12-24-12 - Maybe the Mayans meant December 21, 2013

Whattya know, the world didn't end! It was pretty hilarious here, exactly like I expected. The people were all a lot more willing to listen to us on the 20th and the 21st, but I think when they realized that the world wasn't actually going to end, they were like "Oh, good, I have a lot more time to repent." Darn.


A creepily large amount of different people have told us that NASA has predicted that, because of the alignment of the planets, there are going to be three days of darkness. I have no idea how true that is, but

"And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness; And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all. And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land. And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them."

-3 Nephi 8:20-23

Right after that is when Jesus comes to visit the Nephites.....ahh! Somebody please investigate and tell me how true the darkness-for three-days thing is.....

 

There have been a lot of people that are thoroughly freaked out about the end of the world.

 

(I got this from UrbanLegends.about.com regarding this: Analysis: False. NASA has predicted no such thing. There will be no three-day blackout in December 2012. Indeed, the phrases used above — "total blackout of planet," "alignment of the universe," "shift from the current third dimension to zero dimension," etc. — are not only undefined, but meaningless. It's pseudo-scientific nonsense. The "alignment" to which our unknown authors apparently refer is the passing of the sun, as seen from earth, across the approximate center of our galaxy on December 21, 2012 (the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere). This happens every year at about the same time and portends nothing in terms of earthly events, good or ill, given that the galactic center is some 28,000 light years (165,000 trillion miles) away. It's a cosmic non-event.)

 

However, this week has been amazing finding people, and not just because of 2012.

We were walking through one of the subdivisions in our area, Villa Bonita, and we had nothing to do. We had made a bunch of plans and stuff, but everything had fallen and nobody was home. When we were just about to give up, a guy stopped us and called us Elders. Not just any person calls us Elders, so we stopped and talked to him. He was super excited about the gospel. HE asked US if he could get baptized. We said yes (obviously). He couldn't go to church this week but he really wants to go. His name's Omar.


We have lots of investigators that are really awesome right now. The only problem is that disappointingly few people want to hear about Jesus at Christmastime. Everyone's worried about the family and the food and the presents that they totally forget why we celebrate it at all!  It's kind of funny, but mostly just sad.


This Sunday (yesterday) was really nice. It was very Christmas-y. For the first time in a year and a half, someone asked me to do a special musical number with them! I wasn't expecting much, like maybe we'd all sing the melody like always, but they asked me to sing tenor! WOO! It was so nice to sing with a group again. =) We sang "O Little Town of Bethlehem". They are really cool, random family. (I say random because the mom speaks Japanese and the dad speaks English, and they have a band. what? They definitely aren't the most Mexican Mexicans I have met down here. They mostly eat Japanese food!)


We have had lots of miracles. LOTS. Probably the biggest of which is a woman named Maricruz who is the friend of a member and who has been in every religion she could find. AND, in church on Sunday, she said she felt "something amazing". She's really amazing! I'm so excited to go teach her (Thursday)!

Christmas.....when everyone gets overly sentimental and emotional. Especially me. My family will get the gist of this in my phone call, but to all the rest of you, I sure love you. Thanks for being such amazing people and supporting me and reading this! =) Even though I won't be watching "A Christmas Story" or wrapping presents with Heather this year, I'll be thinking about you. See you in 2013!


Elder Crabb!

Merry Christmas!

Tis the season to send yule tide greetings!  Cody would love some extra Christmas emails...if you have time in the next few minutes send him a quick line!  cody.crabb@myldsmail.net

12-17-12 American Engle, Giant Beans, and Note Cards‏

 I DID recieve my boxes--all three! I opened them, but I did NOT open my presents yet. I put them all under my tiny little TREE!! =) Thank you guys so much! I'm going to thank you a little better when I actually talk to you. I tried the carmels and fudge (SO good), "Christmas crack" (Also extremely good) and my Skittles (they don't have those in Mexico!). Ahh.....Like I said, I didn't open my presents yet, but I sure enjoyed the stuff I did see.

As for the Christmas call, we're going to do it ON Christmas!  Don't forget--the time zone here in Culiacan and there in Salt Lake are the same. It's gonna be really fun to talk! Fa-la-la-la-laaaa.....

In all the excitement of last week's email, I forgot to mention that transfers were today! I stayed in Nueva Galicia, but I have a new companion. His name is.....oh, how embarrassing. I forgot his name. I'm going to try to sneak a peek at his nametag............

Nope. Couldn't see it. It'll have to wait.

But he seems cool. He just finished his training, and he's 26 YEARS OLD! I was worried when I heard that that he would be a "Hey, I don't need a senior companion--I'm 26!" kind of guy, but he's not like that at all.

For this week, we had a baptism. The granddaughter of the first counselor, who has always gone to church, is now a member!

 

It was a fantastic service. There were about ten people there total but the spirit was SO strong.

Oh, and also....remember how I said the sister missionaries were going to baptize and she asked if I'd do it? Well, I did!

 

I messed up the ordinance big time haha. The first time I said "By the authority of the Melchize.....wha?" Oops. THEN, I did it again. I said it right the second time, but I didn't submerge her the whole way. Now, I was kind of embarrassed....but I did it right after that. Funny. She'll remember it for sure! She was so excited and she was feeling the spirit big time. She said the prayer at the end and she was just crying and crying....what an amazing spirit there was there.

Also this week was the ward Christmas party.

 

There was so much food. For evidence, please see the ENORMOUS pot of beans. 

 

They were all dancing and karaoke-ing. It wasn't the best environment for missionaries, so we left. But not before stealing a LOT of those beans.=)

 

This has nothing to do with anything, but look how funny this is....pirated name brands!

 

 

Basically this week was a few big events, but apart from that we didn't do much else. There was a lot of time spent preparing for the big things, but apart from that there wasn't anything too big.

Let me just say that I love this mission, and this gospel. There are a lot of reasons. I keep finding new ones every day. Just saying.

I have been thinking a lot lot lot about Christmas. What it is, WHY it is, what's it all for, everything.

And I've come to the conclusion that we have gotten kind of off topic.

If you ask anyone what the "real meaning of Christmas" is, they'll tell you "To celebrate the birth of Jesus". Excuse me, but I expressly disagree. Just being born wasn't that important. Jesus did what was impossible for all of us. I have included here a story that touches my heart every time I read it. I'm sure that most of you have heard this story. I myself have read it various times. But I have never read it with the perspective of the Atonement that I now have, as a missionary. I Hope you can all take a little bit of time to read this and remember the TRUE "true meaning of Christmas".

"The Room"

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger," "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented. When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. I have a lot to write next week!

Love,

Elder Crabb

12-10-12 Hey! Write me! And tell other people to write me!

Well, the days are getting supposedly longer and longer, but it sure doesn't feel like it!

Hello again family, friends, and strangers. It's been another great week in missionary world. Remember how last week I said that we were having some problems finding new people to teach? Yeah. Not a problem anymore. And I also have a renewed testimony of the fast!

Before this week, we were stuck. We had been talking to everybody and trying to ask everyone for referrals, but NObody was giving us the time of day. It was pretty frustrating. It got to the point where I went to the scriptures for help. I came across 1 Kings 21:9:

"And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast..."

 

Hmmm.......

 

So, we did. We fasted. We prayed with all the faith that we could muster that we could find some new people to teach. Shortly after having started our fast, our ward mission leader gave us four referrals. Then, we found a new family. Then, the mission offices called us and gave us TWELVE referrals! Shortly following that, we had a couple of members tell us that they had some pending referrals for us. By the end of the week we had 18 new referrals, two new families, and someone who came to church by herself. It was a HUGE testimony for me this week! Miracles CAN and DO happen when we make our sacrifices.

 

 

I hope you all know how maddeningly difficult it is for me to write these letters in English. It's the only English I "speak" all week most times! All five of the other missionaries are Mexican in my district.

 

 

This week we have "our" baptism (the little 8 year old girl, Alejandra, who has gone to church all her life but technically her baptism counts for us because her parents aren't members...). That'll be nice. Oh! And the sister missionaries in my district are going to baptize this week, and the people I interviewed said they wanted me to be the one who baptized them! That'll be pretty neat. The lady said "When I shook your hand I knew that you were the right one to baptize me." I don't really know what that means, but cool!

As we're getting closer to Christmas, you can actually see it in the way people are. It's like that everywhere, I imagine. You know what I'm talking about, that attitude of "Hey, c'mon man, it's Christmas!" It's really awesome. I kinda wish that everyone was a little more like that all the time.

Not too much other than that this week! We're still progressing here, there's a TON of work now, trying to contact all these people.

 

 I love you guys, and thanks for being amazingly supportive. Hey! Write me! And tell other people to write me! Thanks! =)

 

 

Elder Crabbbbbbbbb

 

 

Funny mirror pictures!

 

12-3-12 Investigators....Get your free investigators....

Hello again. (I really need to think of some more creative ways to start my emails.)

First off, I was SO sad to hear about Russ McBride! That was totally unexpected. He'll definitely be missed.

Those Deep Thoughts are totally awesome. I have told some of those to my Mexican companions and they do NOT understand them at all. I also loved that picture of Piper sitting there on the couch--I almost died laughing! That's so awesome....it's good to know you're all well.

BUT, since I'm the one who lives in a foreign country and who is on a mission and having amazing once-in-a-lifetime adventures, I'm going to selfishly write more about ME. =) Any objections?

So this week has been really interesting. First of all, we baptized this week! Remember Anthony? Cristal's son? Well, he got baptized! It was so great. Cristal was there and so was Karely (who both cried). I told you already, but just so you remember, Cristal has some personal problems to resolve before she can get baptized, so that she can live the commandments. She has already told us that she would LOVE to get baptized. She's really great....and really pregnant (she's due in February. She's progressing well. She's what I like to call a "Dry Member" (just add water!). Really spiritual, really knowledgeable, always reading the scriptures, but not baptized.

We've been struggling the last little bit trying to find new investigators. We've been asking for referrals, contacting in the street, all kinds of stuff, but without new investigators. That's been frustrating me, but I'm doing the best I can, so I'm just praying and studying and leaving the rest to God. The good news is, he's been listening. New people have been coming out of the woodwork out of nowhere. One guy, Jaime, asked US if we wanted to talk to him, and he basically had a heart attack when we told him about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith (but in a good way: "I've never heard of that before! That makes total sense! Where can I buy one of those books?") We'll be coming back. Another great one is a family with about ten kids who want to change really bad. They live kind of far from the church but they've been reading the Book of Mormon and stuff. They told us they couldn't go to church this Sunday because of work, but they told us they'd go this coming Sunday.

Probably the biggest miracle of all is what they just barely told me. The first counselor of the bishop called us and told us that we have a baptism. I was kind of caught off guard, but he went on to explain that it's his granddaughter who has gone to church for her whole life and is going to turn 8. She said she's counting the days until her baptism. Cool! Probably the best part is that nobody in her family is a member except her grandpa, the first counselor. Free baptism AND a new family of investigators. WOO!

I came to kind of a profound realization this week. Life will change no matter what. That's unavoidable. And if you don't go on a mission, your life changes little by little, one thing at a time. But if you do go on a mission, your life changes and does a backflip and a somersalt. It changes all at once. Your priorities get totally flipped and renewed. That's why I love this place. My life has changed....and I don't think I'll ever be quite the same. In a lot of things.

I love you guys. You're all amazing supporters. Keep praying for me!! I sure need it...

Love,

Elder Crabb

Here are some photos of Anthony's baptism and of today's trip to the Culiacan Botanical Gardens. It's SUCH a cool place. There are plants from the whole world there. It also has some cool weird art sculptures. Enjoy the photos!

Oh yeah, and I heard from Elder Tingey this week, which was super weird! He's just plain old "Spencer" now...