Cheetah print and Houston

MI FAMILIA!!!!! HOLA HOLA!!!

 

Wow this week is umm... WOW! So many things to say..  This week was a very amazing week. We have been working soo soo hard. We are working with a lot of investigators right now which is awesome!

 

This week we met with la familia Moreno (aka Mormon.org) every time we see them I get so happy I just want to jump up and scream! This family is special! They are reading the Book of Mormon everyday as a family and praying together as well. We taught them the Gospel lesson and during the WHOLE lesson I just kept thinking "invite them to be baptized, invite them to be baptized" so at the end of the lesson I'm getting ready to invite them... and my heart just sank. I felt like I needed to ask them if they knew that this church was true and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. They all said "yes". They had prayed about it and they know it is true. I'm so excited for them. We are hoping to extend a baptism date this week!!!! ahh so exciting!

Valentine and Christina... where do I even begin with these people... they are the best example that this gospel changes people lives. They are so happy and LOVE the Book of Mormon. Christina and Valentine don't consider themselves investigators anymore.. she always says I'm not investigating... I'm WAITING.. Yes, she is waiting... for her divorce to go through so her and Valentine can get married. They are so funny!! We see them like 4 times a week because they want to learn more.. on Wednesday Christina sat us down and ask me, ok Hermana Crandall what do I need to know about polygamy? People are going to ask me about it and I need to know what happened so I can tell them and then teach them about the Gospel! I started laughing because she wants to know EVERYTHING so we talked about polygamy. After she was like seriously??? What man WANTS more than 1 wife.... woman are crazy!!  The only reason they would do it is if God commanded them. Super funny.. we love them. She told me when I go home her and Valentine are going to move to Utah.

 

We have done a TON of walking and contacting. I LOVE KNOCKING and CONTACTING. The Lord has put some amazing people in our paths this week.

1.) Christean a 20  year old who loves football and basketball. He is going to Sam Houston University. One day we thought we would go see Eddie.. we don't see him very often because he won't keep his commitments..... anyways that's a whole different story. So we were like ok lets just stop by and see how Eddie is doing.. well when we got there Eddie was outside talking to Christean. So we started talking to both of them. We told him about the Book of Mormon and a little preview of what we do as missionaries. He was LOVING IT!!! I asked him if he would ever want to go to the singles ward and he said yes. So then I asked him if he would ever read the Book of Mormon and he said yes. So by the end of the lesson he had a Book of Mormon, our phone number, and information about the singles ward. As we left he said I'm so happy I met you sisters..... yes that simple phrase made my entire week!

 

2.) We met this guy Michael, he is 26 and has a really hard life. We were walking in this Apartment complex and I saw him in the very back just sitting down so I thought what the heck lets go talk to this guy. So we started talking to him being friends and he told us his entire life story. By the end of the story I just wanted to hug him and tell him that everything was going to be ok..... but I can't hug people.. (well besides the old guys that randomly hug me) but I started talking about the Plan of Salvation and how God has a plan for all of us. He immediately looked at me and just started agreeing we told him about the Book of Mormon and he accepted it and started reading it right then and there! We gave him our number and as we were leaving he ask me if he could call us when he was depressed.. and I turned around and said MICHAEL IF YOU DON'T CALL US WHEN YOUR SAD..... We are not  true friends! He just laughed and said ok.
Man I didn't think I would truly love someone so fast! Michael speaks English so we can't teach him but I know that the Lord led us to him. We gave his info to the English Elders so I hope they can teach him!

 

3.) We have been working this this trailer park for a while now. We walk around, teach our investigators and so on so forth. Well Thursday night after English class we didn't have a set appointment but we still had time before it was time to go home for the night. So Hermana Auten and I agreed to go to this trailer park and see if we could get an appointment with Francisco (who we haven't seen for a week :( ) so we parked and as we parked we see this guy RUN grab his shoes and run towards us. At first I was like shoot where is my pepper spray when I need it! But then he was like I have been waiting for you girls. I was like Really? Can we help you with something. and he was like yeah. i see you guys walk around and talk with people everyday. What are you talking about? My face probably started to beam and I told him "somos missioniars de La Iglesia De Jesucristo De los Santos De los Ultimos Dias. "We help peoples faith in Jesucristo grow", He told us about his life and how he didn't really have a religion. We talked about The Book of Mormon and asked him if he would read it....he agreed, we talked to him for an hour or more about what we do as missionary's and our beliefs. He told us he notices how diligent we were to working everyday no matter how hot or rainy it was. He knew that we were doing something important.

 

I know that the Lord is using us as his tools. I'm so happy for the miracles I saw this week. My testimony of this work grows every second of everyday! I'm so happy to be apart of it!

i hope you all have a wonderful week! Look for people to share the gospel with!

TEXAS FOREVER!!

                           Hermana Crandall

 

A week of Miracles!

Hello hello!!

 What a crazy week it has been!! I don't really know where to begin, Hermana Rife left me. it was so sad! I'm still sad.. its been a rough week for me!  Its hard to say goodbye to someone you were with 24/7 for the last 12 weeks.

I guess everything good has to come to an end right? :)

I got a new companion Hermana Auten. She is from L.A., she is really nice but super quiet so that's kinda a struggle. I'm super excited to serve with her!

 

This week we had so many miracles!!!

We are teaching this family Maria and Felipe. They are the best EVER! seriously, I love them. They are progressing really well and they are loving the Book of Mormon and are studying the pamphlets that we use from our lessons. On Friday night we taught them about Plan of Salvation and you could see the light go on in their eyes. it made complete sense to them. We extended a soft baptismal date and they accepted. Our ward mission leader has been coming to our appointments with them and they love him. MEMBER PRESENTS ARE THE BOMB!

 

We have been teaching Valentine for about 1 month. His girl friend Christina is being taught by the English elders. so we are both teaching them right now. At first I didn't have any hope for Valentine. We felt like he wasn't listening to us at all. He does not like to be told what to do. :)  But this week we made some progress. We went to say goodbye to him and Christina and taught a lesson about obedience. I think he could understand a little bit more and then on Saturday we watched the restoration DVD. He loved it! He would not stop saying. " ayyy jose smith vio a dios y jesucristo. muy muy bontia!!"  I think something clicked in his little brain. It was really awesome then him and Christina came to church yesterday.. which that's a whole different story!!!

 

We had a baptism for Cassie Casco yesterday, it was so beautiful! Valentine and Christina were able to come with us! After the baptism I asked Valentine if he wanted to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He said, yes!!!!!!! so we are hoping to get him and Christina married so they both can get baptized!!

 

So about church....We got to church and our investigator Daniel came. He is so ready to be baptized but is NEVER home for us to teach him. This family we have been working with came to church as a family yesterday!! They have been members for 4 years but inactive for 3 1/2 years... I seriously about fell over when I saw them come into church!!!! My heart was so happy!! They have 2 kids who aren't baptized but are eligible so we are working with them!! I feel like Re-activation's are JUST as good as baptisms!! I'm  really excited for them to come to church! VALENTINE and CHRISTINA came to church as well!! Valentine enjoy meeting the members. He has a lot of questions about the church and Catholic church that we can't really answer, but there is a Hermano in the ward who use to be Catholic who is going to help us explain some things!!!

Yesterday was a really good day!! :)

 

My Spanish has improved SOO much this week.. I think it is because my companion is very shy so I do ALL the talking and teaching! Lucky me right?? I knew alot more than I thought I did that's for sure! The gift of tongues is REAL peeps!!

We have 3 new Hermana's in our Ward and only me and Elder Barney have been here for more than one transfer. ahh..... SO stressful! I took over my area and now have help the other Hermana's know what to do as they are all new. I have felt a bit over whelmed but I know that I am being helped!

 

I love you all so much! I can't even believe how fast this summer is going!! honestly! I'm super excited for this transfer. I know it is going to be SUPER difficult but I'm excited to learn so much and be molded. I'm really trying to have companionship unity but it is really hard when the other one is very shut off.  But, just like in the Book of Mormon I have seen God make weak things strong. These people that I am serving and meeting are so amazing and I can truly say that I love them all. I have been working so hard to be exactly obedient so that we can have miracles happen. If I'm not completely emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausted by the end of the day, I know I didn't give my all.

Thank you for all your love and prayers it really means the world to me!

HUNTIE!!!!!! I SENT YOU A LETTER LAST WEEK.... A REAL HAND WRITTEN LETTER!!!!! TELL ME WHEN YOU GET IT!!

I hope you all have a fun 24th of July! I'll be thinking of Utah that day For SURE!

 

Les Quiero!

Hermana Crandall

This is Isabel....the Elders made her for us so we would never forget them! :)

TEXAS FOREVER! 

 

Hey, Hey!

Hi FAMILY!!!!!

I can't believe it's already time to email again! This week went super fast!! Today is the first day of our new transfer! So there is a possibility I could be transferred or Hermana Rife could be transferred.... Anyway you look at it, I'm scared to death!

This week was a really good week! We were able to see alot of our investigators and contact some new people!

We met this man named Lazaro a few weeks ago. He is 70+ and his wife passed away in February. I LOVE LAZARO. He isn't a member of the church but you can tell he is one of the most humble, honest men out there. He has some amazing stories. A few years ago he was given a Book of Mormon so he kinda new about our church. He actually has visited Salt Lake City and Temple Square. This week while we were talking to him, he told us a story that really changed my out look on life.

 He told us back in the 40's and 50's hobos would come to his house and ask for water. Back then, once a week someone would come around and fill their barrels with water. His grandma always told him never to deny someone water. He told us that water is the main thing we need to live on. He said that water is Jesus Christ and that he never denied anyone to come to Him. He healed people with water, His disciples washed His feet with water, He was baptized by water and all these other things. I loved how he related it back to Jesus Christ.

He also said that his goal in life was to be a good son, brother, husband, coworker, friend, neighbor, father, cousin, uncle, and grandfather. I realized that I want to strive to be a good person to everyone. Lazaro's moto in life was "if you don't need, it give it." Lazaro is my hero. I love this man, I wish all of you at home could meet him!!! Him and his wife were married for 47 years!! He loved her so much and every time he talks about her he cries. I was in tears as he was telling us about his life with her! I know that she is going to be a huge part of converting him! The people on the other side of the veil are working so much harder then we are to get there friends and family baptized!

I'm so happy to teach and talk with Lazaro, we are teaching him and he is teaching us so much!

 

 Our Mormon.org family is doing sooo good!! Well kinda.... they haven't been back to church because Jeus works on Sunday's but they are reading the Book of Mormon everyday and praying as a family! You can see the change! The family is just about to finish Alma and the 13 year old son Juan is in 3rd Nephi! Juan is a spacial boy! He already knows that the book is true and he told us it is changing his life! This family is so strong but Satan is working super hard with them! We are just trying to have faith and encourage them as much as possible! I know that everything will work out!

 

This week I finished the Book of Mormon for the 2nd time on my mission! it's crazy how the themes change as you read it over and over. This time the theme was FAITH. I learned so much about faith while reading the Book of Mormon last transfer! Ether 12 is my favorite by far!! My testimony grows everyday when I read the book of Mormon!! I love this book! I know that it is the words of God! We need to share this book with the world! its a book of miracles and of power! its the keystone to our church! as I was about to finish 2 verses stood out to me!! Moroni 10: 32-33  

 

 31 And ^aawake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of ^bZion; and ^cstrengthen thy ^dstakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest ^eno more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.

 32 Yea, ^acome unto Christ, and be ^bperfected in him, and ^cdeny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and ^dloveGod with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be ^eperfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

 

I thought about how I need to AWAKE AND ARISE and put on my tag every morning and strengthen the ward and area of Tomball. I want to be perfected in Christ and love God with everything that I have, and serve him with all my might mind and strength. I am so grateful for the prophets in the Book of Mormon and the faith and diligence they had. Even though Nephi saw his people be destroyed he still wrote down everything, with all trails and hardships they went through the endured and made this book possible for us to read!

 

34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to ^arest in the ^bparadise of God, until my ^cspirit and body shall again ^dreunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the ^eair, to meet you before the ^fpleasing bar of the great ^gJehovah, the Eternal ^hJudge of both quick and dead. Amen.

I can't wait for  the day that I might meet the prophets of the Book of Mormon and thank them for their diligence and love for God! because of them my life has changed for the better.

 

I hope you all have a great week!

Les Quiero!!

Hermana Crandall

PS. Yesterday after church we had a hurricane!! ok its wasn't a hurricane but CLOSE! haha it rained so hard! we were soo wet by the time we go to the car . it was super fun because the rain is warm.. so we played in the rain for a bit ;)

It was definitely a Hurricane!! :)

It KNOWS how to rain in Houston!!

For Clayci rabbit!

Naysel & Cassie Casco

Hello...Hola!

Hello Hello My Dearest Family!!

This week has been AMAZING! So much has happened.

First off..... Last Monday we went to the city! It was so fun to see a different part of Houston. Hermana Rife, Hermana Gutierrez and Hermana Zebriskie and 5 elders that are in the area all went to The Houston Museum! It was really fun to just walk around and have a little fun!! After that we went downtown and walked around this park. I think I forgot how much I love the city. I love being out in the country but I LOVE THE CITY!!! It was nice because it wasn't to hot that day so we were able to walk around and enjoy the nice weather!!! 

  On our way back from the city we were heading to a member house and we were driving down the street and Hermana Rife and I looked over at the same time and saw this guy beating this girl. She was on the ground and he kept hitting and kicking her as hard as possible. We called 911 and reported what was happening. We pulled off the side of the road and we got out of the car and told this guy what was happening. After everything was settled down we started sharing our purpose as missionaries with this guy, we gave him all the information about the church and our phone number. He seemed Super interested!! It was a little miracle that came out of that situation!!

This week we had Paola Casco with us, it was so much fun! She is going to be an amazing Missionary when she can go! she helped me alot with my Spanish and gave me alot of confidence in myself. I know that God places people in our life's for a reason. I think her family was place in my life for a reason! They are so kind and welcoming! When ever I talk to them I feel like I'm talking to my own family.
We were able to contact alot of people with her. 

In our Area Book there was this guy Celestino.. he had been taking lessons from the missionaries for 6 years. Hermana Rife had meet him a few times. So we decided to go and see how he was doing. Well we get there and are just talking and he looks at me and says "practice on me" (my Spanish) so I tried to spit out the 5 questions that I  know.....then I just stopped and shared Mosiah 2:17 and just talked about Service. After I was done he looked at me and told me " DON'T FEAR GOD IS USING YOU AS HIS INSTRUMENT and DON'T BE AFRAID. YOU ARE TRYING YOUR BEST TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU. WHEN YOU SPEAK PEOPLE LISTEN TO YOU. DON'T HAVE FEAR." it was pretty intense but a huge answer to my prayers!

 One of our investigators who we haven't been able to get in with lets us in the other night. Hermana Rife entertained her CRAZY BUT CUTE kids while Paola and I taught her, Catalina was shocked that I could speak Spanish. I was shocked too! :) It was so awesome!!

 

THE 4TH OF JULY WAS THE BEST EVER!!!!!! Seriously that day we had an amazing Conference with President Pingree about Faith and that the opposite of Faith is Fear and Doubt. It was seriously so amazing to learn from him! If you guys get the chance, read the talk  Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Elder Kevin W. Pearson. Later we had weekly planning and we notice that there were a ton of people lined up and down the street by our house. so we grabbed tons of mormon.org cards and pass along cards and contacted all afternoon. We got some really awesome contacts and referrals for the English PEEPS! That night we had a fire in our fireplace and roasted hotdogs and smores and WE HAD THE BEST VIEW of the FIREWORKS. 

That night we pulled out our beds to the balcony and slept outside!! it was so fun!!

 

So Christina is this lady who is like SOOOO PREPARED!!! The English Elders are teaching her and we are teaching her boyfriend.. well we kinda teach Christina too!! I love her. she has had a REALLY hard life but she is so happy. She was having a really hard week so the English Elders and us  took her and Valentine to the Temple to see it. She had never seen it before. It was a powerful experience to witness someone see the temple for the first time. I will never forget that moment.

 

Well I better get going!! I hope you all have a great week!!

GOOD LUCK AT GIRLS CAMP MOM!!! I'll be praying for you!! thank thank thank thank so much for the 4th of July package! We LOVED IT! You guys are the best ever!!

 

ADIOS!

HERMANA CRANDALL

Cockroaches, car problems, and Hope!

FAMILY!!!!!

Hello hello!! Happy P-day to all of you!! :)

So today my email might be short sorry.. WE ARE GOING TO THE CITY TODAY!! I'm really excited, I haven't been yet.

 

Last week was a roller coaster!! I was feeling really good about my Spanish and thought that I might be able to speak it!! I have noticed that some days I understand and speak alot better then other days! But I'm learning to be patient. crazy right? me patient!

Anyways, one experience I had this week that was kinda crazy.. on Wednesday it was BLASTED hot.. like 113 and we walked pretty much all day. We were so tired.... our last appointment was at 8 and we were going to teach them the Restoration. So we go in and start talking to them (this day the Spanish wasn't so good) I was feeling really discouraged. its hard when you want to tell someone something so bad and you just can't.. anyways the lesson went on and I was sitting on the couch and I started to feel like there was something on my back. I ignored it.... then I was looking on the floor and in the kitchen and noticing TONS of cockroaches. I looked down at my legs and my feet were covered!! All I could do was just sit there and smile and talk about Joseph Smith!! So as I'm talking...... well trying..... I just couldn't hold my emotions together. So yes, I started crying right in the middle of the lesson. Between the bugs and not being able to communicate it made me so frustrated! When I started to cry the investigators actually started to listen to me. They said that they could tell that what I was trying to tell them was really important to me and so that made them want to listen to me. We don't know if they really would have listened to us if i hadn't started to cry. :) It was a really amazing experience.

 

Saturday we were contacting ALL day and we had some really awesome experiences and lessons. That night we were leaving an appointment and went to our car... WELL OUR CAR WAS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We both started freaking out and wondering if it got stolen.. right before the lesson my wallet was laying on the floor of the car and I got a feeling to just put it in my bag so I did..... GOOD THING! The couple over the mission cars called the towing place and sure enough our car was there. We had to find a ride home so we called like everyone in our ward. Our angel Hermana Reyes came and saved us. she couldn't come right away so we walked to HEB (grocery store) and did are nightly planning and passed out JesuCristo cards! :)

 

We have had some AMAZING lessons this week. Our investigators are all progressing so amazingly! Maria and Emily had to move back there baptism  because they couldn't come to  church yesterday! :( it was really sad but I know that everything happens for a reason. Heavenly Father is blessing our area so much right now and we are meeting new investigators everyday! 

 

This week I have been studying about HOPE and what it means to have hope. I LOVE Ether:12 4-6. In Preach my Gospel it has a bunch of Christlike attributes that we can work on! Everyone should really study those. I know it has helped me soooo MUCH!!!

 

A few fun things that are happening this week.... Hermana Rife and I live across the street were they shoot off fireworks for the 4th of July.. we will be camping out on our balcony..... we are going to the city today!! and Paola Casco my Instagram friend got approved to do a mini mission with us this week!! So she will live with us this week! yay!!

 

THANKKKKKKKK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WRITES ME!! I love reading your letters!! I promise I write you back ... sooon :) Brityn your family is adorable the letter max wrote me was so good!!! I UNDERSTOOD IT!!! and the picture is hanging up by my desk! Uncle Curt's family!!! Thanks for your letters! it sounds like you guys are doing great!! BROOKE COMSTOCK I WILL EMAIL YOU NEXT WEEEK  SORRY DON'T HAVE TIME THIS WEEK!!  and lastly THANK YOU HERITAGE WARD RS!!! THAT POSTER MADE ME CRY! I absolutely loved it!!

 

Thank you Heritage Ward R.S!! 

 

LOVE YOU ALL!!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!

HERMANA CRANDALL

Sister Missionary Tan lines!! We walk alot....in the Houston sunshine!!

Us!