{Week Ten}

Dear Family,

This past week has gone by so quickly and lots has happened!

We were able to catch Amy Martin this week and had a nice visit with her. She had read some parts of the Book of Mormon and we're excited about that. We had another appointment with her last night, but she wasn't at home, nor did she answer our text message. She is in-between helping her mom, her son, and home right now. We are excited to keep teaching her; now we just need to catch her at home.

Last Thursday we taught Wayne Toebe about the Priesthood. Or rather, that was our plan. We had an exchange with us (a lady to drive us and to be there because he is a single man) that loved to talk!  A lot. It was a little frustrating because he was getting confused by doctrine that was unnessessary to talk about, but we made it through. When we met with him last night, it went fantastic!  We helped clear up some things and we are excited to teach him next Monday night. He continues to study diligently from both the Bible and Book of Mormon. I love it when investigators study! And he is great at that :) He continues to have lots of questions and we love it!

Friday night all the missionaries went to watch the dress rehersal for our stake production of Savior of the World. Sarah Murray is doing a fantastic job of co-directing it and it is going to be amazing!  We have a handful of investigators that are going to it and we are so excited for this great missionary experience. Out of 5500 seats, over 2000 of them are non-members or less-active. It is exciting that our stake is doing this!

Saturday night we went to Stake Conference and I met Lyle and Sonja Sasser, from Reed's mission there! They recognized my name and Reed told them I was in this mission. They weren't expecting to meet me, but it was fun to get to meet them. The talks were amazing!

One couple team-spoke about family unity. They told about their family going on camping trips and listening to talks and speakers in the car... it reminded me about our family and how much I love you! We even sang hymn 260 for the opening song! :)

I also loved the Sunday session; Pres and Sis Greer spoke and It was great! They taught about how a testimony is knowing and feeling and conversion is doing. Something that Dallin H Oaks taught.

I wish that I could tell you more, but I am just about out of time.

Yesterday we had a marvelous zone conference! My first!!! The main topic was conversion through the Book of Mormon. It was fabulous! It helped me realize better how I can help investigators feel the need to read from the Book of Mormon and to apply it in their life. I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true and that it is the word and work of God.

I love you all so much!

♥

Sister Stephanie Crandall

{Week Seven}

Dear Family,

It has been quite the week. It seems like lots of people have just opened up with us; whether for good or for bad... but we still love them and work with them.

Before I forget! Cause I have for the last 4 weeks, Katelyn, My companion knows David Archuletta... he sang at her birthday party once because he was there and her mom asked him too ;) haha... kinda funny...

This week we tracted a ton! We had some successful people too that we are going to try back with! We knocked on this one guys house and he said, "My grandma was a Mormon from Idaho and her last name was Garrett and I use to move pipe for her in the summer times!" I told him I was from Idaho and that I was sorry he had to move pipe and then he asked us if we wanted to come in. We took him up on the offer! Turns out she was from Idaho and this guy, Martin Hausser has family in Rexburg, the Killpatricks, the ones that do Cedar Badge! haha... so Clay, next time you go to a CB meeting... I can't remember their names, but remembered the last name and that he did CB. :) We had a great time visiting with him and he said he would like to have us come back. He and his wife aren't very religious any more and they send their son to a baptist church on Wednesday nights only because a bus comes and picks him up. He was playing legos and reminded me a bit of Clay ;) So that was one good door that was opened up to us.

Down the next few doors no one was interested. Then we got invited in to another house by a man and his wife. They started by wanting to bible bash, but we left our scriptures in the car since they are heavy. He offered us his "New Age Bible" and said it was the same, but since it is completely different, we didn't use it. So he started to church bash us with really random questions. I guess they weren't that random, but they weren't ones that people usually ask. He grew up with a Best friend that was Mormon, and he knew a lot. He kept asking us questions and trying to prove us wrong on stuff, but when we testify and say that we know something is... it hard to have something to say back to that. We probably wont go back for a while since he isn't interested in the church, but more about bashing religions. It was just intresting.

We also tracted into an interesting fellow. He was completely racist and wierd. Even though he claimed he has a phd, he was not all that smart... but then this morning I read from the March Ensign (i finished an dloved it!) about "The Healer's Art" By Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi... It was fantastic! It made complete sense!

So I want to tell you of an experience of visiting with a family. The Mom and kids just got baptized so we still visit them everynow and then to check up and see how they are doing. It was my turn to give the dinner thought and so I was trying to find a scripture to share with them. I couldn't find one that I wnted, nor did one ever pop into mind during dinner, but Katelyn's last week letter came to mind. In Katelyn's letter to me, she told me about the missionaries challenging everyone to make personal study better. And she asked how I make my study good. I thought about how to answer and told her it was finding a purpose. So I decided to share with this family the importance of making our personal study better and decided to ask them to make theirs better. As I started telling them about Katelyn, I was all of a sudden asking them how they could make their family scripture study more spiritual. Giving hem time to answer, Rocky and Jewlz said that it didn't exist and that starting woul be a good place to start. Their Children, Judy and Dacota agreed and they are now doing this each night as a fmaily! I am so excited for them! They are excited about it as well!

Well, more happened this week, but I guess most of all, my testimony was strengthed that the gospel is true no matter what questions come my way. Sometimes we don't know all the answers because God has not reviled everything to us. But he knows all and I know that he loves me and has given me an opportunity to share his message with his children!

I love you all so much!

Love,

 Sister Stephanie Crandall

P.S. Des, we don't get much snow here ;)

{Week Six}

Dear Family,

I was excited to get all of your emails this week! It is fun reading how everyone is doing :) I remember very well the feeling of not being completely ready for festival when the time had come for the recital! But then the next week I was somehow ready! While I was playing the piano at District Meeting last week, an elder asked me how I learned to play and if I could read music. I smiled and told him lots and lots of practice. And that my mother was persistent that we learn how to play. I miss the piano and violin and play the piano every chance I get!

It has been extremely windy here, just like at home. The rain has started to pick up, but not too bad...

We tracted a lot but stayed warm with gloves, coat, and scarf. It is decieving when I look outside because there is no snow! Just cold wind and rain :) Nothing I can't handle though~ We gave out lots of Mormon.org pass along cards and shared lots, but no one is really interested, YET. We have some follow up appointments that hopefully will go well!

Although our week was slow and difficult, as I am looking back, it had some good times too.

We do have 2 people set with baptism dates! So that is a big plus. One is Iris who is 9 years old, and the other is Austin who is 14 year old. Austin has autism, but he know what we are talking about in the lessons. He has such pure answers and is so sincere and loving. He a great dad and wonderful grandparents that are great examples to him.  Iris is also so sweet. Her step-dad is a member and her mom is an investigator. She has a more difficult time learning, but is also coming right along! It's fun teaching younger people the gospel! They are so honest in their answers.

We did some service for a lady in the ward. It has convinced me that cleanliness is next to godliness :) Mom, thank you for teaching me how to keep a clean house! This sister is confined to a wheelchair as is unable to take care of her home. We cleaned her kitchen and her bedroom. She had a hard time letting us throw away anything though... so we more or less just moved things around. We sorted through hudreds of magazines and her son took them out, probably without her realizing it. It is sad to see how many people can live in a dirty environment. She is a sweet lady with good intentions, but just needs help cleaning things up.

We also visited with one of our bishops (Desert Hills Ward). Bishop Volmer is 6'7", or like he would say 4' 31". He is pretty funny too... he likes to joke around and have fun. Ends up he is a big time hunter. He showed us his elk heads and convinced Sister Garrett that jack-o-lopes are real (he had one of them too). He even said if you, Dad, would let him hunt in Chesterfield, I wouldn't have to talk in church and that he would do it for me :) I laughed and told him it was unlikely and that I didn't mind talking... So I get to talk in 2 weeks.

Last night we had dinner at Bishop Damsteadt's home. (Cottonwood Ward) He asked where I was from and he has been ice fishing on Chesterfield Reservior! haha... he also knows people from Pingree, but not the Carters... We shared the Plan of Salvation with them for their FHE lesson. They have 6 children and 3 adopted children from China... they loved the lesson with all the little cut outs that we used. I am in the process of making some for me to use while teaching :)

I also meet a lady in the ward that know the Creers, that recognized they were somewhere near what I described as Chesterfield :) It is still fun to meet people that can pinpoint where I am from.

The highlight of our week was that 4 investigators were at church on Sunday! We were so excited to see them! We taught in Primary about the Priesthood too. So that was fun!

The other highlight has been my studying. Dad, I loved the Atonement Scripture Chain. I read and studied it Wednesday morning and then shared it for some of our dinner thoughts this week! I have also started reading the Book of Mormon over again and marking each time the Lord speaks. It is amazing to apply the scriptures to our lives and see how similar we really are to the people from the scriptures. The only real difference is technology... When we have faith, the same experiences can happen, and when we are wicked, the same distructions can happen. More or less so, but we are so similar.

The work in WA is progressing and we are keeping our heads up each time the door is closed because they are "not interested" in the message we have yet to share with them. This week is looking up though! And I am excited to continue in the work!

I love you all and wish you the best week! Best wishes with Festival, work, school, play, and with everything!

Love,

Sister Stephanie Crandall

{Week Four}

Dear Family, 

(Please send this to Katelyn, I keep getting her emails back. I have recieved her emails, but mine wont send to her...)

I hardly know where to begin this week's email! It has been such a wonderful week and lots has happened.

I will start by telling you a little about Brother and Sister Nelson. They are the amazing couple we are living with. They served a mission in the geneology department in SLC and loved it! and ever since, they have had missionaries in their home. They have a nice little home in Richland WA. He grew up moving the cows and sheep North of Kemmerer Wyoming (I think Kemmerer... now I can't remember). It is fun to reminisce with him about agriculture and he loves it too!

Sister Garrett and I are in an upstairs bedroom and we all share the kitchen. We usually only eat breakfast and lunch there, because each night there are members signed up to feed us supper.

It is fun to meet the members! Speaking of which, the world is indeed very very small! The first supper I had was with the Hart family. Who happens to be President Hart's (Soda Stake President) son. We had a good laugh out of that. And then a few days later we had dinner with the Jones Family. And guess what... He is the nephew of Allen and Ada Smith! When he asked where I was from, I said Chesterfield Idaho and he started to laugh. After he told me, he knew just where that was and how he knew, we laughed about it for a while. It is such a small world.

The work here has been tough, but worth it. It is taking me a while to remember people's names and their stories, but I am starting to get the territory down. It seems like we are teaching lots of less-active members. Most of them are in part-member families so there are non-members there as well. I hope that the examples of the missionaries and the members will help the less-active members have a desire to return to church. One of the less-active's we visited with was Preston Leavitt. He is from Utah and here away from his family working. His entire family is active but he has been less active for years. We took another member with us and shared a message from Heleman 2:41 (Everlasting happiness). After we read that, he expressed how he could see that happiness in his wife and son and he said he was going to return to the church after 30 years of being inactive. I hope we gave him the nudge he needed to feel that great desire that is so important for each of us to feel on our own.

Last night we also went to share a message with a part-member family. Jody and Rob Lowery. Jody has been a member but fell away a long time ago and Rob seems very interested but is leaving on a work trip for a few weeks. He is actually going to Ukraine, where Sister Garrett is from! We shared Alma 34:32 with them. It is the purpose of why we are here on earth. Rob asked us to re-read it and we talked about what our purpose is while were are here on earth. He is ready to hear the gospel and we are so excited to share it with him!

During last week, it seemed like many people canceled appointments and many people were not there when we went, so we tracted. We have been tracting alot and it has seemed that most everyone is not interested. Until yesterday! A lady invited us into our house, of course the last house on the block, and we started to teach her. She actually grew up going to church with her Grandma and her Grandma had asked if any missionaries had stopped by a few days ago. She was very open to hearing what we had to say and we are going back soon! So that was exciting! I can't wait to share with her the happiness in my life that I have recieved because of the gospel. I think it will help her so much!

Sundays are busy because we have two wards to go too. It is amazing how some of the members look just like people from home. The RS President here looks just like Diane Richardson ;) haha... kinda funny. Sunday night I saw Sarah and Ben Murray! Our stake is putting on the production of Savior of the World and Sarah is one of the co-directors. It is a missionary effort to invite non-members and less-actives to come see it. It is going to be so good! It was fun to see Sarah too :)

Before I forget, Mom, The bag is perfect!!!! I love it and it has the perfect amount of pockets for everything! Very good choice! Thank you for the shoes too ;) I am wearing them today... The cookies were delicious and the card was wonderful! The package was great! I also got all the bedding too... but Sister Nelson is providing that for us... And Dad, thank you so much for the address's :) Much appreciated!

I hope the rest of District's go well for Katelyn! I am so excited for her and have all the confidence in the world that she will do well! :)

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Sister Stephanie Crandall

{Week Two}

Dear Family,

I was so excited to receive your emails, but didn't have time to read them all. If you have time, could you send them to me via dearelder.com (while in the MTC)? I only have 30 minutes here to type, but in WA I should get a little bit more.


I got my flight plans last week! We leave the MTC Tuesday morning. We were all really excited! There are 17 of us going to Kennewick! My district of 9  and 8 others from other districts.


Mom, as for an outline of my day: I am usually up by 6 and getting ready for class that starts at 7:00. We then have breaky at 8:15 and class from 8:45-11:45. Personal Study or district study for an hour, lunch for 45 minutes, class for 4 more hours and sometimes a workshop or TRC time in between. We then have dinner, gym time, and then study until 9:30. We go to our rooms, get ready for bed, write in my journal, and have the lights off by 10:30. It is quite the day and oh so busy!! On my first day they put us right to work and then at 8:15 we got to unpack and take a little breather to take in the day :) I think the funnest part of the MTC was the other night a girl started singing hymns in the shower and then I started harmonizing with her... haha... we both really enjoyed it. We are not able to listen to music at  the MTC and I miss it sooo much! The most difficult is finding time to write in my journal! I do find time, but it is difficult. 


I did run into Sherida, Amy, and about 5 sisters from my freshman ward!!!


Dad, President Robinson was released yesterday! And put in as a new Branch President for another branch. I was able to be interviewed by him yesterday and had a nice visit. He really is such a wonderful man and his wife is amazing as well! I have found a love for both of them. Their Son Alex is in Reed's ward~ What a small world it is!! I was excited to hear about the snow and how the Klondike derby went! Hope the skiis worked out for you well! And I was also excited to hear about Raft River! Glad everything is going well!

I was so excited that I accidentally ran into Reed at the TRC! I just needed to go to the restroom (for about the 4th time that day, Mom, I'm drinking lots of water) and ran right into him! I also saw 3 people from my ward at Foxwood! They were on the missionary committee with me :)

Des, I loved the letter you sent me!! It made me feel so beautiful! I love you so much!

Clay, I love October Sky! I watched it at Wood Badge and it is an awesome movie!!

Katelyn, can I just say I am proud of you for feeding the animals!? oh so proud! And way to go with basketball! YES!!!

I am so excited for you all and will write another letter to you today to add more details. I wish I had more than 30 minutes on the computer, but there is already a line of Elders behind me ;)

To tell you a little bit about my day yesterday:

It was AMAZING! Sister Pamela J Norby of the General RS board spoke to us. She gave examples of women who had unwearied diligence (Heleman 15:6). Each woman: Emma Smith, Zina Young, etc. did their best without complaining and with a good attitude. I hope I can be like them! That I can refrain from  complaining and have a good attitude. So far, so good :) There is lots I have to work on, but I am loving the elders and sister I get to associate with. Each has their own personality (and their own degree of maturity, haha) but each is loved by our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ.

We taught a "mock investigator", one of our teachers, and we felt the spirit so much. I really  felt  the  love a missionary has for an investigator. We talked about the Atonement and Prayer and even committed him to baptism. It was amazing to feel the spirit so strong and to  really feel the love the Savior has for each of us.

Something I learned during my Coordinating Sister training meeting yesterday morning was a quote by President Monson: "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal!" or in other words, success is the achievement of righteous goals. Emphasis on righteous and also on the plural goals. I am striving to achieve these righteous goals! Remember that People who are bored are not working on righteous goals! :)

I love you all and thank you for your love and support! I know this is right where the Lord wants me in my life and I am learning oh so much!

Last week I sent my letters off to you, and then received all of yours that night! :) I will write a few more today and send them off!

Thank you for the purse! It is great having something!

Love you all,
Sister Stephanie Crandall

{Week One}

Dear Family,

It is Monday morning and finally time to write home :) It seems weird to have been here for 5 days and not being able to write home until Preparation Day, but the time has gone quickly and now it is time.

I imagine that Katelyn, Clay, and Des are practicing their piano and getting ready for school, and Dad and Mom are fixing breakfast. I am half way done with my laundry and also just about ready to go get breakfast.

Mom, before I forget to tell you, our bathrooms do have single units for showers and they have curtains ;) Didn't want to forget and tell you that!

My Companion is Sister Chatwin from St. George UT and is a wonderful example to me. We have a lot of similarities and differences, but we get along great! She is easy to talk with and we have learned lots about each other. She is 23 and has an older brother and a younger sister. Dad do you know any Chatwins? Her dad grew up in Springville and is just a year older than you. I had to laugh at her reaction when I started telling about how I have grown up on a ranch and she thought we had milk cows... I told her we have chickens and beef cows :)

My teachers are all so wonderful! Sister Elsworth is from London and has a great British accent and an even better testimony that what she is teaching us is true. Her lessons are great and I am learning so much. Brother Tominaga is from Blackfoot and has been fishing in Chesterfield! He knows a few of the people I know from Blackfoot and I was so excited when I heard that! He knew Scott Larsen and his family and also some people from High School since we both graduated in '08. He has been home for about two months and still had the spirit with him so much. Brother Hale, from California, is also a great teacher. He helps a lot when we are doing our "mock" teaching and helps us to find deep conflicts instead of surface conflicts that our investigators have. I am still focusing a lot on how to dig deeper and find more out about our mock investigators. It is difficult, but a good challenge.

Another connection I have found is in my Branch Presidency. Brother R. Shermann Robinson, from American Fork, is our first counselor. Dad, he owns Lehi Roller Mills. When he was greeting me he saw my name asked were I was from. I said Chesterfield Idaho, and then said I had moved from Springville, Ut. (I have grown to realize that when some people ask where I was from with a certain look on their face, that I say both places. Then they usually get a big smile on their face and say they know Grandpa or you Dad. :) I get a big smile on my face too!) Then he asked who my Grandpa was, and he said he knew Grandpa Crandall and his boys. He said he knew you the best. So exciting to find those connections!

The other members of the Branch Presidency are President Fisher and Brother Garr. All of these men are great in the gospel and their wives are amazing. Each Sunday we are asked to prepare a 3-5 minute talk on a given subject and then they call 2-3 missionaries to give their talks.

Relief Society was wonderful yesterday! Sister Rosemary Wixom, the General Primary President, spoke to us! She did a marvelous job and helped me feel like I am a really important part in the missionary plan. She said, "The power of the Holy Ghost will give us our talent, the smile of angels will give us our looks, and the divine work we are doing will give us our personality." Really made me feel beautiful and loved. Now I need to put my faith towards the Lord and keep working diligently!

My time is about up and I need to get breakfast, so I will write you snail mail and describe some more that I have done.

I love you all so much and know that you are doing well!

Love,

Sister Crandall

***Deanna here, Stephanie's oldest sister for those just joining us. :) She asked me to maintain her blog with updates for friends and family, so we hope you enjoy! I know she will enjoy receiving letters throughout her mission, so feel free to write at any time. :) I'd also be happy to share any comments you leave, if you'd like me to (accessing her blog or Facebook is not within the mission rules). She has limited time on the computer to email, as well as read emails, so it is best if you can write actual letters and mail them. Thanks!***