"I'm Done"

Well this is the last time ill be writing as a missionary. I dont know how to feel. Im extremely grateful for the chance ive had to serve here in Ecuador. The lessons Ive learned here are priceless and countless. It might seem to most people that I just had a really neat foreign exchange and got to learn about a new culture and language, or maybe that I just wasted a bunch of my time and money. But I know that it is not the case, that I have been in the Lord`s service, as a representative of His church and His life. I have come to learn and understand things that I will never be able to put in words, but they are truths that I will never be able to deny. I know that our testimonies can and will not grow with out trials of our faith. And that when we are in hard times those are the best times to come to know, and love God and feel of His love. When we are suffering we can be closer to him than any other time. I know that because Ive experienced it. Im super grateful for the people ive met and have taught here. This is a beautiful country with beautiful people and I look forward to seeing where all the seeds Ive helped plant lead.

This coming week we will have the baptism of a sister Rocio and her daughter, we were planning to have them baptized this last week but something came up in her interview but its all good shes super prepared. Weve been teaching her and her family (theres another son and some uncles/cousins who are next up too) for quite a while, her progress has been slow but she has a strong conviction of the truthfulness of this work. Her life has been super hectic all the time weve been teaching but despite the trials, which usually make people give up, she has become even more and more excited to be baptized. Im happy that well get to see them baptized. This is gonna be the best week of my mission. We will see you guys in Ontario International Airport at 145 pm in 8 days (well see who gets the first hug). till then stay handsome and please take care. CIAO I MIEI CARI FRATELLI, LES QUIERO BESITO


Love Elder Crisp


I got made a cake, an awesome family did it,
PS Thanks for telling everyone to tell me happy birthday!

November 2nd, 2015

Hey how we doing what can I say were killing it out here, I want to wish a happy dead people day to everybody. like smokey robinson said i love it when were crusing, well were definitely cruising along out here we met some some really cool families this week, its cool when you meet people and you set an appointment at 2 o clock and then they tell you not to eat lunch that day cause theyre gonna through food at you and it turns out the food is way super good and they accept the message afterwards and everything. Its really cool, thats what happened with this couple Cesar and Joana theyre way tight. Those people wont lose their reward (DC 88:89-90). Were still working with the same people that had really good testimonies growing from before, it was kinda disappointing with the main man Jhon he was finally prepped and passed his interview for baptism, and they made him start working on Sundays and we tryed to help him with that but till the end of december his minds set on not even attempting to change his schedule to be able to attend church, and be able to get batpized. But its all cool were animated and it looks like we will have at least a couple baptisms before I get out of here well see what happens. The church is true, God lives, He answers our prayers and fasts, He forgives our repented sins and is able to guide us all to make the right decisions that lead to eternal life. the missions the best.


Love Elder Crisp


Ecuador with their rice this field goes for thousands of miles of just rice freaking rice.

October 26th, 2015

This week a lot of good things happened, and friday we had interviews with President that went well, and also the ward had a huge baptism night of kids, 2 of which were convert baptisms from part member familys we helped to bring back to church. We also had a cool mormon helping hands project saturday with the stake we cleaned up some roads it was an absolute blast. Were still seeing progress with some investigators Jhon is way animated right now for baptism but struggling with commandments, were gonna have the baptism of the pita family real soon too.

I got to the end of the Book of the Mormon and spent a good time pondering on the last few verses of Moroni 10, 32-33. If we deny ourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all heart then we can be made perfect in Christ. I think thats one of the most powerful verses and themes about the Atonement of Christ, the fact that we can be perfected, we can undenibly know the power of God, we can be sanctified through accepting the blood of Christ. I know that it is true. Maybe sometimes we forget what God has done for us, or we can say He hasnt done enough to show me he exists. I cant prove he exists, Im not sure if he listens, if hes there. But verse 32 is way too clear. If we just try to love God and follow him, that will be followed by the clear manifestation of his power. All of that and a lot more is possible by the blood of Christ. Those are really bomb verses to study i recommend them. Well thats all for now.

 Love Elder Crisp

October 19th, 2015

It has been a good week not much time to write but things are going well with our investigators. Something ive been pondering about a lot lately is that we cannot inherit Gods kingdom being pacifists about what we believe. Those who are not valiant in the testimony of Christ are those who are given terrestrial glory (D&C 76:79). I'm sure that doesn't mean just to have a strong testimony but to share it and to defend it and to strengthen it always. God expects a lot more out of us that we think sometimes, that duty to share the gospel and be valiant is for each and every one of us. Pass well you all.

Love Elder Crisp

October 12th, 2015

Things are going pretty well with investigators, were supporting abunch to help with a few commandments but weve seen a bunch of progress in, for example, jhon suarez and the pita family. Their testimonies were definitely strengthed this last weekend. They need to make some changes in their lives but are getting close to being ready for baptism.

This last weekend was stake conference of here Duran Norte, and they reorganized the presidency so we got to listen to Elder Waddell from the 70. The man is super powerful, he actually told us that hes going to be in the presiding bishopric, im not sure if thats been announced yet. One of the highlights of what he spoke on was about the prophetic priorities of today. He shared with us the revelation that the first presidency has had, and trained all the general authorites. It was definitely the underlying theme of general conference, and now it makes even more sense why. President Monson received revelation for every one of us, for how we, as the whole church can progress in our faith in God.

The answer is Sanctify completely the Sabbath Day. I think 80% of the talks this year at least mentioned that. That is what God wants for his church right now. As Waddell shared, we have a duty to act upon what the prophet says because we know that God appeared to a young man, and established his church through that young man. How we act on that knowledge, whether we choose to be obedient or no, will determine our destiny. We need to reach out and rescue the lost sheep, and sanctify more the sabbath day.

I feel super fortalized in my testimony that this church is divinely led by revelation, God calls men to lead his church, Christ lives, this is the truth and I know that independent of what any of you believe, nor what anybody else on this planet thinks.


Con amor,
Elder (S.) Crisp

October 5th, 2015

Conference weekend was way good, like always. I got a bunch of answers. It was cool we got to go to the temple Thursday and I was impressed in the Celestial room of quite a few things, about our investigators and whatnot, but also about a couple questions I should have in mind during conference. Both of the questions were answered so specifically that I cannot deny what is it that God wants me to do. I would not have caught or payed attention to the council that I recieved if God had not told me to look for them. I liked a bunch the guidelines given conjointly about following the Spirit, improving little by little, using the beautiful gift of the Atonement and repentance to do so, and simply loving God by following his plan laid out for us. What will stay written on my mind is the solemn, direct voice of Gods prophet, his counsel and warning- Keep the Commandments. They are not obstacles, they are for us. It was way good conference, And it was cool that a few of our investigators could enjoy it too. Were way pumped this week to keep working, this week will be cool we have stake conference and at least one 70 will be here, a bunch of power here. Have a good one!


Love, Elder Crisp


we made tacos after the presthood session it was super clutch. And I ran into the main man Eder who got baptized last may, hes doing super well, attending conference in a suit like a champ

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