Man was that awesome!!!!! I had such
a great time talking to you guys! I realized afterwards that I hadn`t even felt
one twinge of homesickness! I think that was the best skype session that we
have had while I have been in my mission. It was just so awesome and made me
even happier than I had been before. It`s so great what lies ahead of me
because I know that I can work really really hard and be really happy and then
go through a little bit of a change and keep working really hard and being
really happy. I was also really surprised to hear how well Shaylen is doing
with track this year after being injured. And how close her graduation is,
THATS CRAZY!! also it was awesome to hear what Clint is up to and how Lexi is
doing on her mission just so weird that now I actually want to communicate with
people and see how they have been and how their lives are when before I could
have cared less. So I really hope that Shay is able to finish strong and
prepare for the VERY bright future that awaits her. WOOT WOOT WOOT SHES A UTE!
Also I want to thank grandma and grandpa Geddes and Crook for just being the
best grandparents in the whole wide world I pray for you guys every night and
really hope that you are all well and healthy. Dad mentioned the grandma Crook
needed a few things done around the house, so don`t worry, I`ll help you guys
all that your heart’s desire:) Also I guess I`ll say hi to all my aunts and
uncles and Melanie and aunt Tallie also Aunt Cindi:) sure love you guys and
hope that you are all doing well and having a good springtime. I pray for you
all and hope you are all receiving lots of blessings from heavenly father.
So this week was just pretty normal.
We found a few new people this week, one of which is member of the 666 and sss
church. I had never heard of this church before but the normal thought
associated with a church being named 666 would be the church of the Devil
right? Well that’s totally wrong lol. It taught me a good lesson on not to
judge a book by its cover because that happens a ton. This church doesn`t believe
in the devil, they believe that Jesus actually destroyed him with his
atonement, also they don`t believe in works, they just believe that Jesus paid
for our sins so we are already saved, which means sin doesn`t exist at all. Yup
they don`t believe in sin either. It`s been kind of weird, but we have been
able to develop a lot of patience. So I think this area has been the area where
I have met the most people from other churches. The other day we had a lesson
with a guy that had prepared 61 scriptures from the bible that confirmed that
God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are the same person. And a few of the
scriptures were the SAME scriptures that we use to show the people that they
are 3 separate beings but one in purpose. Sometimes my comp likes to sit and
argue with them, but I usually just talk about the Book of Mormon and the
restoration because I know that the best way to get them interested and maybe
accept our message is to just teach the basics, what we always teach, not contend
with them about their beliefs that they hold closest to them. I have realized
that most everyone believes that their church is true just because they believe
in ¨something different.¨ And they are so focused in on defending that ¨different
belief¨ that it`s hard to open their eyes to the fullness. We ask them what a
prophet is, or about the authority of the gospel and most of the time they have
no idea lol. So it`s been kinda tough and frustrating, but at the same time I
fell like it is strengthening my testimony because of all the people that yell
at us and tell us to be careful because we are going to hell and condemning our
souls lol. So I`ll just tell you a short story before I move on, so we were
talking to one of our investigators that is a leader of the iglesia
charasmatica internacional he started off asking us ¨what if when God all has
us before him in the judgment seat he tells you guys that you were totally
wrong?¨ I responded ¨well then I would asked him why did you totally lie to
me?¨ he kind of paused and then just changed the subject. I thought it was cool
because at least I know that they feel something with our testimonies even
though they don`t share all of our beliefs.
Well we went back to that same
investigator to help him rip up his floor on Saturday. It was so legit! I
totally went at ripping up the old tiles with my hammer and chisel and I
honestly had a great time. I think he was a little caught off guard because we
ripped up 2/3rds of the floor in an hour and then had to leave to go to lunch.
But it has been a long time since I had been able to work in a service project
like that.
So I guess I`ll just finish with my mother’s
day experience, hopefully this has been a decent letter because it has kinda
just been all over the place, hopefully talking to you guys will make up for
it. Anyways we have this sister in our ward that is really really really
awesome and from the start she has called us her hijos. And we have called her
from the start Mami luz lol. Whenever we don`t have lunch she has always been
there for us and we have always been able to teach lessons in her house to our
investigators and to her friends and family who aren`t members. She and her
family have a special place in my heart because I know that they make real sacrifices
for us missionaries. So I bought her a big whopping cake and had wrote on it
¨Feliz dia mami luz!¨ I don`t think she was expecting it when I walked in the
open front door and shouted ¨HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MAMI LUZ!¨ it put a smile on her
face and made me feel really good inside:) she`s always saying that us
missionaries sacrifice a lot while we`re here. But I told her that we recognize
as well that she makes sacrifices and those sacrifices need to be recognized as
well. Well hopefully I can send you the pictures in a bit, I forgot my camera
in the apartment and my comp is talking with his family. LOVE YOU ALL; YOU ARE
THE BEST FAMILY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD:)
-Elder Crook
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