Made it to Minnesota

Hey

I'm here! I got here all safe and hope everything is great back home. It's a little cold and snowy ha ha but I'm excited.

My Mission President is really nice and a great guy! I'm excited to get out in the field tomorrow and do the work you know!! This day has been a little crazy but I'm glad I'm finally here out and ready to go!! He says the hmong Elders are a select few and they're elite so I got a lot of expectations! ha ha but I'm ready to learn and grow in this enviroment. The Elders I have met so far are really nice and seem like great guys one was native hmong and started speaking... lets just say it's super fast and hard to understand lol but everything is great!

Love you loads,

Elder Crandall

Last Letter From the MTC 2/28/2012

Here is the weekly letter from our missionary....I am so glad he can feel those prayers that we are so fervently giving in his behalf. Like he says....Bear with him the next few day.....pray for him! I know that he will need our prayers more than ever the next little bit as he transitions to this part of his mission. he will feel lost and the advesary will try to discourage him as he tries so hard to communicate with the Hmong people. I llook forward to hearing his voice in the morning and cheering him on like only a family can!

To Grandma and Grandpa Hunt and Crandall.....we have given him permission to call you when he gets to the airport. It will be early but so worth it...right? Crandall's he will call on your home phone and Mom and Dad he will can on your cell.

Hey family,

Well it was my last week in the MTC and today is my last day. Wow, what an amazing experience I have had here. Needless to say I have grown so much spiritually and physically I can't describe the feeling I'm feeling right now, probably all of the ones you have had when you went on your missions: nervous, scared, very excited, and many more. I think we are all just scared of the unknown but once we get there we and are comfortable we have the times of our life's... this past week I was reading in Alma 34 and Mosiah 3. What amazing chapters they are. I invite you guys to read them as families and discuss them in FHE. One thing that I have gained by reading these is more love for my savior and more ambition to be like him. In these short chapters it tell us the gospel of Jesus Christ in a summary; if we do the things that we are taught in these we shall receive eternal life!! One quote I love is from the prophet Joseph Smith he says:"salvation can not come without revelation-for it is vain to teach with out revelation" I took that to heart and really prayed for my own personal revelation and I have felt more peace and comfort than before! Personal revelation is something that we must take daily and be lead by the Holy Ghost! What more can we ask for from our Heavenly Father than to lead us to live a better life! I have been packing and doing everything else and I realized that in these last few months that I have grown more spiritually and physically than at any other point in my life. I know I will grow much more as these years pass by!!

I have made goals for my mission; what I want to accomplish and everything else. I know we cannot succeed without goals I love you all so much and I hope you all are doing great. I know that through our savior we can have joy in life and the only way is through his atonement!!

I will be writing a longer letter next week I know, but bear with me these next days and I know I can feel everyone of your prayers I have been comforted so many times and I would love to be with all you guys right now but I can't because the Lord needs me now.

Love all of you have a great week and keep moving forward.

Love always

Elder Crandall

Got to see kelby!

As many of you know I work for DearElder.com so one day while taking the letters and packages to the MTC I ran in to this Boy!! Love him so much!! He is doing amazing!

Kelby Telling us Part of the First Vision in Hmong

Feb.21,2012

Well today my companion left for Sacramento and Elder Nguyen's companion left for Anaheim (Elder Nguyen had a mission call to speak Hmong in Houston Texas but got a call last week that they were sending him to Cambodia instead!! so he is waiting for his passport and Visa) so we are the only ones left in our district and it's pretty lonely without the other two but, oh well. Today we just got up and helped them pack up there bags....and what they had left, and then sent them off!!
This last week was awesome me and Allred had TRC on Saturday. It's where they find people that speak hmong... they volunteer to do it... but anyways.. we always go at 1:30 and so this time we had nothing prepared to share and we usally have a while to prepare before we go but we got to class and they came over the intercom and was like "is Elder Crandall and Elder Allred there"? We said, "yes" they told us we had to be at TRC at 12:30. So we went down with our teacher and we had nothing prepared to share. Once we got down there they said that there were 5 native hmong people and one person who we regularly teach and we about pooped our pants when we heard that!! It was nuts, so we said a prayer before we went in and when we walked in they all stood up and shook our hand and believe it or not it was probably one of our best teachings so far!! they were just asking us all these question and we understood and we would answear them back our teacher was really impressed it really strenghtend my testimony on the gift of tongues, God will give us the words we need to speak at that very hour!! It was amazing.. they were the nicest people ever. I have grown so much charity for the hmong people! It says in 2 Nephi 33:7 how we need to have charity for our people and I have so much charity for the hmong people they are my people and I love them so so much!! It was a very spiritual experience and I have grown allot from that experience! I'm so excited to get out of the MTC and go to Minnesota. I hope all of you are doing well!! i hope you all have a great week!!

Mom I will be sending stuff home with Markel and all that jazz.
I think it would be better to put that money on my debit card for the airport so I don't have to worry about losing it! But I do need a little cash to buy some stuff
here that I will need for the field!!
You don't need to send me a phone card I can get one here for $3.50 and I get 500 min so it should be a better deal ha ha.

Anyways I love you all and am doing well and I love you all!!

Love always,
Elder Crandall

Feb.16 2012

travel plans today, he will be leaving the MTC on the 29th at 5:30 am. He is soooo excited to finally know when he is leaving and to get gone. I will send all of you his new address when I figure out if we have to send them to the Mission Home or if they can go to his actual address.
Thanks for all your support! He is so blessed to have such amazing extended family that are so encouraging and supportive. I am so proud of his letters and the positive, excited, humble attitude that he shows in each letter....His Patriarchal blessing is making such sense. It is ALL about his ancestry and family! I know exactly now why he was called to serve among the Hmong people/culture in Minnesota. Family is THE most important thing in their lives. The Lord absolutely knew how important Family was and is to Kelby...I truly believe he was sent there to make Kelby feel as if he is still among his family and loved ones. Leaving our (including extended) family was the absolute most difficult part of Kelby's decision when he was praying so hard to find an answer to whether or not he should serve a mission.....the Lord KNOWS our fears, weaknesses, strengths, and wishes. He put Kelby there to live among, love, and teach these people that will become his family not only for 2 years but for the rest of his life. Such a sweet comfort to me his mother to know that one of the biggest fears in your child's life (being away from family) will be something that will be taken care of and he will not have to experience to the full extent that he could have among a different culture.....anyway Enjoy this letter I know I certainly did!

Hey everyone,
Well today is Valentines Day and it doesn't really feel different from anything else ha ha the The MTC does something to you I think!!
I'm so ready to get out in the mission field and to be in Minnesota right now!! The other two hmong elders left this morning to Roseville California and we had to wake up at 4 in the morning, it was killer then we went to temple at about 6 and I think I slept through the whole movie ha ha... oh wait I know I did! We then came back and took a 2 hr nap!! but other than that the MTC has been same as normal just study and study and study so yea nothing really has changed for me.
I haven't got my travel plans but I will be getting them this week so I will let everyone know as soon as I get them!! I received my Valentines from my Mother today thank you I loved it but guess what they took my subway it made me mad but anyway..... I also received one from Grandma and Grandpa Crandall!! Thank you so much I needed some chocolate I got everything!! I also got Uncle Randy's letter with the money thank you so so much you guys sound like your doing great!! I wished i could see little Malcom Hunter, Max and Brityn's kid he sounds adorable! I miss little Madeline!!

This week I really found a great quote it says: " moments are the molecules that make up eternity" -Elder Neil A. Maxwell

Every single time I get discouraged I remember this quote and think of all the great moments I have had with my family and all my friends it really makes me happy. I miss you all so so much!!
I have memorized the first vision in hmong its was really hard cause its super long ha ha!!
One thing I'm excited about is that when I get to Minnesota my trainer will take me to a hmong members house and that member will give me a hmong name that I will use on my mission so I'll get a new name tag and all !! but the the cool thing about it is that the hmong people think that when they name you they are pretty much adopting you. I will be apart of their family too it's awesome... my teacher says that he talks to his hmong family all the time and whenever he want to go out to his mission he always stays with them because he is like a son to them!! I'm so excited!! They all prefer you to call them Mom and Dad to its weird but I'm super excited to get my hmong name!! and to get into this culture I love them so much already.
One scripture I found was in 2 nephi 3:7. I already have so much charity towards the hmong people and I know that I have been called to serve them for a specific reason!! the hmong people are my people.. they are so family oriented and i'm just so excited to go out and serve them and the Lord!!
The biggest thing I want is for others to be blessed through my actions, abilities, and talents. I believe that's why we are here, to help bless others and as we do we will be blessed. My greatest joy is seeing all the blessing from my mission.. going to others who I love so dearly!

Thank you all for the support and love
Love always
Elder Crandall
Kuv Hlub Koj
I Love You

2/7/2012

Hey family!!

Another week has passed by and I have been great. So at the devotional the other day, it was good even though the prophet did not come so that was gay but it was still really good! Elder Holland and Elder Nelson talked to us it was mostly about the history of missionaries and the the great missionaries there have been in this world.. we need to all be missionaries even if you don't have the name tag or anything its always important to share the good word of God!!

I'm so excited to get out in the field but also very scared because I feel like I'm not ready or anything but ready or not here I come Minnesota!!

So I found out in Minnesota that they speak green Hmong there, that's okay though green hmong is equivalent to like Portagese and Spanish! Right now I'm learning white Hmong so it will be a bit of a struggle but I will know two dialects so i'm excited..

My teacher Bro.Sanchez told me that all the Hmong missionaries in Minnesota know my name and all about me. Some how they are excited for me to come and they all know I'm good at basketball.... some how I don't know how?? its weird but I'm so excited to get there and meet them all.. the Hmong areas I found out are mostly in the city area there is one south of St. Paul and there is one by Minneapolis and there is also one in Wisconsin it's in oclear Wisconsin or something like that... this week has been good I go to the temple at 7 in the morning every Tuesday so Grandma and Grandpa, mom, and dad come see me ha ha I would love to see you there ha!! This kid in our stake today he is going to Taiwan met his dad there it was pretty funny lol.. but everything is going great nothing new just working hard and trying to learn this crazy language it gets crazier every day. When I found out I will have to learn green hmong too I was like oh jeez this is going to be interesting but it sounds way cooler than white hmong idk its awesome.

I hope everyone is doing well and everyone has been healthy.. I got Uncle Randy's letter today it was great thanks for everything sounds like you all are doing so well.. Tell Ciera that she hasn't wrote me yet and what's up with that ha ha...I love you all and will be talking to you soon!

Love always

Elder Crandall

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1/31/12

Wow, this week has flown by to me I have so much to say to you all.

First things first, there were some new thai Elders coming in and they're all living on our floor.. so come to find out one of them that is living right by us

is Lizzy hullinger/gillies husbands little brother. I guess him, Hunter Crandall, and Hullinger have hung out a few times when Hunter has been there, he says

idk how you ever put up with those too they are so crazy! ha ha. It was really funny talking to him about them and the Hullingers I really miss those guys

they are all so funny and loving especially Sonnet.. so anyway that was the first crazy thing. The second is that I went to the temple today and come to find out Kelseys dad works there. It was awesome talking to him, I told him to keep Hunter in line and to tell everyone hi!

So tonight is the 50th anniversary of the MTC and the Prophet is coming. It is so exciting because it's really rare for the prophet to come to the MTC and talk.. so we are all super excited. We are waiting in line for 2 hrs so we can get in because they have invited 700 guests to come so not many missionaries will get to be in the same room as the prophet.. one thing that I love the most about my letters is from Grandma and Grandpa Hunt, they make me laugh everytime and put a smile on my face when I get them they are so encouraging and supportive to me.. I love Grandpa's letters it looks like he takes allot of time and thought into them with his funny drawings and everything.. it sounds like everyone is staying busy out there, I love hearing from Shawn and Mandy and the kids they are awesome. I am doing great Owen, Trevor, Paige. Spencer and Ethan, I can't wait for you to get out on a mission and experience all the wonderful things it brings to you.. you will love it and always remember it. I am loving my mission, best decision I have ever made!!

I'm so gratful for my mom she never gives up and always keeps going she has had a few stressful weeks in a row from what she told me. I'm so grateful for her sacrifice to send her son on a mission and to have him grow up and be a man! thanks mom i love you..

dad im so grateful for you.. your letters always encourage me, and tell me to suck it up, and keep going and we all love you I'm grateful for your letters.. all my district says thank you for the treats they say to me to tell you they love you haha..I gave my teacher a pack of those birthday Oreos and he fell in love.... he ate them all in one hour he said ha ha.. he is also a diabetic so I take some treats into class cause he gets low blood sugar somtimes in class so I help him with his sugar levels ha ha..

My brother on the other hand must be the to busy to write me anymore havn't heard from him in a while.. but I hear he is tearing it up in church ball haha, keep it up oh and by the way you don't need to listen to your coach just check yourself back in whenever you want bro... ha ha

I miss Dunn doggs so bad ha ha but most of all I think I miss little Kyle he is so cute and I love him to death. The Dunns christmas card is hanging up and I love looking at that little red headed kid and his cute smile ha ha I miss him saying telby.... I miss garrett and Nate they will be so big when I get home... they are so sweet.. I got little Ally's letter with her hand print and Sydney's hand print on it, sounds like they're best friends ha ha it was so so cute...

Oh markel, I met your friend she seems like a nut and really energetic.. i haven't got the chance to get a picture with her but I will for you Markel.. Anyways I have been doing good and am so excited to get to the field. I wanna get out of the MTC, but only a couple weeks left.. I'm intended to leave the 22 of February mom but it might change cause my teacher said that my missions transfers are a week late so it might not be until the 28th or so, idk yet but for now its the 22nd, so I will let you know if anything changes. So me and my district figured it out..... it was allot of math......but, all of the spiritual growth we receive on our mission is equivalent to 72 years if you didn't serve a mission!! I know that I'm in the right place and doing the right thing. Heavenly Father will bless all of us forever and ever... a great scripture that I love to share is Mosiah 2:22 for all we have to do is keep God's comandments and he will bless us beyond what we can imagine, all we have to do is love thy God and thy neighbor, and the other comandments.

Any way gotta run family! Have a good week!!

Sin tsis dua (goodbye)

Love always,

Elder Crandall

1/24/12

Hey everyone...

I appreciate all the letters this past week they all are so amazing I love hearing from all of you guys and to see what's going on around the good old family without me..

lets see this week has been pretty good me and my buddy from high school are really having fun we always talk about things back home and it makes me feel like im there i love having him here.. this week these two english elders left to south africa it sucked cause they where so so cool one was from palmyra, NY and the other from Dallas, Texas they where so so funny and cool. me and my district do syl day every monday its wear you can only speak you language that day no english. its hard cause two of them are speaking vietnamese and so we have to translate for one another, its still way fun to have though. our teachers are so cool that teach us hmong they really love the hmong people as well as i. none of them went to minnesota but they know allot of hmong people there.. its awesome, one of my teachers told me that there will just be me and one other kid there that isn't native hmong so it looks like my trainer will be a native hmong kid which i'm am so blessed and excited for... they will be able to teach me so much and so well and i will get the native accent easier ha ha... one native hmong sister that is here in the MTC said that I have already got a great hmong accent for how little i know the language.. she is speaking mandarin and is going to taiwan.. i asked her if its easier to learn mandarin or hmong and she said mandarin I told her I wanted to learn it when I get back from my mission and she said you could do it easy because there are allot of words and things related to chinese.. she is super nice she said when we get back from our missions she wants to take us to dinner and make us hmong food ah ha so she is really excited we are speaking hmong... I'm so excited to learn this language its so awesome i love it.. its super hard but i just got to stay positive in learning it... Elder Wadsworth one of the vietnamese elders.. his dad owns and started Tahitian Noni its cool so they always got to Tahitian and his mom is sending us all Lava Lavas it's super cool... if you could go to the flag store in Provo on university and get me the laotian flag its red and has elephants on it.... its way cool we want to hang one in our room because that is what the hmong people use.. any ways this week as I was reading in Mosiah chapter 2 I found some great insight in my reading which I felt that was revelation from my Heavenly Father, I found that in there it says how Christ loves us all so much he atoned for all of our sins.. and in the next chapter it says where the natural man is an enemy to God.. in chapter two it says that the only way to not be an enemy to God is through our saviors atonement. I felt so inspired how we are all enemies to God but that Christ loved us his "enemies" so much that he sacrificed for our sins. I don't think I could have done that.. I always strive to be more like my savior and turn outward and help anyone I can.. instead of turning inward like the natural man would do.. I love all of you so so dearly, I thank you all for your letters this week it really inspires me to keep going. I couldn't ask for a better family than you guys thanks..

Love  Elder Crandall