Commitment is Powerful.

Well...Hey everybody! How's Life?

Life is good over here in Canada!  I have a new companion, his name is Elder Wilson.

I've had quite a few very interesting and powerful things occur this week that I would like to share.  In an effort to make Elder Prince's (my last companion/trainer) last few days in the mission field amazing (he's going home soon), I went to Heavenly Father and pleaded that we would be able to teach a couple first lessons before Elder Prince left.  In my experience thus far, teaching isn't something that occurs very often here in Woodstock (no worries, that is quickly changing; actually it already has!).

We set out on Wednesday (our last full day together before transfers). It was just hopping! We met all kinds of people, taught a couple great lessons, and gained some investigators. I was thinking, "WHOA, this is COOL!"

Well, at the end of the day Elder Prince said, "Elder Craig, I want you to know that I prayed really hard that our last day together would not only be fun, but a successful day and boy was it ever!" Since that day we have seen some great things happening around finding people.  We have been running into all kinds of people who are willing to listen and some are inviting us into their home!

It's truly refreshing and I am so grateful that I'm right here, right now!  I would also like each of you to know that my sense of commitment has increased and it is because of this that Heavenly Father has entrusted both me and Elder Wilson with some of His children.  I can testify to you that COMMITMENT IS POWERFUL and when our Heavenly Father sees that we are willing to put in the work, it is then, and only then, that actual WORKING MIRACLES start to occur!

I know that I can work much, much, more! Loving you all, and hear me when I say this...I APPRECIATE the support from each of you!

Love,
Elder Craig

Thanks Dad for sending cash for steak.  It was a treat we thoroughly enjoyed and a nice good-bye meal for Elder Prince!

This is what commitment looks like at the end of the day (I miss Elder Prince. He was a hard worker).

Staying organized.

My new companion Elder Wilson.

The leaves are starting to change color. 

Farewell to Elder Prince

Well everybody, let me just start off by letting you know that I performed my first baptism! Saturday I was able to baptize Sister Dale Sanford. She was taught by the sister missionaries.  It was a cool experience!

This is the last week I will have with my trainer, Elder Prince.  He is being transferred;(  He has been a great trainer and friend.  I, however, will be staying in Woodstock.  I will be training a new missionary.  This seems crazy because I still feel like the new missionary! I pick up my new companion on Thursday. Well, that's all I have for this week.  I hope everyone is well. I love you!

- Elder Craig

Ran out of propane for the grill.  No problem, we got this handled.

the view.

Sketchy Situation

This week was fun and went by so fast!!! We did a lot of knocking and also had opportunities to serve.  Some of the service we did included choping and stacking wood for people. One guy that we
did this for almost killed himself, LITERALLY!

Let me give you a brief history on this guy.  He had a stroke about 11 years ago.  The whole right side of his body doesn't function like normal.  His right arm doesn't lift more than a few inches from his gut and he has very little balance. Despite his challenges I find it impressive that this guy can still operate a chain saw! On the other hand, I suppose I would also consider someone standing on top of a car while the car is traveling 85 mph impressive, but hey, there are just some things that no matter how impressive it might be, JUST SHOULDN'T BE DONE!  This would be one of those!!!

Also, I should note that this guy didn't find it necessary to give us much of a warning before cutting down a BIG tree, so needless to say, we dodged a couple (ha, ha). Ok, back to the moment where this guy almost killed himself! While operating his chainsaw this guy took a fall. Luckily the ground was soft because the blade just sunk into the ground (full throttle) with him laying on it. YIKES!!! You should have seen my companions face! Priceless!!!

Well, I suppose that's all I have for sketchy situations this week!  The work is PROGRESSING and our branch over here is GROWING!

Love,
Elder Craig

p.s.  IT'S GETTING COLD!!!

The rain is falling!

Strive to Quench Your Spirit

Waaazzzz up everybody!! This week was the bomb! We ran into some trials, but over all, it was great!!

This is an entry in my journal that I would like to share with you (lots to be learned). We had splits on September 2, 2014. I was with the District Leader. This isn't his area, so it was as if i was the senior companion. Me and Elder Woodburry went to go see a member of the ward. As we got to her house, she was pulling out. We stopped her and and talked a bit.  She ended up inviting us over for dinner (chicken broccoli casserole). She said it would be done in 40 minutes, so we decided to go knocking in the surrounding neighborhood.

We crossed the street and knocked the first door. We got blasted with anti... we knocked the next and got blasted again! This happend six times!!! SIX TIMES!!! On the 6th and last door we knocked, the guy that answered tried to bash.  I simply said, "Sir, I'm not hear to argue our beliefs, but I am here as a representative of Jesus Christ."  It took him a minute to cool down, but we were able to have a short convo. He swears up and down that the Book of Mormon is false, but you know what?! he hasn't even read it all! I walked away asking myself..."How do I know the Book of Mormon is true?"  After asking myself this, I began to formulate my thoughts into this...

Lets suppose you have a friend.  You've been invited to your friends house for dinner, but you've been told ahead of time that you're not going to like the food. As you eat the food, there is a pretty good chance that you will not like it because of what has been created.  YOU HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED!!! The same goes for gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon.

All the people in those houses that we tracked in this particular neighborhood attend a bible college down the road (the neighborhood is owned by the college). The college teaches an anti-mormon class. Just like in Alma 32 when you plant a seed, it grows. It goes both ways though, if you really want to gain a personal witness, you have to NOURISH that seed with things that will help it grow. If you want to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, you must do as  Moroni teaches: "If ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Jesus Christ" you will come to a knowledge of truth every time. And... it's not a one time deal! If you grow that seed into a plant and then stop feeding it, it dies. That's just how it works, so i extend the invitation to constantly "feed" your seed or in gospel terms STRIVE TO QUENCH YOUR SPIRIT. I can testify to you that it's starving! I love you all and Grandma Brady, THANK YOU for the Dear Elder package!!! It made a huge difference!!! 

Love, 

Elder Craig

Prayer Works

We have been working hard!  We are out the door by 10:00am to contact people on the street, in their cars, or where ever they might be.  I find that most people are very set in their ways and aren't interested in listening.  My focus right now is trying to break that barrier and help them see that there is more available to them.  We had the opportunity to shingle a less active members roof.  It was lots of work, but fun!

We have had some great experiences this week! We make goals every week and do our best to accomplish them. One of our goals for this last week was to have three new investigators. This area is pretty slow when it comes to finding people to teach, but there are people here that are prepared! We practically went the whole week without a single new investigator! Through the direction of the Spirit, lots of prayer, and really desiring to achieve this goal we felt prompted to go see a half member/ non active family.  Their  house is worse then the ones you see on that show hoarders! You can literally taste the filth. Anyways, our focus was to start teaching Frankie, a 13 yr old, who lives there.  We were successful in accomplishing this, but that left two more new investigators to find if we were going to accomplish our goal.  We didn't know how this would occur and it was getting late. Well, on our way back to the car there was a family out front roasting hotdogs on the fire so we approached them and they were extremely interested and we taught them their first lesson!!! Prayer works ladies and gents, but if you don't show the Lord your willingness, the likelihood of success is limited! 

Lots of love to each of you,
Elder Craig

Sorry Mom, still not eating my veggies!

The grill is treating us well! :)