This week was very long! When I realized that it had only been seven days I was shocked! We did have a couple of good things happen this week. We got a few referrals from Hermana Cantu (the wife of the mission president) and she said that she thinks they're really prepared and ready for the Gospel. Yay!
I also did divisions with my old companion Elder Canul. He told me that my converts from the area I was just in are active as ever and that they are starting to get callings!! There's no better feeling in the world than that, I can tell you.
Sadly, apart from that, this week was pretty rough to be honest. I don't mean "discouraging", "sad", or "disheartening" so much as just plain "unsuccessful". We had about six or seven people who all told us that they were going to be at church, but nobody showed up.We had 14 appointments fall! It was kind of ridiculous. (More than anything this week, I've just been tired from all the walking haha)
It's kind of funny how most of the time, on my mission, I don't feel like I have truly failed. What I mean by that is, if I'm honestly doing what I can, working hard, being obedient, and just doing everyhing, I will be blessed! Even if all of our plans fail and we can't get people to read the scriptures or pray, we have a great promise in Doctrine and Covenants:
I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise. . DyC 82:10
Can I just say, I'm really glad it says "bound" here. It's an amazing promise. The Lord is obligated to bless us when we do what he says. The thing is, I think most of us are waiting for Him to bless us with the things that WE want. It can be frustrating, especially when what we want isn't bad at all (what / want more than anything is for people to accept the Gospel). As humans, we sometimes get angry and ask where our blessings were, because things don't turn out how we want. But it just always works out better. He just knows, (and we just DON'T) so we have to just trust that everything will be okay. If we do, I know it works out better than anything we could have done for ourselves.
I wish I had more things to write about.....it doesn't happen too often but this time it sure did. I'll be attaching photos next week. Love you all!
Read the.....what?
Elder Crabb
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Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
03-18-14 Everything I Need
Well, it looks like things are going well! This week, we did an activity which I lovingly gave the name of "Scrambled Eggs". We divided the whole zone. Everybody did splits (exchanges? I don't know how to say that in English....."divisiones") It was really good. I stayed in our area and worked with Elder Villalobos. He was really good. He's a really good teacher and he knows a lot about the scriptures. Basically we just had a crazy day. That same day, we found a family with TWELVE members between the ages of 9 and 21. We are so excited to go back there.....
Apart from that we have several potential people coming up. Octavio went to church this week, but he hasn't been reading the scriptures. He accepted a baptismal date but we can't tell how sure he is about it. We'll see. Remember Karen? She's progressing a lot. She's been reading the Book of Mormon and she likes church--this Sunday was three times that she's gone. Her brother's less excited, but they are both really cool and they understand really well.
We also had a zone conference this week that basically changed the rest of my mission. Remember how in the last email I was saying how I've been a little panicky because of the whole "there's not much time" factor? Basically that was the theme of the whole Zone conference. It was so cool! The theme was "getting the most out of the time you have left". It was really cool. I got a lot of inspiration about things I'm going to do different.
I've been keeping a pretty good study journal (regular journal....not so much) and I'm really liking it. It lets me remember a lot of things that I've studied and get "re-revelation".
There's not too much else this week. I just want to share my testimony. Again.
I don't know how many people end up reading this blog. Anybody who has been reading it somewhat consistently will be able to see that I have sure come a long way. I've gained a love for the scriptures that I didn't think was possible (in my case anyway). My testimony has grown in so many specific ways, in prayer, personal revelation, in fasting, in the Spirit, but most of all, that God just loves us. Me being here has taught me more than anything that we really do matter to him. Compared to God, man is nothing, but we mean everything to Him. I know that every single person on this planet is important to Him. It's really hard to believe that sometimes when we think about how small we are in this big ol' world, but He really does love us. I hope you all have a great week this wonderful March! Talk to you soon!
Love
Elder Crabb
PS Read the SCRIPTURES......please.
Apart from that we have several potential people coming up. Octavio went to church this week, but he hasn't been reading the scriptures. He accepted a baptismal date but we can't tell how sure he is about it. We'll see. Remember Karen? She's progressing a lot. She's been reading the Book of Mormon and she likes church--this Sunday was three times that she's gone. Her brother's less excited, but they are both really cool and they understand really well.
We also had a zone conference this week that basically changed the rest of my mission. Remember how in the last email I was saying how I've been a little panicky because of the whole "there's not much time" factor? Basically that was the theme of the whole Zone conference. It was so cool! The theme was "getting the most out of the time you have left". It was really cool. I got a lot of inspiration about things I'm going to do different.
I've been keeping a pretty good study journal (regular journal....not so much) and I'm really liking it. It lets me remember a lot of things that I've studied and get "re-revelation".
There's not too much else this week. I just want to share my testimony. Again.
I don't know how many people end up reading this blog. Anybody who has been reading it somewhat consistently will be able to see that I have sure come a long way. I've gained a love for the scriptures that I didn't think was possible (in my case anyway). My testimony has grown in so many specific ways, in prayer, personal revelation, in fasting, in the Spirit, but most of all, that God just loves us. Me being here has taught me more than anything that we really do matter to him. Compared to God, man is nothing, but we mean everything to Him. I know that every single person on this planet is important to Him. It's really hard to believe that sometimes when we think about how small we are in this big ol' world, but He really does love us. I hope you all have a great week this wonderful March! Talk to you soon!
Love
Elder Crabb
PS Read the SCRIPTURES......please.
Monday, March 11, 2013
03-11-13. Clever Subject Line
This week was really good. Remember that Jesus guy that I talked about last week? Him and his sister are progressing pretty well already. They went to an institute class with a couple of members and they are really liking church. Jesus didn't go on Sunday but Karen did! It's really cool to see how people progress like this!
I don't know if I ever told you about Karely. She's the nuera of a member here who is very active. Karely's husband is a member inactive, but Karely's really taken an interest in the church. She's great, but she works a LOT in OXXO (the Mexican 7-11, I guess you could say).
We met another girl who speaks English--weird. Seems like there's been a lot of that lately. That always happens when I'm with an American!
On a less spiritual note, it's hot. The only two seasons in Sinaloa are "Hot", and "Warm". It's not too bad yet, the nights are still comfortable, but it shouldn't be too much longer before the heat hits.
Our zone meeting turned out really well. It was a good one, I think it was just what we needed. Then, on Thursday, we did exchanges (I don't know how to say that in English) with Elder Brandon this week, a district leader in the zone. He only has a little bit of time left, and he's training another American Elder. He's really good. We had some cool experiences over there in his area, there is an AWESOME lady who, last time I was over there, we contacted. Now she's getting ready to get baptized. The only problem now?-- Her family. I hate those situations.
We've been stuggling to find new investigators this last little while. It's been kind of frustrating, honestly. I mean, I trust God. I know he does what he needs to do. My doubt is never "Is God going to come through?" as much as "Is Elder Crabb going to come through?" I've realized that a lot of our weaknesses sometimes impede us from achieving our full potential. I don't remember if I posted this video or not:
http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/topics/hope?lang=eng#2011-11-020-mens-hearts-shall-fail-them
I always think of this video whenever I get discouraged or I think that I'm too weak to find all these people that the Lord wants me to find. I know that we ARE weak, but that's okay! God knows that! Of course he knows that. And knowing that, he's willing to give us a break as long as we're trying our best. I love it! I'm so grateful that God trusts us enough to expect the best out of us, but is merciful enough to know where the line is.
I love you guys. Thanks for all your love, letters, support, and llamas. I know I pretty much have said it every week for more than a year and a half, but you guys are (wait for it........) the BEST!
Read the Scriptures! Especially because that in English there's going to be a cool new version!
Love,
Elder Craaaabb
I don't know if I ever told you about Karely. She's the nuera of a member here who is very active. Karely's husband is a member inactive, but Karely's really taken an interest in the church. She's great, but she works a LOT in OXXO (the Mexican 7-11, I guess you could say).
We met another girl who speaks English--weird. Seems like there's been a lot of that lately. That always happens when I'm with an American!
On a less spiritual note, it's hot. The only two seasons in Sinaloa are "Hot", and "Warm". It's not too bad yet, the nights are still comfortable, but it shouldn't be too much longer before the heat hits.
Our zone meeting turned out really well. It was a good one, I think it was just what we needed. Then, on Thursday, we did exchanges (I don't know how to say that in English) with Elder Brandon this week, a district leader in the zone. He only has a little bit of time left, and he's training another American Elder. He's really good. We had some cool experiences over there in his area, there is an AWESOME lady who, last time I was over there, we contacted. Now she's getting ready to get baptized. The only problem now?-- Her family. I hate those situations.
We've been stuggling to find new investigators this last little while. It's been kind of frustrating, honestly. I mean, I trust God. I know he does what he needs to do. My doubt is never "Is God going to come through?" as much as "Is Elder Crabb going to come through?" I've realized that a lot of our weaknesses sometimes impede us from achieving our full potential. I don't remember if I posted this video or not:
http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/topics/hope?lang=eng#2011-11-020-mens-hearts-shall-fail-them
I always think of this video whenever I get discouraged or I think that I'm too weak to find all these people that the Lord wants me to find. I know that we ARE weak, but that's okay! God knows that! Of course he knows that. And knowing that, he's willing to give us a break as long as we're trying our best. I love it! I'm so grateful that God trusts us enough to expect the best out of us, but is merciful enough to know where the line is.
I love you guys. Thanks for all your love, letters, support, and llamas. I know I pretty much have said it every week for more than a year and a half, but you guys are (wait for it........) the BEST!
Read the Scriptures! Especially because that in English there's going to be a cool new version!
Love,
Elder Craaaabb
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
03-04-13. Diligence.....what it's all about
Well, this week was really interesting. We DID go to zone leader council this week, which was so awesome. Remember in one of my first letters when I said that President Cantu is kind of like Mexican Abraham Lincoln because of his awesome talks and stuff? I still stand by that. I'm blown away by that man. They talked about how to be a good leader (which I really needed) and how to get more out of our study time. One of the cool things they talked about is how study isn't just reading time. It's our hour of revelation. I thought that was so cool. It's really true. The whole purpose of our study is to recieve revelation about what the investigators need. It was an awesome meeting. We went bowling again and I scored 116! Woo! (not the best bowler...)
Remember Octavio? The uncle of the Yeovanna, the less active? He came to church! He was really excited....good things are happening this week. New investigators coming out of the woodwork, relatively cool temperature....can't compain. We have some pretty potential people.....I just wish I had time to write about everything! I'll just have to pick the best parts. =)
It was the end of the day (about 8:40) and Elder Huntington and I were both really tired and ready to go home. Our plans had fallen (plan A, B, C, and D) and we really weren't sure what to do. We were just about to go back to the house when I remembered that President Cantu said that the moment in
which it's hardest to choose the right is when the greatest blessing is right around the corner. We decided to stay out and see what we could do.
Well, we just started walking, turned the corner, and there was a young guy sitting outside of a house texting. I thought "I should contact this guy," but I brushed it off, telling myself he wouldn't listen or that he was too busy. I kept feeling that way until I just couldn't keep it in anymore, and I blurted out "Do you know what street this is?" I'm not sure why it came out like that exactly, but he told us what it was called, then said (in English), "You guys speak English, don't you?"
What?
He proceeded to tell us that he's lived in Los Angeles for like 20 years (he's 23) and that he's basically an American. We started to tell him about the church and we set an appointment. We were really excited, but when the day came, he wasn't there. We were pretty disappointed. However, on Saturday night, we thought we'd pass by and invite him to church. He was there, and he accepted, along with his sister. They seemed pretty jazzed. Lo and behold, they came. It was so cool, and they LOVED it!
Imagine if we hadn't gone the extra mile there. We could have easily said "It's late, nobody's home, nobody wants to hear us right now," etc., but since we did it, we were blessed. Our blessing was LITERALLY around the corner! They are both really excited to learn. I'm so glad we talked to
him! If we hadn't, maybe we'd never have found him!
Diligence. That's what it's all about--here, OR in the "real world".
Love you all! Read the scriptures!
Elder Crabb
*(.....but really, did you read them?)*
Here's some random pictures--enjoy!
Our house--we had to put everything in one room so they could fix the pipes!
Elder Huntington's eggs. He drew faces on them of people in our ward (Villa Universidad)
The zone leaders bowling.
Mexican graffiti.....What? Justin Bieber....what a silly goof.
I wish the gospel would spread as fast as Justin Bieber
Remember Octavio? The uncle of the Yeovanna, the less active? He came to church! He was really excited....good things are happening this week. New investigators coming out of the woodwork, relatively cool temperature....can't compain. We have some pretty potential people.....I just wish I had time to write about everything! I'll just have to pick the best parts. =)
It was the end of the day (about 8:40) and Elder Huntington and I were both really tired and ready to go home. Our plans had fallen (plan A, B, C, and D) and we really weren't sure what to do. We were just about to go back to the house when I remembered that President Cantu said that the moment in
which it's hardest to choose the right is when the greatest blessing is right around the corner. We decided to stay out and see what we could do.
Well, we just started walking, turned the corner, and there was a young guy sitting outside of a house texting. I thought "I should contact this guy," but I brushed it off, telling myself he wouldn't listen or that he was too busy. I kept feeling that way until I just couldn't keep it in anymore, and I blurted out "Do you know what street this is?" I'm not sure why it came out like that exactly, but he told us what it was called, then said (in English), "You guys speak English, don't you?"
What?
He proceeded to tell us that he's lived in Los Angeles for like 20 years (he's 23) and that he's basically an American. We started to tell him about the church and we set an appointment. We were really excited, but when the day came, he wasn't there. We were pretty disappointed. However, on Saturday night, we thought we'd pass by and invite him to church. He was there, and he accepted, along with his sister. They seemed pretty jazzed. Lo and behold, they came. It was so cool, and they LOVED it!
Imagine if we hadn't gone the extra mile there. We could have easily said "It's late, nobody's home, nobody wants to hear us right now," etc., but since we did it, we were blessed. Our blessing was LITERALLY around the corner! They are both really excited to learn. I'm so glad we talked to
him! If we hadn't, maybe we'd never have found him!
Diligence. That's what it's all about--here, OR in the "real world".
Love you all! Read the scriptures!
Elder Crabb
*(.....but really, did you read them?)*
Here's some random pictures--enjoy!
Our house--we had to put everything in one room so they could fix the pipes!
Elder Huntington's eggs. He drew faces on them of people in our ward (Villa Universidad)
The zone leaders bowling.
Mexican graffiti.....What? Justin Bieber....what a silly goof.
I wish the gospel would spread as fast as Justin Bieber
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