I have no idea what he is cooking, but I am impressed
with his clean kitchen and his apron.  Go Elder Crandall.





A beautiful young lady with a basketball scholarship
who was baptized on October 11, 2014.



A beautiful family in Palmdale.

This is Elder Harper from Ogden Utah.

T's Baptism

I hate starting these dang emails.

T***'s baptism was awesome.  I have yet to have a baptism run smoothly.  It made me feel like I was back in Salone waiting for a water truck to come for over 2 hours and then just doing it at another church instead.  We called our bishop right when it was starting and helped him to remember that he was suppose to preside... so we sang some hymn's while we waited.  The water was low in the font... another commonality with fonts in Salone... and so she had to be baptized a couple times... the awesome thing is.... The spirit was still present and it was a great experience for everyone that came.  When do things ever run smoothly..??  Being on a mission is constant plan making and plan canceling... we must learn to adjust whether it be wait 20 minutes for the bishop or change missions.... when the storm settles everything will be ok!

One of our investigators named J*** is an ex gang leader.  We have taught him for the past month or so... but missionaries have been talking with him for about 4 months.  We have been helping him overcome cigarettes... but the whole time I had a feeling like this guy has a past... and I know it is a little much for 19 year old missionaries to help him overcome.  We set up a interview with our mission president so he could get some things off his chest and repent fully and completely.  As hard as it was for him and as hard as it will be to wait for at least a year to be baptized... He has some seriously strong faith.  We will continue to meet with him and help him stay active so that one day when he has done what it takes to be baptized... he will receive the sweet remission of his sins.  Repenting takes time.  I admire anyone who faces their problems head on and will do anything to be right in front of God.  R***... J***'s son.. wanted to be baptized with his dad... but now that he knows it will take his dad a while he wants to continue on his own path toward the waters of baptism.

We had to drop 5 investigators with a baptismal dates this week.  It was really hard, but our president has been talking about the urgency of missionary work and how the Lord has people who are prepared and ready... we just need to find them.  It is good to teach investigators for some time... but their comes a point were if their desire isn't there... you must move on.  I was really bummed cause I love having a lot of people to teach... So our goal was to keep our teaching pool about the same size.  We found 6 solid investigators this week and 4 of them came to church!  I was amazed at how quickly Heavenly Father answered our prayer and how serious he is about the urgency of missionary work.  These are the last days.  We need to be ready and those who won't act on the answers they receive need time to realize that the Gospel is the only way to find Happiness in this life and in the life to come!

I have loved teaching with conference talks this past week.  The apostles can get the message across much better than we can.  There is such a powerful spirit when they testify.  Prophets and apostles are real.  I am so grateful to have them in my life.  We don't have to walk alone on this journey.  We are so lucky to have family, friends, and inspired messengers from God.  I can't believe I didn't take advantage of conference talks before my mission.

B***'s baptism is this Saturday... Pray for her that she will pass her baptismal interview! 

I bore my testimony in church this week.  I used to be so afraid of public speaking and doing things in front of large groups!  My heart was still pumping like crazy while I was up there... but I spoke straight from my heart and talked about the blessings of missionary work.  I love testifying.  I know what I know... and no one can change that or make me doubt that.  I also had to sing a duet in priesthood because no one knew the tune of the song... wasn't pretty... but I did it! haha yay for overcoming fears! haha (None of the Crandall's are known for their singing voice.  I can't even imagine this.  Kuddos to Cody for his courage on this one.)

Thanks for all of your prayers!  I love and miss you all!

Shout out to Shane Woolston, you are my hero and I love you.  I have never met a more honest and loyal friend.  Thanks for being such a great example to me!

Love Elder Crandall the Vandal

I'm on a Cloud!!

I have had one of the best weeks of my life.  So many great things have happened.  I have such a strong love for the people I am teaching.  There was a talk that I liked... don't remember who it was by... but it says that when you do missionary work... in a way you are that persons savior!  I want to be the best example I can be to those I am saving just the way Jesus Christ is the best example for me!  Obviously Jesus Christ is the ultimate savior... but I have had little saviors who have helped me to become who I am today.  My brother has been my savior many times and because of it we have a bond that is indescribable.  I have developed similar bonds with all of my priesthood leaders growing up.  I shouldn't even start with what my parents have done for me because I doubt an email could even send a file that big! haha  None the less, thank you for everyone who has been a part of my life.  I am eternally grateful for all of you and I can't wait to share eternity with you!

I am still in my same area but I received Elder Harper from Ogden Utah.  We have not stopped laughing since the minute we were put together!  We have very similar personalities and we connect pretty well.  He is very spiritual and has already connected well with all of our investigators.  This is gonna be a great transfer, I can feel it!

We had a great lesson with T*** Friday night.  We took a talk by Thomas s. Monson and listened to it with her.  4 memebers came with us... they were all teenagers but they have all grown to love and support T*** as much as we have.  After listening to the talk I had a strong impression to just turn the lesson into a testimony meeting.  It was awesome.  It really helped T*** see that God loves her and He is sending her people to help her prepare for her baptism!

T*** T*** is going to be baptized this Saturday!  Her baptismal interview is tomorrow and I know she will pass.  She is the type of person missionaries are looking for.  She has been prepared throughout her life and now is just the perfect time.  Cool tender mercy...she was worried about how she would be able to keep the Sabbath day since she will be playing college ball at san Francisco state.  She went down and met the coach and the team this week and guess what..... The head coach is a active member who goes to the temple every Wednesday and doesn't hold practices or workouts on sundays!  T*** called me that night after she found out and was so stoked because she knew this was an answer to her prayers!  Her sister B*** will be getting baptized the week after.  They are going to be incredible leaders and examples to the rest of their family!

Conference=jaw dropping/spirit filling/ people loving/ and revelation down pouring!

I stayed awake!!! Give it up for Elder Crandall!! WOOT! haha I was far from tired.  Every session I would sit down, glue my eyes and ears to the speakers and next thing I knew that session would be over in what felt like 10 minutes!  I felt extremely happy and so full of the spirit! I took 21 pages of notes!! Sounds like I just wrote everything down that they said.... but what I actually wrote down was whatever thoughts or impressions came to me as I sat and listened!  Heavenly Father Speaks to his children!  I wrote down like 9 specific questions and all of them were answered in some way... whether they talked on my question... or that I received personal revelation from Heavenly Father that answered it!  Conference is definitely a little slice of Heaven.

My favorite talks were by Elder Christofferson, Elder Bednar, Elder Holland, and Elder Nelson.... In reality I should just put every one of their names down because I loved them all!  I wish I had more time to go into details about everything that hit me but I will just share a couple of things.

So first off.... I needed to know how my Sierra Leonians are doing.  Not from a statiscal stand point but from a spiritual and physical standpoint. Elder Holland's talk brought me perfect peace about their welfare.  He never addressed Sierra Leone specifically but while he was talking about assisting the poor and providing for the needy I knew that even though they have some pretty intense trials in their life right now... the church and many others are doing what they can to bring them aid.  We are a church of service and we will not leave anyone behind.  When he asked "Are we not all beggars?" I was basically in tears.  It is so true.  We all need divine and sometimes temporal help.  So when we have our feet underneath us... we need to do what we can... and even if our feet are out from under us... doing what we can WILL restore us back on solid ground.

Also while in the shower today I was thinking about Sierra Leone and about my investigators I** and S**.... I realized the biggest tender mercy I think I have ever felt.  God sent me to T*** and B*** so I could "finish" the progress I had started with I** and S**... I left I** and S** at about the same place we picked T*** and B*** up at!  So this whole time... I have been finishing what I started.  I know someone else finished what was started in Sierra Leone for those 2 and I'm glad I could be a part of it in a way while serving in Bakersfield.  God has an awesome way of working his magic! haha

Elder Christofferson's talk was quite fruitful... whatever that means haha.  I loved it.  We all want mercy... but there are conditions to receive it.  When we repent we open the door to obtain mercy.  We cannot choose our own sins.  There are eternal truths that no matter what your opinion is... they cannot be changed.  God will not make us someone we don't want to be.  If you want to go to heaven... then prove it!

Can you imagine if an investigator listened and took notes on every session of conference?  They would be rushing to the baptismal font! There is no way you can listen to conference and not feel the spirit.  Now imagine if all those who are less active watched and acted on how they felt.  I want to invite anyone who reads my emails to share your favorite talk with someone who is not of our faith or is struggling on their path to figure out their faith!  It's your time to be a missionary!

Shout out to Prophet Thomas S. Monson!  We love you and are so grateful for your service!  I hope I grow up to be like you!

Elder Crandall the vandal