Struggles, Successes and Kindness

This was just quite a week. Next one will be better.

.......broke the chain for my necklace, the arm on one pair of my glasses and a part of my watch. And I`ve been having some isolated pain just below/behind my right ribs, so we went to the Doctor and they said I have colitis. Only fruits, veggies, oatmeal and rice all week for me. Well, and other stuff but it feels like that's all I've eaten.  I don't know if they were right. We`re probably going to be going back to the Doctor's mid week when I finish my meds.  I hate not feeling well because it makes Spanish even harder. I'm not able to focus the same and some days we weren't able to do much work...  But I got a blessing and I know this is just another thing to help me learn something new. 

And part of our hard luck this week, we misunderstood what time the Women's Conference was at and only saw the last part of President Uchtdorf speaking.  I really was looking forward to that too. But Hermana H. ( My MTC companion) was sick and couldn't go, so the four of us are going to watch/read it somehow later on.

Otherwise things are good, we`re working hard and probably going to have my first baptism in a couple weeks. His name is Jesus. Hahaha yep. I think that's pretty great! My companion`s little brother is only 5 and he thinks that we`re going to baptize  "Jesus."

I probably won't have enough time to write my big email this week... We were serving some members and they've let us wash our clothes in their washing machine. They serve us so much and are always there for us.  And, they have 2 little adorable kids! So in return we cleaned their house for them :)

Hermana Crawford

--- This is the Women's Conference Session that the Hermana's only saw a part of.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2014/10?lang=eng&vid=3810237340001

Of Head Colds, Hurricanes and Leaky Houses‏

So we had quite the week this week! After I last wrote, we had to go straight back to our house to wait out the storm. It didn't rain to hard the first night, and we were wondering what all of the fuss was about, but then it proceeded to rain for 3 days or so. That is basically unheard of here in the desert! They don't have any sort of drainage system in the streets here, so they just turn into rivers. The streets have basically all of the damage, other then a few mostly dead cactus arms that got blown off during the winds. Most of the streets have potholes that are 1-2 feet deep and anywhere from 1 to 6 feet across. Some dump trucks were out with sand the other day trying to make the roads more drive-able. Its kind of funny watching all of the cars try and navigate their way through, and its made for some interesting busing!

During the rain 2 weeks ago, my companion and I got drenched trying to make it to our appointments. After a door or two didn't answer, we realized that nobody really wants to have soaking wet missionaries in their house anyways, so we went back took some pictures and dried off. But sadly, this week we were both a bit out of shape with some pretty good head colds, as well as half of our district! Hermana R. and I ended up resting during the two days when the storm was the strongest, so it worked out just fine! But I think we learned that we need to avoid the rain better. We feel a lot better now though and are back to working hard!

As far as the leaky houses part, we had a good centimetre and a half of water throughout or house. It took a few days to get it all out... But I think we finally are dry again :P There is a random metal plate that was used to try and seal over an old heater vent or something in the roof, but it wasn't done very well. Once we realized what was going on, we put as many buckets under it as we could, but the water was also leaking through some of the cracks we have in the foundation. We got all of our stuff up and out of the way before anything could happen though! Just makes for some good stories more then anything, but thanks everyone for trying to keep an eye on me down here! Baja California is what really needs prayers though, the people there got the brunt of Hurricane Odile.

 Odile Sept 17

This week we weren't able to work very much, so when we did we had to work smart. We were very diligent in following the spirit's direction. Saturday I went on intercambios with Hermana G. (the companion of my MTC companion) so that our companions could rest, and we had a couple hours to cover our two areas. All of the people we talked to that day came to church with us the following Sunday. The most amazing moments as a missionary are really when you feel as though you've been able to be a successful instrument in the hands of the Lord.

Hermana Crawford

And I just want to send out a general apology, I have over 30 emails to respond to and I'm still a bit behind. Please forgive me! But I love hearing from everyone and how you are all doing! Just please be patient with me as I try to find time to write all of you!

Week of Weird weather

Another week of working hard. We are trying to find new people who want to learn more, so most of our time is spent looking up people and talking to people. This past week was still pretty hot, but it's started to get cooler. Everyone tells us it gets better around the middle of October. But whenever we're in the house, we have the air conditioner any where from 22-27. I never would have thought I would find 27 to be relieving!

The weather this week otherwise has been pretty interesting. We had a pretty good storm at the end of the week, with hail and all! I never would have thought that we would have hail here. But After we finish writing, we're basically on lock down. We have to go back to our houses early with Hurricane Odile on its way. It doesn't look like it will hit us too hard, but they are taking precautions anyways.

We have a little black cat with white paws and it's favorite place to spend time is on top of our air conditioner. It'll jump down randomly in the middle of the night. Even though Hermana R. warned me about it, it still gave me a pretty good fright the first few times. Especially when it happens in the middle of the night. The cat should be a lot fatter for all of the noise that it manages it make... We're working on a name for him.

We've been working a lot with two people this week. One is a family with 4 kids. The mom is one of the sweetest people I've ever met. Her son A. is probably one of my favorite people in this area. He has Downs, and is one of the gentlest souls I've ever met. He is very smart and always excited when we come. He is also always very ready whenever we want to pray. Her daughter L. has been practicing praying with her mum, but is always too nervous to do it in front of us. One of the most precious things in the world is hearing a little one pray to their Heavenly Father. We have a lot of kids in this ward, and they are always ready to help bless the food or pray in a lesson.

I know that Heavenly Father is always listening. We are all so very important to him. Praying to God is really like talking to your parents. It's so important that we aren't just repeating the same thing all the time. I couldn't imagine if my future kids said the exact same words to me all the time! But I'm grateful that Christ gave us an example of the model of prayer. I know that it's only through prayer that we can come to know spiritual truths. And that as we pray, we really can feel of our Heavenly Father's love for us. And the evidence is everywhere that He is listening as we find answers to questions and help in times of need.

Have a great week :)
 Hermana Crawford

Push up Competitions and "Changed for Good"

What a week! P. is an area much larger then J., and we have a lot of work to do.  The members here are pretty great though, and we've received a lot of references of people they want to share the gospel with. 
There were a lot of cambios within the elders and a few changes within our Zone. It made for quite a different flow at the junta this morning, but it was a lot of fun. It felt a lot more like home, like a bunch of brothers running around. We had a push up competition, and I managed to hold my own among the sisters. Good times, and I'm sure a lot more fun memories will be made. Also, we now have more Canadians down here in the same zone! It was pretty funny to see someone else running around in a Canadian t-shirt. 
There is also a lot of Mexican pride going on down here. September 15th is their day of Liberation, so everywhere is selling patriotic things. Half of the cars have Mexican flags hanging out the windows too.
The mountains look very scenic after a rainstorm and are all covered with plants and what not so they are usually very green.

This past week of change, and leaving my first ward and companion behind has really helped me to appreciate how precious time is. We have such a very short time to make a difference in peoples lives, in every single person that we come into contact with. Not only here in the mission, but in every day life too. Our actions and words really do have a huge affect on people, and can leave them better off if we strive to make a difference. I've thought a fair bit this week about lyrics a member of my branch presidency in the CCM read to me. It's called "Changed for Good" from the play Wicked.

I've heard it said,

that people come in to our lives for a reason, 

bringing something we must learn.
And we are lead 

to those who help us most to grow, 

if we let them and we help them in return...
I know I'm who I am today because I knew you...
I don't know if I've been changed for the better but
Because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good

Nobody we meet is a coincidence. Everyone can help us learn something and become better people. Our Heavenly Father loves us all so very much and is constantly placing people in our path that can help us, and others that we can help. It's all part of the gran plan He has to help us reach our highest potential.
Hope you can find a way to make the difference in someone's day :)

Hermana Crawford

Hummingbirds and Sure Foundations

Transfers! I can hardly believe they came already! Im off to P. with Hermana R.  P. is a ward about the size of home, but has around 700 members listed as living in the area. It's not far from my first assignment and am still in the same zone! It was actually a very easy transfer, because Hermana R.'s old companion and I traded. Hermana R.  has basically the same time out here as Hermana H. (my first companion in Mexico), but also learned Spanish pretty quickly and I'm hoping I can continue to improve mine a lot more this transfer.

Other then that, we had to help the other Hermanas move this morning, and welcomed the new elders into the ward. They don't currently have any progressing investigators in the area, but I'm sure they'll do just fine. Meanwhile, we had so many appointments last week that we almost couldn't keep up! I'm really excited to be done training, because that's an hour more of the day that we can be out working hard. After 3 months together it was hard to say goodbye to the ward and to my companion, but I know they'll all be just fine.

I'm really excited to be working here  in my new area.  There are 3 pairs of missionaries here. Another pair of Hermanas, and our district leader and his companion. The other pair of Hermanas includes Hermana H. (My CCM companion)! We're really excited to be in the same district together again. I love that I've been able to stay close to her so far, it's nice to have the same face around for the first months of my mission :) This area is a fair bit larger so we'll be doing a fair bit more walking... but everyone says that September always brings cooler weather! I hope that comes true soon.

One of the small things I've really enjoyed watching the last few weeks was the progress of baby Hummingbirds outside of a members house! The nest was tiny, and the eggs were smaller then jelly beans. When we first encountered the nest, there were 2 eggs. And then a week later, we only found one baby bird. We weren't surprised that an egg was lost, because of the location of the nest. There are a few trees in the street, but the nest was in the smallest and frailest of them all. And it was built in the farthest part of the lowest branch. Honestly I don't know very much about the nature of Hummingbirds and how they choose the location to build their nests, but this seemed like the most unwise of locations.

Maybe if she had picked a more sturdy tree, or was closer to the trunk. Or perhaps higher up, away from passer-by and the stray dogs. This is so very easily comparable to where we are choosing to have the foundations of our lives. Are we picking the sturdy and secure place to base our faith and to raise our families? Or are we out on a limb.
I've seen a lot of different walks of life since I've been out here, and having that sure foundation really makes a difference in peoples lives. Not only if it's just something they've always had close, but also if it's a change that they are willing to make. I always think of Helaman 5:12*, and how a sure foundation really can protect us from the storm. This foundation or tree trunk or whatever you want to call it can't be something that will change with the wind. That's why we have a Saviour, who gave us a perfect example of how to live, and is there for us every step of the way. Even when we aren't so perfect ourselves.

Where are you building your foundation?

Hermana Crawford

*Helaman 5:12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.