Hi everyone!
What is up! How is everyone doing this week? I hope everyone had a few fun adventures, especially involving anyone named “Yogi Blair”. Those such people are bound to have had quite the week. This week was definitely the craziest and most adventurous week of my whole mission! I hope you all are doing so well, and that everyone is celebrating the Eagles win and a nice break from the Chiefs for awhile. Sorry if your a Chiefs fan…but I hope you had a great week anyways!
Let’s start off the week with the most consistent section of all time…
️ The Weekly HighlightsFirst of all, I thought this quote from Elder Marx was so accurate that it had to be included as this weeks overarching theme:
– “Do you think this constant sense of impending doom will ever go away?” -Elder Marx … Ain’t that the truth.
– We had Zone Conference, and President Burnham kind of roasted some specific Bishoprics that seem kind of anti-baptism. That was epic. Elder Boothe, who I spent my first night in the field with, just got called qs AP! That dude is a beast, love him!
– We found a burrito place where you can get 2 al pastor burritos and 1 liter of horchata for less than 100 pesos. Miracles, my friends, are real.
– We started teaching some awesome old ladies because they thought it was fun when we boogied down the street while they played Billie Jean from their desert stand. These ladies are AWESOME, they are always playing iconic American music, and one time they even gave me some free cheesecake. Miracles, my friends, are real.
– Alright … now I’m not trying to get too political, but Mexico banned Coke. This is arguably the most devastating news I’ve gotten since I heard that Jared West shaved his signature “smoking hot spanish conquistador” facial hair. Seriously though, some people downright believe that Coke is medicine, and I must say, I think these people are on to something. Please pray that Coke prices don’t rise and that things calm down, I need my Coke. I’m so sad it got banned this last week
– Fun fact, I learned Coke got banned while at lunch with one of the greatest member families of all time. We showed up after a rough day and ate the most amount of food I think I’ve eaten in my whole life, AND got to watch part of the Superbowl. I had fried chicken, wings, and ribs, and each one of those things I ate like it was the only thing they were serving. I’ve never been so full, but it was so much fun and we spent like the whole time laughing and living it up. What great folks! They had been stocking up on Coke surplus to ration it out to us, very appreciative.
– I think most of us are aware that in most wards there are some regulars that get up during fast and testimony meeting every month. We have that, but the people that get up here are genuinely kind of crazy. I heard some CRAZY testimonies come from the pulpit on Sunday, and got called out a couple times. Still not really sure why…
– Linda, one of the girls from the Gonzalez, turned 19 on Friday and invited us to her birthday partt with just her family and us! We brought her a little birthday present and each wrote her a little note, and man it was so fun! That family is seriously so good and just such a miracle. The cake was delicious, and the family is just so fun and sweet!! Linda sent us a text later that night that seriously like made my mission, it had me tearing up bad. Exactly what I needed and wanted to hear, I love that family so much and will never forget them! So so good
– Legos here are like 75% less than the price in the US, I swear. That is something that hasn’t gotten banned yet. I bought some Lego orchid flowers to spice up my desk a little bit, and not only did I have fun making them but I also think they look pretttttty nice on my desk. Oh yeah.
– Some of you might be wondering about whether or not Carlos got baptized this week. No matter how long my emails may be, there is not enough room here to write about that. If you’re particularly interested… you may need to ask my Dad to tell you the story. Basically yes…he got baptized, twice!! Under a different name and in a different area a couple months ago. After trying to get baptized in a couple other areas, us two got the butt end of the stick and baptized him again. Big oops. Lots of lies, misinformation, confusion, frustration, and eventual calls from mission leadership. Wow! Still working on working this whole mess out… what a wild experience
– Last night, we walked down Reforma Avenue to get down to a park for a lesson. We got to the big downtown part as the sin was setting, and there was just a ton of people as always. As we walked down to cross the straight along this super wide sidewalk, some crazy dude (definitely high) walked by and straight up glocked me in the side of the head. Bro punched pretty hard! He got my left ear ringing for a sec and gave me a good swollen jaw, I look pretty dumb. He cussed us out and English and Spanish, then some other random Mexicans cussed him out in return. My companion got pretty livid and was ready for me to say the word to go follow and ruin the guy, but we went on our ways anyways. I finally checked that oke of my Mission Bucket List!! Actually pretty cool
Anyways, that about wraps up the highlights of this week, it was a crazy one!! We will have a baptism for an awesome girl named Melani this week, after a lot of arguing between Zone Leaders, so please please pray for her! She is sooo cool and so so ready, its going to be awesome! Now, let’s get to everyones favorite section…
Spiritual ThoughtsThis week I read some more in 3rd Nephi. It’s always just so so good and powerful to read the literal words of Jesus. Here’s some verses I love from chapter 12. Jesus speaking, similarly to the New Testament:
“And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Man, aren’t those good attributes to have with even better blessings that Jesus promises?? That is some dang good stuff right there!
This CS Lewis quote fits really nicely into this, I think:
“It is safe to tell the pure in heart that the shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to.”
Now, how do ypu purify yourself? King Benjamin taught his people…
“Apply the Atonement of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.”
There you go! By repenting and being better, by applying the atonement that Christ, we can be purified. We will see God! How great of a promise is that? So, this week I would invite you to be pure! Purify your hearts. That doesn’t mean be perfect, certainly try your best, but it does mean make your actions better and your thoughts better too. I think if everyone can try to purify there hearts, the rest of the attributes that Christ talks about will come with it!! Meekness, mercy, seeking after righteousness, peacefulness, and being persecuted for righteousness’s sake. The promised blessings will come, they are there waiting for you!!
Man, I really love those scriptures. This week sure was adventurous but it was also so awesome!! I had a ton of fun, and I hope you all did too! I’m so grateful for the miracles and blessings that come as we seek them and recognize that they come from the hand of the Lord! Seek to purify your hearts and become better through the Atonement of the Savior!
Well, I miss you all like crazy, and I love you all so dang much! I hope your weeks all went so well, and I am so grateful for all your prayers!! I love you all!! Talk soon everyone!
Hasta la proxima chidos
-Elder Crockett
Picture Time
Look, my Legos! Tell me that desk doesn’t looked spiced up^