March 31, 2011

Family!

I heard about SVU basketball championship this year! That's outstanding! And no I don't think I ever told Dean Pendleton that I am serving a mission. But one day he will know. I'm sure of it.

I had such a great week! Violet was baptized on Saturday and now that I have experinced bringing a few souls to Christ I can begin to anticipate the change in them just in those two days when they are baptized and confirmed. They have all seemed to glow on that Sunday as they await confirmation. I was privelidged to confirm Violet last Sunday. And because of her enthusiasm for me to confirm her, I'll admit I was very nervous. However, as I layed my hands on her head and began to confirm her the words began to flow. My mind shut off or was not accessable. Yet, the words came out to give her a blessing and to express her Heavenly Father's love for her. I felt at peace as I spoke, my nerves were settled and my heart was full of love for her. The love I felt however, was our Savior's love not my own. As the mouth piece for the blessing given to her I had the priveledge of feeling our Savior's love for one of his sheep who is found. Violet was and is very grateful for Elder Holt and me. She expressed that many times on Sunday. The ward accepted her with open arms and warm hearts. 

The rest of the week was mainly filled with office work. I don't know if I had told you all or not but the office is moving this Monday. A chapel in Warm Springs was renovated just down the road to accommodate for a Mission Office. It is so wonderful! The Spirit will be very strong in that office seeing as how it will be in a dedicated building now. I am not sure that this office is dedicated or not seeing as how it is leased. Regardless, the location and layout will result in a better environment for the Holy Ghost.

Elder Shields and his companion are working with us to help move the office so I get to see him a few times a week. We often talk about the good ole days in Mississippi and what its going to be like for him when he goes back. I was never friends with him before the mission but we have become close having served together. 

As far as the office goes the work is so much fun! We are writing database software with MS Access to handle all the baptism, missionary, and phone record information for the mission. The funny thign is that two missionaries about 5 years ago worked in the office for 14 months of their missions building a similar database. We just spent the last 3 months tearing it down and rebuilding it again :) We did learn alot from their work though. SO it's not like all their effort was for naught.

We were able to go to the temple today. We went with our ward mission leader form Fountains Ward, Brother Kirschbaum. My experience was wonderful today. The celstial room in the Las Vegas Temple is incredible! The ambiance make everything look so heavenly. I couldn't' help but wish not to leave it today :)

I love my mission! I love the opportunities I have to help others make changes in their life and develop faith in our Savior. They are not the only one's changing though. I am becoming a much better person. I still have much more to improve on but I feel my testimony is stronger now than it would have been had I not served. It makes me sad to know that time is flying by so fast and the time I have left is the only time I have to serve the Lord in this specific capacity. However, it makes me happy as well as I witness my Heavenly Father help me to achieve a goal. The day that I have to take off this tag will be bitter sweet. I can't say I look forward to it. In fact I try to avoid that subject all together. I love my mission! I love my leaders. Dad had the opportunity to speak with President Christensen and I'm sure he could tell you just form that one phone call just as I can after several months serving with him that he is a man of God and has a tender love for His children. I have known that I have a loving Heavenly Father and because I know that I know that President is guided by Him.

Family, this is my testimony, that He lives. I know our Heavenly Father and our Brother Jesus Christ love each and everyone of us unconditionally. Embrace that love. Have faith in that love and then come to a knowledge of that love. It is eternal. Its powers are too. Through Their love we can overcome any trial, be rid of the effects of sin, learn to love, and learn to forgive. I love my Savior and my God. Otherwise I would not be here.

Love,
Elder Cronin

P.S. New Mission Office Address:
        9270 S. Maryland Pkwy.
         Las Vegas, NV 89123