Monday, April 30, 2012

Elder Collins

Hey Family!
Hows everyone doing? That is super cool that President Monson went to grandpas funeral and Anna shook his hand. Well i dont know if you heard yet probably have but Nick got injured playing soccer the other day. I dont know what he did just that he hurt his knee and has been in the office all week long. Im going to go try and see what he is doing later. So im still waiting to see if im being transferred or not, today is Cambios..i dont remember what it is in english. That was a fast change. So yes we had the baptism of victoria this past week. It was cool she asked me to baptize her. We are baptizing her grandma this next saturday and have two more baptisms the following saturday! So i guess it will kind of be a bummer if i leave this area. It was my comps birthday yesterday so Hma gutierrez bought a cake and what not. It was a good time. Haha so funny story my pinsionista pulled me off to the side this this week ande told me that we need to start excising because my comp is fat! She told me that i need him to get up and run or something. Well im going to try and send you instructions how to use the tops. its hard but i have mastered it this last week.
Well tell Happy Birthday to Max. I think its this week right? I guess that means i got to send another package right?!! Sorry i feel like i didnt have a lot to say about this week. I cant even remember what we did..I did have a exchange with the other white zone leader so that was a way fun time. Oh ya i got those pics thank you! But Anna looks a lot older!! it kind of blew my mind and our house looks way different!
OH my gosh!! i just find out im going to the jungle! tomorrow morning!! holy cow im nervous!!
Haha my zone leader just whispered to me so that i could tell you that im going there tomorrow. Wow crazy! i dont know what part yet but im going. i will let you know next week i guess. Love you have a great week family next time i email you ill be in the jungle! love you!!


 The pics this week are  of my Comps. Birthday party with the Guiterrez family, Victorias baptism, and me teaching a monkey at the zoo.






Elder Crump


Dear Family!

So this past week has been a crazy one!  We went to the zoo  P day and it was so much fun!  It was a different one than last time, it was a lot nicer and it felt like we were in the rainforest!  I got some sweet pictures!!  So the baptism with Daniel got postponed to may 5th!  he just needed some more time, plus he had to have another interview!  We were sad because we didnt have a baptism this month but, hey its better for them to be ready, and actually want to be baptized!  He is an awesome kid, and really has come so far since we first started teaching him!  He will be a powerful missionary some day! Things are going great here, we are gaining more and more investigators everyday, and this area has truly come alive!!  We have been so blessed!!
So i have some news, but dont worry!  While we were playing soccer thursday morning i got hurt.  I was trying to save a ball and as i got to the edge of the field, there is a little drop off, from the cement to the grass, and i fell down, and steped wierd and injured my knee it kind of went the other way for just a second then poped back.  After that i couldnt walk.  Right away we took a taxi back to our house and put some ice on it and called Hermana Blunck.  She had the secretary call the doctor and set up an appointment for me to get it checked out that day.  Elder Divis my Zone leader took really good care of me, making sure i had ice, getting me drinks, and making sure i was taking ibuprofen.  Then later that night we went to the hospital to get it looked at.  Dont worry mom its the best hosptital in Peru, the doctors studied in The States and know english!  They took X Rays, and found out that all the bones are good, we dont need to worry there!  But they think it might have something to do with the ligiments. But they want to make sure!  So that night i stayed with the offices guys in there house, and hung out in the offices all day.  I rested all day, iced, and took my pill they gave me!  Then we had an appointment for saturday to get an MRI Scan  So we got that done, and everything went good.  We will find out the results on Wednesday, and dont worry you will be informed!  Everything is fine! please dont stress!  Im am being really well taken care of!  Elder Huiquimilla who is one of the secretarys here, who takes care of those who are sick, and Elder Essig have been taken really good care of me!!  They always makes sure im icing, taking meds, resting my knee, and making sure i eat!  Dont worry at all, it hurts but i dont think its gonna be too serious!  We just need to have faith and pray to our Heavenly Father.  Im a little bummed because we were doing so well in our area, and now im stuck in the offices for a little bit.  But i know that everything will be ok!  I have been called to serve here, and there is no way im gonna let a little knee injury get in the way of bringing people unto christ!!  I am loving it here!  I am so lucky to be here it! It is such an amazing oppourtunity.  Family i hope this email didnt stress you out too much!  I promise you will be updated!  Dont worry at all, Heavenly Father will keep me protected, we just need to trust him!
Im so glad you enjoyed your trip to the Bahamas, you guys deserved a nice vacation, but im still jealous!! Haha  
I heard about great grandpa, i was so sad to hear, but then i thought how happy he is to be with great grandma!  I bet he was so funny before he left!!  He was such and amazing man, and he will be missed, but know that he is so happy right now, and he will always be with us!  Mom dont beat yourself up.  You had no idea what would happen, but know that grandpa loved you so much.  His spirit will always be with you, guiding you.  And the best part is we WILL see him again.  How lucky we are to know this promise, as long as we live our lives and follow the lord we are promised eternity.  What a blessing!  That is so cool that President Monson came and spoke!  I cant wait to hear a copy of it!!  
Im glad to here that things went well with Grandma Crump!!  I pray constantly everyday for her!  Let her know how much i love her!!  Im so grateful for her and her love for all of us, and her love of the gospel.  She is an amazing woman, and i love her so much! 
Thats great to hear about the safety stuff you are doing in the neighborhood!!  Im glad that you guys are prepared!! Dont worry we have only had little earthquakes here called, tumblers.  They only last like 20 seconds, and dont do any damage, but dont worry ill be prepared if we do have one!!  Give Ray and Lisa my Love and tell them i pray for them daily!!  They really are two of the kindest people i know, and truly have changed my life!!  I am so grateful for them!!
Hey so i have some questions?
Who are the new SBOS?
ok so i only had one! haha  keep me updated on whats going on!!  Sorry i dont have my card to send pictures, but if i can i will try next week, ill send double!!  Hey i love you all so so much!! Your all so amazing!! Thank you for your letters, packages, and emails!!  They really make all the difference!!  Oh yeah by the way i have been out for 6 months as of last Thursday!  The day i got hurt!! haha But seriously mom, dad dont worry all is going well!  you will be informed when we get out test results back, but until then ill be in the offices till we know!!  I love you!! Stay happy and stay safe!!
All my Love,
ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP
Ps thank you for sending the DVDs!!  i cant wait to get them!!!



Monday, April 23, 2012

Elder Collins

Hey family
Wow that is so sad about grandpa. It kind of bummed me out. This might sound weird but i thought about him a lot this week and for some reason i knew. I really did think about him this week at the most random times. Im grateful that he is excited to see grandma. Thats hard to hear but I love him a lot and wish grandpa and dad the best! And also all of his family, ill be praying for him and so will the prophet. I wish i could be there to say goodbye, if you can tell him i love him and am grateful for his example, love and example of what a true man of God should be.
This week i learned a lot. I had a interview with president and it was awesome to be able to talk to him. We actually talked for awhile. I think he is happy with me and is proud of my progress. He did however say that i need to work on my proununciation a lot more. I have the grammar down but if you dont prounounce right it doesnt make sense. He taught me what he expects us to be doing with our wards every sunday. I was reading in the Liahona and there was some way good talks from the last one. One was about learning a language and also remembering that we should only worry about what God thinks of us and not others. After talking with president about my language i was bummed out because i thought i was so close to being fluent. On sunday i gave a lesson and it was terrible. I couldnt speak and it was basic stuff that i knew but no one could understand me. I was way mad at myself and was comparing myself with other missionarys spanish. After church i read that article and it helped me a lot. I realized i got selfish and stopped praying every morning that Heavenly Father could help me with the lanuage and "loose my tongue", and that it is important to realize i was called by God and if he wants me to speak ill speak but that i need to have more faith and try my best to be a good missionary! So im thinking that im going to be here another transfer with the same comp. Dang it! i want to say that he sucks and what not but its important i make my own soluctions and i have nick and stuff here too, so its good! 
We had a baptism this last saturday, Abigail, she is the daughter of the inactive family that we reactivated and that Dad was recently put into the bishopric so he was able to baptize his daughter when a month ago he couldnt have. It was a cool expirience. We have another date for the next saturday a 20 year old girl Victoria who is progressing so fast. And we set another date for Luis Gutierrez! Finally we might actually dunk that kid! And YES 6 months baby!!! who would have thought huh?! So this last week we got to go to the temple and for the second time in a row i forgot to ask my President for a temple reccomend so i had to wait outside! its alright i took a nice nap under the trees. Haha i probably looked like an unworthy missionary. But today president told me i can go to his house and get an interview so that will be cool. Its kind of a bummer because i dont get to go the zoo with the others but its ok. I love you all so much and miss you! I love Great Grandpa Collins and hope your all doing well! love reg.
ps. if you are one of my friends and are reading this blog and dont write me, how dare you read my journey to manhood! How do you sleep at night?

Elder Crump

My dear family and friends!!
How are you guys!!  So this week has been a good one! But before i get started i will answer some questions because i always forget!!   So yes i got the CTR rings i love them!!  I have gotten the package with the shirts in it!! Which by the way are so awesome i love them!!  Were gonna take pictures soon!!  Also today i got the B of Ms and the jerky and cookies!! You are an angel!!  Thank you thank you thank you!!  I love all the letters and packages!!
 
  So this week we went to the temple, but we emailed on monday.  It was so fun!! I really missed going to the temple!  Its been 3 months! Being out here made me realize how much i didnt take advantage of the fact that we live in Utah with 14 temple, and 2 being within a 15 minute drive!!  Ugh, i wish i would of gone more!!  It is seriously such a blessing to go, and i cant wait to get back and do a session with you guys!! Save me a seat in the draper temple!!  Anyway it was a fun day!!  Took the bus down, there was no seats so we had to stand in a crowded bus for an hour!!  It was rough but so worth it!!  So my advice to all if you can go to the temple as much as you can!!  i never realized how much i missed, and needed it im my life then when i came out here and my attendence is limited!!  Such amazing blessing come from the temple!  It's our Lords house and in there we can escape from this sometimes crazy world. SO PROMISE ME YOU GUYS WILL GO MORE!!:)
So this week also we had interviews with President Blunck!  It was so good!  SO while we were waiting the assistants always have us practice teaching them.  So we just started going and for some reason, everyone was nervous and like didnt want to do it, so i just started talking, and pretended like his was my investigator.  I taught about the plan of salvation and how he can live with his family forever.  No one wanted to talk or help so i just kept teaching!! It went so good!!  Even though it was a practice, it really felt like my investigator!  After the assistants were way happy and saying how much my spanish has really come along!!  Plus they were like thank you for talking and not being nervous!!  So when it was my turn to go in right away president just gives me a big hug!! He really is such a nice guy!!  Both him and his wife.  So right away he started asking how the area is going.  I only had good things to say!  Ever since i got here each week has gotten better, and we now have investigators!  He was like I'm gonna be completly honest with you Elder Crump, This area almost was closed down before you got here.  The missionaries in the past year, really just let it fall apart, and lost all the realationships with the members.  Their numbers were low, they argued with the members, and really just didnt care if they had investigators, plus they didnt care to update the area book!!!!  He was like elder crump the area which you serve depends on the missionaries!!  99 % of the time its the missionaries fault when an area is bad.  I knew that i need to do something.  Because this area seriously was the worst in the mission.  He then started saying that he knew he needed to put me here!  He said elder crump your one of the happiest missionaries we have here!  I only hear good things about you all the time!  I knew that this area needed you, and you really have made a difference!  For the first time in Months this area has investigators, families, and the missionaries are fufilling their contact goal every week!! You and elder fonseca truly saved this area!  Thank you so much for your hard work, and your smile!!  And for the first time in months, you guys have a baptism.  He then said not only do we have investigators, but them members in the ward trust us, and actually want to work with us!  Plus our ward attendence has gone up like crazy we had 60 people come to church this past sacrament, and by the time church ended, almost 100!!! I was so happy that he felt inspired to put me here, its been a challenge,  but so worth it!
Things are going great like i said we have a baptism set for this saturaday with daniel!!  Our investigators are coming along we gained 2 more families this week plus 5 more investigators!!  I love it our planners are always full with appointments!!!
I really am loving being out here what an amazing adventure it has been!!  Spanish is really coming along. I definitely need to work on a lot of things but i know that as long as im doing what im doing i will be blessed!! 
Thank you for all your emails always and letters and packages!!  I hope all  is well and i hope everything is ok with grandma, she is always in my prayers! 
I have some questions;
Bahamas, how was it!
And if you can will you send me some things, A small pocket size english B of M, The Doctrine and Covenants DVDs, as well as the Old and New Testament DVDS?  If you can that would be great!!  I love you all so so much!!!
All my Love,
ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Elder Crump

Family!!!
 Well hey how are you all!?  This past week has been awesome!!!  So we finally have gained the confidence in the members!!! They are offering to help out more, and they are always giving references!! I love it!!  Its been rough cleaning up the mess, but such a blessing at the same time!!  So last p day was so fun, we played soccer.  But not just any soccer like we do every other morning we played on a real field, for 2 hours!! It was so fun!! Plus it was against another zone!! But guess what zone!! Independencia!!!!  My old companions!!!  It was so fun, plus we made jersey as a zone, and we looked pretty good, i not gonna lie we looked really good!! haha so It was fun, but i have good news and bad news... the good news is i scored a goal, the bad news we lost 6 to 10... i don't want to talk about it but were gonna have a rematch and this time the scores will be different! haha
So we got 7 more investigators this week!! It was awesome!!  We are doing great here!!  But we the problem is week keep meeting people, awesome people who actually want to learn, but then we find out that they live in other area!! Ugh its frustrating!!  But were getting the references, and the other missionaries are finding them!  Thats whats important, that they get taught, even if its not by us!
So i took dads advice and we have been working with less active members a lot lately as well, cause lets be honest we got plenty of them here!! haha  So we met with this guy named Aqullies!  He used to be very active, but then one day he just stopped, and 5 years passed and he hasn't come to church!  So When we first met him is is this big guy with a beard, tattoos, cut off sleeves, and just kind of a scary looking guy.  But he let us in, and we talked about coming to church, and we focused on taking the sacrament.  By the way thank you for your letters about the sacrament.  They always help me, and i am so grateful to both of you mom and dad, and your desire to always attend sacrament no matter where you are, even your first day in the Bahamas!!:)  So the lesson went really well, and when he was saying the closing prayer, he just broke down into tears, and after he said he is coming this Sunday.  He needs too!  I was so happy! The spirit was so strong.  And what made it all perfect, was he was at church on Sunday in a shirt and tie, with his face shaved, his hair combed, and his scriptures in his hands!! I had never been so proud of someone!!  5 years of not attending and one spiritual lesson later he comes back.  Heavenly Father is incredible, and is not only blessing us to find these people, but blessing them, but directing us to them.
So to answer some questions.  Yes i am taking my vitamins, almost everyday... haha dont worry!! Yes we have a date set for our new investigator Daniel!!! He is 17 and has come to church 4 times, and we only just stared teaching him a week ago!! He just needs to repent of some things, and he will be ready for 28th of April!! Plus we are going to get silvia and her daughter to commit to a date THIS WEEK!!  Things are going great with the them!  Plus are other ones as well!!  I think in may we will have a BUNCH of baptisms, just keep praying for us!!  Dont worry im eating plenty of veggies, and TOO MUCH Fruit!! I even at a banana the other day, almost threw up!  haha
So this week we were really lacking on our contacts and i we really needed to fufill our goal of a 100!  On Sunday we only had 58... so I was like ok we got to just go contacting, but this week i dont know why but fonseca was a little bit trunky!! He hit his 11 months this week and just went trunky!!  But i kicked his butt into gear and was like comp on little fonsy!! haha he hates that nickname!!  So he kept saying there was no way we could get 42 contacts in a day!!  I was like Elder Just have faith!:)  Haha every time i said it he looked at me with his sassy eyes, and shook his head!!  Haha so it was 7 pm and we were still missing 29 contacts!  He then was like elder there is no way we can do this!!  I was like fonsy!!!  Si se Puede!!  I was like elder seriously just have faith!!  The next hour and a half we got 30 Contacts!!!  And about 15 were set for actually lessons this next week!!  He was shocked and i was like elder you have been out for almost a year, your still surprised by the lords miracles? haha that made him smile and get into a better attitude! This week rocked!! I love you guys!! Send me something from the Bahamas!!!
All my Love,
ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP

Monday, April 16, 2012

Elder Collins

Well Hello!
Well this has been a busy week! We have been getting on the members the last two weeks to start being more active in the missionary work and trying to let them realize that its not just the work of missionary's but that the members are a even bigger part than us. We received a couple of references this week that are pretty awesome! One is a family who when we first started to teach them and talk to them were not interested at all just kind of went through the motions of the lesson but as soon as we started teaching about the apostasy and the restoration it seemed like a light clicked on in them and they started asking questions and kind of got a little excited. Another reference we got is a girl named victoria. She is like 20 years old and i think she was having a problem with drugs before but she wants to change really bad and loves coming to church which is always a bonus because its hard to get investigators to come to church. Her baptismal date is the 28. I realized i write too much about myself and probably should tell you about all the investigators that i have. I have a new favorite family that im teaching. The Fuentes Family, they are a married couple with two daughters! Married! that never happens. But they are really awesome and a young couple and the dad is like a friend to me. The only hard part is that he has crazy ADD so its hard for him to focus and remember the things we teach him but they finally all came to church for the first time so that was awesome! So i had a really cool experience this week, we have been going to teach this very inactive family. At one point they were active and the dad had the Aaronic priesthood but he just stopped coming to church over the last year or so and drinking a little bit. Well we have been meeting with him the last month and they have been coming to church. Yesterday he received the Melchizedek priesthood and was set apart as the second counselor in the bishopric!! This Saturday we are also baptizing his 9 year old daughter Abigial. Wow a month ago he hadn't been to church in a year! So this week like usual my comp was well, the same. But Thursday morning i literally almost killed him. Thank goodness i remembered that if i punch him ill get sent home. I realized this week though that i have been getting lazy with my personal study and just kind of praying casually during the day. Ether 12:27, im being humbled again by having him as my comp. I hope Anna had a great birthday, you can be expecting a package in the next week or so.. I love you all have a great week!!




Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Elder Collins

Wow..Ive never eaten so many peanutt butter cup eggs in my whole life!! Thank you for the candy! Alright, straight up i kept both ties. They were both nice so i just thought hey why not right? At first i resisted on giving my comp some candy because he is the exact same but i just felt the easter spirit. Ya, he just ate it all right then and there and didnt say thank you. I decided that he is just kind of a little kid so im just going to be his parent. Haha we have been learning how to say please and thank you this week to me and to the members who feed us. So im not going to lie, im owning lessons right now. Im a big deal. I think its because people are finally starting to understand me. Last night i kind of cracked and im going to start studying spanish way more often and longer. Im planning on being completely fluent in 3-4 weeks! just in time for mothers day.So were going to have two baptisms next week and hopefully 3 more by the end of the month. Even though im not to fond of my comp we still work hard so thats good. The ctr rings make me pretty famous around here with the kids. So i just want to wish ANNA a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Im sending you a birthday present this week so im sorry it will be late but hey its still coming. Also i would just like to say WOW BABY!! i didnt know myles could look so good in a tux! So today are zone is going to play soccer against another zone we ordered team jerseys so we should look pretty good, I will send you some pics of the big game! Hey mom could you send me another family picture the one I have I use to show our families and it is worn out because of a million little kids finger prints on it, they love to hold it and look at it also maybe some of my farewell and the night before I left? Well I got to go , but I love you so much mom and family thank you for everything! Have a great week! Love reg

                                         "hey myles cant lie I think shes looking at me..."

Elder Crump

Wow i all i can say about this past week!  I love it!!  So as you know are area has been rough!!  Having no investigators, no help from the ward, and just no spirit here!!  This week we decided to change that!!  We cracked down, and went looking for the people!!  We contacted like crazy!!!  We found and taught 12 new people!  And 3 new families!!!!  All being awesome, and really wanting to learn more!!  It was awesome whenever we felt we should talk to someone or knock on a door we did it, even if we had already talked with them or knock on that door.  The spirit was amazing, and i know that because we took the time to just listen to the spirit we were directed to some amazing people!! 
So about some of the investigators we already had.  Manuel want to get baptized the only problem there was a problem in his work is having some problems so he had to fly out to Trujillo and get it all sorted out, and he doesnt know when he will be back... its been a week!!  Also nelly and her husband angelo are preparing to get married.  We are hoping may 12th!  Because here you have to get married in the Municipalidad!  Its their government, and there is a date set on the 12th so pray for them to be ready!!
So with our contacting it was so funny this week!! Elder fonseca was not having any luck all day, one day.  Doors just kept getting slammed in his face!  So he was like you do it!!  So every house i would be in the front, and they all let us in and talked to us when it was me!  haha he was getting so mad! after the 4th house he says, its because your a freaking gringo!!  They all love gringos!! haha so that was our strategy use my skin to get us in!! haha
So easter was pretty normal, here they dont really make it a big deal, but still just the  fact that im on a mission, made it special for me.  I really never felt closer to our savior, than when i woke up sunday morning!!  I felt the spirit so strongly, knowing that this day is much more important than just getting, candy, which by the way is still important and i love!!!
So the main religion here is the catholic, so they celebrate all week on this holiday!!  Its kind of creepy.  They carried giant crosses through the street, sang songs, and chanted!!  it was so crazy.  They focus so much on his death, but they dont even reconize the importance of the 3rd day!  Its sad, but hey thats why were here right? to help them!!
Oh yeah before i forget, next week we will not be having P day on Monday.  Were going to the temple, on thursday and we will be emailing then!! So mom dont freak out, your email will be there on thursday!! haha
Seriously this week has been amazing!!  I dont want to say anything yet about our investigators the new ones because i dont want to jinx it!!:) haha
Oh yeah Enrique and Ester and there whole family are doing amazing!! We had a Noche de Hogar with them and they loved it!!!  Hopefully this next week dates for their baptizm, as well as Silvia and her daughter!! Ill keep you posted!!!  I love you guys so so much!!!
Oh wait funny story i have to tell it.  So there is this church by our house that is called Dios es Amor.  Its so funny they are like this crazy baptist church who are always dancing and singing!!  Its so funny to watch!! So i always joke about going in and wanting to dance and talk with them.  So one of our new investigators, goes to that church!!  Her name is Humbelina!!! Haha YES!! i was so happy! haha she is crazy but wants to learn more!!
Also in church there were 3 people from Haiti that came into sacrament meeting. Listen and left.  So we chased after them and say come to the classes as well.  They speak french, spanish, and a little english.  They are studying in peru now, and just saw the church one day, and wanted to attend.  Hopefully we can teach them soon!  They are awesome!!!
Hermana Consuelo says hey and says not to worry she is taking care of me!!  Also she says that our family is way good looking!! so nice good work!! haha
Hey i love you guys so much!! i cant wait for the package!!
All my Love,
ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP



Monday, April 2, 2012

Elder Crump

April fools!  Im sorry i had to pull it!  I tried to pull pranks on my comp but he didnt really understand!!  haha  So i have a lot to tell you!!  So first off i got your easter package, and i couldnt wait to eat the candy, it was gone in a day... haha  Thank you!!  So tell lexi and maegan i got their letters and they will be getting a letter this week!!  So my companion is Elder Fonseca!  He is from santiago chile, and is so funny!  He is so short.  he comes to my shoulder... barley!  He used to be so quiet!  He still kind of is, but he has come out of his shell with me!! I kind of made him, i always sing to him in public, and he gets embarrassed! haha  He knows a little bit of spanish, but he actually understands a lot, the speaking part isnt to good though!!  Haha he really is so funny!  He has the attitude of a sassy black woman, and i always tease him about it!!  He has been out for almost a year now.  We really have become good friends and are really working well together!
So this past monday we had a big Noche de Hogar with all the missionaries in lima, and The Blunck family.  Their kids all came to peru, and there youngest daughter just finish serving in Cuzco!!  It was so fun!!  I got to see all our group from the MTC! My old comp BLAS, and my old zone!!  I was awesome!  We played little games, and had treats, and the little grandkids taught us the lesson!  The best was we were playing red light, green light, and Presidente was playing, and he is such a cheater!! haha he told me to duck down low and follow him so no one would see us!  Im not gonna lie, i followed him!  Im mean i had to right hes my mission president!:)
So im in the same zone as reg but not the same district, but i see him all the time!! We play soccer, and always have meetings, and every p day were always together!  We are really trying hard to do an exchange for a night! It would be awesome if we could!
Conference was amazing!!!  But i do miss watching it in my pajamas!  And your sausage cassorle mom!!!  I think i missed that the most!!!  All the talks were amazing!!  We had to watch the first two sessions in spanish becauset the guy with the keys to the room with the other tv wasnt there.  They were good, but i wish i could of understood everything! Plus its not their voice so it was kind of wierd!  But for priesthood session he came, and we got english!! It was so good!  I loved how seriously every message was so personal, and so important!!  The lessons that were taught were perfect for the people of peru.  Marriage first then family, get out of debt, honor your family, love and respect your wife, get married dont be single, so many amazing messages!!  It was like two p days in a row i loved it, plus today is p day so now 3!!
SO my area...Its difficult, but hey the Lord never gives us anything that we cant handle!  Im ready for the challenge, and what a challenge it has been!  So many lessons were cancelled, but i know that if we have patience and keep working hard we will be blessed!!
So i want to tell you about one of my invesitgators manuel silva.  We just started teaching him and he already is really progressing.  He is very different form the people i have taught in the past, this sounds bad but he is really smart, and understands everything!  Which makes teaching so easy with him.  So after teaching about the Restoration, we had just finished and he turned to me and asked how old i was and how long it took me to study and prepare to come here?  That question kind of stumped me for a second.  At first i was like im my head uh i kind of just came i didnt really prepare, but then i realized every since i was born i have been preparing!  I grew up in the church!  So I told him that i was 19, and i explained how my parents raised me in the church.  I said every young LDS boy is taught about serving a mission, and prepares for it, but the important part is its our choice.  He then asked me why i chose to come, 2 years is a long time.  At this moment the spirit enveloped me and i just said, My Parents have taught me the ways of the church, i grew up learning about this gospel, and listening to everything they told me. But in my heart i knew that i needed to know for myself.  I explained to him that i did exactly what we were asking him to do. Pray. Pray to know the truth, and by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know the truth of all things. I recieved an answer. One that was so simple as feeling in my heart, but drove down deep in my soul letting me know everything i was taught growing up was true.  I am here because i found happiness.  A happiness that is powerful, hard to describe, but is from God.  I am here because i want to help others to find this happines, and to know the truth. And through the truth they can have everlasting life!  After i said that it was quiet, and then about 30 seconds later he said, perfect.  That is exactly what i needed to hear.  And from that he commited to baptism right there.  It was so incredible.  I am so grateful for the spirit, to be filled with these words. 
I want to thank you mom and dad for raising me in this gospel, and for being the perfect examples.  I love you all so so much!!  I am so grateful for all of you!!! Thank you!!!
All my Love,
ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP




Okay so for the picture with the baby giraffe above here is the story on this....Nick and I absolutely DIE of laughter every time that direct tv commercial comes on with that fancy Russian man and his baby giraffe who he loves and kisses.  So he saw a baby giraffe and had to send it to me.  Oh so perfect.  Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkB9OT2XVvA

Elder Collins

Wow was conference great or what?! I dont think i have ever been so excited to watch conference in my whole life! We watched saturday session in spanish and preisthood and sunday in english so i was way glad to be able to hear there real voices. There was some way good talks and i felt all of them were directed towards me, even the relief society one. So this has been a hard week for me with my comp. I really am trying so hard to love him and i read so many scriptures on charity and pray for love in my heart and i feel like President Uchtdorf was talking to me on sunday morning and yet its still very hard. I dont know, he´s just rude. That kind of sounds girly to say but thats all i think of. I really have to control my patience with him because i want to explode on him sometimes but i always remember its not worth it and shake it off. He just takes all my stuff without asking and he is always throwing water on me and will just throw his food at me, sometimes i feel like he is trying to see how many mission rules that he can break, he is just really immature. He is from Truillo, it is like an hour North of here by plane, He has only been a member for two years so I think he just has to prove that he knows everthing! The one thing that is good is that we are working hard. Thats kind of how i get back at him. He is a little chubby short kid so i just walk fast and choose houses high up in the mountains so he has to slightly jog to keep up with me. Things are going good with the familys right now i feel like finally all of the people me and Araya were working with are finally all saying yes to marriage dates or baptism dates so thats always a good thing right? This week our pinsenista was telling us that her doctor was saying she is fat so she was saying that she is only eating like two pieces of bread and really little things. I kind of just started laughing and told her she just needs to start eating vegtables or fruit with everymeal instead of french fries ham and other stuff. And to replace some of the rice with salad or something. She looked at me like im a genious so this week we only had juices, less rice, and just different healthier stuff. Kind of funny. I love it! Well I love you guys so much and hope you have a fun week, and Happy Easter!!!! Love, Reg