Family,
If home is where your heart is then Las Vegas is my home. My heart is in this valley and filled with a desire to get to know it even more. The people, places, smells and sounds are all familiar to me and depict this city so well. Before my mission Dad and I came out here for a few days. We spent some time on the strip and out in Parumph. I can remember flying into the city and only seeing rock and sand until the strip popped up out of no where. I remember telling Dad while we descended into Macarren International Airport that it did not look like anyone lived out here. After a few days in Las Vegas I understood why the population was so concentrated around the spectacle of the Strip. Entertainment, lights, sounds, cars, and sin. It was all at your fingertips here in Las Vegas. When I got my mission call my brain pulsed with the irremovable thought, "Sin City."
As this city has become my home I have realized one thing for sure: the title "Sin City" is Lucifer's plainly pathetic attempt at distracting God's children. That nickname applies to only a 2 mile stretch in the center of the city. While there is no denying that Satan's minions are busy working out here their target audience grows smaller and smaller by the day. There are so many righteous Latter-Day Saints and God fearing, family loving people out here!
When President Neider was going through his 3 day training in the MTC Elder Perry approached him, took him aside, and told him that Las Vegas is very important to the Church, and not to break anything! I'm certain it was said with love and concern, but it shows that despite Satan's claim to the city, the Lord loves His people there. I have come to see the importance of this valley to the world. I feel blessed to serve in a city that is known world-wide for its decadence. I feel like the Lord has placed me on the front lines. It was scary at first because I was not well prepared to fight so hard in such an intense battle. However, the Lord protected me as he showed me how to wear His armor, use His sword, and gird up my loins as I push forward into this battle field. Regret, there is none. Victory, there is plenty. Both personally and in the lives of others.
Las Vegas truly is the 'Fertile Land.' This place is ripe with missionary work both for the members and the full-time missionaries. I am thrilled to be starting another transfer here in Gateway Ward in the East Stake once again. This time we have another missionary with us. Elder Reese joined our forces as Elder Aaron prepares to go home on the 3rd of September. So now we are rolling three deep in the ghetto of Las Vegas, a.k.a. Freemont Street. When I get a chance to tour the mission with my family it will be a cultural experience for them as I introduce them to all the characters I have met here. I can see it now. Walking down Freemont Street we'll see some vagrant on the street that cannot keep an appointment with us but is quick to remember names. And he'll shout out my name and I"ll give him a big hug and introduce my family. We are all God's children. This is what I have learned here.
So there was a long drawn out expression of my feelings about Vegas. Not much detail involved but I hope you can grasp my perspective. I love my mission. My Heavenly Father blessed me with this opportunity and it has saved my life. I've been eating fish that others have caught my whole life. Now I am learning how to fish. It feels good to have the net casted. I love the children of our Heavenly Father. I know that He lives and that we can overcome the effects of the Fall of Adam and Eve through our Savior Jesus Christ. I have faith in him and that he will come again. My faith is not dead, because it is filled with works!
Love,
Elder Cronin
No comments:
Post a Comment