Monday, December 19, 2016

December 19th, 2016

Hola,

This week was pretty good. We are still getting to know our area a little bit and we are trying to find people to teach. Its is a little difficult here but we have been able to find a few people. We work mostly with less active members here in this ward beacause there is a bunch but its been a pretty solid week. Its pretty sweet to be able to train. Its a lot to learn and to do during the week but it is really a sick experience. Like President told us, i have the life of a new missionary in my hands. Not too much pressure though. Ive been able to learn a lot from it already.

For Christmas this year we did the samething we did last year. All the missionaries in the city went to a park and all the different zones sang a hynm. It was reall cool. I got to see a few people from my old areas and all my old comps too so it was fun. It was weird to think how fast this year wenbt by. When we were all in the same park singing to the same song hahaha.

Other than that there wasnt to much from this week but i hope you all have a sick week. Talk to you on Sunday.


Monday, December 12, 2016

December 12th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was a pretty cool. I got transferred from my area. I am now training a new elder in an area in my old zone. His name is Elder Goyes from Ecuador. I never though i would have the opportunity to train but I'm pretty pumped to be able to do.I didn't believe it at all when the Zone Leaders told me that i was training but i am very excited. Elder Goyes is super cool. Hes a convert of 4 years and he is super prepared for the mission. He knows a lot and hes ready to get to work here. 

My area is called Hamacas. Its a ward of about 130 active members and its an area with a lot of people with a lot of money. This first week has been pretty rough finding people to teach because we are also opening this area. But we made some good plans in Ward Counsel to work with the members a lot here. Its an area where not very many people get baptized, but the members are super strong here. More than anything I'm just excited to be able to work in a new area and meet new people.
This week i was reading the Conference talks, and one that i really like was by Elder Cornish. " We must stop comparing ourselves to others. We torture ourselves needlessly by competing and comparing. We falsely judge our self worth by the things we do or don´t have and by the opinions of others. If we must compare, let us compare how we were in the past to how we are today- and even how we want to be in the future. The only opinion that matters is what Heavenly Father thinks of us." I like that because it really doesn't matter what anyone thinks of us. The only thing that does matter is what God thinks.We should try and compare ourselves to Him, and see what we need to do to become more like Him everyday. That was something that i like a lot from this conference.
Other than that the week was pretty chill. My comp is super cool and I'm super pumped to be here. Have a good week. Love you all!!!!!!!!
Love Elder Crisp
(1my comp)

Monday, December 5, 2016

December 5th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was super sweet. The Vidaurre family got baptized on Saturday and they were super excited. On Thursday we had to do their interview and they really happy. Something that she said when the Elder that did the interview asked her about the Sabbath Day was pretty funny. He asked her if she was willing to go to church every Sunday and take the sacrament and she said, "Well, the one week i didn't go to church my sewing machine broke" hahaha. And yesterday just before church started it started to rain super hard, and we thought they weren't going to make it because its pretty hard to find transportation when it rains. But when we got there at like 845, they were already there, sitting down waiting for us. 

It has been such a blessing to be able to know this family. To see how much the Gospel can change their lives and to know now that they are going to be a huge example for the rest of their family. And they are already helping by inviting there friends and family to church.

Another cool thing that happened this week is that the son of a member here had to get baptized on Saturday but they couldn't make it, so we had to do it yesterday. But we didn't find out until we were already at church so we didn't have clothes or anything. But they had some white paints in the church and they told me i had to do it. I had to get changed and i baptized him. It was a pretty funny experience.

That's about it for this week. I cant believe that its already December. This year just flew by. This week is cambios too. I hope i have the chance to stay here in this area a little bit longer because i love this area.

Love Elder Crisp


Monday, November 28, 2016

November 28th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was a little slow. We didn't really get to many citas. The hard part is that the majority of the people we are teaching only have time on Saturday, and when Saturday got here, no one was there. We are basically looking for more people to teach everyday and we have met a few pretty cool people that could progress. 

We are still working with the Flia Vidourre. They were super excited for this week to get baptized and we were helping them and preparing them a lot. But a whole bunch of stuff came up with her and her family and work and they don't seem as excited now. They didn't go to church yesterday because she was working and just in this week one of sewing machines that uses for work broke and so shes working more now. We are going to talk with her tonight to see how we can help her. We are still planned for this Saturday for her baptism, but we'll see.

Other than that there wasn't too much from this week. We are working hard now to find more people to teach and were starting to work a little bit more with the members so that will help a lot.
Hope you ll have a good week. I love you all. 

Elder Crisp

Monday, November 21, 2016

November 21st, 2016

Hola,

This week was full of some pretty crazy ups and downs. We had a lot of progression wit investigators and few crazy things happened. First off, with the Flia Vidourre, their date got moved back to the 3rd because there is a camping trip for the YW and Diana wants to go, so they thought it would be better for her to go and move the date to the 3rd. They are still super excited for everything and they read and pray as a family everyday. We had a cool experience with them yesterday. After church we went to visit them with the YW president and we taught them about the Word of Wisdom. That was what we had planned to teach and just when we got there, they were drinking coffee and talking. We told them that we cant drink coffee and she just directly said " ok, if the Lord wants it, i can leave it." I was super happy to hear that they are so willing to change everything to be baptized.

We also had a cita with Renan, Selena, Darwin and Lidia. We taught about the Sabbath Day and Darwin promised us that he would go, that he wasn't going to keep waiting. He finished his prayer at the end of the visit saying " I promise you that we will go to church" It was a really cool to hear that too because he always said "ill do everything i can to go" but never went. On Sunday, he got there late, but he went. We had a really good Gospel Principles class and he was super happy, he found one of his friends that recently got baptized and they were talking for a while. But he had parked his moto really close to the exit and when he left to go home from church , his moto was gone. He left and went to look for it but he never did. We tried to call him but he wouldn't answer and we still haven't been able to get a hold of him. It makes me really sad. He went to church and was super happy, they were progressing, and now we don't really know what to do. But we haven't lost hope for them, we are going to keep passing by and visiting them to help them move forward.

Today i was studying about Humility. And i love the part that says "Humility is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of spiritual strength." I thought about how the strongest people and the strongest leaders are always humble. And i read a verse in Alma 60. 36 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close mine epistle. I like how it shows that Moroni was humble, that he looked to glory his God and to bless the lives of other people, without anything in return from the world. That is Humility, is look for the things of God and not the temporal things of this world.

That's it for this week. I hope everything is going good at home and hope you are all happy.

Love Elder Crisp

(an activity that we did with the Ward mission leader)

Monday, November 14, 2016

November 14th, 2016

Hola,

This week was super sick. We had a lot of goods citas with investigators and some less actives too. We also had a bunch of visits with members so it was a really good week.

First off, the Flia Vidoure has a date for the 26th and this time it is pretty sure. They went to church yesterday and they are pretty sure they are ready. We had set the date for the 12, but they lacked attendences and when we changed the date wit them they asked us why we didn't want to baptize them the 12th because they thought they were going to get baptized this week. It was pretty funny and super cool though to see that they are so excited to get baptized. There is a whole bunch of help from the members with them too which is good. They postponed a camping trip for the Young Women because its the same day as their baptism.

Yesterday after church we did a thing called Zapato Misional. A bunch of YSA went with us to teach and we had a bunch of visits. We met a few new people that can really progress. We visited the mom of a convert here that has never really accepted the missionaries and we had a super bomb cita about the family. The testimonies of the YSA really helped she told us to come back again. We also met the mom of Renan and visited her too. Whenever we would visit Renan and Selena, she would leave to go buy something or just to sit outside so she didn't have to talk to us, but yesterday she was the only one there so we got to visit her.

Today I was studying a talk from James E. Faust that is super cool. He read Matthew 5:38 38 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. And said "Perfection is an eternal goal; while we cannot be perfect in mortality, striving for it is a commandment which ultimately, through the Atonement we can keep." I love that because its through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can become better everyday and little by little become more like him, although we wont get there in this life.

That's about it for this week. Hope you all have a sick week in work and school.
Love, Elder Crisp


1. we went to a river by our area
2. and little cow that we come across in our area.


Monday, November 7, 2016

November 7th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was a little weird. It was a little bit hard to work because we live pretty far from the center of the city and we had to go to the center Monday, Tuesday, thursday and we got back at like 430 evertime and we missed a lot of good citas. But we did visit flia Vidoure and Renan and selena and we had really good citas with them.

First with Vidoure we had a FHE with them on Monday and we read with them Lehis Vision and we explained all that and they understood it really well. They told us that that was really all she wanted for her family is that happiness. They went to church and she said she loved it again. We are going to put a date this week for them. Im super pumped for them. They are reading and praying everyday together and they are super happy.

We visted Renan and Selena too this week and his brother, Darwin, and his wife, Lidia, were there and we talked about the Gospel and how it blesses families. We had a visit with just Renan and Selena earlier in the week and we invited them to pray about when they shopuld get married. They told us that have been praying to know but that they still dont have an answer. One thing that they told us was that they wanted to wait a little longer to be able to have enough money for a party and all that. We shared with them Matthew 6 :33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

That really helped him. He understood really well and told us " so we have to fulfil what God wants first and then He will give us the blessing we need." It was super cool to hear that from them and to know that they are willing to change a lot of things.

Other than that there wasnt much else. We had to run around a bunch of places this week so it was a little tiring. But im super excited for these next few weeks.

Have a sick week everybody, i love you all.

Elder Crisp

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

October 31th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was a little interesting but it was pretty solid. This week was cambios. I stayed here in this area in Carmen but my comp left. My new comp is from the same stake in Peru that my other comp was and hes super cool. His name is Elder Casternoque. He got 9 months in the mission and this is only his second area so hes pretty excited to work here.

This week we had a super sick FHE with flia Vidoure with a cool family here in the ward. We talked about baptism with them and about the Holy Ghost and they were really excited about all that. Then on Thursday we talked with them about it and they committed to November 12 to be baptized. We were super excited for them that they said yes.They told us that they were going to go to church on Sunday early but on Sunday we called them and her daughter told us that she left to work in her little store selling clothes and that they weren't going to go. I'm not sure why she left but now they aren't going to make it to their date so I'm a little disappointed. But its all good because we are going to have another FHE tonight with the bishop and his family so its going to be good.

Other than that with cambios it was a little bit difficult to meet with a lot of the people that were teaching but Renan and Selena are still progressing really well. They are reading and praying together everyday and they keep telling us how much it helps them. They seem 10 times happier than what they were when we met them. 

That's about it for this week. There wasn't to much that happened but it was a solid week and I'm pumped to be able to stay and work in this area for another cambio.
I Love you all and hope you all have a sick week. 

Love Elder Crisp 

(random pic of this area.)
(my new comp)



Monday, October 24, 2016

October 24th, 2016

This week was a little bit more chill than last week but it was still a really good week. We have been trying to find more people to teach because there is still a huge part of our area that we haven't been too and we weren't able to find many of the people that we've been teaching this week so we just contacted a bunch. We did meet a bunch of cool people and we are going to start working with them this week.

We were able to visit Rocio and her family this week and it was pretty sick what she told us. We went with the old stake President of the this stake and it was a super good lesson. We asked them if they had been reading and praying and they told us yes. And she told us that her ex-husband was telling her that we had brainwashed her to believing everything and that the Book of Mormon was a fake Bible and that we were liars. She told him that she knew that she wasn't brainwashed and that she knew that what we have taught her was true. She also told us that when we got to her house that first day that she felt like "2 angels" knocked on her door and that she has been so much happier with her family and all that. That really makes me super happy, to know that what were doing here as missionaries actually blesses the peoples life. There was also a baptism this week, and they went, they told us that they loved it and that shes excited to be able be baptized. We are going to set a day tonight to get baptized. 

This week is cambios [transfers] but I'm pretty much 100% sure that I'm not going to change because we are both new in this area ad the people are progressing super good. That's about it for this week.
I hope you all have a sick week .

Elder Crisp

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

October 17th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was super sweet. We had a lot of sick visits with people and we were able to feel the spirit super strong. We had a FHE with Renan, Selena, the brother of Renan, Darwin, his wife, Lidia, and a few super cool converts. We talked about the family and the Proclamation to the World and is was super cool to have testimonies from 2 convert families that recently got married. They talked about how much happier they are to know the gospel and to know that they can be families forever. We could tell that they both felt the spirit super strong and they promised to go to church next week. Im super pumped for them.

We also visited Hermana Rocio and her kids and we talked about the Book of Mormon and they told us they would continue to read it and pray about it. And they went to church yesterday and they loved it. Like they always say she felt a peace that she had really ever felt before. I'm so happy to see that they are progressing. I've never really seen someone so willing to learn more and i know that they are going to be a lot happier. We also had a huge FHE yesterday with like 20 YSA and a few investigators and it was super bomb. We all shared how were converted and the spirit was super strong there too.

That's it for this week but i'm so pumped to be in this area and to meet the people here. Its been such a blessing to be here with all the members and leaders and investigators that weve met. Ive really been able to learn a ton here. Have a sick week everybody.

Love Elder Crisp



Monday, October 10, 2016

October 10th, 2016

Hola,

This week was pretty chill. We had a lot of super sick visits with people and there are a bunch of people that are starting to progress.

The first is the Hermana Yaley, i dont know if ive talked about her but she is an investigaotor that wasnt really progressing, but when we got here she started to listen and understand better and she went to the Conference and she loved it. We Watched the video of the Restauration of 1 hour and after we asked her if she beleived thats Joseph was a prophet and she said yes because she didnt think anyone could suffer so much for a lie. Thats almost literally what she told us. She still has a lot to go though to be ready for baptism but she is definitly progressing.

Another family we are teaching is Renan and Selena. I dont know if ive talked about them either but they are a super young couple. She is 20 and he is 18 and they have a son thats 3 and the Mom is going to have another kid in like 2 weeks. They wernt really progressing either. What the members told us is that the dad didnt want anything to do with the missionaries but in this last week hes been listening and reading everything. They also have a ton to do before baptism but they are excited to learn more. 

Other than that we had other really good citas with the Flia Severiche and Fila Vidal and they are still learning and progressing too. Its pretty cool being here in this area. There are a lot of super cool people and members that are helping a lot in the work here. This is a ward of 300+ and in the last month theyve baptized 10 people so its pretty hard not get some help here haha.

I still havent been able to buy batteries so there are no pictures this week either sorry. Have a good week everybody. Love you all.

Love Elder Crisp

Monday, October 3, 2016

October 3rd, 2016

Hola,

This week was pretty sick again. We were able to have a lot of success this week with visits even with conference.

We didn't get a chance to visit the Flia Vidal because they only have time on Saturday but there was conference. We invited them to go but they weren'y able to make it. Its pretty hard with them because they are working all day everyday and only have time on Saturdays so its basically only one visit per week, but we did talk to them and they told us they were reading and praying and all that good stuff.
We also visited Janet this week. We kind of just explained the conference and prophets because she didn't have much time. She also told us that she would go but didn't go.We have a cita with he tomorrow so we see what happened.

Another family that we've been teaching the Flia Severiche, was able to go to the conference. They told us that they loved it. We were teaching them this week about the Apostasy and the restoration and she told us that the week before we passed by that her family was in their own "apostasy" and that they were lost. They have a pretty sad story and its just another example of how Heavenly Father prepares the people.

The conference this time was pretty sick. I noticed a lot of the talks were about repentance. It must be pretty important because almost all of the talks were about it haha. I did really like Elder Oaks talk. He told the story of when Christ was teaching the people about the bread of life. And all the people left all mad and offended, and He asked the apostles " Will ye also go? ", and Peter responds "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life"

I love that story. Because there really is no other place to go. Oaks talked about it like if someone didnt want to go to church or do the things they need to. Where else will you go to find happiness.
Thats about it for this week. The batteries in my camera died this week and i couldnt buy more so theres no pictures this week. I love you all and hope you all have a sick week. 

Elder Crisp

Monday, September 26, 2016

September 26th, 2016

Hola everbody,

This week was super sick. We've been meeting a lot of new people here and were getting to know the area and the members a lot better. We've also had bunch of little miracles this week. We met this week a few families that are super cool. Most of the people here are super cool, because we are a little farther from the city, the people are more receptive.

We've been teaching the Flia Vidal. They are a family of 7 and we met them contacting last week but we visited them for the first time this week. We taught them the restoration and the apostasy because they are pretty catholic. We told them that because of that all of the churches during that time were in error. And the mom said," so that means that the Catholic church is wrong too..." I honestly did not think i would ever hear someone say that here but it was pretty cool. We are going to pick them up for General Conference this week too because they were super interested.

Another person that we met this week was Janet. She is a single mother with 2 kids. We contacted her and she told us to come back so we went with 2 members from the ward. We talked about the family and she also told us that she was so confused about all the churches and that she didn't know which to go to. And also that she didn't believe in the catholic church so we taught her about prophets and apostles and she also committed to go to GC this week.

This week was pretty sweet and I'm so pumped to working here in this area. I didn't take any pictures this week but ill try to take some this week. Hope you all have a sick week.

Elder Crisp

Monday, September 19, 2016

September 19th, 2016

Hola everbody,

This week was super sick. First off i got cambios (transferred). I didn't go out to the jungle but I'm pretty far from where i was. I'm in an area called Carmen. And my comp is Elder Huallpa from Peru. It was a little sad leaving my old area. After being there for 6 months and getting to know all the people. But this are that im in now is pretty sweet. The ward has 300 attending every week and there are a lot more receptive people here. And the members help a lot too. Im super pumped to be here in this new area. We are opening the area because both of the Elders that were here got cambios. It hasn't really been to hard at all because the members have helped so much.

This Saturday we had a baptism of one of the investigadors that the others were teaching. His name is Brayan Sandoval. He is super cool. We've already visited him a bunch and he has a super strong testimony. The converts in this ward are all super strong. They are basically all willing to go on visits and give referrals and all that.

I was reading in Hebrews this week and I love in Ch. 10 that it talks a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

I like how it explains that his sacrifice was perfect and eternal. And that if we accept and apply that eternal sacrifice in our lives, like it says in 17, he wont remember our sins anymore.
Thats about it for this week. Im super excited to be able to work here in this area and to meet a whole bunch of new people. Have a sick week everybody.

Elder Crisp 

(The baptism of Brayan )
(My new comp)


Monday, September 12, 2016

September 12th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was a little bit interesting. There wasn't too much that went on but it was still a really good week. Its also starting to get really hot here so that's been fun to. This week President Cabezas invited us to the Leaders Conference so we got to do that this week too. All the talks were about the importance of knowing who we are. They talked a lot about what it really means to be a representative of Jesus Christ. It helped me a lot to reflect on why I'm here and why i left on a mission. It was a 9 hour conference of solid learnage.

Other than that this week was pretty empty. We taught the Flia Campero and Omar and read the BofM with them and they are started to learn a lot more a lot faster. We also did exchanges this week so i wasn't really in my area for 2 days but we were able to visit Freddy again and we taught him the Plan of Salvation. He didnt really have any doubts about it and he is starting to progress.
The only thing about this week is that the ward boundaries changed, so basically everyone we have been teaching are no longer in this ward. Omar, the flia salazar, flia sosa and like 60% of the priesthood in the ward is no longer part of the ward. It is a little sad that we wont be able t visit them anymore. Yesterday we ran around saying bye to everyone and explaining to them what happened. I have some pictures of all that.

Thats about it for this week. This week is probably my last in this area because cambios (transfers) are miercoles. tHANKS FOR EVERYTHING. hAVE A GOOD WEEK.
eLDER cRISP

(1 Omar and his nephews and neice)
(2 Flia Aguirre, a super sick family here.)
(3 Flia Valverde another super sick family here)



Monday, September 5, 2016

September 5th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was pretty chill. It got super cold here again which is good because after this it will just be super hot again for 6 months. It was a solid week with the visits we had. We visited Omar and the Flia Campero. We are really just reading the Book of Mormon with them so they can gain a testimony of it. Omar told us that his Mom is coming to visit him this week so we are going to try and talk with her to see what the problem haha. Hes helped too with a couple visits this week so he doesn't get to lost.

We also taught the Flia Salazar again. We talked with the dad finally and we taught them the restoration. He seemed to like and was excited for us to come back. This week we also started teaching a new family. Its Freddy, the dad, his wife, Marisol, and there son Alex. They are super cool. They don't much in terms of money and his wife is about to have another kid. We had contacted him about 2 or 3 months ago but didn't really want anything, but the ward here put together a little package for them with some food and clothes so they opened up a little bit. Yesterday we taught them about the Restoration to and he had some doubts about Joseph Smith. We explained to him the Book of Mormon and "the other sheep" and he said he liked it a lot. He told that we could go by whenever we wanted too to visit him. 

For all that it was a really good week here. Sadly it could be my last week in this area but i'm glad i got to teach them.

I realized that i haven't really ever put my testimony in any of my letters, and i was thinking this week about how much i've learned about the Gospel in this first year that i've been out. I've really learned to love everything about it. I've been able to recognize all the blessing that its brought in my life and above i've learned to know without a doubt that this is the true church. I've never been so sure of that in my whole life and i've been able to see how much it can change the life of the people i teach. I am extremely grateful for the knowledge i have of this Gospel and for everything i've learned as a missionary.

Love Elder Crisp
I didnt take any pictures this week either, sorry.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

August 29th, 2016

Hola Everybody,

This week was a little of downer. We went on Thursday to visit Omar. We asked him how he was feeling about his baptism. He called his mom this week to tell her about it and she told him that she was happy that he was going to church but that she didn't want him to get baptized because hes already baptized in the catholic church. He told us that he knew what were teaching was true but that he didn't want to get baptized if his Mom didn't want him to. Its a little bit sad but we obviously we are still going to help and strengthen him. Hes still going to go to church and he went with us on a few visitas this week too. Other than that we taught the Flia Salazar again and read about the Book of Mormon, they told us they would read as a family and pray to know if its true. We have another cita tomorrow so well see how that goes. We really didn't have too much this week but were working hard with the people we have already.

I love this scripture in Acts 14:

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

I love the last part because it really is necessary that we go through trials in this life. If we dont ever have trials we wont ever progress, and if we never progress its impossible to enter into the kingdom of God. So if we just push through the trials that we have we will be blessed not only in this life but the life after as well. 

Thats all i have for this week. Sorry i dont have any photos either but ill try to get some next week. 

Love, Elder Crisp

Monday, August 22, 2016

August 22nd, 2016

Hola Everybody,

This week was pretty chill. We finally got to leave and work. We met with Omar and the Flia Campero this week. Omar told us that we have to push the date back to the 3rd because he has a test on the 27th, but we taught him about the Commandments this week and he understood pretty well everything. We finished lesson 5 too so now we just have to help him prepare more and teach him a few things again. He went to church yesterday again and then after we went on a few visits with him with a few families. It was pretty awesome. We talked with him about Missionary Work and he told us that hes been telling all his friends in school to go to his baptism and his teachers too and he told us that when we needed help with a visit that he always there to help us. I'm super pumped with how fast he progressing. It's honestly unbelievable compared to how he acted before and how he acts now.
Other than that we couldn't find the Flia Sosa because they left for a week. But we did have a visit with a new family, the Flia Salazar. They are a super cool family. Their daughter is a convert and her parents were attending when she got baptized but stopped going. We taught them about the Restoration and they liked it a lot. They said they were going to read and pray about it and do everything they can to go to church next week..
Another family that we met a few weeks ago but taught for the first time yesterday is the Flia Salvatierra. We taught them too about the Restoration and they told us that it all made since why there had to be a restoration ad that Christ came to the Americas. I'm excited for them to because they are really cool.
That's about it for this week. It was good to actually leave and work this week and also meet some new people. Have a good week.
Elder Crisp
(that's a huge plate of what they call Pique Macho)
(Us hanging on the outside of a bus)




Monday, August 15, 2016

August 15th, 2016

Hola everybody,

So this week was a little different. On Monday we a an FHE and Elder Chavez wasn't feeling too good so we went home and the next day he was feeling the same so we went to the hospital and the doctor told him he had Chicken Pox. So this whole week we were locked in the house and couldn't leave. And there really isn't much to say for this week .

Luckily i did get to go and work for a few hours on Wednesday and we did visit with the Flia Campero. This week was pretty important for Omar to be able to get baptized next week and we didn't get to leave at all so his date got pushed back to the 27th. We already planned to visit him everyday this week and he seems pretty excited. 

This week i had a lot of time to read, so i was reading in D&C and i read a scripture that i really liked. In section 29:39 

39 And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet.

I like that part at the end the most. We really wouldn't appreciate the good that we have in this life if there wasn't something bitter. I was a little frustrated this week because we couldn't teach Omar but i thought a lot on this scripture and thought that there is some special reason that we didn't get to leave this week. 

That's all i got for this week, i love you all and hope you all have a sick week.
Elder Crisp

Just a random picture of the sunrise

Monday, August 8, 2016

August 8th, 2016

This week was very interesting. First off we got cambios and I stayed here, but Elder Flores left. That was a little weird becasue he only was here for 3 weeks but my new comp is Elder ChĂ¡vez from Ecuador. But it was a little weird because my comp was outside the city so he didnt get here till saturday, so for Tuesday to Friday i was in trio with the other Elders here. And one of them just got here from the Provo MTC so it was pretty different. And also im the new District Leader here. A lot of stuff happened this week but we still had time to meet with the Camperos.

We taught the flia Campero again and they went to church again. We taugh them about The Gospel of Jesus Christ this week. The problem with them is that the parents arent married and the mom is very receptive so we havent been able to put a date on them, but we did put a date on the brother of the mom, named Omar for the 20th. He already has the 3 attendences so we just have to teach him now. He super cool. He has a little bit of trouble reading and he has a little bit a learning disability but he understands everything. Hes 29 years old and he still acts like he 10 years old but he has progressed so much. When we first started teaching him he didnt understand anything and he couldnt read a single word without help but yesterday he was flipping through the pages of a pamphlet and reading the section headings like normal. Its really a huge miracles that he is progressing.
Other than that we didnt have to much citas for the cambios but this week was still really good.
I read these scriptures today for the first time and i loved them. 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


There is absolutly nothing in this world, nothing we can do or have that can seperate us from the love that God has for us. It doesnt matter what happens He will always have the same love for every single one of us.

Thats about its for this week. I love you guys and hope you all have a good week.

Elder Crisp (this the new guy and his trainer and me, i look really weird but its the only foto we had)

Monday, August 1, 2016

August 1st, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was pretty good. We had a lot of visits with people here. We visited the Sosa family and talked about the Sabbath Day and they promised to got to church. We also taught the Camperos and they said they were going to go. We decided to pick them both up on Sunday so that morning was a little crazy getting members to go and pick them up and then get to church on time. But it all worked out. Only the kids of the Sosas went for the first hour, but they said they liked it and that they would go again next week with their parents. We have a FHE with them tomorrow and we are going to go with a really cool family in the ward so they can get to know them. I'm super pumped now for them now that they've gone to church. The camperos went too and were in the Gospel Principles class too. They said they liked the class and are excited to go next week.
I was reading today in Mosiah 10, and i like verses 10-11.


10 And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle. 11 Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they dependedupon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men.

I like the last part of both verses. It says that the army of Zeniff was with the "strength of the Lord" and the Laminites were with the "strength of man". And obviously in the end Zeniff's army ends of winning the battle. Its makes me think of what Mom always says. We already know what team is going to win the battle, we just have to choose what side to be on.

Other than that cambios are this week. Im pretty sure im staying here because Elder Flores still doesnt really know the area to well but who knows. Hope you all have a good week. I love you all. (I have pictures but i have to send them in another email)

Elder Crisp


Monday, July 25, 2016

July 25th, 2016

Hola everyone,

This week was really good. We had a little Conference with Presidente Cabezas this week so we got to meet him this week. He didn't really teach anything, its was basically just to get to know him. But he is really cool and they are super funny so I'm pumped to be able to get to know them more.
Again we were able to teach just about everyone. First with the Sosa Flia. We taught them a few times this week about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the whole family understood pretty well. We talked a lot about repentance and baptism. They accepted to be baptized but not a date. We have an FHE with them tonight and we are going to try to put a date. 

The we taught the Campero Family too this week about the Sabbath Day. It was really cool because we passed by their house on friday and they were all painting and cleaning the house. He told us that he was rushing to finish because Saturday he had to work and so that they could be ready for church on Sunday. In the 3-4 months we have been teaching them, the only thing they lacked was going to church, and now that they went once they told us they were going to go every week. Im super excited for them because they are progressing a lot.

Over all this week was really good. I saw this week a bunch of our investigators progressing. They all seem to listen and learn more every time we teach them. Im glad that they are starting to understand the importance of what were teaching. 

I had a pretty weird experience this morning. We got on the bus to come to the internet place and there was a member there. We started to talk and he told me that he served a mission in Guayaquil Norte. And i asked him if he knew Elder Crisp and he told me "Yeah, he was super loco" Thats the 2nd person ive met that has told me that Stephen was crazy hahaha.
Thats about it for this week. Hope you all have a good week. 

Love Elder Crisp

-Me with Pres Cabezas(im such a scrub with my tie hanging out hahaha
-the second picture is Elder Lazarta, the member that knows stephen,


Monday, July 18, 2016

July 18th, 2016

Hola,

This week was really good. It was a little weird because it was Elder Flores´first week here so he was getting used to the area. We did visit basically everyone that we've been teaching though. We visited the Sosas, christian, Campero, Joana and emo, and we are finding a bunch too. They are all doing really well and they are all progressing. We also went again to pick up the Campero Flia for church and they finally went. The whole fam went and they all loved it and said that next week they will be there for sure again. Im glad that they finally had the chance to meet the members and the church here. Thats definitely been the hardest thing in this ward is the attendance. But now that they have gone to church i feel like they are going to progress even more. The flia sosa are doing really well too. We finished the Plan of Salvation with them and we taught in the last visit about the Faith and Repentance and they seem to understand well everything.

Today i was reading in D&C 18:10

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

I love this scripture because gives missionary work a lot more importance because the people that we are teaching and visiting are so important to God, and that we too should see them with the same importance that God does. We talk a lot in the mission about loving the people and i feel like if we really love the people that we can have that same view that God has for the people. There's really no point in being a missionary if you dont love and care about the people.

Anyway that's about it for this week. I love you all and hope you all have a sick week. 

Elder Crisp

Monday, July 11, 2016

July 11th, 2016

Hola Everybody,

This week was great but it ended a little weird. First we had another cita with the Sosa Flia.. It was really good. We talked with them about the Plan of Salvacion. It was the first time that their whole family was there so its was a lot better. We talked a lot about the purpose of this life and the Atonement. They are super cool and they also started to have questions about why Catholics beleive certain things. They were ging to go to church but like always had to travel. But we have another cita with them this tuesday.

We also taught we have been teaching a guy named Christian. Hes super cool. He 23 years old and he super receptive, yesterday we taught him aboout the restauracion. We focused on prophets and why they are so important and he understood everything. He was answering all the questions we had and is reading too. He really doesnt have any difficulties apart from the fact that he lives in the area really far from the church so its hard for him to get there but were trying to work with the members to get him to church.

On saturday after we got home we decided to buy Papa Johns just becasue. And then we got a call from the ZLs that we had a emergancy transfer. Luckily i stayed here but elder bricher left to open an new area for the mission. Its an area that was part of another mission but was changed to ours. Its a little bit sad becasue we were finding a lot of people here but my new comp is Elder Flores from Peru.

Last Monday our pension threw a little party for the 4th of July. She made tacos and we had rootbeer floats. Its was pretty sweet to have some real american tacos hahaha.
Other than that this week was really good and im super excited for the families weve been teaching. I love you guys. Have a good week.


Monday, July 4, 2016

July 4th, 2016

Hola everyone,

This week was pretty sweet again. We are starting see a bunch a miracles in this area. We've been having a lot of trouble finding people that want to listen, but in this week we found a few people that are super cool. We were contacting in an area that we had already contacted before but we decided to do it again. We contacted a guy that basically let us in right away. We were talking and he told us that a few days before he woke up and his hand started to hurt him and he couldn't really move and for that he wasn't working. We taught him the Restoration and gave him a BofM and then visited him again on Thursday and his wife was there too. She told us that the Sister missionaries had been teaching her about a year ago. We talked about baptism with them and they accepted to be baptized.
We taught Javier again this week about the Plan of Salvation. we didnt have much time so we just read a little paragraph from the pamphlet about Pre earth life. He told us that of all the religions he had studied that that little paragraph was the best principal he had heard. That he lived with God before this life and that we knew about this plan before made him happy. Hes super cool and he knows and works with a lot of members so that helps a lot too.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
I love this scripture because if we constantly search for that light of Christ we will always be led to do good. We can never be led astray by the light of Christ. And like it say a little bit before in this chapter, we all have that light. Its a free gift that God gave to all of us so that we good do good in this life.
That's about it for this week. Happy 4th of July to all of you. I'm super pumped because its the most exciting holiday here haha

Love Elder Crisp


Monday, June 27, 2016

June 27th, 2016

Hola,

This week was super awesome. First off cambios were this week but nothing changed. I'm in the same area with Elder Bricher again.

We were able to teach a lot of people and a bunch are starting to progress a lot. First the Sosa family is starting to progress. We passed by and the mom told us that they were reading and praying. We didn't get a visit with them but they told us that they were reading the whole week. We have a cita with them on Tuesday so I'm pretty excited.

We visited that old couple that we found last week, Joana y Emo. They are super cool. They too were reading and praying and they were going to go to church but again had to go to the hospital yesterday. The good thing is that they are really good friends with one of the members that lives by them and they absolutely love them. That always helps when the members actually help with that.

We also this week had a pretty weird experience. We passed by one of our old investigators that we have. Its a family of 5. The parents aren't married and the guy has a problem with alcohol. When we went by he was drunk out of his mind and he told us that he had signed some papers at work that made him lose his job. Its a little weird, but now we have all the time to teach them now cause he doesn't have a job. He decided that he didn't want to drink anymore and they are starting to listen again. We invited them to be baptized, but they didn't accept a date but they said they were going to pray about it. They too have been reading the BofM all week and praying too.

I was reading in Mormon this week and found this verse about the importance of faith. Its Mormon
3:12

12 Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me,with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them;nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts.

It just shows how important faith is. We can love according to the love of God and pour out of hearts all day but the faith that our prayers will be answered is absolutely necessary. I feel like sometimes we just kind of say prayers to say them and not with the faith that God will respond. We need to have faith that God will answer them or we wont have the miracles in our lives that we ask for.
That's about it for this week. Have a good week everybody.



Monday, June 13, 2016

June 13th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was honestly one of the best weeks of the mish so far. First off we had a lot of good visits with investigators. One of them was with a new investigator named Javier. We taught him about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. He promised to read and pray and he told us that he wanted to go to church. He told us about his life a little and said that he wanted to change the way he was living. I'm super pumped to start teaching him. 

I don't remember if I've mentioned Blanca before, but we taught her again this week. It went really good. We taught about the Book of Mormon and she also promised to read and pray with her family this week. She too told us that there was something she has always been missing in her life. It sounds kind of crazy but she basically said that word for word.

We had a really cool experience this week. We had an investigator that we taught in my first week here that was progressing really well. The only problem was that she was living with her boyfriend (who's a less active member) and she knew that she couldn't get baptized unless she moved out. After the first week, they didn't answer their phones and they were never in there house. So we kind of though they just didn't want to listen anymore and we kind of just left them for a while. Then this past week we got a call from the missionaries that are in a different zone saying that she was getting baptized this Saturday. She had moved out of her house and was living with her mom so that she could get baptized. So we got permission to go to her baptism. It was a super cool experience. She lives in my old Zone so there were a few Elders from that i knew.

Last week i heard that in my old area there was a bunch of baptisms, but while i was there they told me there was 6 baptisms of people that I had taught while i was there, and that that family that we found my last week there are getting baptized too. That was super sick to hear.
Overall this week was pretty sick.


Hope you all have a good week. I love you all!!!!

Love Elder Crisp

Monday, June 6, 2016

June 6th, 2016

Hola Everbody, Hows its going?

This week was pretty good. We didn't get to many lessons but we were able to teach a couple for the first time in a while. Jose Carlos and Tatiana. I'm not sure if I've mentioned them but they are super cool. They are a young couple that are actually married. It is really rare to find a young couple here that are married. People here don't really think its important. But they are pretty prepared, they always read and they always pray together. They've accepted a baptismal date like 5 times but the only problem is that they wont come to church. They live pretty far away from the chapel but they've told us that they don't feel ready to go to our church. I'm not sure what that means but we've tried to explain to them importance and all that but they just don't seem to want to go. But we have a cita [appointment] with them on Tuesday so well see what happens. 

We also taught a lady that was receiving the lessons like a year and a half ago but then stopped. Her name is Blanca. She is a single mom with 2 kids. Shes read the BofM and she prays with her kids everyday, but she doesn't really want to go to church either. Her kids are going through classes for their 1st Communion and she has to go there but this week she said she would make time to go to Sacrament Meeting so that pretty cool. 

13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.

I read this scripture this week that i had never read before. But I love it. Because as disciples, missionaries and members of the church we are all called to declare His word and help others to come to Him, so that can also have everlasting life. 

That's all i have from this week. Hope you all have a good week.

Love Elder Crisp

Monday, May 30, 2016

May 30th, 2016

This week was pretty sweet. On Wednesday we had our last interviews with Presidente Zambrano. He leaves on June 30. And on Thursday was his last Multi Zone conference with him too. Presidente and his wife are probably 2 of the coolest people i have ever met. Its going to be pretty sad when they leave but there has been so much that i have learned from them that i will probably never forget. In the conference he talked a lot about the 3 things that makes someone successful:

1)Obedience(obvious), 2) Living righteously, correcting things that we can in our lives and whne there are things we cant correct ourselves, we trust in the Lord to help us correct them, 3) Doing everything we can to help others. He always applies those 3 things to missionaries but he explained to us that these 3 things apply for the rest of our lives, that through these 3 things we can really find happiness in this life. Its basically impossible to do anything in this life if were not living according to gospel and when we do everything we can to live righteously we can be successful leaders of the church.

We didn't really get to visit with any of our progressing families this week other than the Campero Flia. We visited them on Saturday and it was a really good lesson. We talked about the Book Of Mormon a lot and how much its changed our lives. The spirit was really strong and he was on the verge of tears so it was really good. They couldn't go to church though because they left in the morning to go to his moms because the 27th was Mothers Day here. Other than that we didn't visit with to many people .

Anyway Happy Bolivian Mothers Day to everyone, i hope you all had a good week,hahaha. Love you guys.

Love Elder Crisp



Monday, May 23, 2016

May 23rd, 2016

Hola everbody,

This week was pretty sweet. We finally found some of our investigadores in their house so it was great. The Lara Family is on of them. They are a family of 5. They are really cool, they always understand everything but they are super catholic. They have all their kids in classes for their church and they go every tuesday thursday and sunday. We taght them this week the importance of Prayer and they promised to read and pray as a family. They still wont be able to go to church because they aren't willing to give up their other church. But we've passed by with members and that's starting to help them.

We also taught the Campero Flia. We just read from the BofM a few stories and they again said they would read and pray this week about that. They weren't able to go to church either because at 11pm on saturday the dad got called in to work and the rest of the fam went to so it was a little frustrating.

11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them,that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.
12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him;and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

I love this story because even when they were forbidden to "cry" unto the Lord, they continued to pour out their hearts and the Lord heard the thoughts of their hearts. Its the same for us, even if were not saying a prayer out loud or knelt down, the Lord will still hear us and will answer the prayers of our heart.

Thats about it for this week. I finally got a picture with the soccer player guy.hahaha. We also had to cook breakfast for our comps this week. Hope you all have a good week.

Love Elder Crisp


Monday, May 16, 2016

May 16th, 2016

Hola,

this week was was pretty chill. We got cambios on Tuesday night but nothing changed. I stayed in the same area with Elder Bricher.
We were finally able to find the Campero Family in their house week so that was really good. We visited them on thursday and saturday and we talked a lot about the Sabbath day and we offered to come and pick them up for church on Sunday. They live really far away from the chapel so its really hard for them to get there. So we took and bus 20 minutes out to their house to pick them up and when we got there only there son was there. The parents went to go shopping and werent going to get back for like 2 hours. I was a pretty disappointed becasue the night before he promised to go to church. But we passed by yesterday to teach them again and we talked to them about the Book of Mormon and the importance of praying to know if its true. I could tell that he felt the spirit really strong and he promised that him and his son would read and pray about the Book of Mormon all week and on Sunday hes going to go to church. So im pretty pumped to be able to teach them again. And he told us that we could come back any day of the week.
Other than that we didnt really get to many visits this week. We are trying to work more with the members in the ward and get more references here because it is really difficult to teach people because the husbands are literally always working and we cant teach without a guy so its been pretty hard. But this week we have a bunch a members willing to come with us.
8...as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things,and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—


I was reading in Mosiah 18 this morning and i read these 2 verses. This is promise we make when we get baptized. I love the bolded part. That we should stand as a witness in absolutely every place we are. In all times and in all things, EVEN UNTIL DEATH. I really love that part, we should be willing to give our life for the Lord and do all we can to serve so that we can have eternal life as the scripture says.

Thats about it for this week . I love you all and hope you have a good week.

Elder Crisp

Monday, May 2, 2016

May 2nd, 2016

Hola everbody.

This week was pretty sweet. First off, the people that own the house we live in threw me a little party for my birthday. They bought a cake and made us lunch. That was really cool. The thing they do here though is when you blow out the candle, you take a bite out of the cake. And when you do that someone shoves your face into it. they got a picture of that so ill send it. Other than that this week was pretty chill.

Unfortunately we couldn't find the Camperos this week so that almost 2 weeks that we haven't taught them. We call them and pass by everyday but they are never there. Its a little sad becauue they were so ready and then they got super busy with work and school that they don't really have time for us. But were going to keep trying with them. We contacted a whole bunch again this week but we didn't really find anyone. We've been trying to work with the members more and asking for references to try and find investigators that way but the people in this area are pretty tough. A lot of people here have money and they don't even open the door. Its pretty tough but well keep trying.

I was reading in Mosiah 2, and i read verse 41. I love the promise that Rey [King] Benjamin gives.

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in allthings, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

That promise that he gives, that if we keep the commandments and stay faithful to end, we can live with Heavenly Father in a state of never-ending happiness is pretty sweet. And we will be blessed in ALL THINGS . And that's really all that He wants is to be able to give us that happiness and blessing. .
That's all there was from this week. I love you all and hope you all have a good week.
Elder Crisp


Monday, April 25, 2016

April 25th, 2016

Hola everybody,

First off Happy Birthday Mom. I hope you had a sick day. Now for real this time you turned 55. HAHA.

This week was a little rough. We didn't get to many visits. And we didn't get to visit the Campero family, con fecha (baptismal date), so it was a little disappointing. And they didn't go to church either. We passed by their house, called them and asked a member to pick them up, and they still couldn't go. It was a little sad. But we have a cita (appointment) this friday so well see.
This week we did a lot of touching doors haha, and we found a few potentials. One was a lady that said she attended 10 years ago but moved and never went again. She told us that the time she was attending she felt a lot happier and was going to get baptized but then moved away and didnt have a church by her house so she just didnt go. But we have a cita with her on Wednesday and im pretty excited for that.
I was reading in Alma 4 today and verses 10 and 12 made me think a little bit. 

10 And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church;and thus the church began to fail in its progress.
12 Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others,turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted.

The people got rich and so prideful that the progress in the church began to stop. That they forgot what really mattered which was to help the needy and the poor and their pride was a stumbling block for the people that weren't members of the church. It really shows our responsibility that we have as members to be good examples for the people that aren't members.

That's about it for this week. Thanks for all the Birthday love. Love you all and hope you have a good week. 

Elder Crisp

Monday, April 18, 2016

April 18th, 2016

Hola,

This week was pretty good. We worked a lot with Ervin, the recent convert this week. Every time we visit him he is more and more excited. He told us how much happier he is in these 2 weeks that he hasn't drunk or smoked. Its pretty crazy how much hes changed in these 3 weeks that i've been here.
We also visited the investigator family with [baptismal] date. We taught them Friday and yesterday. We taught them about baptism and invited the mom and the kids to be baptized too and they all accepted. So the plan is the 14th of May. The issue is that we can only teach them all together Sundays so it'll be a little tough to do. They are a super cool family. The live a really small house basically in the middle of no where and the parents work Monday to Sunday from 7am to 10pm, but they always try and make time for us to come by.

This week was stake Conference here. We had Elder Fabio Moscoso from the 70 come. He is really cool. He shared the story of Nephi building the boat. 

8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying:Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee,

He read this scripture but swapped out the words a ship, for a life. He said that we should build our life the way the Lord wants and like Nephi we shouldn't hesitate to start "building it". I really liked it.
Anyway thats about it for this week. Hope you all have a sick week. 

Elder Crisp

A whole bunch of chickens that kind of look like ducks (so they're "Chucks" or "Dickens")

Monday, April 11, 2016

April 11th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was pretty good. .We have been teaching a less active member with a drinking problem. The first time we visited him he was drunk. The second time we visited him, was last Friday and he told us that he would go to Conference but he we called in the morning and he told us that he got drunk again the night before so he wasn't going to go. I felt really bad because he was super excited to go. We visited him again this week and he seemed to completely change, he told us in the visit this Friday, that he hadn't drunk this whole week and that he felt really good. That was really exciting. When we passed by on Sunday morning to pick him up he wasn't there. And i got super sad again thinking that he went out drinking again, but when we got to church he was just sitting there in the back of the chapel, reading his Hymn book. I was super happy how much he had changed in just this one week and we visited after church and he was really happy and excited for us to be there.
We also taught an investigator that was a contact from the week before i got here. His name is Miguel Angel. We taught him the Restoration and the Book of Mormon with him and his son, but his wife was never there. This past Wednesday we visited them and his wife was there so we decided to teach the Restoration with her. We asked him if there was something he remember from what we taught and he asked us for the pamphlet we had. We gave him one and he started to teach his wife about Jose Smith and was telling his wife how important it all was. The only thing i could do was smile. They accepted the 7th of May to get baptized. This entire family is super cool. His 11 year old son is reading the Book of Mormon by himself and every visit he explains to us what he learned and all that good stuff. I'm super pumped for this family.
Other than that we didn't have too much. But this week was really good. I met a bunch of the members at church and they are all super cool. This ward is real small. There was only about 40-45 people in church yesterday but they are all pretty cool.
That's pretty much it for this week. Hope you all have a good week.
Elder Crisp

Monday, April 4, 2016

April 4th, 2016

So this time I actually did change areas. My new area is called Las Charcas, and my new companion is Elder Bricher from Cochabamba, Bolivia. Its a little weird being in a completely different part of Santa Cruz. This new area is huge and its mostly factories in the middle of no where. But im super excited to be here. So far the ward is super cool. And the people in this area are cool too.

This week was pretty chill. We spent a lot of time getting to know the area and the members. The other thing is that im coming into this area with 5 people with baptismal date and there are 2 others that are progressing really well too. The sad part is that the Elder I replaced was everyone's favorite missionary. Like 5 or 6 people have cried when we told them that he left. But ima try to do all i can here. We didnt really have any citas [appointments] this week but we are going to have a lot in this next week.
General Conference was pretty dope this year. I though it talked a lot about helping people that have fallen away and helping others in general. I feel like a big problem here is that the people dont really help out with anything. Home and Visiting teachers don{t even really exist here and we rarely have members to go to visits with us. Its a little sad that people would basically abandon each other. But all the talks this Conference were pretty good.
Thats it for this week. Hope you all have a good week.
Love Elder Crisp


Monday, March 28, 2016

March 28th, 2016

Hola everybody,

This week was pretty sweet. We had our 5 progressing investigators go to church and they all loved it. The family that we contacted last Sunday and gave a baptismal date to is probably the coolest family I've met here. They are super humble and they understand everything. They told us that they were at the point of giving up and separating when we knocked on their door. They told us every time we visited this week that they were waiting for us and every time we leave the mom tells us not to forget about them. They have a son Leo whose 11 loved church. They have a daughter whose 5, Mia, who also loved it. This week we taught them the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Restoration and they understand it all, they accepted too the Book of Mormon and they are reading it as a family. Im so pumped for them.

The other investigator Lucy, went to church too. She said she liked it too and was pretty excited after church. She too has been reading the Book of Mormon and she has been praying and reading it all this week. An the other investigator that went was Vilma. She loved it too. Its funny because she is best friends now with a sister that got baptized last week. They sit together in every class and they are always laughing and talking so its pretty funny.

The only thing about all that is that cambios [transfers] are tomorrow and this time it is pretty much a sure thing that i'm leaving. I'm pretty bummed i wont get to see any of them get baptized but im super pumped that i got to meet them all because they are super cool. 

That's pretty much it for this week. Love you all hope you have a good week. 

Elder Crisp

Monday, March 21, 2016

March 21st, 2016

Hola everbody,
This week was pretty good. We had a lot more citas this week than last week and we got some new investigators too. We met one girl named Lucy while contacting. She pretty cool and she is super prepared . We met her on tuesday, had a lesson Thursday and Saturday and there was a baptism in the ward and she went. It was a little annoying though because there was a soccer tournament going on outside and it was super loud and there were a couple YSA people in the baptism messing around and making jokes so it was pretty irreverent and she didnt seem to like it very much. But we have a cita with her tomorrow so well see what happens.

Yesterday we contacted a family. We taught them about the Restauracion and they told us that were grateful that we visited them and they accepted a baptismal date for the 16th of April. They were super cool and they were both crying and they kept thanking us for coming by. Unfortunatly next week is cambios [transfers] and we have 5 baptisms set up for next cambio that i probably wont be here for. 

In church yesterday, everything was about the Atonement. The talks, and the classes. And i was reading in Alma 7 today and i read verses 11 and 12 :

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.


These verses just make me think of how much stuff he had to suffer for us. And how he did it all willingly because of the perfect love that he has for all of us. He suffered not just the sins, but every pain that we feel, every temptation that we feel every day, and he overcame them for all of us.

Thats all i got for this week. Saturday was Fathers Day here so i want to wish all the Fathers out there a Happy Bolivian Fathers Day.Hope you all have a good week.

Elder Crisp

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

March 14th, 2016

Hola everybody.

This week again was a little bit slow. We didnt have too much visits with investigators but we did meet one new guy. Hes a brazillian that here studying. Hes super cool. He speaks perfect english which is cool because yhe asked me to pray in English which was the first time ive prayed in English outloud in my mission. He also has two FatHeads of Kobe and LeBron in his room and he was wearing a Lebron jersey so he obviously knows whats up. And hes also really cool because hes super prepared to listen. We talked for a little and he told us about how his mom died and how he was never going to see her again. We taught about the PoS and how he would see his mom again and he was super excited for us to come back. Im pretty excited to teach him.
We also taught Victor and Vilma again yesterday about the BoM and we answered a lot of their questions about it and they said they are really excited to get baptized.
This week we also visited the Flia Saucedo, less-actives, and they went to church again. And the son, Antonio is teaching the Young Men Tae Kwon Do for a Talent Show in the barrio. They are progressing really well and im super excited for them too.
Anyway that was basically it for this week. Hope you all have a good week.
Elder Crisp

Monday, March 7, 2016

March 7th, 2016


Hola everybody,

This week was pretty chill. We didn't have to many citas [appointments] and we didn't meet any new investigators so it was a little rough but were still working. Victor and Vilma, were able to go to a baptism this week of a girl in the ward though. And they said they were excited for their baptism. They are reading the Book of Mormon together and they also said that its bonita [beautiful], so i'm excited for that .
Today is exactly 6 months that I left on my mission. Its absolutely insane how fast itsd gone by, and even though is only been 6 months, I've still learned a ton about this Gospel and my testimonio is 50 times bigger than before i left. And i know that in the next 18 months i still have a lot more stuff to learn and I'm pumped to be able to do that. 

Yesterday we had the opportunity to to visit a family in the ward that went through something really hard. The dad of this family was accused of robbing and beating someone in a park that he was never even been in and they put him in jail for a month and basically took away everything he had. This guy is like 60 years old and is literally the nicest person i have ever met. And after he got out of jail he couldn't do anything. He couldn't leave his house alone and he had to be in his house at 6pm or they put him back in jail. The cool thing about the visit that we had was that we were contacting and we knocked on their without knowing that they lived there. We shared a couple scriptures with them and they thanked us for everything and told us that that visit was exactly what they needed. Experiences like that are what make it exciting to be a missionary. That we can have such a big impact on people. Its super cool. 

Anyway that's about it for this week. Love you all and hope you have a good week.

Elder Crisp