Monday, November 18th, 2013

Hello Everybody!!! 

Well mother, it's gonna be pretty easy to get an ecclesiastical interview from President Wada.  Don't worry about that.  I am glad that everyone is doing great back home.  No big news is good news, right?  I remember when I started to do my BYU applications as well.  I think the gist of my essays where on my future goals, big life plans, and to show them that I have a solid plan to get the best education possible.  I think they are looking for people who understand the purpose of BYU and know what they want to do when they get there.  

This week was by far the craziest week of my entire mission.  Just when I thought things couldn't get any busier or any more fun, I got a phone call that changed the course of my entire mission.  It was Wednesday night, I was stopping people and handing out English class fliers at Higashi Kanagawa station when Elder Hill answered a phone call from Pres.Wada.  He told us to go somewhere a little more quiet to talk with us.  I was puzzled by this 'cause I knew that he was in Korea at that time attending a mission presidents seminar.  We walked down the street a little bit until we got to a quiet stairway and then we put President Wada on speaker phone.  He started to address me and told me that he was sorry to have to do this to me in the middle of the week, but that he was going to give me my transfer call right then and there.  With absolute sureness and resolve in his voice, he then told me that my new assignment was to transfer to the Mission Office and be his new Assistant!  It took me about 5 seconds to respond because I didn't know what to say or how to feel about it.  Pushing back tears of sadness and excitement I feebly responded with an okay and asked when I am to move.  

After calling the then assistants that night, I found out that I had to leave the next day, so I packed up, said goodbye to all of our investigators and headed off to the Honbu (headquarters).  And so today, I am emailing you all from the mission office computer!!!  I am in Kichijoji ward, the stake center for the Musashino Stake.  The mission office is right next to the church and I live on the first floor of the mission office, and let me tell you, it is a dang nice place to live.  It's all practically brand new.  We have 2 showers, bunk beds, 3 computers, I have my personal phone now, and the Wada's live right above us and often bring us delicious home cooked food.  Last Thursday through today (Monday) has been an absolute whirlwind of activities and events.  I gave a zone training the morning I left without anyone knowing that I was leaving, that was hard and really sad for me.  I picked up the Wada's at the airport and got to ride through Tokyo at night and go on Rainbow Bridge.  We had one of the Kichijoji elders investigators get baptized and then had stake conference Saturday and Sunday.  This next week, tomorrow and the whole rest of the week, missionaries are going home and the new missionaries are coming in.  On top of that, Elder Evans of the 70 is coming tomorrow to give a two mission conference and we have had to organize all of that.  The elder I am replacing is going home right now and we have been busy saying goodbye with him to lots of people.  We had a welcome to the 'Bu party with the Wadas and the Yamashita's (the office couple) last night which was really fun.  Then had zone P-day today with all of the Musashino missionaries and we played dodge ball and made steaks and mashed potatoes.  We eat goooood here at the Honbu!  

My companion's name is Elder Medeiros and he is from Hawaii.  He is like 6'3" and used to weigh like 330 lbs, however, since the start of his mission he has been eating healthy and working out every morning and he has lost 140 lbs!  He is a fit beast now.  We run like a 5k every morning and play basketball a lot at the church.  He is an awesome missionary.  He got here a transfer before me so he is still learning the ropes as well.  I am now on transfer 13, in my 7th area with my 11th companion serving as the AP.  

Kyle and Connor, in case you are wondering what an AP is, every mission president selects two missionaries out the whole mission to be his personal assistants.  Basically, all we do is maintain the best area in the mission, the example area, then do every thing that President Wada says.  He has a lot to say.  When ever we have a spare moment, we go out and find.  Luckily, we live in one of the best finding areas in Japan.  There are always tons and tons of people around all the time and there is a humongous outdoor mall right next to us.  

It seems like I am going to be here for the rest of my mission.  I only have 6 months, 4 transfers left and Elder Medeiros will go home after 2 and I will need to stay and train a new assistant and carry on the mission for the rest of my time.  

This week is going to be crazy so please please pray for me!  This is going to be the biggest trail yet, but it will bring the most blessings.  I am so excited to be working under President Wada.  He is one of the most amazing men I have ever met.  I love him and I feel so much love from him.  

I love all of you as well and pray for you every day.  I have to go to wall mart right now so I'll email you next week!!! 

Take care and know that I love you! 

Elder Crandall