Qué tal amigos!!
Well today was super busy so now its way late and this is going to have to be quick. I absolutely love being in the city now, and even though its so different from home and scary sometiems, its amazing being here and getting to meet the people! They are all so friendly and kind and I can’t wait to get to know them over the next 2 years.
My first week has been wild, moving in, meeting new missionaries, meeting my new ward, and helping teach and love other people as best I can in my very subpar spanish. Translating all their words in my head makes me exhausted, but I know that through effort I can be blessed to understand the language!! I’m so excitwd for that time when I can speak and listen without too much effort.
This is definetly a very humble place, people live under very humble circumstances but that makes them very friendly and selfless towards other people. It’s kind of weird to see these crazy nice malls in the middle of the really poor neighborhoods, so its definitely a diverse place. Our apartment is dirty but pretty spacious and its growing on me! My companion, Elder Tarango, lives in New Mexico but his parents are from Chiuaha, Mexico, so he is perfectly fluent in english and spanish which makes me jealous at times but is also really helpful for my learning. For any of you that doubted that I would gain over 30 pounds, he has me on a crazy bulking regimen to help my public image and prevent my inevitable getting robbed. So that is intense and exciting. This city is crazy but awesome! I am convinced there aren’t many enforced laws, cars and motorcycles just go however and whenever they want and I regularly see people walking around strapped up with Uzis or shotguns. But they are nice to us so thats gooood.
Lots has happened that I unfortunately ran out of time to tell you all about, but we had an awesome noche Mexicana to celebrate Mexican independence day on friday!! I got to meet a ton of awesome people, eat good food (which is all over down here) and listen to fun music. I even met a teacher from the CCM who is in my ward (but wasn’t my teacher.)
Anyways, here is my spiritual experience from the week. Since I just finished the Book of Mormon, I am now back at the start reading again, and I read some really powerful verses where Nephi again affirmed the truth of the Book of Mormon.
What really stuck out to me was what one of my friends (Elder West, and you might recognize this quote if you went to his farewell!) shared with me earlier in the week. It’s in Doctrine and Covenants section 78, and the Lord promises:
“And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.”
I love this. When, not if, but when, the work here gets hard, or gets hard ever in life, I know the Lord will lead me along as I have faith in Him. This again reminds me of my favorite Him, Consider the Lilies, where the lyrics go:
“Consider the sheep of His fold,How they follow where He leads.Though the path may wind across the mountains,He knows the meadows where they feed.”
The Lord knows the work I am doing. He has felt it all, the joy, the sorrow, the pain, and the love. He knows how to lead me, and each of us, and will lead us throughout life and eventually back to Him as we turn to Him and trust in His divine knowledge. I know He lives.
Anyways, that was shorter than usually, which maybe you liked and maybe you hated! Either way, I know I for sure had a lot more to share, so maybe I can throw it in my next email. But until then, I love you each, I miss you all, and I appreciate the support you’ve given me and love the emails. You all are the best and I can’t wait to talk to you again!!
Nos vemos!
Elder Crockett
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