Elder Ethan Crisp

Well I hope that you all have had just a splendid week in school, work, or whatever other activities that you have had this week. You may notice that my English is wayyyy better than usual. Its because E. Johnson and i speak like 90% of the time in English. Its the first time that i have spoken so much english since my trainer left--MORE THAN A YEAR AGO! AHHHHHHHHHH! Thats a long time. And today I completed 16 months in the mission. I feel like i just finished up a year and 4 months have passed by. Its crazy. E. Johnson is pretty much a clone of Tucker--well his personality. Its so weird--HES EXACTLY LIKE HIM! But obviously for that reason we are getting along rather well. Here in Costa Rica we are having some difficulties--we have to find new people. There are two people that can be baptized in any moment but there just isnt time to find em. But we gotta check on that this week. We also have Zone Leader´s Counsel tomorrow so i am super excited. Really that is the best opportunity to see what i need to do better. The Spirit is always soooo strong that i get so pumped every time to just go out and sprint--like you said. Last night we had a long conversation about how lazy we were before the mission--E. Johnson has a disc with almost all the mormon messages on it--we watched one about a 13 year old kid that ran a triathalon with a kid in his quorum that had muscular disfunction (is that what its called ???). I had the opportunity to be deacons quorum president, teachers quorum president, and 1st assistant and i didnt do ANYTHING to help the members of the quorums. But i have changed a lot and like that quote from that missionary, Mom, i didnt even crawl spiritually, but now i´ve gotta sprint and keep sprinting. Last night i was reading a bit from 1 Nefi (last week i finished the Book of Mormon for the 3rd time in my mission. My count now goes on to 5 in my life :) ). I was reading in chapter 4, when Nephi kills Laban. But i learned a bit from the verses that explain how he killed him. Its a pattern about realizing the consequences of our actions--the positive consequences of obeying and the negative consequences of disobeying. Nephi starts off realizing what blessings he wants: "14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: aInasmuch as thy seed shall keep mybcommandments, they shall cprosper in the dland of promise." Thats the first step--we need to take the time to think "What do i want?" If i disobey right now, how will i lose that thing i want?. Next, Nephi thought of the negative consequences--how it would affect those blessings that were promised: "15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the alaw of Moses, save they should have the law. "16 And I also knew that the alaw was engraven upon the plates of brass." For us, we need to think of the negative consequences of our actions. "What will happen to me if i disobey?" Next, Nephi thought about the situation he was in: "17 And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments." He realized that God had put him in that situation to help him reach the other promised blessings. We need to realize that too--God always gives us the means to get more blessings. I heard a quote that said something like, "I imagine that God gives us the maximum amounto of blessings for the smallest act of obedience." And its so true. And all that is left is TO DECIDE: "18 Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own asword." Nephi decided to obey. What will we decide?

To answer your emails...

Mom...Costa Rica isnt too small. Well compared to San Blas its huge. But i have been in the biggest city in the mission for 10 months in total so it does seem way different from what i am used too. And what that missionary says is pretty true--i still got a lot of time to go to learn to run faster but i have realized how much i´ve changed being here in the mission--i am a completely different person and i would be absolutely lost without the mission. Thats the truth--anyone who is thinking about going on a mission who has the great luck of reading this letter (haha) needs to know that. THE MISSION CHANGES LIVES. ITS ALLLLLLLLL WORTH IT. Two years is really nothing at all. NOTHING. But these two years are EVERYTHING. About the package, i need a container for oil--one of those ones they sell in Ensign books--nothin fancy. Also I want pictures from home. From a long time ago and one s that you have taken since i have been gone. Por favor :) Other than that there is nothing i really can think of that i need. And by the way we sang Called to Serve EVERY TIME we had a devotional :)

Dad...Las bendiciones de la tecnologia que hay son tan grandes--que tu puedes ver la conferencia en su ipad--siempre vale la pena ver la conferencia--uno siempre sale edificado, con varias preguntas contestadas. Estoy animado--vamos a tener que tomar camion para ir a verla en Culiacan. Pero todo esta bien :) Suerte con la escuela--hay que perseverar--las bendiciones que tendras--temporales y espirituales--seran muy grandes si perseveras en tus estudios. Siempre recuerda que te amo y que estoy agradecido contigo por lo que me has proveído en mi vida.

Well thats all i got--the letter was a little long--its just that i am on fire with the whole English thing right now. Have an awesome week this week! ¡Que tengan buena semana!

--Elder Crisp :)