Aug 26 and Sept 2 letters

September 2, 2013

Happy Labor day! I didnt even know it was labor day!

No here I don't think there is such a thing as labor day, at least I have not heard anything at all. First off happy birthday to Curt and to Ryan because I didnt wish them a happy birthday yet! :( LO Siento mucho. You all know I love you. This last week was like super wierd because President called us like a week ago that we have one week to have a house prepared with all of the things in it so that another pair of missionaries can come in our zone in Matamoros. So for 3 days we were contacting in the streets of Matamoros and finding houses for rent and trying to get things ready. I know all of Matamoros right now as well as San Luis where I currently am stationed. But like a day before the missionaries were going to come, the secretary to the President called us telling us to cancel everything because a few missionaries got sent home or something and the location that got canceled was us so that was a bummer but sometimes things happen so oh well. We some amazing baptisms this week. Antonia in our area and Alfredo in the area of San Luis 2. So it was so great to see both sides of a young baptism and and elderly baptism. We had to have 2 people lower sister antonia in the water. Her son-in-law baptized her this Saturday and it was marvelous. The only thing that worries me is that we basically didn't have any time to work in our area this week so we don't have many more investigators that are progressing so we have to start the quest to find those who want to follow Christ. But also this Saturday we had a special conference with 3 zones and a district and I had to direct the meeting because it was in our Stake Center so I felt like a Bishop and it was nerve racking at first but it all was okay afterwards. :) So many new experiences being a leader but I think it is all for the best. And then this Sunday my companion and I gave the Holy Ghost to Hna Antonia and then it was the day to give our testimonies! And Alfredo gave an astounding testimony and I think in a few years he will be a Bishop or something. It is great to see his faith and he goes to institute every day and makes friends in the church. And the best part was when 89 year old Antonia made her way slowly to the pulpit and bore her testimony of the Book of Mormon and the blessings she has had in her life. She didn't know how to read but she gradually started to read the HUGE Book of Mormon that her daughter bought her in the temple and she loved it and she wanted to know more. That is when we came and taught her about the rest and she is just such a cute woman and I love her like my own grandma as well :) I will attach some photos! and I got my backpack and I am also doing a recording for Jackie right now and for some of the friends she put on my recording. I am stoked for Jackie and Scott because I know God has something really special in store for them! And I am still here in San Luis with Elder Nuñez and I think I might get transferred in 2 weeks but who knows. I will have our zone leader council tomorrow in the morning super early. I am eager to see what President has in store for us! And Cooper looks like a boss! He is mine :) He can live with me in the garage. Tell Ryan the art of music comes line upon line as well. Like me and my trumpet. I was the best ;P  Here is a picture of Antonia and Alfredo. And also a family that we are teaching with Hno Gil and Hna Delia. I hope they can go to the church soon because htey have not gone yet.. :(

But soon enough!

Elder Cramer :)

August 26, 2013

Wow that email made me so happy haha. Mas que nada porque Dios esta poniendo los medios por scott.. :)  It is neat to see how all of the places that we have lived are progressing and making their decisions. Each one of us has choices to make and paths to take but it is hard when we do not know where we want to go. Like Chesirre the cat in Alice in wonderland.. she asked which path she should take and he responded that depends where you want to go. I know it is the same with us. I want to return with honor with our Heavenly Father as a family and that is what I desire for all of my friends as well. I know that if we really love our friends or family we will invite them to come to Christ and not be scared. I invite you and mom and the kids to invite your friends to listen to the missionaries without being scared of the response :) And thanks for helping Scott. he is an awesome guy for sure and I want to take a mini trip to visit him and a few other friends that I have planned. But this week was awesome because we baptized Gil Lopez Salas. He is an incredible person and always wants to go with us to visit new families and he wore is white shirt for the first time in the church to be confirmed a member of the church. It was so neat to see his conversion as he left his Ex girlfriend to follow of the law of chastity and to see him go to family home evening with our families. I hope he can always stay in the church and progress. I can see him being a good leader someday. Dad if you want to or when you have time give him a call and talk to him. Here is his number! 8712424301.

Here are a few photos of the baptism! This Saturday we have another baptism that I am excited for because it is such a wonderful and precious women named Antonia. She is 90 years old and reminds me a ton of Aunt Inez when she was 90. She still walks all over and is super smart! She is reading her Book of Mormon the huge version so she can read it and her biggest challenge was that before her mother died she told her to never change religions from Catholic. But we explained that her mother has already accepted these teachings and that the daughter of Antonia already did the work for her in the temple. She knows Joseph Smith is a prophet and loves to read the Book of Mormon. The first lesson we had with her we asked her what is a prophet. She exclaimed! Joseph Smith!

She is such a cutie and I will send photos of her baptism the next week. I received the package from Curt and Ness and my companion and I thank you because I shared with him. Also I received the tapes and I will work on sending those back as well. I want to send one to the family and also one for Jackie because she worked so hard on the other tape I sent her. Make sure to look after her as well.

Hno Gil es el Chaparito el la pila. El otro es Hno Bracamonte. Son amigos alli en la iglesia! :) Voy a regalar Hno Gil un triple con una foto con su bautismo y mi testimonio

Como dije a Nessa que tambien este Domingo un hno me va a hacer un forro por mis nuevas escrituras que a penas vinieron para mi entonces estoy super animado! Tenemos que enfoquar mucho en encontrando nuevos y poniendo fechas porque ya nuestros investigadores empezando ya tienen que ir a la capilla 5 veces para poder bautizar para que sean conversos reales! :D

Elder Cramer

3 letters from Logan - they seem to be getting smaller, but we feel his desire to do his best!!

August 19, 2013

Hey hey hey!

Thanks for the updates for the week haha. Sometimes what we all need is a small break to recharge the batteries. Something that I have noticed since I have been out on the mission. when I started I only wanted it to talk to the family and to basically have a break but now I just feel like I wanna work and go visit people hah. Actually I only have like 3 more minutes to write this but the most special part about this week was when we visited 2 investigators and the lady was super nice until we said Joseph Smith and she turned into a different person saying that he is a false prophet and that he committed a ton of sins and she saw it in an encyclopedia and this and that. She said the Book of Mormon is false and all these things. my companion and I were trying super hard to listen to the spirit and we testified like I literally think I never did without getting mad or anything because the atmosphere was really intense. She said she would read the Book of Mormon again to see if it is true and her daughter as well. We have plans to visit her this week with another sister from the ward that had similar thoughts about Joseph Smith before and she is a rock solid sister in the church now with the biggest testimony!  Also we will be baptizing Hno Gil so we are stoked for that and we want to keep up the baptism streak! He is such a great guy and already goes with us to lessons and testifies. The ward has planned that he will be called as a ward missionary to help us out in the work. We had a meeting to coordinate better with our leaders and us because really there is 0 communication right now and we want to work hand in hand like you said. I love you all and know I am giving my all!! 

Bye

August 12, 2013

Wow what a sweet experience haha. It was worth all of the effort to go there because Jacci and her husband are following Christ! The missionary work is the best isn't it haha. I was just thinking like we can work for the Lord and it has eternal significance or we can do whatever looks appealing to us which just brings momentary pleasure. I feel like the eternal always is better than momentary! Right now just for an update well we are trying to get everything organized in our ward here because our ward mission leader doesn't really have that much time to help us out so we are going to have a meeting with bishop on Wednesday to talk about our goals and how we can help this new plan to get functioning! But we are trying the best we can right now meanwhile haha. In our 8 companionships in our zone, we have 5 that are training new missionaries and then there are the district leaders and us. So basically everyone that can be training in our zone is training so that is really neat to see! How is the work in our ward? Are we seeing progress? It sounds like everyone in our family is just doing dandy and is growing up a ton haha. I guess there are a lot of blessings when we all try to serve God to the fullest :) I hope you can feel my love from here and know that I  am trying my best. I have to run actually because I have to do a report of all the less actives that have been reactivated in the last 3 months so I am going to start that right now before we don't have any time left. Love you lots and these next few months will be the best I know it!!!

Returning with honor :)

Elder Cramer

August 5, 2013

Dear beloved family!

Thanks so much for ordering that backpack thing because I don't want to look like a tomato in his yellow tinted shirt from sweat hahaa. I actually just had to do all of the changes last night which was kind of hard to do because we had to plan how each missonary will arrive and Elder Ringer my companion got changed to another zone so I am senor companion and I hope I will be a good example for elder Nuñez as he is a new zone leader. We are going to work hard to put a great example for the zone as well so we can all have a lot of success. We also yesterday gave a zone conference and we taught about the importance of unity and we taught by using mirrors so they can see if they are united or if they are trying to teach by themselves. Also we talked about the love you need to have for your companion. Also in the church we gave a conference for the ward from preach my gospel about lesson 3 which is the Gospel of Christ and I think it went well. So I am all conferenced out hahah to say the truth, but I am ready to find some new families that are looking to change their lives! I am really enjoying my mission and I know if I can live my mission here obediently I can live the rest of my life in the same fashion. And reading about Bill makes me think how many people each of you know that would accept this gospel and are just waiting for that special invite. I hope your job and your calling are all going splendidly! I feel like the past 6 weeks here in San Luis has just flown by because I have never been more busy or happy in my whole life haha. We are going to baptize a man named Gil who has changed completely and is joining us in visits to other investigatos even before his baptism! He will be a rad convert for sure! Make sure you keep an eye on Breanna with all those boys chasing her like stray dogs on the street and Ryan because just a wink of his eye has all the ladies drooling. I give you all a lot of hugs and know that I am grateful to have such a great family. Dad tell me about when you were a leader on your mission. What did you think and do? Fill me in :) 

Love Elder Cramer

Logan and friends - July 29 letter

Hey Hey Hey,

I am in a constant battle with this sun here. I bathe in this sunscreen but it still burns me. Oh well at least the president knows that we are out working. This last week we have found new investigators some that are progressing but what made me sad is only 2 went to the church. I know that they cannot receive a full testimony of the gospel if they do not go to the church. It is a huge building block to see what we practice and teach within the walls of the chapel.  These last 8 months I really want to try and be the best.. I know God gives me a lot of impressions, it is just finding out if it is my own impressions or the spirit that sometimes is the hard part.  We are going to have a baptism the 24th of August with a man named Gil and he is such a good guy. He leaves work early on Sundays to go to the church, he left his girlfriend that he had for 10 years because he learned about the law of chastity. He is going to go with us to visit our new family that we met named Gerardo to help him go to church this week (I will attach a photo), and he just signed up for a year of the Liahona. He is what we call a golden investigator.  I am stoked for him and we are trying hard to find and help these new investigators progress. This Sunday we got like 6 references from the new program that we are doing so we are excited to contact them and work with these families!  Also I had to take out a tad more money this week because I lost something that made me super sad.. I did exchanges with an Elder and he was calling an investigator to be interviewed by me but meanwhile I was contacting a lady on the street so I placed my scriptures on the telephone booth.. and I forgot them there and my backpack was full with my clothes for the next day so I did not realize the weight difference. So I lost my year and 2 months of revelation and the little pictures in the scriptures.. I bought new ones and they should come to me when we have the next consejo con Presidente.. But right now I am just using a Book of Mormon that we give away and I am borrowing a bible from a brother in our war . I feel naked without my scriptures! :O But other than that I am loving my time here and Elder Ringer and I are trying to be a good example for our zone. :) I love you and serve the Lord because he will serve us 200% :)

Elder Cramer

The picture is with a new family that we have this week. Gerardo, Gerardo junior, and his daughter. They are super awesome but I think the dad is a little hesitant to go to church. So Gil is going to go with us and the son of the Bishop here to befriend Gerardo jr. and to go to the youth activity on Tuesday. We are stoked for them :) (They are reading the Book of Mormon and are in 2 Nephi)!

Logan is learning to be a real missionary - like Pinnochio and the Road Runner?

July 8, 2013

HelllLLoooo family! ;)

This week was super rewarding for all of the hard work we did. I learned probably more this week than 3 months in the mission because of all the new experiences lately. We had Leader Council last Friday so we ate breakfast with the President and all of the zone leaders and then he sent us on a huge scavenger hunt with objectives and they were super hard haha. But they were so hard because we made them hard because the answers were super easy. It just shows how smart President is, being a psychologist.. But then he told us that on the mission we are complicating things. Our job is to find, teach, and baptize. If they dont want to obey the commandments then we have to drop them and find those who are waiting for this covenant with God. He said we need to have faith that God is preparing his sons and daughters to be found. He then taught us about the importance of the Book of Mormon and that we need to use it better and give it more importance. So he gave us each a Book of Mormon and he sent us all outside and we had to give and contact someone using them. So that was awesome and we came back to our areas super excited! This week we had about 15 lessons with investigators and members so we were running from lesson to lesson. In the church yesterday we had the most investigators that we've have ever had. We had 9 and I was super excited to see that our hard work is paying off in fact. After church we ate super fast and we took a taxi to another church for our zone meeting with our zone. I taught about the importance of commitments and if they are not progressing, maybe it is because we need to focus on putting baptismal dates and help them with their needs to be prepared. So we did practices and they got a little better as they practiced. Then my companion talked about the Book of Mormon as well and we did the same activity contacting the people outside with the Book of Mormon. It was pretty successful for my first time I think! Today President told us that this Friday my companion and I have to give a presentation for all of the young men that are going to EFY here in Torreon. So we will talk in ront of a group of about 100 people and their counselors or something like that. And then we have interviews this Friday so we have to get that all ready for President and so everything is smooth. During the interviews we will have to review their mission binders for their houses to make sure they are updating it and always keeping it ready for the next missionaries. So that was my week and a small preview of the week to come. I am stoked and I know that this is the Lords work and we just play a small part in it all. Actually it is a blessing to just to see a bit of the power of God working in the lives of others!! I am having a party with my sun block everyday because if not I look like a red martian from mars. But I love you guys and I hope you are participating in the work of the Lord as well.. 

Suba a la ola! (I think this means catch the wave?)

Elder Cramer

July 1, 2013

HelllLLOooooOO :)

This week was way sweet to tell ya the truth because we worked our tookis' off and we were working with the members and we had like 5 investigators in the church and they seemed to like what they saw. (I hope haha) Our ward is super big -- I went from like a 50 or 60 branch to a 181 ward that is like super busy. It is hard to keep track of everyone, and on top of that I am trying to memorize this new area and Elder Ringer is teaching me the ropes of how to be zone leader. It is a lot to think about because we have to make sure the missionaries are working, are obedient, keep track of their numbers, make sure that they are sending reports and arrive on time for the meetings. I feel like a babysitter for 16 men that left their houses and are baking like a piece of pork in the street. That is because it is true hah. Now I see how you guys must have felt.  I am trying to  making sure that and all is well and I feel like a parent almost haha. Elder Ringer actually has less time than me like, a year and a week but his Spanish is really good and he has been zone leader for awhile now. He has good work ethic and loves the work of the Lord. We are a good team and I know God does not put missionaries together for casualty (?  I think he means God puts missionaries together for good reason). I hope to make you all proud and we just had a new meeting saying that we have a new form to work with the ward to get references and so we should never have to contact in the street like we have been doing lately to get new investigators. So our bishop will be calling Ward Missionaries to do interviews for all of the members which gives us like 20 references and they take all of those hundreds of references to ward counsel and they decide who will progress and we go with those that will progress. This form has been approved by Elder Holland when he was here so I think that is why he is keeping a close eye on Torreon. I hope to become a sweet missionary like Pinnochio wanted to be a real boy. But I know it is possible and that there is no other place that God would rather have me be. I am fortunate to be able to serve and actually I am happier as I work and work. I am like the Road Runner out here with the spirit because bit by bit I am learning to be what God would like me to be and that is why I am enjoying my time here.

Pictures: I had a confrontation with a mean character on the wall! I taught him the gospel

A less active that goes with us to lessons here!

Logan on the move back to Torreon!

June 23, 2013
Wow!

There is just so much activity in our family I think you need a missionary agenda to keep track of everything. We have a surplus here if you would like me to send you one haha. And yes we watched the broadcast and it was awesome but sometimes because of the internet connection I could not see everything. And yeah I saw the elder from Torreon and that Elder Holland said he visited us. And yeah when elder holland came you can feel in the room and the way that he talks that you are in the room with an apostle... It was a life changing experience for me for sure! And actually.. I was a district leader for 2 months and I was training for like.. 5 months in total.. but today I had transfers to Torreon again. And now I am a zone leader and my companion is Elder Ringer. I am junion companion so he is going to teach me the ropes and he is super cool so I think we can have alot of success here I hope. Everytime I finally get to know a city perfectly they change me haha, but I guess that is the will of the Lord. And it is so neat to keep in contact with my brothers of Mosiah.. Kaden in Africa, Shaye in Guatemala, Brenden and Brad in brazil, and Jake in Uraguay. I feel like we are all in this together. Maybe with different languages, companions, areas, but the same work under the same direction of the Lord. I am just starting to realize that time is flying by so fast I feel like I just arrived in San Pedro eating a bunch of sand because of the sand storm and now I am back in Torreon. New responsablilities and new ways to become what the lord wants me to be. And how is Jackie doing with the lessons? Have you ever seen Graham lately.. I know he is going through a rough time because he moved in with friends and they are not paying rent and he has to pay it all and it would be good to give him a jingle if you can. I have alot of work to do when I get home and I hope I get a calling right away like ward missionary or something awesome to do visits. I also want to take Ryan and Kolten with me to visit less actives and to visit with the missionaries. I have it all planned already haha. But right now the focus is the mission because I will never have this time again and that is what is starting to hit me. I love this gospel and the peace and true happiness that this work brings to those who try to do the Lords will. This I know because the spirit tells me. I love you all and keep being happy. Let Ryan know that he better be karate chopping open his scriptures as well somedays to prepare himself and that Breanna has to fight me for the car when she gets back. But not with fists... with church doctrine haha. Dad I have faith that you can help my friends because right now I can't.

Love you all.

Elder Cramer

June 17, 2013

This week was a really great week I think. We have found a few new people to teach and we had like 5 people in the church to feel the spirit there. I think my favorite part of the church is the second hour because Elder Munoz and I get to teach principles of the gospel to the investigators and I feel like that captures alot of new things and are enlightened by the spirit! That is the fun part when they understand something and you see it in their eyes! But this week went by so fast haha I don't know where it went.. Tomorrow we have a meeting with our zone and the mission president so I am eager to hear what revelation he has in store for us! Also I had 2 interviews for baptisms this week and I really love the chance I get to do them to see how much the people change from this gospel. I interviewed a woman named Juanita and she is so sweet and she told me of some miracles that she has had in her life one being that she has had many dreams of Thomas S. Monson before she even knew who he was and he was all dressed in white walking on a white beach of sand. That is really cool and how much she wants to be a member :) She has to have an interview with the president because she has experienced many things in her life but she looks so dedicated and ready to do anything the Lord asks of her and so that is the best part! Our goal this week is to find new people and to try and put baptismal dates with a few people. We have a family named La amilia Losa Sanchez and they are alot like jackie because they are gong to the church and are reading the Book of Mormon and are praying to find out if it is true. Sometimes I would really just love to speed up their answers because I know how much it could help and change their lives but everyone has to have their own moment and God works in his own time schedule even though many times we would like to tell him what to do he is the boss haha. So it is interesting to see how the spirit little by little is working in them to reveal the truth! I really want to try for baptism before I end training Elder Munoz so I am trying to find and to put dates and to prepare them for this special day. That is my goal and I am determined to get it. Te Encargo paps. :) I love you all and I hope you had a great fathers day dad. I love you all a ton and know dad that you are an amazing example for me in my life.

Elder Cramer

June 10, 2013

Hahah the family of blue! What a grand idea :) Right now I am the Elder of Red because exactly what dad said.. I forgot sunscreen when I did an exchange with my zone leader and then I got more burned than Clifford the big red dog. But I am getting better already. I bought spray sunscreen which helps a ton more. And I learned a lot from my zone leader Elder Starkey. We are going to have a meeting with them also as a zone tomorrow so that is something to look forward to. And we did have a lot of people that went to church, but this Sunday they did not go, but others came and are looking interested. We have problems with the word of wisdom and the law of chastity so we are trying to help them resolve their problems along with finding new investigators that are waiting for this gospel. I know that God prepares the people to accept this truth we just gotta buckle down and find them :) It is fun to hear from Brenden and Jake as they finally are out on their mission mettling with the languages and finding what is the spirit. I feel like I am one of the Strippling Warriors because all of my friends are out on missions in all different parts of the world. How great it is to serve the Lord. But sometimes all of a sudden I miss the family and that has not happened to me very often because we are so busy. But I feel like in no time I will be back so I have to try and take advantage of what God is giving me right now. And Elder Muñoz is doing good.  He is so prepared for a new missionary. It is cool because the other missionary that I trained is in Aguanuevas and so I am his district leader as well. My dos entrenados are here with me so I feel happy. Carli... know that I love you and I am so proud of you that you are graduating and you will love BYU. Keep your chin up and hit the books little missy. You will be rewarded for all that you do productive. And watch out for all of the sharks lurking or in other words guys that will be after ya haha.

I love you all a ton and keep doing what the Lord wants of you!

Elder Cramer

June 3, 2013 Elder Cramer in the House!

Hey hey hey :)

Elder Cramer adento la casa!

I just completed 13 months yesterday.. I cannot believe how fast time is flying by haha it is like not even fair. It is weird because the less time I have the more I want to work, the more I work the faster the time flies by so it is like.. What is going on? Whos in charge? Who gave permission? - A little quote from Papa Cramer. But in San Pedro  we have seen a lot of results because normally we have like 50ish people in the branch. Yesterday we had 72 people in the church because we had a family of visitors from Texas of about 7 people and also we had a family of 5 that came for the first time to investigate and they really liked the church and all that has happened.. so that made me super happy becuase we are helping out this family. The mother has a tough situation with her husband because he beats her and the kids have to deal with all of that emotionally and they were not very close to God when we found them. But now they are reading, praying, and going to the church and it just shows me how much God helps us in our difficulties. I know he is there and he knows what is going on in each of our lives. But about the sun.. It is just baking me like a thin strip of bacon in a frying pan haha. I have never sweated so hard.. But it is worth it when we have a lot of lessons and when we are helping some people to go to the church :) And thanks so much for updating me about the family because I like to know all of the details so I can imagine that I am there with you in the family still. And yes right now Elder Muñoz is learning a lot and he is super prepared compared to when I came to the mission because I did not have a solid doctrine background but he already knows a ton for a new missionary. Also it is kind of funny to see that sometimes a lot of people do not understand him because the Spanish in Chili is a little bit different so I tell him that is exactly how I felt when I got here because literally nobody understood me and I did not understand anyone else haha. But I am happy here right now and this next week we are gong to put some baptismal dates and I will also have another exchanges with Our zone leaders this Thursday so I am looking forward to that to learn more and have more good experiences! Here is a picture with my new car on the mission! It makes alot of strange sounds at times though :) I love you all a lot and keep working in the work of the Lord.!!

Elder Cramer