-9:50 for my online classes

For Sis Peterson:

Well, I could make some Chilean food, but it's a very acquired tasted haha. My banana bread is more of a banana cake, but I did learn it in the mission :) And I'd love to help out once in a while!

Mom:

When is her class? During Sunday School, or on Sunday afternoons or when?

Hey! Does Dad happen to know when Elder's ball starts??

I'll start working on what to put in my resume and maybe Dad can help me put it together?

Lots of love,

- Elder Daylon Crider

Registering for Classes in my Free Time

I've been watching the count on available seats in the classes I told you about and ENG102 with the teacher that everyone seems to like only has 12 more seats available. But you think I should wait till my second semester? What class should I replace it with? (p.s. If you could reply today it would be awesome so I can sign up first thing Monday morning)

I'll probably take the Spanish test just to have a certificate that says I'm bilingual because that'll help with the job search - especially in Arizona.

Meet the Mormons isn't in Spanish, so I doubt I'll see it here in the mission.

(Mom jokingly told Daylon he should serve pretzel bits with different dipping sauces at his future wedding reception) Hey, pretzel bits may not be a bad idea...this sounds weird, but I kinda miss pretzel season. It was stressful, yes, but I enjoyed it :) Looking back, that is hahaha

1. Did you get Grammy's package yet??? 

Nope. I'll have Elder B send you a pic when it shows up, but so far I haven't gotten it.

2. Did you know Trevin has a game the very night you get home, just like he did the very night you left? Weird, huh? Will you be up for it? I want to do an open house, but I was thinking we could do it a couple nights after you get home, to give you a little breathing room. The family will want to come over and see you, though. They'll probably all just end up coming to Trev's game to see you and I won't have to clean the house or make food! Yee haw, it's a plan! What do you think? 

In all honesty I was hoping he would have a game that night! Just tell everyone I'll be at his game and they can see me there :) You know I'm not to keen on an open house, but I guess it'll be necessary, huh?

3. Do you ever get to teach anymore? If not, do you miss it? 

We haven't gotten out much lately (we're down to one vehicle so coordination is difficult at best), but I do miss it - that feeling of knowing someone's life is going to be better because God trusts in you lo suficiente como para dejarte enseñarles el Evangelio de Jesucristo.

4. Do you think you'll go back out in the field at all before you come home? 

President said I'll train the new financial secretary in December so that we end the year on a good note (those are his words! I couldn't help but feel a little proud), so I'll be finishing up here in the office.

5. What do you want for dinner your first night back?

I've really been craving a nice bean and cheese burrito enchilada style with a side of rice and beans :D

6. Have you tried any new Chilean food since you've been in the office? 

In the office we usually eat McDonalds or Burger King so we can keep working and not lose too much time, so we only eat with the members on Sundays :/

7. How can I teach the YW about charity this weekend?

"Which way do you face?" - Elder Robbins (Saturday Morning) as well as "Are we not all beggars?" - Elder Holland (Saturday Afternoon)

I would base my lesson on these two talks. If we want to keep the first commandment, we have charity. If we want to keep the second commandment, we have charity. And if we live worthy so as to represent the Lord to those we meet in our lives, He will bless us with added charity because we will be doing His work. Does that help a bit? Elder Holland really covers it well in his talk.

We just got back from playing soccer. It was intense! We had a great time, totally wiped out (I barely have the energy to write this! Consider yourselves lucky haha) and I'm definitely out of shape :P

Lots of love!

- Elder Daylon Crider

I Love Conference!

First of all - Conference has been incredible! I had three questions/inquetudes and all three were answered in just the first two sessions! I need to think of more questions! hahaha

Elder Perry's talk really gave me some good advice for the future! Actually, looking at my notes, the entire Afternoon Session was perfect for what I have been thinking about lately :)

I'll try to write a bit later about Conference but I need to keep this short so I can pick up the stuff to make Pan de Plátano before the Priesthood Session (9-11pm!)

1. Did you get our "family" letter? could you figure out who wrote which part?
I got it yesterday :) And the first two paragraphs were hard, but I figured them all out :) And tell Trev I'll count it as his annual letter as long as he sends me another one in the first 10 days of next year haha
2. Did you get a package from Grammy recently? What was in it? Did you share?
I have not gotten any packages recently. Speaking of which, please remind everyone NOT to send me anything for Christmas. I'll be home two weeks after and it'll be much more exciting in-person :)

(PS from Daylon's Mom: Daylon is really stressed about going back to college. If you were planning on sending him a Christmas box (see his comment above), would you save the $40 to $65 in postage you would have spent and consider contributing it to his spring tuition instead as a Christmas surprise for him? I thought I would send him a copy of the tuition statement and put everyone's names on it that contributed as his Christmas present in Chile this year!!  I can take any contributions down to MCC at one time to make the payment, so just get with me if you're interested.)

3. Any adventures with Elder B and the gang this week? 
Umm...well, the van is about to blow a rod in the engine so we had to rent a car. Unfortunately Elder B is the only one (legally) who can drive it. It's a stick and the other day he said that sometimes he forgets it's not an automatic...we usually get going about 60 mph before he shifts into 2nd gear...thankfully on Monday we give it back and the Area Office is getting us a temp. A Toyota Corolla, but it's better than our current situation :P
4. Did you hear that Chase Bank was hacked?
I did not, but I'm glad everything is safe! It seems like more and more places are getting hacked, no? Thankfully it was just contact info! I need that money for all the real-life expenses I'll have when I get home :/ (Not looking forward to that part of being home, fyi)

Thankfully as the mission's financial secretary I don't have to worry about quarterly or semi annual or annual stuff. All I do it the CC report at the end of the cycle, rent every month, paying bills on almost 100 houses in the equivalent of four different counties (each with different procedures for different types of bills), and making sure missionaries have the money they need...speaking of that...I need to call Salt Lake on Monday...

Anyway, I'm gonna go buy stuff before Priesthood Session starts. Love you all!
- Elder Daylon Crider