Reaching New Heights.

This last week was a wild one including both Transfers and Mission Leadership Council.  Elder Houghton and I weren't able to get back to Palmdale until Thursday night!  We didn't begin proselyting until Friday afternoon!  This week definitely came and went.... we had less than 10 hours to actually work in our own area.

 

As a Bakersfield Mission We Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts!  In the Month of December we did better than we have ever done! The highest this mission has ever baptized in the past was 48 people in one month.  In December there were 61 baptisms.... our goal was 60!  Our standard of excellence for new investigators was 700 and we found 1,706! (No typo there).  If there is one thing I have learned as a missionary it is that you will get what you expect. It is easy to get comfortable and be happy with the average.  When you stretch yourself and really believe it is possible to do better, you will do better!  I love being a part of a mission that strives to reach their full potential!

 

As a mission we are continuing to not give anyone an out.  When people give legit excuses... We promise legit blessings.  We've seen incredible miracles and increased opportunity to help change the hearts of the people.  Nothing makes me happier than to watch someone accept Jesus Christ's teachings and see the happiness that comes as they follow it.

 

M** D** came to a lesson with us.  He crutched to the door and then bore incredibly powerful testimony.  The lady we were teaching asked him if his foot was okay and his response was "I can't feel any pain when I am talking about God.  All I feel is His spirit."  We were also able to take him to lunch.  Each of us shared our own personal story of coming to know God.  It was awesome.

 

Love Elder Crandall the Vandal

Elder Crandall's district in Palmdale.

Elder Houhton and Elder Crandall

So excited to be baptized on New Year's Day.  Now he needs to go to the doctor to see what to do about his broken leg.

 

Celebrating the New Year with the Sierra Leone flag hanging on the wall.

 

 

White New Years!

This past week was great!  I have been thinking a lot about putting trust in God and his timing.  As a missionary when things don't go the way as planned it is easy for me to look at myself and say..."because I did something I shouldn't have, or didn't do something I should have this isn't working out." However, God's plan goes much deeper than that.  He gives his children agency for a reason.  Without it we would never develop into better people.  When things go wrong we should look at the situation from a different angle and ask.  "What am I suppose to learn from this?"  God knows what is RIGHT for his children and he has a way of making it happen. 

 

3 Nephi 18:20

 

20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

 

He will always give us what we need not what we want!

 

M** D** was Baptized!  He is so inspiring to me! His leg is broken so it was interesting preparing him to get wet.  I've never seen an investigator go the extra mile like M**! He shaved his own leg so were able to duct tape a plastic bag over his splint!  He still hasn't been to a doctor that has begun to treat him... so he probably should have made an appointment with a doctor on Friday... but instead he made an appointment with the Lord.  He was baptized on New Years day! I'm sure he won't ever forget the day he was reborn!:)  I can't think of a better New year's resolution! haha

 

Transfers will be this week.  This will be my last one.  We found out that we are no longer able to do transfer meetings after this one... So it is going to be chaos next transfer trying to get everyone in their new area with their new companion! 

 

On exchange this week I was able to go with a missionary that has only been out for a transfer.  It was fun to talk to him about how when I was a new missionary I went on an exchange with one of my assistants in Sierra Leone.  On that exchange He encouraged me to write down 3 goals that I wanted to accomplish by the end of my mission.  They were... 1. Learn how to forgive myself and apply the atonement. 2. Learn to love the people of Sierra Leone with all my heart. 3. Leave every single area better than I found it.  I am happy to say, I feel as though I have accomplished all 3 of them. Even though I am no longer in Africa I have an enormous amount of love for the People of Sierra Leone.  I also love these liberal Californian's more than I thought possible!:) haha

 

I love my mission!!!

 

Love, Elder Crandall the vandal