Hello everybody!
This week was an absolute roller coaster! I'll jump back to Monday of last week. I had to wake up at 3 AM to catch a bus and 2 trains in order to make it to the airport on time. Everyone at the terminal was so nice and they asked us where we were all going, it was so crazy! We were allowed to make one last call to our families, so I borrowed a cell phone from a very nice old man; talking to my family was the highlight of my day, by far! The next 8 hours of my life included a 4 hour flight to Atlanta, then a 45 minute flight to Louisville; both with time zone changes. When we landed in the airport President Brough, Sister Brough, and the assistants to the president were all there waiting for us. It finally hit me that I was a missionary when President Brough gave me and Elder Stanley a hug and said, "I've been waiting for you two for a whole year!" It was awesome!
Anyways, fast forward to this past week. We had a transfer meeting on Tuesday where me and the other 15 Elders and Sisters were introduced and given their trainers. There were some 200+ Elders and Sisters there, it was awesome! We sang the coolest version of "Called to Serve" ever! Then I met my trainer! His name is Elder Koenig, he's been out 18 months from Colorado, and he is an amazing missionary! Before I left the meeting, I got my iPad and my area...I am serving in the Elizabethtown Kentucky!!!! For those of you who don't know, that's the very town I was baptized in 10 years ago!!! And we got a ride home from a brother in the ward, Brother Crowe; and YES, he does spell it wrong!
My first week as a missionary was crazy! I am in a biking area (otherwise I'd get incredibly fat from all this food) and it is pretty crazy biking in this humidity! A lot of people admire us for it. But I tore a pair of pants on my first day in the field! I didn't have what's called my "rider's leg", or tucking my pants leg into my sock to keep it from catching the chain. And the very next day, Elder Koenig got the flu really bad! So my entire day was 10ish hours of updating teaching records, studying the scriptures, and weekly planning! The next day, when we went to work out with the zone leaders,(Elder Allen and Caskey live a block away from us) I had FRIED TURTLE! Not something out of the store, Elder Caskey and Elder Koenig killed, skinned/shelled, and fried a 15-pound snapping turtle (which isn't uncommon in this part of KY)!!!! It was really chewy and hard to eat, but it really does just taste like chicken! On Thursday, I got my bike from the bike shop; then Elder Koenig gave me the opportunity to use it the rest of the day (and I almost accidentally biked into the street...).
I have already seen the goodness of God during my short time here as a missionary. The spirit really does accompany us, but only when we are willing to listen to The Lord's commandments. There is a man here named Tracy Owens, he's been a convert for a year. Almost 2 years ago, his wife took his kids and left him; 2 days before Christmas! For the past year and a half, he has been fighting to overcome his word of wisdom issues and try to win custody over his kids. He has been called a monster in a courtroom, is legally allowed to contact his family using ONE number, and is facing severe depression and temptations. Elder Koenig and I went to visit him on Friday, and he broke down crying, because he's realized his family will never be reunited on this earth. We gave him a blessing of comfort, and the spirit of The Lord washed over the porch we were meeting on. When we are at our lowest point, in the darkest of times, and when we are deeply humbled by our trials The Lord will not hesitate even a moment to lift us out of whatever hole we have fell into. His only request? That we turn to him.
That is my message this week, to turn to Him who is mighty and willing to save us from the depths and pains of sin and sorrow. In a missionary fireside I attended yesterday, a brother read this from his fortune cookie, "All the darkness in the world cannot put out one candle"; President Brough then said in his testimony, "But isn't it amazing how one candle can chase away every bit of darkness?"
I love you all and live your lives this week like you are setting your candle on the hill that cannot be hid,
Elder Crow
Elder Norris ( the younger brother of one of Zach's MTC teachers) and Elder Crow
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