March 16th, 2015

The week was really interesting being in a trio but it was cool. What happened is they closed one of the two sectors in this ward, Bellavista, and one of the companions each stayed. So we have been working a lot to keep it like theres still 4 missionaries and 2 sectors here, working a lot in splits and whatnot. There isnt too many people really progressing but there can be. Theres a bunch of members that can help but the truth is that they dont want to right now cause the missionaries lately have been lazy and rude and disobedient. So theres a lot to deal with right now trying to fix those problems. Our duty as missionaries to represent Christ is not just to set an example or gain trust with people outside of his church or trying to come back. Its also so that the members who want to help in the salvation of another can have a worthy and powerful source of help. Anyone would trust Christ with a referal obviously but sadly these members wouldnt (cant) trust the missionaries right now. Something I spoke about sunday cause i had to give a talk and I mentioned that when we invite them to go on a visit to a less active or investigator, or to invite their friends to church, its simply an invitation to help in the eternal salvation of that person. That its a responsibility, cause like when Christ told Peter when hes converted to strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:32) If were converted, we are willing to work to strengthen our brethren. Having a testimony like peter had wont be enough to save ourselves, but also to be converted, and we cant be converted if we dont fortalize those around us Being called Gods people means that were willing to mourn with those who mourn, to lift the weight of others, to confort those who need to be comforted, to always be his witness (Mosiah 18:8-10). Were killing it out here and Im getting really excited for conference in 3 weeks to listen to prophets seers revelators called of God. Im happy to be here in Quevedo sharing this perfect restored gospel designed by our Father in heaven!


Elder Crisp


los 3 nefitas (the 3 Nephites)

March 9th, 2015

Sorry I gotta write super quick cause Im super late, just to say that Im alive, today I was transfered again. I "killed" my companion Elder Gonzalez, hes done with the mission and because there was an odd number of missionaries I got kicked out and put in a trio. Im in a big city way far away from the rest of the mission, called Quevedo. My companions for right now are Elder Camacho a costarican, and Elder Ordoñez from Honduras. Itll be a really interesting week working with 2 companions but the city were in is known as the paradise of the mission cause the people are a lot more ready to recieve the gospel here. So ya thats whats going on, its been a wild day, i hope every one has a good week!

Elder Crisp

March 2nd, 2015

It was a satisfying week and we had a baptism, of a young women Paola. It was a pretty cool experience with her cause even though her sisters and mom are members (she lives apart from them) she was super opposed to the message at first, she had previously been baptized in another christian church. She repeated a billion times the first night we met her in january that there is no true church of jesus christ that any road will do and that nothing will convince her otherwise. She came to church a few times with her family, but didnt really listen when we tried to teach her. Her whole attitude changed when one day when we went to her house we found her sitting outside, super down from a bad day she had had....she told us that we came at just the right time, that we were answers to her prayer and "angels".

That one moment is when she really started to act and have desires to follow the restored gospel. Its amazing how often that kind of thing happens, where we just happen to be in the right place in the right time, that really led to the conversion of paola. after being a missionary for over a year I still cant accept the belief that Im an "angel", i disagree with that haha. But i do know that even though im nowhere near being a perfect missionary or disciple of Christ, God does use us as missionarys, he kinda just throws us where he needs us to be without us even realize it. Thats a lesson for anybody in life too....the small, seemingly unimportant decisions we make sometimes can make the huge difference for our own salvation, or even better some one elses. Thats a huge testimony of our Father´s love for us.

I read the book of Helaman this last week which is full of super good scriptures, and i also listened to a talk from President Bensen "book of mormon the keystone of religion". He tells that a huge chunk of the book is focused on the time right before the coming of Christ, right when the times were most important. That is super evident in Helaman, that because of their combinations and pride, and apathy, they started to fall, the chosen people of the lord, right as the son of God came into the world. Im sure satans gonna get worse and worse as we get closer and closer to the coming of christ, and I think the invitation from bensen to learn from the Nephites of how to prepare for that coming is wise. I hope every one has a good one.


Elder Crisp

February 23rd, 2015

The first few days of the week were pretty wild and we couldnt leave to teach or anything. We tried to leave for a second to buy a cola at the corner and all of our neighbors dumped a ton of water and eggs on us it was crazy. Literally all of the people in the street were covered in paint, the whole country was shut down just to get dirty and wet. Ha so that was cool, trying to start back up again after the war died down wasnt too easy. But this week we didnt have that many new investigators or anything. We do have two planned baptisms for this saturday with some people weve been working with, the both arent super sure. Ones name is paola whos 17, all her sisters are members but she had been going to a different church, but shes been getting involved with the yw and everything so she feels really good here. And the others name is antonio, hes like 40 his girlfriends a super strong member and hes been investigating for a long time. I think he had a few doubts that hes been able to clear up about something that happened in his past, so were hoping to be able to finally harvest the work of a years worth of missionaries. They both need a lot of prayers and help for this saturday to be a bomb day for them.

Sunday the branch president got up and started talking about the men not doing their home teaching, just speaking directly and boldly that it needs to be done and that neglecting those people who are struggling in the gospel cant be, especially cause its not even requiring that much to visit them and make them feel loved. It was pretty sad to see 3 men, two of them return missionaries, all three endowed and sealed in the temple start to chirp back at him saying that hes taking away their agency, and imposing a lot on them. That just made me realize how important it is to be willing to serve. To not complain about it either. Theres always things that we can do to serve if its as easy as a calling or home teaching assignments or cleaning the church or doing whatever, and to think that its something imposing to participate a little in the help of someones salvation is obviously not the right attitude. Im glad that i had good examples of for one the home teaching in bro warner and bro wilson, who kinda made me do it haha but hey we did it. I think we should all sit back and see really how disposed we are to serve. Im super happy to serve here, im really happy to be a missionary.


Elder Crisp


my comps birthday

February 16, 2015

It was a super satisfying week we got the Family Sandoval baptized, the mom and two sons. It was kinda funny the mom Siria got there and the only clothing we had for her was the jumpsuit thing....she wanted a dress so she was like no im not gonna get baptized like a man i want a dress i want a dress!! Haha in the end she decided to just use an already wet dress that was used by another baptism in the branch, it was all good but it was kind of funny. The family especially the boys were super happy at their baptism, and Siria was way content Sunday for her confirmation.

I've been reading a lot in Alma and in reading chapters 40-42 its super obvious that that is one of the plain and precious truths that has been lost. Its too clear about where were going and whatnot, it makes me super grateful for having that revelation and knowledge restored. At the end of all that was said by Alma about death and resurrection, and the plan of salvation, he leaves it simply enough that (Alma 42:27)
"Whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds."

I think that invitation is dope....if we want to come and partake of salvation, it depends on us. Besides the power of redemption in Christ, it all depends on if we truly want it. its a cool scripture.
This last weekend till tomorrow is a huge holiday here in south america called carnaval.....basically just a huge waterfight and an excuse for people to get drunk. People throw paint and rotten eggs and a whole bunch of stuff. Were not really supposed to leave the house these next two days so you know its a bunch of fun here. Well see what we can get done this next week.



Elder Crisp
Bananas.
Bishop johnsons nephew.
Siria, Elvis, y Samir Sandoval

February 9th, 2015

Its been a good week, just putting in work and whatnot. Me and the other gringo from the branch Elder connolly have been teaching classes of English and its pretty fun, quite a few people are coming and im learning how much that language doesnt make sense. I think were gonna get a bunch of investigators going there, apart from that were still working with the same people basically, seeing some progress. My companion elder Gonzalez has 4 weeks left and hes ready to go but were gonna keep working and get some baptisms before hes goes out.

Presidente Riggins came to our sacrament and spoke it was pretty cool. We ha ve a goal to turn this district into a stake cause its pretty close. So he shared the prayer that Jesus gave in John 17 . He prays in vrs 22, that his disciples may one, just as himslef and God are one. Thinking about how one of the last things Christ supplicated of God in his life was that we, as his disciples can be united. Can we get along. Can we support one another. Can we truly love one another. That we can really be a Zion, with one heart one mind. Thats what our leader wants of us. How sad it is to see fallen away members, like the thousands here, from other members' actions. Christ prayed for that specifically. Remember that before you offend someone or get offended. After, we taught the gospel principles class on the Spirit, to a few recent converts, a couple investigators, and the mission presidents wife. Haha it was really intresting. But ya so everything's going well out here , the "really hot during the day, and pouring rain at night" season is here its a blast.


Elder Crisp

February 2nd, 2015

I dont have much time, but ya this was a pretty good week. We didnt have too much progress with investigators, we met a lot of new ones, and had quite a few come to church, especially Ruth,whos doing great. The other family we were focusing on Sandoval continued in their problems and for now dont want to take the step of baptism at all till they can be more christlike in house, a real bummer but its still a bomb family. The works going great here though.

Something small I found in the scriputures this week was in Alma 25, explaining why the people lived the law of moses. 16.Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation
The law of sacrifice that prepared the way for the true sacrifice, and redemption from the atonement of christ, was to strengthen the faith in him. We have a lot that we can sacrifice as well, and as we serve, and sacrifice time, energy, materials, we are strengthened in our faith in Christ. I have seen that here a ton, seeing how in just walking a little bit of what Christ did, feeling what he did, seeing what it means to really sacrifice, even though its not near what he did for us, that understanding gives me a greater love for what he did. Cause only in that manner can we even fathom a little bit of what God gave to us. I testify that in walking with him, sacrificing what talents and efforts we have, our faith in him really does grow...the law of sacrifice is still in effect.


Have a good one,
Elder Crisp