Elder Ethan Crisp

Well some news. I have a new companion: Elder Zufelt from the Sacramento area--hes my first american companion since my trainer--we will see if i learn english again. Despite the fact that i have a new companion, i am still in the same area. It was really unexpected--i was 99.99999% sure that i was out of here but no. Elder Cruz went to Guasave, a little city with a bunch of ranches all around. In other news, 17 new missionaries arrived today. Because of that some new areas opened up including one in our zone--Navolato. 4 years have gone by since there have been missionaries there--its a little ranch city like an hour from Culiacan. There should be some baptisms ready when the missionaries get there--there will be an ex-zone leader and his trainee. Even though i had completed expected to leave, i am excited. When this transfer ends, i will have exactly 5 months here--with 4 1/2 months in Aquiles here in Culiacan i will complete 9 1/2 months here in this zone. Thats a long time. Unfortunately Jose didnt get baptized this week--he said he felt pressured--i think by his family. They have been anxious to see what he does--thats probably where the pressure came from. Hopefully he can feel the need to do it this week. I will keep you updated on that situation.

I wanted to share a very important scripture with you all. My comp found it in his diligent searching of the scriptures in the new testament. It helps us to understand where we should put our priorities: In 2 timothy 4:8 it says, " For bodily exercise profiteth alittle: but bgodliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." I put an empasis on the first part. Paul is telling us not to do exercise. Haha. No but seriously this one does talk about something important: 3 Nephi 13: 32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But aseek ye first the bkingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." I have been memorizing one scripture a day to help me to focus more on the work and to also put down my speed dial scriptures. Heavenly Father already knows our needs--he knows that nothing worldly is worth putting in front--even work. If we put the things of God ALWAYS in 1st place, we will have our temporal needs nourished as well.

(Speaking of worldly things) It was a huge deal here--Mexico won the gold in soccer. Every house we went to it was "did you see the game?" Even members who know that the answer is no. But it was funny. How awesome that the US got the most medals. I think Michael Phelps won more medals alone than Mexico. Isnt that something. I will enjoy my retirement., thank you haha. I also got a sneak peek at a newspaper with baseball standings and i was shocked to see that the Nationals have the best record in teh majors. That is something special isnt it? We will see what the Dodgers do. Papa...felicidades por la ordenacion como sumo sacerdote. Es otra oportunidad para ayudar y para servir. No estamos en la iglesia catolica ni ninguna otra entonces esos llamamientos no son para reconocimiento ni "status." Con estos cambios, me entro un pensamiento de lo que posiblemente viene despues--una palabra que empieza con la a (Asistente). Me da miedo pero si llego a estar alli, sabre que es otra oportunidad mas para servir y no como reconocimiento. A ver que pasa.

It has been ridiculously hot here lately. According to the peeps here its been like 46 degrees celcius (thats like 115 degrees fahrenheit). Who knows if thats true but all i know is that its been hot. We had to take care of a situation with an elder and a bad use of cell phone to chat with a girl. They sent him out of the area just in case, a situation REALLY similar to the one that sent me here 4 months ago. Its stressful and sad to have to deal with those types of situations. But its part of the gig. There are now 4 senior companions of the 8 in the zone that are training new missionaries. Now 7 of the 16 missionaries are americans. It should be a different transfer and i hope to share a lot of really spiritaual experiences in this transfer. :)

¡Que tengan buena semana!

--Elder Crisp :)