December 30, 2010

Thanks for all of the great presents!

Merry Christmas Mom, Dad, Callie, Olivia and Samuel!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas........

Family!

What a joy it was to hear all of you on Christmas. Although the time was short the conversations were uplifting and are carrying me through each day. Thanks for the support and all that you do!

I don't think I expressed my gratitude enough for all of the gifts. Thank you so much. My Christmas was very enjoyable and thrilling. 

   During the holidays things seem to slow down as families prepare for trips or to host, but with the holidays over the work seems to be picking up again. Along with a change of pace out here I am noticing changes in myself. After 2 months of doing something it starts to become a habit and then it becomes easier to do. That's how life is right now for me. I am noticing myself doing things subconsciencly that before I took time to think about. All of these things are related to missionary work and help the work progress so I feel like these habits are sucessful ones.
   I am treating the mission more like a lifestyle now as well. Before I had an outlook on it similar to Field Training. Just a program in which I needed to do my best and complete. It kept me focused but not personally fulfilling or sucessful. But I have come to understand that it is a lifestyle now and as I embrace that I am able to focus more on the Spirit. And as I do that my success is not measured by numbers but rather by, as Dad told me on the phone, "planting seeds." And seeds are being planted everyday out here, every hour in fact. 
   So I would like to start telling you all more about the actual details of the past week. I think you all might enjoy this as it will give you a taste of what I am doing out here. 
   So this past week, since we talked on Saturday, has been very fulfilling. We have this family from Puerto Rico, George Ramirez,  we have been trying to teach. They come to church every Sunday with his brother's family, Edwin Ramirez, who are members. Elder Macferran spoke on Sunday and the wife started crying, she later told him he really touched her heart with his talk. This is exciting because they have been really flaky with us in the past. Hopefully this will yield some commitments.
   I learned something this week. Hispanics are susceptible to dreams, or at least talking about them. In the past week we have sat down with at least 3 Hispanic investigators who each claimed to have dreams and asked us what it meant. This turned out to be very rewarding as we explained that we are all entitled to our own personal revelation. 
   We had a very interesting dinner last night as well. We have been working with this part member family here and found out they have a lot of member family friends. So we called up one of these families to sit down and talk with them about the Zimmermans, the family we are working with. We were on exchanges that day so I went over with my district leader and sat down to talk with the Howards, the member family. As we started talking we discussed how we could get the Z's involved and excited about taking the lessons Bro. Howard pulled out his cell phone and called up Bro. Z and told him he was sitting down talking to the missionaries and that we were all having dinner on Wed. night so be there. Despite his boldness Bro. Z agreed! After he hung up the phone Bro. H told us we were going to have  a 3 course meal so the dinner could drag on and we could have time to causally bring up the gospel. Well the dinner turned out to be 7 courses on fine china and religion was not even brought up until the beginning of the 6th course! Overall it was a great experience and great food. We left with a return appointment with Bro. Z and his wife in shock that we got him to agree to listen to the lessons. Success over seven courses.
   So from a week full of dreams, drawn out dinner appointments, and Puerto Ricans, what have I learned? That the Lord's hand is in everything. He is responsible for every "coincidence" encountered and every blessing received and as I continue in obedience I expect this pattern to continue.

Family, I love you all and am happy to see the Lord is blessing you all as well. Happy New Year!

Love,

Elder Cronin

A New letter, just in time for the New Year!!!

December in Elko

December 2, 2010

Family,

Thanksgiving was great! We ate with a family from Puerto Rico and with one of our English families. No one in the English family was under 6ft!. 

This week has been great. We are getting ready for the Christmas Creche, a festival put on by the church here in town that all denominations attend. Its quite the event. I'll send you all one of the invitations. 

We have been very busy with missionary work. Some exciting, some disappointing. But more than anything we see the blessings from the Lord each day as we endure. And enduring through - 13 F is tough.

I'm not sure about my transfer. But I have a feeling I'm getting transferred because I haven't received any mail from the mission office in the past 3 weeks which might mean that they are holding it down there so I can pick it up at transfer conference. I really don't want to leave but if the Lord needs me else where then consider me Nephi. 

How was Thanksgiving? Speaking of thanks I need to thank you all for everything you have sent me. The GPS is indispensable and the clothes are keeping me warm. Thank you all so much.

Well it might be fun for you all to make predictions about if and where I'll be transferred. We'll see if they come true. 

That is about all for today. We're going sledding today and it will be Elder Macferran's first time ever! Wish him luck! 

I love you all, Till next week,

Love,
Elder Cronin

P.S. can you send family pics!!!! Thanks


December 9, 2010


Family,

I'm staying in Elko!!!! Another 6 weeks in this paradise! I really love it here. With the holidays coming up I am surprised how much I feel like I'm at home. The members here are great and have been very supportive in the missionary work. Not that it makes our job easier but their help really progresses the work beyond what two young men can do.

We have our first baptism coming up on Saturday! Peggy Remick has made the decision to enter the waters of baptism. I'll be sure to send pictures next week. I've already shared her story with you all and what a long way she has come in order to make this covenant. We are all proud of her.

We got a truck! A Chevy Colorado 4x4! Her name is Tiburon, it means shark in Spanish. I'll send pictures next week.

I am so full right now it is hard for me to think and write at the same time. Every P-day morning the Sargeants cook us breakfast, and its huge, and we eat everything! So I should be good on food for the next week after that meal.

We are eating well here though. Lots of member meals still and really good conversations with them. We went sledding again after I e-mailed you all last week and it was a blast! I'll attach some photos.

Well that's about it for mundane missionary activities. I want to tell you all about our new neighbor. Her name is Carrie Bruno. She teaches at the college here in town and just moved in next to the Sargeants. She is pregnant and single and seems to be doing well for herself. After getting to know her I was blown away realizing that I was here in Elko for many reasons but I believe that she is one of them. She is not a member and has never taken the lessons or much less talked to missionaries. We are very close as friends now as she has made us brownies and cookies and even showed up to the Spanish branch Christmas fiesta we had last week. No she doesn't speak Spanish, but she did accept our invitation. So hopefully she'll continue that pattern and accept some other invitations. :)

Also I am learning so much about myself. I am changing for the better and striving each day to become more Christ-like. I never took the time to study or even think about what it meant to be Christ-like before my mission but Preach My Gospel has really opened my mind to the changes I need to make and the happiness those changes will bring.

Family I love you all and will miss you during this holiday season. I just realized we will both have a Christmas this year in a new place. So keep that in mind. We have that in common.

Feliz Navidad!

Love,
Elder Cronin


December 16, 2010


Family,

I finally got all the held up packages!!!!! Thanks so much for all the love!

Guess What!? I had my first baptism Saturday! And my first confirmation the following Sunday! Enjoy the pictures. We baptized and confirmed Peggy Remick. Its amazing the change you could see in her immediately after coming out of the waters of baptism. She has the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost now.

The mission is going great. I just had my first interview with President Christensen  yesterday. He is a great and intelligent man. I feel safe knowing that my every move here on my mission is directed by him. He is a man of God.

The blessings are pouring in from our Heavenly Father this transfer. We have been able to break through with a few more of our investigators recently and there is no doubt in our mind that this is a direct result of blessings from Him.

We are staying fed, or stuffed is more like it. I'm surprised I haven't become obese yet!

I got to go on exchanges with Elder Shields the other day. I t is such a small world. I don't know if you all know him but he is from Mississippi if you couldn't gather from the name and what a fun time we had! We reminisced about the good 'ole times back home and about our mutual friends. Whats more was when people asked where we were from and we both responded with, Mississippi! Too funny. He is my Zone Leader, and is an outstanding missionary with an incredible testimony, unshakable.

By direction from President Christensen we have been given the opportunity to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover. But this time we are asked to focus on Christ. We mark each reference, attribute, and dictation by our Savior. This time through I am learning much more than I did before. I am learning how the Book of Mormon truly is another testament of Jesus Christ and in doing so I can feel myself drawing closer to him. Sometimes we lose focus on our foundation especially in times of Christmas celebration. While we should always remember Him, this is the time of year when we reflect on His birth. But more important is what the birth means for us. It means we can become cleansed from sin, to be able to return to live with Him for eternity with our families. What a tremendous gift!

The only gift I could ever want I have already received. That is a way to return to live with our Heavenly Father. I am so thankful for this opportunity that many of you who are reading this have helped provide for me to share the message of this gift with the people of Eastern Nevada.

I love you all and cannot wait to talk to you all on Christmas!!!!

Love,
 Elder Cronin 

Thanksgiving Day, 2010

Family,

Happy Thanksgiving! I am most thankful for those who helped me get to where I am today! Thank you all!

Vegas was a blast. My companion got to baptize a family he worked with before while we were down there. I was able to watch and it was an amazing spiritual experience. It was Spanish service so I was able to practice my Spanish quite a bit. Elder Stant was there too! We got to catch up a bit and he seems to be doing great!

The Vegas missionary life is much more fast paced than what we have here in Elko. I really enjoy it down there too. So if and when I get transferred down to the valley I'm ready for it. For example on average we probably contact 2-3 people per day here in Elko. In the valley missionaries get about 20-30 contacts in one day. 

While we were in Vegas we got to hear from Elder Bowen of the 70. He put alot of things into perspective for me. He said something that I will always remember because it is something that I have always been taught. He said, " When you know who you are, you act differently." 
Dad used to always tell me before I'd go out with friends or away form the house, "Remember who you are." Truthfully I used to think that just meant to remember that I am a Cronin. And coming from a town where the name Cronin is rarely unheard of, I thought that just meant to not do anything to embarrass our family. As I have grown up I realize what Dad really meant. Sure, on the surface it was so that when someone looked in the paper they didn't read negative headlines about our family, but ultimately to remember who I am was to remember what I had been taught. Because that is what made me who I was. To go back on the things I had been taught would be to forget who I am. Part of what I had been taught is that I am a child of God. And in being as such I have certain responsibilities and expectations. To go against those or to forget who I am would be to deny my relationship with God. And ultimately deny his existence. Long story short. As I remember who I am, I act differently.

So far we have hit a nightly low of -13 F. And my companion and I shoveled snow last night in 0 F! My nose hairs were frozen! We survived the north western blizzard that hit Salt Lake. I don't know if you all heard about that but it dumped about 8 inches of snow in about 1 hour or so. Good Times!

We already had a Thanksgiving breakfast from the Sargeants and are headed to a 3 Oclock appointment for dinner that includes sledding! Then we  have another dinner around 6! Both dinners we will have investigators there with us! I'll be eating my fair share of Thanksgiving dinners today, wish me luck!!!!

So speaking of investigators, let me give you a little synopsis of how things are going here. The English work is showing us more success than Spanish work here. But that is just a result of the population and population density of each culture. We do most all of our work through member referrals and lessons with them present. So far we have 3 people set for baptism before Jan. 1st. Don't count these chickens before they hatch. I'll let y'all know who keeps their commitments. But all three are progressing successfully as of right now. 

I love you all, and wish you the best Turkey Day ever! Eat your hearts out and enjoy the presence of family. I wish I could be there the Lord needs me here. 

Love,

Elder Cronin

More Pictures from Elko!

My First Transfer - Elko

A new perspective on a missionary

Nice Tie!!

Help Others On Their Way!

Zippity Do Dah!!

Add caption

Traveling to Vegas!!

November 17, 2010

Family,
It might seem odd that I am e-mailing today but we are heading down to Vegas tomorrow for a conference with General Authority Elder Bowen, he is touring the mission. Its what we call a mission vacation. And because we are leaving tomorrow we have our P-day today.
   I'm so excited to hear of your progression. Things are progressing here in Elko including the weather. We have been into the 30's so far but nothing colder than that and it seems to be a bit bi-polar as well seeing as how its 58 today and sunny. Which, surprisingly seems warm.
   Thanks for all the supplies you are sending me.  My companion and I are really hoping we stay here for a while. With our next transfer only 3 weeks away there is a possibility that one of us will be transferred. It would be a shame if after all the winter stuff I have (which includes 4 pairs of gloves!) if I get sent into the valley. But I must go and do as the Lord commands and if I am needed elsewhere I will gladly accept.
   We get member dinners every night accept for on P-days.  In fact, we get member dinners/ lunches so much that Monday we had two dinners back to back. And of course we don't tell the families that because we don't want them to feel like they can't feed us and they receive many blessings for their service so we eat EVERYTHING. Needless to say I was incredibly full! But the food is very good. And the company just the same.
   My Spanish is improving slowly but its improving. We teach about an equal proportion of English and Spanish lessons. This is because we cover one English Ward which covers just a fourth or so of Elko and the Spanish branch which covers not only the entire city of Elko but 4 other cities as well. So we have a lot of area and some of which we haven't even touched yet. There is a lot of work to do here in Elko.
The English ward is about the size of Clinton ward and the Spanish branch had about 50 names on the roster but only about 15 show up each Sunday. The branch is only 2 years old though but some of its original members are inactive now. So we do a lot of less-active and part member family work around here. And so far we are seeing success. I can't say that we have had any failures.
Funny Event of the Week:
 So I told you all about Bro. & Sis. Sargeant. Well Sis. Sargeant stays at home all day because of her health mostly but Bro. Sargeant is a real busy bee. He reminds me of Doc. He is always doing something. So the "something" he is doing now is covering about 2 acres he has just outside of town with leaves. First he started taking his own leaves from his house out to his land. Then he started asking friends to drop their leaves at his house and he would haul them out to his property. So he was only taking about a load a day. He's been doing this since we first got here. All he has is a little 1993 Toyota and his cane. But he gets it done.
So the other morning we were studying in our apartment out back of their house and all the sudden we heard this big diesel driving down the ally behind our house. We looked out the window and backing into the Sargaents yard is this dump truck. It tilts it bed and out comes at least 30 bags filled with leaves! Bro. Sargeant had a smile on his face a mile wide when he told us he convinced the city to dump the leaves they were picking up from the neighborhoods in his backyard. Sis. Sargeants reaction was not as joyful however. She came out with a look on her face of utter confusing as she asked her husband, "What the heck is going on here?" He answered her with the same accomplished grin and she walked inside and called the city and told them to stop dumping! By the time they got word to stop they had already dumped 2 loads.  Those two loads took Bro. Sargeant 7 loads to get to his property! Funny old man! But the sweetest people I know.
  
A Clarification of Missionary Work:
   Some people think that as missionaries we harass and bug and probe. Well we do in a sense. But the important thing is why we do it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of our Heavenly Father, is once again restored on this Earth. While technology has grown more in the past 75 years than it has in the past 2000 years alone we still cannot reach everyone to share the message of the Restoration. But God can. He prepares each and every person who has yet to hear the message to receive it. Some of those he prepares accept his preperation but others reject it. Our harassing, bugging and probing comes as a result of our commitment to find those who have been prepared by the Lord to receive the message. To find those people we simply invite. We do not pressure or demand, we merely invite. We invite you to listen to our message. Then we invite you to pray to know if that message is true. Then we invite you to listen for the Holy Ghost to confirm its validity. Then if you accept those invitations we invite you to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone who holds the proper authority given to them through Jesus Christ himself. Then we invite you to continue to live by God's commandments and endure to the end. These are merely invitations. We are not on a mission to change, to demand, to argue, or to belittle. We are here to invite. So if there are any of you who are reading this and have not accepted or even been offered the invitation, I invite you to listen to what the missionaries have to say. And if you have heard the missionaries before I invite you to pray about their message. Will you do that? If you accept this invitation I promise you it will affect you for the better. And if you decide to take this challenge, this invitation, write me and let me know of your experience!
Family, I love you all and am so glad to hear of the blessings you all are receiving and I know that because of your support I am seeing blessings as well!
It gives me indescribable joy to know we are sealed together for the eternities. Sometimes that might seem unbearable but I promise it is the greatest gift we can receive!
Love,
Elder Cronin
P.S. I could use my Doc Martin work boots. We do alot of service :) Thanks!!!!