The First Transfer!! Hello Elko!!

Family,
Go go go!! You can make it through 2 Nephi! This is one of my favorite books in the Book of Mormon. Especially chapter 31. You cannot read that chapter and say no to baptism!
I am in the field, finally! My first transfer is in Elko, a mining town on the north border of Nevada about the size , population-wise, of Clinton. My companion, Elder Macferran, and I are the only Spanish speaking missionaries here. We cover one English ward and the rest of the city for Spanish-speakers.
I decided to keep up with the e-mailing so expect an e-mail every thursday from me and in the field I actually get 1 hour each P-day (Thursday). So I will wait for a response from you within my hour. I can't go back to it later like I did at the MTC.
So the last few days have been amazing. Let me tell you about them. I woke up at 3am Tuesday morning and left our room by 5am with all of our suitcases and luggage. We got to the airport and boarded the plane to Vegas around 8:30am. I sat in the window seat next to Donald Counsellor, an architect from Montana. There was no one sitting inbetween us on the three seat row so it made communication with him very easy. In fact as soo as I sat down I introduced myself and aside ffrom the 30 minute nap we both took after we reached cruising altitude we talked the whole flight. Before the plane took off I got to know Don. He has two kids, both grown with children and they live in Seattle. Him and his wife along with one of his cousins and his wife were on there way to vegas for 3 days. They were going to stay in the Venetian and see The Beattles version of Circ 'de Soile. He hadn't been to Vegas sinve 1980, when the only strip was the Old strip with Circus Circus. As an architect he said he was more interested in the buildings themselves than what was inside of them. He mentioned in passing that he didn't gamble. I asked him why not? His response was that he didn't find it fun and knew that the only reason those buildings stand tall on the strip is because the house always wins. And there is no sense thingking you will be 'that' person who wins big. A waste of time, he said. I agreed. I related a story of some people I know who becaome addicted thinking they could win big. He then told me that he had an uncle who was a professional card player in Montana and lost his house in a high stakes game. He was young when that happened but he remebered thinking at that age that gambling was not worth it. It goes to show that everyone can be a good example, some are just good examples bad things.
    We talked briefly about my role as a missionary. He was fairly familar with what I do because of the members he lives near but he didn't ask any doctrinal questions just logistical. He mentioned he had been studying in a bible class in Isaiah and they were through to chapter 9. My response was, better you than me. Joking obviously, I was reffering to the confusing nature of Isaiah. He said he enjoyed the book and Isaiah's determination to prophesy to the Jews of their destruction. To bad no one listened to him, Don said. We shared a laugh as I said to Don that he probably knows how that feels being a parent, because I sure know how it feels to not listen being a child.
By this time we were making our final descent into Las Vegas. The filght was a short 55 minutes. Little did Don know but that morning I placed a pocket-size English Book of Mormon in my breast pocket of my suit coat with the goal that I would give that book, the most correct book on this earth, to someone before I landed in Vegas. So as the plane descended I took a silent minute to write my testimony and some friendly words to Don on the inside cover where the night before I had glued a blank piece of paper for this exact purpose. I also marked in 2 Nephi were Isaiah 2- 8 are referenced and Moroni 10:3-5 & 3 Nephi 10:14-15. I waited until after we landed and were taxing into the gate to offer him the book. It took some nerves from me I can tell you that much. I didn't know what to say as I offered it to him. I simply told him that the Book of Mormon was a gift and I encouraged him to read the marked passages on the pages I had dog-eared. He graciously accepted the gift and mentioned how he enjoyed our conversation. I wished him luck in Vegas and told him I would look him up after my mission, and maybe come to Montana to visit. I don't know what lies ahead for Don but I hope he uses the Book of Mormon to find his way.
   As I landed, my first day in the mission field had just begun. President and Sister Christensen met us at the entrance to Baggage Claim and shared a scripture with us, Mosiah 7:33. This scripture is now known to me and the rest of the missionaries in this mission as the 'Baggage Claim Scripture'. He then challenged each of us to, between where we were and our baggage (a good 25 feet), to place a pass along card. We were off to get our luggage and one of the President's Assistants escorted me. He went up to everyone! maybe 6 people before we got to our bags. We were rejected 5 times. The only hit we got was from a lady who just sent her son on his mission, she was member. I gave her a pass along card nonetheless. Mission accomplished.
We were taken back to the mission home where we interviewwed with the president and ate Sister Christensens now famous breakfast burritos! So good. Then we left for transfer conference. I had heard that a friend form SVU recieved his call last year to go to Vegas but wasn't sure if I would be able to see him. However, as I walked into the Church building I saw him in the foyer. I called his name and immediatley he recognized me. We embraced each other and I couldn't help but think how amazing it was to see him in the field. To see us both in the Field. We had both come so far to serve the Lord.
Shortly after we, the new missionaries, were escorted into the Chapel to recieve our first transfers. I was assigned to Elder Macferran to the Elko Zone. I had no idea what that entailed or where it was all I knew is it was cold becuase as I stood up in front of the 167 missionaries there to receieve my assignment Pres. Christensen told me I would need a jacket. Luckily I cam prepared because you all bought me the perfect one for this transfer. An inspired purchase if you ask me.
It is an 8 hour dirve to Elko form Vegas so we spent the night in East. This is probably the most wicked part of Vegas. It consists of what is called 'Naked City' and Freedmont St. I learned all this as I was put on exchanges with Elder COlon and Wennerholm for the night because Elder Macferran fell ill with food poisoning. We went to a dinner appointment at the home of Sister Augustin a native Guatamalan. The food was amazing! I left there full and rolling out ofthe door. She was very sweet and her testimony touched my heart. Later we taught the first lesson to some investigators, I forgot their names. But this entire night was in Spanish and yes I spoke and participated in  teaching the lesson. The only part that wasn't in Spanish was when I contacted Blaine as we walked back form our appointment. I told him who I was and his respnse was, "Where is your bike?" The ice was broken at that point and we began to talk about God's plan for all of us. He was interested and agreed to meet with us this Friday. Unfortunalty I am in Elko now after a long drive so I won't be able to participate in his progress. But I know that everything happens for a reason just like he said and that he met the missionaries that night for a reason.
We are in Elko now staying in a carriage house behind a member's house.
Everything is fine and I'm out of time now for writing so I need to go.
I love you all and will write again next week.
I could use some more long sleeve shirts 16 1/2 - 17'' necks and some gloves if you get a chance. Its cold up here! Oh P.S.  the temple district for this Zone is the Salt Lake Temple!
-Elder Cronin

Mom Goes Nuts in Belk!!

OK, I didn't really go nuts, but I did get a fun phone call while checking out at Belk today. It was an elder from Todd's mission office in Las Vegas. He was there getting ready to go to his first assignment. Well, being the overly organized mom that I am.....ha......I put off ordering his bike a bit too long and it wasn't at the mission office. So, the kind Elder Neilson called me to find out the details and location of Elder Cronin's bike. My first reaction was 'what's wrong'. After I got over fact that this call was only about his bike and not some other catastrophe, I realized I could hear Todd in the back ground just a little bit. OH MY!!! What a way to put a missionary mom into tears. I'm sure the store workers were wondering what was wrong with this crazy woman. At the end of the conversation, Todd and I were allowed to exchange messages, but we didn't get to speak directly to each other. It still made my day!!!!

So, I found out that he will be serving in Elko, NV. His companion is Elder McPheron. Elko is in the northeastern quadrant of the state. In fact, it's pretty much parallel with my sister and brother in law who live in North Ogden. I thought it interesting that Elder Cronin had to travel from Provo, to Salt Lake City, to Las Vegas, then 8 hours in a car back up to Elko. But, that is where he will start his missionary work. Hopefully we will hear from him tomorrow.

A note from Elder Cronin's Mom!!

I spoke with the Mission Office today and boy does Elder Cronin have a treat in store for him when he arrives. It's nothing spectacular as far as the world is concerned, but they do treat the missionaries with great respect and  attention. Just know that he is going to get a very warm welcome! He will arrive in Las Vegas early next week and be greeted by his mission president and his wife, and the many other missionaries already serving in the area. There are 18 new missionaries coming in, so Todd will most likely travel with them from Salt Lake! All of his future mailings should be sent to the address posted.  They will get all mail to him. So if you are sending something that is timely, allow a couple of extra days for delivery!!

October 14 and 21, 2010

October 14, 2010

Hey,

Well I only have one week left to do temple work. I don't think I'll get many chances in the field to go to the temple. So if you have just a few names you want to send I'll gladly do as much for them as I can. I'll need some money for travel when I leave the MTC. I don't know whether we are flying or driving and if we fly I might need money to pay for my bag. So if you could send 40 or 50 that should be enough to get me to Vegas without any problems.

Life is going great here still! We had another great week. It was a monumental week for me and my companion because we have strengthened our companionship beyond what has been the whole time I've been here. Neither of us were communicating with one another. We were only expressing our concerns through our interviews with our teachers. Our teachers decided what was best for us was an inventory, which we hadn't had in a while. An inventory is pretty much a brainstorming session for problems, strengths and weaknesses within the companionship. So they set up for us an hour and a half session for just the two of us, me and my companion, to talk. It was great! We talked about our strengths first. We both agreed we are obedient and set a good example for our district in that aspect. But as it turned out that was about the only strength between us we could find. So then we talked about our weaknesses and after 20 minutes or so discussing the topic we discovered what was lacking in our companionship was charity. It made me realise that I had never practiced charity or tried to practice charity before in my life. My companion said the he had and the feeling of true charity was beyond any other feeling he had felt. He shared his testimpny with me about charity in his life and it motivated me to want those same feelings and experiences. So needless to say we have aimed to be more charitable to eachother and the rewards have been amazing. We are closer as freinds now and we communicate much better. I am so glad to have insipred people working by our side like the teachers we have here at the MTC. 

I only have 12 more days here! I cannot believe it! It will truely be the saddest day of my mission leaving the MTC because of the Spirit that is felt here so often and so strong. I will miss the freinds that I have made but we are all enlisted in the same work and a great work at that. 

I have started reading the New Testament. I decided to tackle the New Testament in hopes of becoming more familiar with the life of Christ. Themessage that we share as missionaries is centered around Christ and his atonment so it will be helpful if I can make his life and sacrifice as strong a part of my testimony as is the restoration. 

I have also started another very interesting way of reading the Book of Mormon. Being away from school kind of makes me nervous because I might forget alot of what I have learned, but I know the Lord will provide for his servants. In my thoughts of school I realized there is a similarity between the scriptures and a computer program. As you read the scriptures there are many footnotes which take you to different references in different books. Much like within a computer program different lines may refer to a different set of code to be excecuted. Following me? So what I have started to do is starting in 1 Nephi 1:1 is following each and every footnote I encounter. And footnotes within footnote referneces are followed as well. So far I have studied using this method for about 3 hours and recorded my reference path. I have not made it past,  "I, NEPHI, having been born," and haver over 5 pages of references! I am learning alot about specific aspects of the scriptures as I do this. Whatsmore is that in this journey which started at the first chapter and verse of the Book of Mormon I have been led to the first chapter and verse of the Bible Genesis 1:1. Pretty interesting huh?

Well thats about it for now. I got your letter yesterday. How is Olivia liking braces? How are things going lately while Dad is in China? Tell him I said hi and to look for a letter.

Love,

Elder Cronin


October 21, 2010

Family!

I just got back from my last temple session at the Provo Temple! I didn't receive any names from you all though.. sad day. I don't think I'll get many more opportunities in the field to do temple ordinances so if you have sent some I will most likely just send them back for now. This last experience was great! We did another endowment session. And I love the ability to go into the Celestial Room and just ponder. It really is great. We also, for the first time, ate at the cafeteria inside the temple! The most satisfying meal I've had since I got here. Temple work is so amazing and it is so peaceful to think that we are helping someone else come into God's Kingdom.

Spanish is coming along wonderfully! I feel comfortable with the language but am still constantly studying. My goal when I get off my mission is to have literally mastered the language. So that when I'm on a phone conversation with a native speaker I sound like a native speaker as well. Unfortunately in person I'm immediately pinned as a non-native, or in Spanish, a gringo. Ha ha. Not only do I want to do this with Spanish but I want to work on English as well. I would like at the end of my mission to have mastered both languages. That might sound weird. How haven't I already mastered English? In a sense I have considering it is my native language but there is so much more to learn. These are my goals.

We had the absolute privilege this Tuesday to hear from Russell M. Nelson as he spoke for our weekly devotional. I sang in the Devotional Choir for my last time here at the MTC during this devotional as well. We have been waiting for an apostle or a First Presidency member ever since we got here because Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke the Tuesday before I reported! Our thirst was finally quenched. I still think the best speaker we had for devotional though was Elder Hinckley, President Hinckley's son.

I am very excited to get to the field! I am ready to fall in love with my investigators and share with them my testimony which my patriarchal blessing says will invite others to come unto Christ. I was destined for this work and am so glad to be doing it. Here at the MTC we have fake investigators that we teach. My companion and I have 5. And one is getting baptised on Saturday and the other on Monday. While the lessons are mock and the investigators slightly easy the feeling of bringing someone into the fold is unreal. I can only imagine how it will really feel.

I will e-mail you my field address later today and also send my packet home to you. As far as Christmas goes. Can I have a couple more weeks to think about it? I have some things in mind but I feel that might change. Also thanks for putting money in my account!

I don't know how e-mail will work in the field. I might just start sending you letters. The computers here are very locked down and I like that. I'd rather just avoid any possible temptations so look for a letter from me next week rather than an e-mail.

Send Rachel salutations of luck for her pageant. She said it will be streamed live on the web so have fun watching!

I love you all!

Love

-Elder Cronin

One letter successfully completed, 12 to go!!!

More Pictures from the MTC!!!

God Blessed America with Religious Freedom - Thank you!!

Nevada bound!

Who's the guy in the back??!?!

May the Force be with You!!

Todd's letter requesting is participation in the MTC Choir!!

Thanks for the suits, Mom and Dad!!!

Off to my next class!

October 7, 2010

Family,

I have finished the Book of Mormon! I finished on October 1, 2010. How are you all doing? I sent pictures to you on Monday let me know if you got them or not. I can't believe I have been here for 6 weeks already. Time flies by here especially when you lose yourself in the work. I can't wait to get out to Las Vegas and lose myself in this work. Not only does is help build God's kingdom but each day I feel it building me as well.

Did you all see me at conference?!!! The video is online at http://lds.org/video/gc/index.html?lang=eng&vid=621787340001&sid=prsPM. I have a close up around 1:49:XX during the closeing song Called to Serve at the very beginning. In the first song my companion, Elder Stant got a full head shot of just him for 5 seconds or so. So go check us out if you didn't see us. The experience was unreal. I've been to conference 4 times in the Conference Center and this experience was still so different. We sat literally 15 feet behind Thomas S. Monson. Since I'm so tall I was put in the very back so I got to sit right next to the organ pipes as the rang throughout our songs. We sang Hark All Ye Nations, Go Ye Messengers of Heaven, and Called to Serve in that order. This is what I took from singing those songs: A Nation cannot Hark without Messengers bringing them the word who have been Called to Serve.

I hope you alle njoyed conference as much as I did. It was such a confirmation to me that I am doing the right thing as I heard talk after talk related to the importance of missionary work. Mom, Dad, thanks for preparing and encouraging me to take this journey.

This week has been great. I am still striving to speak only spanish. My spanish has become better as a result. Or so I thought until I met a missionary from Vegas who is a native Spanish speaker and I couldn't understand a thing he said. Looks like I need to kick my studying into overdrive.

Hows life in the ATL? Its starting to get cold here but not too bad. I've got plenty of warm clothes so no need to worry. I'll get you my address for LV soon. I should be leaving here on the 26 of October but that is not verified yet so I'll keep you updated.

Rachel left for Vegas today to compete in the Rachel McGlish Fitness Competition so please keep her in you prayers.

Love,

Elder Cronin

Sunday of General Conference - October 3, 2010

I have about 40 minutes until the final session of this General Conference begins so I thought I would share an exciting 'happening' with you all!! By now you all probably know that Elder Cronin was one of the 354 elders chosen to participate in the MTC Choir that sang during Priesthood Session last night. I'm not sure how they selected the Elders for the choir. Todd does have a good voice, anyway! He was so excited about being  a part of that choir. I can only imagine that it was a very wonderful experience for him. Now, as a missionary mom, I will have to say that I was thrilled at the chance of seeing him for even a split second. In a sea of dark suits, white shirts, and close cut hair, I thought I might have to strain a bit to find him. Most missionary families never see their missionary in action while they are out serving. So just the chance of seeing him is truly a blessing. Well, Priesthood Session runs for 2 hours on Saturday evening. There is always an opening hymn, a hymn in the middle somewhere, and a closing hymn. The kids and I were doing our own things last night, Callie and Olivia off with the Young Women, and Samuel and I watching a Netflix movie. At exactly 8:51 pm Central Time, 9:51 Eastern, I received a text from Nathan (my nephew) and it said "Just saw Todd!!!!!" Well, I was thrilled!! Then came a text to Olivia from her friend here in Georgia. Her dad had texted her from the Church building and said he just saw Todd. Jeff was at church and was able to see Todd first hand!! Todd was the first close-up during the closing hymn!! So, thanks to wonderful modern technology, I went to the LDS website (www.lds.org), pulled up the Priesthood session of conference, and clicked to the end the the session and watched the closing hymn. Not only did I see Todd, they kept the camera on him for about 4 1/2 seconds!!! That's a lot of air time for that small group of Elders!! He was singing his heart out and I'd have to say he sure looked good!! I am sure this week's letter from Elder Cronin will be full of details about this experience. If you want to see him, please go to http://lds.org/video/gc/index.html?lang=eng&vid=621787340001&sid=prsPM and click over to the end of the session, he can be found at the 1:50:41 time spot. He has the black rimmed glasses on!!

September 30, 2010

Hola,

 

I got cut off last week and wanted to tell you the Rod Dial passed away a couple of weeks ago. I don't know if you all remember the Dials they were in the Brushy Creek ward but they had a lot of kids that I was friends with. Austin wrote me and told me so please keep them in your prayers. Its sad to hear of their loss because he was an amazing man.

 

On a brighter note, I'm singing at the Conference Center on Saturday!!!! I'm so excited I can't wait.

 

I am doing the challenge called the purification challenge right now. The way it works is that for one day you fast and as you fast you make a list of everything that drives the Spirit away or anything that makes you uneasy. Then with this list you fast from each item for 40 days with the goal in mind of coming closer to the Holy Ghost and having him as a constant companion. I'm on day 4 now and I can already feel the difference. I have become much more sensitive to the Spirit and this really helps as I am learning the language and teaching lessons.

 

I have 40 more pages left in the Book of Mormon! I plan on finishing today. The stories are so amazing and I know that if anyone were to sit down and read even just a chapter of the Book of Mormon that they would know that it is the truth. There is no way that these records are false. I love the prophesies of our time and the great examples of righteousness and the warnings given to the wicked. I only wish I had read this book much earlier in my life.

 

I love you all I will send more pictures today. I have 15 min left on my e-mail so write back so I can read and try to respond.

 

The work conitnues.

 

Love,

Elder Cronin

September 23, 2010

Family,

I hope this message finds you well. Another week has flown by here at the MTC. This week has had some memorable experiences. For starters yesterday marked our first day of all Spanish in the MTC. It will be like this for the next 5 weeks! That means everyword that comes out of my mouth must be Spanish and our teachers no longer speak any English. My testimony of the Gift of Tongues grew tremendously yesterday as I was able to understand everything my teachers were saying.
For me it is not that hard but I still have a lot of work to do to be able to communicate effectively in the field.

I am also reading through the Book of Mormon. For the first time. I am in Alma 23 now and I have loved every opportunity I have had to sit down and read. I really wish I had done this earlier in my life because the stories are so enchanting and epic. I used to think that my faith in Christ was strong until I read Alma 14. My favorite chapter so far. My goal is to finish the Book of Mormon before I leave the MTC. I am reading it in English right now but have started it in Spanish. I'm only to 1 Nephi 6 in the Spanish version though.

We had our first day of basketball here at the MTC yesterday and it was a blast! I'm staying in shape here. I wake up every morning and work out and I make sure that I'm eating healthy too. Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy spirit.

I'm so gald to hear about Samuel's touchdown. Nice work! I told you that hard work pays off!

So I have a bit of exciting news. You might want to make sure you're sitting down when you read this....

I will be singing in the MTC Choir for Priesthood Session!!!!!!!!! They chose 354 Elders to participate and I was lucky enough to have been one of the select few. So you'll have to tell everyone who's going to look for me, black rimmed glasses and parted hair.

Mom, this week I was blessed to hear for the wife of a General Authority Sister Johnson. She said she felt a tremndous responsibilty as a Mom with a missionary as she spoke to us at our devotional to represent all the mothers whose sons and daugthers were serving the Lord. This made me think about you alot. I thought of what things you might have wanted to say to me and more importantly the things that I would want to say to you: Thanks! For everything you've every done for me and everything you've sacrificed so that I could have a good life and be happy. You did an outstanding job and I could never thank you enough. You truely are such a great example to me and to everyone who knows you and I think of you as the greatest hero of my life. Let's face it I wouldn't be here without you! I love you so much!

It is truely amazing to me to know that I am on the Lord's errand and that I am bringing forth the completion of His plan. And I have seen that my choice to serve has not only blessed me but also those that I love and I can promise you that as I continue to be obedient and have faith that those blessings will become greater and last for eternity. Thanks for all the support back home. I have a few minutes left on my timer so write back as soon as you can and I'll try to respond by the end of the day.

Love,

Elder Cronin