{Week Three}

Dear Family,

 

Thank you so much for all the letters! Loved hearing about how your week was going and about what was going on in life. I know Dad always has said that we don't need to check up on him... like when we 'always' call 'every day' and ask what he is up to... but I loved hearing about EVERYTHING! :)

 

I wanted to tell you a bit about last week. It was amazing! I can hardly believe how quickly my time at the MTC has gone.

 

Each Tuesday we have a devotional where a General Authority comes and speaks to us. This past Tuesday was especially wonderful! Elder Kevin R Duncan and Sister Duncan came and spoke to us.

 

Sister Duncan started by sharing a story about a duck, with a lame leg, that showed up to her home looking for food. Well, long story short, her family fed the duck and after about a week of feeding it, the duck left. She concluded the story by saying: "Everyone a missionary teaches has a crippling problem; and the Lord will lead them to us and us to them." The Lord looks after us all and wants the best for us. She told it in much better words [having more time], but the lesson was so powerful. I will remember the message when I am in WA and having a difficult day. The Lord really will look after me.

 

Elder Duncan shared an analogy about missionary work. He related it to a bridge. Every investigator has an origin, where the bridge starts. And each bridge ends at the Savior. Although each bridge may start in a different location, they all end up at the same location by traveling through the Book of Mormon and Prayer.

 

This week we have been focusing on teaching people and not lessons. In Alma 18, Ammon's faithfulness causes a change of heart in King Lamoni. He definately taught the person and not just any ordinary lesson. In the new program the MTC is starting, I have learned that when teaching properly, we are not the teachers, but only the messengers. The Spirit is the true teacher. I can make a point, teach to concerns, and teach a lesson, but until I invite the spirit and help the investigator feel the spirit, they most likely will not be converted.

 

Yesterday, because it was Fast Sunday, we had Mission Conference. WONDERFUL!

 

President James Hacking and his wife spoke to us and it was great! They spoke on how reading the Book of Mormon will help my confidence grow even more. As I have been studying it each day, I can see that confidence sparking more and more each day. It is so amazing to see this! It really works! I feel so fortunate that I had such wonderful examples to help me find a love for the Book of Mormon. Thanks Mom and Dad for helping me with that! And especially all my siblings for being such great examples as well!

 

They shared a quote that I now LOVE! "That which one willingly shares, he keeps; while that which one willingly keeps, he looseth." -President Monson.

Such a wonderful quote! They applied this to sharing our testimony! So I wanted to challenge you all to share your testimony on the next Testimony meeting!

 

One last talk... The mission president, President Brown, shared how important our names are :) I have always felt so fortunate for the good name that I have! Read Proverbs 22:1. It was just wonderful!

 

I love you all so much and hope the week goes well for you!

 

I will try to at least call Mom & Dad while at the airport tomorrow !! I'm just going to get a calling card here before I leave...

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!***