Baptisms and Blisters

Mom,
My trainer's name is Elder Sturgell he is very cool.  We have baptism dates every weekend this coming month, I think it is like 6 to 8 people and we have tons of investigators.  We are walking everyday, I have blisters on my feet and am just waiting for them to harden up so I'm not waddling everywhere.  No, I haven't met any general authorizes yet; they live in a more rich area than I'm at.  I'm serving in Kerns right now, its like the ghetto here, it's weird there are so many Mexicans its nuts.  Me, my companion, and a guy getting baptized are going to the priesthood part of general conference, you might see me on TV, but I think for the most part we will be at a members house watching.  I don't know the address yet, but the lady is so cool she is great.  We don't have a temple in my areas, but there are 3 in the whole mission, its pretty cool.  It is beautiful out here and the members are great.  So far I love it here.
The missionaries are over stakes, not wards, so we attend 6 different wards in a tiny area.  I sat in 3 different sacraments yesterday, it was weird.  Now you know how the missions have a hard time finding people (in Ashland), it's because they don't go out and knock on doors because they say its not productive.  The area out here; we find people on the street and we talk a lot.  So, I don't know what they are doing wrong, but it works.

Dad,
We got iPads the first day out, but I don't use it very much.  Yeah Facebook is going to be out soon, we have to go to a meeting about that here soon.  It's interesting, I can watch church videos at night before bed, it's cool.  I need to buy some paper to send letters home.  Since I have an iPad, I can just send pictures from that, so I didn't really need the camera.  I love it out here, but I miss my boots.  I'm getting blisters from these shoes and it sucks a lot!  I don't have a way to keep teaching and not be walking.  I haven't had the chance to look at the bikes, but my companion said it would just be best to use the ones out here.  that way you don't have to pay to ship it out.

Greenie Week

Dad,

We have protesters out front (of the MTC) for the past 2 days and its kind of funny. Yeah, I have been getting them (the letters).  I love hearing from home, I will be leaving Wednesday, so try not to send too many past Tuesday afternoon; because I might not get them.  I have a few pictures, but I just got out of the gym; so I don't have my camera.

 

I'm trying to find ways to help Grandma Char, please help me find things to send her to help her choose.

 

Mom,

The protesters aren't violent they are just yelling.  We are safe, all doors lock, and you have to have a card to get in; so its safe here. All the letters are in the room, so I will answer the questions when I mail stuff out after I get into the field tomorrow morning.  I'm excited!

 

Oh and I got new scriptures for revelation on my mission and my old ones are for me .

 

 

March 26, 2015

Dear Brother and Sister Crawford,

What a pleasure it was to welcome Elder Dakota Crawford into the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission.  His first day with us included breakfast and orientation at the mission office, a training session, lunch and of course, meeting his first companion. I am impressed by his desire to serve.  He is well and in high spirits as he anticipates the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.  Please be assured that we will be watching over him while he is here.  I'm attaching photographs taken as he was welcomed at the mission office.

After prayerful consideration, an excellent missionary, Elder Sturgell, has been assigned as his trainer and first companion.  I am attaching our Family Guidelines which we urge you to follow.  We have learned from experience the importance of family and friends following these guidelines.  Please share the guidelines with those who may write to him.  Your compliance of these guidelines can reinforce your missionary's willingness to follow the guidelines in the Missionary Handbook.

All hard-copy letters and packages should be sent to the mission, addressed to Elder Dakota Crawford at the address listed above. 

Thank you for raising such an outstanding young person, worthy and willing to serve the Lord full time in our mission.  I know you will be blessed for the sacrifices that make his service possible.  May the Lord's choicest blessings be yours.

Sincerely,

Robert E. Chambers
Mission President

 

 

 

MTC 2015

Hey mom,  I sent dad an email with some goals for you.  It is about 2:30 here and we are doing some clothes.  You might be home here soon from your work out.  Tell Blair I love her for me.  It is going great!  I don't have many pictures yet, I'll send some when I get to the field.  I love you all.

Hey Dad,

I'm  having an amazing time.  We went to the temple today and it was energizing, I feel so amazing right now.  I miss you guys back home and my puppy.  In the temple today I was thinking about her when she crawled up on me and laid between my legs and fell asleep that night we stayed up and watched Bruce Almighty, I miss the dumb things she would do, but I will get to see her in no time.  This time will fly I'm sure.

I want all of you after dinner to study the Book of Mormon, read the last 2 paragraphs in the intro, even though, you are members your testimony can and will be strengthened.  Then read from First Nephi and read till you reach Mormon, read at least 3 columns a night.  You will be done with in a year, then pray to know if it's true. We go through life as members thinking we  don't  need to read, just wait till church; but our faith will not grow and eventually we can fall away.  Elder Bednar said, a great percent of missionaries will fall away afterwords and it's because they are just going off a testimony and that's  not enough.  So I want you, mom, and Kayla, when she is there, to read; build your faith; step outside your comfort zone and be a missionary.  You as members are just as much a missionary as I am.  We are surrounded by His children and the worth of souls is great to Heavenly Father, as President Monson said, "Dare to stand alone, dare to make it known."

Love,

Elder Crawford

 The Book of Mormon introduction last two paragraphs:

 We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

 Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the
Messiah.
Book of Mormon link here

Farwell Ohio

 

Monday, 9 March 2015

Spent P-day (Personal Day) with Ashland and Wooster Elders

Hey so far I made breakfast and watch them exercise while I cooked. Then I studied 1Nephi 14-16 and it talked about them (Nephities) finding the ball of fine brass and that lead them in the wilderness to fertile lands for food and water and about the great church that is the whore of the earth and that the wrath of god will fall on it and there would be fighting between good and evil and also about the bow of fine steel breaking and him making a better one with wood.

 Then we talked a little bit and drove to the library to email and we will be meeting the Wooster elders around noon. We might go see Dave today to say goodbye and I have no clue what will be planned for later.

Love, 

Elder Crawford

 

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

6:45 am flight to Detroit, MI was cancelled.  I was very discouraged by this, feeling like I would never get out to my mission.

2:30 pm flight was right on time.  I flew to Atlanta, Georgia to make my connecting flight to SLC.  While at the airport I met some teachers from the MTC.  They had me teach them a lesson from the discussions.  It was a great way to spend my layover.

7:45 MST, I reached the Great Salt Lake Valley and arrived to the MTC at 9:30 pm.

Set A Part

 Today was a wonderful and amazing experience to be set a part again.  It is great!  I like it.

MTC 2014

Provo, Utah February-March 2015