Elder L. Tom Perry visited our mission

Elder Craft & Elder Allen (fresh from the MTC) Spencer is his trainer

Christmas P.J.'s we made for Spencer & Elder Greenfield

Dear Mom and Dad,

(Here are a couple pictures. Enjoy!)

Well, Elder Perry did a conference for our mission last Saturday, which was awesome! We all got to shake his hand, and I believe that was the first time I've shaken the hand of an apostle. Elder Hallstrom and Elder Funk were also there. The Spirit was so incredibly strong in that meeting. Elder Perry mainly taught us the doctrine of the apostasy and restoration; he then concluded by telling us to go forward with confidence in our message. Elder Hallstrom talked about the importance of working with the members and about the power of companionship. Elder Funk and President Pfile also spoke and all of them were great talks! I hope to remember that day for years to come. Elder Perry also did a training meeting for the bishops and ward mission leaders in the area. He re-enforced a "ward mission process" that will ensure that we're teaching (if all goes well) 20 lessons a week--if not to non-members, than to PM and LA families. So I'm really excited about the work that is to come. He told the ward leaders that a "re-acitivation" is as significant in the eternal perspective as a convert baptism, and I totally agree! So there's always missionary work to do; even in Utah! :)

Dad, I have been fairly regular with my journal, but I could definitely use improvement, so any ideas would be great. Thanks!

Mom and Dad,

The other day I strongly realized that I have a lot to grateful for, concerning how you raised me throughout my life. Being on a mission and having various companions has helped me recognize some things that I sort have taken for granted. So I decided to make a little list of some of those things:

Thank you teaching me the importance of eating healthy and being active. Thank you for teaching me table manners :) Thank you for pushing me to succeed in school. It's made a world of difference! Thank you for teaching me how to work, how to clean, and how to take care of myself. Thank you for showing me a great example of how to work with people, how to respect and be sensitive to others. Thank you for teaching me to be perfectly honest, to be responsible, dependable, and to not make excuses. Thank you for teaching me to not waste time with worthless pursuits or hobbies. Thank you for encouraging me to date! Yes, it really does help prepare a young man for a mission :) Thank you for setting such a great example of humility, self-respect, and self-confidence. Thank you for teaching me the importance of perfect obedience. Thank you for expecting a high level of maturity from me. And thank you for teaching me to set high standards (in every area of life, but especially spiritually)! Anyways, I could never thank you enough for everything you have done for me! I will be eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be raised by a couple of my greatest heroes! Thank you so much!

Gotta go, but have an outstanding week!

Love,

Elder Craft

MIRACLE Stories:

We were taught in-person by a living apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ!

This morning we had an appointment to follow-up with a ITL potential, and the lesson went well. His name is Robert Meade, and we taught him the Restoration and set a baptismal goal for March 7th!

We planned to go tract a certain street, but when we got there we realized that we has been there very recently. So we went to a near-by street and near the very end of the street we ran into Chris Brown. Chris has grown up with mormon friends, but didn't know a whole lot about the church. So he let us teach him right there on the porch, and it was great! We have a return appointment with him tomorrow. We talked to one of his neighbor friends, and she said that she didn't expect it from him to listen to us, but he did, and he was really receptive. It just goes to show you that a lot more people are prepared than we realize!

Happy Valentines Day

Dear Dad,
Thank you for sharing your scriptural insights. That's so awesome! I'm so glad to here the miracle of the house being sold. You guys are definitely living worthy of the Lord's blessings. I love you Dad! Good luck with the upcoming move :)

Dear Mom,
Yes, I did get the package! Thank you so much; it was wonderful! I feel so spoiled!
I love you tons! Have a great week.

I don't have much time, but just real quick: things are going very well. We've definitely been blessed with things going on, we just need to work on sealing the deal and getting these precious souls into the waters of baptism. I feel confident that it is coming very soon though. Elder Allen is progressing a ton, and we're becoming great friends.

This Saturday Elder Perry is coming to the area to address the missionaries and train the bishops and ward mission leaders. So we're really excited! I'll let you know how it goes :)

Colorado Springs is definitely an interesting city to be a missionary in! There are so many different views on religion that we get exposed to. It sure keeps us on our toes :) I've never been told that I'm wrong so much in my life; and ironically, it's happens to be when I'm doing more right than ever before! I love you all! Have a Spirit-filled week!

MIRACLE Stories:
We got a car! What a miracle!

While tracting, Elder Allen was thinking: "I know that we're here for a reason." Then right after that, we got into a door! The man said he already has a church, but we said that our message is for everyone, so he let us teach him the Restoration. His name is Dan White, and he agreed to pray and prepare to be baptized on Feb 28!

Last Thursday was a great day. We had two lessons with investigators planned back to back, and because of our new car we were barely able to make them both! The lessons went well, and it felt great to be busy teaching.

Transfers! but not transferred

Spencer has a new email address. Check it out on the right hand side of his blog.

Hi Family,

Yeah tomorrow is transfers, but Elder Allen and I are actually both staying here. But....we're getting a CAR!! I'm so excited!! It'll really help speed up the work. I haven't driven in a few months, so I guess I'll need to learn again :P I'll make sure to watch out for those medians though! :)

Dear Dad,
Well your story about Benson's driving didn't really make me laugh (it actually concerned me a little), until the part where Mom and Joshua both suggested a different driver :) That's totally crazy that he's driving all ready! Time sure flies! (The other day I had a kind of out-of-body experience. It totally seemed crazy that I was on my mission. After so many years of looking forward to it, it's finally here and passing quickly!) I guess we can never let days go by without making the most of them.
Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement. I REALLY appreciate it. I'll be praying for you and the family, especially hoping that everything goes well with the move.
Could you include in your next email the addresses for Papa Craft/Edie and Grandma/Grandpa Wilding? I seem to have misplaced them.
I love you Dad! Have an awesome week.

Dear Mom,
I love you so much and am grateful to have such an awesome mother who is "anxiously engaged in a good cause." I totally understand when you can't write.
I really liked that quote that you shared. It's a great way to live your life.
President Pfile does approve certain books, so you can send it and I'll ask him at interviews. (I'm guessing he'll say it's okay as long as I read it during free time).
By the way, send some pictures of you in the overalls and braids. I'd love to see that! Maybe Angela could take some really nice ones of you with some hay in your mouth and everything! (I love your sense of humor by the way. It made me laugh). Keep being the amazing person you are! Talk to you next week.

At the request of Angela, I'll try to start including funny stories. We get them a lot, but I need to do better at keeping track of them.

As missionaries, we do a lot of "role-playing" lessons and scenarios. One night we were "teaching" a big teddy bear (which we don't do very often, but we wanted to mix it up). At one point in the lesson I had a funny little experience, so I'll share it with you. Elder Allen is a great missionary, and a very sincere and spiritual teacher. So it is not uncommon for him to shed tears as he is speaking. While I was teaching I was mostly just going over the ideas, practicing how I would explain it, and not really getting into it. But at one point as Elder Allen was talking, I realized that he had started to cry. So I was looking at him as he was crying and pouring out his heart to this teddy bear, and I almost laughed. It was really funny! I hid my amusement pretty well, but I just thought it was a cute little moment for my new companion.

Anyways, I love you all and wish you the best!!

Love,
Elder Craft