September 26, 2016 Bed Bugs and the Flu

Heller everybody,

This week has been a bit rough as you can tell from the title. Yes, I had my first run-in with bed bugs, and I hate them...so much!!! Words do not describe my burning hatred for bed bugs, they are NOT just something to go along with a song!!! All of you who haven't had bed bugs, stop whatever you are doing, I don't care if you're driving a car or skydiving, stop whatever you're doing then get on your knees and pray for the next 3 hours that you will never have bed bugs!! They suck!! I didn't take pictures of my bites, but they're pretty knarly. That wasn't even the worst part, it was all the dang cleaning we had to do! We had to wash and dry (multiple times) all of our clothes, pull everything away from the walls, and we can't sleep in our apartment. So we've been camping out with the Downtown elders this week. And then I got sick and it made it hard to go to sleep. So that's my sob story haha but I'm not dead and I'm not in Hell so I can't complain. 

I re-read a talk called "What Lack I Yet?" this week and got a lot out of it. It's such a blessing to have living prophets and apostles here on the earth today, it would be so confusing without modern-day revelation and guidance from these men of God! So anyways, in this talk Elder Lawrence recounts the story of the Savior and the rich young merchant. In this story, a wealthy young man approaches Jesus and asks what he needs to do to inherit the kingdom of God; Christ, in response, tells him to keep the commandments of God, to which the young man replies that he's been living the commandments his whole life so "what lack I yet?" Jesus tells him that he still lacks one thing, to give all he has to the poor and to follow Him. But the young man couldn't do it, he loved his worldly things too much. So what do you personally lack? The simple answer to this question is to pray and ask Heavenly Father "What Lack I Yet?" and I know He will tell you what you need to do to improve. We all have room to improve, which implies that we need to fill that empty space with something. It is our choice to fill it with good or bad, but true happiness never lied in wickedness. I'm so grateful to have endless opportunities to become more like the Savior and to have so many restored truths to bring me closer to Him like the Book of Mormon!

Love y'all go watch General Conference this weekend,

Elder Crow

Happy Sunday June 6

󾓦Happy late Memorial Day everyone 󾓦
God Bless 'Merica as the hillbillies would say. Wow, this week has been so amazingly wonderful and crazy! It has been at least 75 every day this week, it even gets past 80 when it is raining, and we've had so many people to talk to! Thanks to Heavenly Father putting so many people in our path, Elder Parks and I talked to 145 people this week! Most of the people aren't too interested in what we have to say, it makes me so sad that a people who care so much about Christ are so quick to shove us off and judge us for our religion rather than take the time to realize what we are doing. But that's their choice, can't change it. I can only bring a flashlight into this dark world and shine my light wherever I go. It may not be very big, but it's enough. And if we all shine our lights together, then we can really make a difference.

Well the most awesome wonderful part about my week was yesterday. We had a church service called stake conference. It's when a generalized area of LDS congregations meet together for a church service and we hear from a few members of the church. My congregation, or ward, stayed at our building in Corbin because it's too long of a drive to Lexington. And I was reminded that technology is a blessing and a curse!!! The sound and the connection of the church broadcast was pretty terrible and I was afraid it wouldn't go to well, I was especially afraid because Gabby came to church for the first time and I wanted it to be a good experience for her. It ended up being AWESOME!! My mission president, President Brough, and his wife spoke and they are such powerful speakers! After church ended, Gabby looked at me and Elder Parks and told us he knew the church is true!! I was so happy I felt like sprinting a few laps around the church, but I help my cool together. It is so amazing seeing the gospel change people's lives and see the joy it give them, I can truly testify with all my heart and soul that this church is true and that it is lead today by the living Son of God, Jesus Christ!

Sister Brough, President Brough's wife, spoke about standing. That sounds kinda funny but let me explain. In the church, we stand a lot more than we think. We have STANDards that we live by, we STAND up for what we believe in, we STAND up for what is morally good and true, to name a few. So let me add my testimony to standing. There is a scripture that states, "stand ye in holy places, and be not moved". If we are true followers of Jesus Christ, we will "not [be] moved" as we stand for what we know to be true. Growing up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I didn't have a lot of members around me, most everyone I knew went to some other church and believed differently than I did. So when it came up that I am a Mormon, I had plenty an opportunity to stand up for my faith and my Savior. Since my youth in Alabama I have came to this conclusion, I will never stop standing up for what is right and what is true. For as long as I live and breathe I will stand, and I invite you to do the same. Never give in! If it takes a cane and pair of braces I will always stand for my Savior Jesus Christ. Each one of us has an unspoken responsibility to STAND up. So stand, do all you can to keep standing; and when you feel like you can't? You are surrounded by those who will help you to keep standing. Jesus Christ will always be the living Son of the living God Almighty, Joseph Smith will always remain the prophet of the restoration, and The Book of Mormon will always be the word of God. I know it. And I know God knows it, and I will not deny it.

God Bless,
Elder Crow

London>Lexington

2016 May 16 Elder Crow was on exchanges with Elder Chandler so Zachary made him scrambled eggs and pancakes

2016 May 16 LtoR Elder Parks and Elder Crow planted a dogwood tree for someone

Dear Everyone,

Hello! I hope you are all doing wonderful and I hope your week was fanstantastic! This week was packed with spiritual awesomeness! On Wednesday we went to Lexington to hear from Elder Kopsichke of the Seventy. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a man who is called and ordained just like the Seventy men Christ called to preach the gospel in Luke Ch.10 . So we got to hear from a modern-day member of the Seventy and his wife. They are from Germany but they speak great English and they are great! Lexington was meh, I like small towns better than a jam-packed crowded city. I learned so much from Elder and Sister Kopischke I can't put it all in one email, I am still reviewing the notes I took! But while I listened to them speak, I couldn't help but feel the love and the spirit that radiated from the 2 wonderful individuals. It is amazing to me that everything in Christ's original church is back, He may not have had any buildings but the organization is completely restored today! I am beyond blessed to have this gospel in my life, and to share it with everyone I see. Something Elder Kopischke shared really stuck out to me. He told us that each one of us made choices in the life before this that determined where we are now. And we chose our families! So stop for a moment one of these days and just look at the ones you love so much and thank Heavenly Father for what you have. Every one of us have blessings we often forget about.

Other than that, this week has been jam-packed with walking. Yes walking. On Saturday I was working with a missionary from another area and with a young man who works with us on Tuesdays and Saturdays. So I was the only 1 of the 3 who knew London so the entire day's work and plans were leaning on me. We probably walked over 5 miles in just a couple hours haha. I don't know how much they appreciated me after that but we got to talk to a ton of people and even though most of them weren't interested I know we still did everything I could to offer them this amazing message about Jesus Christ.

Quite honestly I was able to apply something that I myself taught about during a meeting in church yesterday. I gave a talk about adversity and I was able to personally testify of the Lord's helping my family through each one of my dad's deployments overseas. I realized that I have kinda switched spots with my dad. I am the one wearing the uniform, working in a foreign country, doing crazy things I never would have thought of, serving a mission. Is it hard? Yes. Is it challenging? In every way possible. Are there days that just beat me to my knees? You better believe it. But as I walked away from a conversation with a rude man a thought came to my mind, "You are not alone, I am here." So is this difficult, challenging, taxing mission worth it? There isn't a thing on this earth that can make me believe otherwise. I pray that each one of you will be able to recognize that even in the toughest times and in the darkest times of your life YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Every trial and temptation, every hardship and adversity is worth it. Because then we will do everything we can to appreciate and work for the days filled with smiles, blessings and happiness.

May God bless every one of you with a wonderful week,

Elder Crow

Dear Mom,

I greatly enjoyed my Sunday as well, I actually got to speak in sacrament meeting! For the first time on my mission, almost a year out, and this is the 1st time I've ever been asked to speak so I was super happy. I just love giving talks and teaching lessons. So I was quite new to the church's policy about praying for my talk topic, but I did so and felt inspired to speak on adversity. I walked up to the pulpit ready to use the book the Danielsons gave me and True to the Faith and a ton of scriptures and general conference talks, but I only ended up using 2 general conference quotes and speaking from my heart the rest of the 10 minutes I had. I was overcome with emotion as I recalled our family's hardships during dad's deployments, it was touching to share it in my talk but it really made me realize just how much Heavenly Father loves us for looking out for us so much during those years. I can't imagine how you did it, it must have been so hard. But I'm glad you did it, it made us all stronger.

Something else that happened this week was Elder Kopischke of the 70 and his wife came to the GKLM!! We had 3 of the 6 zones in the mission in 1 stake center, I saw some old friends but almost everyone I know is in the other half of the mission haha! I was so thoroughly impressed with Elder Kopischke's knowledge of the scriptures, his ability to teach by the Spirit, and how much love radiated from him. I took 4 pages of notes and it is so hard to soak everything in from what he shared with us, our zone conference was 6 hours long (with lunch). At the very end, Elder Kopischke opened it up to us missionaries for questions. That very morning, the Holy Ghost prompted me to think of a question I would ask Elder Kopsichke if he asked for questions. I thought he would just speak the whole time but nevertheless I thought one up. So I kept trying to raise my hand but other missionaries kept beating me to it! Finally, Elder Kopischke said, "Ok, President Brough do you think I could take 1 more question before we wrap this up?" And President Brough said, "Absolutely, and I know the missionary who asks this question is the best missionary in the mission!" I knew he was joking, that's just President Brough, but now I felt really awkward raising my hand. But I wanted to have my question answered so bad my hand shot up after he said it. I felt so red when every single missionary in the chapel turned around to see who had raised their hand, I am not even close to being the best missionary in the mission! But I asked Elder Kopsichke,"How do you feel we can best invite the Spirit into every aspect of missionary work?" And his answer seemed to me the answer to anything we want the Holy Ghost invited to," 1)Be as obedient as you can, 2)Be as pure as possible, 3)Plan as effectively as you can, and 4)Work as hard as you can." I felt the Spirit fall upon me as this servant of the Lord looked so intently into my eyes and spoke with such love, there is no doubt in my mind that he is a man of God.

Afterwards, I thanked him and Sister Kopischke for coming, then I thanked President and Sister Brough for their trainings. Sister Brough was the last one I spoke to, she shook my hand and said, "Oh thank you so much for coming. We love you so much Elder Crow, we hear such wonderful things about you from other missionaries!" Once again I think this is the part of the Lord's calling old people to preach the gospel where age interferes with wisdom, haha I'm kidding. But her words touched my heart and I couldn't help but be grateful for such an amazing blessing to be serving in Kentcuky.

Last thing. This morning, we had a senior couple come and inspect our apartment. They were both greatly impressed at how clean we kept our apartment and in my mind I was like," Yeah! Every hour of cleaning at home was worth it! Thanks mom, all the nagging paid off!" Haha I love you so much and I hope everything is going well for you. I can feel the strength your prayers give me and it means so much to have a loving family back home.

Much love,

Elder Crow