Tue, 14 Oct 2008

Sorry I didn't email you yesterday--the library was closed because it was Columbus Day. We didn't get mail because of that too.

I'm going to make this email short and sweet, because I feel weird writing emails on a Tuesday. (Our Zone Leader told us to do it. He's here right now, writing too. Lol.)

Yesterday, we helped a woman paint her mom's room. She sounds really interested in coming to church, and she has an 18-yr-old son who lives with her that I think might come too. We haven't met him yet though. And she swears like a sailor, as they say. I honestly haven't heard the F-word since before I entered the MTC, so that was kind of funny.

We met our mission goal this last week! First time for me! The weekly goal is 20-10-2 which means 20 lessons, 10 hours of tracting, and 2 lessons taught with a member present. And Apostle promised that if 66% of the mission got that goal every week, convert baptismsm would double. Well, we're at about 18%. But my whole district got goal this week, and our district goal is to get it every week for the rest of October. Our DL promised to buy us all carne asada if we can make it. And we're all working together and it's pretty cool. And we had the most success this week ever--getting potential investigators and all. It was pretty awesome. I love being a missionary!

Knocking on doors is my favorite. It doesn't matter how many doors refuse us--the people who accept us make up for it. And most of all, even when people don't want the message, we can still leave them smiling. Most doors we do--which is just as important as anything. In the Joseph Smith movie that they show in the Visitors Centers there's this part where Joseph and other men of the church are helping fix up this old woman's home. She goes to him and says--"I don't believe in your religion, Mr. Smith, but I do appreciate what you're doing." Joseph replies, "Well, Ma'am, I guess you could say that IS our religion." That's an awesome scene. And that is it--it doesn't matter if they choose to accept the message--that's their ichoice. We still have the duty as members of Christ's Church to serve others, love them, and leave good feelings. I think it's awesome. I've made some pretty good friends here too.

As for the baptisms--Gabriel didn't get baptized. We were bummed, to say the least. We did all we could to convince him it WAS the right t ime, but he still felt strongly that he should wait til he's settled somewhere. But he promised that he will get baptized--he knows it's true, and he wants it bad. Well, it's between him and God too. I was just kinda sad.

But Melissa and Arlem got baptized! These two are sooooo sweet! And their families were there and a lot of members. . .It was awesome. I'll tell you about them more when I send the pictures I took.

I love you all so dang much, and I'm going to go now. Please tell Jordan to heal, ok? And that I'm praying for her. And tell me how her operation went! Anyone else going through something traumatic?

Please tell the whole family that I love them very much, and I'm praying for them. And I love this mission, and my companion, and my district, and this amazing work. I can't even believe how happy I get here, even though I am a happy person already, sometimes I can't even contain it! My companion thinks I'm a spaz cuz sometimes I just get the wiggles because I get so excited. That's all. Missionary work is cool.

And Spanish is awesome too. I love Mexicans.

Ok, I'll talk to you again next week. Love you, so much. Bye!

Love,
Hna. Crowley.

P.S. Familia, I sent you a pretty good-size snail mail letter today, so that should be getting there soon. Sorry for not sending more snail mail! But I love your letters so much, so keep them coming! They keep me going.

You guys are pretty cool.