Elder Collins

 So this week Araya went home. It was kind of sad for me because he really is a good friend. My new comp is named E. Lazaro. And honestly i dont know his true personality yet. He is from Peru and is just waiting for his visa to go to mexico. He has had super lazy days this week and days where he is nice, days where he is rude ,and days he was a rebel.( he tries to watch t.v.) So i have a week more than him in the mission so it is kind of weird for me that he is the senor comp and the district leader. It´s funny because he changes so much around the zone leaders. I am not sure i know who he is. Also im showing the area to him so i make all the apt. but he will always question what im doing. I dont know, overall he is cool and decently normal but he just is really annoying me right now. But i will try to love him! He can be nice he is just super bossy! He thinks the way we do things isnt right. But its way cool having Nick in my zone. Im literally looking at him right now. He just gave me a wink, this is getting weird...  We are going to try to do some splits this week so that will be cool! Well we did a ton of visiting inactive members this week so hopefully we can strengthen our wards up a little bit. I am so pumped for conference, too bad i cant just watch in shorts and eat food the whole time but hey i heard we get to watch it in english! Tell Sam hi and that i love him and that he is my brother and thats all that matters!!  Oh and thank you Millers for the wall charger that is way cool and i totally needed that! I am sending you a letter! You guys are the best! So the last pics i sent of my house i noticed that you probably could not see it so here is another one, then there are some goodbye Araya pictures and a random turtle picture. Thanks for all you guys do for me i love you guys so much and hope you have a great week!

Elder Crump

FAMILY / FRIENDS!!! 

 

Oh my lanta, i have so much to tell you!!  This week has been so so crazy!!  So we had transfers, and i am in regs area!!  I see him all the time!!  Right now im sitting next to him, i just winked at him, he just blew me a kiss, this is getting weird.  haha i love that kid!!  So anyway my new comp is Elder Fonseca, from Santiago Chile!!  Another chileano!! They are the best!!  So guess what!!  Guess who is my pensionista?  Uncle Kents baptism!!! Consuelo!!!  She started freaking out again!!!  Haha what are the odds!!  Im in the same area as reg, and she is now my pensionista!!!  Ps uncle kent she really wants to hear from you!! she talks about you all the time!!  So my area is Contisuyo in Tahuantinsuyo...Yeah i cant really pronouce it!  haha  So this area is very different from my last one.  Apparently this area is one of the worst... The missionaries before had two areas to work in conti, and another area, where we live in.  So because they lived in the other area they did most of their work there, and kind of forgot about conti.  So presidente decided to split it up, and now we have the dying area of peru.  There are 350-400 members, but only 50 attend!!!!  I couldnt belive it!!  Over 300 less active!!!  What the!!  Because there is so many less active members, the ward doesnt really help out, and its so hard to get a lesson.  I went from having 7 lessons a day at a minimum, to having 1 or none at all!!  The people arent receptive, and the less active members want nothing to do with the ward because they know its a dying ward!!  Its rough, but im so happy to be here.  I know im meant to be here for a reason, and maybe Elder Fonseca and i i just the ones to save this area!  I know that heavenly father will bless us.

So besides the fact that we have few lessons, we still have some, and thats all that matters!  We we met this lady named Nelly, and her daughter was a missionary, and is still very active, so she knows about the church, but wants nothing to do with it.  So we started talking about the plan of salvation, and it turned out to be the perfect lesson for her, because her oldest son had died recently, and she wants to be able to be with him again. She didnt know about eternal life, life after death.  So right away she wants to get baptized.  We dont have a date yet, but soon!!  Its amazing how the lord works, all her life she heard about the church, and one lesson changed her whold perspective on life.  Ps mom in one of my lessons i used the scripture you sent me in one of your letters, and it blew there mind!!  They loved it!! Thank you!!! it was perfect! 

So in church i bore my testimony, and it was good!!  There were only 25 people there!!  It was pathetic.  But i talked about how excited i am to be here and how important wards are, and that we are here to help them, but we need some help as well!  It was good!  Hopefully it got through to them, that is if they understood me!! haha 

Ok funny story to we were contacting the other day, and elder fonseca was like lets visit this one family, so i rang the door bell but it was the wrong door, and i a guy came out, and was like yes please come in!  We were like what the!  he said that he has been wanting us to visit him for a while now!  The missionaries used to meet with him, but just stopped he has been praying for us!  I have never been happier to make a mistake!  It was perfect!  He is awesome! So is his family!

So i got your st patricks day package i loved it!!  The last letter i got was the one about the muslim family.  I loved that story!

I love you all so much! Thank you for everything!!  Im excited for the challenge to be here!!  i know this is EXACTLY where im supposed to be!!

All my Love,

ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP

Ps tell alex to write me!  I got lexis letter it made my whole day!!:), and did hailey peterson get my letter?

Pss Reg says hey!  I love you all!!

 

It isn't letting me move this picture so it is the right way, sorry!

Elder Crump

Family!!! 

Today is my final day in Independencia!!!  I am getting transferred!!!  Its in another part in Lima!  I think near reg!! But i don't know!  Im sad, but excited!!! 

So this week has been awesome!!  So to start out the zoo was so fun!!  haha its pretty normal, except there is no cages they just have animals roaming around... haha just kidding!  No it pretty much the same as Hogal, but there is a little amusement park there!!  It was fun i got to see elder Richardson!  Remember him!  Haha the dorky, but awesome kid from Utah!  haha  I took a ton of pictures ill send some!!  So This past week was awesome!!  We had another training with Presidente Blunck!  This time it was focused on the plan of salvation!  I love but, hate teaching that lesson!  I know lesson 1 and 3 like the back of my hand, but for some reason i always have problems with my spanish in lesson 2!  So When we got there i saw reg, which was awesome!  Then we went right into it!!  We learned some good stuff, and practiced it!!  Then we had to do the evaluation!!  So we got split into groups, and had to teach the plan of salvation in front of either a zone leader, presidente, or an assistant.  Of course we get the assistant, and president watching us!!!! I at this point was saying a million prayers in my head!!  So they taught first, and did really good.  They gave them advice on what to do better!  So then it was our turn!  I have never been so blessed in a lesson.  My voice was filled with words.  I was saying things that i honestly didnt know were Spanish words.  I was asking questions, using examples, my compy and i were teaching in unity and most importantly, i smiled the WHOLE time!!  I was so happy!!  It was such a good lesson!!  The spirit was so strong!!  We nailed the test!!  And those of you who have seen my ACT score, im terrible at testing!!  I truly felt the spirit so strongly!!  I love that in any moment Heavenly Father is there for me!!  Im very grateful for that, but we need to also remember that we shouldnt only pray when we need something, or when something is urgent, but pray every day with a thankful heart.  I have gained such an amazing testimony of prayer!!  So after that we practiced contacting!!  Ugh!!  hahah no it was good!  We had to think of different ways of contacting!!  So guessed who evaluated me... Presidente!!  AHHH! haha no it was good i was nervous but both him, and the assistants said that my spanish seriously has improved!!  They liked my contacting!!  So after we all were in one group again, and presidente was asking for volunteers to show how they contact alone, infront of everyone!!  So a bunch of expirenced missionaries went up, and did some pretty funny contacts!!  Then all of a sudden, Presidente turns to me and says Elder Crump, your turn!!  I Just sat there with a blank stare on my face!!  haha i was freaking out!!  So i Just grabbed a random Phamplet, and turned to a random page!!  Once again i was blessed!!  I just went up and talked!!  Made a joke, we laughed, it was amazing!!  I have never been so happy!!! Haha then he had reg do it too!! He did awesome!! His spanish is really coming along!!  It was a stressful day, but so rewarding!!  Also i got to hang out with reg all day!!!

So we have a bunch of new investigatiors for the next couple of weeks, im sad to leave!!  Especially with all the baptisms with dates we have for this next month!!  But its ok im supposed to get transfered for a reason!!  I have loved independencia!!  I really am going to miss them!  The members have been like my family!!!  I got the other package, with the hair stuff and peanut butter!!

I love you guys so much i hope you are having the best week!!!  Oh ps mothers day i think we just get to call, only on Christmas we get to skype, but ill find out for sure!!  Whatever you guys want to do is fine with me!!  I would love to show you around peru, but if you dont want to thats just fine!!  Ill i care about is just seeing you guys!!!  I love you so much!!  Thanks for the emails from my friends!! and yes i can print them off!!  I love you all so so much!!  CONGRATS ON THE BABY GIRL SHAY AND BREN!   I KNEW IT!!!  I lOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!

All my Love,

ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP

Elder Collins

Hello..

Well its officially my last day with my mission Papa. Araya goes home tomorrow morning. Its a super weird feeling and he is slowly starting to loose it. I didnt think he would be sad but he really is. He is like my best friend so it will be hard to say goodbye to him. i drop him off at the office tomorrow morning at like 6 and hey he said he wanted to try and call you so he said to talk slow because he only knows basic English, but he really does know a lot so you will be able to understand him. Just use simple words. My new comps name is Lazaro? I dont know who he is and neither does Araya . I'm glad i am staying in the same place but at the same time i now have the pressure of showing the area and remembering where everyone lives. Nice, Shum and Ben..welcome to the Spanish club! its a very high class society. We only eat and drink the finest foods and it becomes instantly easier to get girls because of our passionate Latin blood. Well this week i cannot lie, we did not do really a whole lot. It was a long week! We just visited families of the ward and said goodbye to a lot of people and ate a lot of rice! We had a conference again, i saw nick and we did a lot of practicing contacts and stuff like that. Well i have big news! Im staying in my area and Nick is coming into my zone! They made a new area in my zone so a place opened up and he is coming in! I just found out on araya email. Cool hugh?  So it was way funny because im weird and like to save my packages during the week so its like Christmas everyday, but one night i was telling Araya that i just want cookies so bad, i open the package and boom my prayers are answered i ate the whole pack that night! Thank You mom!  Well love everyone. peace

p.s. so about the pictures they all know i used to make pizza so.... ya i made a masterpiece. I dont know if you can see my house its to the left of the field and it has blue railing and the house itself is green and it has a red stripe on the top of it. 

Elder Collins

So there I was just sitting in the in the last hour (sacrament meeting) of our first ward. The first counselor gets up and announces we will now hear from Elder Araya and Elder Bush. First of all what the heck? Ive been here 3 months and they still don't know my name? Second of all we had no idea that we were speaking! Ya so I just went up there and tried to remember the talk I gave two weeks ago. I was so nervous and I was stumbling with words and when i tried to read from the scriptures I couldn't pronounce anything! It was so hot and i was so nervous i just started sweating ridiculously. It was super embarrassing and I could just see people laughing at me. Someone in the front row even handed me a handkerchief. I'm almost positive nobody even paid attention to what i said just the fact that i was so nervous. On that note, hows it going? So its my last week with Araya. Kind of sad he really is a good friend. And it´s way weird because I keep thinking that i should be packing too but i still got a ways to go. We visited an awesome family that was Arayas first baptisms and they were so cool. There getting ready to go through the temple in a month or so! They are really rich for Peru so they took us to a way nice place to eat. The only problem is we ate goat and rabbit and yet again my stomach has been destroyed so that bathroom is my best friend again. (Hear that Taz rabbit, there bigger than you, Im so going to eat you) This week i think we are going to buy a lot of stuff for some of his souvenirs. Our families are doing good , its kind of a bummer that we wont be having all the baptisms we were supposed to before Araya leaves. We might be having one on Sat. but we have to wait and see. Honestly I don't think we are doing a lot of teaching this week because I think we are visiting people and saying goodbye.  Its starting to hit him that its all over, its sad and he says its really weird! He doesn't believe that they will let him leave. After this week I am no longer being trained, that's a scary thought huh? but I will be used to changing Comps. and then get into the real motions of the mission! Sometimes I feel like I really love the people here and that I am adjusting to life here, then something will happen or i will see or hear something and I dont love it as much! I think the Jungle sounds cool, I hear that it is so beautiful and green! The only problem is there are spiders, Araya said that there are always flash storms that are amazing and more lightning then you have ever seen in your life, so ya a lot to see and a lot to still do ! We are gong to the zoo today so maybe I will buy a monkey or something! I love you and hope your all doing well. Especially all those girls that are writing me! Ha Ha thats a  joke. . Any who have a great week everybody.  Love, Reg

Elder Crump

This week was AMAZING!!! But first ill will answer some questions. So the robbery wasn't too bad! I now hide everything!! How does the money thing work i never know how much I can take out? I'm sorry if it freaked you out, don't worry were safe!! So last week after I emailed you my zone leaders gave me the package and some letters!! Haha i loved the random package! Girls scout cookies never tasted so good!! I love the choice ring, and I have never smelt better now with my new lotion! haha So i just think reg lost weight just with all the walking and working out!! Dont worry he looks good!!! So Noche Blanco!! So at the beginning of the week we had 10 baptisms! Then by saturday 2 cancelled so we only had 8 set for the whole zone! So we were supposed to start at 630 but lets not forget we are in Peru, and everyone didn't even show up until 730! And 3 more baptisms didn't show up!!! But don't worry our Kelly was the first one there, on time, and ready to go!! She is amazing!!! So We had everything set. I said the opening prayer, which i nailed!! If there is one thing i know how to do, its pray in Spanish! haha everyone always has me pray in lessons. They want to hear me talk!! Haha so after Elder Purvis and Elder Ortega (The Black and White Elders!) Gave talks on baptism and the Holy Ghost. Oh yeah by the way we had a ton of members there!!! It was awesome!! So After we had a musical number, by us!! We were split into 2 groups singing a child's prayer!! Every time we practiced we did terrible!! I kid you not it was not good!! But when when we started singing, it was perfect!! It brought such an amazing spirit!! We were all on tune, and I seriously was so surprised!! Heavenly Father really helped us on that one!! SO after we went into the baptisms! Elder Olguin baptized Kelly, but it was cool, because I got to baptize one of the little girls from a family of Elder Robles, and Elder Zuniga´s ward. She was so little she came up to my waist!! Her name was Rubi Kathrine Salazar Cruz. She was so nervous, and so was I! But everything went perfect!! I was able to say her name right and the prayer!! The spirit was amazing!! She was so happy when she came out of the water!! The water was up to her neck it looked like she was swimming!! haha And when Kelly Got baptized made my whole day!! Her face was so happy!! She couldn't wait to get in that water!! After everyone was baptized they let whoever wanted to, to bear their testimony. Kelly was the only one who got up!! She bore such a wonderful testimony!! I have never been so happy!! She has come so far! She Started out being this timid, girl who really didn't know what she wanted, to being a strong member of the church who has a strong testimony, and isn't afraid to share it!!! I seriously have never been so happy!! I truly know how much Heavenly Father loves all of us!! Our other investigators are doing great, the problem is just coming to church!!! Don't worry well work on them!!! I sent a letter to Corinne, and can you send me korbs address!! I'm excited for lexi´s letter!! Ill keep a look out for your packages!! I love you so much!! Thank you for everything!! Whats new? Hows the job going bren? Keep me updated!!! I love you all so much!!!
 All my Love,
 ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP
 Ps we are going to the zoo today!! Cant wait!! Love you!!!

 

Elder Crump

Familia y Amigos,

 

Este pasado semana...haha just kidding no really this past week has been awesome!!  So on tuesday we had a training in the offices with all 5 zones in lima, and guess who´s zone was there!!  REG!!  It was so good to see him!  He looks so skinny!  Haha when we were talking we kept going back and forth with english and spanish!  Haha it sounds like he is doing awesome!!  It was so fun to hang out with him all day!  So in the training we had to teach lesson 1 in front of the president and his wife, and our zone leaders.  So E. Olguin and i were teach a couple of missionaries, and Hermana Blunck comes and sits down right next to me!!  I was nervous!  Lesson 1 is my favorite lesson, and i know it really well, but when she came i wanted to be my best!  It turned out to be really good!  The spirit was there even though it was just a practice!  So after they told us how we did and gave us advice on how we can be better.  They said it really was good!  We work well together, and that my spanish really has improved!  I definatly make mistakes but its getting better!!  So then it was Hermana Bluncks turn to talk!  She said she loved it!  It seemed like we really  knew what we were talking about.  Haha then she turned to me and said Elder, you need to smile more!  Haha you looked so serious throughout the whole lesson!!  Haha i was like darn it i was so focused on hearing, and saying the right things i forgot to smile!! haha she said that i have a great smile, and i need to use it!  Thats my weapon she said!  haha then after she was like im sorry i wasnt trying to pick on you!  I totally understand what you are going through!  Right now im learning spanish too, and i forget to smile because im thinking about what they are saying and what to say next! haha  So now i make sure i always am smiling!!  Overall the training was good!  We did a lot of practices, and i really learned a lot!

So guess what!  I got Robbed!! haha  No one came up to me, someone broke into our house!  We think it might be our landlords kids!  I had 50 soles in my wallet in my desk drawer, and all of a sudden it was gone!!  So now i hide my money in my suitcases, and we make sure everything is locked up, doors, windows, everything!!  I was so mad because it was the last of my money for the month i only had like 10 soles for 3 days!!!  Dont worry if it happens again, then we i think are going to move!! Out landlords are nice, but always try and cheat us out of our money, saying we owe more! 

So back to the good stuff!!  So we heading to one of our appointments, and when we got there they cancelled, so i was like lets go visit Miguel!  He is a contact that we have only taught once!  I dont know why i wanted to visit him so bad, i just felt like we should go!!  So when we got there, his mom was there too!  She Finally wasnt busy, so she listened!!!  It was such a good lesson, and she really want to know the truth!!  Gotta love the spirit!  So we set up another appointment for the next day, and when we went we met his sister, and his cousin!!  3 new investigators!! 

So we got another reference from Jon (our mission leader!)  His name is Manuel.  He came looking for us!!  Best day!  We taught him, and he loved it!!  And in the middle of his lesson his mom came in so she listened too!!  Right away he was like when can i get baptized?  haha it was awesome!!  He says he has been waiting to hear this his whole life, and he knows its true!  I was so amazed!!  He is planning on 24 of March for his date!!  Also his mom loved it!  She talked about how she has been to a lot of churches in her life.  She liked the lessons, the songs, everything, but she said something was always missing.  But whenever she talks to one of us she says she feels what she has been missing.  The spirit.  It was such a powerful lesson.  SHe loved what we had to say and she doesnt have a date, but if she recieves her answer she wants to get baptized with her son!  I honestly couldnt believe it!  We were so blessed to meet them!  Heavenly Father is blessing us i ways that i cannot even explain!  When you teach that one lesson, or bear testimony of that principle, and you see their eyes light up, and goose bumps appear on their arms, you know the spirits there, and what a blessing that is!!

So kelly is well on her way for the 10th!  She is amazing!!  I dont know how many people are being baptized, but its at least 10!  GIpsi is progressing, but she didnt attend church, so we had to push back her date!  Frustrating, but i know Heavenly Father will help her!

BRENDON!!! I am so happy for him!!  I have been praying like crazy for you dude!  I fasted for you buddy!!  Im so happy for you man!  That really is so awesome!!

KORBAN IS A STUD!!   I printed off his emails, along with yours, he sounds so good!!  He is already such a good missionary!!  Im so happy for him!!  Ps he said he was gonna send a letter did he?  I havent gotten any packages, or letters for 3 weeks... i dont know why?  Ill ask, and ill keep a look out!  My Comp is a Large shirt size!  Tell Lexi i say hi, and im still waiting for a letter!  I wrote her 4 months ago!!  What the heck!  Haha its ok i have patience!!  But tell her to get on it!  Im miss my best friend!!

Hey i love you guys so much!!  Your all im my prayers!  I hope you have the best week!! Thank you for everything!!!!

I have been so blessed!  I love being out here its such a blessing!!!

All my Love,

ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP

"Look who i saw!!!"

"Future cover of peru lima norte magazine!"

"My ENGLISH CLASS"

Elder Collins

Hey Family,

So this week was kind of a make it or break it week for some of our main investigators to be able to get baptized before Araya left. They all just needed to attend church and all would have been good to go. We fasted for them and everything and sadly they didnt show. So it looks like im going to have to take care of it after Araya goes home. The one girl Kati ended up not being able to get baptized on saturday because the bishop decided she needed to wait another week. But i did baptize my number one fan on saturday. He is a little chubby boy named Leandro. He is really funny and goofy. When we got into the font he was so nervous he started to go under the water before i even started the prayer. I just started laughing but it was all good. I got invited to the blessing for the confirmation at church too and usually its just the bishopric so that was pretty cool. So let me tell you about fast sunday here. We end up fasting for more than 24 hours because our church is so long. So church ends and were both just super weak and tired and its incredibly hot. We went to the members house that had us for lunch and it ended being super far away at the top of the stairs of doom. I have never felt so pathetic in my life climbing stairs. Must be how the biggest looser contestants feel the first day on the show. So we finally sit down to eat and she told us she forgot that she was feeding us but luckily she had some nice leftover rice and beans from the dinner last night. I didnt even care i just wanted a drink so she pours us both some juice and of course it´s boiling hot because you got to boil the water to kill all the bacteria. I never wanted just an apple and water so bad in my life. I know this all because i complained so much at home about everything. So let this be a warning to those who complain, one day you will eat rice beans with hair in it and very hot juice on the top of a mountain in peru.

That is incredibly sad about Brandon. He was a good guy and was a good example in our ward. I wish his family the best and will be praying for them. Today we are going to  Lima Central so Araya can get some stuff before he leaves, he leaves on the 20th , I am realizing that I am going to miss him, its weird that he is going home. It feels like thats not aloud! So I cant figure out how to send pictures without using my memory card, I sent that to you, i am praying that it gets to you!! I am going to buy a new one today, is there anything you want from Peru? Thanks for the rice krispie treats there amazing! I cant think of anything I need, I like a good surprise! Well Love you!!! Miss you!!! Have a great week!  Reg