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
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