girls

First I wanted to start off with my testimony and commit you all to do something (haha thats my inner missionary speaking)... first I want to say that I am a weak weak person after thinking of all the blessings I have--and then seeing that at even the slightest temptation I give in and say its too much to bear and that I have to, or need it, or just this one time. I know I won't ever be perfect, but why do I have to be so pathetic and so weak? It's in those moments that we see ourselves as we really are; that we realize that we need God. But there is a way to become stronger, to be better, that is giving up your pride and receiving humility. Humility is a hard gift to receive and even harder to keep. Most of the time we only receive it when something traumatic happens to us and there is no other way but than to have God do something about our problems. I am guilty of this but I'm going to be better.

So my story for this letter... ok, well now I'm in the city (a small one) and I'm encountering something that I have never seen on my mission... ha ha...girls are trying to kiss me !! They say it's how they say "hi" here but I'm not buying it! ha ha The first time this happened a girl leaned in and I was like "what?... oh maybe she wants to tell me something, but doesn't want anyone to hear." So I put my cheek/ear out and she started to look at me weird then she went for the kill and I hurried and pulled back and winced. Then a member ran and stopped the girl and explained that I was a missionary and that I was not supposed to do that. I said sorry like a billion times and said I was new. My companion thought that was pretty funny. haha. Ok thats all I have for today.  Next week I'll talk about the girl that can see dead people and her brother that can see the future. ha ha

Thank you everyone for being my friends thank you for being you.  I think about you a lot and iI hope to make you all proud!

Elder Cranford

counting my blessings

Hello foreigners,

First, can I say thank you to all the people that write me? It makes me happy and I get by a little better in the week.
aaron.cranford@myldsmail.net

So this last change I had Elder Martinez as my companion. The Lord gave us a ton of people to teach and we now have 5 dates for baptism in 4 days.

I left for another area today--I am in the zone Apisaco--and my area is Huamantla. I was given a companion that knows no English. So remember my first companion spoke a ton of English (and he didn’t like to help me learn Spanish), and my second companion spoke fairly good English but because I have not studied the language as well as I should my Spanish stinks. I can understand a lot, but speaking it is another beast. So I am hoping by the end of this change I will speak Spanish! My new companion is Elder Trinidad. I knew him in my previous district and he is really cool and super buff. He says that he will get me in shape before I am done here.

I’m sad that I left Ajalpan; I love my entire ward. But I’m excited for cooler weather so send me some prayers.

My testimony for this time is that no matter my problems, I know that I am not the first person to deal with them and I’m not going to be the last. I know that others have it much worse than I do and I should, instead of my usual way of complaining, be counting my blessings.

So… some things that I am thankful for are:

• The opportunities to be able to receive the promises of the Lord (as long as I stick to the plan)

• the power of repentance

• the peace and the understanding the gospel brings

• second chances

• family

• friends

• being born in America

• not being born in Mexico

• a washer and dryer

• air conditioning

• my ward

• pest control

• a language that I understand

• being alive

• being given the ability to change

I know that the Lord’s ways are perfect and we need to trust him to receive his blessings. I know that families can be together forever and when all things are said and done that is the only thing I want. I want to be who my future wife deserves. I want to be who I need to be for the people that need me in this life. I know the only way to be happy forever is with God. Please don’t be like me and only turn to God when we are in our darkest hour. He is the truth and the light.

Wow, ok that’s all I have for today. I hope you are all doing well and I want you all to e- mail me and yes I mean you...(this is the time you reflect and think if I meant you and yes I meant you (the person reading this)

Your friendly neighborhood spiritual ninja,

Elder Cranford

small update

Sorry that I haven’t really written in a long time--but now I’m repenting and giving an update ha ha. I have no time so just an update…


• I’m staying on my mission and I got things all worked out.

• I still have not gotten sick and have mastered (almost) my gag reflex

• I can speak almost 20 words of nawhat (I don’t know how to say it) it’s another language here in Ajalpan.

• We have four baptismal dates and we think another, but we’ll know this Sunday for sure about that. The sad thing is that I might not be here for it because we have changes before that.

• This next week Elder Bendar is coming to our area to give a talk and I’m stoked about that.

• I have a sweet tan.

• I love being a seminary teacher

Alright, this is all I’ve got for now, but next week I will have a big letter to entertain the hordes of people that read my updates ha ha

Small testimony
I know that no matter what problems we have, if we give them to the Lord we will have peace and there is not much more we can ask for. When much is given much is expected. I know that I can live with my family forever if I can control my carnal side… “the only control is self control”… I can’t remember who said that was but it was in this last conference and it was cool. I will become who I can become, I will reach my potential at all costs.

Look up Ether 12:27 what it’s all about

Elder Cranford