September 28th, 2015

This week was most excellent, we had miracle after miracle happen. It was pretty wild, and we had a lot of help from fasting yesterday with investigators. And we also went to Guayaquil thursday for a training with an area seventy Elder Calderon, it was one of the best conferences Ive had in the mission. I had a little bit of personal revelation right before we started, I opened my scriptures to Mormon 1, and reading from verse 15 he says that he, being somewhat of a sober mind, was visited by the Lord, and tasted and knew of Jesus. In spanish it says "serious" instead of sober, so I took that in that moment that to be "visited by the Lord" we must be serious by nature. Thats something that Im not as everybody knows, but I am a little better now haha. But after noting that, in the 4 hours Elder Calderon talked to us, he mentioned various times being serious. Making all life decisions with seriousness and circumspection. Treating every moment as a missionary seriously. Not being boring in life but taking life seriously. Hes a serious person Elder Calderon but hes still one of the funniest and most animated people Ive ever met, but he still teaches really effectively, he really pumped me up for the rest of my mission. More than anything to keep working and suffering and sacrificing. Because thats how we come to know the Lord, through passings through trials.

So with some of the investigators we have, the spirit definitely was present. We have been teaching a family, the Pita family, who is a single mother and her two kids. They have been listening for a while, and have read a bunch from the Book of Mormon, and have progressed a bunch, but had always had an excuse Sunday in the morning. Well in the middle of the week she told us something that had happened the night before, she was in bed and felt like someone sat down at the foot of her bed. She didnt see anyone but felt the words in her mind 'Im waiting for you at my church'. She told us that she took that as a machete for not applying what weve told her, which she does recognize as the Lords church. She and her family came to church.

Another was a man Jhon Suarez, hes the husband of a less active member were working with. Theyve been married for 21 years, the wifes been a member on and off with activity all her life, and he has never stepped foot in a church building. Hes a tiny bit hard of heart. This week we were teaching him and we got down on our knees to have him pray for an answer if what he had read so far in the Book of Mormon is true (he had read quite a bit). He prayed, he asked, and he stayed kneeling with his eyes closed for 3 or 4 minutes. He opened his eyes, we asked what he felt, and he said he felt an unexplainable peace. We asked what he would do with that answer. He said 'That covenant you guys are talking about'. He also came to church. It was a miraculous week with investigators, I know without a doubt God is guiding us, and that our fast worked.

I feel so greatful to be here as a missionary. Its all true. Everything. All of its true.


Love Elder Crisp

September 14th, 2015

I feel really good here in Duran, we've had a really good time this week talking with everybody here. Whats intersting about this mission is that even though by distance its not that big, only about 4 hours from one limit to the other, there is a notable difference in the people in every place ive been. Im super close to my first ward so ill prolly be going over there for exchanges. The people here are way super open to us, they remind me a lot of my first sector, i think i took that for granted when i was just starting the mission, talking like i had a sock in my mouth. So I enjoyed meeting a bunch of people this week, weve taught a lot, theres a bunch of member families that are incomplete.


A huge impression I had while teaching the plan of salvation a couple times was how clear and logical and perfect it is. All the principles, about the creation, the fall, the atonement, and judgement, are not at all new to me, but as we explained them to a family of less actives and a family of investigators there were some points that just clicked if that makes sense. But ya Christs suffering doesnt purify us against our will. His pronouncement 'Here I am, send me' wasnt the end. The way to our agency and personal accountablility to accept the atonement is to make and keep covenants with the lord, nothing more. God put the authority to do so in His church. So trying some other way doesnt work any better than trying to ressurrect our own dead bodies. Trying to repent without making or renewing a covenant doesnt work. or making some church in your garage doesnt work. There wont be any excuse good enough for coming up short when we are taken before God. Im grateful for the knowledge and testimony that God has given me of His Son, His plan, and His truth. I love you all,

Elder Crisp

September 7th, 2015

I was transfered this morning to the same city where I started my mission, Duran. Im way excited to get to work here, the wards called Los Cerezos. My companion is Elder Brown hes from Chandler Arizona, were gonna kill it here together. This is probly my last ward so Im really really feeling the urgency to give it my all...the mission can be like a race, but its not a 100m where you sprint for 15 seconds and your good to go, nor is it a marathon where you pace yourself and slow down sometimes to be able to be consistent. No you have to sprint all 26 miles. I dont think Ive completely done that all my mission, but Im gonna sprint non stop till the end. Im gonna make this time count more than any other in my mission. I love the fact that this message is for all, anybody can recieve it. Anybody who is willing to listen and humble to recieve Gods help were gonna find them.


3 Nephi 9:13 O all ye that are spared because ye were morerighteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, andrepent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me yeshall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy isextended towards you, and whosoever will come, him willI receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.


I love this mission, I love Christ and what he did for us, I love the church he established.


Love, Elder Crisp