October 17, 2011

Family,

 

Thank you so much for all the goodies. The cupcakes were delicious and decadent! Mom, did you make those from that chocolate recipe book? The cinnamon rolls and brownies just arrived today. I think they had been sitting in the mission office for the last week but I am sure that with a good nuke they will be just fine. I have refined my taste and creation of food while on my mission. I have actually learned a little about baking. I don't know if I told you but a few P-days ago a tried my hand at baking bread. It turned out wonderful and occasionally I'll make a desert of some sort from scratch. I have found that preparing food for my companions is the best way to serve them. It brings me happiness to cook and create and to watch them enjoy the meal.

 

I have been blessed with great companions so far. Some have posed more problems than others and with each we have had our differences. As you know I like to do things my way. But sometimes I am not right. So my pride gets to me in those situations. But I have learned a valuable lesson. I have learned that with any conflict a resolution can be found in rendering service. King Benjamin is the greatest example of this. He was such a great leader who served his people that to this day the indigenous inhabitants of South America still tell of a story of a great King who ruled in righteousness. And today we all have the record found in the first chapters of Mosiah of his address to his people where he taught them that to serve your fellow man is to serve God. That is what I see my mission as. I see it as pure service to others. Sometimes I seek to serve myself to much and I feel out of place. But there is a joy that comes unlike any other joy I have felt when I render service to someone and have no expectations of receiving anything in return. I think in the past I had always expected something for, at times, nothing.

 

I am so grateful for the example of  charitable family members and their willingness to serve others. Many memories have flooded back to me of Christlike service that I either witnesses or experienced in the past. We must stand as a witness in all places and in all times and I am grateful for those who did that in my life.

 

Saturday we had one of the most memorable baptisms of my entire mission. I went a little like this:

 

One month and a half ago while Elder Aaron was still here we were coming back from working one night when Elder Aaron's tire went flat on his bike. There were three of us. We all hoped off our bikes and walked the rest of the 2 miles to our car. As we were walking we came to an intersection. Across the way was a younger woman who glanced at us. At the moment she was walking away from us but once she saw us she hesitated and turn towards us. We crossed the street to her side and we approached each other and began talking. It was traditional missionary talk about a belief in God and a desire to change. We noticed immediately that there was something peculiar about this woman. She wore a shawl over her head but she was Caucasian. We told her our plight of Elder Aaron's bike and she asked if she could walk home with us. We agreed. I cannot recall the complete conversation but I do remember her name, Kimberly, and setting up a return appointment with her with less than hopeful expectations of actually finding her there. However, to our surprise she was at home. She explained to us that she had moved from Wisconsin to get away from a rough life and she wanted to change. We ensured her we knew a way she could. She was all ears. We began by teaching her the restoration and everything clicked with her. We introduced her to a sister in the Ward who hosted most of our lessons. Kimberly followed along with almost everything. She was always eager to learn. She told us she wanted the fast track to baptism and we gave it too her. She had some things she had to work out before she could be baptized but she endured to the end and endured well. If there was ever anyone I knew who had a desire to be baptized no one understood and embraced its concept more than Kimberly. She knew she needed to be pure and she knew that she could. She knows that God loves her and that the commandments are here for our protection. In the short time we knew her we saw a miraculous change. She went from timid and ashamed to bright and confident in that short amount of time. Unfortunately she made plans to only stay in Vegas for a couple of months and will be heading back to Wisconsin next Wednesday. However, of all the places she chose to escape sex, drugs, and rock and roll she chose Las Vegas. And of all the people she could have run into she ran into the Lord's missionaries. God lives. And his hand is in each of our lives. We only need to look for it.  Kimberly was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. It was a sweet experience. One I will never forget.

 

Elder Marlin Jensen will be touring our mission this week on Thursday and Friday. We are super excited to have him come. He is a church historian and is steward over our mission and the others in our region.

 

That is about all. I love all of you so very much! Thank you for your support and encouragement. The Ward in GA has been inspiring with their letters. Send them my love.

 

May the Lord bless you according to your obedience,

Love

Elder Cronin

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"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you from bondage" Mosiah 7:33

Kimberly's baptism!!!

Sad Dog!!