Some Peoples Mothers Make Me Mad

Hey guys! so yeah we changed our p-day to today so we would be able to go to the temple. It was soooo awesome and great:) We went through a session and then took pictures for a while.  I understood quite a bit more this time and I think I got more out of it  too.  I remember my first session in  the Bogota temple.  I pretty much slept  the whole time cause I didn’t understand anything. There was a guy in our same session from Iowa, I was talking to him for a little bit after the session and found out that he is a lawyer for the Air Force. Haha he was about to leave but you know me I took advantage of him and asked a few questions about his career and how he liked being in the Air Force. He said in his opinion it was the best way to go to get school paid  for and has a great job that lets him travel the world. So I think the Air Force might definitely be an option for me when I go back to school.

Haha,  Dad my comp Elder D commented on my P-day clothes too. He told me they were super feo lol but I didn’t care I was just happy to be in normal clothes....which really aren’t normal clothes for me any more lol. Well nothing that exciting happened this week. I don’t really have any funny or cool stories to tell. But I`ll tell you about our day on Friday which was probably the most interesting. Well one of our favorite members of the ward was getting married to another one of our favorite members. They always have us over for lunch at least once a week and the lady is Costeno or from the coast so she cooks really good! but anyways while they were getting sealed we got called to go and help set up the reception in the church. We had a really busy day planned and during lunch the relief  society president called us and just told us to cancel all of our plans cause she really needed help. Well it sure would have been nice to have known  before but I guess the church is like that in all parts of the world.  But anyways, the relief society president’s house is a good 30 minute walk from the chapel. We had to carry ten tables from her house to the chapel, all of the food she had made (she is like the best cook in Colombia) and some of the instruments for the band to play. It took us like five hours of straight walking, then when we were done with that another member saw us and said ELDERS – you’re  gonna come help us carry the flowers! uhhhhh ok. Luckily their house wasn’t as far away as the other one. So we finally got everything in place and situated. I`m sure that the Enaou wedding reception wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for us 2 big ol missionaries lol. But it was super awesome, they brought in a live band with huge speakers they use in concerts and it was probably just a little bit too loud to be a church function but thats ok lol. Soo like everyone was dancing and we were sitting at the table eating our food, haha well not everyone was dancing cause there were 2 girls about our age sitting at one of the other tables. They weren’t members so I`m sure they didn’t know that missionaries couldn’t dance. All they saw was a super handsome American lol and Brazillian. They were staring us down and it was kinda awkward so we got up and left but they followed us lol. Elder Da Silva was like "Hold me back compa cause I can’t help myself,  I really wanna dance!" I did lol, but I busted out a few moves of my own in the kitchen where we were helping serve people. Then I guess the pressure got too much for him cause right out of the blue he was like ALRIGHT we're leaving! We did have an appointment so we left a little bit early. It has been raining here quite a bit so when we left the party it was pouring so hard, like as hard as the time when Jed and Jenny came down for spring break and it rained all weekend. Luckily I had dads coat so I was fine and dry, but Elder D. didn’t have anything and by the time we arrived he was soaked to the bone lol. But I prefer this weather over really,  really hot so I´m good.   I guess all the rain that the youth prayed for to not come came here to Colombia.

But It sounds like you are doin good Shay:) I´m glad you won another race and I.m glad you actually like those church dances, Dad I guess if she at least likes the church dances she might be ok;) haha I hated those dances they were horrible for me. The funnest one I think I went to was when me,  Gage and Andrew went and watched a movie in our church clothes. Haha I hope Gage is reading this cause I´m sure he remembers that but Gage. Si hay un meta para bautismos ahora, es 153 bautismos cada cambio, no se porque 153 pero eso es la meta. Y tenas significa como intense o algo así, hay mucho jerga aquí y realmente no se que significa en ingles solo cuando a usar lol. Disfrutar su nuevo área suena como usted le encanta.

Well if you’re  wondering why the title of this letter is ¨some peoples mothers make me mad¨ its cause we were supposed to have 2 baptisms but we only had one. The lady we baptized is super awesome and she is soooo strong in the church.  She has a little boy named Mauricio and he is the one I took the picture with. He is the sweetest little boy ever. But anyways we were supposed to baptize a 14 yr old kid too. We had the signature of his mom to baptize him and everything, but when I went to pick him up with a member his mom wouldn’t let him get baptized. I started to argue that she had already signed and that she had a great kid who’s  looking for the things of God and not for the things of the world like all of the other kids. But she wouldn’t have it.  I finally had to cool it and leave cause I didn’t want to argue with the mom and make her mad.  It wasn’t a good way to start the day but it got a lot better with church and the other baptism after the meetings. In that aspect I love the mission, cause you can have a horrible downfall and be so mad, sad, and feeling sorry for yourself,  but then right after that you have to go visit with another person and forget about the bad and just be a happy , carefree missionary. But hopefully we´ll keep working with him and his mom and he´ll get baptized. 

HEY PA HAVE FUN RIDIN MOTORCYLCES WITHOUT ME! I hope it doesn’t rain on ya, just pray for the rain to come here, I can take it for you:)

Ok mom so you asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Really I can’t think of a whole lot except for maybe a little bit of money to buy souvenirs down here. I haven’t spent all that much, you know me I always get kind of scared to spend my money, but I’m only here for 2 short years so I want to have some things from Colombia. Also I would tell you to send me some new pants cause I absolutely hate every pair I own. They are like an inch too short for one, and are not tapered at all so I look like a chubby , fat munchkin in high waters when I wear them. But I got them all fitted by a guy for like 15 bucks, they look sooooooo much better now. Oh one other thing, any kind of church music I WANT. We are able to listen to music by the church so send me CDS!!! if you can find the ones you gave me from last Christmas that would be great, I also really would like the singles ward soundtrack, I want to listen to the grandpa song lol. It’s always fun when grandpa comes when grandpa comes HOORRAAAYYY. OHHH and a cd by Stephanie Mabie she has a few songs on the lds efy page and I love every one of them, I know I´ve got kind of a weird thing for her music but that and any others that you think I would like. haha love you guys sooooo stinkin much! have a great week and I´ll talk to ya next Monday!

                                      -Elder Crook

My amazing, awesome and beautiful sister!!!

Wow Shay, I can’t believe how different you look to me after only being gone for 4 months. I was like "holy crap" when I saw your picture and Elder Da Silva looked over and told me "Por que su hermana es tan bonita y usted es feo" (why is your sister so beautiful and you're so ugly.) Yea he's a funny guy but he's right! Shay you just keep being yourself and don't change for anything k! Honestly I'm going to repeat Nicole’s words to you that she told me in her email. This just couldn’t have happened to a better person. Man honestly one of the toughest things about being out here so far away from home is that I can’t be right there with ya watching ya grow up into an awesome young adult. I love ya Shay and just get used to dad always pestering you about boys and all that good stuff:) It’s just a part of life;) Oh and puuuuhhhhlllleaaaaasssee tell mom that the sweatshirt you wore of mine with the cut off sleeves is called a party vest. She's soooooo out of the loop lol. But keep that thing nice so I can wear it when I get back K!!

Alright so we had to push the museum of Gold back to next week cause we don’t have a lot of money and don’t want to pay lol. But next money is the assignation when we get our 80 dollars. yea assignation is every 15 days so I have to budget lol. But anyways we went to a park here in our zone that is really close. It is pretty hi up so we could see all of Bogota again and it was way sweeet. We went with hermanas that showed us the way. The one hermana in the purple shirt named Hermana Suarez from Argentina was pestering me so much because she wanted to be my mom lol, I told her I didn’t want any girls in my family but she wouldn’t have any of it and kept asking and asking to be my mom. So to make her mad I told her that I wanted her daughter (yes she is training) Hermana Ramirez of Mexico to be my mom so she would be my grandma lol. SO I have a mom and grandma now even though I am one cambio older than my mom Hermana Ramirez. So I took pictures with them and sent them to you. Haha does all that make sense? I sure hope it does but they are way fun to hang out with. Haha whenever they call us or I call them I always talk in the worst Gringo accent I can muster lol. 

So I did get to watch conference in English, yes every session! It was sooooooooo great! Me and Elder Deaton just sat in a room all by ourselves and watched and took notes and talked. Hey so when is Colton going on his mission? He could leave right away I’m sure. You guys will have to keep me updated I have to say that I liked the Saturday session more. I loved both talks by Elder Uchtdorf on Saturday. Me and Elder Deaton were laughing soo hard cause Elder Uchtdorf ALWAYS talks about planes. I also loved the talk that D. Todd Christofferson gave in the priesthood session with Elder Eyrings talk coming in at a close second. But my two favorites were Uchtdorfs Saturday afternoon. where he talked about being happy. Something he said applied soo well to the mission cause there are a lot of us missionaries that are serving only just to get it over with. He said why are we always looking to when things are ending? Why not enjoy the ride and the things we have and are doing now? I gotta admit, its super hard not to think about going home, but then I think really? what do I have to look forward to after I’m back with my family...more  school and being stressed out 100 times more than I am now. So yeah I think about home, Its impossible not to. But I am really really really loving my time here. 

Dad I’m not sure I like the countertops:/ lol maybe if I were there in person my opinion would change but from the pictures I prefer the old crappy laminate ones lol. and FREAK you mole story was hilarious, I just about died here in the internet cafe. but I have a story that WON'T make you jealous: So Elder Da Silva got fleas last week, definitely from Elder Suarez who didn’t tell me that he had fleas. He wasn’t as clean as he could have been. BUT the good thing is that I didn’t get one flea bite, I don’t know how cause our beds our like 2 feet apart but I didn’t get them lol. So we called the health lady of the mission and she sent a guy to fumigate the house. Yeah he was pretty covered in flea bites so the guy went to town fumigating. When he was done everything in our room was soaked with his flea killing pesticide. So we had to hang everything up, our sheets,  blankets,  pillowcases,  everything. That night I slept on just a mattress with almost every article of clothing I have on. It was the worst night of sleep ever lol. But what was funny was that he fumigated the 2 other Elders Room too and we didn’t know about it. So when they got back home at 9 all their stuff was soaked too. We were laughing so hard at them because they were really upset. You guys might think that was kinda gross and nasty but I think it’s awesome. Our house got fumigated by a guy that had a suit that looked like darth vader. Oh and I’m pretty sure I didn’t lose any brain cells or have some toxic disease lol. I’m still normal, and all the stupid fleas are dead. 

Well I sure love you guys, love hearing from ya, love looking at the pics, and love laughing at all your great stories from home. Oh and Thanks Melanie for the letter! keep me up to date K!

                                                 -Elder Crook:)

Brazilians are Legit!!!

Ok hello everyone!! I just got back from a great day at MONSERATTE!! Boy can I tell you that my companion is a lot different from Elder Suarez. I really liked Elder Suarez but he is VERY straight laced and very strict. Which was good for me cause now I know how to work and study hard and really know how to use all of my day and not waste a minute. But we butted heads a little bit on p-days cause I wanted to go do stuff and he....well I’m not going to talk about our problems lol. But he was a really awesome dad for me and I love him. But Elder Da Silva is sooooo soooo sooo cool. He has an amazing story.  He was baptized like 2 years ago and when he had a year in the church he left for the mission. He is one of the first Brazillians here in the mission as well. He has read the bible various times and really knows a lot of biblical knowledge. So we are always having awesome in depth biblical conversations and I love it sooo much. He also was asked to be a member of the stone masons in Brazil so he knows quite a bit about them and told me he’s been in their temple. But anyways he’s such a jokester, a member asked me how much time I had left in the mission and he responded...An Eternity Hermana, an eternity. Reminded me of something dad would say to me to poke fun. But our lessons are filled with excitement and happiness and he really is a great teacher and makes me want to be just like him. He has become like my best friend here and yes dad we have to communicate in Spanish only. Elder Suarez spoke broken English so when I didn’t understand something he could explain it for the most part. But the only English Elder Da Silva knows is from American music. Oh did I tell you he was a  punk  before the mission. He showed me pictures with long hair, skinny jeans and a nose piercing. He looked straight out of a punk rock band. So we talk music a lot too. But usually when I really don’t understand something he can understand me if I speak to him in basic English. So guess what!! my Spanish has really come along, I feel comfortable talking on the phone, talking in the stores, and of course talking to our investigators and members. My next goal is to get really good at teaching all the lessons and trying to put my touch on things, cause it’s still kinda hard to really put my personality into things but I know it will come.....i have an eternity to learn this stuff!!! Its been a long long process but my Spanish is doing great. I live with another fellow Gringo from California and when he met me he thought I had a year in the mission cause of my Spanish, so that made me feel good:) 

Alright dad I really had to laugh at all your stories:) the Zombie Apocalypse, your bike (by the way I rode my bike the last 2 days of college on just the rim!) and of course the countertops. I can remember when we were re doing the driveway and putting in those steps next to it, we worked all day filling the spaces with sand and stomping on the stones so they were jusssssssstttttttt right:) and afterwords we`d re do them again cause they weren’t perfect, personally I couldn’t tell a difference but I just kept on helping my dear old dad:) I felt a twinge of guilt or something like that for you when you said it has been frustrating for you, and I really wish I could help you with your project cause when I look back at all the good times we have had I really love remembering all of our projects:) AND DANGIT NACHO GOT ERASED FROM THE TV!!! I AM REALLLYYY SAADDD. 

Mom haha thanks for your stories about the kindergarten kids.  Sometimes I wish I could be a kindergartener again living life in ignorance not worrying about anything other than having fun. It amazes me how children, no matter what their circumstances are in life, always are laughing, playing and have a smile on their face. You can imagine that I have seen some places here where the kids don’t have all they need, and are placed in quite rough families, but for the most part they are happy. Haha Im glad you have got to go with Shay to do her Homecoming activities and look for dresses, I really am proud of her and she is growing up too fast I think. I kinda want her to go back to the days she just wore sweatshirts and b-ball shorts:) but oh well haha. WAY TO GO though sweetie on running another great race with all of the elite girls, I didn’t get a letter from you dangit!!!  I hope you didn’t go and cry after I reminded you to wear deodorant and not eat beans before your activities. LOVE YA TOOTS:) 

Ok wow this letter is turning into a novel lol but we went to Monseratte today (it was my second time, but my compas first) but we decided to hike up the mountain so we didn’t have to pay for the trolley. It was almost 3000 meters like straight up. there were straight stairs almost the whole way up. We got some awesome pics but boy was I sweatin lol, yess dad I know Im a wuss and a doughboy but it was a little harder than I expected in a full suit and backpack too. But we got to the top ( I kinda felt like Rocky) and enjoyed the view and bought a few souveniers and planned our next p-day activity, which will be going to the museum of gold and the house of the president of Colombia. Oh I also saw some of the pictures on my background of my laptop in person. Like the giant Catholic church and the statue of a man with all the graffiti on it, If you look on my computer you will know which one. I was so excited to see it and I will send you pics next week! CON MUCHO AMOR

                     -Elder Crook

My Broken Family

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOO my baby sister toots is the HOMECOMING PRINCESS!!! Shay I’m not joking when I say this,  you really are a beautiful girl sweetie! and you deserve this recognition of your peers:) And WAY TO GO ON BEATING MONICA ANDERSON. Glad you could whoop up on ANYONE from marist. 

Hey PA don’t worry Im gonna tell about the Farting dog story lol and send me all the pictures from start to finish on the countertops!

MOMMA how is school? hope you are handling those kindergarteners. Last night I saw a mom dragging her child by the ear while he was screaming his head off, maybe you could give that a try?

Elder Pallo- No man no tenemos un meta para bautismos, pero nuesto meta para la mision es 10 nuevos investigadors cada semana. TENAS! Es difficil pero con fe en el senor pudimos cumplir la meta la ultimo semana!! A veces para los p days visitamos familias del barrio y jugar juegos. Me encanta sus cartas tambien y buenos suerte con sus ultimos 3 meses. TE AMO BRO!

Ok well first we had a baptism last Saturday!! It was the brother of Christian, the last one we had. Elder Suarez baptized him and it was just a great way to end the week!! Ok well if you are wondering why my letter for this week is so early, it is because we have cambios tomorrow and my father is getting transferred to be a Zone leader in Cucuta. Its kinda bittersweet cause I’m really excited for him to be a leader and go back to his first area where he started but I also kinda wanted him to stay with me and finish my training.  He’s awesome and I have learned so much and worked so hard with him. But my new comp was a zone leader in an area called Alamos. His name is Elder Dasilva and he is from Brazil. Elder Suarez is leaving tomorrow for his 20 hour long bus ride so we are writing early to give him time to pack and say goodbye to the members and our recent converts. Anyways I’m going to have 2 fathers and no mothers lol. PURE TESTOTERONE BABY! haha If you want a mom you have to ask a hermana to adopt you.  I dont think I’m gonna do that cause it sounds a little ridiculous lol. But I am excited to meet my new father and I think I’ll learn a lot from him too. Everyone thought that he would be the new AP but I guess he’s gonna be with me for at least one change. 

Ok on to the dog story lol, well remember the family of 4, I said we found last week.  Well they have a pug dog that looks like its straight out of Men in Black. When the chunky thing ran in I was like TALK!! I KNOW YOU ARE ABLE TO TALK TOBY (his name) but he just started smelling my backpack cause it has all kinds of sweets and treats in it (bet that doesn’t surprise anyone). Then the daughter asked what we do for lunch everyday and we answered that we eat with the members. Then the funny guy I am made a joke about how we eat beans everyday and that can be a little bit overwhelming. Right after that the freaking dog ripped one, it was the worst smelling fart I´ve ever been a part of.  Then my comp was like ELDER CROOK!!! POR QUE? I said no no no it wasnt me it was Toby! Everyone knew it was the dog but Elder Suarez likes to tease me lol. It was the worst timing ever! 

Ok I have one more story then I’m gonna send pics.  Of course it’s about the bus lol.  Half my mission has been spent on the bus. But anyways we were on it and it was soooo full, Elder Suarez said we were gonna get out and walk at the next stop, but I guess he meant in 2 stops. So it stopped and I got out and started walking, then looked for Elder Suarez and he was still on the bus. He told me to get back on but it was to full and I couldn’t, so he tried to get off and then the doors shut. Before they shut I was like ahh bueno, I’ll beat the bus to the next stop. By the way being alone without your comp is like a cardinal sin. So I took off sprinting feeling like batman running through the cool Bogota night. I didnt beat the bus but I never lost sight of it. Then Elder Suarez got off and I was like OHHH COMPA! and we gave each other big hugs in the street in front of tons of people, It was so awesome! I love you guys so much and I am wishing I took that typing class cause I am soooo Slow! 

                                         Elder Crook

SO this stupid computer won’t let me send pictures, so I’ll send you double the pics next week. MUCHO AMOR

Public Transportation and yup, you guessed it....MORE VEGGIES

Haha first of all I'd like to thank Gage for giving me that great idea to get rid of my veggies. Sounds like a great story for the diary bro. Man I love hearing from my amigos on missions.  I got letters from Josh,  Gage and Derrek. Derrek hasn't got his visa to Argentina yet so he is in the Cheese State of Wisconsin where absolutley no one speaks Spanish.  I think he likes it though. And Josh gave me a piece of good advice, "you make enemies on this mish just by wanting to do the right things and follow the rules." yeah he didnt exaclty tell me but I think his comp hates him for trying to follow the rules. Anyways thank you sooo much for that quote by CS Lewis mom and dad, I really like it and am gonna print it off and copy it to my study journal. Also I kinda forgot to bring my diary to the internet cafe this time with my letter outline, so if I'm all over the place (more than normal) sorry beforehand. Oh dad you need to send pics of the new countertops! and way to go Shay on your races.  I love to hear how fast you're going! I sure love you all, honestly I cant describe how happy I am to get  your letters and from the way your letters sound,  it sounds like you feel the love in my letters as well and that is my intention! WELL first I'll tell about the busses. Its funny how I talk about them in almost every letter but thats where all of the weird crazy and just plain legit stuff happens. The weird was: we witnessed a fight between 2 ladies over a seat, the one stomped off the bus in a huff and shouted "one day I'll find you!" and the whole bus went crazy hooting like a bunch of monkies! It was awesome and kinda funny at the same time. The crazy: a guy straight up fell backwards out of the buss, from the top step which is about a good 5 or 6 feet from the street, and me being the strapping young gentleman I am caught him and nicely set him out of my way so I could try to squeeze into the thing before it got all full. I think he was so dazed he didn't thank me lol. AND the LEGIT: so every day or so me and Elder Suarez have a bag of crazy goals we made up and we each have to pick one and do it. My goals have been, contact someone in a completley different way (of course I started to speak in English and that counted) and this last one was to preach the law of chastity to an entire bus of people, and guess what, yup I acheived it lol. I asked the drivers permission and then started just about yelling about the law of chastity! Man after the bus stopped to let people off,  it was empty, bare, not a soul exept for the man we were talking with, and guess what we got a new reference! Haha I love busses:) Ok those were the stories on the bus now I have to tell you another food story. So lastTuesday we were eating at a little resaurant with a sister and the waiter dude gave me 2 options for a side, obviously I had no idea what they were cause all the food is different here. So Elder Suarez said "the first is what was in the veggie soup yesterday and I have no idea what the second is" so I took a chance and ordered the second called ouyama. The first turned out to be peas, which would have been fine. But the ouyama is a gianormus fruit that tastes exactly like spaghetti squash. Yup I had to eat what looked like a giant orange turd that took up half my plate. and trust me my plate was NOT small. I should have used Gages technique lol but I ate every little bit of the orange turd. It tasted worse than an orange turd.

Well we had zone conference this week which was really fun cause we met up with another zone and I met some way cool people, like an Elder that was born in El Salvador but lived in Utah all his life so he is a latino with a gringo accent that also has a weird thing for rapping lol.  Yeah he rapped for me and I cant lie, I layed down a few rhymes myself lol. But at this conference we made a mission wide goal of 10 new investigators every week. At first I thought that it would be almost impossible. but Pres said if you do all you can do putting in the extra effort God will make up the difference. And that is what I would like to talk about now.

So we had been praying like crazy to find these 10, working like crazy to find these 10. And by Sunday only had 2. So before I went to bed Saturday night I told God I had the faith that we could find 8 tomorrow and I was going to do all in my power to find 8. Well it turns out that when you set your goals for the sky having faith in the Lord, and put your faith in action by working your butt off, God responds and blesses you. My butt is laying somewhere in the street lol, but guess what, we found 8! This week was such a learning experience that I will never forget. We found a family of 4 yesterday and 4 others that want to learn more. I cant believe how blessed I have been as a missionary for just a short period. 

Darnit I have lots more to say but I dont have the time, but haha The Big Catholic church is advertising trips to Dubai and Cancun to get more assistance. Remided me of the story dad told me about Elder Mitchell. And next letter I have to tell you the funny story about the family of 4 and their pug dog. Lots of love!!!

                          Elder Crook

Life just couldn't be better

Hey guys guess what I ate for lunch? you all would be soo proud of me. I had pure vegetable soup, no potatoes no meat nothing but green beans, corn and carrots. Yeah I pounded it out, can’t lie right now I’m kinda missing my pasta roni and frozen pizzas but I’m full and that’s all that matters! Haha dad I don’t have a belly yet and am still a solid 180, but my companion makes fun of me all the time cause he says I eat a lot, which I do but all we do is walk all day so I’m not fat. Yes last Sunday, Santiago and William Blanca came to church and sat next to me in sacrament. They are awesome!  It made me feel so good cause William said before he left, we just wanted to make sure that you are content and doing well here in Bogota:) Thanks to Moises for sending him. haha I also had another experience like that. We were waiting for the bus and a man said Elders! Que Mas, (whats up) we started talking to him and he has a son on a mission in Mexico and he said he first learned about the gospel in Sogomoso.. I was like WAIT, do you know Moises Garcia? Well of course he did lol, his name is Jorge Bernal and he has a sister named Lujon Gomez. Really small world, haha.  We were only waiting for the bus and I met another person who knows Moises.  So dad thanks for the quote by Elder Hales. I finally figured out that I can print stuff in the internet cafes so I printed that letter and wrote that quote in my study journal. I also realized that I don’t read your letters as carefully as I should.  I am so pressed for time that I miss stuff. If you’re thinking that I’m writing girls than you thought wrong lol, I only write you guys and Josh. But its stressful  cause I want you guys to know absolutely everything that goes on here, haha its probably one of the most stressful times of the week for me:) But today I didnt get a letter from Josh so I just relaxed and read all your letters, they make me so happy! Its crazy to think that Gage is coming home already and has his travel plans back to Coos Bay. Can’t lie though Gage, your letters are super short. But I’m glad you set such a good example for me.  I can remember hugging you goodbye like it was yesterday! Haha and how is Aaron doin with his truck? Sounds like its all gussied up and tricked out. Oh and how are Rodney’s survivorman adventures going? lol, that guy is awesomely crazy. I can remember when we`d all go out to the dunes, us the Pallos and Rodney and sometimes Alexx. Now we`re all in different states and countries, funny how things change. So I got grandma Carlenes letter finally, and a dear elder from Lani that she sent on the day I entered the Provo mtc. Thanks for those and I enjoyed reading a handwritten letter, it was nice. Oh and guys I love the hamburger pictures and the ones of Shay in california, Can’t lie,  jumping off things into water is one of my favorite things so I was just a tiny bit jealous, but Im sure counting my blessings here and trying to soak up life in Bogota. Haha funny story, we actually couldn’t get on a bus it was so packed. Elder Suarez and I were hanging out the doorway and the doors couldn’t shut. I was grabbing the indide rail for dear life for fear the bus would take off with us halfway out. Elder Suarez was like VAmos! we can do it, so I strengthened my grip expecting to ride the bus with half of my body hanging off  the edge. but we had to get off lol. Oh and we also run after the busses a lot, and I always have to get in front of Elder Suarez because if I run behind him I about die of laughter because he is so uncoordinated and can’t run worth a crap, honestly one time I was laughing so hard we almost got separated (me not on the bus and him on it) but I made it of course. Also I have another story; so we give an amazingly large amount of priesthood blessings to the sick. I always do the annointing and finally after 4 weeks I have the prayer down, so Friday we had to give one to a baby of a less active family. Before I was thinking finally! I have the prayer down and won’t have to read it or redo it. But the baby girl had 4 of the most amazingly unprounounceable names ever. So I kept trying and trying to say the full name and pronounce it right. By the 5th try the whole family was snickering and then the 6th time they were full on laughing, even my comp couldn’t keep a straight face, I however was not laughing and getting a little annoyed and irritated, trying to be reverent cause this was a blessing after all. So I finally got it right and said the rest of the prayer while everyone was trying to calm down.  I really didn’t think it was funny at the time but now I am laughing to myself telling you about it. Needless to say that family will never forget the time when the numnut gringo tried to pronounce their babies name for a blessing.  So way to go Shay on your race! and good luck tomorrow, freaking smoke Katie Potter for me and I’ll be expecting to hear from you next week. And how is it going on getting a homecoming date:) from my experience junior year I can remember I was sweating up a storm asking my date, but it turned out really fun and something I really enjoyed. Good Luck! and remember, if you dont have a date this year dad WILL make you ask for one next year, this I am sure of. Oh and the pic is of me and my comp walking outside of our apts, we had the security guard take it about an hour ago. Wow this letter is HUGE, I know mom and dad will like it but anyone else might have got bored and stopped reading in the middle.   I love you all and am really enjoying my time here in Bogota, its seriously almost like 80 degrees!! Awesome.

                                                                                                   Elder Crook 

The blind leading the blind

Boy I cant believe how fast this thing is going! Feels just like deja vu sitting in the same spot on the same internet cafe on my 3rd p-day! I get such a boost reading your guys` letters. I also get emails from Elder Josh Fred Kilts every week too and of course they are hilarious and soooo awesome. Well this week was pretty normal, we helped some Elders in our zone move apts. Oh we have 8 elders and 4 hermanas in our zone lol with 5 leaders, 2 zone and 3 disrict leaders and 3 greenies. It’s always a pretty good joke when we have district or zone meetings cause there are more leaders than regular missionaries. But anyways we helped them move into a bomb apt that really made me jealous lol. They have a workout gym in their complex! That was a good change of pace and I really enjoy talking and getting to know the other Elders in our Zone. One of the best parts of the mission so far is just meeting all of the different kids from different countries and backgrounds, its been a trip! Haha we also got our water cut for about a day and a half cause I guess the water tanks were being cleaned. I’m sure you guys can imagine just how great that was without water to shower with, wash dishes or flush the toilet(prolly the worst). But all is well now and just to let you know the water is hot too, so that is really nice. Haha also I ate something strange (for me anyways) its common here in Colombia, but its called Mondogo. I’ts the inner layer of the stomach skin of the cow, Im pretty sure thats what it is (you can ask Moises to confirm cause Im sure he knows) But anyways it tasted pretty good, the only bad thing was that the texture was  the worst thing ever. It was like slimy and rubbery and very hard to chew and swallow. I got through it though lol, haha I think by the time I come home I’ll be able to eat pretty much anything. We had the nasty salad again at the same members house and it wasn’t as bad the 2nd time. Also I got to go on splits with another gringo for a full day in my own area in preparation for me taking out missionaries in the CCM. I’ll get to that, but his name is Elder Cannon and he’s from Utah.  I had a great time teaching lessons with him and I only got lost in my area for a few minutes, It’s pretty huge by the way. SOOOOOO now to my big day. You might be wondering why I titled this email the blind leading the blind. Well its because I got to be on my own with two brand spanking new missionaries from the Colombian MTC. I thought it was gonna be like the blind leading the blind but I found out that you’ve just got to act like you know what you’re doing and people will follow you lol. I actually do kind of know what I’m doing but that’s just something I learned lol. We contacted, had a lesson, ate lunch, contacted some more and then met back at the stake center at the end of the night. It was sooo much fun! I feel like a fully functioning missionary able to make decisions and find addresses and think on the move , it was just a great experience. The pictures are of the 2 new latinos from the MTC and a zone activity we had today.  The hermanas made us a heavenly lunch lol. 

Well I have a little time left so I think I’d like to share with you all just a little bit of the things that I have learned. One night this week I remembered a text dad sent me when I was back in college. "Time is always passing us by, its how you use it that makes it special" Thank you so much for that dad because at the time when I remembered it,  I was just so furious with myself about not being able to understand everything. Honestly if there would have been a cat or dog in the street I probably would have killed it. I was so horribly mad and frustrated but then I remembered that. Time is a funny thing, it can either be spent sulking or fretting and worrying or enjoying every little experience good, bad or normal. I realize that this time I can never get back, never do over, never change. So I’m just enjoying the ride and the adventure of life. I honestly can’t believe sometimes God would trust me enough to send me on a mission but here I am, better make the most out of it. I have also learned that God is someone to trust in. Every night when I go to sleep I just feel so peacefull because I have God on my side, I am never alone. Haha I saw a guy riding his motorcycle today and he was singing at the top of his lungs. I remember exactly when I would be on a ride with dad singing a song or just yelling to all the world I LOVE MY DAD!! HE RIDES MOTORCYCLES WITH ME! those are little moments that need to be treasured and enjoyed. I am doing my best to cherish all the time I have here and enjoy it also. I love you guys soooo very much. Mom I cant wait to hear your voice, honestly. I love you all tons...chow!

                                                                Elder Crook