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

9.3.10

I am in the area Ragrales.  It is right next to Huamantla.  I have a new companion name Elder Olvera.  He speaks no English, not so far, and that has not been a big problem. This area has some cool members and my companion is pretty cool.

I´ll write more on monday!!!
Luv ya,
Elder Cranford

my Spanish is better

Hello my blind followers,
1. We fixed things with our Mission President and all is well with him.
2. I am better with Spanish and I had a talk this last Sunday and everyone understood!!
3. We have found 4 new investigators and their family is super awesome.
4. We are planning to go to a bee farm with a member, so that will be cool.
5. At the Huamamtlada 9 people were hospitalized but no deaths (thank goodness)
6. It is offical, I am even better looking in Mexico
Pictures are of before the party started at the Huamantlada, and of some friends I made
Love, Elder Cranford

rain

This is the word this week…
My companion and I are doing well and I am learning more Spanish, but slowly. It rains everyday and floods the streets like crazy.

This week we have been working on the members and the inactive. We activated a family and they are coming every week now. We found a guy that wants to get baptized but needs to get married first and stop smoking and I have faith in him.

We are working with Blanca’s family now and hoping we will get far with the sister. Speaking of Blanca’s sister--Lupita and her family invited us to go to her graduation we were hesitant but in the end we said we’d stop by. Well we went, and it was crazy because when we walked in everything went quiet like scary quiet and everyone looked at us ... everyone. And then we had to leave because they all started drinking

Ok, let’s end with the good old testimony…

Fact: God lives. Fact: He loves you and me. Fact: We could work our entire lives and never be able to be worthy of the blessings we take for granted everyday.

Go with the flow,
Elder Cranford

being patient

Hello world,

Today is July 5th and I’m closing in on my 7 month mark out in the field. And I’m doing pretty well. Now that Mexico is out of the world cup things are quieting and my companion and I are finding some really good investigators—and I’m even helping more in the lessons. We have to work more with our ward because they are having problems and we need their help to continue the work here. But once we iron out the problems all will be well. My companion and I are doing better and I’m learning to love him and get along with him. I still haven’t mastered Spanish yet, but I’m being patient and studying harder. It floods everyday here but I’m starting to like it ha ha. I sent a package and I hope it gets to everyone soon.

Breaking the mold,
Elder Cranford

overcoming challenges

So I’m tired of complaining to all of you people why exactly do I tell all of the bad and none of the Good? I don’t have an answer but I want to change that. I want to be nothing but a strength to my friends and family but I have not been really living up to my potential but this time I will not say sorry about it... not until I am a little bit better I can't exactly be a honest person if I tell you all one thing and do another right?! So how about my small and little testimony and then we will go onto how things are holding out on my end of the world and I will try to explain my feelings my thoughts and my heart ha ha (corny)

I know that God loves me not by blessings I receive but by the problems he knows I can overcome... I am a blessed person I have been born to a good family, I have been born with comforts of life that are only dreams to others, I have been born into what I believe to be the true church of God. Honestly how can I expect more... why was I picked to be blessed?! I am not a perfect person heck I’m not even a good person a lot of the time. But at the slightest bit of problems I get angry at God saying he has forsaken me and that he is not that loving... but I learn that when I ask for strength god shows me my weakness so I can change it to be strong, if I ask for courage he shows me my fears so I can overcome them. God will let us figure it out because if he did it all we wouldn't learn. That doesn't mean I’m super happy when things go wrong or I have problems it just means that I can deal with it because i have perspective ha ha. But don’t get me wrong I don’t do that all the time but I’m trying more every day ha ha.

Alright, so let me fill you all in on what’s new... so we had changes but I am still I’m my area (can’t spell it) and with my same companion.... he honestly is the hardest person I’ve ever dealt with but I will learn some serious patience and charity if I can get through this not killing him ha ha. my comp has been "really sick" (notice sarcastic air quotes) and has felt to bad to do really anything this week so I decided to appoint myself Senior companion without telling him and take things into my own hands ha ha we will see how that goes. We are teaching three families and are really excited for all of them I’m starting to help more but really not enough to call myself a missionary. Spanish is a dragon that I can not slay but I’m working with my companion and we are working out battle plans. I’m so healthy that people are starting to say that those horses are as healthy as me. (I know lame joke) oh right I have officially lost my funny.... its gone. So when I get home I might be even more awkward than before (if you can believe it) the weather here is perfect chilly in the morning and then warn all day (except that it rains everyday for like one hour) I want to say sorry to everyone that I have not written its hard to send mail here but I will send something by the end of this week I promise ha ha. I don’t know what else to write if you want to know something specific write me!!

Dangerously handsome,
Elder Cranford

a short list

To my loving family and friends,

So this week I'm having a hard time writing anything, so I'm going to keep it short.
I have decided:
-I have a long way to go before I'm a missionary, but I'm making progress
-My companion is ...my personal trial, but I am overcoming it ha ha
-I'm sorry for not writting, I will soon
-I'm no longer sick
-I made a promise to never drink coke again if an investigator never drank coffe again

happiness is...

So first I want to testify that I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It is the only path for true happiness. Let me explain my definition of happiness: happiness is not doing what you want when you want it, its not partying with friends and being crazy, its not anything we can obtain by ourselves... it is the time when you help some one who is having a hard time, and the time that you choose to do what is right when all you want to do is wrong. Happiness is that moment you are with your family and you can't help but smile because you know that you love them more than anything in the world. It is knowing that you can be together with them if you only follow the plan that God has given. ... that is all I have on that.  And I will never fully understand the word "happiness" until I have achieved my goals of being who I am intented to be; by praying with all my might, and doing all I can.

Alright, I have some shocking news that I would like to share... This last Wednesday, my companion Elder Trinidad, had emergency changes and he is now gone... I honestly have no idea why he had to go. But I miss him.  He was a good guy. Now I have a new companion: Elder Sanchez.  He is an ..... interesting guy.  He does speak english but doesn't want to talk english with me. Ha ha he is probably the hardest Elder so far to love and get along with but after a lot of thinking about it I figured out that instead of changing him I need to change and learn to adapt to him. With him, we are once again working hard. He told me that we could contact for one hour a day everyday or one whole day in the week ... I choose the first. While contacting people I found out something about myself that I thought I might share...The hardest thing for me to give to the Lord isn't two years, it's not music, or tv, or my life. The hardest thing for me to give-up is my fear.... I say I have faith but if so why am I afraid to talk to people?! Why am I afraid of teaching in lessons?! It's so hard to just forget the fear!! Does that mean I don't have faith!? Sometimes I question things ha ha...

So a little about my companion Elder Sanchez... at first look he is the textbook Elder with a comb-over and some big glasses. He is quiet most of the time, but then does something really loud and crazy. He talks in his sleep (which is scary at 2:30 in the morning when you don't know it is him) and is a really hard worker.  I'm learning a lot from him and am excited to become better.... I only need to learn to control my fear and have more faith.

So this last Saturday was my first baptism!!  And her name was Blanka! She is so Awesome! And we are teaching her sister and I think that she will except it soon! I was so nervous the morning before the baptism I practiced the prayer like a 100 or more times! So I was so so so nervous about the prayer it took me five times before I got it right!!! But it all worked out in the end. So it happened.

I got sick today and it's not so fun... but it's not too bad I guess.

pictures

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

trust in the Lord

Ok, I’m back and I’m ready to write you all the amazing adventures of your favorite missionary (it might not be true, but it is to me) So a lot has gone on in the armpit of the world I like to call Mexico. But first, let me introduce you to my new companion: His name in Elder Martinez and he is a pretty cool dude. He is as you guessed... white… ok, no he is Mexican. He has 14 months out here in the war for souls. He loves Naruto or anything Manga (for people that might not know what that is, it’s like comics--but cooler) He has memorized, let me repeat, memorized songs from Naruto (which are all in Japanese) and all in all he is a really cool guy. Except that he knows little to no English. Yes, God loves me enough to give me trials.


So this last week has been the easiest week so far. My companion doesn’t really like to do a lot and I have no idea what to do. We have literally not taught a single lesson this entire week (unless you count seminary which is at 5:30 in the morning everyday and like a mile and a half away). I will take some of the blame because I don’t know my area; before I just followed Elder Ortiz, my previous companion. I know that I need to get him to start working, and it is not that I don’t think that he can work, he just needs a push. But I won’t lie, I have liked the break from talking to so many people that really don’t want to hear us and people getting mad at me for not knowing Spanish and asking me why I’m here if I don’t know there language. (Usually that’s when I tell them they will go to hell unless they repent... ha ha, ok not really)

Oh and the baptism fell through and I’ll tell you why. . . God was not happy with me and my companion. Let me explain. So while we were teaching our neighbor (and he was excepting all that we were teaching) we set the date to be baptized, he first needed to be married. To be married here you first need to get blood tests which cost 400 pesos per person; so 800 pesos for the two of them… and then 1000 pesos to actually get married. They had the 1000 pesos to get married but didn’t have money for the tests. Me and my companion really wanted him to be baptized and we happened to have an emergency stash of …you guessed it… 800 pesos. So we concocted the plan to give the bishop the money to give to them so they could get married and we could have a baptism. Not a good idea--long story short they did get married but he decided that he didn’t need to be baptized. So, I learned a lesson. First never try and buy a baptism—it’s wrong. And, I need to trust in the Lord more and not try and take things into my own clumsy hands.

That’s all I have time for today, but tune in next week and I’ll let you know if I can get off my butt and put my shoulder to the wheel.
The way too honest missionary,
Elder Aaron Cranford

gaining perspective

Fellow Americans (I can say that because this doesn’t go to too many people)

Today, I again don’t have time, but I’ll do what I can. Well, as you all know I have felt many of the devil's tools for distracting missionaries. Let me testify that Satan is real and is hard at work on missionaries. This week has been a trial but has also been eye-opening in a lot of aspects; namely I’m a spoiled kid. I have been given so much it’s not even funny. And everything I do to pay God back doesn’t do anything because He blesses me the second I do something for him. I will forever be in dept. Think about that… forever. It blows my mind.

Ok, ok so this week has been a hill but on the decline; I’m gaining perspective. Not so many details this week--just some bullets points

• People that send me e-mails and letters are most likely going to the celestial kingdom so if you haven’t--repent and give me a shout out and say hi.

• I ate pig legs this week and yes they do taste worse than they sound

• I’ve learned to not trust Mexicans unless I can see them

• I went to the zoo here and got to play with a baby tiger, so be jealous

• I have not gotten sick yet and so I rock

• I was able to be a witness for our neighbors wedding

• I found out that my area is the hardest area in Mexico (but I make it look easy)

• And I have had 3 to 4 conversations in Spanish (all 10 min or more) all by myself, so God does love me

• More later I promise