August 7, 2012 And Beyond!!!!

Elder Cronin's last letter was a sweet letter written to me personally, so it wont be posted here. Jeff and I want to thank all of you who have supported Elder Cronin while he was on his mission!! It meant a lot to him and to us. He is now in Utah, and the fun and excitement of his homecoming has ended. He will be finishing up his degree over the next two years and we are happy to see the path the rest of his life takes!! Here are some pictures from his homecoming - enjoy!

Love,
Kristel

 

July 30, 2012. 8 Days Left!!!!

Family!

This week has been great! Our ward went on visits last Wednesday night and came across a wonderful family that we've begun teaching. The two older daughters are baptized but the younger boys are not. It is refreshing for us when members call us with people who want to hear the gospel message. Also, Alyssa was baptized last night! Her story is great! Her friend Jasmine was invited by an institute teacher some Wednesday night to pull out her phone and text a non-member asking them if they would come to a missionary lesson. Alyssa said yes and 5 weeks later she was baptized!!

This past week was a bit crazy. We had 4 exchanges in a row. This meant that since Tuesday I have spent just over one full day with Elder Jacobs, my companion. The rest of the time was spent with other missionaries and it was a blast! 

The best exchange by far was with Elder Ermakov in the Gateway Ward. This is the ward I spent 6 months in last year. We biked the whole day and taught a few lessons. Being on a bike in that area again brought back so many memories. If the Lord asked me to I would gladly spend my last 8 days over there. It is a completely different world. And until I went back there I had almost forgotten what life is like there. The streets are peppered with homeless people young and old. Most of them show signs of serious drug usage. Apartments smell like wet ash trays and sun stricken skin. It's sad. I never knew this existed. It's had my mind going trying to understand how people end up like this. It's easy for someone to say that they did it to themselves or that they deserve it. I'm sure that is true for a small percentage but as a whole it seems they've been mislead into this lifestyle. 

I think of Katie, 95 lbs, recovering Heroine addict, sunken eyes, 16 years old and a mother. Her mother is by no means a 'bad' mother. She's had her own struggles but truly cares for her kids well-being. I'm sure for Katie it may have started with an argument she had with her mother about how late she could stay out or what she could and couldn't wear, listen to, or watch. She might have sought refuge with her friends who listened to her woes and encouraged her to be 'herself.' "Here take this. It will put you in a different world. One without worries," they might have told her. Then she was hooked. Once heroin, why not other things. Luckily Katie was bright enough to realize that reality did not come from a hot needle, but what was in fact reality began slipping away from her. So she changed. Hopefully not too late did the change come, because shortly thereafter came Devin, her newborn. She has a bright future if she catches the vision but while she recovers from her C-section, Bobby, the father, slips into the bathroom by himself. Perhaps he's masking the burden of responsibility that comes with a baby boy or the stress that is between him and Katie. Twitterpatted no more and forced into adulthood Bobby sends a wicked dream through his veins, avoiding his own reality. I pray Devin survives all of this. Therein lies the cycle, perpetuated by the adversary's disdain for his lack of eternal progression, stoppable only through the power of God and choice. This poem, written by a recovering addict sums it up:

       King Heroin is my shepherd

       I shall always want

       He maketh me to lie down in gutters

       And leadeth me by dangerous waters...

The poem continues but I cannot remember how it finishes. The point is made. The adversary can shepherd us as can Christ. My heart hurts when I see those whose curiosity led them to tag along behind Satan's flock, thinking, " I'll run back in a moment." That moment never comes for them. 

In 1833 God began his campaign against drugs by revealing to His prophet, Joseph Smith, the Word of Wisdom, God's law of health. This commandment allows for greater sensitivity to the Spirit, our Shepherd's staff, as we abstain from coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. The adversary seeks to desensitize us to the Spirit by enticing us with these things. If there were no other witness to me that God has a prophet on this earth, the Word of Wisdom and it's stark contrast against the darkness that substance abuse creates is evidence enough. 

This church is true. Thanks, be to God!!!!

Love,

EC

On Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 6:41 AM, Kristel Cronin <heycronin@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Elder (soon to be Todd again) Cronin!!!

How has your week been? Have you found any new investigators? Any baptisms? How is your companion doing? We got a sweet letter from your President with a note from his wife giving you TONS of accolades, which I'm sure you deserve!!! They love you dearly and love the kind of missionary you are :) US TOO!!! I hope you have the opportunity to make the best of this last week. A lot can be done in one week!

We are gearing up here for school. It starts one week from today. The summer has flown by. It was busy and full of fun activities, but now it's time to buckle down for school! I will be substituting again this year with a slight possibility of finding a full-time job. I keep going back and forth about it. Our week was fine. Dad and I spent 5 hours working on the front yard on Saturday. Next, we will tackle the back yard. Dad went to MS to visit Doc on his birthday! He's 83 this year :) Callie was at the beach all week with a friend and Olivia left yesterday for the beach with her friend. Dad Samuel You and I are out of luck for the beach this summer ---- oh well, less chance for cancer!! My week was mostly full of cleaning, catching up from the months of neglect since I was studying for the MCAT. I did manage to get to the temple once to do a few initiatory and sealings. 

We are working on lining up your release date for when you get back. I think the brother who schedules that will call us this week. I'm guessing we will do that as soon after you get off the plane as we can. We will be having an open house for you at our home on Aug 12, a Sunday evening and I think they want you to speak on that Sunday too.

The big family is doing well........we are excited to see you!! I hope this week is FULL of memorable moments as a very seasoned missionary!!

Love you tons!!!

Mom

--

"...for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls."

Jacob 4:13 

July 24, 2012 Mortality as a Missionary

Family!

14 Days!!! I'm so excited, it's stupid! 

My testimony of prayer became stronger this past week. We have three or four people we are teaching who are ready to be baptized. They know the Book of Mormon is true, they know the church is true but they have certain vices that are keeping them from taking their faith that much further. One is quiting smoking, the other needs a diviorce and then to be married to the man she lives with, another needs to find a job that doesn't go against God's commandments, i.e. selling drugs, and the last needs support from her parents before she is baptized. 

This is life though isn't it. We all have goals and things we want to accomplish but it seems there is always some hurdle we have to clear in order to get there. Some of us look at the hurdle and think it is too high or too stubborn for us to jump over or run through. But those of you who have jumped and have plowed right through know the joy that waits for us all as we achieve our goals. God has promised us to never give us challenges we cannot overcome. The stipulation though is that we look to Him for help. Then we can overcome anything. 

One of the people we have been praying for decided to jump the hurdle of her un-supportive parents and prepare for baptism this Sunday!!!!! I cannot imagine what people like this go through in making this decision. I have so much respect for converts of the Gospel. They are unique. Elder Jacobs and I were talking about this the other day. Those of us who were raised in the church have all the knowledge that comes from years of Primary and Sunday School. Converts do don't. However, they do have an attribute that is difficult for us life-time members to develop. They have desire. And with that desire they gain knowledge. They are an example to me and the life-blood of Christ's church and they set a great example for me. Keep the Desire.

So our new missionaries came in on Wednesday! It was weird watching them flood the baggage claim at the airport thinking, "They go home in 2 years, this is their mission now." 29 new missionaries came in that day! The good thing is that all of them seemed like great, solid missionaries. It made me think back to when and why I decided to serve a mission. I feel the Lord has strengthened and enabled me throughout all of this. There have been times where I've almost given up but I pressed forward with strength I didn't know I had. As a result I saw miracles and blessings that I never would have otherwise. There is no better way to spend 2 years!!!!!!!!

The process of leaving a mission is bitter-sweet. A swell of emotions, thoughts, and dreams occupy my mind. Logistically, things are the same as if I weren't leaving. that is until August 3rd. That day all the departing missionaries go to the temple together. Then on August 6th we have a dinner at the Mission Home with President and Sister Neider. We all spend the night at their place, watching movies, playing ping-pong, even the Wii!!! Then we leave early the next morning for the airport. It's a process I've been involved in several times throughout my mission and one I never imagined would include me!

I love you all and am in denial about the days I have left. I'm sure it will all hit me at some point.

Love,

EC

July 16, 2012 Flavor of the Week

Family,

As we all know July 11 th, or 7/11, is free Slurpiee day at 7-11. And Slurpiees come in many different _________. Flavors, right!? Well that day was made complete as we walked into the 7-11 and saw Flava-Flav getting free Slurpiees for him and his son!!!!!!!!!!! We grabbed ours quick and went outside to meet him. We shook his hand and he drove off saying, "God Bless you brothas!!"

It was funny because as we were filling up our cups I looked at him and my first thought was,"That's Flava-Flav!" The only thing he was missing was the big clock around his neck. But he did have a huge watch on and a giant key ring with 50+ keys on it. He wasn't dressed up too nice or anything, just normal. In fact, with his do-rag on and demeanor I immediately thought he belonged on Fremont St. But as he left we asked the cashier who he was and she, very nonchalantly stated "Oh that's Flava-Flav and he lives right around the corner." 

I am continuing to find more reasons to love reading the scriptures! I am still studying Alma, trying to pick his brain and read his thoughts. He was a such an amazing missionary. He was focused on the true conversion of others and was always serving. We had FHE over at the Royals house last night with a recent convert. Elder Jacobs and I prepared the lesson and they provided the snacks. Elder Jacobs actually came up with the lesson and it was wonderful! He suggested we all write a Thank-You note to someone in the Book of Mormon who impacted their lives for good. I felt such a peaceful feeling as I wrote to Alma and thanked him for his example as a missionary. You aught to try this!!

Sunday night we held our monthly Why I Believe Fireside. At this fireside we invite recent converts to share their conversion stories focusing on how they came to know the Book of Mormon is true and that what the missionaries taught them is true as well. Sunday night was the most powerful of these Firesides I have been to. 3 converts spoke. Each bore testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. They each shared their unique experiences of praying and receiving confirmation from the Holy Ghost that it is all true. The Spirit of God was so thick in that chapel, you'd have to be dead not to feel it. As I sat there listening to them address us I could not help but to remember the MTC. The Spirit at the fireside reminded me of what I felt 24/7 there. I am so grateful for the experience of the MTC and all it taught me. 

It's all almost over, I cannot believe it. I never thought it would end, because I never wanted it to. It's effect in my life is eternal and so are the experiences. For that I am grateful.

Sooner than later,

Love,

EC

July 9, 2012 Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmeeeeeeeeee

Family,

28 days!!!!! 

Before I left on my mission I learned a valuable lesson about time. As many of you know I left for Field Training for the Air Force a few months before I reported to the MTC. Ironically enough that encampment lasted 28 days. I followed the guidelines and checklists as I prepared for the training. One of the guidelines stated we were not to bring a watch. Watches were only to be used by those in leadership positions who are required to keep time hacks and those watches would be assigned upon their leadership assignment. 

I spent 24 of 28 days without a leadership position and consequently without a watch. Time flew by!!! I couldn't keep track of it. Day 25 I was given a leadership position and a watch. That was the longest day of my life!!!!! Pardon the pun, but "Watched" time creeps along slowly!!!!

Having learned this lesson I am doing my best to apply it to these last 28 days. Now more than ever do I pray and hope time creeps by! 

Yet at the same time I am anxious to get home! But between now and then I will savour every moment.

With 5 weeks left I knelt and prayed asking God in my personal prayer to lead us to a family who would accept our message. Thursday night He answered this prayer. We went on splits with some ward members to an apartment complex. As we walked around the complex visiting some of our potential investigators we came across a lady pushing her 8 mo. old baby in a stroller. She invited us to come in. Her husband welcomed us in and we left a blessing on their home through a prayer. Afterwards the husband opened up to us and thanked us for the peace he felt from the blessing. They invited us back Saturday at which time we invited them to be baptized. They said yes!!!! 

I am so grateful that we can pray, that there is still a link between us and heaven. I am grateful that we can say what is on our mind in our prayers. We all have different needs at different times. God wants us to be humble enough to ask Him and then, according to His will, He will answer us. 

So please keep me in your prayers. You are in mine! I love you all so very much and will see you very soon!

Love,

EC

July 2, 2012 Bittersweet Week

Family,


Elder Sparks flew up to Reno Saturday night! It was tough seeing him go. I consider him one of my closest friends in the mission. But he is doing great work up there starting a new mission. Elder Jacobs is his replacement. He is awesome! He's the oldest of 4 boys and has been on his mission for about 1 year. You couldn't tell though. He is very humble and full of love. If my love for others increases at all before I get home I have him to blame. Which I hope it does. He moved to Tennessee his senior year from Seattle so we talk about the south a bit. Speaking of the south, my heart goes out to Amber. Can you get her contact information for me? 


We have had a grand week. Before Elder Sparks left we spent most of our time putting together some programs for him to take to Reno and teaching. One of the members of our singles ward was in an institute class a few weeks ago where the teacher invited each student to pull out their cell phone and text a non-member and invite them to hear a message from the missionaries. She texted her friend Alyssa and since then Alyssa has taken all the lessons and is preparing to be baptized. Her mother is not in support of it all but she will come around soon. It amazes me all the ways that people are brought into the gospel.


Not sure if I mentioned this last time but a few weeks ago we baptized the President of the Nevada Chapter of the Mongols. The next weekend they had a rally in Boulder City. The guy we baptized told us before this rally that he wants to help change the image of the Mongols. He is even entertaining the idea of starting a Mormon Chapter of the Mongols! Anyways, the city police were all over these guys that weekend in BC. They really nit-picked them with tickets for everything from J-walking to improper signaling. To show their motives the members of this bike club stayed after their festivities and picked up trash around the city. A small act that will go far. I'm sure you can read about it online somewhere. 


My mortality as a missionary is become more and more of a reality to me. I have only 5 weeks left! I look back at the time that has past and am thankful I have no regrets. I look at the time remaining and lately it has been daunting. What do I do with 5 weeks? We have a wonderful ward mission leader in our singles ward who I greatly admire. He helped my understand what to do. 


When I leave I will leave a legacy behind. I know this because of the other missionaries who have come long before me who I still hear about. I know that if I conger up the perfect legacy to leave and then try and force that legacy upon myself I will fail. The legacy will come naturally. And the better I am as a person, a son of God, the better and greater the legacy will be. So for the remaining 5 weeks this is my axiom: Be myself, only better. The legacy will leave itself. 


I have been studying Alma lately. He intrigues me. He is very similar to Paul. Both of these men were persecuters of the church in their day. Both were compelled to be humble through the powers of God. Alma, in his iniquities, is visited by an angel who rebukes him and tells him that if he doesn't change God will destroy him. Paul, on the other hand, who at the time is known as Saul, is perhaps a greater degree in wickedness than Alma because Christ himself appears to him and rebukes him. Both men change after their experience. From all the testimonies I have heard from others who reference the Book of Mormon and the Bible it seems to me that Alma and Paul are quoted the most, respectively. I feel the reason they are quoted the most is because of the followers of Christ they seem to have the most powerful words. I feel the power of their words come from the passion they have for the gospel and how they saw it change their lives. In other words, they have seen both sides of the track, therefore, they have both perspectives, thus giving them a greater admonition to lead people away from evil. 


As I have studied Alma I have noticed his testimony thus far is rooted in the actions we must take to enter into Heaven. I am only in chapter 12 but I find it less than a coincidence that already a half-a-dozen times he has mentioned to various people the importance of our action here on earth and how they effect our standing in heaven. Time and time again he warns the people they will be judged for there works. This really sticks out to me because it encourages me to not only believe, but to act on what I believe. And what preceeds this is to verify that what I believe is truth and of God. 


I love the scriptures. They are thrilling and inspiring! 


I love you all too!
Love,
EC

June 25, 2012 Life

Family,

Summer is definitely here! We are hitting the 110s. What amazes me is the shade is usually 5-10 degrees cooler here. 

I took my last and final trip as a missionary to Elko this past weekend. I was able to see a few people but we stayed fairly busy while we were there. President, Sister Neider and myself went up there to say good-bye to the Elders and Sisters serving there right now. Come July 1 they will all be part of the Reno Nevada Mission. Elder Sparks came too, but for him it was more of a hello and see you soon because he will be going to the Reno Mission as one of the Assistants. What an adventure all that will be. I am sad to see him go because we are great friends and I have learned so much from him but at the same time I know it will be a great opportunity for him. 

So a few weeks ago we were in a lesson with one of our investigators outside on her front porch. As we sat there up walked these two members of another church that have missionaries as well. These members were older gentlemen in their 50s I'm sure. What a sight! They were polite and did not realize we were in a middle of a lesson or that we missionaries were even there in the first place. We exchanged polite introductions and light religious humor and they were on their way. This was a first for me. What's more is that we are at a pivotal point with this lady we are teaching. She is understanding what we teach for the most part but is really struggling with some of the commandments. We came back the next Tuesday. By this time she had committed to live the Word of Wisdom and was excited to sit down with us and work out a plan to help her quit. Then, as we were explaining the aid which would come from Christ according to Alma 7, there was a knock at the door. Who do you think it was?!?!?!? None other than the same gentlemen that walked up on us just a week before! I was in shock. The kind-hearted lady our investigator is let them in for a moment, mostly I'm sure so they could see we were there too. The ironic part of all this is that we showed up to this appointment 1 hour after we had originally planned. Again, polite salutations and religious humor mixed with subliminal doctrinal attacks and they were on their way. I could not believe the fact that it happened again!!!! Our investigator made a good point after they left. She said she had not invited them but she can see God's hand in all of this. He works in mysterious ways. 

I cannot believe that I have 6 weeks left!!!!!?!?!?!? With each day comes a reminder of the remainder of my mission and how important it is now more than ever to make these weeks count. In my mind it is a simile of life. A mission is like life. It begins only to draw closer to its end. This is why it is so important to make the best of each day. The biggest lesson I have earned in all of this as I reflect on the last 16 transfers is that we only get one chance to make each moment right then a lifetime to think about what we did with that moment. This is why I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through him those moments less productively spent can be corrected.

Life happens to us all...its up to us to make the best of it. 

Love,

EC