BUGS and SUNSHINE

Hello everyone, BUGS and SUNSHINE
I hope and pray that all of you are doing great and that you are getting the same sunshine we are down her in the good 'ol Appalachian foothills! It is absolutely gorgeous, especially down at the hike we were on! There were birds singing, sunshine poking through the trees, there was no one but us at the waterfall, we had a ton of fund hiking around, all around just a good day! This week could've been better but how can I complain, I get to represent Jesus Christ 24/7 and everyone knows it! Definitely got the best job in the whole world!

We have been talking with a TON of people this week and as a missionary I want every person we talk to to be super nice and willing to listen to us but it's almost never that way haha. Especially this week we've just been finding a bunch of mean nasty hillbillies who think they know way more about Jesus than we do and they just tell us to get lost. It is definitely trying as a missionary to keep your cool and just smile at these people rather than just rip 'em to shreds and get angry. Every situation we seem to face, I would've reacted so differently at home; but out here, it's not that I HAVE to be nice to everyone, I could be a complete jerk. But it's the fact that I choose to be nice, I choose to keep a smile on and tell everyone "God bless ya, hope you have a great day!" Everyday we have choices placed before us, sometimes it's just left or right.

But sometimes it's left, right, upside down, walking handstand backwards, the choices seem to never end. But we need never be afraid of which choice is the right choice, it may at times seem like there is no right choice, but the path we should follow should always invite us to do more, to be more. To be more loving, more patient, more humble, really the path we should take should invite us to be more like Christ. I've found so much joy in not only my own growth and changing, but in helping others to change and be more like Jesus Christ. There is no doubt in my mind that we will find a brighter light of joy and happiness in our lives as we choose to follow the Savior and in doing so, helping others to come closer to Christ. Oh how much better the world would be if the Savior was the focus of every family and individual! He is our exemplar, our teacher, our Redeemer, He is the hope we have for more joy in this life. Look for a way this week to bring yourself and others closer to the Savior of the world, it isn't hard unless you make it hard.

Much love,
Elder Crow

Elder Parks and Elder Crow at Dogslaughter falls, pondering the words of Christ

Elder Crow at Dogslaughter falls with a craze face

Elder Crow at Dogslaughter falls,  Right before the hike, my shirt says I'm just here for the bacon. And I am rocking the socks the Lougee family gave me

Elder Crow at Dogslaughter falls

2016 April 25 Elder Crow on bike contraption with Honda motor in it, London, KY

2016 April 25 Elder Crow went to Liberty, Kentucky with another missionary and we pulled into this driveway and found a huge pile of flattened cans

2016 April 25 Louisville Kentucky LDS temple

2016 April 25 This is Joseph, he came hiking with us and he has just started coming back to church, Elder Crow in the red shirt

London has been hit February 15, 2016

Hello everyone,

I hope this week has been filled with happiness and smiles aplenty for all y'all! This week in London has been a rollercoaster. We got hit by another snow storm last night, there is 4-6 inches of snow sitting outside right now haha. And today it is a mix of rain and snow, wasn't expecting this at all! We have been walking around a lot, we've been trying really hard to talk to everyone we see and find people to teach. The work is hard out here but it's so worth it, I look back on these last short 6 months and I am in so much awe of how much I've changed out here. The tender mercies of the Lord are upon us all, there is not a person on this earth He doesn't care for. I can truly testify that He only wants the best for us, He knows exactly what we need in our lives to bring us closer to Him and to bring us happiness in this life. The easiest way to find lasting happiness is to follow God's commandments and live like the Savior. The only reason that is hard is because we make it hard.

I can honestly pick out the most rewarding moments and the most trying moments from my mission and see the difference it has made when I was being exactly obedient and trying to be like Christ, compared to the times when I tried to rely on my own strength to get through my trials. The savior WANTS to help us, but we have to do our part first. We cannot expect joy and blessings to be given to us on a silver platter, the things we desire in this life are found the same way a precious jewel or metal is found: through hard work. "the Lord" does not give any "commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing whichhe commandeth them". Heavenly Father has a purpose for each and every thing He asks us to do. The blessings are there regardless of what we choose to do, but the only way we can receive them is if we live worthy of them.

We had a meeting this past week in Lexington where we were taught about a few things we can do to improve our missionary work. As a missionary, there will always be something I could be doing better. But more importantly we can all be improving all the time! Whatever it may be, there is always room for improvement. If you ever feel like you've perfected something, you're wrong. Haha to put it bluntly, we can never be to good at anything. We can always be a bit more loving in our homes, more diligent in our scripture study, more giving to those in need. In essence, we can always be more like the Savior. I know Jesus Christ suffered for each one of us, so that He knows perfectly how to lift us up and strengthen us. I know He has overcome death itself so that we can be with Him again someday. He only wants the best for us and He has given us the way to have perfect happiness in this life. We just need to put on a smile in the hard times and look for the good in things, it's up to us to decide how we feel, so why not feel happy? Make time for God and God can definitely make time for you.

I love all y'all so much (I'm practicing my eastern Kentucky accent),

Elder Crow

I almost forgot,
A happy happy birthday to my amazing, blondey, baby sister Leah! Happy
6th birthday sweetheart, Zachary loves you!!

snow in London, KY that soaked Zachary's feet

celebrated Groundhog day in a member's backyard

Elder Crow bundled up for the snow

Elder Crow eating mini skittles from the Lougee's