You can take the missionary out of the hood, but . . .

Hey Craft Family,

     I'm glad to hear that everyone had a good somewhat boring Labor Day, or as it's more importantly known Hooper Tomato Days!  haha  Yesterday for me was good.  I got all the other P-Day stuff done except for the emailing of course.  We were allowed to email at a member's home, so even though we live with the Paynters we ran out of time before we could come write to you.

     Not only was yesterday Labor Day but it was also Transfer Calls.  We got a call at about 7:45.  It was a little earlier than expected.  Elder Haupt had to come knock on the bathroom door and tell me we were getting a call.  Luckily I had just gotten out of the shower so I could hear and talk to President.  They ended up splitting the ward into Shingle Creek North and Shingle Creek South again just like it was before I got here.  Elder Haupt and I thought that we were going to stay together and go to the South part of the ward or that one would stay North and the other go South.  We were both wrong kind of.  Elder Haupt is going to the South part with another Elder being transferred in and they're going to bring 2 new missionaries in here to the North.  One of the missionaries coming here is the one whose dad works with President Christensen and who I played soccer against in high school and then played on the same team with down in Las Vegas that last time I went, Elder Tate Baxter.  He's coming here and going to be District Leader too.  As for me I am leaving "The Hood" and headed south to a suburb of Minneapolis called Eden Prairie.  Apparently it's the biggest and one of the strongest wards in the mission, so I'm excited.  It's going to be a little difficult trying to learn who everyone is, but I usually do pretty good with names so we'll see.  I'm sad to leave the Paynters and this area.  I wish Elder Haupt and I could have stayed together to finish helping all the investigators we're working with, but I know the ward and investigators here are in good hands.  The work only going to increase and I can't wait to hear about all these people I know now getting baptized in the near future.  It's been great to serve here for the time that I have.  Shingle Creek is amazing and it's own kind of unique.  There's never going to be another area like it that's for sure haha.

     Along with transfer calls yesterday we also had the chance to go to "the great Minnesota get together" (a.k.a. the state fair).  The fair here is huge!  I've never seen people go so crazy or get so excited over a fair before.  People started talking about it back on the Fourth of July and how they couldn't wait for the fair.  It's 10 days long and yesterday was the last day.  Elm Creek Elders got 3 free tickets from someone in their ward.  We got permission to go because it was over in St. Paul and decided we'd all just split the cost of the fourth ticket.  There's an express bus station they set up for it in our area, so we all just met up, rode our bikes to the station, and hopped on the bus to go.  It was insane how many people were there!  I was talking to a lady on the bus who said that on average all the other days the fair had 120,000+ people and because of the no school no work holiday yesterday there was even more than that.  It wasn't really surprising with the amount of people that were there that we ran into about a dozen or so members that were from wards all over the metro and up metro area.  A couple came running over to us and gave us $20 to split because they said we needed to have fun and buy some of the food there.  It was cool to see all the members go crazy to see us.  We were all trying to imagine what it would have been like to have the same scenario in Utah and decided that we probably wouldn't have been able to even walk around having to stop and talk to members the whole time.  On the other hand we probably wouldn't have paid for anything either haha.  We did get a lot of funny looks from people because we were in proselyting clothes at the state fair.  We heard a few nicknames amid the stares.  "Geek Squad", "Jesus People", and "Israelites" were some of the best ones that I heard haha.  The thing that the fair is know for is the crazy food that is all either on a stick or deep fried.  We had some deep fried Wisconsin Cheese Curds,  some terriyaki ostrich,  a deep fried twinkie, and this small container of warm, fresh-baked, chocolate chip cookies that we each ate with the never ending milk bar that they had.  It was so cool and definitely an experience.  I think in my container I had 15 cookies and probably a third gallon of milk haha.  So between all of that we sure got our fat and sugars for the week.  Just in case any of you are wondering the ostrich was very very lean but really good, the twinkie was amazing and filled with cholesterol, and the cookies were very fresh and very rich haha.  There were a couple other things we thought about trying but knew that if we did diabetes would be setting in shortly after.  They had chocolate covered bacon, deep fried snickers, and deep fried alligator that were all on the list to try but didn't quite make it.  It was really fun to just kind of get out and experience that all together since our district's being disbanded with transfers.  I took some pictures that hopefully I can attach to this so you can see what it was like and who these other Elders I've been serving with are.

     As far as the missionary work here goes JV came to church again Sunday and to the best of our knowledge has been smoke free for 7 days now!  He's getting baptized hopefully sometime at the end of this month so that I can maybe come back to see that since I won't be too extremely far away.  We talked to Joe, one of the other investigators that I may have mentioned before, the other day about going to seminary.  We were in our coordination meeting on Sunday and trying to think about who would be a good fellowshipper for him.  Then the thought came to me, "seminary".  He's a senior this year and they had the kickoff meeting for seminary Sunday night and the seminary teacher was our joint teacher for the evening.  We called and talked to him about going to the meeting bu the was baby sitting his cousins, so we went over with the joint teacher and talked to him about seminary ad how great it is.  He wasn't sure at first but he said us coming over really convinced him.  He's going to try it for the first day tomorrow.  I hope he enjoys it and continues to go.  The tough part is that it is early morning and starts at 6 a.m. at the church, but he has the faith that the blessings of it are true and willingness to go.  I think he could end up being baptized this month too.  Unfortunately I won't be around to know for sure, but we'll see what happens.
     Sorry there's not too much more to add.  It sounds like Mom and Dad ran into a lot of people at Tomato Days.  Tell Cassie I said hi and congratulations.  You can also mention a nice thanks for not sending her wedding announcement haha JK.  As for Kevin and advice for him I'd say tell him to get that coat that I did from Mr. Mac.  It works amazingly well.  That's what I used all winter and just layered underneath it.  I also had a nice home spun hammock to use around my entire neck and torso, but I think the coat works great by itself too ;) haha.  Then he won't have to worry about having to buy one out here.  This is also just some side advice that I'd give to both him and Brady or anyone else preparing and buying things for a mission.  Buy black Nike tube socks and use those as your dress socks.  They're a lot more comfortable and durable than the gold toe or any other thin dress socks.  Plus with those you can use them for P-Day stuff too.  I'm glad to hear that my pictures could help you with your talk on missionary work in primary mom.  We went into primary in Sunday so the kids could all give us little cards saying thanks for being our missionaries.  I'm happy to hear that you had enough to say that you went over time too.  Instead of just something like, "missionaries are great.  This is one that I think used to live in our house" haha ;).

     I hope that all is going well and everyone's doing just fantastic!  I can't wait to hear about Brady's trip and Kat and Tom's sealing in a few weeks.  I love and miss you guys and can't wait to hear from you again!

Love, Elder Craft

Can't Wait for the Cold to End

Hello Crafts,
    
     Sorry everyone that I don't have any crazy funny stories for this week.  So far we've avoided that raccoon stew again.  It can only go on so long though before I finally have to eat it. haha  I can't believe that Hooper is in the 40s!  What is this garbage?  All last week the warmest it got was in the teens!  We got a few more inches of snow during that 2 day "heat wave too".  I can't wait for it to warm up, but that's not going to happen until maybe March or April.  Luckily I think that I can survive one more month of it.  Thursday night/ Friday morning was the coldest it's been here by far.  I went out to move the car for Brother G. at about 8 a.m. and the thermometer in the dash said that it was -15 out side without windchill.  We called the weather report on our phone to see what the windchill was and it said that it was -30 with windchill that morning.  The cool part is that now I've spent so much time out in it that I don't even really start to notice the sold until it's below 0.  I figured out a test to know when it -5 or colder.  I just go out and breathe through my nose and if it freezes inside then I know it's that cold.  I'm becoming my own thermometer and a real man at the same time so it's a win win for everyone! haha  At the members house we ate at Friday night too he told us that the night before had been -40 without windchill and windchill dropped it to -60!!  That's insane!  I wish that I would have known though so I could have gone out and taking a picture in my basketball shorts of it like I want to. That would have been sweet to send home right Mom? ;) haha 
    
     I did get the package last monday when we got home from shopping, so thank you everyone!  That was sweet!  I really like the CDs Brady and the NERF hoop and shaving kit Camie apparently I should be using that here pretty soon is the sign I'm getting, so I'll try my hardest. haha :)  You weren't kidding about that scarf either Mom, but  I love it!!  It's so warm and if ever I need somewhere to sleep I'm wearing a hammock around my neck, so I'm always prepared! :) Seriously though thanks it means a lot that you spent the time on it that you did.  Some of the women in the branch told me to tell you that you did a very nice job on it.  It's some of the best crocheting that they've seen.  So the people of Menomonie were able to see what real fine "Craft"smanship is.  haha Nice job!

    Sorry it's not very long and I don't have much to say other than I'm super excited to be an uncle again!  That's gonna be fun for you 2, Camie and Brock, but I'm excited anyway.  I'll have 2 nephews at least by the time I get home. 

Dad:  That would be way cool if you got the job in Holladay.  I hope you do too.  I've been praying for you so let me know how it goes.

Mom:  I heard about L. from Kat.  That's still crazy though.  Maybe it will have to be L.  That's too bad about A. J.  How's the family handling it?  And it sounds like J.'s going to be having a rough time for the next little while.

Nick and Tati:  I just have a couple questions for you what's the ward and stake you are in and your address?  You're the only ones I don't have an address for.  Any news on the internship too?

Kat and Tom:  I hope everything's going well with school and work.  I can't wait to hear from you guys.

Camie and Brock:  The package really was so good!  Thanks for that!  I was excited to get all of it and the fact that they were wrapped so I had legit presents to open too were sweet!  I got your letter too so I'll try writing you back today.

Brady:  Basketball games just sound stupid now.  What's up with that?  Mr. L. is kind of a push over though so it doesn't sur[rise me that he just didn't want any contention.  Just push through these next few weeks and get your project done.  You'll be happy that you do! 

Natalie:  How's the 8th grade going still?  I don't really know what else to ask you about haha.  Are you still going to the temple?  I hope to hear from you soon.

Grandma:  How's the family history missionary work and your calling going?  I tell everyone what a professional you are at new family search out here so they know that they can always so more to help out their ancestors.

     Like I said before sorry that it's so short and that I didn't have that much to talk about.  I look forward to hearing from you guys and hope that all is well.  I'm staying warm and still faithfully and diligently serving.  I miss you and love you very much.

Love, Elder Alex Craft

A New Year and Stories of Road Kill

Hello Family,

    This has been a crazy morning for sure!  Transfer calls came in this morning from President Howell at around 9.  He called and told me that I'd be getting a new companion.  I'm taking over the area here in Menomonie and so I should be here for at least the next 6 weeks.  My new companion is coming from the North Minneapolis area and his name's Elder Katoa (I think that's how you spell it).  Ironically enough he's from American Fork too.  How crazy is that?  He's a big old Tongan Elder too so this should be fun.  Maybe I'll learn how to do the Hawka legit now.  I'm excited but scared too.  I don't know what I'm doing and I told Elder Blume I just hope I don't get in the way and screw up the Lord's will here for the people.  Elder Blume is pretty excited.  He's headed to Thunder Bay Canada!  He was so surprised.  There's only 4 Elders up there out of the 200 in the whole mission.  It'll be pretty cool for him.  Like literally freezing cold.  Not only is he headed to Canada for the coldest part of the year he's in the bike part of it.  That's gonna be a definite experience for him he'll probably never want again. He'll do great up there though. 

     New Years was kinda lame for us and I was totally fine with that.  We actually were suppose to come in at 8 that night.  President's orders.  So I was actually in bed at 9:30 and just woke up to 2011.  That's so crazy for me.  Now I start my long year of my mission.  I'll go all through 2011 out in the field.  It's gonna be pretty cool! 

     In other news: you guys remember the guy I told you about wanting to feed us racoon?  Well we dodged it so far except for the fact that I'm gonna be here another 6 weeks and can only make up so many excuses and avoid it for so long.  We were at his Mom's, Sister C.'s, for Christmas, and we found out just how far in the back woods we are.  They started talking about this new buck that they had to go pick up that got hit by the gas station.  Apparently they drove by and saw it the other night.  A semi took it out, so they wanted to get it before anyone else could.  I., the guy trying to feed us, said, "That's 100 lbs of free meat".  And the other son B., that just got home 2 weeks ago from the Las Vegas Mission, said, "I know.  When I'd tell people about all the free meat we get they'd look at me like I was crazy".  I am dead serious right now.  These people eat road kill!  I had to focus so hard to not let my jaw drop and look at them like you are crazy!  I seriously shouldn't believe it and it made me a little concerned as to where the turkey we were eating came from because they started to talk and reminisce about the greatest "pick ups" they've ever gotten.  They are some of the nicest people I know.  Very active in the church, but road kill.  That's when I realized. . . . . I am in Wisconsin.  That was my crazy experience of the week along with the baptism we had yesterday.  His name's D. G., he's 9 and his dad B. is a recent convert.  He was baptized a couple months ago by Elder Blume and his old companion when they were in Hudson.  Elder Blume knows the family really well and it's been cool to hear how much they've changed and to get to know them.  It's cool to see all the miracles going on here.

     The weather's been so weird. It got up to 40 last week and rained for a couple days.  Yeah it was super sweet until it dropped down in the teens again that night and now there's a layer of ice over everything.  Driving someplaces is like ice skating with a car.  Luckily for me I don't think I'll ever have to worry about getting in an accident  because I won't drive on my mission. haha jk ;) thanks for figuring my license situation out for me.  Until then I'll just be the navigator.

     Now to try and answer the individual questions:

Nick-  Sorry I didn't tell you last week but I forgot.  Elder Calvert from Denver, Elder Taylor from Tokyo, Elder Merrill from Rexburg, and Elder Naylor from Twin Falls were all the DC South Elders in my district in the MTC.  Sister ward from West Jordan and Sister Holt form Arizona were in there too, so if you get a chance to see them tell them I say Hi and that I hope they're all doing well.

Natalie-  Sorry I never told you this before but my voicemail password is just XXXX.  haha Sorry that's really annoying but really funny for me. Also,  where did you come up with the name Aly Al?  What the heck is that?  Have you been talking to Sidne? As for you English homework. . . good luck.  I don't have any tricks for memorizing for you sorry.  I wish I could help but I don't think I could identify a pronoun, noun, adverb, and all that in a sentence for you now if I tried.  I'm super stoked for that CD! That's gonna be sweet!  You'll have to listen to it and tell me which ones are the better ones cause they'll all be good. ;)  Don't worry about not talking to me that much.  Just make a list of stuff to talk about on Mother's Day and we'll make sure to cover it ok?  You're an amazing little sister and I love you.  Keep on supporting Brady, and feel free to use my room whenever.  I'm glad it helps you! :)

Mom-  That's crazy Jacob only gets 3 hrs of light.  I was gonna say something about it last week but I forgot.  It gets dark here at around 4:30 and that seems so early for me.  That's so cool Julianne's sister lives that close now.  Did you give her my address and tell her to forward that on for me? haha I haven't actually gotten any mail for the past 5 days, so hopefully I get it soon.  I haven't heard from Cody but I can't wait to find out.  It sounds crazy.  I am feeling much better don't worry about me.  We don't go outside now and tract or anything because President Howell told us not to so we can get better.  We drive the car everywhere too even though we could use our bikes.  They're in G.'s garage and they'll probably stay there because I don't feel like eating it riding on ice and snow, but that's just me.  A cruise would be a sweet idea to help me thaw out once I get home.

Grandma-  Happy Birthday!  Sorry I could be there to wish it to you in person but I hope it went well.  I love reading your emails and seeing that you're doing good.  I hope all is still well.

Dad-  It is starting to get crazy cold here now and I figured Bishop would love to hear that.  It should be dropping to -30 or -40 here in a couple weeks without the wind chill so that will be fun.  You really rented Eclipse? Dad, I thought I taught you better than that come on.  hahah I'm jk I heard a lot of the 14 year old girls love it.. . . . ;)  FYI even though he's from American Fork Elder Blume's not a BYU fan.

Brady-  Just keep up the search for some good heech that won't stand you up.  They are out there you just might have to search beyond the boundaries of Fremont.  I hope everything's going good.  Try not to stress too much about school.  Have you started Conditioning yet?  Who's running it?  Make sure you take it serious and take roll.  That's what gets you to state ;)

Camie-  Don't worry about that package.  I believe you'll send it and I'll be here to get it when I get it.  I'm not too worried.

Kat-  Good luck with school!  I'll be praying for you.  That's be sweet to finish before I got home though.  Don't worry about how much you talked to me.  I loved talking to whoever would and it just happened to be you the most. haha Whatever cupcakes you send or have sent I guess will be fine.  I'm excited.

     Well I think that's all for this week.  Just know that I love you and miss you.  I'm praying for you all everyday and thinking about you.  I can't wait to hear from you.