Miracles happen

Elder De Jesus said something yesterday about how we have about a week and a half left together.  Can I just say "whoa!"?  I cannot believe how fast this change has gone!  It's just like they say, time really  does fly out here.  Basically, this past week or so has been so great.  We've gotten 30 referrals this week, we've been riding our bikes around like crazy people...the mark of successful missionaries.  We've had bunches of little miracles, "coincidences," and all around awesome things happen.  I'll tell you my favorite one! 

We were on divisions; I was with the district leader, Elder Vent.  We were totally stumped.  We had an appointment, but it fell though, so did our back-up plan.  We were stuck.  We were kind of wandering around, trying to follow the spirit but neither of us felt anything.  So, we stopped.   Elder Vent said "hey, why don't you spin around with your finger pointed out, and I'll tell you to stop, and we'll go there."  So we did it; I pointed at some random house, thne we laughed it off.  Finally, I literally just said, "Heavenly Father, we need a miracle."  Right then, a little kid wandered up to where we were standing, and just stared at us.  It was pretty weird, actually.  We finally said, "hola" but he just waved at us,  Elder Vent said " Hey, are your parents home?  We want to talk to them."  He said yes, and very excitedly ran to show us where he lives.  The best part of all this?  Remember earlier when I spun in circles and randomly pointed at a house?  This kid lives there! Miracles happen.   In "real life" back in Utah, I never believed that whole "there are no coincidences" thing, In fact, I still don't.  BUT...on a mission, there are no coincidences.

I'm still doing well.  The food treated me badly for the first time since I got here.  Yep, I finally tried something I don't like.  It's called "menudo."  Basically, pig intestine soup.  The thing is, they don't even TRY to disguise it!  It's just all.....in there.  And it tastes worse than it sounds.  I had the luck of eating it twice this week!  Actually, there are two kinds:  red menudo and white menudo.  The difference?  I have no idea.  But luckily I've developed a talent for eating such things as this, so that's good.  Thanks for your prayers, you're all in mine.

¡Adelante!"
Elder Crabb

Update and pictures!

11-13-11

There is something strange about visiting the beach and not going into the water, but it's still really fun!  In fact, we did that this week, because we broke a record in our zone.  We spent all of last Monday in Todos Santos (google it!)  Needless to say, it's a huge tourist destination and it's really obvious why.  It's Gorgeous,  as you can see from my photo's. 

Us, in the back of the truck, enjoying my package from home!  =) Thanks again!

A memorial shrine for "Dia de Los Muertos". It´s a really awesome holiday, where they remember their dead by building a shrine (usually MUCH smaller than this one) and putting their favorite food on it. Fun, yet creepy!

The beach in Todos Santos. =) "Hazzah!"

Proof that I have the coolest mission EVER.

"King of the World!"

Just a couple of shots of the scenery to make Mom jealous.

....again. But more so. =)

My zone! My district is the four furthest left.

We had an absolute blast, and it was a much -needed break.  We've had lots of success this week!  We've been teaching like crazy and been going by the spirit at every turn (you know because of the awesome people you run into).  One of these such experiences was probably the best one of the whole week.  Elder De Jesus and I had a craving -nay- and absolute desire to eat hielitos this week (basically a plastic bag with delicious ice cream in it, of which you bite of the corner and enjoy.)  But it's getting a lot cooler here, and nobody wants them anymore.  The once -common delicious treat we always enjoyed was quickly disappearing.  One day (Thursday I believe) we were riding our bikes past some house, where, lo and behold, there was a sign outside: "Hielitos-$5)  We were SO happy, for lots of reasons: we found hielitos, they were only 5 pesos, and they are extremely close to our house!  We knocked, and an elderly woman answered the door.  She was very happy to see us, and told us to come in.  She was a member, along with her granddaughter who lived there!  They've been inactive for a while because of some ward drama, but it's going to be all cleared up really soon here!  Elder De Jesus taught me a new phrase:  a "dry baptism." -  already been baptized but this time, they're really converted.  I'm pretty sure it'll happen with them!

Also, Elder De Jesus and I have put a rather ambitious goal for this week: 40 referrals, that means we've got to work extremely hard, asking lots of members for referrals, but we're both very motivated by this goal.  Pray for us!  We'll need it!

In short, I'm absolutely loving Mexico, from the food to talking to drunk guys, it's just a really great place.  I love it!  I know I'm dong a good thing.  People are changing.  So am I.  I love you all!

Adelante, y con amor,

Elder Crabb

Comondú pictures

Special note from madre Crabb: Cody sent some really awesome pictures of his new area. And some really sad pictures of his new bike seat! I loved that he wrote his name in the dirt. Guess we  better think about shoe polish. or something......

Well my first week in Comondú has been pretty sweet! I´m loving my new companion, Elder De Jesus! He´s a fantastic missionary and I´m excited to be his companion. I´ve already had a couple experiences with him like “….THAT door.” Just  like a stereotypical missionary! My district is really good too. The bad news is....a couple of things. It costs like 60 bucks to go to La Paz for whatever reason, and then come back. that means literally more than half of our money is gone! It´s reimbursable but we have to send the tickets to the mission office, so it takes forever. So we have bikes in this area! It´s really cool, and really fun, for all of my body except for the bum part. I have attached a picture of my seat. (ouch.)

Also attached is a picture of our house, which has ten-foot concrete walls on all sides, and the door is a metal gate. It literally complies with the zombie survival guide for a zombie-proof house! Awesome!

We´ve been enjoying the music that Elder De Jesus has on his memory drive, which includes "The Prince of Egypt". AWESOME. Watch it for me! =) Flashbacks of "Magic to Do" were popping in my head. By the way, we´re heading to La Paz this week, so money might be squishy.

I´m going to leave the cyber café and get a haircut, then next week ýou´ll have some pictures of me and my companion. 

Well, in my pictures also you´ll find why they combine the word "Polvo" (dust) and "Comondú" to make "Polvondú". It´s SUPER dusty everywhere!

The air usually looks like that in the morning, and you can see that my shoes are suffering too!

It´s super crazy, but I love it. The people are very humble here, much more so than San José. Since I´m new, I don´t have too much more to write about...So I love you guys!

Love, ELDER CANGREJO

Hahahah,I love it "Cangerjo"= crab!  And what about that zombie proof house!  I love that Elder Crabb is still Cody!

I packed up my things and got on a bus...

(This is letter I was suppose to receive last week, but because of the way in which his day panned out...I wasn't able to get it until today.  However it comes with a great story!)

October 24, 2011

This morning I packed up my things and got on a bus.  Six hours from now I will be in Constitución, my new area!  I don't know anything about it,  Nada.  Elder Tingey is going to Los Mochis, so that's sad.  He's such a good trainer/missionary/friend!  My new companion's name is Elder De Jesus, (so he's gotta be good, right?)  Who I also know nothing about.  Odds are he's a Mexican elder who doesn't speak English, which is so great!  I'm going to learn so much.  From what I hear, Constitución (google it) is nothing but farms and dirt roads.  It's very likely that it's the opposite of San José, which is a lot like home in a lot of ways, but I'll find out, I guess.

My last couple of days have had lots of goodbye's.  We said goodbye to some investigators who are definitely going to be baptized, we said goodbye to members who have treated us like family and we said good bye to our companions, practically our brothers.  It made me realize that goodbye's are what a mission is all about.  You say "goodbye" to your family, "goodbye" to your friends, "goodbye" to your home,  Next, you say "goodbye" to the friends you make in your mission (investigators, members, other missionaries).  Then, when you get home you say "goodbye" to the life you lived before and you say "hello to a brand new start with a brand new perspective.  If there's one thing I've learned this transfer, it's that you need to cherish the friendships you have and the family you love.  One day, you might get "transferred." In truth, I didn't think I was going to leave.  But I'm grateful for this fresh start I've been given.  Thank you for your prayers, you're in mind often.  Adelante.

Elder Crabb


Cody wrote this letter on the bus on his way to his new area...this is what happened when he got there!


What a crummy week to forget my camera cable for my blog update! I´m writing you from Constitución, my new area (more specifically, Comondú)!! It´s about six hours north of San José. Well, I sure wish I had my blog update, because I had a REALLY long time to spend on it....but oh well. So this morning, Elder Tingey and I said our goodbyes, swapped some ties, and left. He´s heading over to Los Mochis as a district leader. Then, I went three hours north to La Paz with two other Elders. After that, I travelled for three more hours north ALONE. Needless to say, it was very nerve wracking--I had NO idea where it was or anything! Not to mention they played movies the whole way to Constitución: "Los Increíbles" and "Radio". It´s pretty hard to not watch a movie while it´s being shown directly in front of your face, although I did my best. When the bus arrived...Nobody was there. I was, of course, pretty freaked out. I asked the lady if I was in the right place for what my ticket said, and she said yes. I asked if there were some other guys with white shirts and ties there recently. She said yes, they left about ten minutes ago. I was like, Well.....now what? I didn´t have a companion, I was about four hours away from anyone I knew, and I had NO idea where I was. So, naturally, I started talking to a guy about the gospel. (What else? I´m a missionary, remember?) After about ten minutes, Elder De Jesus, my new companion arrived. He seems to be a pretty fun guy. So we bought some groceries and here we are! What a busy day. But everything´s good and I´m safe. I love you guys so much! More next week--we´re short on time since I was on a bus for almost seven hours today!!

Elder Crabb


I love how they sawpped ties first!  My favorite part was that he showed his ticket to the lady and asked if he was in the right area!   Haha, what a great story.  I guess I think it's pretty neat because his brother Shawn has a very similar thing happen to him during his mission!  How fun. 

Next week...pictures of his new area and you'll find out the meaning of the word "Polvondú"  it has something to do with "Polvo" (dust) and "Comondú!"  WOW!