Mon, 08 Dec 2008

Hey guys!

Another week down. Actually, another MONTH down! I officially have 5 months out as of tomorrow. Which means, me falta 13. (I have 13 left.) Good times.

As always, not a lot of time to email, just because I'm a missionary and that's the nature of this life.

This last week was pretty powerful. We worked our tails off, reached our goals, and ent up with 9 new investigators--two of whom are referrals from a counselor in our Mission Presidency, Presidente Lopez. So here's the story.

Saturday morning Hna. Corless and I slept in til 8:00--there's a story for that too that I'll tell you next. Anyway, but we didn't mind because we were doing service that morning cleaning up this woman's huge lot of a yard that was full of random junk and weeds. She's sweet, and maybe she'll think about taking lessons, who knows? Anyway, so we got the Elders from our ward and did that all morning--9:45 til 11:00, and then we all went home and we were about to eat lunch--I hadn't eaten yet that morning--when we get this phone call from Presidente Lopez. He asked us to meet him right away at this neighborhood because his friend--one of his tenants--needed our help. So we really fast slipped into proselyting clothes, did our hair, and left. Turns out this friend of his has colon cancer, and he's only 35. His beautiful wife and kids were there too, and P. Lopez just blew them out of the water with the Spirit, testifying and teaching about the Book of Mormon, and how now was definitely the time to come closer to God. Raul, the friend, was so humble and accepting, and his wife too, and they have this adorable little 3-yr-old. Anyway, so P. Lopez gave them a BofM with his testimony and said that we missionaries will be there for them to teach them and give them whatever help they need. So that was amazing. He also gave Raul a blessing, and he and his wife were crying and feeling the peace that they've been missing for a while. . . It was awesome. We went back yesterday to teach them, and we'll go again today, and tomorrow, and the next day. . . They're wonderful. The coolest thing about that was that we have been praying very specifically about being able to find those people who have been prepared to receive the gospel and make the covenant of baptism, and then came Raul and his family. It was just pretty obvious, especially after we worked really hard last week, and it ended on that awesome note.

Now, the story of why we woke up so late on Saturday. See, I don't know how much I've told you about our upstairs neighbors, but they're something of a. . . pain. . . We call this guy our good friend Joe and his crazy girlfriend. Anyway, every week or two we get woken up in the middle of the night--around 2 or 2:30--to them screaming the F word and throwing things and what have you. Pretty awesome. So Friday night, Hna. Corless wakes up to something that sounded like they were nailing stuff to the floor right about her head. Fun, right? It took me a little bit longer, but I woke up as well, and Hna. Corless says, "Let's go talk to them." And I say, "Ok." And she says, "But, well, better let me do the talking." I said, "Ok." See, cuz she knew that if *I* did the talking, it wouldn't turn out so peaceful. Some of you know how well I turn out when I'm woken up from a good sleep in a rude way. . .

Anyway, so we put on jackets and slippers and go up. Hna. Corless knocks on the door police-style, and everything gets quiet. We wait a minute, then he slowly opens the door. He sees that it's us, and he starts saying "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," and Hna. Corless is all, "It's ok, but you're keeping us awake, and we have to wake up at 6:30 in the morning." [it's about 3:30am] And so he apologizes, and she comes out there too, and Hna. Corless asks, "Is there anything we can do to help you guys?" And girlfriend goes, "Not at this time, no." By the way, she looks insane. Turns out she had been jumping on the door that she just broke. So they're both a little crazy. Anyway, we also say hi to the roommate, poor guy. He pokes his head out to see who was there, and he's like, "Oh, hey."

Then we're there and Joe starts crying--because you see, he thought he was going to jail because he thought we were the cops. He thanked us over and over for coming to talk to him first, and he was crying because he was so relieved. And he is a big guy too, real muscley and kinda pretty-boy. Anyway, so then he asks, "Hey, I never asked--what are your names?" And Hna. Corless goes, "Well, they call me Sister Corless." Heeheehee.

Anyway, so we didn't get back to bed til around 4, and they started yelling again--I think they don't know we can hear them yelling. So, in all, we were kept awake for a couple hours, so we slept in an extra 1 1/2 hours to make up for it, because we both felt kinda sick at 6:30 from not enough sleep.

And we've been quoting Hna. Corless's brilliant line ever since. "They call me Sister Corless." Pretty awesome.

That's it for today folks, I've got some snail mail letters to respond to and yeah, that's all.

Aunt Mom STOW, thanks for the updates. Keep them coming! I am SO excited to see that scarf. It's actually almost chilly enough to need one now, and my hands are always cold. :D

Nitwhit--I GOT THE INVITE!!!!!!!!!!! I was pretty stoked about that--ask Hna. Corless. I almost peed my pants. You're so CUTE!!!!!!! And you guys need to send me some photos, cuz I miss you and want to see what's going on. Keep me in the loop! Please? (imagine a puppy-dog look here.)

Katy, I got your amazing letter, but it really just inspired more questions--there is a lot you haven't told me, that maybe you told Wendy about and forgot I didn't know, cuz you acted like I should. Like, for instance, Disneyland. WHA-?!?! I had no idea. And that' just the beginning. I'll send you a letter though, so we'll get that worked out.

I love you all, please be safe, and send me letters!

The end.

Sincerely,
Hna. Crowley