Tuesday June 5th, 2012

Unfortunately, I do not have alot of time to write to everyone today, but I will be sending you guys a hand written letter today so you should get that by Thursday. I sent Kelsie a Birthday letter, but I didn't have her address so it is coming to you first and if you could open the first envelope and take the second envelope that is inside, throw a stamp on that mess and mail it to her that would be awesome.  Do not read it though, it is specifically for her. :)

You guys seem to be keeping quite busy without me around.  Man, I am so proud of Connor and his baseball, he seems to be a way better player than what I was.  I,m proud of Kyle and how hard he is working in school.  I know it is not easy right now, I've been there, but it is do-able and you will be able to accomplish great things.  Hows the family scripture study going? Tell me what section of the BOM you guys are in now? Keep up the good work, Heavenly Father is just waiting to bless you guys, but you have to put in the work to receive those blessings.

I want to share a few of my experiences here.  One of our investigators is named Tanaka Kyodai(Brother Tanaka) and his parents died in a car crash and he prayed to God that they would live and they didn't.  He is 32 years old and a fireman.  We've been teaching him for over 3 weeks and every time we teach him, we invite him to pray and he refuses to pray.  We've been working very hard with him on this and we were finally able to help him understand why prayer is important and how prayer can immediately help him in his life.  Tanaka felt very alone and wanted to feel God's love.  We told him that through prayer he could feel God's love and so he prayed with us for the first time in 15 years.  I felt the spirit testify to this man that God loves him, I felt him feel that.  Because of that one moment, every hardship that I've had in the MTC seemed insignificant, every doubt that I've faced, every worry and concern seemed Meaningless.  That mans simple prayer put my purpose as a missionary in perspective.  If I had to go home right now, I would consider my mission a success, because of that experience. 

But, I've got 23 more months a head of me and a lot more work to do. We have had many General Authories and 70's come and speak to us while I have been here.  Elders Perry, Christofferson, Zwich, Rasband and many others have spoken to us.  Every Tuesday a General Authority comes so I'm really looking forward to tonight.  I had the opportunity to go to the temple and do Sealings today for the first time.  That was such a beautiful and powerful experience.  During the session, we found out that a few of the elders we were with and the sealer and an elderly couple are all related through their grandparents and so it became a little bit of a family reunion, on both sides of the veal.  The Provo temple is one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

Good bye my family! I will write you more!

Love you! Stay Strong!

Elder Crandall