October 12, 2015

Wow,

Truth is that this week flew by and I don’t know where to start.  We had interviews with President Diaz this week and it went really well.  On Wednesday, we had the replica so that we (Elder Avila and I) could share President’s vision for the mission.  On Friday, we had exchanges.  I guess that killing chickens is just a popular service project here in Villa Alemana because we helped some members kill, pluck, and gut 4 chickens! haha (don’t worry this time I was a man and didn’t get light headed)  Elder Homer from Arkansas was the Elder that was with me.  He lived on a farm and let’s just say he wasn´t afraid to cut some chickens heads off. haha

Well on the other side of things.... I really do love the mission.  It has been really hard for us to find new people to teach.  I know I can give more and this week I am really going to try my best to be my best.  I may not be able to baptize every person I teach, but I can talk with every person I see and try my best to serve the Lord with everything I have.  I have learned a lot this week about the gift of discernment.  Elder Bednar gave a great talk called "Quick to Observe".  I would really recommend it.  It talks about the importance of finding the hidden good and the hidden bad in every situation or even in ourselves.  The gift of discernment helps us to get rid of the excuses in our lives and live more faithfully to the covenants we have made.  I love my Savior and I love getting to know Him and our Heavenly Father better each day.  Thanks for all you do.

Love,

Elder Crofts

Humberto went to the temple to do baptisms and LOVED IT. He is reading the scriptures everyday and is already in Alma 38.

Some pictures from the October mission leadership conference.  They are from the mission blog.

Heather were you driving here?

Looks like the car you hit. Haha, don't hate it's just love.

Elder Avila and I decided to buy some Churrascos one night this week.

Yum, Yum.

Yummy chicken!

Good thing Elder Homer could do the dirty work.

Some of the rest of the chicken service project.

President & Sister Diaz

October 5, 2015

Well family, how are you doing?  I WAS doing great until I found out that some of my sisters have  boyfriends. haha  I thought that the Lord would "take care of my family" but it looks like other people are helping me with that part.... haha well be smart, be virtuous and BE PATIENT.  None of you have the brother’s approval until July 2016! :)

It was a good week.  I received a lot of guidance and revelation in conference and the mission leaders council that we had on Friday.  I realized that I have been complicating my discipleship and dedication a little bit too much and just need to focus on doing my best, loving God, and loving the experiences that He is giving me.  I might not have as many baptisms as others, but I am working hard and am determined to increase my faith and my love for God´s work and for all those around me.  "Come what may and love it."   I sure am loving my mission!  Last night after conference we were able to give out 3 Book of Mormons!  All 3 of them were pretty receptive and it looks like 2 of them (a mother and her 16 yr old daughter) don’t live in our area.  It sucks not seeing the process of conversion but I sure love being a sewer of seeds! 

I loved the talks from conference and look forward to studying them again.  I loved all of President Uchtdorf´s talks, Elder Maynes, Elder Hales, Elder Holland, Elder Bednar, the 3 testimonies of the new apostles and President Eyring’s talks!  There is a lot to apply and put in practice.  I loved Elder Holland’s talk and Elder Nelson´s talk about mothers and women.  I LOVE you mom.  You are the best and really have lifted me up!  I owe you so much!  I am doing my best to be deserving of an awesome woman like you! 

Well that is about all this week! I hope that you all have a great week! 

Un abrazo!

Elder Crofts

P.S..... that whole boyfriend thing was serious..... JULY 2016

Zone Activity!

A member's bathroom looks like my future bathroom.

Looks different than the missionary shower

My healthy as healthy breakfast: 2 eggs, boiled broccoli and carrots, & tuna. Yummy, yummy!

Family night fun!

Humberto is a champ! He came to ALL of the sessions and was 30 minutes early for each one. He is AWESOME :)

Elder Brock

Our lovely grandparents here in the ward! Pedro and Julia were baptized 5 years ago and are really active! What great examples!

September 28, 2015

When options run low, the faith needs to run high

I thought of you when I heard that Elder Scott died.  How crazy that 3 have died in such a short amount of time!!!  I am bummed about it but it made me really happy to think about Elder Scott with his wife again.  He always talked about her.  Well I am doing really well.  Elder Avila is really self-critical and gets down at times and I am trying to help him out to have more light in his life.  The work has been a little tough but we are working hard and trying to make things happen. 

So we are still fighting to find people! This is the smallest area that I have had in my mission and we just found out yesterday that our map we had was wrong and our sector is EVEN SMALLER than what we thought! So hopefully we can get some miracles happening with our nice little area.

There have been quite a few aftershocks throughout the week from the earthquake but I am starting to get used to it. haha I guess some Brazilian scientist says that some bigger earthquakes are coming Chiles way soon but who knows! 

Well this week as I thought about the importance we have of taking care of our physical and spiritual progress, I thought of what happens to our bodies if we just feed them without a proper amount of exercise..... we get FAT.  In the same way, we can read our scriptures, go to church and say our prayers (feed ourselves spiritually).  But if we don’t mix in a good amount of exercise (putting into PRACTICE the things we learn), our spirits will also become fat and lazy and we won’t be able to feel the spirit in the way that we might have hoped.

Well the truth is that as I try to think of what happened this week nothing comes to my mind.  We found some new investigators and lost them 2 days later because of the "change" in our limits with the new map we have.  The weather is amazing.  I love the mission.  It is tough but I am learning to love the work that God has prepared for me.  I love my Savior.  I love this gospel and know that there is still a ton that I don’t understand but I know God loves me.  I know that this is His work.  I know that this is where I need to be! Thanks for the prayers for the Chileans!  It is needed!

Love,

Elder Crofts

A bridge we had to cross during interchanges

"When life gets tough....

...make apple pie."

The view from our pensions bathroom

LUNAR ECLIPSE