Elder Collins

Hey family!
Well conference was just fandantastic wasnt it? Nothing like conference being a missionary. Pretty sure its more exciting than christmas. They had started that 18 year old rule about two months ago here but i didnt know they were going to make it world wide! And i had no idea about changing the age of girls to go. Cant lie i wanna see myles! 4 years would be a long time not to see your brother. I liked Elder Utchdorfs first talk the most. They were all super good though, Elder Holland has given a similar talk to all the missionarys in the Mtc and all of the elders have a copy of it. Its illegal to have but its a super good talk. I think that he realized that everyone wants to hear that talk so he just figured he would share it with everyone this time. I applied every talk to my missionary life. But with elder Uchtdorf i liked when he talked about enjoying the ride and being happy now! Also when he said we are too busy complaining about the size of the peanut package and we dont realize that we are soaring through the sky! Well this week was pretty good, i worked really hard. We lost one family that we were teaching but gained 4 others so thats pretty good. I could fill and see blessings from the lord this week with finding these familys. haha one is our next door neighbor. I never knew that they had talked with the missionarys before. But long story short i sent their papers to be married in yesterday. Also i found out that Sanchez was contacting in my area and was teaching a family in my area!(his comp told me). Well we just went to visit them told them we are their missionarys and then i told sanchez that they are in our zone and we should be helping eachother out anyways. Haha. It was a good week. Cant lie though conference made a little trunky..with all the pictures of the mountains and the fall trees and what not. Also because i watched with Elder Richardson in English. Well i hope your all well, much loves too all! love reg

Elder Crump

Oh boy, was conference so so so great!!!!  FIRST OFF WHAT THE HECK!!  GUYS CAN LEAVE AT AGE 18!!!  How crazy, but awesome is that!!!  And girls......what are we going to do......my plans are ruined!!  haha but seriously!!! ahh!! Holy Cow, it is still blowing my mind!!  Haha, I was dying when I saw the kids face in the crowd when President Monsen announced it!!! 

So anyway, i loved conference!! It was so great every message was so powerful!  I'm not going to lie, my two top favorites were From Elder Quinten L Cook, and Dallin H. Oaks.  When they talked about the family and how those who harm their familes will have their judgement coming for them!  It seriously meant so much!  So many people here have terrible families.  Husbands who beat their wives and children.  Parents who don't even care for their children, and thousands of women crying over the mistakes of their Husbands, or Boyfriends.  Wow, it was powerful. "Every man will be hold acountable for every tear he makes his wife shed."  "And those who harm a child, it is better for them to have a milestone hung around their neck and have them drowned in the very depths of the sea."  WOW, it just shows how important the family is, and it gives us peace to know that God will have his judgement!  I am so grateful for my family, and my inspiring parents who are the examples every parent should be!  Thank you mom and dad for everyday teaching me how to become more Christlike.  I notice that being out in the mission, conference goes so fast!!  And I end up taking like 30 pages of notes!!! haha  I love it!!  I think its the first time in my life that i actually watched all 5 sessions!!  Man I was missing a lot growing up!! Saturday morning and the afternoon sessions are so powerful!!  If i can give any advice, watch all the sessions!!!  I seriously regret not doing it when i was growing up! 

So im glad to hear all went good for Hudson, and Bren's birthdays!!!  Haha i cant wait to see pictures!!  Ps  i still havent gotten the package with the us open hat!  Ill keep and eye out!!!  So how is everyone doing!  I seriously love hearing from all of you!! Im so happy all is going well!! 

The Cuy was delicious!  First off we had to catch the cuy, then we had to kill them, then we had to drain the blood, then we had to skin them, then after that we fried them up, and ate them!!! haha just kidding but that is how you do it, but we didnt have to kill them!! Thank goodness!! haha but seriously they were so tasty!!!!  Im resending the photos this time!!  hopefully you get them!

If you could send the little book of mormons like the english version you sent!  Also if possible will you send Zebra Pens. Ask Landon Lowry's Dad what they are if you cant figure it out.  They are small and perfect, and i ran out!

So this week was great! A little difficult because Saturday and Sunday we have the most success normally, but we had conference!  haha it was worth it though!!! 

Hey guys i love you so so much!  We have changes next monday!! Im freaking out, but whatever happens, happens right, its all Gods work!

All my Love,

ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP

Elder Collins

Well...ya.
So this was a hard week. I felt some serious pressure. Our zone was going to break the record for baptisms in one month with 40. Sadly one of my baptisms this week wasn't able to get confirmed because she had a family emergency and wasn't able to attend church to be confirmed. I feel bad that it happened but there is nothing i could do about it. Elder sanchez(the district leader) is all bugged about it. He is an awesome missionary and works hard but I have never in my life met a more prideful person. I learned about some stuff he was doing just to get more baptisms so we could reach 40 and for me its not ok! I wrote the president about it. Stuff like baptizing little kids without permission from their parents, paying for marriages, baptizing people who still have problems with the word of wisdom, baptizing without them attending church first and stuff like that. Really for me that is incredibly wrong. I know im not baptizing like him but the family we baptized this week is already receiving important callings and his are having interviews because they smoked in between their baptism and confirmation. Its incredible that this is happening and nobody has done anything about it. Sorry I feel like every week I have a problem! I promise most of the time im really happy and I do love it here! Apart from that my comp. and I had a great week baptizing the mudarra family. We also are working hard to find more families. We found 3 new families this week that hopefully will progress.I cant believe its oct! thats nuts!! Well I love you all. Also this week I accidentally drank coffee, hope I dont get sent home! haha loves Reg

Elder Crump

My dear family and friends!! how are you all?  Oh boy this week was so so great!!!!  I hope you all had a good week too!!  First off i want to say...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENDON, AND HUDSON!!!  WOW YOUR GETTING SO OLD!!!  Not you Bren, you're still young, Hudson he's practically a teen!!  haha but really I hope you have the best birthday!!! I love you guys!!!

 

So your Probably wondering what is the Familes, Baptism, Winne the Pooh, and Cuy...  haha oh i will explain...just you wait!!! First off lets begin with the families!!  We found two new families this week!!  One was a contact that i had like 3 months ago!!!  For some reason i was flipping through my old planners, and i saw his name... I remembered that he never was home, but I was like hey why not, so we went, and he was there!!!  And was so so excited to see us!!!  Finally!!! haha anyway right away we started talking about how he really wants to change his life, along with his wife ( by the way they are married!!! very rare here!)  And my comp did awesome and started to read in John Chap. 3 and he fell in love with this scritpture he straight up was like what do i need to do to be baptized!!! haha so we explained and he accepted a date, haha he actually put the date!!  haha  so he is preparing, and wants to be baptized so bad!!!  His wife she wants to change, but isnt as excited as him!!!  The next family was the son of the investigator we have named Leonardo.  At first his son  didnt want to listen or even talk to us!  But within these past 3 weeks, he has seen a change in is father and wanted to know what it is!  We taught him, and along with his dad commited to be baptized!!!  So we have a bunch of dates set for the 21st, but it all depends on them and their attendence!!!  Like I said, it really was such an awesome experience!!!

 

SO now the baptism... Danny is a reference we received from the ward.  He is 13 years old and comes to church alone.  He has made friends and love the church.  I don't think i said to much about him, because i didnt want to jinx it!! haha but yeah he was baptized and my comp got to do his first baptism!!! I am so proud!!  He's growing up so fast!! haha  Anyway this kid is so funny!!  He doesnt really show too much emotion!  haha he never smiles you will see in the pictures, but that all changed after he got baptized!  He was grinning from ear to ear!!! It was awesome!!  Plus we are teaching his mom as well, but she wants to wait for her husband to make any decisions...but he is stuck working in Iquitos... i think ill send the reference to Reg, and he can baptize the dad, and I will baptize the mom!! haha

 

Next Winne the Pooh this ones for Shay!!!  They had a carnival here and i saw him and i just had to take a picture!! haha  love you Shay!!!

 

Finally the Cuy....Cuy is Guine Pig....Yes....i finally did it....I ATE GUINIE PIG!!!! HAHA it was so good!  Seriously, i wanted more!!  I have been telling everyone that i wanted to try it but no one would make it for me!!!  But then an Angel finally came through... The bishop's wife!!! haha it seriously was so good!!! haha but dont tell Weston he used to have a gunie pig as a pet!!! haha

 

Well i love you guys so much!! I hope you guys have the greatest week ever!!!  Mom I'm glad you got to enjoy your girl's trip!  Dad dont you worry next year ill be there with you for all the games!!!  Bren, Hudson  Happy Birthday!!  I love you all!!

 

All my Love,

ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP

Elder Crump

Oh, why hello family!!!

 

How is everyone doing?  This week was so so great!! My birthday turned out to be so awesome!!  So in the morning I had a delicious breakfast.... but not in bed... haha my pensionista couldnt enter our house to give it to me!  haha  after that we had a pretty normal day.  My comp had a bunch of treats for me, and he drew me a way cool picture.  After we had everything normal.  We had a bunch of appointments, it was great!  But at 7 30 one of the ladys in our ward Tahuantinsuyo( she is the one that we rent our house from, and is the relief society pres. and is like my other peruvian mom) any way she said that she wanted to have a Noche de Hogar in her house.  So i just thought it was gonna be pretty normal.  I knew she wanted to make some food, and play games.... boy was i wrong!!  I have a video  if i can send it i will!!  I walk in the house and it all dark, then they turn on the lights, and yell suprise ( in really bad english so it was funny!)  and they shoot this cannon of confetti and start singing happy birthday, and her whole house is decorated, with balloons, and all that jazz.  It was awesome!  So we had a little fiesta and it was awesome a bunch of the members were there!  Then it came to the cake... as  you have seen in past pictures they really dont like to eat the cake.  They shove your face in it then we get into a cake fight!!  haha it was so crazy!! I was dying!!!  I was sad not to be there with you guys, but it actually turned out to be a great birthday!!!

Also my peruvian grandma made me a tie!!! She actually knited a blue tie!! Its so awesome!! Really this ward is so great!!!

 

So im glad mom enjoyed my birthday!!! haha oh boy im so glad you ate cafe rio, and watched harry potter!! What a great day!!!  haha  Thank you mom for my birthday package!! Believe it or not, but i actually waited to open it!!  I know right im growing up!!  haha man 20 years old.... im old...ugh  haha

 

SO things are going great! we have our baptism with Danny for this saturday!  Im excited!!  Also we have 2 more for the 13th!!!  Plus we are also working with the parents of danny!!  The mom loves the church, but we still havent met the dad.  SO were gonna baptize danny and then his parents!!!

This past week was so great found 10 new investigators, and a new family!!  Seriously we are so so busy!!  My planner is so full!!  Its so great!!!  Some times we really dont even have time for dinner!! SO we eat in the night in our room!! haha but dont worry mom im eating!! I have gained weight, but everyday i lose it because we walk so much!!!!!!!!!! haha so frustrating!! haha

 

SO i still havent gotten your other package yet, but i cant wait!!!  did all my letters get sent out?  Thank you for doing that!!  I loved the pictures!!! Haha the one with corinne and trev and me photoshopped is so great!!! haha

 

You guys, i love you so much!! I love being here!!  We have been working like crazy, and truly the lord has had blessings for us!!! Im so greatful to be here!!!  I hope all is well!! And thank you to all for the birthday wishes!!!

 

All my Love,

ELDER NICOLAS COLLINS CRUMP

 

Elder Collins

Hey family! So yes we did find the A-Wall elder. He just came strolling into the chapel Monday afternoon with a member that picked him up and gave him a ride. He got sent to lima to talk with president. I dont know what they will do with him. He doesn't have desire to be out here and wasnt ready to leave the "world " behind. This week was rough investigator wise. We have like 6 baptisms for this month but my mind is already in October. Im worried that we dont have FAMILIES to teach in October. Ive been fasting since yesterday to be able to find people this week for October. I guess thats a sign im getting lost in the work. I really am working really Hard. I love iquitos! the ward is really cool, the relief society president is a nut but other than that its awesome. Our pension is the best too! they are like family. Its super super hot here right now. I can feel my skin frying. We are preparing a couple of baptisms for the end of this month, one is a way cool family that we have been teaching. The mom always always has a meal waiting if she knows we are coming. Well i hope all is well. tell sam i think they celebrate Halloween here but i dont think trick or treating exists, so i guess its not really celebrating it. Love you all!

the amazon river behind me! the dad of the pension and since the A wall elder left i was comps with sanchez and enjoyed a baptism without doing anything

Elder Collins

Wow baby what a crazy week. haha sorry i didnt really write a whole lot last week. Richardson is in iquitos too so we were talking the whole time. I told him my mom will probably punch him if i do that again. Well at the beginning of the week we had conference with president and the other zones in iquitos. It was a good old time. I really love my zone it seems like im in the most animated zone. Hna blunck cooked banana and chocolate chip bread for the birthdays in sept. I got one all to myself and it was heaven! So this week ive been working so hard. I got a lil frustrated this week because im just so sick of teaching little kids and teens. I wanna teach familys. I think that my comp had got into a bad habit of just being satisfied with teaching 14 year old girls and 10 year old boys. For me its awesome and its a blessing to have people teach and baptize but it does nothing to make me feel like i can say to myself " Hey reg, NICE" So ive been just looking for families. This week we were supposed to have 3 baptisms. We only ended up having one of a little boy. One we had to postpone a week because of financial problems that he has and the other came to her baptism and all the ward and her friends from the ward were waiting there and she said "um i dont believe in joseph smith, i dont wanna be baptized" AHHH Crap! well last night i did an exchange with Elder Sanchez and we talked to her and had an awesome powerful lesson. What happened is two things 1 is that the elders before i came didnt teach her well and 2nd she had heard some bad rumors about the church. All is well now and she has another date for the end of the month. Well this morning was one of the craziest mornings of my mission. Im just sleeping away and at 530am i hear gringo! collins collins Gringo! Elder sanchez comes running into our room "Collins my comp is gone!" his comp went A-Wall and left with all of his stuff during the night. We still dont know where he is and we have been looking all day and i waited at the airport for 3 hours to see if he would come. I honestly cant believe that he just left without saying anything. Crazy stuff! Well thats it loves! reg

P.S. Hey mom I conquered your worst nightmare!!!!!!!