Some pictures

Que tal amigos,

Hey everyone.  I hope all things are going good on your side of the border because things are going great down here. I am still in the same area Loma Bella and we are getting some work done!! We have a family of 5 that are working towards baptism.  And we have some more people that are struggling a little, like our friend Arturo.  He is awesome and does everything we ask him but he can’t except that there is only one true church. He will tell us that he knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true and in the same sentence he will tell us that he wants to start his own church one day.  So if you could send us some prayers of understanding that would help. Well I love you and will keep you all in my prayers

Elder Cranford

Christmas in Mexico

another new area

Knock, knock..... Who’s there? EMERGENCY CHANGES!


Yes, it happened again. I have had emergency changes again.... ya, I know I'm hitting my fifth one. Either I offended someone or everyone in the entire mission needs to feel the amazing spirit of Elder Cranford . . .oh and to top it off I've been put into a trio.

I have Elder Law who is actually an Elder from my district in the MTC and we get along well enough. Then there is Elder Viruses. They seem nice enough but I am so bummed that I had to leave my last area, we were really doing good, especially with Hugo and his wife. My ward was the coolest. Oh, and my companion Elder McAffee--was probably my favorite companion since Elder Smith (shout out to Smith). Anyway, so I told a few of you that I was sick a while ago and well, I'm fine now. I don't know what it was. I was having a difficult time breathing but I am better, so thanks for all of the prayers.

I have a funny story: Elder Mcaffee and I were walking around looking for a reference when this guy waved us down to talk. He told us that he was a member from a long time ago. Then went on to tell us that he knew English, Spanish, French, German, Hebrew, and some other one that I cant remember, and without taking a breath told us the origin of the name of Jesus Christ, which was interesting and all and even sounded like it could be real. And then he got all crazy on us and told us that he had talked to some brothers about this (so we were thinking like brothers in the church) but he then said form other universes. He went on to tell us that he had talked to aliens from other galaxies, and that he has witnesses. One of his witnesses was a member that we knew every well. He said that he also knew where Jesus lives... Do you guys want to know? It’s called "Uhmm" like the chant of monks, and he had some crazy reason why it was called that. And he told us a ton of other things like how he could concentrate and figure out (through Jesus) what my name was before this life. It totally made my day because I totally played it up with him.

So I am missing all of you, especially this week! I want to send a shout out to my family, (Cranford and Harding) my friends Hailee, Kristy, Kelsey, and everyone else that write me still ha ha.

The Church is true, Joseph smith prayed and his prayer was answered, life is hard but we can do hard things, God loves us even when we are stupid (thank goodness for that, right?). We are all so blessed to be in the Church and sometimes we take that for granted. I love you all.

God bless America,
Elder Cranford

doing well

This week is a short letter because I dont have time and because I was reminded that I need to write others too. So, in short, the Lord blesses the obedient!  We have found a lot of people to teach! We are in charge of two wards and that is fun. I love the Lord, the people, my family and friends. I am doing well so don't worry!!

families are what bring us the most joy

I was changed to another area within the Puebla north zone and I’m pretty much in the city hard core. I even have a McDonald's in my area (says a small prayer of thanks). This last Saturday we had three baptisms but one of them wasn’t exactly in our area so some other lucky elders got a free one. Their names are Breeza and Elias and they are the coolest people in the world. They are what we like to call in the mission field "the chosen". They listened to only one message and said that they knew it was true and were ready to be baptized. We are now working with a girl named Annie and she is a little more “iffy” but I’m certain she will come around. These last few weeks I’ve been really trying to open up and just try to fit in rather than be the white, quiet-until-I-have-to-talk missionary. And my Spanish is improving because of it! ...I can even tell some jokes in Spanish ha ha. But I still have a lot to learn and I will only get it if I trust in the Lord.

I want to say to everyone that I love you and that I miss you more than I can express, but I’m out here trying to give people a little of the happiness I have had in my life--so I guess its all worth it, right?!! God lives. He loves us. He has a plan that will bring us happiness in this life and in the next if we would only listen to Him. The world is in darkness like never before but if we all do our part we will bring many home. Families are what bring us the most joy. I will be the man I can be but not because I force myself to change but because I give myself up to the Lord and He can make me into the best.

Sending all my lovin’,
Elder Cranford

anyone know what diversity is?

The update this week is basically the same as it is every week and I know that you guys don’t ever get bored of it, so I guess it’s alright to just jump right into it...
So the idea is to answer all of the questions that I get every e-mail. Yes, every single one.

Q. How are you?
A. I’m doing super, super great even thou I miss all of you so, so much!!!

Q. How is your Spanish?
A. Well, I feel like I’m doing pretty good considering that when I went into the MTC the only thing I knew was that “my Spanish is not good" …and when I left the MTC I had only learned the words "Joseph Smith ", " I know that" and the word "joke". I can communicate with about anyone as long as they don’t talk too fast. And if I don’t understand a word they can explain it to me in Spanish and I will understand. I’m not ready to be a translator or anything but I get by.

Q. Do you like your companion?
A. Life is what you make it and I’m not going to have a crappy mission because I can’t play nice with others or let things bug me that aren’t important, so if your asking me if there are things that I don’t like about him, well the answer is, "duh!?", but I’m not arrogant enough to think that I’m “all that and a bag of chips” so I deal with it and hope that he will put up with my imperfections. But honestly, Elder Olvera is actually a really cool guy, he’s a little crazy, but cool.

Q. How is the food?
A. It tastes like taco bell… ha ha! It is not what you think! The food is gut-wrenching gross especially to me, I think, because I have always been a picky eater, but after a few embarrassing experiences I have mastered my gag reflex and can stomach just about anything.

Q. Tell me everything that’s going on!?
A. Ha ha not everything, or this would be a long letter and I honestly hate writing things that I don’t feel really matter. So how about I mention that we have 5 people in the next two weeks to be baptized and they all seem like stellar investigators.

Ok, that’s all I really have but if you want anything more specific let me know. I’m going to end with what I have decided about "the one" and a testimony.

I was so bugged about this idea that there was “the one” that I wrote a long paper about it. First, know that whoever believes in "the one" would have to believe in God--in some way or another--because that belief means there was someone "the one" made special just for them and they are their true love, and are the one and only person that will make them truly happy.

That brings up some other problems. How would do you know who it is? How can you know? And what happens if you choose the wrong one? Would you forever be unhappy? I’m won't give you all the details from my entire paper but I have found that it comes down to this:  If God loves us then I don’t believe he only gives us one chance, and on that one decision we decide to be forever happy or forever not happy.  That would be lazy.
For me, If I love her I will not worry about if she is “the one”, but worry about if I am worthy enough to spend my life with her. I know that I am a dumb man and that I make mistakes that I will forever have to work to have a good relationship.

Well, that was a little from my paper and a little of my testimony and a little bit corny.

Stay classy, world!
Diversity: I’m not sure, but I believe it’s and old wooden ship used in the civil war,
Elder Cranford