Over the hump

Craig's Birthday cake

Oh wow!! Some missionaries still refer to it as the hump and others just say you're going downhill. An example i was given is this: draw a simple house - 2 straight lines for the walls - a roof - 2 slanted lines - connect the slanted lines then connect the ends of the slanted lines to the tops of the straight lines. 1 line equals 6 months. so i go straight up (the hardest part - the beginning) then i slant upwards (it’s getting better and i know a little more) now i am on the slant downwards (i know what I’m doing and its going faster) then the last 6 months is straight down (all you know is the mission and the time is up - go home). Have fun!!

I’m glad everyone is feeling better. That’s cool that you redid the bathroom and made it better. Can i get a picture? And that’s good of the city to put out those dumpsters - i wish NJ would do that! Ha oh how dirty jersey is. It’s awesome! Ha-ha and now Emily’s German friend will be here..... What a joy! Have fun learning German and communicating with her! Ha and take her to church if possible. She’ll love it!

So transfers came in this morning - I’m going to my 3rd area por fin!!! ha-ha that’s what i wanted so I’m happy (in the sense of only having 2 areas for the 1st year and now i don’t care where or how many areas i have). I have no idea where or who but it'll be fun and a great growing opportunity and experiences!

So elder Bednar came on Saturday morning - with what was going on i wonder if he had time for lunch or any breaks.... his schedule was packed and well, we had to be out of the parking lot within 10 minutes after the meeting ended if that shows anything. He came for many reasons and figured well, I’ll talk to the missionaries also. He talked to the missionaries in the New York New York north mission too. It was great. It was a question answer type meeting yet he told us that if we wrote anything down, it could not be what he or anyone else said. It was all spirit guided. He looks smaller than i thought he was and older too but his calling/job is just a little stressful. He left us with a blessing - it looked like he shook something off, as if he were in a gaze staring at something, after he gave us the blessing..... It told me he truly is an apostle of the Lord called of God to help the work progress!! I loved meeting him. We shook hands after wards and went on our way. I really can’t describe what he talked about b/c i only wrote down what the spirit told me to write down....

That’s how i felt being in the primary - secluded and out of the loop as we say. No meetings and no information. Relaxation! The weather has cooled back down. Still in the 30s and 40s. Right now it is raining and in the 40s. It should be warming up yet i feel we will have one or 2 more snow storms left. We’ll see what happens! I’m glad you received rain and snow in the mountains! Did you go play in it??

Ha-ha I’m glad work was busy last week! Sounds like things are going well then? Take your time with getting everything put together and sent off. I’m going to have a new address and i won’t be able to tell you what it is until next Monday. You can send it to the office if you want but take your time. Thank you for your love and help! Also with the backpack, will you make sure the shoulder strap is included?

So i don’t remember what i said last week about the Holy Ghost (is that good or bad??) but that has been something I’ve always said is "i can’t force anyone to do anything, yet i can influence them" and that happens through example, love, kindness, testimony. As those who want true happiness seek it out the bearing of true testimony from one who has found the source of true happiness will have that same feeling as the person giving testimony. Testimony is increased through prayer, study and pondering of the scriptures (the book of Mormon in specific) and going to church. Often times i feel like i don’t "ponder" the scriptures enough, and i don’t. It’s hard to know what to say if what should be on the mind always, is not. It could be the same for many others too. Instead of just reading we really need to "apply" the scriptures too. Take them to heart as did Joseph Smith and let our lives be changed for the better! I am learning how to do it right now.

So i have some time I’m going to send some pictures on a separate email so i can fit more.

I love you. Thank you for your love and support. I know with true and honest love lives can be changed, whether it is visible right now or in the future. I gave a talk on love yesterday in church and well, i had nothing really planned. Lives will be changed with true love. I’ve seen it and well, you've already given it to me.

I love you all! Have a great week! Happy birthday to anyone who's birthday is coming up! I’ll send those pictures. Stay healthy!

Love Craig