Dear Craft Family,
Sorry that there's not a lot of time or things to talk about this week. We've been staying super busy and I cannot believe how the time is flying! Elder Dalrymple and I were talking about this yesterday that transfer calls are already 2 weeks from today. We just can't believe it! We are having so much fun and loving all the people that we have to work with here and the things that we get to do.
We are at an interesting point here in this area trying to build up with what we have in our teaching pool and trying to find new people to add to it. There are a lot of good people and like I said before a wide variety of area to work in, so we know that there are people here ready to hear the gospel and come to Christ but we are trying to figure out what the best way to find them is. Whether it's starting over and building the teaching pool new or trying to work with those that we have. Nothing too big or exciting to report as of yet, but great things will start to come and that's what we're looking forward to seeing here.
In other not so exciting news the weather here has been pretty amazing. We've had our Spring start off very warm and mild with some crazy thunderstorms last week. This week we are scheduled to have storms and rain all week which is always fun. Especially if I get to ride my bike through it like last year haha.
Sorry this is a really lame and short email. We had a good training this week from President Clements with a couple other zones kind of like a mini zone conference, so that was fun. We didn't have to do any training for that meeting really just the logistics of it. Even though there's not too much happening to talk about for us here right now this weekend was an amazing one for the mission with what has to be a record high of 27 baptisms just this past Saturday and Sunday. That means we'll end with 45 baptisms! For only 4 weekends that's a great month of people coming unto Christ. So even though we haven't been doing the best most recently in that regard the mission is doing fantastic and it's s great time to be serving here in the MMM! :)
I love and miss all of you! Thank you for all your support and all that you do for me! You're the greatest and I can't wait to hear from you again!
Love, Elder Craft
Showing posts with label transfers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transfers. Show all posts
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Downsizing
Dear Crafts,
This week was kind of a crazy one for us too. But that's kind of typical for missionary work. Talking to any random stranger you can, if you're lucky going into their house, and explaining to them how Christ loves them and has shown His love through a Prophet and modern revelation all with a book of scripture that they can just read to feel a difference in their life. It all sounds pretty nuts if I put it that way, but that's why I love it. Sometimes I find myself losing focus of what we really are here to do and how miraculous it really if that it ever works. The Lord definitely guides this work and it's so awesome being a part of it!
The weather sounds like good old typical Utah for us. haha Here in Minnesota it's been pretty nuts too. Last week like I mentioned we were planning for tranfers and getting all that finalized, but that's when we found out about the storm coming right for us. It was suppose to hit Tuesday afternoon and continue through Wednesday evening bringing 18 inches of snow and freezing ice with it. It would have been sweet with a ton of service opportunities as a missionary, but not so fun for everyone else. The bad part was the timing of it all too because our transfer day at the mission home is usually Wednesday morning into the afternoon and we go to take the departing missionaries and pick up the arriving ones at the airport all in that time. It's a crazy schedule with good weather, so this storm was going to throw a realy wrench in our plans. President decided to err on the safe side and postpone transfers until Thursday to avoid everyone trying to travel in that storm. It did come on Tuesday but it wasn't anything too bad. Wednesday morning when we woke up to take the 10 departing missionaries that'd spent the night in our apartment to breakfast at the mission home before the airport we saw the nice coat of nice on eveything that had formed with a couple new inches of snow. Needless to say I drove the big 12 passenger van full of missionaries with the cargo trailer full of their luggage to the airport as cautiously as I could. Good news is that I, as well as the 10 departing and 16 arriving missionaries, survived the roads and storm over those two days that only brought a few inches of snow and ice that has since melted down and mostly away. Despite moving the transfer to Thursday to avoid the problem with the storm we had another challenge come up Tuesday morning in the form of a funeral on Thursday at the chapel right next to the mission home and the family wanting to keep it private and dignified with no missionaries allowed during the 5-6 event. So we worked like crazy to move the transfer location now along with the time up to the Minneapolis Stake Center in Crystal so we could have the transfer and meetings for the trainers and trainees there as well. It seemed do go off without too many problems. It was an interesting experience for me and Elder Dalrymple taking those 10 missionaries to the airport to go home. They were all laughing and joking all on Tuesday and Wednesday morning even until we pulled up at the airport. Almost immediately you could see everyone's expression change. It got really quiet and all of them looked white and nervous. It was a crazy experience to see reality hit with them of actually going home, and when Elder Dalrymple and I were talking about it after it's definitely something I'm not looking forward to. haha Along with all the crazy coordination and logistics of transfers the Elders that used to cover the East Bloomington area, the other half of our ward, got transferred out so that we now cover the entire ward. It was funny at church yesterday to see people's reaction when the ward went from 5 missionaries last week to 2 this week. It's going to be a lot more work, but that also means a lot more teaching. We need to build a model area for the mission and that's what we're hoping to do with new and more people to teach and a larger area. When Elder Zwick of the 70 came on mission tour in October he changed up our exchanges so that we no longer do them with Zone Leaders, but now we bring all new missionaries and their trainers here to Bloomington for a day to work and train with us here. That's another reason we have to make a model area because of all the exchanges we'll be doing. We're going to have 8 new missionaries and their trainers coming on exchanges here within the next 6 weeks. It's going to be awesome! We got some really great missionaries that are going to build the mission so much.
We also have a cool experience this week of having two members from the missionary department Brother Lusvardi and Brother Woodruff come out to do some training with President to all the District Leaders and Zone Leaders on Thursday. We also get to have Brother Lusvardi come joint teaching with us all Tuesday night. I'm not going to lie I'm kind of nervous but pumped at the same time. It's going to be sweet I just hope that all our appointments we've been trying to stack for that night go through. haha
With all of that going on this week there hasn't been much else to report on. haha That's too bad to hear about some of the health struggles you guys are having, but I'll be praying for you. I appreciate all your love and support that you guys give to me! I look forward to talking to you all again soon!
Love, Elder Craft
This week was kind of a crazy one for us too. But that's kind of typical for missionary work. Talking to any random stranger you can, if you're lucky going into their house, and explaining to them how Christ loves them and has shown His love through a Prophet and modern revelation all with a book of scripture that they can just read to feel a difference in their life. It all sounds pretty nuts if I put it that way, but that's why I love it. Sometimes I find myself losing focus of what we really are here to do and how miraculous it really if that it ever works. The Lord definitely guides this work and it's so awesome being a part of it!
The weather sounds like good old typical Utah for us. haha Here in Minnesota it's been pretty nuts too. Last week like I mentioned we were planning for tranfers and getting all that finalized, but that's when we found out about the storm coming right for us. It was suppose to hit Tuesday afternoon and continue through Wednesday evening bringing 18 inches of snow and freezing ice with it. It would have been sweet with a ton of service opportunities as a missionary, but not so fun for everyone else. The bad part was the timing of it all too because our transfer day at the mission home is usually Wednesday morning into the afternoon and we go to take the departing missionaries and pick up the arriving ones at the airport all in that time. It's a crazy schedule with good weather, so this storm was going to throw a realy wrench in our plans. President decided to err on the safe side and postpone transfers until Thursday to avoid everyone trying to travel in that storm. It did come on Tuesday but it wasn't anything too bad. Wednesday morning when we woke up to take the 10 departing missionaries that'd spent the night in our apartment to breakfast at the mission home before the airport we saw the nice coat of nice on eveything that had formed with a couple new inches of snow. Needless to say I drove the big 12 passenger van full of missionaries with the cargo trailer full of their luggage to the airport as cautiously as I could. Good news is that I, as well as the 10 departing and 16 arriving missionaries, survived the roads and storm over those two days that only brought a few inches of snow and ice that has since melted down and mostly away. Despite moving the transfer to Thursday to avoid the problem with the storm we had another challenge come up Tuesday morning in the form of a funeral on Thursday at the chapel right next to the mission home and the family wanting to keep it private and dignified with no missionaries allowed during the 5-6 event. So we worked like crazy to move the transfer location now along with the time up to the Minneapolis Stake Center in Crystal so we could have the transfer and meetings for the trainers and trainees there as well. It seemed do go off without too many problems. It was an interesting experience for me and Elder Dalrymple taking those 10 missionaries to the airport to go home. They were all laughing and joking all on Tuesday and Wednesday morning even until we pulled up at the airport. Almost immediately you could see everyone's expression change. It got really quiet and all of them looked white and nervous. It was a crazy experience to see reality hit with them of actually going home, and when Elder Dalrymple and I were talking about it after it's definitely something I'm not looking forward to. haha Along with all the crazy coordination and logistics of transfers the Elders that used to cover the East Bloomington area, the other half of our ward, got transferred out so that we now cover the entire ward. It was funny at church yesterday to see people's reaction when the ward went from 5 missionaries last week to 2 this week. It's going to be a lot more work, but that also means a lot more teaching. We need to build a model area for the mission and that's what we're hoping to do with new and more people to teach and a larger area. When Elder Zwick of the 70 came on mission tour in October he changed up our exchanges so that we no longer do them with Zone Leaders, but now we bring all new missionaries and their trainers here to Bloomington for a day to work and train with us here. That's another reason we have to make a model area because of all the exchanges we'll be doing. We're going to have 8 new missionaries and their trainers coming on exchanges here within the next 6 weeks. It's going to be awesome! We got some really great missionaries that are going to build the mission so much.
We also have a cool experience this week of having two members from the missionary department Brother Lusvardi and Brother Woodruff come out to do some training with President to all the District Leaders and Zone Leaders on Thursday. We also get to have Brother Lusvardi come joint teaching with us all Tuesday night. I'm not going to lie I'm kind of nervous but pumped at the same time. It's going to be sweet I just hope that all our appointments we've been trying to stack for that night go through. haha
With all of that going on this week there hasn't been much else to report on. haha That's too bad to hear about some of the health struggles you guys are having, but I'll be praying for you. I appreciate all your love and support that you guys give to me! I look forward to talking to you all again soon!
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, February 27, 2012
Mmmm, Chocolate!
Dear Everyone,
This week has been amazing! Sorry there won't be much time to report today in the midst of transfers. We've been doing calls this morning, so I'm finding some time to write in our shifts of calling the teams haha. We had some meetings with President Clements this week just about transfers and other things that we needed to get done. So this last week and the next few days are going to be a little hectic. No matter what happens though I know that my hand won't be cold because of the package of hand warmers you all sent me. Thank you so much for that package! It means a lot that you guys were thinking of me and my hands. I really appreciate all your love and support you constantly give to me! Beside the transfer stuff we had a really good proselyting week. We were able to pick up 5 new investigator. There's a couple new people that have family members that are members of the church we are working with now and are really excited about. We found an amazing new family of 3 tracting this last week that we were able to go back and teach. The night that we tracted into them the father was super nice to us and the son was actually watching a cartoon of the miracles of Christ's life on TV. They are basically members of the church already haha. They have Greg Olsen's painting of the Savior with the child on his lap and that one of Christ you told me about, Mom, and sent me those stamps of from when you were in primary framed and hanging on their walls. They were some of the nicest people I've met and been able to teach. They called us the 3 wise men when we showed up and had bought us each a package of Lindor chocolates! Something all you chocolate fans can appreciate and understand how awesome they are just for that fact alone. haha ;) We're really excited to teach them and expect some great things to happen here in our ward.
Transfers are today for the whole mission, but Elder Crepeau and Elder Lo got their transfer calls on Friday. Elder Crepeau is going back to central Minneapolis Spanish and Elder Lo is going to the Minneapolis Hmong area for the last 2 transfers of my mission. It's sad that they are leaving. We had such a great transfer together and were constantly laughing. It's hard to believe that it's already been a whole transfer almost here with them. We weren't sure who my new companion would be, but President called him on Friday and we picked him up last night. His name is Elder Dalrymple from Orem, Ut. He's been serving in Lakeville as a Zone Leader for the past few transfers. He played basketball for Snow College back in Utah so he's probably my only other companion that I've had that can dunk or touch the rim even. He's a great missionary that I'm really excited to work with! Even though we don't have Zone Conferences this transfer we have a bunch of specialized trainings we'll need to do. Normally in this ward we are the West missionaries that cover the West half of the ward, and there's a set of missionaries that cover the East part. Pretty self explanatory I know, but the reason I say that is because this transfer President has decided to close East Bloomington so Elder Dalrymple and I will cover the whole ward now. It's going to be a lot more to cover and a lot more work but that will bring a lot more success and a lot more of the miracles that we've seen. There's going to be a lot of exciting things happening here and I'm excited to be apart of it all. We have 10 missionaries going home and 17 coming in all on Wednesday that we get to pick up and drop off. In the group of 17 there's 8 new Sisters coming out. It should be a lot of fun haha.
Sorry there's not much more to say. I hope all is well. Just know that I love and pray for you always. Thanks for all that you do for me!
Love, Elder Craft
This week has been amazing! Sorry there won't be much time to report today in the midst of transfers. We've been doing calls this morning, so I'm finding some time to write in our shifts of calling the teams haha. We had some meetings with President Clements this week just about transfers and other things that we needed to get done. So this last week and the next few days are going to be a little hectic. No matter what happens though I know that my hand won't be cold because of the package of hand warmers you all sent me. Thank you so much for that package! It means a lot that you guys were thinking of me and my hands. I really appreciate all your love and support you constantly give to me! Beside the transfer stuff we had a really good proselyting week. We were able to pick up 5 new investigator. There's a couple new people that have family members that are members of the church we are working with now and are really excited about. We found an amazing new family of 3 tracting this last week that we were able to go back and teach. The night that we tracted into them the father was super nice to us and the son was actually watching a cartoon of the miracles of Christ's life on TV. They are basically members of the church already haha. They have Greg Olsen's painting of the Savior with the child on his lap and that one of Christ you told me about, Mom, and sent me those stamps of from when you were in primary framed and hanging on their walls. They were some of the nicest people I've met and been able to teach. They called us the 3 wise men when we showed up and had bought us each a package of Lindor chocolates! Something all you chocolate fans can appreciate and understand how awesome they are just for that fact alone. haha ;) We're really excited to teach them and expect some great things to happen here in our ward.
Transfers are today for the whole mission, but Elder Crepeau and Elder Lo got their transfer calls on Friday. Elder Crepeau is going back to central Minneapolis Spanish and Elder Lo is going to the Minneapolis Hmong area for the last 2 transfers of my mission. It's sad that they are leaving. We had such a great transfer together and were constantly laughing. It's hard to believe that it's already been a whole transfer almost here with them. We weren't sure who my new companion would be, but President called him on Friday and we picked him up last night. His name is Elder Dalrymple from Orem, Ut. He's been serving in Lakeville as a Zone Leader for the past few transfers. He played basketball for Snow College back in Utah so he's probably my only other companion that I've had that can dunk or touch the rim even. He's a great missionary that I'm really excited to work with! Even though we don't have Zone Conferences this transfer we have a bunch of specialized trainings we'll need to do. Normally in this ward we are the West missionaries that cover the West half of the ward, and there's a set of missionaries that cover the East part. Pretty self explanatory I know, but the reason I say that is because this transfer President has decided to close East Bloomington so Elder Dalrymple and I will cover the whole ward now. It's going to be a lot more to cover and a lot more work but that will bring a lot more success and a lot more of the miracles that we've seen. There's going to be a lot of exciting things happening here and I'm excited to be apart of it all. We have 10 missionaries going home and 17 coming in all on Wednesday that we get to pick up and drop off. In the group of 17 there's 8 new Sisters coming out. It should be a lot of fun haha.
Sorry there's not much more to say. I hope all is well. Just know that I love and pray for you always. Thanks for all that you do for me!
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, January 23, 2012
Letter to Brady
Dear Craft Family,
Es freut mich dass Brady zu Deutshland im April gehen!! Ich hoffe er kannt Elder Chambers sehen order habt ihm fuer seiner mitarbeiter!!! (Don't try and put that in Google Translator or something because it will probably come out with something way different that what I meant to say in my broken 5 year old German haha). Man Brady that is so awesome!! I am so super pumped for you! From what I hear, because you're right everyone and their mother knows someone that served a mission somewhere in Germany, it's going to be legit! The ward mission leader in the Eden Prairie ward served there along with 4-5 other members of the ward. I've known at least one person in every area that has served there. President Clements was in Switzerland but it's basically the same sort of area haha. I'll bet the Chambers were way pumped. I told Elder Mead at transfers Wednesday that you should have gotten your call that day, so he'll be excited to hear it too. I'm way excited for you to learn how to speak and then help tutor me while I try to continue to learn it. My guess was way off though for somewhere in South America. haha When you talk to Herr Jackson tell him I said Hi. Wouldn't it be crazy if Elder Chambers got to train you or was your Zone Leader? That'd be so cool. April 4th's going to come up quick! You can get your passport picture at the Post Office in Ogden just by the Newgate Mall. That's where I got mine. I'm telling you right now read the scriptures, study your Preach My Gospel, and learn the Doctrines of the Gospel while you can because you are not going to have the time or means to be able to do that in the MTC trying to learn a foreign language in 9 weeks. You might want to start drinking carbonated water too cause that's all the people give you for water over there. haha That's one of the first things Elder Chambers told me in the MTC when I saw him drinking it is that he had to try and get used to it. It really isn't that bad though. I'm just pumped for all the experiences and joy that you're going to get. Not only out of just going to Germany, but going to teach the Gospel to all our brothers and sisters there. It's going to be one of the most joyful experiences of your life, and the most difficult. Just remember that because it's not going to be easy but it's going to be worth it. I can promise you that.
I guess I should have just started that off Dear Brady and Craft Family haha. This week for me was awesome! It flew by! We were really busy getting all the things taken care of for transfers and then actually doing the transfers themselves. Picking up the new missionaries was a lot of fun. Elder Lo, President and Sister Clements, and me all went to the airport to get them and then to the U of M campus (known as Dinkytown) near downtown Minneapolis to do some street contacting. Elder Frasure went with me from Pocatello, ID and loved it. We had a great time together. We got some food, took some pictures to send to their families, and did the training meetings we had to before the day was over. There were only 3 missionaries that came this transfer so nothing too crazy at all. Two of them, Elder Frasure and Elder Ouimette, had to spend the night with us at our apartment so we could take them to the Greyhound station in the morning because they got transferred up to Thunder Bay Canada to be trained. We haven't gone up there yet Mom. The closest we'll get is to Duluth for their Zone Conference in a couple of weeks. Unless President asks us to we don't really have a reason to head up there. Next transfer might not be as quiet. We're expected to get 17 new missionaries, so that should be a lot of fun. I'm working hard trying to learn all the ins and outs of who's where serving with who and everything else I need to know about the mission. It's a ton of fun and we're working hard to meet with our investigators as well. Many of them weren't able to meet with us this week, but we get to spend a lot of time proselyting this week and are confident we should be able to teach many of them.
This last Saturday was J.'s baptism out in Eden Prairie. He's the 16 year old I was working with out there and he is so awesome! I didn't get to go because it was too far away, but I called him and talked to him Saturday before it all went down and he was super excited. President Clements went out for the baptism and said it was a great service with a lot of people there to support him. When I talked to J. I told him I might not be able to be there for the baptism, but I look forward to hearing about when he gets the priesthood, when he goes through the temple and is sealed to his Dad and Sister, when he gets his mission call, and all the other things throughout his life. I'm so excited for that guy and the great things he's going to continue to do throughout his life. It's so amazing to me the people I am blessed with being able to work with and grow to love while I'm here in Minnesota. Having the opportunity to watch people change their lives and see the spirit work within them like it did with J. is something I couldn't or wouldn't experience anywhere else. Like I had mentioned to Brady it's one of the hardest things I have ever done but also the most rewarding. The Lord knows and expects our sacrifice, but in return he gives us more than we could ever work for.
Well sorry there's not much more to report on from here. I'm glad my package and my brick made it safe and sound haha. I did get my new card thanks Mom. It sounds like I pretty good exciting week for you. I'm glad to hear all is well and hope to talk to you all again soon. I love you and appreciate all that you do for me! Auf Wiedersehen!
Love, Elder Craft
Es freut mich dass Brady zu Deutshland im April gehen!! Ich hoffe er kannt Elder Chambers sehen order habt ihm fuer seiner mitarbeiter!!! (Don't try and put that in Google Translator or something because it will probably come out with something way different that what I meant to say in my broken 5 year old German haha). Man Brady that is so awesome!! I am so super pumped for you! From what I hear, because you're right everyone and their mother knows someone that served a mission somewhere in Germany, it's going to be legit! The ward mission leader in the Eden Prairie ward served there along with 4-5 other members of the ward. I've known at least one person in every area that has served there. President Clements was in Switzerland but it's basically the same sort of area haha. I'll bet the Chambers were way pumped. I told Elder Mead at transfers Wednesday that you should have gotten your call that day, so he'll be excited to hear it too. I'm way excited for you to learn how to speak and then help tutor me while I try to continue to learn it. My guess was way off though for somewhere in South America. haha When you talk to Herr Jackson tell him I said Hi. Wouldn't it be crazy if Elder Chambers got to train you or was your Zone Leader? That'd be so cool. April 4th's going to come up quick! You can get your passport picture at the Post Office in Ogden just by the Newgate Mall. That's where I got mine. I'm telling you right now read the scriptures, study your Preach My Gospel, and learn the Doctrines of the Gospel while you can because you are not going to have the time or means to be able to do that in the MTC trying to learn a foreign language in 9 weeks. You might want to start drinking carbonated water too cause that's all the people give you for water over there. haha That's one of the first things Elder Chambers told me in the MTC when I saw him drinking it is that he had to try and get used to it. It really isn't that bad though. I'm just pumped for all the experiences and joy that you're going to get. Not only out of just going to Germany, but going to teach the Gospel to all our brothers and sisters there. It's going to be one of the most joyful experiences of your life, and the most difficult. Just remember that because it's not going to be easy but it's going to be worth it. I can promise you that.
I guess I should have just started that off Dear Brady and Craft Family haha. This week for me was awesome! It flew by! We were really busy getting all the things taken care of for transfers and then actually doing the transfers themselves. Picking up the new missionaries was a lot of fun. Elder Lo, President and Sister Clements, and me all went to the airport to get them and then to the U of M campus (known as Dinkytown) near downtown Minneapolis to do some street contacting. Elder Frasure went with me from Pocatello, ID and loved it. We had a great time together. We got some food, took some pictures to send to their families, and did the training meetings we had to before the day was over. There were only 3 missionaries that came this transfer so nothing too crazy at all. Two of them, Elder Frasure and Elder Ouimette, had to spend the night with us at our apartment so we could take them to the Greyhound station in the morning because they got transferred up to Thunder Bay Canada to be trained. We haven't gone up there yet Mom. The closest we'll get is to Duluth for their Zone Conference in a couple of weeks. Unless President asks us to we don't really have a reason to head up there. Next transfer might not be as quiet. We're expected to get 17 new missionaries, so that should be a lot of fun. I'm working hard trying to learn all the ins and outs of who's where serving with who and everything else I need to know about the mission. It's a ton of fun and we're working hard to meet with our investigators as well. Many of them weren't able to meet with us this week, but we get to spend a lot of time proselyting this week and are confident we should be able to teach many of them.
This last Saturday was J.'s baptism out in Eden Prairie. He's the 16 year old I was working with out there and he is so awesome! I didn't get to go because it was too far away, but I called him and talked to him Saturday before it all went down and he was super excited. President Clements went out for the baptism and said it was a great service with a lot of people there to support him. When I talked to J. I told him I might not be able to be there for the baptism, but I look forward to hearing about when he gets the priesthood, when he goes through the temple and is sealed to his Dad and Sister, when he gets his mission call, and all the other things throughout his life. I'm so excited for that guy and the great things he's going to continue to do throughout his life. It's so amazing to me the people I am blessed with being able to work with and grow to love while I'm here in Minnesota. Having the opportunity to watch people change their lives and see the spirit work within them like it did with J. is something I couldn't or wouldn't experience anywhere else. Like I had mentioned to Brady it's one of the hardest things I have ever done but also the most rewarding. The Lord knows and expects our sacrifice, but in return he gives us more than we could ever work for.
Well sorry there's not much more to report on from here. I'm glad my package and my brick made it safe and sound haha. I did get my new card thanks Mom. It sounds like I pretty good exciting week for you. I'm glad to hear all is well and hope to talk to you all again soon. I love you and appreciate all that you do for me! Auf Wiedersehen!
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, January 16, 2012
All the Way to the Top
Dear Crafts!
Sorry that this will probably be shorter than some of the previous ones. There are a lot of things that have happened here in the last week. We had an exchange that I did in the Plymouth area on Tuesday. If you can believe it it was 55 degrees! We stopped by a potential that they talked to a couple weeks ago who ended up not being interested but we asked if there was anything that we could do to help him out. He had the families van and suburban pulled out on the lawn with a couple buckets, and told us he was just about to wash the cars and we could help with that. We helped to hand wash those cars with the hose on January 10th in Minnesota! I never thought that I would ever be able to say that in Utah let alone out here in the land of cold! haha Just a fun little crazy story for the past week from here. I'll try to send you a picture of that whole event at the end of this. haha
So you may have already known that today is transfer calls. To answer Nick's question the average missionary has I have no idea how many areas. I've heard anywhere from 3 or 4 areas to 16. So it's pretty hard to tell. 14 months is definitely the longest I've ever heard of in an area haha. For me I guess I get to add another one. I know that Mom really wanted to keep the Neilson connection going in Eden Prairie, but unfortunately the Lord and President Clements had another idea. I found out that I'm not going to be staying here for the next transfer. I have really loved this area and serving with Elder Pope and I'm sure that you guys have loved all the fun little calls, emails, and rare visits from members here in Eden Prairie. I got a call on Saturday afternoon from President Clements about where I'll now be serving, so I've known for a couple days and just haven't been able to tell you. President Clements has now asked me to serve as one of his Assistants here in the W. Bloomington Area. It was definitely a shock to me and still kind of is. I'm very humbled and excited to serve in this new assignment. Like I said before I might not have as long of emails for the next few weeks due to a lack of time haha. Just as kind of a warning too I might not be able to email every Monday, but I will be able to email each week. I'll make an attempt to keep you updated and informed haha. There's going to be 3 Assistants for this transfer, so I will be with Elder Lo and Elder Crepeau who I was with for a couple days at the beginning of this transfer. It's going to be a lot of fun and pretty busy too. We have all the Zone Conferences this transfer so I'll get to tour the whole mission and see all the missionaries. It's going to be intense trying to learn all the missionaries names and areas and stuff like that. We're pretty busy doing transfer stuff today making all the calls and in the next few days we'll be picking up the new missionaries and taking the going home ones to the airport. It shouldn't be too bad since there's only 4 going home and 3 coming in. I'm pretty excited and thought you'd be pretty surprised to see how this transfer went.
I'm way excited to hear about Brady's call coming hopefully this week! That's so exciting! Remember my guesses too haha. Thanks for the pictures and emails this week from all of you. I'm glad to hear that everything's going well. I love and appreciate all that you guys do for me. Good luck for everyone this week with school, work, and everything in between (including running the mile ;) haha JK). Talk to you soon!
Love, Elder Craft
Sorry that this will probably be shorter than some of the previous ones. There are a lot of things that have happened here in the last week. We had an exchange that I did in the Plymouth area on Tuesday. If you can believe it it was 55 degrees! We stopped by a potential that they talked to a couple weeks ago who ended up not being interested but we asked if there was anything that we could do to help him out. He had the families van and suburban pulled out on the lawn with a couple buckets, and told us he was just about to wash the cars and we could help with that. We helped to hand wash those cars with the hose on January 10th in Minnesota! I never thought that I would ever be able to say that in Utah let alone out here in the land of cold! haha Just a fun little crazy story for the past week from here. I'll try to send you a picture of that whole event at the end of this. haha
So you may have already known that today is transfer calls. To answer Nick's question the average missionary has I have no idea how many areas. I've heard anywhere from 3 or 4 areas to 16. So it's pretty hard to tell. 14 months is definitely the longest I've ever heard of in an area haha. For me I guess I get to add another one. I know that Mom really wanted to keep the Neilson connection going in Eden Prairie, but unfortunately the Lord and President Clements had another idea. I found out that I'm not going to be staying here for the next transfer. I have really loved this area and serving with Elder Pope and I'm sure that you guys have loved all the fun little calls, emails, and rare visits from members here in Eden Prairie. I got a call on Saturday afternoon from President Clements about where I'll now be serving, so I've known for a couple days and just haven't been able to tell you. President Clements has now asked me to serve as one of his Assistants here in the W. Bloomington Area. It was definitely a shock to me and still kind of is. I'm very humbled and excited to serve in this new assignment. Like I said before I might not have as long of emails for the next few weeks due to a lack of time haha. Just as kind of a warning too I might not be able to email every Monday, but I will be able to email each week. I'll make an attempt to keep you updated and informed haha. There's going to be 3 Assistants for this transfer, so I will be with Elder Lo and Elder Crepeau who I was with for a couple days at the beginning of this transfer. It's going to be a lot of fun and pretty busy too. We have all the Zone Conferences this transfer so I'll get to tour the whole mission and see all the missionaries. It's going to be intense trying to learn all the missionaries names and areas and stuff like that. We're pretty busy doing transfer stuff today making all the calls and in the next few days we'll be picking up the new missionaries and taking the going home ones to the airport. It shouldn't be too bad since there's only 4 going home and 3 coming in. I'm pretty excited and thought you'd be pretty surprised to see how this transfer went.
I'm way excited to hear about Brady's call coming hopefully this week! That's so exciting! Remember my guesses too haha. Thanks for the pictures and emails this week from all of you. I'm glad to hear that everything's going well. I love and appreciate all that you guys do for me. Good luck for everyone this week with school, work, and everything in between (including running the mile ;) haha JK). Talk to you soon!
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, December 19, 2011
What a Difference a Week Makes!
Hey Crafts!
It sounds like I don't even need to talk to you this week or send any sort of updates. You've already heard from two families from two different wards out here and gotten all the exciting news from them. haha jk So as you may have heard or guessed it was kind of a crazy week for me here. Unfortunately, Elder Parry did end up going home on Wednesday morning. He had some medical issues he had been battling since he came out on his mission. Last Monday after our appointment with his Dr. he and President Clements talked about Elder Parry's situation and decided he would be best to be medically released and try to fix what it was at home. There's little likely hood of him coming back, so it is kind of sad but he has something else he can accomplish and do back home. It was tough to see him go, but it's what was best and will help him the most. That is the reason I was with the Assistants from Wednesday through Saturday and thought I might possibly be there the next 5 weeks of the transfer. President wasn't sure where I would go and because our area borders the Assistants we were going to see how managing both of them together would go. We had a Christmas miracle come through for us in the Eden Prairie ward though. I'm not sure if I told you originally that I came to Eden Prairie to replace a missionary who had gone home due to medical complications and was having surgery to try and fix it. Through his communication the past couple months to President Clements and what he had told some members he kept in contact with here he wasn't going to come back. Even if he did get medical clearance it was just going to be way to hard to say good-bye again. Everyone loved him here in the ward and most of the missionaries did too. We actually came out together. He was in a different district but it was still hard to see him come home and not come back. That is until Elder Pope called President on Tuesday and said he knows he needs to come back. HE had the ok from the Dr. and wanted to be out here. So on Saturday that's why the Neilsons saw me at the airport with the Assistants picking up my new companion Elder Pope who would be coming back to the ward I'm currently in and that he left almost 4 months ago. It was nothing short of a Christmas miracle to have things work out like the way that they did! Everyone at church was pretty confused not to see Elder Parry, but once they saw Elder Pope he was welcomed like some sort of conquering hero. Everyone was way excited to see him and he's way excited to be here again. We get along really well and now with both of us having the same sort of drive and desire there are going to be even more miracles this transfer! I'm way excited to see what's going to happen. The whole ward is too. As far as the Cardons go that was pretty crazy! While I was in Bloomington we decided to stop by some members and teach them Friday night. The Cardons were one we decide to try and see. Right when we walked in Sister Cardon didn't really think anything of it with the two normal missionaries Elder Crepeau and Elder Lo walking in front of me. Then she told me later she saw this tall blonde missionary bringing up the rear. She was told by Tara Manning that she was to look for a tall blonde missionary from Hooper with the name Elder Craft. "You can't miss him" is what she was told. Right when I got through the door and started to take off my shoes she looked right at my name tag and said, "Elder Craft I've been looking for you!" That's the one and only time I think that's going to happen on my mission haha. Any investigator or person I would talk to tracting have tell me that would be phenomenal. haha She then told me she was originally from Hooper and talked about how she grew up on 5500 in the 2nd Ward. We connected a few ties like that I went to High School and have hung out with her younger brother Bo, before finding out the reason she knew I was there and to "look for me". Her husband in the other room told me< "wait a minute you're from Hooper? I'm from West Warren. Craft? Do you have any siblings?" So the conversation turned to him knowing Nick and saying they had a lot of classes together and he remembered Nick was on the soccer team and he even brought up the story of the fight he got into in one of the games when "Sugar went sour" haha. It was pretty awesome! And all of this took place in the first 5-10 minutes of being there leaving the Assistants stunned and kind of left in the dust haha. It was very unexpected but really funny. I still can't believe all the connections that have all the sudden come out of the wood work since I've been here in Eden Prairie. All the emails, pictures, and videos you guys get sent it feels like I'm not even really on a mission haha JK. That's my abbreviated story to answer a few questions people had. The best part is that what ever doesn't make sense we can talk about on Sunday and clear it all up. haha
Now for the Skype on Sunday like I told you before we'll be doing it at Brother Murray's but I think it will be sometime after dinner. Sorry to totally throw a wrench in your operation of doing it and scheduling it for 2, but Elder Pope's parents have late church and won't be able to do it until like 3:30 or 4 Idaho time. So I think what would work best for us is doing it after dinner at about 6 p.m. here so 5 p.m. for you guys. Sorry again to mess it all up. I hope that that can work for you guys. If not you could contact Brother Murray and he'll relate the message I'm sure. His Skype account it: ------------- and his email is -----------@-------.com. I hope it all works out and his computer's good enough to where you all can see me and not the still images like last time haha.
Thanks also for the packages! I got them from the Neilson's after dinner last nigh. I had no idea and neither did they that the little one was for them until I opened it haha. I'll give it to them the next time I see them. I really liked the Christmas card that you guys sent too. We all look so good! haha JK I was surprised that was the picture you picked for me, but it was a good one. I do have Christmas cards I was going to send last week but Target was having some problems to where I could only get them this week. Sorry you'll be getting them like right before Christmas. Just kind of as a disclaimer as well they were to best Target had to offer so don't be too critical haha.
Well I hope that helps to answer all your questions and clear up some confusion. Just know I'm doing great back in Eden Prairie! We got our Christmas Presents for the ward yesterday at church. All I have to say is that I was amazed by the amount of stuff the ward gave to us. I'll attach some pictures so you can see. I love you all and can't wait to talk to you Sunday!!
Love, Elder Craft
It sounds like I don't even need to talk to you this week or send any sort of updates. You've already heard from two families from two different wards out here and gotten all the exciting news from them. haha jk So as you may have heard or guessed it was kind of a crazy week for me here. Unfortunately, Elder Parry did end up going home on Wednesday morning. He had some medical issues he had been battling since he came out on his mission. Last Monday after our appointment with his Dr. he and President Clements talked about Elder Parry's situation and decided he would be best to be medically released and try to fix what it was at home. There's little likely hood of him coming back, so it is kind of sad but he has something else he can accomplish and do back home. It was tough to see him go, but it's what was best and will help him the most. That is the reason I was with the Assistants from Wednesday through Saturday and thought I might possibly be there the next 5 weeks of the transfer. President wasn't sure where I would go and because our area borders the Assistants we were going to see how managing both of them together would go. We had a Christmas miracle come through for us in the Eden Prairie ward though. I'm not sure if I told you originally that I came to Eden Prairie to replace a missionary who had gone home due to medical complications and was having surgery to try and fix it. Through his communication the past couple months to President Clements and what he had told some members he kept in contact with here he wasn't going to come back. Even if he did get medical clearance it was just going to be way to hard to say good-bye again. Everyone loved him here in the ward and most of the missionaries did too. We actually came out together. He was in a different district but it was still hard to see him come home and not come back. That is until Elder Pope called President on Tuesday and said he knows he needs to come back. HE had the ok from the Dr. and wanted to be out here. So on Saturday that's why the Neilsons saw me at the airport with the Assistants picking up my new companion Elder Pope who would be coming back to the ward I'm currently in and that he left almost 4 months ago. It was nothing short of a Christmas miracle to have things work out like the way that they did! Everyone at church was pretty confused not to see Elder Parry, but once they saw Elder Pope he was welcomed like some sort of conquering hero. Everyone was way excited to see him and he's way excited to be here again. We get along really well and now with both of us having the same sort of drive and desire there are going to be even more miracles this transfer! I'm way excited to see what's going to happen. The whole ward is too. As far as the Cardons go that was pretty crazy! While I was in Bloomington we decided to stop by some members and teach them Friday night. The Cardons were one we decide to try and see. Right when we walked in Sister Cardon didn't really think anything of it with the two normal missionaries Elder Crepeau and Elder Lo walking in front of me. Then she told me later she saw this tall blonde missionary bringing up the rear. She was told by Tara Manning that she was to look for a tall blonde missionary from Hooper with the name Elder Craft. "You can't miss him" is what she was told. Right when I got through the door and started to take off my shoes she looked right at my name tag and said, "Elder Craft I've been looking for you!" That's the one and only time I think that's going to happen on my mission haha. Any investigator or person I would talk to tracting have tell me that would be phenomenal. haha She then told me she was originally from Hooper and talked about how she grew up on 5500 in the 2nd Ward. We connected a few ties like that I went to High School and have hung out with her younger brother Bo, before finding out the reason she knew I was there and to "look for me". Her husband in the other room told me< "wait a minute you're from Hooper? I'm from West Warren. Craft? Do you have any siblings?" So the conversation turned to him knowing Nick and saying they had a lot of classes together and he remembered Nick was on the soccer team and he even brought up the story of the fight he got into in one of the games when "Sugar went sour" haha. It was pretty awesome! And all of this took place in the first 5-10 minutes of being there leaving the Assistants stunned and kind of left in the dust haha. It was very unexpected but really funny. I still can't believe all the connections that have all the sudden come out of the wood work since I've been here in Eden Prairie. All the emails, pictures, and videos you guys get sent it feels like I'm not even really on a mission haha JK. That's my abbreviated story to answer a few questions people had. The best part is that what ever doesn't make sense we can talk about on Sunday and clear it all up. haha
Now for the Skype on Sunday like I told you before we'll be doing it at Brother Murray's but I think it will be sometime after dinner. Sorry to totally throw a wrench in your operation of doing it and scheduling it for 2, but Elder Pope's parents have late church and won't be able to do it until like 3:30 or 4 Idaho time. So I think what would work best for us is doing it after dinner at about 6 p.m. here so 5 p.m. for you guys. Sorry again to mess it all up. I hope that that can work for you guys. If not you could contact Brother Murray and he'll relate the message I'm sure. His Skype account it: ------------- and his email is -----------@-------.com. I hope it all works out and his computer's good enough to where you all can see me and not the still images like last time haha.
Thanks also for the packages! I got them from the Neilson's after dinner last nigh. I had no idea and neither did they that the little one was for them until I opened it haha. I'll give it to them the next time I see them. I really liked the Christmas card that you guys sent too. We all look so good! haha JK I was surprised that was the picture you picked for me, but it was a good one. I do have Christmas cards I was going to send last week but Target was having some problems to where I could only get them this week. Sorry you'll be getting them like right before Christmas. Just kind of as a disclaimer as well they were to best Target had to offer so don't be too critical haha.
Well I hope that helps to answer all your questions and clear up some confusion. Just know I'm doing great back in Eden Prairie! We got our Christmas Presents for the ward yesterday at church. All I have to say is that I was amazed by the amount of stuff the ward gave to us. I'll attach some pictures so you can see. I love you all and can't wait to talk to you Sunday!!
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, December 5, 2011
Where's My Raise?
Hello Crafts,
This week as you know is transfers and just like I did not expect to happen we got a call from President Clements this morning to inform us that we would both be staying in Eden Prairie. It was kind of strange because you usually do not get a call unless you are transferring. After he informed us we were staying he cleared up some confusion on the purpose behind his call. He told me that I will now be responsible of one of the largest districts in the mission as the new District Leader here. It was a surprise to me to find out that we had one of the largest districts and to be called as the District Leader again. Elder Caldwell the old district leader is going down to Rochester to be a Zone Leader down there. I'm excited about the new responsibility again. What makes it even better is that Elder Bennett and Sister Daniel were in the last district I was District Leader over, so they get a little bit of Elder Craft round 2. haha I'm really excited to still be here in Eden Prairie and to continue to serve with Elder Parry. We have some good things going on and are excited for the next few weeks the following transfer will bring.
This past week we found 2 new investigators from tracting. The woman we talked to told us we could come back in a couple days only because her daughter met and had this best friend when she went out to college who was a member from Wyoming that is now on his mission in Russia. When we went for the lesson though her son who's a sophomore at Chaska High wanted to sit in and listen because he knew a couple of the youth from the ward here. The lesson went really well and the spirit was really strong as we taught and testified about Christ's church anciently and the restoration of it now. The power of the Book of Mormon was evident as we read through the introduction and testified to them about the truthfulness of it and how it would bless their lives. They both committed to read before we come back later this next week, and she even said hopefully her husband will be sitting in joining us this next week. We're pretty excited to be working with them and know that these are who we are here in Eden Prairie to find. Thanks for all you prayers because the blessings have really been pouring out upon us! We are also going to start teaching the son of a recent convert in the ward and are really excited to be working with him. The work as you all know has been a little slow going but because of the hard work of the spirit within people and the Lord because of the prayers in our behalf we are starting to reap the benefits of it. The other investigator that I had mentioned a couple weeks ago working toward being baptized on the 17th might not make it on that day because there are a couple other changes and commitments that need to be made and met so that it is all according to the standards and qualifications that the Lord has commanded of His children. We're still working hard and the ward is a great support to him. He's encountered a couple bumps along the way already with the short road he's traveled in a couple weeks, but the spirit is helping to strengthen his testimony and help him to see the truth of what he's learning and feeling. It's always an incredible and humbling experience to watch and be a part of.
I'm glad that you got the pictures from Sister Neilson. She was such a great blessing to us to not only drive 4 of us missionaries to the temple but then want to go through with us and take us back home. It made coordinating rides much easier. When she was taking pictures on all our cameras too she told us to wait there as she took a couple on her iPhone. She said she was going to send them to my mom because she would love that. I agreed and told here she also got a sweet new wallpaper for her phone from that one picture. It was a win win for everyone even though I'm not too sure she wanted a picture of us as her back round haha. ;) They are a great family who we have dinner with again this next Sunday. This ward is just great though and like I said earlier I'm just glad to still be working here for the next 6 weeks. Especially since Elder Parry told me that when he talked with President this morning he said that he was initially going to move me, but was strongly corrected by the Lord saying that I needed to be in Eden Prairie. That in and of itself puts enough pressure on knowing that there's something the Lord knows I specifically need to to be here for and accomplish this next 6 weeks. We'll be working hard to find out what that is in the short time that we have to do it in.
Well I'm glad to hear that Brady seems to be surviving and recovering from his ordeal with the oral surgeon fairly well. Thanks for sending the fairly gruesome pictures along with your email haha. I can't wait to hear how it goes these next few weeks as you finalize everything to send in so you can find out where in South America you'll be headed. I'm going to just go ahead and call that right now. haha
I'm also glad to hear that everyone else seems to be doing fairly well or at least recovering towards that. Thanks for all the support and prayers again! I know the Lord listens to prayers and grants us those worthy desires of our hearts! I love you and can't wait to hear from you again.
Love, Elder Craft
This week as you know is transfers and just like I did not expect to happen we got a call from President Clements this morning to inform us that we would both be staying in Eden Prairie. It was kind of strange because you usually do not get a call unless you are transferring. After he informed us we were staying he cleared up some confusion on the purpose behind his call. He told me that I will now be responsible of one of the largest districts in the mission as the new District Leader here. It was a surprise to me to find out that we had one of the largest districts and to be called as the District Leader again. Elder Caldwell the old district leader is going down to Rochester to be a Zone Leader down there. I'm excited about the new responsibility again. What makes it even better is that Elder Bennett and Sister Daniel were in the last district I was District Leader over, so they get a little bit of Elder Craft round 2. haha I'm really excited to still be here in Eden Prairie and to continue to serve with Elder Parry. We have some good things going on and are excited for the next few weeks the following transfer will bring.
This past week we found 2 new investigators from tracting. The woman we talked to told us we could come back in a couple days only because her daughter met and had this best friend when she went out to college who was a member from Wyoming that is now on his mission in Russia. When we went for the lesson though her son who's a sophomore at Chaska High wanted to sit in and listen because he knew a couple of the youth from the ward here. The lesson went really well and the spirit was really strong as we taught and testified about Christ's church anciently and the restoration of it now. The power of the Book of Mormon was evident as we read through the introduction and testified to them about the truthfulness of it and how it would bless their lives. They both committed to read before we come back later this next week, and she even said hopefully her husband will be sitting in joining us this next week. We're pretty excited to be working with them and know that these are who we are here in Eden Prairie to find. Thanks for all you prayers because the blessings have really been pouring out upon us! We are also going to start teaching the son of a recent convert in the ward and are really excited to be working with him. The work as you all know has been a little slow going but because of the hard work of the spirit within people and the Lord because of the prayers in our behalf we are starting to reap the benefits of it. The other investigator that I had mentioned a couple weeks ago working toward being baptized on the 17th might not make it on that day because there are a couple other changes and commitments that need to be made and met so that it is all according to the standards and qualifications that the Lord has commanded of His children. We're still working hard and the ward is a great support to him. He's encountered a couple bumps along the way already with the short road he's traveled in a couple weeks, but the spirit is helping to strengthen his testimony and help him to see the truth of what he's learning and feeling. It's always an incredible and humbling experience to watch and be a part of.
I'm glad that you got the pictures from Sister Neilson. She was such a great blessing to us to not only drive 4 of us missionaries to the temple but then want to go through with us and take us back home. It made coordinating rides much easier. When she was taking pictures on all our cameras too she told us to wait there as she took a couple on her iPhone. She said she was going to send them to my mom because she would love that. I agreed and told here she also got a sweet new wallpaper for her phone from that one picture. It was a win win for everyone even though I'm not too sure she wanted a picture of us as her back round haha. ;) They are a great family who we have dinner with again this next Sunday. This ward is just great though and like I said earlier I'm just glad to still be working here for the next 6 weeks. Especially since Elder Parry told me that when he talked with President this morning he said that he was initially going to move me, but was strongly corrected by the Lord saying that I needed to be in Eden Prairie. That in and of itself puts enough pressure on knowing that there's something the Lord knows I specifically need to to be here for and accomplish this next 6 weeks. We'll be working hard to find out what that is in the short time that we have to do it in.
Well I'm glad to hear that Brady seems to be surviving and recovering from his ordeal with the oral surgeon fairly well. Thanks for sending the fairly gruesome pictures along with your email haha. I can't wait to hear how it goes these next few weeks as you finalize everything to send in so you can find out where in South America you'll be headed. I'm going to just go ahead and call that right now. haha
I'm also glad to hear that everyone else seems to be doing fairly well or at least recovering towards that. Thanks for all the support and prayers again! I know the Lord listens to prayers and grants us those worthy desires of our hearts! I love you and can't wait to hear from you again.
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, September 19, 2011
Settling In
Dear Crafts,
I almost feel like after that story Dad sent me and what I heard about the game from members at church yesterday that we all need to take a moment of silence for all those grieving cougar fans out there. . . . HAHA!!! That's so funny! I was glad to hear about that. Especially since Elder White's a BYU fan haha.
Back on the subject of missionary work. Things in Eden Prairie are going well. Elder White and I get along great and are working really hard to try and build up the teaching pool here. It's taking a little time but there's amazing potential and people here. We just have to get and work to find them. This ward is great and really missionary minded. We're blessed to be serving in a ward like this. Hopefully we will have more exciting things to report on for next week.
The Bishop gave us the opportunity to bare our testimonies and for me to stand
and introduce myself yesterday. It was good to kind of make an appearance and share our testimonies with the whole ward and show them we're here to work. There an uncanny amount of people that came up to me after with question about people I know that live in Hooper. One member, Sister Ward, is the great aunt of Braxton Willie and then as Mom got to find out Sister Neilson, who we had dinner with last Sunday, grew up right across the street from Blakeley Charlesworth's mom. So that was weird when they asked where I was from and said they knew someone out near Hooper. The world within the church really is very small. Especially here where everyone seems to be from Utah or knows someone from there haha.
That's great Kevin did so well yesterday. That is kind of early to have his farewell but with Stacie coming home now too it makes sense. Lots of crazy things going on back in Hooper. It's too bad that Brady make it and then that you missed Elder Dillon Pilcher speak on the amazing MMM. Hopefully you'll get to talk to him soon about it. Maybe they'll have him speak again haha. The Assistants were asking me about "this Elder coming out from Hooper next transfer". It's so cool to think about where he'll be trained and who will train him. I'm excited to find out! He's going to love it. Especially since the temperature just dropped like 20 degrees this last week. Winter's just around the corner. Time to build some character haha.
That's so exciting for you Kat and Tom! I wish I could be there to support you, but I'm just glad to know that it's still going through. I know we weren't sure if all the documentation would be ready for awhile so I've just been praying for you, and those prayers were answered. Just know that I'll be thinking about you guys tomorrow! I can't wait to see the pictures. I'm sure it's going to be great with what I've heard about it!
So I'm hoping today to attach some pictures from Shingle Creek for you and I'll probably print some to send as well. There's only a couple from here that I could put on and one is of the Temple of Ekenkar! The people at this church are completely insane!! The one and only "Temple of Ek" is here in Chanhassen and it's their world headquarters. These people in the simplest terms I can describe it are just nuts! They believe in basically everything which means they believe in nothing. They're not Christian and they read from a book that their leaders wrote in 1965 as their scripture known as the Seriyat. They're know for their spiritual exercises that they do. They chant to word "HU" over and over and over. They call it a spiritual exercise that each member does everyday for up to 20 minutes. They do it to soothe and they chant to word "HU" because "it's the sacred, ancient name for God and the vibrations you feel on your throat as you do it are because it's sacred". I want you guys to try it just take a nice deep breathe. . and chant "HU" in a nice soothing voice for 20 seconds while touching your index and middle finger to the side of your throat and repeat as need for up to 20 minutes. Their claim is that it's a "love song to God that will soothe both of you and bring you closer to Him". When they meet to "worship" they all do this chant as a group and it's called a "HU Song" . They're led by their "Temple Masters" and their "prophet" as they referred to him is "The Ek Master". The best part is that I'm not even having to make up any of these names or titles and I was told all of this by one of the followers when we tracted into him. You could probably Google it to find out more. I can't even tell it all that well over an email. There were plenty of things we came up with after talking to him about the Grinch hating the "HU"s and their "HU song" that's why he stole Christmas. We're just waiting for a rapper to now come out with the name "Master EK". I can totally see it haha. They're really nice people just a little on the blasphemous, apostasy side of things haha. I'll just have to remember to tell that story in person. haha
Well I hope that everyone is doing well and I can't wait to hear from you all again. I love and appreciate all that you do for me and I hope to have more stories about investigators and the true Gospel of our Heavenly Father and maybe not so much about the Ekites next week haha.
Love, Elder Craft
I almost feel like after that story Dad sent me and what I heard about the game from members at church yesterday that we all need to take a moment of silence for all those grieving cougar fans out there. . . . HAHA!!! That's so funny! I was glad to hear about that. Especially since Elder White's a BYU fan haha.
Back on the subject of missionary work. Things in Eden Prairie are going well. Elder White and I get along great and are working really hard to try and build up the teaching pool here. It's taking a little time but there's amazing potential and people here. We just have to get and work to find them. This ward is great and really missionary minded. We're blessed to be serving in a ward like this. Hopefully we will have more exciting things to report on for next week.
The Bishop gave us the opportunity to bare our testimonies and for me to stand
and introduce myself yesterday. It was good to kind of make an appearance and share our testimonies with the whole ward and show them we're here to work. There an uncanny amount of people that came up to me after with question about people I know that live in Hooper. One member, Sister Ward, is the great aunt of Braxton Willie and then as Mom got to find out Sister Neilson, who we had dinner with last Sunday, grew up right across the street from Blakeley Charlesworth's mom. So that was weird when they asked where I was from and said they knew someone out near Hooper. The world within the church really is very small. Especially here where everyone seems to be from Utah or knows someone from there haha.
That's great Kevin did so well yesterday. That is kind of early to have his farewell but with Stacie coming home now too it makes sense. Lots of crazy things going on back in Hooper. It's too bad that Brady make it and then that you missed Elder Dillon Pilcher speak on the amazing MMM. Hopefully you'll get to talk to him soon about it. Maybe they'll have him speak again haha. The Assistants were asking me about "this Elder coming out from Hooper next transfer". It's so cool to think about where he'll be trained and who will train him. I'm excited to find out! He's going to love it. Especially since the temperature just dropped like 20 degrees this last week. Winter's just around the corner. Time to build some character haha.
That's so exciting for you Kat and Tom! I wish I could be there to support you, but I'm just glad to know that it's still going through. I know we weren't sure if all the documentation would be ready for awhile so I've just been praying for you, and those prayers were answered. Just know that I'll be thinking about you guys tomorrow! I can't wait to see the pictures. I'm sure it's going to be great with what I've heard about it!
So I'm hoping today to attach some pictures from Shingle Creek for you and I'll probably print some to send as well. There's only a couple from here that I could put on and one is of the Temple of Ekenkar! The people at this church are completely insane!! The one and only "Temple of Ek" is here in Chanhassen and it's their world headquarters. These people in the simplest terms I can describe it are just nuts! They believe in basically everything which means they believe in nothing. They're not Christian and they read from a book that their leaders wrote in 1965 as their scripture known as the Seriyat. They're know for their spiritual exercises that they do. They chant to word "HU" over and over and over. They call it a spiritual exercise that each member does everyday for up to 20 minutes. They do it to soothe and they chant to word "HU" because "it's the sacred, ancient name for God and the vibrations you feel on your throat as you do it are because it's sacred". I want you guys to try it just take a nice deep breathe. . and chant "HU" in a nice soothing voice for 20 seconds while touching your index and middle finger to the side of your throat and repeat as need for up to 20 minutes. Their claim is that it's a "love song to God that will soothe both of you and bring you closer to Him". When they meet to "worship" they all do this chant as a group and it's called a "HU Song" . They're led by their "Temple Masters" and their "prophet" as they referred to him is "The Ek Master". The best part is that I'm not even having to make up any of these names or titles and I was told all of this by one of the followers when we tracted into him. You could probably Google it to find out more. I can't even tell it all that well over an email. There were plenty of things we came up with after talking to him about the Grinch hating the "HU"s and their "HU song" that's why he stole Christmas. We're just waiting for a rapper to now come out with the name "Master EK". I can totally see it haha. They're really nice people just a little on the blasphemous, apostasy side of things haha. I'll just have to remember to tell that story in person. haha
Well I hope that everyone is doing well and I can't wait to hear from you all again. I love and appreciate all that you do for me and I hope to have more stories about investigators and the true Gospel of our Heavenly Father and maybe not so much about the Ekites next week haha.
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, September 12, 2011
Chaska!
Dear Everyone,
Haha I'm running out of fun clever ways to start off these emails each week. This week was definitely busy and chaotic in a sense. I spent all my time trying to pack up not only my stuff but Elder Haupt was having to pack up his stuff to move the few miles down to the Southern end of the ward. We had to try to divide up supplies and the Area Book into North and South again. Amid all this we were trying to figure out the final details so that Elder Haupt would have a place to live and trying to see these investigators that I've grown to love. We didn't get to see all of them but we did see a few people. I don't know what it is but the last couple moves of mine haven't been as easy as they could be. Most of the time transfers are just you packing up and getting your stuff out and on to your new place. Oh well we got it all done so that's what's important haha. We do transfers here a couple different ways depending on where you serve. Almost everyone in the mission that's being transferred will meet at the mission home on transfer days to meet their new companion. You can either get there in your own car if you're close or what I've done every time is get a ride with a member there. Once you're ready to leave the mission home and get to your new area you will ride with the member that brought the missionary that you're replacing typically or with a member that is taking missionaries to your area. The only time it is different usually is of you're heading South to the Rochester Zone or North to Duluth. South isn't that different. You just ride with the other group of missionaries going down in a members van that they have and your luggage goes on a trailer. The ones going North are the only ones that have to ride a bus. They catch a Greyhound from the mission home, so they have to weigh their bags and make sure they're not over 50 lbs and all that fun stuff. For that reason I'm not particularly excited to ever be moved up there. Transfers are usually pretty smooth and easy though so I'd tell a certain worried friend of ours not to worry about it because the Zone Leaders coordinate everything out here really smoothly. :) It's funny what Lance said about being with your companion more than your wife because that's something we've talked about a few times out here. Realistically you are with your companion about 23 hrs of the day. You definitely learn to cooperative and survive together haha. Either that or it can be the longest 6 weeks of your life. We get our money each month or MSF ( Missionary Support Fund) automatically from Salt Lake at the beginning of each month. They give you a debit card when you come out that is directly connected to that account so it's nothing complicated either. These are good questions but I would tell them not to worry about it again. Kevin should have his own personal account to use for things that MSF doesn't cover like I do but not to worry. Everything will be taken care of haha. I actually got my boots for free from some members in my first area. They had some used ones that fit that they just gave to me so it saved me some money. Mine are some Thinsulate boots. I don't know the specific name but Thinsulate is the brand and typically the best brand to get. I wouldn't worry about getting any specific ones before coming out unless he finds some really good ones he wants to use. Most missionaries I know have gotten theirs out here when they get to their first area. His trainer and the members will know the best place and kind to get some. Hopefully he can just luck out like I did. I hope that answers a couple of the major questions.
Sorry I don't have much time today but as for me here in the Eden Prairie ward it's going really well. The ward is huge and really nice and loves the missionaries. I actually live in the city of Chaska and we cover Chaska, Chanhassen, and a little part of Eden Prairie. Elder White just refers to it as the Garden of Eden. haha He's so funny and we get along really well. He's from Sandy and went to Alta High. I actually found out that Elder Bennett from my last district is in my district again, so that should be fun. To answer Mom's question no I am not District Leader again. I guess I didn't cut it the last time haha jk. They switch them up usually at transfers.
I wish I had more details to talk about with you to make this a little longer, but that's about it for this week. I'm trying to learn this new area where I swear there's not one straight road and all of them have the most random names haha. Like we live on Walnut St. right next to Yellowbrick Rd. I'm not even kidding. haha Thanks for all the letters and support this week. I love you all and look forward to talking to you again! Hopefully I can send some pictures next week.
Love, Elder Craft
Haha I'm running out of fun clever ways to start off these emails each week. This week was definitely busy and chaotic in a sense. I spent all my time trying to pack up not only my stuff but Elder Haupt was having to pack up his stuff to move the few miles down to the Southern end of the ward. We had to try to divide up supplies and the Area Book into North and South again. Amid all this we were trying to figure out the final details so that Elder Haupt would have a place to live and trying to see these investigators that I've grown to love. We didn't get to see all of them but we did see a few people. I don't know what it is but the last couple moves of mine haven't been as easy as they could be. Most of the time transfers are just you packing up and getting your stuff out and on to your new place. Oh well we got it all done so that's what's important haha. We do transfers here a couple different ways depending on where you serve. Almost everyone in the mission that's being transferred will meet at the mission home on transfer days to meet their new companion. You can either get there in your own car if you're close or what I've done every time is get a ride with a member there. Once you're ready to leave the mission home and get to your new area you will ride with the member that brought the missionary that you're replacing typically or with a member that is taking missionaries to your area. The only time it is different usually is of you're heading South to the Rochester Zone or North to Duluth. South isn't that different. You just ride with the other group of missionaries going down in a members van that they have and your luggage goes on a trailer. The ones going North are the only ones that have to ride a bus. They catch a Greyhound from the mission home, so they have to weigh their bags and make sure they're not over 50 lbs and all that fun stuff. For that reason I'm not particularly excited to ever be moved up there. Transfers are usually pretty smooth and easy though so I'd tell a certain worried friend of ours not to worry about it because the Zone Leaders coordinate everything out here really smoothly. :) It's funny what Lance said about being with your companion more than your wife because that's something we've talked about a few times out here. Realistically you are with your companion about 23 hrs of the day. You definitely learn to cooperative and survive together haha. Either that or it can be the longest 6 weeks of your life. We get our money each month or MSF ( Missionary Support Fund) automatically from Salt Lake at the beginning of each month. They give you a debit card when you come out that is directly connected to that account so it's nothing complicated either. These are good questions but I would tell them not to worry about it again. Kevin should have his own personal account to use for things that MSF doesn't cover like I do but not to worry. Everything will be taken care of haha. I actually got my boots for free from some members in my first area. They had some used ones that fit that they just gave to me so it saved me some money. Mine are some Thinsulate boots. I don't know the specific name but Thinsulate is the brand and typically the best brand to get. I wouldn't worry about getting any specific ones before coming out unless he finds some really good ones he wants to use. Most missionaries I know have gotten theirs out here when they get to their first area. His trainer and the members will know the best place and kind to get some. Hopefully he can just luck out like I did. I hope that answers a couple of the major questions.
Sorry I don't have much time today but as for me here in the Eden Prairie ward it's going really well. The ward is huge and really nice and loves the missionaries. I actually live in the city of Chaska and we cover Chaska, Chanhassen, and a little part of Eden Prairie. Elder White just refers to it as the Garden of Eden. haha He's so funny and we get along really well. He's from Sandy and went to Alta High. I actually found out that Elder Bennett from my last district is in my district again, so that should be fun. To answer Mom's question no I am not District Leader again. I guess I didn't cut it the last time haha jk. They switch them up usually at transfers.
I wish I had more details to talk about with you to make this a little longer, but that's about it for this week. I'm trying to learn this new area where I swear there's not one straight road and all of them have the most random names haha. Like we live on Walnut St. right next to Yellowbrick Rd. I'm not even kidding. haha Thanks for all the letters and support this week. I love you all and look forward to talking to you again! Hopefully I can send some pictures next week.
Love, Elder Craft
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
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
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
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Little Stability
Hey Everyone,
I'm glad to hear that everyone at home is doing well. This week for us was great. Transfer calls were this morning and for the first transfer of my mission I am keeping the same companion. Elder Haupt and I already knew that though because this new training out line is 12 weeks long. It wasn't any real surprise to us not getting a call this morning, but we are excited to keep up the hard work and seeing the blessings of the Lord here in The Hood haha. I did get one change this morning with transfers. There's now a set of Sister missionaries in our district. So now instead of just us four Elders we have two Sisters as well. It will be pretty cool I think. I haven't been in a district with Sisters yet on my mission. What's cool too is that all three of us companionships here consist of a trainer and trainee. Plus, Sister Daniel is the Sister that came out with me from my MTC district. That's basically all the news I have for now though at least about changes with transfers haha.
I told you all about a couple new investigators last week Russ and Pierre, so I figured I'd give you a little update on them from this week. Russ is still doing great and he came to church again yesterday. He has a lot of questions that we're trying hard to answer for him as he's trying to learn. He's great and always really excited to see us. He was asked a couple funny questions yesterday to the interpreter about us. One was if we were the prophets which really isn't too crazy for him to think because he's learning all about what a prophet even is. The next one that made us laugh was why we weren't married yet. haha He's just a funny guy. As for Pierre. . .man he was one interesting character. We met with him 4 times total last week that probably combined was 9 hrs total. What started last week as a lot of questions turned into a quiz on our scriptural references each time we went. He wanted answers and we'd give them to him, most with a Bible reference in fact, but nothing sufficed. He wanted firm evidence about our relationship with God and Jesus Christ, the origin of The Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith's First Vision. Things that can't all be provided and proved through just Bible reference. That makes the entire definition of Faith obsolete. We even had a lesson at the mission home with President Clements on Friday so that he could help teach and see what we were talking about first hand. We were so excited about Pierre, but by the end of the week we realized that it might not be the best investment of time to continue to work with him. I'm glad that I got to know and meet him. He's a great guy and it was a great experience both for my testimony and knowledge to grow in. Next time I run into another Evangelical type personality I'll know what to expect.
We had an amazing miracle on Wednesday. Micheal, who I've mentioned before, text us and said that he had decided on a date and wants to be baptized on the 20th of August! We were amazed because we haven't been pushing or really meeting with him to much, but the Lord and the Spirit can work wonders within people. We met with him Friday and his whole countenance has changed. He was so happy talking about being excited to be baptized! It was nothing short of a miracle that came as an answer to much fasting and many prayers. Thanks everyone for the prayers and support because we were able to see the fruits of that labor this past week.
We're really excited to continue in the work and miracles that we've seen here. They're all around us and August is going to be ab amazing month! What is kind of weird for me is that this Wednesday Elder Blume, my trainer, will be going home. He's the first companion of mine to go home and it's weird to think that he'll be headed back to Utah. He's a great missionary that taught me alot. If you ever run into a Joshua Blume from American Fork that's him haha. Elder Pilcher is going home this Wednesday too so the MMM will only have one Hooperite for a little while. That is until Elder Mead comes on up to the land of 10,000 lakes, windchill, and extreme heat index haha.
I love you all so much and once again thank you for all the love, support, and prayers given on my behalf. You guys are great! I'm glad to hear about the good news for you Kat! Congratulations!! And I look forward to more good news from Camie and Brock here in a few weeks. I can't wait to hear from you all again. Sorry it's not too long, but there will be more miracles to report on next week :).
Love, Elder Craft
Monday, June 27, 2011
The New Arrival
Dear Craft Family,
It was so good to hear from all of you! I'm glad that the snow is finally starting to melt in Utah. Now you know what 6 months of snow is like and what I have to look forward to here. Only thing is there's no mountains that it stays in here. One of the members here told me that just last week they still had a snow pile in St. Paul in one of the parking lots from October when it first snowed. So I don't know how bad I can feel that there's still snow in the mountains back home haha. From what a couple of you have said it sounds like Utah's not so brown anymore. I just can't imagine a summer of all green and no worries of drought. That's crazy for me to think about!
So my new companion is Elder Haupt from Oregon. He lives in a town outside of Portland. I called him a "Greeny" last week but that term isn't correct here in the MMM anymore I guess. The new missionaries are now called "Goldies". I don't know where exactly President Howell came up with that from, but it might have something to do with the Golden Gophers I think. That's just my own personal speculation though hahaha. As you already know he's been out in the mission field for 5 days now and just transferred from Provo haha. It's been going really well so far and I'm excited to get to work with him. Like Kathleen pointed out to me he will be my longest companion and this my longest area. It's pretty cool though because just serving in Shingle Creek ups my street cred (or Cool Scale like Kat's) for the other missionaries. Plus, biking everywhere builds good character haha. Or at least I've been told that. We've had a lot of miracles and people let us talk to them and teach them while contacting on their door steps or in the park and stuff like that. It's been really cool to see. Elder Haupt's faith is through the roof and is awesome to feed off and work with. The one thing about training that's funny for me is how many questions he has about everything we do. It's not like they're overbearing or anything like that. I just forget that he doesn't already know that and how much we really have to learn at the beginning of our missions. He came out in a group of 20 new missionaries! There's a ton of us training. One of the missionaries he came out with is an Elder Checketts from Woods Cross, so I knew the name and went to talk to him after. Turns out he's the nephew of Dave Checketts, owner of RSL, and we played each other for preseason in high school and stuff. That was kinda cool.
President Howell had a final fireside last night and all the missionaries in the cities were invited with investigators and all less actives or recent converts in the mission. Lets just say that Bloomington Chapel was filled to capacity, but it was way cool to hear the powerful and heartfelt testimonies of President and Sister Howell. I'm really going to miss them but look forward to meeting President and Sister Clements. They fly in on Wednesday and the Howells will be flying out. I guess Elder Haupt was telling me that they shut down all of 1M (the main building in the MTC) except for the cafeteria part this whole last week because The First Presidency was there training the new mission presidents. 1/3 of all the worlds mission presidents are being changed this week. That's crazy! It would have been even more insane to be in the MTC during this last week, like Tavan, to maybe even see President Monson, Eyring, or Uchtdorf. I'm going to have to write him about that whole thing.
I'm glad that those of you in Hooper were able to see Cody an d KC. Man I miss those guys so much! But when we do get together again it's going to be just like the reunion of Alma and the Sons of Mosiah! It's so cool for me to be able to tell people here of the amazing friends that I have serving all around the world spreading the Gospel to all nations, kindred, tongues, and people.
Sorry this email is not super long but I think that the computer might be kicking me off sooner than usual because there's so many people here today. I'll conclude by the traditional response to those people haha.
Kat and Tom: I'm so glad to hear that you are recovering and doing so much better! That's so exciting about your trip to the big island and sealing. I wish that I could be there to support you guys, but just know I'll be there in spirit. haha Good luck with the nursing school application too. I've been praying for you. I'm glad that I was able to help your coolness go up a little bit. The Golden Gophers have the power to do that ;) haha.
Brock and Camie: I'm glad that you had a nice birthday and thank you so much for the advice and the story. I'll take any advice that you have ever. Thanks for all your guys' love and support of me. I'm glad to hear that little Raylee's doing well too.
Dad and Mom: Thanks for the letters last week and updates on the farewells and homecomings. haha I talked to Sister Howell and she said last night that they are very excited to meet you guys inparticular. It's good to hear that you're trip was a success and it went well.
Sorry once again that this isn't a very exciting email. Hopefully it will be more so next week. I'm so thankful for your letters, emails, and support. I hope you have a good time in Idaho. Try to not let all the wind get you down ;)! I miss you guys and look forward to talking to you again soon!
Love, Elder Alex Craft
It was so good to hear from all of you! I'm glad that the snow is finally starting to melt in Utah. Now you know what 6 months of snow is like and what I have to look forward to here. Only thing is there's no mountains that it stays in here. One of the members here told me that just last week they still had a snow pile in St. Paul in one of the parking lots from October when it first snowed. So I don't know how bad I can feel that there's still snow in the mountains back home haha. From what a couple of you have said it sounds like Utah's not so brown anymore. I just can't imagine a summer of all green and no worries of drought. That's crazy for me to think about!
So my new companion is Elder Haupt from Oregon. He lives in a town outside of Portland. I called him a "Greeny" last week but that term isn't correct here in the MMM anymore I guess. The new missionaries are now called "Goldies". I don't know where exactly President Howell came up with that from, but it might have something to do with the Golden Gophers I think. That's just my own personal speculation though hahaha. As you already know he's been out in the mission field for 5 days now and just transferred from Provo haha. It's been going really well so far and I'm excited to get to work with him. Like Kathleen pointed out to me he will be my longest companion and this my longest area. It's pretty cool though because just serving in Shingle Creek ups my street cred (or Cool Scale like Kat's) for the other missionaries. Plus, biking everywhere builds good character haha. Or at least I've been told that. We've had a lot of miracles and people let us talk to them and teach them while contacting on their door steps or in the park and stuff like that. It's been really cool to see. Elder Haupt's faith is through the roof and is awesome to feed off and work with. The one thing about training that's funny for me is how many questions he has about everything we do. It's not like they're overbearing or anything like that. I just forget that he doesn't already know that and how much we really have to learn at the beginning of our missions. He came out in a group of 20 new missionaries! There's a ton of us training. One of the missionaries he came out with is an Elder Checketts from Woods Cross, so I knew the name and went to talk to him after. Turns out he's the nephew of Dave Checketts, owner of RSL, and we played each other for preseason in high school and stuff. That was kinda cool.
President Howell had a final fireside last night and all the missionaries in the cities were invited with investigators and all less actives or recent converts in the mission. Lets just say that Bloomington Chapel was filled to capacity, but it was way cool to hear the powerful and heartfelt testimonies of President and Sister Howell. I'm really going to miss them but look forward to meeting President and Sister Clements. They fly in on Wednesday and the Howells will be flying out. I guess Elder Haupt was telling me that they shut down all of 1M (the main building in the MTC) except for the cafeteria part this whole last week because The First Presidency was there training the new mission presidents. 1/3 of all the worlds mission presidents are being changed this week. That's crazy! It would have been even more insane to be in the MTC during this last week, like Tavan, to maybe even see President Monson, Eyring, or Uchtdorf. I'm going to have to write him about that whole thing.
I'm glad that those of you in Hooper were able to see Cody an d KC. Man I miss those guys so much! But when we do get together again it's going to be just like the reunion of Alma and the Sons of Mosiah! It's so cool for me to be able to tell people here of the amazing friends that I have serving all around the world spreading the Gospel to all nations, kindred, tongues, and people.
Sorry this email is not super long but I think that the computer might be kicking me off sooner than usual because there's so many people here today. I'll conclude by the traditional response to those people haha.
Kat and Tom: I'm so glad to hear that you are recovering and doing so much better! That's so exciting about your trip to the big island and sealing. I wish that I could be there to support you guys, but just know I'll be there in spirit. haha Good luck with the nursing school application too. I've been praying for you. I'm glad that I was able to help your coolness go up a little bit. The Golden Gophers have the power to do that ;) haha.
Brock and Camie: I'm glad that you had a nice birthday and thank you so much for the advice and the story. I'll take any advice that you have ever. Thanks for all your guys' love and support of me. I'm glad to hear that little Raylee's doing well too.
Dad and Mom: Thanks for the letters last week and updates on the farewells and homecomings. haha I talked to Sister Howell and she said last night that they are very excited to meet you guys inparticular. It's good to hear that you're trip was a success and it went well.
Sorry once again that this isn't a very exciting email. Hopefully it will be more so next week. I'm so thankful for your letters, emails, and support. I hope you have a good time in Idaho. Try to not let all the wind get you down ;)! I miss you guys and look forward to talking to you again soon!
Love, Elder Alex Craft
Monday, June 20, 2011
It's a Boy!
Dear Family,
I'm glad to hear from what Mom was able to tell me that everyone's doing well. I'm a little confused as to what this award scarf thing is that Brady got but I guess when you're out of the loop that's what happens haha. I hope that everyone was able to have a good Father's Day. I'm glad that you like the card Dad. I hope all goes well with you traveling and everything this week. The Father's Day for us was just the same as everyday in case anyone was wondering haha. We did get transfer calls last night which was a little different because those usually come on the Monday morning before transfers, but President Howell's leaving so he kind of does what he wants. Unfortunately for us our phone has really been acting up recently. It turns itself off and won't let us turn it back on until it decides. It's really frustrating and was even more so yesterday. It shut off as we were leaving to bike to church and we couldn't get it back on until we got home after church and our coordination meeting. When we did finally get it to work we had a missed call from President Howell for me to call him back. Only problem is that he didn't answer when I did. I wish that I could express the amount of stress that that dumb phone put us under yesterday. I was ready to throw it down the street and make it "give up the ghost" haha. We just had to leave for a couple appointments we had from the day before when we were tracting. Elder Hatch and I started praying in our hearts that it would turn back on just to call President Howell and our dinner appointment who'd also called earlier. All I have to say is that the Lord provides those tender mercies and answers prayers. Even the small seemingly insignificant ones because we got it turned back on. We had another missed call from President Howell but because our phone was running on the spirit this time I called him back and got to talk with him. He asked me how my obedience and companionship study was going. I told him pretty good and his exact response was, "well we're going to have to try and make it even better. I want you to train one of those new missionaries coming in Elder". I'm now going to be training for the next 2 transfers (3 months) with this new missionary that comes in on Wednesday. He'll be my companion that I'll have had the longest and Shingle Creek will be the longest area I'll be in. I'm excited to be able to help this new missionary with the start of his mission. Sorry that was kind of a long story just about a malfunctioning phone but like I said it was alot of added stress and problems for us at the most inconvenient of times. Isn't that how it always is though? haha Like you've probably already all figured out Elder Hatch by default is now leaving and being transferred for the first time in his 4 1/2 months out. He's going to North Branch which is only about 40 miles north and a little East of here. From what I've heard it's a great area he's really going to love. I'm really glad I got the opportunity to learn and grow with him through all the different experiences we've had the past 6 weeks. It's a little sad the our district couldn't stay together because we all really like each other but the Lord knows what he's doing. Elder Kingston is moving North of Elder hatch a ways up to a place called Askov for the last 6 weeks of his mission. He's going to the U right when he gets home and said he wants to go up to Hooper to visit my family. So if you have an Elder Joey Kingston from LA who's going to the University of Utah show up on the front step one day to say hi you'll know why. haha Elder Bennett is still going to be here with me from our district for the next 2 transfers too because he's training also. It's going to be interesting now being the "oldest" missionary in our district . We'll have to 2 new Greenies and Elder Bennett who just finished his 3 months of being trained by Elder Kingston. President Clements will be coming in this week I think with the new missionaries. I hope you were able to get the forward of when and where President and Sister Howell will be speaking. It's weird to have them go but I'm excited to get to know and help President Clements any way I can now.
As for any new news here on the work Micheal is still working towards being baptized. We met with him a couple times last week. He's been taught everything, interviewed, and read The Book of Mormon. He's so ready but like he told us last week he's the only one holding himself back. He's nervous to mess up again once he is baptized, so it's a legitimate concern. We are just trying to encourage and assure him that he is ready without him feeling pushed or unsure about getting baptized at all. I have faith that he will be baptized in the next few weeks it's just a matter of him feeling ready and confident.
That's about all for the exciting and new information here. I have one more question that Brady might be able to answer. KC John should be either home or coming home this month and I was just curious when his homecoming was or will be? I'm glad to hear that all is well and I hope that everyone will continue to be blessed and watch over. I pray for you all always. I love and miss you and can't wait to hear from you again!
Love, Elder Alex Craft
I'm glad to hear from what Mom was able to tell me that everyone's doing well. I'm a little confused as to what this award scarf thing is that Brady got but I guess when you're out of the loop that's what happens haha. I hope that everyone was able to have a good Father's Day. I'm glad that you like the card Dad. I hope all goes well with you traveling and everything this week. The Father's Day for us was just the same as everyday in case anyone was wondering haha. We did get transfer calls last night which was a little different because those usually come on the Monday morning before transfers, but President Howell's leaving so he kind of does what he wants. Unfortunately for us our phone has really been acting up recently. It turns itself off and won't let us turn it back on until it decides. It's really frustrating and was even more so yesterday. It shut off as we were leaving to bike to church and we couldn't get it back on until we got home after church and our coordination meeting. When we did finally get it to work we had a missed call from President Howell for me to call him back. Only problem is that he didn't answer when I did. I wish that I could express the amount of stress that that dumb phone put us under yesterday. I was ready to throw it down the street and make it "give up the ghost" haha. We just had to leave for a couple appointments we had from the day before when we were tracting. Elder Hatch and I started praying in our hearts that it would turn back on just to call President Howell and our dinner appointment who'd also called earlier. All I have to say is that the Lord provides those tender mercies and answers prayers. Even the small seemingly insignificant ones because we got it turned back on. We had another missed call from President Howell but because our phone was running on the spirit this time I called him back and got to talk with him. He asked me how my obedience and companionship study was going. I told him pretty good and his exact response was, "well we're going to have to try and make it even better. I want you to train one of those new missionaries coming in Elder". I'm now going to be training for the next 2 transfers (3 months) with this new missionary that comes in on Wednesday. He'll be my companion that I'll have had the longest and Shingle Creek will be the longest area I'll be in. I'm excited to be able to help this new missionary with the start of his mission. Sorry that was kind of a long story just about a malfunctioning phone but like I said it was alot of added stress and problems for us at the most inconvenient of times. Isn't that how it always is though? haha Like you've probably already all figured out Elder Hatch by default is now leaving and being transferred for the first time in his 4 1/2 months out. He's going to North Branch which is only about 40 miles north and a little East of here. From what I've heard it's a great area he's really going to love. I'm really glad I got the opportunity to learn and grow with him through all the different experiences we've had the past 6 weeks. It's a little sad the our district couldn't stay together because we all really like each other but the Lord knows what he's doing. Elder Kingston is moving North of Elder hatch a ways up to a place called Askov for the last 6 weeks of his mission. He's going to the U right when he gets home and said he wants to go up to Hooper to visit my family. So if you have an Elder Joey Kingston from LA who's going to the University of Utah show up on the front step one day to say hi you'll know why. haha Elder Bennett is still going to be here with me from our district for the next 2 transfers too because he's training also. It's going to be interesting now being the "oldest" missionary in our district . We'll have to 2 new Greenies and Elder Bennett who just finished his 3 months of being trained by Elder Kingston. President Clements will be coming in this week I think with the new missionaries. I hope you were able to get the forward of when and where President and Sister Howell will be speaking. It's weird to have them go but I'm excited to get to know and help President Clements any way I can now.
As for any new news here on the work Micheal is still working towards being baptized. We met with him a couple times last week. He's been taught everything, interviewed, and read The Book of Mormon. He's so ready but like he told us last week he's the only one holding himself back. He's nervous to mess up again once he is baptized, so it's a legitimate concern. We are just trying to encourage and assure him that he is ready without him feeling pushed or unsure about getting baptized at all. I have faith that he will be baptized in the next few weeks it's just a matter of him feeling ready and confident.
That's about all for the exciting and new information here. I have one more question that Brady might be able to answer. KC John should be either home or coming home this month and I was just curious when his homecoming was or will be? I'm glad to hear that all is well and I hope that everyone will continue to be blessed and watch over. I pray for you all always. I love and miss you and can't wait to hear from you again!
Love, Elder Alex Craft
Monday, May 16, 2011
Home Sweet Home . . . Again
Crafts! What's up with y'all?!
haha JK I figured that I'd give you a little bit of a taste of what new foreign language I get to learn now. From now on until I get transferred I'll be learning and speaking Ebonics here in the Shingle Creek area of Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park/ North Minneapolis. haha
That was a crazy last week of having to pack all of our belongings along with everything else in the apartment that I just moved into 2 months ago! Not to mention we had to coordinate how to get everything from our place in Kasson to the new area in Preston, and get our stuff to Bloomington for tranfers. It makes for some crazy days that's for sure.
This area really is sweet though! I love it here! We live in the basement of the Stake President's house. His name's President Paynter of the Anoka Stake that we're in. His wife lives there too but I haven't gotten to meet her yet. Even though I hit my head on the low ceiling down there twice this morning it's a great place. Elder Hatch is a really good missionary too. He's from "the hood of Idaho" is what he called it. I guess it's a suburb of Boise named Caldwell. So he's my first companion since Elder Lewis in the MTC that's not from Utah. He's really funny and pretty corky but I'm looking forward to serving with him. The ward here is awesome too!! I don't know if I mentioned before but I'd met some of the members here when I was serving with Elder Katoa. Because this used to be his old area, and he actually lived in the Paynter's house too, we went back for a baptism of one of the people he was teaching before he left. It's kind of cool to now be in the area where 2 of my companions, Elder Blume and Katoa, have served.
The ward that I am now in is the Shingle Creek Ward and there's 2 other wards that meet in the Anoka stake center with us too. There's 4 wards in the stake I guess, but luckily we meet at that building just a mile or 2 up the street from us. It's weird for me to be back in a ward and see "oh yeah that's how things are suppose to be done" haha. No, I'm kidding, but it really is weird to be serving in a larger ward. It's going to take a little longer to get to know everyone's names than it did in Kasson that's for sure haha.
This whole intercity is a lot different than the little old college town of Menomonie and the rural farming communities of Kasson, but it is sweet. Riding my bike everywhere has been a definite adjustment. I thought my legs were going to fall off Thursday morning going to see a potential investigator a few miles away, and the downpour of rain wasn't making things any easier that's for sure haha. It is getting easier biking each day and I'm excited to help strengthen my legs back up and get in shape cause all my pushups I do each morning don't really help my legs much ;). haha The investigators we have are so awesome too! We have 2 with a baptismal date set for June named Joe and Tony. Joe's a 17 year old kid who loves soccer from Liberia who I haven't gotten to teach yet, and Tony's around 26 I think. His parents immigrated from Vietnam during the war and he grew up Buddhist, but he told us he never really believed it anyway. When he was younger his Mom got really sick and when she was in the hospital he tried all the fasting and Buddhist prayers but nothing worked. Then he said he just had the idea come to his head to pray so he did without even really knowing what he was doing. Once he prayed she started to get better and was eventually released from the hospital. That's when he told us that he started to turn towards Christianity. That story was pretty amazing to me and now after meeting with the missionaries he's super solid and wants to get dunked. One of the other investigators I got to teach already is Micheal. He's 21 and is a way sweet guy with dreads. He'd make Jex pretty jealous cause he's been doing his for about 5 years and he has the whole Bob Marley look going for sure. He lives in North Minne and has had some struggles before, but he's been coming to church for awhile and had a date set for baptism this past Saturday, but he pushed it back because he didn't feel ready. He asks great questions and really wants to understand, so hopefully we get to teach him a couple more times this week and we can set another baptismal date for him to work towards. He got to go with us last night along with a kid from our ward named Hector Murillo to a President's Fireside at the mission home. We had a member give us a ride, but I was excited that I actually had the opportunity to go to one. I used to hear all about them but only missionaries in the cities are permitted to go and you have to bring an investigator, less active, or recently converted member with you. They had 3 recent converts give their conversion stories and testimonies with President Howell speaking at the end. Two of the speakers were a couple, John and Kathy Menion (?), who we all heard there conversion story from President Christensen the night I was set apart. I'm not sure if you remember but they're the ones who stopped at Temple Square on a whim during a trip to California. They met the sister missionaries there and eventually met with Elder Baxter, who I played soccer with and President Christensen works with his dad. They were introduced The Book of Mormon and later baptized because of how they felt seeing the statue of Christ in the visitors center and reading from The Book of Mormon. Their testimonies were amazing. So you'll have to tell President Christensen that I met those people he told us the story about being prepared in Minnesota for me. I told them about it after and they were amazed that I'd heard about it in Utah and that it was inspiring to hear how the Lord really does prepare people like them. It was really cool for Micheal to hear as an investigator and Hector because he just moved back after going to BYU-Idaho for a year and is preparing for his mission. He's a way cool kid that's convert himself and he and his younger sister who was baptized in December are the only members in his family. He even went out Joint Teaching with us 2 days last week, and because he doesn't have a car or license he biked everywhere with us. Like I said this area's so sweet and a lot more diverse than anywhere I've ever lived haha. We have a bunch of Africans in our ward and some recent converts and a couple people we're teaching too. I'm looking forward to getting to continue to help these people and work with the ward. Along with getting Lance Armstrong Quads too! haha
So I guess in other news I got a nice surprise when I got to the mission home for transfers on Wednesday. President Howell neglected to tell me about a minor detail of my new area. I'm now the District Leader here. That caught me totally off guard. I found out from the Assistants when one told me he was excited to see the great leadership he knows I'm going to bring to the area. I'm kinda nervous to have to do the District Meetings now and report on all the other things too. I'm excited for the opportunity that I have to serve the Elders around me now, but I just hope I can fulfill all the responsibility.
Now this week I do actually have something for some other people to write on here. haha
Dad: I hope that you were able to get my package I sent last week. Sorry it was kind of early, but transfers made things a little crazy! Especially having to pack up my whole apartment I just moved into and all my own stuff too. That would be cool if you guys did do a newsletter article. That'd let everyone know so you wouldn't have to tell the same things over and over again. I haven't gotten a newsletter if that's what you were asking, but just ask and questions you might need and hopefully I can answer them for you. I hope that I've given you enough information to write something haha.
Mom: I'm going to try and answer your questions and concerns from that Ensign article in my letter today because I'm running out of time here haha. Sorry you'll have to wait a few days for an answer.
Kat and Tom: CONGRATS KAT!!!! Nice job on your classes! That must feel good to be all done now, and now you two are headed to Hawaii?! That's so cool! I hope you guys enjoy it.
Well I think that's all or now. Good luck with graduation Brady and the end of school Natalie. I hope all is well with everyone else and I look forward to any sweet new news for next week. I love you guys and pray for you always! Thanks for the love and support! I can't wait to talk to you again.
Love, Alex (Elder Craft)
haha JK I figured that I'd give you a little bit of a taste of what new foreign language I get to learn now. From now on until I get transferred I'll be learning and speaking Ebonics here in the Shingle Creek area of Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park/ North Minneapolis. haha
That was a crazy last week of having to pack all of our belongings along with everything else in the apartment that I just moved into 2 months ago! Not to mention we had to coordinate how to get everything from our place in Kasson to the new area in Preston, and get our stuff to Bloomington for tranfers. It makes for some crazy days that's for sure.
This area really is sweet though! I love it here! We live in the basement of the Stake President's house. His name's President Paynter of the Anoka Stake that we're in. His wife lives there too but I haven't gotten to meet her yet. Even though I hit my head on the low ceiling down there twice this morning it's a great place. Elder Hatch is a really good missionary too. He's from "the hood of Idaho" is what he called it. I guess it's a suburb of Boise named Caldwell. So he's my first companion since Elder Lewis in the MTC that's not from Utah. He's really funny and pretty corky but I'm looking forward to serving with him. The ward here is awesome too!! I don't know if I mentioned before but I'd met some of the members here when I was serving with Elder Katoa. Because this used to be his old area, and he actually lived in the Paynter's house too, we went back for a baptism of one of the people he was teaching before he left. It's kind of cool to now be in the area where 2 of my companions, Elder Blume and Katoa, have served.
The ward that I am now in is the Shingle Creek Ward and there's 2 other wards that meet in the Anoka stake center with us too. There's 4 wards in the stake I guess, but luckily we meet at that building just a mile or 2 up the street from us. It's weird for me to be back in a ward and see "oh yeah that's how things are suppose to be done" haha. No, I'm kidding, but it really is weird to be serving in a larger ward. It's going to take a little longer to get to know everyone's names than it did in Kasson that's for sure haha.
This whole intercity is a lot different than the little old college town of Menomonie and the rural farming communities of Kasson, but it is sweet. Riding my bike everywhere has been a definite adjustment. I thought my legs were going to fall off Thursday morning going to see a potential investigator a few miles away, and the downpour of rain wasn't making things any easier that's for sure haha. It is getting easier biking each day and I'm excited to help strengthen my legs back up and get in shape cause all my pushups I do each morning don't really help my legs much ;). haha The investigators we have are so awesome too! We have 2 with a baptismal date set for June named Joe and Tony. Joe's a 17 year old kid who loves soccer from Liberia who I haven't gotten to teach yet, and Tony's around 26 I think. His parents immigrated from Vietnam during the war and he grew up Buddhist, but he told us he never really believed it anyway. When he was younger his Mom got really sick and when she was in the hospital he tried all the fasting and Buddhist prayers but nothing worked. Then he said he just had the idea come to his head to pray so he did without even really knowing what he was doing. Once he prayed she started to get better and was eventually released from the hospital. That's when he told us that he started to turn towards Christianity. That story was pretty amazing to me and now after meeting with the missionaries he's super solid and wants to get dunked. One of the other investigators I got to teach already is Micheal. He's 21 and is a way sweet guy with dreads. He'd make Jex pretty jealous cause he's been doing his for about 5 years and he has the whole Bob Marley look going for sure. He lives in North Minne and has had some struggles before, but he's been coming to church for awhile and had a date set for baptism this past Saturday, but he pushed it back because he didn't feel ready. He asks great questions and really wants to understand, so hopefully we get to teach him a couple more times this week and we can set another baptismal date for him to work towards. He got to go with us last night along with a kid from our ward named Hector Murillo to a President's Fireside at the mission home. We had a member give us a ride, but I was excited that I actually had the opportunity to go to one. I used to hear all about them but only missionaries in the cities are permitted to go and you have to bring an investigator, less active, or recently converted member with you. They had 3 recent converts give their conversion stories and testimonies with President Howell speaking at the end. Two of the speakers were a couple, John and Kathy Menion (?), who we all heard there conversion story from President Christensen the night I was set apart. I'm not sure if you remember but they're the ones who stopped at Temple Square on a whim during a trip to California. They met the sister missionaries there and eventually met with Elder Baxter, who I played soccer with and President Christensen works with his dad. They were introduced The Book of Mormon and later baptized because of how they felt seeing the statue of Christ in the visitors center and reading from The Book of Mormon. Their testimonies were amazing. So you'll have to tell President Christensen that I met those people he told us the story about being prepared in Minnesota for me. I told them about it after and they were amazed that I'd heard about it in Utah and that it was inspiring to hear how the Lord really does prepare people like them. It was really cool for Micheal to hear as an investigator and Hector because he just moved back after going to BYU-Idaho for a year and is preparing for his mission. He's a way cool kid that's convert himself and he and his younger sister who was baptized in December are the only members in his family. He even went out Joint Teaching with us 2 days last week, and because he doesn't have a car or license he biked everywhere with us. Like I said this area's so sweet and a lot more diverse than anywhere I've ever lived haha. We have a bunch of Africans in our ward and some recent converts and a couple people we're teaching too. I'm looking forward to getting to continue to help these people and work with the ward. Along with getting Lance Armstrong Quads too! haha
So I guess in other news I got a nice surprise when I got to the mission home for transfers on Wednesday. President Howell neglected to tell me about a minor detail of my new area. I'm now the District Leader here. That caught me totally off guard. I found out from the Assistants when one told me he was excited to see the great leadership he knows I'm going to bring to the area. I'm kinda nervous to have to do the District Meetings now and report on all the other things too. I'm excited for the opportunity that I have to serve the Elders around me now, but I just hope I can fulfill all the responsibility.
Now this week I do actually have something for some other people to write on here. haha
Dad: I hope that you were able to get my package I sent last week. Sorry it was kind of early, but transfers made things a little crazy! Especially having to pack up my whole apartment I just moved into and all my own stuff too. That would be cool if you guys did do a newsletter article. That'd let everyone know so you wouldn't have to tell the same things over and over again. I haven't gotten a newsletter if that's what you were asking, but just ask and questions you might need and hopefully I can answer them for you. I hope that I've given you enough information to write something haha.
Mom: I'm going to try and answer your questions and concerns from that Ensign article in my letter today because I'm running out of time here haha. Sorry you'll have to wait a few days for an answer.
Kat and Tom: CONGRATS KAT!!!! Nice job on your classes! That must feel good to be all done now, and now you two are headed to Hawaii?! That's so cool! I hope you guys enjoy it.
Well I think that's all or now. Good luck with graduation Brady and the end of school Natalie. I hope all is well with everyone else and I look forward to any sweet new news for next week. I love you guys and pray for you always! Thanks for the love and support! I can't wait to talk to you again.
Love, Alex (Elder Craft)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Closing Down Kasson . . . On to Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park
Crafts,
Man that was so sweet yesterday!! I was a little frustrated that the camera I was on wouldn't work that well, but it wasn't exactly the nicest camera either. At least I got to use one though and see everyone. I was very grateful for that!! Maybe someday we can Skype each week Mom but I wouldn't get your hopes up haha.
Well today has been a crazy pouring thunderstorm all morning! It's pretty intense! What did I tell you about the weather yesterday Kat? haha The curse lives on. But like I said yesterday it was transfer calls this morning. Despite what I thought and said yesterday about this area apparently the Lord has other plans for it. Elder Judkins and I are both leaving. They're pulling missionaries out of Kasson for probably 9 months to a year is what President Howell said, but it won't be his decision by that time anyway. We were both kind of sad because we've been trying so hard and the members are working to really try and build the kingdom in that area too. President Howell told us that we were doing amazing things and was really proud of what we had accomplished there. It just happens to smaller areas sometimes. We'll have to see what happens in that area over the remainder of my mission and see if they do open it back up. We are sad that we can't teach Eddy anymore or some of the potential investigators that we had been working with. Oh well like I said it's in the Lord's hands and he will provide a way for them to receive and accept the gospel into their lives. Now comes the fun part over the next couple days of not only packing up our luggage but cleaning out the whole apartment. They're going to be taking our supplies and stuff to the a new area in the Rochester Zone that they're opening called Preston. That area will probably get our car too. In case you hadn't guessed unfortunately Elder Judkins and I are not staying together for this next transfer. That makes 5 new companions for 5 transfers for me. We'll see if this next companion is from Utah too. haha Remember how we actually joked about me going to a bike area for the summer? Well that's exactly what happened! I'm headed up to the North Shingle Creek Ward. That's where Elder Katoa came to Menomonie from. It's North Minneapolis and the area covers the large cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park. So I'll be right next to downtown and everyone knows this area in the mission as "The Hood" haha. So it's a good thing I grew up in the metropolis of Hooper, Utah. I should fit right in ;). I'm excited though. I've been there once for a baptism that Elder Katoa had us go back to of a guy that he was teaching, so I've met some of the members there too. It should be really good. My companions name is Elder Hatch who's been out 3 months and has been trained that whole time in Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park. As for Elder Judkins he's staying down in Southern Minnesota. His new area is Albert Lea and should be really good for him. He's a good missionary that I'm glad I was able to serve with and tell stories about our high school soccer games too haha.
Sorry there's not much else to write. Thanks for the love support and prayers from you guys though. It's helped me out a lot! I really loved being able to just see all you and talk to you yesterday. I'm glad that I can keep you informed enough that not everyone had to ask a ton of questions. I'm going to try and attach some pictures and get some other ones sent, Natalie haha. I hope everyone's doing well still from yesterday. I can't wait to hear from you guys again.
Love, Elder Alexander James Craft
Monday, April 4, 2011
Conference Weekend!
Hello Craft Family,
I would have to agree with all of you that Conference was just incredible!! We got to watch all 5 sessions! We had to go to Rochester to do it at the Stake Center there because the Kasson Building doesn't have a satellite. I think I'm with Mom on what she said, "not being able to pick one favorite because they were all so good". I really liked The underlying theme of serving one another and healing that can come through the Savior's Atonement. It's so true! One thing we always try to share with people as missionaries and something my testimony's gotten even stronger of is the redemptive love and compassion that the Savior has for all of us. His arms are always outstretched reaching for us, calling us to Him. We just have to be the ones to see the path that leads up there. I wish we could just convey that to everyone and let them see how true it is! Elder Judkins and I were talking about how we just can't wait for the next session! I was so disappointed when it was over and kept thinking about how many notes I took and how much more I learned from this session than any other in my life, and how much faster each 2 hour session seemed to go by. I was thinking, "Man this General Conference is great! The best one I've ever watched". Then I realized that this was probably to first Conference of my life that I'd been conscious and paying attention to all the talks in each session. haha
It's a good lesson learned that I should have paid closer attention to Conference at home. The funny thing for us was not only that it started at 11, which was really weird to think about, but that for the Saturday Sessions we heard the speakers talk about the beautiful spring weather and the flowers. We just sat here think about how the snow's just barely all leaving and how brown and dead everything here is. It made Utah really seem like the promised land and Zion I tell everyone here that it is. Then we got to see the shots of Temple Square and the Conference Center for yesterdays sessions with a couple inches of snow outside!! I pointed that out to Elder Judkins and said, "now that's the Utah we know and love". haha That's so crazy! Even though that is a pretty bad deal for you I can't say that I'm really feeling too bad haha.
You might have already guessed it just for what I've said about us both loving Utah but yep this is 4/4 on companions form Utah. The craziest part though is that Elder Jake Judkins might be in a picture at our house!! He grew up in South Weber and played defense on Northridge's soccer team for 3 years of high school! Right when we picked him up for transfers Wednesday he asked me if I played any sports because I looked really familiar. Once I told him he said, "Oh yeah! I thought I recognized you. You were the one who always wore that pink hair band around your head". I kinda remembered him too and it's still crazy to me that a year ago we were playing against each other and now we're surving together not only in the same mission but in the same area as companions! I think people underestimate the intensity of that when we tell the members here. Do me a favor and look to see in my pictures from soccer that Mike Russell took and see if there's any with me and #25 on Northridge. That's Elder Judkins. If there are it'd be great if you could send me a copy too. I'm so excited for this transfer. We get along really really well and work well together. He's really motivated too. Since we've both been out almost the same amount of time too it makes it really cool to talk about things we've learned so far and trying to learn and grow together in the things we do everyday. Plus, we can talk about soccer and other kids I played with that he also was on the same team as and knows. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
I hope that you guys don't think that I don't want you to make your emails long because I won't have time to read them. I love long emails (and letters for anyone feeling diligent enough to write me haha). Don't feel bad if your emails are long. It just forces me to get better at my typing. If I don't have time to read it and respond I'll just print it off and write you back. But here's some responses to you guys that had time this week:
Dad and Mom- Sadly Eddy didn't watch conference, but hopefully I can update you on him next week. Was that who I thought it was named to the First Quorum of the Seventy Saturday afternoon? Carl B. Cook? Was that your guys old bishop from Riverdale that I met? I thought that was his name and that it looked like him. I feel bad about Ashley too like Sidne. I write everyone back as soon as I can. Writing only on P-days makes it hard, but I try to respond to everyone within a month at the latest. I wrote her back back in January and didn't get anything back until couple weeks ago. She said she'd written back to my one in Jan. but I guess I never got it. I responded to her last week so tell her that I hope she gets it soon. I guess this was kinda for Camie too haha.
Grandma Craft- Thank you so much for the email! Like I talked about I loved Confernce too! I'm right with you and very thankful as well that we get to hear the words of the prophets. I hope you get to find a temple group again too. I'm hoping to make it to the temple for myself soon. Especially after President Monson's talk.
Camie- I kinda wrote what I was going to say to you with Mom and Dad, but I have a random question too: when's Brock's birthday? I think I know everyone's but his. Haha I think it's in June maybe? Sorry I was just curious to know.
Well I hope all is well and everyone else I didn't get a chance to talk to is doing great! I love you and miss you all! I'm always praying and thinking about you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Love, Alex
I would have to agree with all of you that Conference was just incredible!! We got to watch all 5 sessions! We had to go to Rochester to do it at the Stake Center there because the Kasson Building doesn't have a satellite. I think I'm with Mom on what she said, "not being able to pick one favorite because they were all so good". I really liked The underlying theme of serving one another and healing that can come through the Savior's Atonement. It's so true! One thing we always try to share with people as missionaries and something my testimony's gotten even stronger of is the redemptive love and compassion that the Savior has for all of us. His arms are always outstretched reaching for us, calling us to Him. We just have to be the ones to see the path that leads up there. I wish we could just convey that to everyone and let them see how true it is! Elder Judkins and I were talking about how we just can't wait for the next session! I was so disappointed when it was over and kept thinking about how many notes I took and how much more I learned from this session than any other in my life, and how much faster each 2 hour session seemed to go by. I was thinking, "Man this General Conference is great! The best one I've ever watched". Then I realized that this was probably to first Conference of my life that I'd been conscious and paying attention to all the talks in each session. haha
It's a good lesson learned that I should have paid closer attention to Conference at home. The funny thing for us was not only that it started at 11, which was really weird to think about, but that for the Saturday Sessions we heard the speakers talk about the beautiful spring weather and the flowers. We just sat here think about how the snow's just barely all leaving and how brown and dead everything here is. It made Utah really seem like the promised land and Zion I tell everyone here that it is. Then we got to see the shots of Temple Square and the Conference Center for yesterdays sessions with a couple inches of snow outside!! I pointed that out to Elder Judkins and said, "now that's the Utah we know and love". haha That's so crazy! Even though that is a pretty bad deal for you I can't say that I'm really feeling too bad haha.
You might have already guessed it just for what I've said about us both loving Utah but yep this is 4/4 on companions form Utah. The craziest part though is that Elder Jake Judkins might be in a picture at our house!! He grew up in South Weber and played defense on Northridge's soccer team for 3 years of high school! Right when we picked him up for transfers Wednesday he asked me if I played any sports because I looked really familiar. Once I told him he said, "Oh yeah! I thought I recognized you. You were the one who always wore that pink hair band around your head". I kinda remembered him too and it's still crazy to me that a year ago we were playing against each other and now we're surving together not only in the same mission but in the same area as companions! I think people underestimate the intensity of that when we tell the members here. Do me a favor and look to see in my pictures from soccer that Mike Russell took and see if there's any with me and #25 on Northridge. That's Elder Judkins. If there are it'd be great if you could send me a copy too. I'm so excited for this transfer. We get along really really well and work well together. He's really motivated too. Since we've both been out almost the same amount of time too it makes it really cool to talk about things we've learned so far and trying to learn and grow together in the things we do everyday. Plus, we can talk about soccer and other kids I played with that he also was on the same team as and knows. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
I hope that you guys don't think that I don't want you to make your emails long because I won't have time to read them. I love long emails (and letters for anyone feeling diligent enough to write me haha). Don't feel bad if your emails are long. It just forces me to get better at my typing. If I don't have time to read it and respond I'll just print it off and write you back. But here's some responses to you guys that had time this week:
Dad and Mom- Sadly Eddy didn't watch conference, but hopefully I can update you on him next week. Was that who I thought it was named to the First Quorum of the Seventy Saturday afternoon? Carl B. Cook? Was that your guys old bishop from Riverdale that I met? I thought that was his name and that it looked like him. I feel bad about Ashley too like Sidne. I write everyone back as soon as I can. Writing only on P-days makes it hard, but I try to respond to everyone within a month at the latest. I wrote her back back in January and didn't get anything back until couple weeks ago. She said she'd written back to my one in Jan. but I guess I never got it. I responded to her last week so tell her that I hope she gets it soon. I guess this was kinda for Camie too haha.
Grandma Craft- Thank you so much for the email! Like I talked about I loved Confernce too! I'm right with you and very thankful as well that we get to hear the words of the prophets. I hope you get to find a temple group again too. I'm hoping to make it to the temple for myself soon. Especially after President Monson's talk.
Camie- I kinda wrote what I was going to say to you with Mom and Dad, but I have a random question too: when's Brock's birthday? I think I know everyone's but his. Haha I think it's in June maybe? Sorry I was just curious to know.
Well I hope all is well and everyone else I didn't get a chance to talk to is doing great! I love you and miss you all! I'm always praying and thinking about you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Love, Alex
Monday, March 28, 2011
New Companion. Again.
Hey Crafts,
Well like I said before it was transfer calls today and all I've heard about the past little while is Elder Russell's idea and feeling that he's leaving. He even got up in testimony meeting yesterday and told everyone it was transfers and he had a feeling he was going to leave and wanted to say thank you and good bye to everyone. Luckily to save his embarrassment he was right. We got the call about 9 this morning that Elder Russell's headed to Shore View. It's kind of North St. Paul area I guess and he'll be with a really good missionary Elder Ronstrom. He's one of the few missionaries that I know and he came out here from Sweden. As fro me well obviously I'm staying here in Kasson and my new companion is coming down from Buffalo. Where ever that is. President Howell told me that he came out 2 transfers ago, so he just finished his 12 weeks of being trained. I'm suppose to "make sure he's doing everything right like he should be" in the words of President Howell. I'm suppose to reiterate the training. It's going to be interesting to see how it goes because we are both young in the mission, but I'm really excited! I'm sticking with my pattern so far though of only having companions 1 transfer which is kinda weird.
Sorry about the confusion with Eddy our investigator coming to church. He did have his schedule change 3 weeks ago so that he could amazingly enough make it to church. However, his cousin went into labor that morning and he had to watch her other kids. He told us when he said he was coming to church that he wanted to make sure and take advantage of that weekend he had off because his boss said it was going to be 7 days/week for awhile on their schedules. That's why I said I was going to have to pray and fast for a miracle for him. Then this last week when we saw him he started talking about coming to church yesterday because they were having the weekend off to get some new things installed at work. So he committed and was excited to come, but wouldn't you know it he had to drive up to Lake City to get his step-daughter from her grandparents and wasn't able to make it. We'll just have to keep trying and praying so that hopefully he can make it with us to conference this weekend. I'm pretty excited about conference. We're working hard to get a few investigators to come. I know we got to the priesthood session for sure here at the Rochester Stake Center, and I think we get to go there for all the other sessions too. Basically everyone calls Conference the "Super Bowl for Missionaries". So it should be pretty cool. Disappointing that we won't be going for ice cream or Artic Circle after, but still pretty good. ;)
I got your letter Dad about President Howell finishing his mission. I was actually going to mention to you and Mom that when he does go home you guys should go to his homecoming. haha That'd be pretty cool. I forgot to tell you guys when I talked about Zone Conference that President Howell had actually talked to us all about the new President. His name's president Clemens and he lives in Utah somewhere with his family. I guess he and his wife are from San Fransisco, so maybe you can look him up and see what else there is interesting to know about him. It's is weird to think about changing mission presidents and all, but it's like President Howell and I had talked about in one of my interviews. He said that President Clemens could be way better than he ever was and do things that I like way more, I told him i highly doubt that, but we just won't know until he gets here. I do agree that it can be a good chance to try and get to know him and "help me grow" like I think this whole last transfer helped me to do. haha
This last weekend they had the Dodge County Expo at the high school in Dodge Center, and because this area covers basically all of Dodge County we had a booth in it. We'd been preparing and getting supplies this last week for it. We had to set up on Friday night and the event was from 8-2 on Saturday. It went really well and was a really good way for us to get our name out there and talk to people. We talked to and handed pass-along cards to something like 120+ people. We didn't see any immediate success from it like Elder Russell had somehow expected, but I thought it was a great opportunity and thing to be apart of. It was funny to talk to the people that were like, "I talked to you guys on my porch last week" or "were you the same guys knocking on my door?" haha The branch members that were there helping to man it thought those conversations and people were kinda funny too. haha It made me think about how much fun the fair has to be for you each year Mom when you'd have the booths you'd have to sit at. It made me appreciate how hard I know you had to work at that and to do it for a few days because we were pretty tired after the 7 hours wer spent there.
Well that's about it for the updates here from the good old Kasson kingdom. haha Basically I don't have much for everyone individually except Camie and Brock. I 'm glad that you got my package and that you like it. I'm assuming that they fit pretty good(?). That's funny about Brandt that everyone's comparing him to me I guess. Not so much funny the names or titles he's been given because I know what that's like, but if he really is like me you can assure him it's all worth it in the end. After he put up with all the crap for a few years he can be able to say he's part of an elite group in our family that not many are apart of. It's called the "6 foot and Up Club". So everyone might make fun of him or ridicule him for not liking shots now, but we'll just wait and see what they have to say when he's taller than them! ;)
I hope everyone else is doing good with their jobs, school, and whatever else there might be. I'm always praying for you guys and all your needs. I love and miss you very much and look forward to talking to you again soon!
Love, Alex
Well like I said before it was transfer calls today and all I've heard about the past little while is Elder Russell's idea and feeling that he's leaving. He even got up in testimony meeting yesterday and told everyone it was transfers and he had a feeling he was going to leave and wanted to say thank you and good bye to everyone. Luckily to save his embarrassment he was right. We got the call about 9 this morning that Elder Russell's headed to Shore View. It's kind of North St. Paul area I guess and he'll be with a really good missionary Elder Ronstrom. He's one of the few missionaries that I know and he came out here from Sweden. As fro me well obviously I'm staying here in Kasson and my new companion is coming down from Buffalo. Where ever that is. President Howell told me that he came out 2 transfers ago, so he just finished his 12 weeks of being trained. I'm suppose to "make sure he's doing everything right like he should be" in the words of President Howell. I'm suppose to reiterate the training. It's going to be interesting to see how it goes because we are both young in the mission, but I'm really excited! I'm sticking with my pattern so far though of only having companions 1 transfer which is kinda weird.
Sorry about the confusion with Eddy our investigator coming to church. He did have his schedule change 3 weeks ago so that he could amazingly enough make it to church. However, his cousin went into labor that morning and he had to watch her other kids. He told us when he said he was coming to church that he wanted to make sure and take advantage of that weekend he had off because his boss said it was going to be 7 days/week for awhile on their schedules. That's why I said I was going to have to pray and fast for a miracle for him. Then this last week when we saw him he started talking about coming to church yesterday because they were having the weekend off to get some new things installed at work. So he committed and was excited to come, but wouldn't you know it he had to drive up to Lake City to get his step-daughter from her grandparents and wasn't able to make it. We'll just have to keep trying and praying so that hopefully he can make it with us to conference this weekend. I'm pretty excited about conference. We're working hard to get a few investigators to come. I know we got to the priesthood session for sure here at the Rochester Stake Center, and I think we get to go there for all the other sessions too. Basically everyone calls Conference the "Super Bowl for Missionaries". So it should be pretty cool. Disappointing that we won't be going for ice cream or Artic Circle after, but still pretty good. ;)
I got your letter Dad about President Howell finishing his mission. I was actually going to mention to you and Mom that when he does go home you guys should go to his homecoming. haha That'd be pretty cool. I forgot to tell you guys when I talked about Zone Conference that President Howell had actually talked to us all about the new President. His name's president Clemens and he lives in Utah somewhere with his family. I guess he and his wife are from San Fransisco, so maybe you can look him up and see what else there is interesting to know about him. It's is weird to think about changing mission presidents and all, but it's like President Howell and I had talked about in one of my interviews. He said that President Clemens could be way better than he ever was and do things that I like way more, I told him i highly doubt that, but we just won't know until he gets here. I do agree that it can be a good chance to try and get to know him and "help me grow" like I think this whole last transfer helped me to do. haha
This last weekend they had the Dodge County Expo at the high school in Dodge Center, and because this area covers basically all of Dodge County we had a booth in it. We'd been preparing and getting supplies this last week for it. We had to set up on Friday night and the event was from 8-2 on Saturday. It went really well and was a really good way for us to get our name out there and talk to people. We talked to and handed pass-along cards to something like 120+ people. We didn't see any immediate success from it like Elder Russell had somehow expected, but I thought it was a great opportunity and thing to be apart of. It was funny to talk to the people that were like, "I talked to you guys on my porch last week" or "were you the same guys knocking on my door?" haha The branch members that were there helping to man it thought those conversations and people were kinda funny too. haha It made me think about how much fun the fair has to be for you each year Mom when you'd have the booths you'd have to sit at. It made me appreciate how hard I know you had to work at that and to do it for a few days because we were pretty tired after the 7 hours wer spent there.
Well that's about it for the updates here from the good old Kasson kingdom. haha Basically I don't have much for everyone individually except Camie and Brock. I 'm glad that you got my package and that you like it. I'm assuming that they fit pretty good(?). That's funny about Brandt that everyone's comparing him to me I guess. Not so much funny the names or titles he's been given because I know what that's like, but if he really is like me you can assure him it's all worth it in the end. After he put up with all the crap for a few years he can be able to say he's part of an elite group in our family that not many are apart of. It's called the "6 foot and Up Club". So everyone might make fun of him or ridicule him for not liking shots now, but we'll just wait and see what they have to say when he's taller than them! ;)
I hope everyone else is doing good with their jobs, school, and whatever else there might be. I'm always praying for you guys and all your needs. I love and miss you very much and look forward to talking to you again soon!
Love, Alex
Monday, March 21, 2011
Spring Thaw
Hey Crafts!
I do have a home now, so everything's going much better! haha We live back in Kasson right on Main St. in an apartment that Missionaries used to live in before they were taken out of this area. It's a pretty nice apartment. I' hoping the computer won't be stupid and I'll have enough time to send the pictures that I keep promising. One of the greatest blessings about having our new apartment is that I got my mail sent to me! I think it must have been a missionary record for mail because I got 11 letters and 1 package!! I was so happy!! Elder Russell not so much. haha I knew after that day that unlike Moroni "my kinsfolk had not forsaken me". Thank you so much for everyone that sent me stuff! I know I've said it before but it really does mean a lot to know that you guys are taking to time out of your busy schedules to remember me.
It sounds like we might have close to the same weather as Utah now. At least maybe we did for a few days. Most of this past week it was 40+ degrees! It was so nice! It was almost like everyone came out of hibernating too. Everyone and their dog (literally) were outside working or running, so as a result we were able to talk to a lot more people because we knew they were home. They were already outside so they couldn't hide behind the door. Sometimes I really can swear that we see people moving inside the houses we knock on, and as soon as we get there the people crouch down and hide behind the couch or something because then the house is silent and no one's moving around. haha I find it really funny.
So I don't know if I told you guys before, if I did that's too bad, but funny fact here about the Kasson Branch is that there are an average of 30-40 members. Which means that apparently we don't have enough people for all 3 hours of church. I only go to church here from 10-12. I just thought that was kinda different and funny. One of those random facts of Kasson I get to tell you guys all about.
I'm really happy to hear that Fremont's doing so good again! That's awesome! I really hope that they take it one step further than we did last year. BYU sounds like they're doing pretty well too. If there's one thing that we can relate to people with around here about the church it's BYU basketball. Especially when we're tracting and the only thing that people have heard about the LDS Church is that recent controversy of that player who's not on the team anymore. People seem to really respect that around here which is something that I find really good.
It's crazy to think that transfer calls are a week away from today! Elder Russell says he's pretty sure he's leaving, so we'll see who's prayers will be answered. ;) hahahaha jk It is going to be interesting though that's for sure.
Dad and Mom: Thanks for the letters. I'm hoping to write you back today. Thanks for getting that delivered to Keaton too. I had an interesting card delivered to our mailbox on Saturday. It was from Todd and Brent Zaugg addressed to an Elder N. Craft. hahah I just started laughing. I don't think he's had that title for awhile now.
Nick and Tati: I hope that you interview went well Nick and that you guys are doing great out there. One of the Sisters from my MTC district wrote me and told me that she went on exchanges in your guys' area and saw your names on the records, so that was kinda cool. She said she'll probably serve there because it is a Sisters area, I guess we'll find out.
Kat and Tommy Boy: Thank you so much for the package and all the "Tommy Tricep Treats" or whatever you called them. haha I was laughing pretty hard with that email and your stories from your mission. Speaking of which who was your mission president you were an assistant to when you were out there and the name of that island you served on? Was it President Miller? Because there's a member in the branch here that said he and his wife served in the Canada Halifax Mission and served on the island of Newfoundland I think (?). But he later went back and served as a counselor in the mission presidency, so when I told him about you he said that he would have been there with President Miller as President Baker the same time as you. So I was just curious if you could know him. I don't know how he'd forget someone like Tom "Lemon Fresh" Benincosa though. ;) haha
Camie and Brock: I hope you had a really good birthday and that you got the package that I sent you. If you really don't like it just send it back and I'll get something else for you.
Brady: Congrats on the goal man!! That's so sweet!! I had no idea that Clearfield could be THAT bad! ;) haha Really though that's way cool! Keep it up. I would tell you to keep up with Jex's favorite 3 letter acronym but it's not exactly missionary appropriate. haha
Natalie: I hope you're still doing good. I haven't heard from you in a little while little girl, so maybe if it's convenient for you and you're not too busy on my phone ;) you can write me a couple lines on here. I won't even make it have to be hand-written. haha
It sounds like everyone's doing great!! I'm so happy! I pray for you all each night and thank you so much for all your prayers. Your support helps me out tremendously. I love you all and miss you so much!
Love,
Your not so frozen Minnesota Missionary Popsicle Alex.
I do have a home now, so everything's going much better! haha We live back in Kasson right on Main St. in an apartment that Missionaries used to live in before they were taken out of this area. It's a pretty nice apartment. I' hoping the computer won't be stupid and I'll have enough time to send the pictures that I keep promising. One of the greatest blessings about having our new apartment is that I got my mail sent to me! I think it must have been a missionary record for mail because I got 11 letters and 1 package!! I was so happy!! Elder Russell not so much. haha I knew after that day that unlike Moroni "my kinsfolk had not forsaken me". Thank you so much for everyone that sent me stuff! I know I've said it before but it really does mean a lot to know that you guys are taking to time out of your busy schedules to remember me.
It sounds like we might have close to the same weather as Utah now. At least maybe we did for a few days. Most of this past week it was 40+ degrees! It was so nice! It was almost like everyone came out of hibernating too. Everyone and their dog (literally) were outside working or running, so as a result we were able to talk to a lot more people because we knew they were home. They were already outside so they couldn't hide behind the door. Sometimes I really can swear that we see people moving inside the houses we knock on, and as soon as we get there the people crouch down and hide behind the couch or something because then the house is silent and no one's moving around. haha I find it really funny.
So I don't know if I told you guys before, if I did that's too bad, but funny fact here about the Kasson Branch is that there are an average of 30-40 members. Which means that apparently we don't have enough people for all 3 hours of church. I only go to church here from 10-12. I just thought that was kinda different and funny. One of those random facts of Kasson I get to tell you guys all about.
I'm really happy to hear that Fremont's doing so good again! That's awesome! I really hope that they take it one step further than we did last year. BYU sounds like they're doing pretty well too. If there's one thing that we can relate to people with around here about the church it's BYU basketball. Especially when we're tracting and the only thing that people have heard about the LDS Church is that recent controversy of that player who's not on the team anymore. People seem to really respect that around here which is something that I find really good.
It's crazy to think that transfer calls are a week away from today! Elder Russell says he's pretty sure he's leaving, so we'll see who's prayers will be answered. ;) hahahaha jk It is going to be interesting though that's for sure.
Dad and Mom: Thanks for the letters. I'm hoping to write you back today. Thanks for getting that delivered to Keaton too. I had an interesting card delivered to our mailbox on Saturday. It was from Todd and Brent Zaugg addressed to an Elder N. Craft. hahah I just started laughing. I don't think he's had that title for awhile now.
Nick and Tati: I hope that you interview went well Nick and that you guys are doing great out there. One of the Sisters from my MTC district wrote me and told me that she went on exchanges in your guys' area and saw your names on the records, so that was kinda cool. She said she'll probably serve there because it is a Sisters area, I guess we'll find out.
Kat and Tommy Boy: Thank you so much for the package and all the "Tommy Tricep Treats" or whatever you called them. haha I was laughing pretty hard with that email and your stories from your mission. Speaking of which who was your mission president you were an assistant to when you were out there and the name of that island you served on? Was it President Miller? Because there's a member in the branch here that said he and his wife served in the Canada Halifax Mission and served on the island of Newfoundland I think (?). But he later went back and served as a counselor in the mission presidency, so when I told him about you he said that he would have been there with President Miller as President Baker the same time as you. So I was just curious if you could know him. I don't know how he'd forget someone like Tom "Lemon Fresh" Benincosa though. ;) haha
Camie and Brock: I hope you had a really good birthday and that you got the package that I sent you. If you really don't like it just send it back and I'll get something else for you.
Brady: Congrats on the goal man!! That's so sweet!! I had no idea that Clearfield could be THAT bad! ;) haha Really though that's way cool! Keep it up. I would tell you to keep up with Jex's favorite 3 letter acronym but it's not exactly missionary appropriate. haha
Natalie: I hope you're still doing good. I haven't heard from you in a little while little girl, so maybe if it's convenient for you and you're not too busy on my phone ;) you can write me a couple lines on here. I won't even make it have to be hand-written. haha
It sounds like everyone's doing great!! I'm so happy! I pray for you all each night and thank you so much for all your prayers. Your support helps me out tremendously. I love you all and miss you so much!
Love,
Your not so frozen Minnesota Missionary Popsicle Alex.
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