October 24, 2011 A New View

Family,

I hope this note finds you all well. Yet another week has come and gone. I cannot believe how fast time is flying. Tomorrow I will have been in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission for exactly one year. It is hard to believe. But as I look back my heart is filled with joy. This place has become holy to me. And it always will be.

The area I work in is fairly poor for the most part. I have become accustom to the style of life that is here. It has given me a new perspective on life. I have realized that money does not determine quality of life. However, righteousness does. Some of the wealthiest people I have met are unhappy because they are making the wrong decisions in life and some of the poorest people I have met are the happiest because they are living the gospel. My eyes have been opened to the important things in life as I have served here.

However, my interest in the best of things has not quite been quelled. Amidst the ghetto of Las Vegas that is peppered with homeless people and defined by weekly and monthly motels which do not advertise their hourly rates, there are a few loft style high-rises that exemplify diamonds on black velvet. The tallest one in our area has always caught my eye. The occupants are rarely seen. But their vehicles are often out in the open unveiling the type of people who live there. For example we have seen a Maserati, Aston Martin Vanish, Porshe, Cl550s +, and many more exotic and expensive cars belonging to occupants of said loft. And all the while I have had a goal to get a return appointment in those lofts. Finally one day my opportunity came. We street contacted two women just outside of this loft. Usually when we ask people if they have read the Book of Mormon they respond by saying, "Yes, but I don't remember much," or the occasional, "Yes, I've read your book and no I'm not interested." Fair enough. But this time was different. As we asked these ladies this question one responded with a no and the other with a yes. We asked the latter what she like about what she had read. We were shocked when she began describing her interest in the story of the 2000 Stripling Warriors!!!! It is one thing to read the book and it is an entirely different entity to have remembered the stories much less the principles taught with the stories. We asked if she would like to learn more and she accepted pointing to the loft and said we could find her there. I masked my utter excitement to finally go into this diamond on the black velvet of the ghetto of Las Vegas and did my best to appropriately express our amazement in her knowledge of the Book of Mormon. When went back for the appointment we entered through the lobby and befriended the man running the front desk who informed us that she was not picking up her phone and thus we could not go up to see her. Grateful for the opportunity to have only entered the lobby with purpose but disappointed that this elect individual had flaked we left for dinner. After dinner we made plans to go back and see if she was home. And this time she answered and invited us up. The front desk man let us up. We rode the elevator with an Aussie who had been here for only a few months. He was incredibly ripped so our first thought was that he worked for the "Thunder Down Under." Don't Google that. But he told us he was a consultant. Fair enough. Our investigator answered the door. She introduced herself as Valoma and invited us in. We could see the spectacle of Las Vegas neon through the opposite window and it was breath taking. However, seeing as how she was single and I had only brought my companion along we could not go in unless we had another male. We explained this to her and in turn she invited us to the roof instead. We accepted and I held back my sheer excitement to not only get a chance to teach but but to have the visit on the roof of this high-rise. The view was amazing!!!!!!!!! It was a view of Las Vegas I have never seen before. I did not bring my camera so I was bummed but honestly I dont' think my camera could do the view any justice. We proceeded to get to know Valoma. It turns out she knows so much about the church because she has been dating a member of the church for the past year. She has read through the Book of Mormon, Our search for Happiness, and Mine Errand is the Lord's by Boyd K. Paker! Unbelievable! But it is true. She had some amazing questions and intelligent and spirit directed comments. We invited her to follow the commandment in 2 Nephi 31:11 and be baptized. She accepted!!!!! That was it. That was the most amazing lesson I have ever had in my entire life! We meet with her again soon and continue. We have tremendous faith in this sister. I'll keep you posted.

The conference with Elder Jensen was also amazing. I was taught much. And I have been applying many of the principles he taught us and I already feel a difference in who I am. It is hard to believe how much I have changed, how much my desires have changed. I feel much happier than I ever have before.

Until next week!

Love,

Elder Cronin

October 17, 2011

Family,

 

Thank you so much for all the goodies. The cupcakes were delicious and decadent! Mom, did you make those from that chocolate recipe book? The cinnamon rolls and brownies just arrived today. I think they had been sitting in the mission office for the last week but I am sure that with a good nuke they will be just fine. I have refined my taste and creation of food while on my mission. I have actually learned a little about baking. I don't know if I told you but a few P-days ago a tried my hand at baking bread. It turned out wonderful and occasionally I'll make a desert of some sort from scratch. I have found that preparing food for my companions is the best way to serve them. It brings me happiness to cook and create and to watch them enjoy the meal.

 

I have been blessed with great companions so far. Some have posed more problems than others and with each we have had our differences. As you know I like to do things my way. But sometimes I am not right. So my pride gets to me in those situations. But I have learned a valuable lesson. I have learned that with any conflict a resolution can be found in rendering service. King Benjamin is the greatest example of this. He was such a great leader who served his people that to this day the indigenous inhabitants of South America still tell of a story of a great King who ruled in righteousness. And today we all have the record found in the first chapters of Mosiah of his address to his people where he taught them that to serve your fellow man is to serve God. That is what I see my mission as. I see it as pure service to others. Sometimes I seek to serve myself to much and I feel out of place. But there is a joy that comes unlike any other joy I have felt when I render service to someone and have no expectations of receiving anything in return. I think in the past I had always expected something for, at times, nothing.

 

I am so grateful for the example of  charitable family members and their willingness to serve others. Many memories have flooded back to me of Christlike service that I either witnesses or experienced in the past. We must stand as a witness in all places and in all times and I am grateful for those who did that in my life.

 

Saturday we had one of the most memorable baptisms of my entire mission. I went a little like this:

 

One month and a half ago while Elder Aaron was still here we were coming back from working one night when Elder Aaron's tire went flat on his bike. There were three of us. We all hoped off our bikes and walked the rest of the 2 miles to our car. As we were walking we came to an intersection. Across the way was a younger woman who glanced at us. At the moment she was walking away from us but once she saw us she hesitated and turn towards us. We crossed the street to her side and we approached each other and began talking. It was traditional missionary talk about a belief in God and a desire to change. We noticed immediately that there was something peculiar about this woman. She wore a shawl over her head but she was Caucasian. We told her our plight of Elder Aaron's bike and she asked if she could walk home with us. We agreed. I cannot recall the complete conversation but I do remember her name, Kimberly, and setting up a return appointment with her with less than hopeful expectations of actually finding her there. However, to our surprise she was at home. She explained to us that she had moved from Wisconsin to get away from a rough life and she wanted to change. We ensured her we knew a way she could. She was all ears. We began by teaching her the restoration and everything clicked with her. We introduced her to a sister in the Ward who hosted most of our lessons. Kimberly followed along with almost everything. She was always eager to learn. She told us she wanted the fast track to baptism and we gave it too her. She had some things she had to work out before she could be baptized but she endured to the end and endured well. If there was ever anyone I knew who had a desire to be baptized no one understood and embraced its concept more than Kimberly. She knew she needed to be pure and she knew that she could. She knows that God loves her and that the commandments are here for our protection. In the short time we knew her we saw a miraculous change. She went from timid and ashamed to bright and confident in that short amount of time. Unfortunately she made plans to only stay in Vegas for a couple of months and will be heading back to Wisconsin next Wednesday. However, of all the places she chose to escape sex, drugs, and rock and roll she chose Las Vegas. And of all the people she could have run into she ran into the Lord's missionaries. God lives. And his hand is in each of our lives. We only need to look for it.  Kimberly was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. It was a sweet experience. One I will never forget.

 

Elder Marlin Jensen will be touring our mission this week on Thursday and Friday. We are super excited to have him come. He is a church historian and is steward over our mission and the others in our region.

 

That is about all. I love all of you so very much! Thank you for your support and encouragement. The Ward in GA has been inspiring with their letters. Send them my love.

 

May the Lord bless you according to your obedience,

Love

Elder Cronin

-- 

"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you from bondage" Mosiah 7:33

Kimberly's baptism!!!

Sad Dog!!

October 10, 2011

Family,

 

Fall is finally here!!! The mornings and evenings are as cool as 60 and the day time does not get above 95. A 95 here feels like an 85 in the south. But the work here and excitement has not cooled down. Each day is filled with new experiences here in Las Vegas.

 

One thing I am learning is how to best work with the Spirit. I think it has always been my understanding that the Spirit works with us. Meaning, he will give us subtle clues as to what to do, say, where to go. This is true. He will guide us but it is more a matter of us working with him. I have learned that we must go and do and the Lord will provide the guidance as to whether we are going and doing the right thing. Sometimes we are headed down such a wrong path that the message is loud and clear. Other times the path we chose to accomplish a task is one of many. I have  learned this through some personal experience and through reading from the Ensign a talked called "Move!" It is an excellent analogy of this.

 

This principle is very important especially when the decisions I make will effect not only me but my investigators and the other missionaries under my stewardship. I am not perfect at working with the Spirit but I am improving.

 

I know with all of my heart that this is Gods true church here on this earth. I feel that my mission has saved my life. I feel even at this point so much more repaired for the trials to come and those that are already here than I think I ever would have been otherwise. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I am almost finished with reading it in Spanish and so far it is still true. I love my companion and the lessons he teaches me. I love the feeling of the Spirit when you know you are doing the right thing. I feel that each morning as I wake up and start my day in the mission field. I know that Christ lives and that he is our Redeemer, the Great Jehovah, and the one named Endless. I know that there is power in the Book of Mormon that we cannot find anywhere else. I just finished reading the Ensign focused on the Book of Mormon. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I work hard everyday to help others come to that same belief. I love each and every one of you who have stumbled across this letter. Thank you for your support.

Please be patient with my letters back to you as you write me. I am working on doing a better job of that. 

 

Love,

Elder Cronin 

October 3, 2011 17 Miracles

Family!

 

How did you all enjoy conference ????? Wasn't it amazing!!?!? I particularly enjoyed President Monson's address on Saturday morning. For whatever reason I had this wave of emotion come over me as he spoke that  confirmed to me that he is the Prophet of the Lord. It was an amazing confirmation. Priesthood session seemed more like a zone conference to me as most of the remarks were directed towards missionaries. I took many things from that session to apply to my mission. I also really enjoyed Quenten L Cook's address on grief and sorrow. This is the second time he as addressed this topic and his coucil is heaven sent.

 

It has been interesting to see life unfold at home as I serve. Before my mission I had two pre-concieved notions. One was that life and everything in it would stand still until I got home. Well surprise to me!! Loved ones have passed on, Samuel is getting merit badges, Olivia is realizing her dreams, Callie is driving(that's the scariest one), and friends and other family are progressing in life. The other notion I had was that nothing could happen to me. I am invincible and expempt from the hardships that others face in their lives. Well...false. I am no different than anyone else. I am glad that my presumptions were not correct. Because trials make us stronger and we are here to progress and I am glad to hear of the progress of all those I love.

 

This week has truly been magnificent as I looked forward to conference. The added responsibility of being a zone leader leaves little free time if any as a missionary and as a result I sat down for conference less than prepared. These experiences in the mission are gems. Because I can take a lesson from my lack of preparation and do better next time and in turn condition myself to perform ideally when the time comes to put aside my responsibilites at work and spend time with my family. I am glad to be learning these lessons now.

 

No baptisms this week but we did get the opportunity to watch 17 Miracles. If you have not seen it yet...Buy it. Watch it. Rinse Tears. Repeat. This movie is heart wrenching. I walked away from it with two things to do in my life. Build my faith stronger, and pray more sincerely. The faith of those pioneers is miraculous. I felt I have been taking the Restoration for granted until this point. They sacrificed so much to get their posterity the chance to be in Zion. Their faith was "stronger than the cords of death" (D&C 121:44). Their prayers were earnest and selfless. They truly did all they could and then turned to the Lord. They have insipred me to have more faith. More faith in struggling investigators, less than enthusiastic memebers, discouraged missionaries, and the future. Faith! What does that word mean to you? This is a great question to ask yourself. I can promise you that it is no word to be thrown around as the asnwer to every gospel question. It is more. Faith is just as Ether describes, "things which are hoped for and not seen"(Ether 12:6). We only have two eyes and they see visually, physically not spiritually. So there is so much that we cannot see. One thing for me is the blessings of serving a mission. I had to take it on faith that this was the right choice for me. I could not see the blessings ahead and therefore did not know for a surety that it was the right thing. But with all the faith I had I put in my papers and even more faith was required to pack my bags the last night. But I am so grateful that I did!!!! I would not rather be anywhere else than here serving my Heavenly Father. I know he is proud.

 

Oh and prayer. Prayer is crucial! How can a Father care for his son if the son never speaks to him. How can the Father know of the love his son has for him if the son does not express it. The same goes with prayer. Of course our Father in Heaven knows our needs. But the scripture says to ask and then you shall recieve. It does not say be in need and then recieve, but ASK. Pray. I have such a strong testimony of prayer. I have seen miracles in my life after simply addressing my Heavenly Father, giving him thanks, asking forgiveness, and asking for sincere help in the name of His Son Jesus Christ. There is no substitute for prayer. Struggling as a teenager I turned to Dad for help at one point, usually I could handle everything on my own. But this one occassion I asked for his advice. Now for those of you who know my father you know there is nothing he cannot do nor fix. He literally knows everything. And of all the responses he could have given me and all the solutions to my problems there were, he simply asked, "How are your prayers going?" And frankly, they weren't. I found peace about the problem that night as I prayed. I don't remember the words but I rememeber the love I felt. Prayer lets our Father in Heaven know we want a relationship with Him. And he brings much more to the table than we, so who better person to have on your side.

 

I love each and every one of you who finds themselves reading this. And I love all those whose prayers have been for me and other missionaries. So may I say, using a pronoun missionaries learn to love, we love you!

 

Love,

Elder Cronin 

Blue Angel

Mazda Mafia

The Reason for the Work!!!

A Beautiful Surise

September 26, 2011 Transfers!!!

Family,

I have survived another transfer here in East at the Gateway Ward! Now with transfers on Tuesdays and P-Days on Mondays I will be able to tell you if I am leaving or not before I find out where I am going. But this time the verdict is less than suspenseful. Elder Reese and I will be roughing it yet another transfer here in East.

Thanks for the picture of the bulletin board! I thought it was funny that the picture you put of me up there is the one picture I have of me in my white shirt and tie and tag wearing blue jeans sitting next to a Sister and playing the guitar. I promise you all that we work out here!!!!  In fact we had two wonderful baptisms this weekend!! Viola, 9, and Shannon, 30, were baptized to complete their families so that now their families are all in the bosom of the Gospel. It is an amazing experience to see families complete in the gospel.

We had an amazing week. It started out on Tuesday when we took the whole zone to Freemont and 6th just a block away from the famous Freemont Street Experience. We set up a street meeting with 17 missionaries and 3 members. Our street meeting was more of a choir performance, average at best, but still a commanding presence. And while 10 of us or so sang the other contacted people in the streets. We had some interesting responses and just an overall great experience. The great thing about talking to people on Freemont Street is the fast paced atmostphere. Once you finish one 20 second conversation you start another one seconds later and so and and so forth. It gives us an opportunity to bear short powerful testimony and work on our delivery. You really have to cut the fluff in that enshrinement. 

That is so wonderful to hear that you ran into Elder James!!!! I know it must have been a huge blessing to see him. I trust he is doing well. And what an amazing experience in the Temple that day. Experiences like those are confirmation from the Lord of the importance of the work you are doing! I have a very strong testimony of service and sacrifice. When we do the will of the Father His will becomes ours. If our will is aligned with His we will always get what we want.

Once a quarter we have a fireside that is mission wide called the Why I Believe Fireside. We ask recent converts to share their conversion stories and we bring investigators to listen. This last one was very special because one of my recent converts, Tony, was invited to speak. Whats more is that we brought two investigators to listen to him. To me it was a miracle to see someone so new in the Gospel bear such powerful testimony to someone else needing answers. Our investigators loved the experience.

General Conference is this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so stoked!!!!!!!!!!! This is GC # 3 out of 4. My last conference is in April and then I will be home for Oct 2012! Can you believe it! Time is flying by so fast! Sometimes I wish it would slow down! But truly I cannot wait to come back and visit all my old areas and members and investigators. I miss them already, the ones I am no longer around. A few of them should be going to the temple soon to be sealed. That will be an an unforgettable experience.

In closing I thought I would share a few experts from my journal from this time last year:

20 Sept 2010- "For [King Benjamin's people] there was no written record of Christ having lived, they only had prophecies to base their faith. I don't think my faith is where it needs to be. This will be a goal of mine; to increase my faith."

20 Sept 2010- "found out I'll be singing in the Priesthood Choir with the MTC at Conference. I'm so excited! I cannot wait to tell my family...."

21 Sept 2010- "I realized today that my mother is my hero. She has sacrificed so much for me and she is such a strong woman."

25 Sept 2010-"I'm still enjoying the Book of Mormon. It is crazy how epic it is. There are times where I actually rejoice aloud because of what I am reading."

I love you all! The Church is true!!!

Love,

Elder Cronin

Freemont Street Fun!!

September 19, 2011

Family,

This world is so small and the church makes it even smaller. One of the high councilors of the East stake spoke on Sunday. His name is Brother Anderson and he is from Biloxi. He says he knows many Cronin's. Then when I called Sallie Mae my loan officer turned out to be the brother of one of my favorite missionaries here in the mission! Crazy! I am sad to hear about Roosevelt. I would have loved the opportunity to see him again but I know that he is being ministered to as we speak. And to hear that Grannie is doing well is a blessing to me. I was reminded of her the other day as we were driving through our area on exchanges. As missionaries we talk to everyone. And as we drove we saw two men standing outside at their van. One older and one younger. We stopped and talked to them and as it turns out they are father and son and both members of the church. They invited us in to say hello to the older man's mother. As we walked in we could feel a strong spirit. We made it back to the bedroom and on the bed laid an old, frail, snow-white hair lady. She is a covert of less than a year. She comes from a prominent family within the church, the Levitt's. But apparently her branch was the branch that did not join back in the days of Joseph Smith. She remained on the bed and beckoned us over. It reminded me of visits to Grannie and how her mood would brighten up when she had company. It seems the Lord guided us there that day to bring a little extra light into her home. As we stood in the room it was amazing to notice that 4 generations of Levitt's stood there with us. Sister Levitt, her son, grandson, and great grandson. It was like viewing a living family tree. I could feel the Spirit of Elijah as I took note of our circumstances.

We finally had interviews this past Wednesday. They were cancelled from two weeks ago because Sister Neider, our mission president's wife, fell ill with kidney stones. That's what the tap water will do to you out here. I had awaited that opportunity sit down face to face with President and get to know him a little more and him me. The interview went wonderfully. He is such a loving man and has a strong Love for the work. He is still adjusting but is doing wonderful. I also took the opportunity to sit and talk with Sister Neider. She magnifies her calling. I feel a motherly love from her and a deep concern for the success of my mission. Then she said something that I have heard only two other times in my mission but wish to hear it more often. She said, "If your mother were sitting where I am now she would tell you this.." And then she proceeded to speak from the Spirit doubtless. I know that because she said some things that I know Mom would love to say and share with me if she were here. She also mentioned to me that my companion is vessel to answer the prayers of family back home. And Elder Reese is answering those prayers. He is a great companion. We have had a lot of great times here in Gateway Ward.

I have developed some amazing friendships here on the mission that I am sure will last for eternity. One of those relationships is with Lisa and Thomas Russell. They are a vibrant and spunky couple in there late 40s and fifties. About the same age as Mom and Dad. However, they are newlyweds and Lisa is a newly baptized member. She was one of the first to get baptized when I came here to Gateway Ward. They have treated me like a son and I will forever remember their charity. Each person I have taught has a special place in my heart as well. I was thinking the other day of how lucky I am and will be to stay in touch with these people and perhaps cross paths with them again in the future. This is a blessing I would not otherwise realize if I had not served a mission. I am blessed. Right now we are teaching three people who will be baptized on Saturday. Viola, Shannon, and Kimberly. Viola is the daughter of Tony who we baptized a few weeks ago. We had a difficult time teaching her but she is coming around and our teaching skills are as well. Shannon had a bout with smoking but has since quit and is ready. And Kimberly is an interesting story. We met her one night as we walked home form our area with our bikes that had flats. Companionship unity! She walked and talked with us for about 3 blocks and then came to church the next day and hasn't missed a Sunday since. She is a quick learner and is eager to repent and be baptized. In fact she texted us one night and told us how excited she was to be baptized. The funny thing is that we had never talked about baptism with her to that point. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

We are so very busy here in Gateway Ward. Our ward mission leader is the best! His name is Brother Hall and is a letter-carrier by trade. He is dedicated to nurturing these people we meet and teach. Often that nurturing leads to physical nurturing through offering rides or the occasional financial help. It is amazing to see him magnify his calling. Our bishop is amazing as well. Bishop England. His job is tough in our ward because there are many who need welfare support. And they ask often. But he follows the ways of the Lord and does what he can to help them out. All in all our ward is amazing! It is very dynamic and my opinion of it has grown more Christ-like I feel since I first got here.

I have a strong testimony that as we strive to become more like Christ we can overcome many of the challenges we face. To become more like him it takes an effort of prayer, reading, and going to church. This is the foundation for any testimony of Christ. I had the thought this week about my relationship with Christ. Often times we fill our lives with pictures, songs, and other forms of media that depict or glorify another human being. There is nothing mortally wrong with this. Especially when that person is a relative or a close friend. For example, sometimes we cover a pin board with pictures of friends, or place a picture of our favorite musician as the background for one of our oh so common electronic devices. Or perhaps we dedicate our ears to a particular artist for a few days, even weeks. Actions like this. I was impressed to think of the reasoning behind such actions and I came to this conclusion. We do things like that because we have or desire a relationship to the people, music, or media involved. And again there is not a mortal flaw in this but perhaps we can change our focus. I know I need to. And that focus would be on Christ. When I compare the relationship I have with friends, family, media to what I have with Christ often times he is overshadowed by my worldly relationships. But I know that if I build my relationship with him first then the relationships that come thereafter with be that much more sincere and healthy. I know that he is my Savior and that I can draw closer to Him as I read the Book of Mormon, the highly understudied keystone of our religion.

The Book of Mormon is the word of God!!! In the words of Elder Holland,"No righteous man can or would write such a book." It has come forth through the power of God. I know because its principles lead me to do good. And have lead me to leave behind an old less satisfying life and start a new one. 

Love,

Elder Cronin 

Marshmallow contest!!!

Thanks for the puzzle, mom!!

September 12, 2011

Family,

 

Another week gone by. This one went by entirely too fast. I was sitting in church yesterday and could not believe that P-day was almost here. I'm glad you all remembered the change. It had been nice to have P-day on Mondays. It helps spread the week out.

 

You asked about being a Zone Leader and the responsibilities involved. One of my leaders asked me this the other day while we were on exchanges and this is how I answered him. As a Zone Leader our job is to set our area as our first priority, train the missionaries in the zone on specific teaching skills, go on exchanges with them, teach them to be leaders, help them to set and achieve goals, focus on our mission president's vision, and return and report to our leadership and to the Lord. I feel like I am in school again with the wieght of these responsibilities and feel blessed to be able to learn how to juggle these before I have to get back into the swing of school.

 

But when it all comes down to it I am still just a missionary. My area is my priority and it is were my heart is. Saturday we got a chance to see one of our investigators get married so she can be baptized. She is the sweetest lady. She has two adorable daughters, Sky 5, and Amber 7. One thing I have grown to love on my mission is the kids. Their innocence I think is refreshing for missionaries to see after talking and being around so much ludeness and vile. Afterall, in order to repent we must become like little children again. Its only then can we listen to the spirit.

 

I am finding more and more experiences with the Spirit on my mission. I am truly thankful for them becuase they help me to udnerstand how my Heavenly Father teaches me and others. These experiences are sacred to me and have done wonders to lift me when I'm down and communicate with others to invite them to come to Christ. because of these experiences I know that God exists. He gives us proof all around of His existence and His love. I know that God has a plan for us to return to live with Him and it gives us purpose here in this world.

 

I love missionary work. I will never stop being a missionary. There is too much joy in this work for me to miss out on if I keep my testimony to myself. "More happiness awaits [me] than [I] have ever experienced as I labor among [God's] children" (First Presidency, PMG).

 

May the Lord Bless You all.

Love,

Elder Cronin