Dear Family,
Sorry this might not be very long today. It's fun to see that most of us got a P-Day today haha. Luckily for me we email in the office so it wasn't closed. The challenge is just doing it in between the other things that we have to get done.
This last week was the last of the Zone Conferences, and they all went really well. I got to see Elder Mead finally and he's doing well. He has a great companion that is really going to help him and they're both working hard. I didn't get to tell him about Brady because like I figured his parents had told him already. He was pretty excited though.
Elder Lo, Elder Crepeau and I have been working really hard trying to teach people and find new ones to teach. We had the chance to go teach a less active Hmong family that Elder Lo knows from when they lived in his first area in St. Paul going to the Hmong Branch over there. It was great. The wife, T., but she just goes by her American name T., made us some great food, and she along with her husband, T. X., aka B. haha, gave me a Hmong name. All the missionaries here that are American but speak Hmong get a Hmong name. It's tradition for their culture I guess, so they gave me the name Muaj Hmoo. I would type how to pronounce it but I don't really know how haha it means Lucky or to have luck I guess and is a really great name that people really. B. and T. said that if they have a son that's what they're going to name him. So that was a really cool experience, but the spirit of the lesson in there was amazing! These two were super strong in the branch while they were going, but gave into the family pressure and conformed to go to their Dad's church now even though they still know the Church is true. Elder Crepeau and I basically did the most talking because Elder Lo has been over and taught them so much he wasn't sure what the next step was for them. Elder Crepeau and I got to talk about the pioneers in our families that were converts like them and how we are here now because of them. Elder Crepeau talked about his dad who joined the church when he was 22 and I talked about Grandma and Grandpa Craft specifically with them. There was such a powerful experience with an amazing spirit as we testified about the blessings of their faith and diligence and that even though it's not easy for them it wasn't easy for our relatives either, but that the blessings of it have effected us even until now. It was so cool and something that I think really blessed them. They committed to come to church next week and Elder Lo said that's the most progress they've made in a long time. It was so amazing and I really grew to love them just from the spirit that we felt there.
Tonight for the last two hours of P-Day we have a cool dinner scheduled with the Clements where Elder Lo is going to teach all of us to make egg rolls. We're pretty excited and so are the Clements. It should be pretty good haha.
I'm excited to hear how the temple prep class is going to go for Brady tonight. He's lucky to have Brother C. so close by and such a great friend that he's willing to do that. It's going to be great for him, but even with my time in a temple prep type class with Brother J. it still didn't really prepare me fully for what it would be like because I don't think anything really can haha. He's going to love it and I'm sure he'll learn all he needs to tonight.
Well I hope that all is well for everyone else! Thanks for all the pictures Dad. I really appreciate it. Thanks for all your love and support. I love you all and can't wait to hear from you again! Sorry no pictures this week.
Love, Elder Craft
Showing posts with label zone conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zone conference. Show all posts
Monday, February 20, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Wild Minnesota
Hallo Familie,
Well this week was pretty intense for us. We stayed pretty busy traveling around and trying to find people to teach here in Bloomington. We had the first Zone Conference on Tuesday and I messed up on my info with that last week. Elder Mead's zone wasn't one of those ones. He's in the Oakdale Zone and so I'll get to see him on Wednesday this week. I'll be sure to tell him about Brady's exciting news but I'm sure that he's already heard. We had a good time getting to see all the missionaries down here in the Minneapolis parts of the Twin Cities and go up to Duluth and see those Elders in Canada and the rest of them in the frozen north. The drive up with all the trees and forestry was so pretty. I saw a bunch of deer and stuff just right there in Duluth and when we were driving up we saw a wolf on the side of the road too. Too bad it was dead, but that's road kill that I've never seen in Utah. The Elders up in Thunder Bay said that they've seen like 4-5 wolves now and bear all over the place. Minnesota is very unique because of the wildlife that is all around us. Even here in the cities we see our fair share of coyotes, fox, deer, and bald eagles. Duluth was a lot colder than down here though. It was beautiful being able to come in on the freeway over the hill and just look out to see all across the city and Lake Superior. It's a very beautiful city and the Elders are all doing great work in that zone. We had to go up Thursday morning for some New Missionary Training we did with President Clements before Zone Conference on Friday and we headed home Saturday afternoon. The training all went very well and we even got to do two exchanges with the Thunder Bay new missionaries while we were there. A very busy time but very spiritually uplifting. We got to teach a lesson Thursday while we were at lunch too. After we got all the meetings set up with the logistics of it we went to eat at a really good Chinese restaurant downtown near the college campus and while we were there one of the students came up to sit with us and just started to ask a bunch of questions because he's trying to "find the truth for [himself]". It was a great experience to explain how he was like Joseph Smith and teach him a brief restoration lesson all while sitting next to the wantons and soy sauce of the Beijing restaurant. It's so cool how people are prepared in every place and situation that we go! The morning we left we decided to go up to a look out tower and take some pictures. It had been pretty cold with some snow storms the nights previous while we were out tracting and teach at about -15, but Saturday was freezing! haha It as about 9 am but as we were taking pictures the wind chill was about -40 degrees and made the Kodak moment very short lived. haha You can see in the pictures that a smile was not going to happen from me haha. It was a good Minnesota experience!
I'm glad that everyone else seems to be doing well. Sorry that there's not much more to report on from here. I talked a lot about Duluth but things here in Bloomington are still going great! haha We are working on finding more people to teach an helping build the kingdom slowly but surely. I hope all goes well with school and work for everyone this week. Happy Birthday too Nick! I can't wait to hear from you all again.
Love, Elder Craft
Well this week was pretty intense for us. We stayed pretty busy traveling around and trying to find people to teach here in Bloomington. We had the first Zone Conference on Tuesday and I messed up on my info with that last week. Elder Mead's zone wasn't one of those ones. He's in the Oakdale Zone and so I'll get to see him on Wednesday this week. I'll be sure to tell him about Brady's exciting news but I'm sure that he's already heard. We had a good time getting to see all the missionaries down here in the Minneapolis parts of the Twin Cities and go up to Duluth and see those Elders in Canada and the rest of them in the frozen north. The drive up with all the trees and forestry was so pretty. I saw a bunch of deer and stuff just right there in Duluth and when we were driving up we saw a wolf on the side of the road too. Too bad it was dead, but that's road kill that I've never seen in Utah. The Elders up in Thunder Bay said that they've seen like 4-5 wolves now and bear all over the place. Minnesota is very unique because of the wildlife that is all around us. Even here in the cities we see our fair share of coyotes, fox, deer, and bald eagles. Duluth was a lot colder than down here though. It was beautiful being able to come in on the freeway over the hill and just look out to see all across the city and Lake Superior. It's a very beautiful city and the Elders are all doing great work in that zone. We had to go up Thursday morning for some New Missionary Training we did with President Clements before Zone Conference on Friday and we headed home Saturday afternoon. The training all went very well and we even got to do two exchanges with the Thunder Bay new missionaries while we were there. A very busy time but very spiritually uplifting. We got to teach a lesson Thursday while we were at lunch too. After we got all the meetings set up with the logistics of it we went to eat at a really good Chinese restaurant downtown near the college campus and while we were there one of the students came up to sit with us and just started to ask a bunch of questions because he's trying to "find the truth for [himself]". It was a great experience to explain how he was like Joseph Smith and teach him a brief restoration lesson all while sitting next to the wantons and soy sauce of the Beijing restaurant. It's so cool how people are prepared in every place and situation that we go! The morning we left we decided to go up to a look out tower and take some pictures. It had been pretty cold with some snow storms the nights previous while we were out tracting and teach at about -15, but Saturday was freezing! haha It as about 9 am but as we were taking pictures the wind chill was about -40 degrees and made the Kodak moment very short lived. haha You can see in the pictures that a smile was not going to happen from me haha. It was a good Minnesota experience!
I'm glad that everyone else seems to be doing well. Sorry that there's not much more to report on from here. I talked a lot about Duluth but things here in Bloomington are still going great! haha We are working on finding more people to teach an helping build the kingdom slowly but surely. I hope all goes well with school and work for everyone this week. Happy Birthday too Nick! I can't wait to hear from you all again.
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, February 6, 2012
A Lot of Travelling
Dear Craft Family,
I'm sorry to hear about some of the health issues and stress you guys are battling. You're a bunch of champs the way you handle it though. I'll keep praying for you all.
This week was a very good week for us here. We traveled down to Roshester and had the Zone Conference down there on Thursday. It went really well and the training was great. It's a smaller Zone down there with only 8 companionships. It was fun for me to e down right near where I served in Kasson. Even though I never was assigned to serve in the city of Rochester that's where my companions and I would have to go each P-Day to do our emailing and shopping because there wasn't much 20 minutes West out in Kasson haha. So I got to be the one to give directions and navigate us around there. Tomorrow we have the Minneapolis, Anoka, and Lakeville combined Zone Conference meeting right here in Bloomington at our church building next to the mission home and mission office. I'm pretty excited to see everyone there including Elder Mead. Because it's 3 zones there's going to be about 65 missionaries which should be a lot of fun. We have to spend most of the morning and afternoon preparing and setting up over at the church. Then later this week we head up to Duluth 3 hours north for their Zone Conference on Thursday. My MTC companion Elder Lewis is one of the Zone Leaders up there with his companion Elder Watkins (hopefully that answers your question Kat ;)). It's always fun for me to talk to and see missionaries I've served around. Now with this new assignment it's making it fun getting to know all the missionaries here in the MMM. Hopefully I'll have some cool pictures from up North to send to you next week.
Speaking of pictures those ones I asked for, Dad, should be in a top drawer of my dresser on the right hand side of my closet. Hopefully you can find them, but if not don't worry about it. I know you're studying a lot so don't take a lot of time looking for them. I did get that joke you sent me from Grandma too. You can tell her that it was funny and definitely missionary appropriate haha.
I'm sorry for Brady to hear that Adam Vinitari wasn't there to beat the Giants this year. That's what happens when the one player that's won all their Superbowls for them isn't there to do it again. haha Jk Brady. . . but not really. Last night we were in lessons and stuff with a couple members who weren't watching the Superbowl so it wasn't nearly as excited as what I'm sure it was for some of you. That sad the circumstances for why you're in Idaho, Mom, but fun that you get to see all the family. Since you're still up there and will be when you read this give them all my love and tell them I'm praying for them often. It's good to hear they're all doing relatively well.
That's cool to hear that you get to start a new pilot program at the MTC. 6 weeks in the MTC though?! That's going to be the most intense German speaking, German learning time for you! That's why I'm saying study the doctrine now cause there's no way you can in there haha.
I heard that a certain sister of mine is supposedly all decked out in Super man gear today. I hope the belt worked out for her, and now if I get a chance to play basketball in between setting up at the church today I can wear my Superman shirt I got sent and we'll be twinners. LIke the Minnesota Twins! haha Kinda lame I know but it's what I have to work with haha.
Sorry there's not much more to report on from here. We're working hard staying busy and loving every minute of it! I hope that everyone does great with their academic and health skills and diagnosis tests this week. I love and will continue to pray for all of you! Thanks for all your love and support.
Love, Elder Craft
I'm sorry to hear about some of the health issues and stress you guys are battling. You're a bunch of champs the way you handle it though. I'll keep praying for you all.
This week was a very good week for us here. We traveled down to Roshester and had the Zone Conference down there on Thursday. It went really well and the training was great. It's a smaller Zone down there with only 8 companionships. It was fun for me to e down right near where I served in Kasson. Even though I never was assigned to serve in the city of Rochester that's where my companions and I would have to go each P-Day to do our emailing and shopping because there wasn't much 20 minutes West out in Kasson haha. So I got to be the one to give directions and navigate us around there. Tomorrow we have the Minneapolis, Anoka, and Lakeville combined Zone Conference meeting right here in Bloomington at our church building next to the mission home and mission office. I'm pretty excited to see everyone there including Elder Mead. Because it's 3 zones there's going to be about 65 missionaries which should be a lot of fun. We have to spend most of the morning and afternoon preparing and setting up over at the church. Then later this week we head up to Duluth 3 hours north for their Zone Conference on Thursday. My MTC companion Elder Lewis is one of the Zone Leaders up there with his companion Elder Watkins (hopefully that answers your question Kat ;)). It's always fun for me to talk to and see missionaries I've served around. Now with this new assignment it's making it fun getting to know all the missionaries here in the MMM. Hopefully I'll have some cool pictures from up North to send to you next week.
Speaking of pictures those ones I asked for, Dad, should be in a top drawer of my dresser on the right hand side of my closet. Hopefully you can find them, but if not don't worry about it. I know you're studying a lot so don't take a lot of time looking for them. I did get that joke you sent me from Grandma too. You can tell her that it was funny and definitely missionary appropriate haha.
I'm sorry for Brady to hear that Adam Vinitari wasn't there to beat the Giants this year. That's what happens when the one player that's won all their Superbowls for them isn't there to do it again. haha Jk Brady. . . but not really. Last night we were in lessons and stuff with a couple members who weren't watching the Superbowl so it wasn't nearly as excited as what I'm sure it was for some of you. That sad the circumstances for why you're in Idaho, Mom, but fun that you get to see all the family. Since you're still up there and will be when you read this give them all my love and tell them I'm praying for them often. It's good to hear they're all doing relatively well.
That's cool to hear that you get to start a new pilot program at the MTC. 6 weeks in the MTC though?! That's going to be the most intense German speaking, German learning time for you! That's why I'm saying study the doctrine now cause there's no way you can in there haha.
I heard that a certain sister of mine is supposedly all decked out in Super man gear today. I hope the belt worked out for her, and now if I get a chance to play basketball in between setting up at the church today I can wear my Superman shirt I got sent and we'll be twinners. LIke the Minnesota Twins! haha Kinda lame I know but it's what I have to work with haha.
Sorry there's not much more to report on from here. We're working hard staying busy and loving every minute of it! I hope that everyone does great with their academic and health skills and diagnosis tests this week. I love and will continue to pray for all of you! Thanks for all your love and support.
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, January 30, 2012
Busy, Busy, Busy . . .
Dear Mom, Dad, and Family,
Sorry that this is a little later than normal. We aren't really having a P-Day today because we have to get ready for ZLC (Zone Leader Council) tomorrow and the Zone Conference in Rochester this week. Things here have been pretty busy, but nothing too overwhelming. We have a few different people that we're working with in our area, but it's just been a lot of scheduling conflicts that haven't allowed us to set any real appointments. We did have a really great week though with some really good lessons and experiences. We had a referral for a lady to go see in the Richfield part of our area and hadn't been able to see her the day after we got it, so last night we had all our appointments and back up plans kind of fall through on us and decided it would be best to go try her out. When we got there it turns out that she lives there with her boyfriend and 3 kids along with her friend and her friend's son. Her friend is the one that we talked to when we showed up and she was inside too. They invited us in out of the cold and talked to us for a minute. Come to find out that her friend is Hmong and she is Hispanic. We couldn't believe the chances of that that the missionaries that come to teach them would be one Hmong speaker, one Spanish speaker, and me the white English guy haha. Luckily for me they both speak Hmong and Spanish but were raised here in Minnesota and speak great English. It was pretty cool to here Elder Lo talking to her friend and Elder Crepeau talking to her and having there own little conversations in two different languages haha. We taught them in English however last night and this morning we went back to teach them again. They're so cool to be able to teach and want to believe that it's true is what they told us today. It's amazing to see the people that are placed in our path at the time that they are!
So far I haven't gotten to meet all the missionaries and travel all over the mission. We did a couple trainings in St. Paul and one back up in the Shingle Creek area with President Clements. With Zone Conferences this week and next I'll get the chance too see a lot more of the mission and the missionaries though.
I'm sure that Brady has heard enough about mission prep from everyone, but seeing as I am the one on the mission right now I think it's my place to give it to him haha. I just wanted to tell you be sure to ask any questions you have about what to buy or do in preparing. My advice of reading PMG, as backed up by Mom and Dad still stands. haha I also wanted to just tell you about a sweet scripture that I thought you would like and to read and if you want to be unique put on your plaque. It's in Omni 1:26. Maybe you already know it, but it's one that I really like and hadn't really read much before.
It sounds like everyone back at home is busy as usual but doing well. I'm so glad to hear it. Sorry that there isn't much more to say. I hope that you all are doing great and that I'll get to talk to you again soon.
Love, Elder Craft
Sorry that this is a little later than normal. We aren't really having a P-Day today because we have to get ready for ZLC (Zone Leader Council) tomorrow and the Zone Conference in Rochester this week. Things here have been pretty busy, but nothing too overwhelming. We have a few different people that we're working with in our area, but it's just been a lot of scheduling conflicts that haven't allowed us to set any real appointments. We did have a really great week though with some really good lessons and experiences. We had a referral for a lady to go see in the Richfield part of our area and hadn't been able to see her the day after we got it, so last night we had all our appointments and back up plans kind of fall through on us and decided it would be best to go try her out. When we got there it turns out that she lives there with her boyfriend and 3 kids along with her friend and her friend's son. Her friend is the one that we talked to when we showed up and she was inside too. They invited us in out of the cold and talked to us for a minute. Come to find out that her friend is Hmong and she is Hispanic. We couldn't believe the chances of that that the missionaries that come to teach them would be one Hmong speaker, one Spanish speaker, and me the white English guy haha. Luckily for me they both speak Hmong and Spanish but were raised here in Minnesota and speak great English. It was pretty cool to here Elder Lo talking to her friend and Elder Crepeau talking to her and having there own little conversations in two different languages haha. We taught them in English however last night and this morning we went back to teach them again. They're so cool to be able to teach and want to believe that it's true is what they told us today. It's amazing to see the people that are placed in our path at the time that they are!
So far I haven't gotten to meet all the missionaries and travel all over the mission. We did a couple trainings in St. Paul and one back up in the Shingle Creek area with President Clements. With Zone Conferences this week and next I'll get the chance too see a lot more of the mission and the missionaries though.
I'm sure that Brady has heard enough about mission prep from everyone, but seeing as I am the one on the mission right now I think it's my place to give it to him haha. I just wanted to tell you be sure to ask any questions you have about what to buy or do in preparing. My advice of reading PMG, as backed up by Mom and Dad still stands. haha I also wanted to just tell you about a sweet scripture that I thought you would like and to read and if you want to be unique put on your plaque. It's in Omni 1:26. Maybe you already know it, but it's one that I really like and hadn't really read much before.
It sounds like everyone back at home is busy as usual but doing well. I'm so glad to hear it. Sorry that there isn't much more to say. I hope that you all are doing great and that I'll get to talk to you again soon.
Love, Elder Craft
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Another Zone Conference
Hey Craft Family and Friends!
Sorry that I wasn't able to email you all yesterday. We had Zone Conference on a Monday again, so P-Day was pushed to today. I think they purposely schedule it on Mondays to see how well we as missionaries are at either planning or surviving or possibly both haha. Planning to see if we actually do plan ahead and have enough food that we're not eating any last grains of rice or something on Monday because all our food supply was rationed just for a weeks time. Then surviving for those missionaries who might actually do that haha. I'm jk Zone Conference was great! I think I say that every time but I just love when Zone Conference rolls around every few months! I feel so motivated and spiritually uplifted to go out and conquer all of Minnesota haha. It's great to be able to just be around a large group of missionaries that are all going through the same sort of things you are and have such great experiences and testimonies to learn from. Yesterday President Clements gave a fantastic training on overcoming investigators concerns and feeling true love for those we serve and teach along with a true love for the Gospel. Especially what's taught in The Book of Mormon. I really do love it! We never seem to have enough time to just sit and read from The Book or Mormon during study time. We do a lot of lesson plans of planning for people throughout the day trying to help resolve concerns and teach to their needs, so it is good and I love being able to study and learn for the time I do. I've just learned so much so far that I can't even believe and I know that I'm not even close to knowing as much as I would like. So much to learn and apply and so little time to do it haha. It was great at Zone Conference for a couple other reasons too. We had a 3 Zone combined conference and as a result there were a lot of missionaries that were there. Including Elder Judkins, Elder Russell, and my old District Leader down in Kasson, Elder Nelson. It's always fun to be able to see missionaries you know and talk to them again, so I had the chance to do that with a lot of them yesterday. It was funny cause Elder Baxter the one I played against from Layton was there too, so as Elder Judkins and I were talking he walked up. It was like a Region 1 soccer reunion haha. Elder Haupt was like, "man I swear you've played everyone in soccer" haha. The tradition here in the MMM is to have all new missionaries come up to the front after lunch that have come out since the last Zone Conference and people can raise their hands to tell facts they know about each one. Once there's not any more hands the trainer gets to come up and introduce and fill in anything else about him. So with Elder Haupt I went up and to start it off I said, "yes he is a cyclist like you all know, but a lot of people have asked about his wrist. So for those of you who don't know we actually took the training wheels off his bike last week and now you can see what happened". haha It's a good thing he's a good sport and just kind of goes with my sarcastic sense of humor haha. It's always a good time to see what random facts come up about missionaries. I'm pretty sure with most of the "facts" missionaries blurt out it's like a game of "2 truths and 1 lie" type thing. Just judging by the faces of the missionaries it's said about and from my own experience haha.
As for Elder Haupt and his injuries we had to go to the Dr. last week by order of Salt Lake and found out from the Dr. that he had "a crack in his radius". He didn't know whether it was broken or if it was just his growth plate that never fused together. Now he's been wearing this carbon fiber type splint for the past week that's just held in place with an ACE bandage and only has to wear it for a few more days. I guess to put it simply he's doing fine and his bike didn't have hardly any damage either, so we were lucky.
Thank you soo much for your letters and emails! I really appreciate it from all of you! It means a lot because I know how busy your civilian lives are haha. Don't feel bad if you don't write every week though. I know that it doesn't mean you love me any less, so don't feel guilty like you have to write me. Just whenever you have a chance is nice. You know where I am for the next few months too so there's no rush! ;) haha
Just to kind of answer or respond to some things you all asked or said:
Mom and Dad: That's really cool about the talk you got to hear on prayer Mom. It really is such a powerful thing that I'm trying to work on as well. I know that it is a communication tool that we have been to graciously given by our loving Father in Heaven that wants to hear from us and help us. I've seen it personally and with other missionaries and people. The last district meeting I did was actually on prayer. I appreciated the testimony you sent too Mom. Thank you. That's too bad to hear about Camie's almost big event. That has to be frustrating. but I'm sure there's a reason why. That probably doesn't help her much with pain or frustrating but it's all I have to offer haha. The friend you ran into Dad was Tyler Smith. You can tell him too that I never heard back from either him or Mitch since I wrote them in the MTC. I don't know what happened but I look forward to talking to him. He's so funny! I love that guy! Thanks for Tavan's address too. I'll be sure to write him a Wilkommen lettern. ;)
Nick and Tati: Thanks so much for the email! I really enjoy hearing from you guys and now knowing that nothing too crazy has happened I guess. Anytime I hear about anyone going to or that's been to DC at all I always talk about you guys. I just have one question, so what is it that you are doing at your internship exactly? Is it basically exactly what it sounds like something for Human Rights? I'm just kind of curious ha.
Kat and Tom: That sounds like a ton of fun for you two kids! Lagoon and Seven Peaks back to back in one week. You just lived every 6th graders dream! haha jk that really does sound like a lot of fun. I'm glad you had a good time and liked the new rides. Did you go on the giant half pipe at Seven Peaks? I think it's called Boomerang or something like that? It was pretty intense when I went on it a few years ago. Good luck with the sealing plans and everything. I hope it all works out for you. I'll keep praying that it does. Regardless it sounds like your trip is going to be amazing! Those pictures looked sweet! Maybe in a few years when you do go back I'll have to tag along and try to unthaw from this next winter here. haha ;) My address here is 4709 76th Ave. N. Brooklyn Park, MN 55443. You don't really have to send me anything, but if you insist on trying this new packing method I guess I can't stop you ;) haha Thanks you guys are the best!
Well thanks again for all you guys do for me! All your support, love, and prayers are definitely felt and appreciated! I love this Gospel and the blessing it brings to my life and to all of us as an eternal family! You're the greatest and I love and miss you! I can't wait to hear from you again.
Love, Elder Alex Craft
Sorry that I wasn't able to email you all yesterday. We had Zone Conference on a Monday again, so P-Day was pushed to today. I think they purposely schedule it on Mondays to see how well we as missionaries are at either planning or surviving or possibly both haha. Planning to see if we actually do plan ahead and have enough food that we're not eating any last grains of rice or something on Monday because all our food supply was rationed just for a weeks time. Then surviving for those missionaries who might actually do that haha. I'm jk Zone Conference was great! I think I say that every time but I just love when Zone Conference rolls around every few months! I feel so motivated and spiritually uplifted to go out and conquer all of Minnesota haha. It's great to be able to just be around a large group of missionaries that are all going through the same sort of things you are and have such great experiences and testimonies to learn from. Yesterday President Clements gave a fantastic training on overcoming investigators concerns and feeling true love for those we serve and teach along with a true love for the Gospel. Especially what's taught in The Book of Mormon. I really do love it! We never seem to have enough time to just sit and read from The Book or Mormon during study time. We do a lot of lesson plans of planning for people throughout the day trying to help resolve concerns and teach to their needs, so it is good and I love being able to study and learn for the time I do. I've just learned so much so far that I can't even believe and I know that I'm not even close to knowing as much as I would like. So much to learn and apply and so little time to do it haha. It was great at Zone Conference for a couple other reasons too. We had a 3 Zone combined conference and as a result there were a lot of missionaries that were there. Including Elder Judkins, Elder Russell, and my old District Leader down in Kasson, Elder Nelson. It's always fun to be able to see missionaries you know and talk to them again, so I had the chance to do that with a lot of them yesterday. It was funny cause Elder Baxter the one I played against from Layton was there too, so as Elder Judkins and I were talking he walked up. It was like a Region 1 soccer reunion haha. Elder Haupt was like, "man I swear you've played everyone in soccer" haha. The tradition here in the MMM is to have all new missionaries come up to the front after lunch that have come out since the last Zone Conference and people can raise their hands to tell facts they know about each one. Once there's not any more hands the trainer gets to come up and introduce and fill in anything else about him. So with Elder Haupt I went up and to start it off I said, "yes he is a cyclist like you all know, but a lot of people have asked about his wrist. So for those of you who don't know we actually took the training wheels off his bike last week and now you can see what happened". haha It's a good thing he's a good sport and just kind of goes with my sarcastic sense of humor haha. It's always a good time to see what random facts come up about missionaries. I'm pretty sure with most of the "facts" missionaries blurt out it's like a game of "2 truths and 1 lie" type thing. Just judging by the faces of the missionaries it's said about and from my own experience haha.
As for Elder Haupt and his injuries we had to go to the Dr. last week by order of Salt Lake and found out from the Dr. that he had "a crack in his radius". He didn't know whether it was broken or if it was just his growth plate that never fused together. Now he's been wearing this carbon fiber type splint for the past week that's just held in place with an ACE bandage and only has to wear it for a few more days. I guess to put it simply he's doing fine and his bike didn't have hardly any damage either, so we were lucky.
Thank you soo much for your letters and emails! I really appreciate it from all of you! It means a lot because I know how busy your civilian lives are haha. Don't feel bad if you don't write every week though. I know that it doesn't mean you love me any less, so don't feel guilty like you have to write me. Just whenever you have a chance is nice. You know where I am for the next few months too so there's no rush! ;) haha
Just to kind of answer or respond to some things you all asked or said:
Mom and Dad: That's really cool about the talk you got to hear on prayer Mom. It really is such a powerful thing that I'm trying to work on as well. I know that it is a communication tool that we have been to graciously given by our loving Father in Heaven that wants to hear from us and help us. I've seen it personally and with other missionaries and people. The last district meeting I did was actually on prayer. I appreciated the testimony you sent too Mom. Thank you. That's too bad to hear about Camie's almost big event. That has to be frustrating. but I'm sure there's a reason why. That probably doesn't help her much with pain or frustrating but it's all I have to offer haha. The friend you ran into Dad was Tyler Smith. You can tell him too that I never heard back from either him or Mitch since I wrote them in the MTC. I don't know what happened but I look forward to talking to him. He's so funny! I love that guy! Thanks for Tavan's address too. I'll be sure to write him a Wilkommen lettern. ;)
Nick and Tati: Thanks so much for the email! I really enjoy hearing from you guys and now knowing that nothing too crazy has happened I guess. Anytime I hear about anyone going to or that's been to DC at all I always talk about you guys. I just have one question, so what is it that you are doing at your internship exactly? Is it basically exactly what it sounds like something for Human Rights? I'm just kind of curious ha.
Kat and Tom: That sounds like a ton of fun for you two kids! Lagoon and Seven Peaks back to back in one week. You just lived every 6th graders dream! haha jk that really does sound like a lot of fun. I'm glad you had a good time and liked the new rides. Did you go on the giant half pipe at Seven Peaks? I think it's called Boomerang or something like that? It was pretty intense when I went on it a few years ago. Good luck with the sealing plans and everything. I hope it all works out for you. I'll keep praying that it does. Regardless it sounds like your trip is going to be amazing! Those pictures looked sweet! Maybe in a few years when you do go back I'll have to tag along and try to unthaw from this next winter here. haha ;) My address here is 4709 76th Ave. N. Brooklyn Park, MN 55443. You don't really have to send me anything, but if you insist on trying this new packing method I guess I can't stop you ;) haha Thanks you guys are the best!
Well thanks again for all you guys do for me! All your support, love, and prayers are definitely felt and appreciated! I love this Gospel and the blessing it brings to my life and to all of us as an eternal family! You're the greatest and I love and miss you! I can't wait to hear from you again.
Love, Elder Alex Craft
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