9-24-12 The Worst Letter You Will Get In Two Years‏

Well, this letter is going to be really really short.....sorry. I'm sure I'll have more to write about next week, but basically here's the deal for this week:

 

 

• I am indeed staying in El Carrizo. Pretty uncharacteristic for this mission to stay in an area for six months, but if someone's gotta be outside the norm, why not Elder Crabb.
• My new companion's name is Elder Lazaro. I don't know absolutely anything about him, just that he's tall! So that'll be an adventure.
• My investigators are the same ones as usual...Iveth, Lupita, Ismael, Eva...They're all progressing.
• President Franco is really getting excited to be the branch president. He's brought like five inactives to church!

Wow....that subject line is really true. Sorry! Next week will be better, I promise. We're writing in a cyber cafè in Los Mochis and we have a lot of stuff to do! I love you so much!

Love, Elder Crabb

9-17-12 Elder Crabb and the Punctual President‏

Hola. Pues, esta semana ha sido una semana de......oh, sorry.

*ahem*

Hello. Well, this week has been a week of answered prayers, surprises, and unexpected progress. It sounds like a novel (hence the subject line).

First of all, the most exciting news.....I am no longer a branch president! The transfers aren't until next week and I didn't go anywhere. Remember a while ago when I said Hermano Franco was potentially going to be the new branch president? Well, after lots of calls to the mission presidency, interviews, recommends and lots of other stuff, he was sustained yesterday! President Guevara, the first counselor of the mission, came to our branch yesterday (unannounced, I might add) and did the interview. He hasn't been set apart yet, and won't be for a week or so yet, but it's all official. He's super excited.

Honestly, if I do end up leaving this transfer, I'm going to be so sad. We've all heard a million times that when you serve someone, you love them. I never really understood that until I was a branch president. Now I get it. You just can't help it! Even the lumpy old grouchy guy who falls asleep in the lessons--I love that guy! Not to say I'm leaving for sure or anything. I just imagine that's how it'll be. I would absolutely love to stay here for a little while longer though!

The biggest miracle happened yesterday at church. But I'll explain a couple of things first.

We've been teaching a lady named Lupita. Remember her? She's the woman with the creepy black dog story. When we first knocked on her door a few weeks ago, she came to the window and started to talk to us. She put on a very defensive front, like "I know what you guys believe and I'll have no part of it!". Well, we talked about a few things, but I felt like we should share the story of the Restoration. So that's what we did. I told about Joseph Smith and Elder Osorio talked about the Book of Mormon, right there on her front porch. She looked totally shocked. She invited us to come back, so we did. She made us food (that was the creepy dog night). After that happened, she was a little more receptive to what we had to say, and she opened up a lot. She told us that she dreams the future a lot, and that she's always dreaming stuff. She is VERY involved in her religion (doesn't wear makeup, wears a skirt, wears a veil when she prays....that sort of stuff) and she knows a lot about the Bible. I don't want to brag, but it's kind of on me because Elder Osorio's knowledge is mostly in the Book of Mormon. That's nerve wracking when she asks us things about the Lost Tribes of Israel or the Law of Moses....

At first, it was more like, "Let's see what you guys believe." But now, she's starting to understand and ask questions. Even though there are still some things she won't budge on (that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are one person, more than anything) she's softening a little bit.

Okay. Now I can explain the miracle. So, last week we were in her house teaching her, and Elder Osorio started to invite her to church. My little Elder Crabb mind started racing, wondering how it was going to work. How was she going to answer? Is she going to get freaked out? She is very involved in her church, what if she can't go? To my surprise, she said "Okay, sounds good." That did surprise me, but everyone says they'll go. What REALLY surprised me was that she actually went!! WOW! (One of our biggest challenges in this area is getting people to go to church.) She seemed to enjoy the talks, and during the closing hymn ("I Believe in Christ") she cried. In a big ol' ward with a talented organist and a congregation that sounds like a choir, that's not too hard. But in a tiny congregation of 24, without piano, that really means something.

Next, she passed to the Sunday School class, which I gave. It was about symbols. I explained about how the Exodus of Moses and the Israelites can be compared to our life on Earth (Egypt, Red Sea, pillar of fire, wilderness, Mount Sinai = The World, Baptism, Holy Ghost, Endure to the End, the Temple), about Jonah and the Whale, and Abraham and Isaac and all the symbolism there. It was the perfect lesson for her. She was totally captivated. If that wasn't good enough, a few women from the district came to visit for Relief Society. The Relief Society President taught lesson 21 from the George Albert Smith book (the real lesson was 17) but God knows everything. Lesson 21 is all about how to raise your family and help your kids grow and everything. She was talking and giving lots of opinions and reading right along with everyone. That's when President Guevara from the mission presidency got there. He asked me, pointing at Lupita, "Wow, she's really powerful. How long has she been a member?" I told him, smiling, that not only was she not a member, it was her first Sunday. He was totally surprised! Anyway, at the end of the class she asked if she could borrow the George Albert Smith manual to read next week's lesson before Sunday. I talked to the Relief Society president after church and she said that God had put her in the perfect Sacrament meeting. The sisters from the district were there, the lessons were tailored directly to her, just everything worked out perfectly. She said she'll be there next week without fail.

If you'd have asked me the day we found her what I thought her chances were of getting baptized, I would have laughed. Now? I wouldn't doubt if she was a member before November. I believe in miracles. =)

I know now more than ever that God is aware of every single person on this planet. He knows what they pray for and he wants the best for them. It seems impossible, because there's so many of us. But it's true. Everyone has the right to get to know their Father, but he already knows us.

Love you all. Keep Lupita in your prayers. Pray that she gets an answer about the Book of Mormon. I know she's praying about it, and I want her to get baptized SO much!

Have a fantastic week!

Elder Crabb

PS This Saturday was Independence day. Obviously nothing too crazy happened, because I didn't even mention it once. But just so you know. We had to go home an hour early, but just as a precaution. Next week: Wild Tarantula Photo?! Stay tuned!

9-10-12 She lived on our street the WHOLE TIME! Plus, "Something Embarrassing

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN AND TIFFANY!

I was walking down the street the other day, and a local pharmacy had a big ol' speaker outside blasting music to advertise their store (something very common down here). The song changed, and it was the Andy Griffith song. No background or anything, but it was just the guy whistling. Then, pretty much the last thing I could have expected happened: the song "Single Ladies" started. It was a mash up!! I was dying laughing...who could even think of something like that?! I know how much you love that song (and Andy Griffith?), so you've got to look it up. I'm sure it's on "The Youtube" somewhere.

This time, the less serious things come first.

It seems that, even with my modified choice of shampoo, the way hath not been prepared for my escape from the grasp of this awful monster, yea, that monster, premature baldness, which I call the death of the roots, and also the death of the self-confidence. Yes, I am already balding. It's nothing too bad as of yet, just the bald spot at the back is thinning, but WOW, a whole lot of my hair falls out! I don't know why I would think I could escape going bald looking at pictures of Dad! Don't worry though, it's not too noticeable as of yet. Or at least that's what they tell me....

As for the other part of the subject line, we found this girl the other day who is totally awesome. Her name is Iveth. She's 17 years old. We found her because she asked me for help on her English homework haha. She surprised us because she asked us for help like this: "Hey Elder! Can you help me with this really fast?" (without seeing our nametags or anything). What? So we talked to her, and, as it turns out, her mom is an inactive member! I asked her why she never got baptized, and she said "I dunno, but I sure would like to!" Holy cow! And the best part is, she lives about three houses down from us. I tell ya, some of my biggest miracles have come when I least expect it. We'll have more about her this week.

Also, there's this guy we found named Eduardo. At first, we thought he was severely handicapped because he was in a wheelchair and he wasn't talking, but talking to a lady there we found out that he's only been like that for about a month. Before, he was 100% fine. That kind of blew my mind because he couldn't even shake our hands and it cost him a lot of work just to talk. A member had offered him a blessing, so we gave him one. Then, later that week we decided to fast for him. His wife fasted with us! It was really cool, and they're progressing. They've said they'll go to church this week.

Elder Osorio and I have decided to start from scratch. We have had a lot of "iffy" people lately who just want scripture study classes. They invite us back but they have no intention of reading the Book of Mormon or going to church, much less getting baptized. There are a few religions here (without mentioning names...) that go door to door, giving Bible study classes. That's swell and all, but not really what we're about. So we've been letting people know what our expectations are. If they don't want to read, that's fine, but what we really want is that God can answer your prayers, so if you don't want that we can't really help you. I've been a little bolder than normal recently, for that reason haha. I said to one lady, "There's really no point in talking to us if you don't read the Book of Mormon." So she said, "Then there's really no point in coming back, because I'm not going to read it!"

That's something that's been on my mind. The Book of Mormon. That's the beauty of our religion, isn't it? It's not ever iffy. It's 100% true, or 100% false. With other churches, you could say that you can never really know 100% because there's nothing "yes or no", if that makes sense. The Book of Mormon is either an inspired book of scripture, or a genius albeit completely false book written by a total liar. I think that makes a lot of sense. It has to be that way, because in a lot of circumstances, we have to walk ONLY by faith. We can say, "If this is true, everything is." How cool is that? I'm so grateful I don't have to preach something "because I think it's the truth". We have the evidence. I love it.

It's getting colder. But my testimony sure isn't!

Love,

Elder Crabb

09-03-12 Lofty Goals, New Beginnings, and "Dig for the Cancer!"

Glad to hear that the weather over yonder is changing somewhat. Every single day is exactly the same here right now! Sunny and HOT.

This week was a weird one for sure! Obviously, it was different, since I'm sending this email on Tuesday instead of the traditional "Monday". I'll explain.

 

 This week started out interesting, because on Thursday we did divisions (splits? I don't speak English very well anymore). I am a district leader, after all. So I went over to Elder Pearson's area and his brand new companion, Elder Sullivan, got sent over here to El Carrizo. What an adventure it was that whole day! It being the end of the month, I had almost no money, so we got around with a lot of rides. One guy was in a HUGE truck, the kind they use to haul copper in Kenecott! It was crazy to get a ride in something so big! I tried to get a picture but he turned around and I couldn't. Oh well. That day we had a lot of success. We committed three people to get baptized, got permission to baptize the kid of someone who wouldn't let him get baptized before, and found a guy that's really interested. Of COURSE all that has to happen to me the one day that I'm not in my area! But I'm happy for them. Elder Pearson is a really great guy and an even greater missionary, so it was fun to work with him. He's the one who I sent the picture of that has his mouth gaping open. Why, you ask? I was showing him how my camera has two screens!

Friday we taught a few people, but we've had to cut a lot of people from our teaching pool because they just aren't keeping their commitments. We're doing our best to teach how important it is, but it just doesn't get through to some people. We also did some preliminary arrangements for Saturday....

About three weeks ago, the district presidency told us they wanted us to have an activity: Super Sabado, just like in the United States! All the other district presidents were really excited and had a lot of volunteers offer to help. We were going to go to El Fuerte to do a combined activity with them, but later the district presidency told us they wanted El Carrizo to do its own activity. That left us very little time to organize the activity, with not much support (for lack of notice). That meant a lot of cleaning and shopping and pricing and setting up....that's all we did on Saturday. The activity lasted from 3 until 7, and we were preparing for it/cleaning up from it from 10 until 9. It was a crazy long day, but it was pretty worth it. We did a water balloon toss with the young men and young women, and we had 6 investigators and 3 inactive members come, so it was pretty good. We had a "barbecue" of sorts (I just simply don't know how to translate these things....we made carne asada!) We had a lot of fun and there was a lot of not-so-missionary music but that's okay, because we all bonded.

That is also where I lost my missionary agenda. Sigh....

The weekend was just about over, we had our really busy Sunday as usual, and just as the day was going to end and I was going to collapse, they told us that Monday would not be our preparation day. They said we were going to go to Los Mochis and have a Zone meeting and some interviews with President Cantù, and that Tuesday would be our P-day. Of all weekends, it had to be the most tiring one ever to put off our P-day. But I remembered what Nephi said, that we should "go and do" because God would never tell us to do something that we couldn't do.

 

That Monday was FANTASTIC. The zone meeting was pretty good, but what really helped me was the interview. President Cantù is pretty much the best guy ever. We all love him. He is going to leave the mission exactly when I do, which I'm really glad about. He'll be my only mission president. In my interview I expressed some of the things I've been having to deal with, and some of my frustrations of this area and of being a branch president. I fully expected a round of applause and a sad violin solo, but that's not what I got! That's what I love about our president. He says things like they are. He used an example that made me realize I've been failing really bad in something. He said:

"Just think about it like you're a surgeon and your investigators are the ones who need surgery. Are you going to open them up and say "Oh, gee, this looks really tough." or are you going to dig for the cancer? Even if you don't know how to cure it, it's better to know what's wrong!"

After that example, I had a lot to think about. I realized that a lot of our investigators say things like "Okay, I'll go to church," but don't go, or "Sure, I'll read the Book of Mormon," but don't read. President Cantù made me think about the WHY of all of that. If someone doesn't go to church, and they said they would, it's because something's wrong. "I was sick" is not a valid excuse for us! We're talking about salvation and exaltation here! President told me to never believe anyone! That we have to assume they have some bigger reason. Like "I slept in on accident" probably really means "My wife has heard a lot of horrible things about the Mormons". I realized that I've just been a surgeon who says "Oh, something hurts? Here's a pill, I hope it works!" I'm going to do a lot better on that too.

Elder Osorio and I have decided that we're going to start from scratch this week. The people who we have haven't been doing their commitments. We don't have very many investigators, so here are our prayerfully selected goals. I hope that everyone who reads this can say a quick prayer on our behalf, so that we can meet them:

• A family of 4
• A family of 6
• An "escogido" (a chosen one). Someone who is so interested that they'll keep all of their commitments.
• A less active member or family that talks to us, who wants to come back to church
• Someone who can get baptized on September 8, 2012

I realize that some of these are lofty goals, but we're going to keep praying and working hard! Please keep us in your prayers, we need them!

In the zone meeting, Elder Osorio got a package from his family which included a little music. There was a song called "A Letter Home" which really touched me. It's sung from the perspective of a guy who didn't go on a mission, but his friend did, then something he wrote in a letter home was an answer to his prayers. When I heard it, I really really hoped that I've been that, at least once. That something I've said has touched somebody's heart, or helped them recieve some little bit of revelation, or something. Lots of your letters have contained answers to my prayers. Especially those friends of mine who write me quite often. You know who you are, and thank you!

Well, that's about it for this week. I love you all and I pray for you. My prayers have gotten so much better out here, mostly because now, I know without a doubt that they can be answered. I can't wait to go home and just be....better. There were a lot of things that I did that were just kind of "meh". Scripture study, personal prayer, talks, yada yada yada.....a lot of stuff. But now I realize that is exactly what Satan's plan is. If he gets us to think that we're "doin' what we're 'post to" we're in trouble. In this life, we are on an escalator that is always moving DOWN, and if we're not moving, that's where we'll go. If we're walking, we'll stay in the same spot. The only way to get to the top is to RUN! That's what I'm going to be when I get home. A spiritual sprinter. Physical not so much.

And if I've sent an invitation, amonestation, exhortation, or anything of the kind to you, please consider doing it. Sometimes it's something so easy as reading a book or saying a prayer, but I know it will help you. I have seen dozens of lives change for the better after doing these things and I can't help but want that for my family and friends. It works.

By now, don't you think I would know?

Love,

Elder

 

Oh, and I hope you didn't buy that Mexican Pepsi. I know from personal experience that it tastes like regular Pepsi with grass in it.

 

Some pictures of Super Saturday, the water balloon toss, the carne asada, and a rainbow! (I guess the world ISN'T going to end just yet....)