Wed, 3 Jun 2009: Did you know we cover Tonopah?

Dear Everybody,

Hey, how's it going? It's going pretty good over here. Just, you know, hanging out.

P-Day on Wednesday is still really weird. I'm not sure how I feel about it. But, well, nothing has really settled into a flow yet, so it's hard to get used to.

What did I do this week. . .Well,we drove around a lot because--since our area is so huge--everybody we teach lives really far apart. It's cool.

We're teaching this man named James, and he's getting baptized this Saturday. He is amazing. You know about the Word of Wisdom? There's five things we don't partake of--coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs--and he dropped ALL FIVE OF THOSE because of his faith in the things the Sisters taught him. He actually even lived on the streets for a year, because of drugs and alcohol. This man has changed everything in his life completely around because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In just two months. He is incredible.

Anyway, that's James. We're also teaching a little girl named Ashley, and her dad is less-active, her mom isn't a member, but her grandma gets her to church every Sunday, and now Ashley wants to be baptized. Well, her grandma wants it pretty bad too--she's a little kooky, but lovable.

We just had a baptism on Saturday--a 9-year-old named Ivan whose family has a lot of problems--single mom, 6 kids and one on the way, government housing, etc--but you can totally tell how the Gospel has changed the mood in their house. There is more peace among the siblings, more strength in their mom. . .subtle changes, but powerful. They are so dang cute, all of them.

There are a few others too, but I just could not even tell you the half of them. There wouldn't be time. We cover three units, and they all keep us hopping. Sadly, not a lot of Spanish work--which is totally backwards from most areas. The English ward is very missionary-minded--the leadership is very functional, so it all goes well, and people get help when they need it, and people say hi to people they don't know. . . It's awesome.

Seriously, though, missionary work is so easy--you just have to be friendly! You just have to care about other people. It's like what Christ said--the greatest law is to love God with all your heart, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Simple, right? That's what missionary work is all about. I have learned how to love people. And you know what? I really do love people. Including the Elders and other Sisters I work with--sometimes missionaries forget that.

And I love all you at home. I have a handful of letters that I wrote last week, that I just haven't sent yet. Yeah, I'm slow. But, well, I just like keeping you on your toes. And now that I've got this chunk updated, I've got a whole new pile that I'm backed up on. Meh.

Wendy, I'm sending you a letter today. Just so you know.

I'm going to go because my head hurts from staring at the screen. Peace out. Be safe.

love,
Hna. Crowley.