Hola....week #1 in the field!

My Batch....40 strong...Behold a Royal Army!

hola hola hola Mi Familia!

Well I have made it to Monday my first P-day!!!

Texas is AMAZING, the weather is good, my companion is AMAZING, my Mission President is AMAZING, and LIFE IS GREAT!!!!

Let me tell you about this week.. listo (ready)?

Wednesday I was the only missionary on the plane that didn't sit by another missionary. I sat by a man named Richard. He is from Texas and a music producer. We talked about his job, life, and blah blah and then he asked me about my badge. I was telling him about everything and he seemed really interested, so I gave him a Mormon,org card. He told me he hadn't met anyone so nice in his entire life. It was so nice to talk to someone who wasn't a missionary. :)

When we landed we met President and Sister Pingree and the AP's. They had like 10 members there with their cars for us and a HUGE trailer. That night we ate dinner and had interviews and just got to know each other. Hermana Hosking, Zebriskie, and Flech.... we all stayed at a members house that night.

Thursday morning we went to the transfer meeting and I MET MY "MOM" Hermana Rife, she is 22 and from Provo. She is amazing at speaking Spanish! She has been out for 9 months. I am so happy I got her as my trainer!

My "mom"....Hermana Rife

Driving in the Rain!!

After the meeting we all loaded the cars and headed to our new home! My new area is called Oakcrest,  It is in Tomball and Magnoila. We dropped our stuff off and went to this ladies house. I was soo nervous! but it turned out great!!! She has a really sad situation so my heart was breaking as we were at her house! :( Later we went knocking!! OH MY GOODNESSS!!!!!! Texas people love their BIBLE!!!!! I'm in for a real treat down here. This lady YELLED AT US about Joseph Smith and how we don't worship Christ. We would try and explain to her that we do and let her know what we believed but she was just not listening to us!.... so frustrating! She told us we need to study more and come back and tell her what we learned and then she says "IF YOU DON'T COME BACK, I'LL COME FIND YOU!!!" so we gave her instructions to the church :) that way we will get her to come to church..:)

I MET THE CASCO FAMILY!! I was SO SHOCKED when I saw Paola!! It was so awesome that I got assigned to her area my first transfer!!! Her and her family are so amazing, I already love them so much! They fed us and the Elder's the most amazing food! I'm so excited to get to know them better!! I already feel so loved  and welcomed here.

Paola Casco and Hermana Crandall...We met a few months ago on Instagram and she lives in my first area!!

Saturday we found 5 possible investigators! It was so crazy how we met them! The Lord led us right to them! We have a ton of appointments this week.

Oh and  IT RAINED CATS AND DOGS!!! I was so wet!!! but  at least it's warm rain! :)

LET ME JUST TELL YOU HOW AMAZING MEXICAN FOOD IS!! It's like I have died and gone to heaven! Seriously, it's so yummy!

SUNDAY...... Guess who had to teach Gospel Principles and Young Women's.. yup we did.. my first Sunday I taught in espanol! The Elder's were so funny after Sunday school they came up to me and were like "DANG are you from MEXICO!? Your Spanish is amazing!" (they were totally just being nice) but it was still pretty funny!

I thought I knew more Spanish . haha nope! I can barley understand anything! They talk 100 miles an hour!!! But I'm learning so much! I'm excited for the day I can have a simple conversation!

Happy news we have 2 baptism on Saturday!! It was so fun to meet them!!

So this morning we woke up bright and early and headed to a members house to do a service project! It was really fun! Hermano Ruiz is so funny!! He is constantly teasing me because he knows I have know idea what he is saying! They gave me a nick name.. Guadalajara because I look like I'm from there.. Big green eyes, dark hair and dark skin! haha they kept saying Muy bonita! (very beautiful).

 I'm loving Texas already! It's been a great couple days and I'm so excited for the next 17 months!

I really gained a testimony this week about how inspired my Mission President is, from the area I was put in, to the trainer I have! The Lord knew exactly what I needed! I'm So grateful for that! 

This week is going to be SUPER BUSY but I'm so excited to teach these people we have 13 investigator with a possible 5 more! YIPPEEE!!

TE AMO MUCHO!!!!....Pray that I learn Spanish!... saying Si or hola is getting real old! :)

ADIOS!!

Best goodbye present ever! I saw Paul Milsap of the Jazz (duh!)  in the SLC airport!

Arrived in Houston!

Best group of sisters....ever!

Week 5!

Hola hola Familia!

This week has been AMAZING!!!

Last weekend was really good we said goodbye to our favorite District in the Zone. It was bitter sweet! 9 of the Elders were going to Mexico City East and 3 Hermana's were going to New York New York North ( I might have been just a bit jealous!)

New York City North Hermana's

My BFF Elder at the MTC Elder Beesley heading to Mexico!

So Friday was an interesting day, a girl in my district walks in to our room CRYING hysterically. I asked her what was wrong and she said she was going blind. ..me and my companion looked at each other and immediately started to laugh because the first thing we thought about was no more Helen Keller jokes.. I know we are rude.. but she started laughing too. I told her to try and sleep to see if she could see after that... she  woke up and could see. She went to the Eye doctor and he told her it was just a Migraine. Then when we went to lunch that same day, one of the girls in the Zone went into quarantine...  yes THEY LOCKED HER IN A ROOM FULL OF SICK PEOPLE FOR 5 DAYS!!!!!! no one could talk to her or see her. it WAS SO CRAZY. It was quite an eventful day for a Sister Trainer Leader.

Saturday was kinda boring! All we did is studied outside. AND WE GOT OUR TRAVEL PLANS!!!!!!!!!!! We are leaving Wed. April 24th our flight leaves at 9:40AM!  I'M SOOO Excited!!! like I want to go right now!!  

Sunday we had a devotional by the head of Missionary Department Greg Droubayhe (Sp?) he talked about how much the church is using the Internet and advertising. It was way cool to see how much the church has Advertised in NYC, LONDON, LA and other places.  AND I LOVED SEEING CAMI AND AUSTIN AND KEN KEN.. it seriously made my whole week OK..... like 6 weeks ha.

My little Ken-Ken and name sake! I love her so much!

Monday was a typical Monday... LONG LONG LONG we have Class for 8 hours and then the rest is Study.. sometimes I want to cry haha. So after lunch I got a note that I had a package so I go to pick it up and NO JOKE it was in a Box almost as tall as me!! MY companion and I had to carry it. We got the strangest looks! All the Elders in my zone were freaking out! I was laughing soo hard! Inside was Tons of candy and balloons! it was so fun!! THANK YOU CRYSTAL!!

I LOVE PACKAGES!! Thank you Crystal!! Your support has been amazing!

Tuesday WAS AMAZING!!! Hermana Hosking and I taught AN amazing Lesson to our investigator. I feel like I can KINDA speak Spanish. We had a one on one evaluation with our teacher and My teacher told me that he is NOT worried about sending me in the Field!! I was seriously stressing! He said that my Spanish and teaching has improved a lot. So after that I felt a little more confident! That night we had a devotional and guess who it was... RICHARD G. SCOTT!!! It was SO amazing! You can tell when an Apostle of God is in the room. The first song we sang was Called to Serve, I think I'm going to miss singing that song in the MTC having 3000 Missionary's sing that song is SO POWERFUL!! anyway, Elder Scott talk about prayer and the relationship we need with our Heavenly Father. He told us that Heavenly Father loves us perfectly and he wants to hear from us. " To reach a goal you have never reached before you have to do things you have NEVER DONE" he told us that learning a language is hard work. He gave us an Apostolic Blessing that we would MASTER the Language. After he said that I was in tears. He talked to us like he was talking to us one on one. He blessed us with a blessing of peace. " We won't be asked to do something that we can't do." Having faith is so big in missionary work. With out it you WILL STRUGGLE!  he also talked about getting along with companion that we might not like, he said every morning pray and ask what we are suppose to learn from that person or situation. Sorry for all the quotes but it was just so amazing and powerful. "He that kneels before the Lord can stand in front of anyone."  I am so happy that I got to hear from an Apostle before I left It was so inspiring and so uplifting!

Wednesday was really good we were getting a little sick of being in the room with the Elders so we started to pull pranks on them.. I was laughing so hard!  I think they were a little surprised that we would pull pranks on them. I got one on one help with Spanish which helped a ton!!!! I can make sentences now!!! .... well kinda ;) WE were suppose to host this week but they told us no... :( we were all SOOO sad! 

TODAY.. We went to the temple this morning and then started packing!!! yes STARTED PACKING.. I have to much stuff.. oh well..  Tomorrow we have a 12 hour meeting it's call in field training. I'm not sure how fun that will be. :) but it just means no class YAY!

I love reading every ones letters Kelby, Hunter and Kelsey all seem to be doing amazing!! and to everyone who has written me I'm sorry for not writing back but I will don't worry!!! COURTNIE!!! EASTON'S picture you sent me was SO CUTE!! Seriously was dying! He is getting so big! I was thinking about how different the people we are all serving! It's crazy how cultured we are going to be.. when I saw the picture of Hunter baptizing that little boy I started crying!!! IT WAS SOO CUTE!!!

Well I Love you all and the next email you will get from me will be in HOUSTON TEXAS! Holla! Have a good week! Te Amo MUCHO!!!!

HERMANA CRANDALL

Hermana Williams and I

Week 4

Hola Familia!


Well it's been another week. This week was the hardest week yet, but going to the temple this morning  really helped. 
First off Conference was so good!! I love Elder Holland's talk! It really touched me! I loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk as well. It was really crazy to be in the MTC for Conference. We were all so excited to have NO class for 2 days but after 2 days I think we were all excited to get back in the groove of learning things :) I was pretty productive in the middle of conference sessions!! I Memorized the First Vision in SPANISH!! Yes I did.. thanks to my pal Elder Varner! it was SO funny. He would quiz me on it, I had trouble saying personajes and every time I would say it wrong he would freak out and jump up and say NOOOOO! After a while my entire zone was getting in on the action, but I can now say it ALL correct. I actually got to use it in my lesson this week. I was kinda proud of myself. 

Elder Varner

  This week has been kinda crazy. It is our last full week in the MTC next week we have training and all that and then I head out the next! ahh crazy! I'm so excited... the MTC food is really getting to me! 

I should be getting my travel plans tomorrow ( crossing my fingers). So that will be so exciting!  
I started reading the Book Of Mormon about 2 weeks go and my goal is to finish before I leave.. I have 2 more chapters in Alma, so I'm hoping I can do it! Its amazing how much I have gotten out of the Book of Mormon since being here. 
One of the quotes that I LOVE is. " through Jesus Christ he can make the Weak Strong" After this week I'm a FIRM believer. I have been trying to focus all my thoughts and decisions towards him. He knows what's best for me and my investigators. Today I was actually thinking that I have really realized my relationship with him. I now talk to him more than my family. He is always there, anytime of the day or night....It's amazing!
     
So my calling has been VERY eventful this week. We have a sister here who is just not obeying any of the rules.... like there is something new EVERYDAY!! So I have been having to talk to her everyday and I had to meet with the Branch President about it. I don't understand why it's so hard to follow the rules. She has a bad attitude about everything.... SERIOUSLY EVERYTHING!!! It's to the point where she has a week to change or they are sending her home. I feel really bad for her, but if you can't even follow the rules in the MTC there is no way you will do it in the field.

 I'm going to be so sad when I have to leave my district. We are all so close and my zone is super close too. I have made life long friends here. One thing I am going to miss is the Tuesday and Sunday Devotionals they are the BEST! I feel like they are exactly what we need to here. I got to meet with the MTC president this week it was a awesome opportunity. it was short but way awesome!  
 
Have I told you that Spanish is hard.. haha!! I have a week and a half to get somewhat fluent.. AHHHH stressful. I can barley make sentences. Pray that I can at least have a short conversation by the time I leave. It's real rough.... but I know it will come if i do my part.
My Spanish teachers are so funny. I love them, they have taught me so much in just a short amount of time.... its nuts. ...TEMPLE IN CEDAR!!?? What??? I was shocked when they announced it. Also when they announced that there were 65,634 missionaries.... I am one of those!! :) which is also weird to think about!!! 
I feel like i don't have a whole lot to say because I do the same thing " toda el dia, Cada dia" - " All day everyday." 
 
I hope everyone is doing amazing i miss you all!!! don't have to much fun with out me! ;) 
  

Love, 
Hermana Crandall

waiting for Conference with some of our Zone.

One of the districts filled 200 eggs and we had a little Easter Egg Hunt

That sneaky Rabbit! :)

Sister Hoskings and Me on our Temple walk

Us.

HOLA...3 DOWN 3 TO GO!!

Hola Familia!

This week has seriously flown by!!!  Yesterday was my half way point! it's crazy!! I have been super busy with my calling. It seems like every night I have a leadership meeting or something. I'm really enjoying it though. My zone thinks I'm a celeb because I know so many people! hahaha it's always nice to see people you know. Anyways the Spanish is going good I guess.. I just have to remember I have only been here 3 weeks so I'm not going to be fluent.

Sunday we had a special Easter Sacrament with the ENTIRE MTC it was sooo awesome!! We had a guy from France speak to us during it, he reminded me of  Elder ALLAL!  We had a devotional later that night and I sat by this girl who is is going to Cambodia. We just started talking and I told her Kelby was speaking Hmong and  the 2 Elders next to her are going to MN.... speaking Hmong!!! it was sooo CRAZY! I was telling them about it and then we saw Yer so she was talking to them in Hmong also!! its was so much fun to see them! They seem like cool Elders!

This week is like a blur, Sunday night Kelsey came to my room and I had to say goodbye to her :( soo sad, but soo happy!

Our investigators are doing well. We ask one of them if they would be baptized and he said he would think about it.. so we were pretty excited about that!!!! :) I feel like I'm stuck in a class room for 15 hours a day!!! oh wait I am.. haha its a good thing though!! I love my district and zone.  So wanna know something funny.. I'm older than most of my teachers!! it's not that bad but kinda weird. :) I have really been learning alot here. it's crazy how tired you are at night.. not just physically but mentally and spiritually. Even though my investigators are  fake I still feel so much pressure to teach them what they need to know!

This week one of my teachers could tell our class was kinda stress so told us to close our eye and picture ourselves with a heavy backpack with rocks in it and to picture the rocks as all of our sins, struggles, and pains. Then he said to take each rock out and picture handing them to the Savior. As I was doing this I could feel the stresses and every struggle just leave me. It was amazing. He also challenged us to pray to have the confirmation that Texas is were we are suppose to go. I know that someone is waiting for me . God has been preparing them for me.

So funny story. The Elders in my zone think is so funny to scare me. so yesterday I told them ehh I don't get scared to easy and so I turned my head for seriously 2 seconds and the Elder was in my face the next!!! I FREAKED OUT AND SCREAMED AS LOUD AS I COULD!!! You all know how loud that is!! Pretty much the whole cafeteria looked at me! so embarrassing!

So this weekend we DON'T HAVE CLASSES because of General Conference! I'm so excited maybe my brain wont hurt as bad! ;)

I watch a talk Sunday night by Elder Bednar called Characters of Christ.. I suggest you alllllll READ it! or watch it! He talks about how a testimony isn't enough to endure to the end and and we all need to be converted! I had never really thought about it until I heard this. Being totally converted is a goal we all need to make.  it's a goal that you will work on everyday of your life!

Miss Yer Yang lives in my building so I see her all the time!! its great! she is really loving the MTC from what I can see.

I'm so ready to get out to Texas!! I think it will actually feel real.

How is everyone doing? I feel like I don't know anything that's going on in the real world it's weird.. and guess what? I actually don't miss my phone as much as I thought I would.. it's kinda nice not having it! ha

So  this week Hermana Hosking and I were working out and this girl who just got here last week worked out with us. We worked out somewhat hard and SHE THREW UP EVERYWHERE!! it was so gross. We felt sooo bad!.... lets just say we haven't seen her at the gym since then. :)
Then a girl in my district overdosed on NyQuil.. yes, I had to deal with a high missionary.. It was so funny but soo scary.

 The girls from Marriott sent me an Easter package with some Pepsi in it and we were walking back to class and one of the Pepsi fell out and STARTED SPRAYING ALL OF US including the Elders I was laughing so hard! 

I'm  such a space case right now.. it's hard to update you guys once a week.. I always forget things. I got to see the dearelder girls today! The food here is NOT GOOD! I'm so over school lunches and its hard because you are so hungry but nothing sounds good!! anyways life is good!! Spanish is good.. 3 more weeks and I'm out of Provo prison.. yes that's what we call it! 

Love you all!!!!! WRITE!! seriously I get so sad not getting letters!

LOVE,

Hermana Crandall 

THE District

My Ducklings!! LOVE THEM!!

We're pretty much the life of the party!! :)

Easter baskets from Mom

Pday means laundry day!!

Me and Yer 

The famous MTC map picture!

I may or may not have been given the best gift ever from the TPS  girls!! ;)

Met up with Sister Otterstrom before she left for Fresno!

Survived week #2....barely!! :)

HOLA!!!!
      It seems like i just emailed you guys! This week has gone by pretty fast! Sunday I got a new calling as the zone coordinating sister, which means I pretty much take care of all the girls in the zone. I'm excited for it. I get to attend all the leadership conferences and meetings which will be awesome!  So this week is kinda a blur... I was super sick on Tuesday, actually my whole district was super sick. We all were throwing up and nasty stuff like that so we didn't really do a whole lot of studying that day. The next day we were suppose to teach our investigator, we had been prepared for a while so we weren't to nervous. Well guess what? I forgot EVERYTHING that I wanted to say and what we were going to teach. I was so FRUSTRATED and sad and mad and every other emotion you can think of.  I could barley understand him which was so weird because I usually can understand them some what ok. Well nothing was coming and so in the middle of the lesson I just started to cry.... like HARD CORE CRYING! yup my First meltdown... no fun.... and kinda embarrassing as well! Luckily my teacher was our "investigator" and he didn't make it too awkward, but I felt really dumb. After the lesson he asked me if I wanted to talk and blah blah blah.... we talked he made me feel a  ton better and apparently I'm not the first to cry in the middle of a lesson.. THANK GOODNESS. :) After class Hermana Hosking and I decided we needed fresh air and wanted to study out side.... and guess what it was right when all the missionaries were coming!!! I was telling my comp that it would be so funny if I saw you guys dropping Yer off..... hmm funny story that actually happen!!! It made my entire day!!! i was so excited to see you all!! it definitely made me feel a little better!

Can you believe Kelsey leaves on Monday???? ahhh I'm going to be so sad not to see her all the time!! but I'm so excited that she gets to leave! I only have 4 weeks left.. wooohooo!!! Time for some nice hot weather!!

 
The food sucks! like I think I would rather eat dirt.. haha jk but no it's getting old... we try to eat wraps everyday but sometimes we just skip eating!

 
My district is amazing. I love them all soo much, the girls are soo funny and the elders are even funnier. We all just feed off of each other!!! I'm kinda amazed that we are learning Spanish because we all just laugh the entire time!

 
Sorry everything is so out of order my brain is mush!!! We have gone non stop all week and all day!! 

This Sunday we get to hear from Elder Russel M Ballard :) I'm super excited. Sundays are the BEST days of the week. Except for Sacrament...  the Branch Pres. randomly calls 3 people to give talks in SPANISH!!!! Seriously I'm sick the entire time. Luckily its Fast Sunday this Sunday and General Conference next :) I'm safe for 2 weeks!! holla!! 

It's crazy how much you can feel the spirit here. Everyday is hard but so worth it!  I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! I'm making some life long friends and gaining and amazing relationship with my savior! My testimony has grow so much since being here. I can feel the spirit guide me in my everyday decisions. I don't think I have ever prayed so much in my life!!!! (seriously) its amazing to know first hand that you are never alone and that God knows us perfectly. He knows exactly how to help us. I love this Gospel and I love this church! I can't wait to get to Houston and share it with others. 

This week I have been studying in 3 Nephi 27 where Christ talks about his church it's an awesome chapter! You all should read it!

Well I got to go.. love you all.. the mish is great and the church is true! 


LOVE,
Hermana Crandall 
 
SHOUT OUT TO MADISON PACKER FOR THE BEST PEN OF THE YEAR!! My District is super jealous! THANK YOU! LOVE YOU! 

Be jealous people....be very jealous!!....Thanks Mad!

Me and Hermana Hoskings

Sisters!!

"President"....I mean elder Monson

The "old" Sisters Coordinator...with the "new" Sisters Coordinator!

Chillin'

HOLA MI FAMILIA!....First letter home!

HOLA MI FAMILIA!
I have been in the MTC for one week crazy right!?
I can't believe Hunter has left for Africa  I was at the temple super early this morning and was thinking about him! I'm so excited that he finally gets to start!! it's amazing how much you grow in one week.
Will you DearElder me Kelby's letter and Hunters when he gets to Ghana??  Also, will you send me pictures for my room and to show all my new Friends :) my email is lauren.crandall@myldsmail.com 

I haven't received kelbys letter :(

The EMPTY SEA!!! (mtc) is quite lovely! My companion is the Bomb.com! We get along so great!!! (thank goodness) We are with each other seriously EVERY MINUTE of EVERY DAY! The other sisters in my district are really nice. the are young so kinda shy. but I think we are bringing them out of their shells :) 4 of us are going to Texas and the others are all going to Iowa! 

The Elders in my district are just like Kelby, Hunter and Connor. There is never a dull moment in class.  I love them!! I already feel so close to them all and its only been a week!

SPANISH.. SPANISH.. SPANISH!!! 
It's coming along....I have already taught 5 lessons in Spanish. We can say our prayers and bare our testimony! Its crazy I learned more in a week than 3 years in high school!!
The mtc is a very emotional place your emotions change every 5 mins!  At times you feel over whelmed and other times you feel soo happy and ready to get out in the field. I probably cry everyday! One thing I have noticed is that when you study and really do your part the spirit picks up the rest and in my case it's the language. I go into lessons and feel like I don't know anything and then all these words flow in my mind and all of a sudden I'm talking about the Book of Mormon or getting baptized. I definitely love it! I have also learned that you need to love everyone! Hermana Hosking and I have decided that we need to be the people where people want to talk to us or vent to us and it really has worked. It has made us so much closer to each other!

Every Sunday and Tuesday we have devotionals. They are AMAZING!! Its awesome to be so close to the leaders of our church. Every Sunday night we get to watch church movies!!! it's almost as good as watching Revenge.. haha not. but it will do! :) Kelsey and I live in the same building so I see her almost everyday!! She has been such a help to me!!
My schedule is CRAZY BUSY!! I don't think I have ever studied this much in my LIFE!!!! I feel like I have been here for years and yet it's only been a week.. time is not the same in the mtc.... so this week I think I did something embarrassing everyday!! On Monday I walked in the MENS BATHROOM!!! and my companion yelled at the top of her lungs "THAT'S THE BOYS".... yeah and everyone looked at me!! awesome right??

 
Could you send me some PICTURES!! :) I can't print out the ones you sent!!
I need the pile of stuff I left 

binder 

hangers ect.
make up wipes
pepsi ;)
snacks I really don't care!! ;)

 
I love you all and can't wait to get to Houston!!!! I LOVE you all soo much!! write me y'all!! This church is true and I can't wait to tell ALL of TEXAS in ESPANOL!!!!!

LOVE, 

HERMANA CRANDALL!!!

Hermana Crandall and Hermana Hosking

Trying to stay sane in the MTC

Our district

 Hermana's forever!
Kelsey and I

Letter to home!

My Companion Hermana Hosking from Concord CA

Hermana's and Friends

Us

Crazy Elders!

MTC or Bust!

Today I entered the MTC! I was so excited, nervous, and did I say excited?? I have waited for this day for a long time and it is finally here. I am a bit nervous to learn the Spanish language but I can't think of a better place to learn it and to use it than in the MTC for the Lord's work Houston.
It was hard to say goodbye to my family but I know there are people waiting for me!

Mom, Dad, and Me

Grandpa Hunt and Grandma

My Family....minus Kelby

The tribe

Getting met at the curb!

Saying goodbye to Clayci

Its hard to say goodbye to those you love.

'til we meet again!