July 14, 2011

Family,

Yes another week has gone by. And to start off I want you to know how grateful I am for your diligence in writing me each week. No matter the length of the letter is always wonderful to know that I am on your mind. These weekly letters are a blessing from our Heavenly Father and they give me support and encouragement.

This last transfer, because of the presidency swap, was 7 weeks long as apposed to 6. That was a blessing for all of us. It meant another week to find, teach, and baptize. It was a wonderful transfer in the Monte Bello Ward because of the other two companionships that were assigned there belonged to my district. We set a goal as a district to bring 10 souls unto Christ in the past 7 weeks. While we were only able to bring 9, success was felt and we all felt a calming reassurance that the Lord accepted our hard work and focus over the past weeks. There is no better feeling than the approval of the Lord, and no worse than his disapproval.

Well, it came time for us to find out who was staying and who was going be transferred. They told both my companion and I that we were staying. However, we shortly thereafter received a phone call that we needed to come to Transfer Conference because one of us would be leaving but only moving rooms in the house. Rare huh? Well, we lived with the Zone Leaders from another stake, the East stake. I had become very good friends with these missionaries over the last transfer. And at transfer conference President Neider called my name to serve as a Zone Leader as a companion to Elder Aaron. So, I replaced Elder Sant, a fellow Texan, and moved my things to the room next door to live with Elder Aaron, who goes home in about 6 weeks.

I am thrilled with my new assignment and companion. I am most excited about learning from him and the experience he has already. On a sad note however, I am leaving Spanish work. Que Lastima!! Which means, what an injury!! or this hurts. I will really miss speaking the language all day and eating the food and joking around with the members and buying possibly contaminated food from sketchy people vending on the streets and Catholics who have never been to church and everyone who thinks that Gods plan for us is just to be good, serve your neighbor, and nothing more and I will miss the opportunity to share the Gospel with those people. However, I will take every opportunity to speak the language, oh and of course to eat the food as well. I was sick all night last night because of my first Caucasian meal in a while. It was Spaghetti! It was very good but my stomach was expecting rice, beans, meat, lemon, Chile, juice, and tortillas.

My testimony has grown so much in my mission. Especially in regards to obedience. Unfortunately, I heard someone say one time that God does not withhold blessings just because we are disobedient. That statement is ignorant and false. Ignorant because how can we know the blessings from obedience unless we are obedient? We cannot, we can only speculate and say, perhaps, in a state of disobedience, that we are content and happy so how could things get any better. And that mindset is false because the scriptures and testimonies of others tell us different. No one is perfect. We all have struggled with obedience at one point or another in our lives and maybe are still struggling. Our Heavenly Father is perfect and in His perfection has created a way for us to be obedient even if it seems we never could. It is through the Atonement of His son Jesus Christ.

In regards to the atonement I wanted to share with you all a thought that came to me some time ago. It is hard for an obedient follower of Christ to talk about the Atonement without being filled with the Spirit unto tears. It may seem from the outside that those are tears of sorrow as the disciple thinks about our relays the events that led up the Crucifixion. As brutal as those moments were, I don't not feel that they cause the tears. It is sad to hear of such suffering, but there is a much greater reason for those tears. And I hope I can explain this clearly because this is the first time it has come out of my mind and onto another media. Those tears flow from a soul who has used Christ's sacrifice for its purpose: to overcome the effects of sin. Whether directly or indirectly we are all effected by sin and it tears us down. It makes us suffer. And we know that Christ felt what we felt. The next time you see someone express their love for the Savior and tears flow remember that they flow as evidence that if we are effected by sin, relief is available. Those tears come because that souls understands the mercy and love of our Heavenly Father for providing a way for us to be obedient once again, to be relieved of the burden of sin. Tears do not flow from my eyes in regards to this topic because I feel pity for Christ. Yes, he went through more than any one man could and live, but my tears come from a knowledge through experience that the Atonement works. It is a renewable resource of happiness and relief.

This is my testimony and I share it with you all in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love,

Elder Cronin