Good morning you glorious people reading my amazing email,
This week has been awesome! on Tuesday, Elder Allen was transferred to a new area and I met my new zone leader Elder Jacobsen! He's from Texas and he plays baseball, he played on BYU's baseball team before coming out here! He's a real jokester, as you'll see later in this email, but he's a great missionary!
So yesterday, we watched conference at the Brimhall home. They are a family of 6 and they are awesome! They are huge pranksters and they really like to make people laugh! And for some reason, whenever I go to their house, I get really clumsy! I am constantly dropping pens, spilling food when we eat at their house, knocking thins over; I'm just a mess! And they don't let me forget it! Every time someone drops something, even when it isn't me, they look at it and say, "Thanks Elder Crow!" They are relentless in their comedic efforts! And Elder Jacobsen just had to add to it! We made dinner for their family since they let us stay in their home, diced homemade hash browns and Danish pancakes! I ended up cutting myself in the first 5 minutes so yeah. But while I was cooking the hash browns, Elder Jacobsen would walk over and say, "These potatoes needs something else!" and he would just grab some spice and throw it in!!! For the first 10 minutes we cooked, he kept walking over and throwing flour in my hair and then everyone was like," Wow Elder Crow you get into your cooking!" I finally threw some hot oil at him and told him to try it again! So that was basically the atmosphere of my night, I'm pretty much getting the same treatment here as I did back home! Haha but I love it!
So I keep forgetting my journal so I don't remember too much of what happened, but I can promise it was glorious, because I'm a missionary ;). My mind keeps reflecting back to these past 2 days of conference. We were graciously allowed to watch conference with 2 families, one for each day. And they fed us food, so that makes everything better! I'm pretty sure food can make every possible situation better, the only problem is the food likes to make you fat! Anyways, I can't help but stand in amazement and gratitude that Heavenly Father still speaks to us through the mouth of his prophet: Thomas S. Monson. We are only blessed to hear from him a few times a year, and it blows my mind how powerful and inspired his messages are! To think that there is a man on earth who can still lead and guide us through the divine inspiration he receives from the Lord! I testify that he is the mouthpiece of the Lord and we will be blessed and protected as we follow his counsel!
Well I'm out of time, but I would invite you to act on the revelation and guidance we have been given this weekend. As we exercise our faith, honor the Sabbath day, remember how much of a blessing our parents are, and "Ponderize" the scriptures we will be blessed from on high. I testify that your faithful efforts to find ways to strengthen your faith and finding ways to change what you need to will bring guidance and happiness from on high. I promise you as a servant of The savior Jesus Christ that we are his children and he will uplift you in your times of need. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His church on this earth and the work CANNOT be stopped. Choose this day if you will be an instrument in bringing about the kingdom of God, it is an important work to which you are a part of and you need to be fully committed to it!!!
Keep the faith and move forward,
Elder Crow
Mom,
I love hearing about the family activities of the week, it always brings a smile to my face and I can't help but laugh whenever I read about Leah's latest blooper! Tell her that I miss her a lot, it's really strange not hearing her piercing screams, her contagious laugh, and her "words of wisdom" at the strangest of times. I didn't believe you when you said I would miss all the craziness and drama of my little sisters, but you couldn't have been more right! I think about them almost every night when I'm getting in bed and I try to picture in my mind what they are braking at that moment or what hysterical blunder I just missed. I constantly tell Elder Koenig all about my wonderful sisters and he hears all about the Crow Craziness. I'm glad to hear that Rebekah is enjoying her time with close friends, but tell her this: family time will always be the best time. I often think about the dumb stuff and awesome times I had with my buddies, but all of that never compares to the time I spent with you all. I would suggest that she save those nights for Fridays and Saturdays, that seems to be the best time. I hope she works up the courage and ability to drive soon, I know she can do it and I know it would lift a huge burden off of your shoulders.
I can't believe I'm missing all the family stuff already! Tell Kimmy that I love her and she better enjoy my plush bed while she can! I'm sorry to hear that everything isn't picture perfect, but know that everything can be fixed with a smile, a hug, and an apology. We should always be willing to say sorry first, it makes all the difference. It hurts my heart to hear about the contention going on in the home, but I know that as you somehow find a way to bring FHE and scripture study every night, it WILL make a difference.
To answer your last email about talking to "dissenters", there's really not much you can do. I don't think there is much else you could have done to help that man, I think bearing short and powerful testimony can make a big difference. Don't try to convert him on the spot, but help him remember what he's missing out from being a part of the church. Small reminders and simple testimonies will help them to recognize the strength and divinity of your light and that may be all the influence you can have. Don't ever drop down to the level of "bible bashing" it is the biggest waste of time on the earth. If it comes to a contentious conversation, either find a way to end the conversation with a loving and powerful testimony; or it may come down to literally walking away without saying a word.
Conference this week made me think A LOT about you and Dad. The words of Elder Holland hit home in my heart, I can't imagine having chosen any other soul as loving and pure as yours to have built me up and guided me to where I am now. I stand grateful and blessed to call you mom and to know that you will always be there for me. You have exemplified and shown me what I want in my eternal companion, you are the epitome of a faithful and loving mother. Watch the video "You never know how much you do", it made me think of you immediately. I cannot think of another woman in the world who has been so loving and caring of her children, who has shown such love to every person she has associated herself with, or who has been so willing to drop everything she is doing and squeeze in a last-minute thing to lift up someone. I don't know if I've ever heard you say no to an opportunity to serve. Thank you for what you have done for me, I will never be able to thank you or love you enough in return.
Much love,
your missionary,
Elder Crow
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