Wed, 2 Sep 2009

Dear folks back home,

This week has been interesting. We had two baptisms--one of them I don't think I told you about because I don't think we started planning it until Tuesday night. Yeah, three-day baptism. Because they had to move to California, and we wouldn't have had another chance. Anyway, that was Sylvia Twigg. She and her husband were found by the Elders knocking on their door, and it was exactly what they needed! Brother Twigg was baptized in July but Sylvia couldn't because she actually left for Iowa for a month and a half, before they could do it. So when she came back, we just finished up and her husband was able to baptize her. They're awesome.

Then there was Travis. He's a special guy. Divorced with two kids, his ex-wife is an ex-Mormon. He invited his ex-father-in-law, who is active in the church, to his baptism. That was pretty cool. Anyway, it was a really powerful baptism. Travis felt a lot of opposition before he "took the plunge," but he stayed really strong, and I have a lot of respect for him and how he held on.

Now we have three more baptisms planned. One for this Saturday (which we may have to change if we can't get to his house and finish the lessons. . .) for a 9-yr-old son of a less-active family. Next Saturday is Diana, the miracle investigator who is as golden as I've ever heard of, and then the Saturday after that we should have Larry, the eternal investigator who Hna. Walker finally got to commit to a date. He might not do it then--but I know he'll do it soon. He knows it's all true, goes to church regularly, and reads the Book of Mormon regularly. His prayers are really sweet too--he just talks to Heavenly Father as if He were there in front of him. It's awesome.

Anyway, besides all that good stuff me and Hna. Walker have been fighting off illness. I'm coming out of a cold that's lasted since Sunday, and before that was the stomach bug that nearly ruined my visit to the Mesa Temple. Hna. Walker then caught my stomach bug and is fighting that AND trunkyness. . . Lol. She's actually not bad, considering she leaves three weeks from yesterday.

I'm going to sign out now, my head hurts. But you know what? The Gospel is true. And it has changed my life. And my heart has changed so much since I've been out here, serving Him. I am SO far from perfect--and if you ask the Elders around here, they'll tell you I'm nothing like other Sisters--but I know what I'm here to do, and I love doing it. And I love loving the people. If I can do nothing else, I'll work on convincing everybody that God loves them more than they know, because of or in spite of who we are and what we do. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. See Romans 8, 36 or something. Read the scriptures, they'll tell you. Better yet, ask Him. He'll tell you Himself.

For those of you I owe letters, I was going to write Friday, but then I got violently ill so I went to the temple then came home and slept the rest of the day. So I'll try to get through them today. No promises.

I love you all, have an awesome day.

Love,
Hna. Crowley