December 31st Letter

Life is going great here in Lethbridge, I won't be able to send pictures this week because i left my camera cord in Brentwood. We've really found a lot of people to teach and I'm so excited! I really love being a missionary! Its not too cold anymore, but there is SO MUCH snow! its everywhere! I have a lot less time to email now, and at the moment, not too many stories are coming to mind, but mom and dad can tell you some because i got to see them! WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO it was so fun to see them and all. Well, i8'm off to play basketball and stuff, love you all!

Please send the Miles ALL my love for them and stuff.!

December 16th Letter

Well, I'm being transferred. THats pretty sad. I'm gonna miss Christmas and the baptisms. Not cool. But i'm going down to Lethbridge and am pretty excited for that. It'll be a fun new experience. It really has been a good time here in Brentwood, i'll miss it a bunch! Sports night, oh i will miss sports night, hahaha. Church members are amazing up here. So, It'll be great! I'm excited for Christmas and all, Its been FREEZING cold we haven't even been allowed outside! -40. It's COLD. But its all good. I don't really have much to say. I LOVE teaching with the spirit and all. So fun to feel words that aren't yours flowing out my mouth. I love you all and am so excited to see you!!!
Elder Crippen

December 10th Letter

Cool icicles on Bow River
Me at the temple site, (a similar picture is my Christmas card)
Me in the snow

This is everything i carry in a day. Crazy!

The Calgary west zone

Walking around our area in the snow. New experience for sure!

Elder Taylor and i with our Christmas tree!

Kickin it on the C-Train

I love playgrounds! A bit too big eh?

Our new mission car...not.

The Scripture box! (x5)

Hello! Life is going great up here. It's starting to get decently cold as you can see, but its nice for my body to have a chance to cool down after living in CA forever. I get to see you guys! Whenever you guys mosey on down to Calgary we have an hour for dinner together!!! How sweet is that? I'm so pumped! I'm assuming we'll set it up next week or something. When are you guys planning on going down to Cardston or anything? I'm glad to hear your brace will be coming off Mom! Isn't it so exciting! Wooo!!! I was impressed at the nightgowns you made! Leneah is such a sweetheart and all of the kids look great! And OLD! Holy cow, I've been gone 4 months and look whats happened! Crazy! I want the gray jacket, the one with no hood, works well in snow, zips and buttons and stuff. The one i got from BYU bookstore. I miss that jacket haha. Life is going great up here. I love it! Its so much fun finding those people on the street that were definitely prepared to speak to you. I love teaching people and answering their questions. it always amazes me, the simpleness of everything. I think sometimes we get caught up in all the deep stuff and beautiful simplicity. I love it! Do you guys remember things that were said in my setting apart? It was a bit overwhelming and i can't really remember. please? haha, we've gotten so much snow that we were grounded this last Sunday. We couldn't drive anywhere we had to either walk or get rides. so we shoveled lots of walks and stuff. I wish i could describe to you how great life is going. But i can't. Hopefully you'll be able to tell when we get to see each other, but really, i LOVE it. Its amazing. read Alma 5. I read it this last week and its awesome. I gotta go, there is basketball that needs to be played. Love you!!!!!!
Elder Crippen

December 3rd Letter

Does that pitcher look familiar?

Me and Elder White, the whip cracking district leader

Me and Calgary and a new tie!!! Thanks for the package!

Hey!
Greetings from Calgary! How's the life back home in the sunny CA? SO jealous. Its getting REALLY cold! I talked to president and sent him a piece of that last email and stuff so we'll see waht he says! When exactly are you guys coming up again? Thanks for the pictures! They were fun to see! Everyone looks great and all! man i miss everyone. I have such a sweet family. Haha there you go. You've finally got a confession out of me! No plans for Calgary Christmas yet. Too far ahead for me to plan. I'll chare my conversion story next week. I'm kinda running out of time, but you will get it, i promise next week!! ANd i definitely had a great trainer. Elder Page was GREAT> I love seeing my old companions. its so much fun. So we were helping someone put up their Christmas lights, and i had no way down. SO I pulled a trick out of my Jason Bourne handbook and jumped off the roof, grabbed a tree branch, and climbed down. I know i promised that I'd be elder Crippen and now Elder Bourne, but i had no other way down, promise.... :) We've definitely planted a lot of seeds. We had to drop a couple baptismal dates because they either dropped off the face of the earth, or couldn't go through with it. But Our golden two are amazing, and one of them has asked me to baptize her! That was a big honor! I'm excited to be in water again. Gah I LOVE TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT THIS GOSPEL!!! its amazing. SO some members in our ward are from rim of the world! He went to high school there back when dad started teaching! Lester Stehmeier sounds familiar? They're a sweet family. Well, I'm off to shop and stuff. I miss you guys a bunch and love you! Thanks for raising me right!
ELDER Crippen

November 26th Letter

The Sports Night Gang! Every Thursday night we play games. Normally volleyball.
The members are taking good care of us, as you can see! Lots of gifts!
Me and Elder Wilson from BYU!
Me and Elder Teng

Well, life is good! I don't entirely know what to say right now, I'm not feeling too well. Feeling kinda dizzy and lightheaded for some reason. But its definitely been an amazing week. We've committed a total of 3 people to be baptized in December and its a great feeling. Natalie is one of them. She had an amazing story on how she found out the church is true. She was just walking around and praying and asked if the church was true and she suddenly felt the spirit so strong and said the sun literally got brighter. It was awesome to hear. Then we received a referral from a member whom we have already committed to be baptized and we are truly being blessed by the Lord. Natalie is a smoker and i was able to talk to her about using the Atonement to help her. Its hard to explain, but i told her how its possible. I'm so excited for it! Weather is weird. It was freezing, and now its warm, but will get cold. SO weird. I'm feeling very well equipped and have adapted well. Will you guys bring up that gray coat i talked about? I'm kind running out of time, but life is good! I love you guys and miss you and stuff! Happy thanksgiving!
Elder Crippen

November 19th Letter

Me and my SUIT!!!!!!!!!!!! It's so comfortable!




Playing with Socks, the cat at some other missionaries house

Socks. Again.

SNOW!

Sweet Temple Lot Shot

Sweet hats in Walmart

Hats. Again.

sORRY TO HEAR THAT. oops caps lock. SO the computer froze and i lost the email i was typing, so i'll just write a letter. its about time you got a letter. Here's the basics:
I bought 2 suits for $25! they're sweet! gray 2 button and 3-button
i made a box for my scriptures and its sweet! pictures to come next week.
Could you bring up my gray snow jacket, the one i got at BYU, up here when you come up? I'm like to have that jacket if you don't mind. ship it, drop it off, whatev.
My scriptures dedicated to you guys, Enos 1:1 and Alma 56:47 love you!
And to my friends that read this:
WE just and an awesome zone conference. Elder Paul Sybrowsky of the 2nd quorum of the seventy came and stuff. He had me come up and share my "conversion" story. He emphasized on how just because i was born into the church we tend to write off our own conversion stories. it was pretty cool. I think he liked me a lot because he kept reverting back to me and asking me stuff. And i gave the closing prayer and he gave me a hug! Saying the prayer was scary! My voice might've shook a bit. haha but it was sweet. Life is good. Weather is consistently below freezing, but I'm fine and enjoying the time i have for my body to cool off! Love you!
Elder Crippen

Letter from a Family in Cody's Area

The Crippen Family,

Just wanted you to know that your son was over for dinner last night. Our oldest daughter is in the Brentwood Singles Ward. They are having a 40 day fast for missionary opportunities. Every day one of the members fast and then they have the Elders over for dinner that night. .

As a mother, I would want to know how my son is doing. As for your son, he is doing awesome. It is very evident that he has leadership qualities that will take him places in life. His companion and Elder Taylor seem to be very compatible. Elder Taylor is very blessed to have your son as a trainer. Elder Crippen gave the spiritual message last night. He started off with some "light bulb jokes" about RS, Elders' Quorums etc. It got our boys attention and then he went on to the give the message.

You can tell that you have a very close knit family. When I saw your daughter, Amelia, at the temple a few weeks ago she was very aware of what was going on in Elder Crippen's Mission Life. She was so cute "She said tell Elder Crippen that I love him so much." I was telling your son that she looks very good for carrying twins and is about to deliver.

Thanks for sharing your son with the Calgary Mission. He has made a huge difference in the lives of so many. I love having the Elders in our home because they bring a spirit that touches our soon-to-be missionary sons.

Kathy Layton

November 12th Letter

Me with a headband. And with food on my face. I'm still Cody! hahaha

Me and my sweet Ride.Yeah, it snowed, I had my first driving in the snow experience. I handled it like a champ!

Posterity Shot. Grandpa Page, Daddy Crippen, and little boy Taylor



Me and Elder WILSON! BYU BUDS!




Me in a missionary tree fort last night.



Me and the mandarin missionaries on a p-day eve hike


Downtown Calgary. cooooooll

Hello!Sounds like you guys are having an awesome time! Can my room be like that when i come home? I like chocolate. Sis. Layton actually saw Amelia in Cardston, so i got a lil update on her. That was fun! Thanks for all that pictures, they put an instant smile on my face!!! Oh, Mom, good luck with the surgery. Don't do anything embarrassing like i did. I remember when i just came to and just to make sure i was alive i kept groaning. I'm a weirdo. Thanks for all those thoughts dad. don't worry. I'm being very humble. Training is one of the hardest things i have ever done. Especially only being 3 months out! Our district leader calls ever night to see how our day was and always asks if we did such and such tiny tiny details, things i barely know about and have a hard time remembering. Sometimes it feels like I'm being rebuked and stuff. There have been a few nights where I'm so overwhelmed that i just put my forehead on the wall and just clear my mind and think of happy songs. :) Its definitely a blessing through trial though. Elder Taylor is an amazing greenie. He's the best i could get. He has no problem talking to people and gives me courage to do the same. The first night he was here i took him to a mock teaching appt with a gay guy and his 3 straight roommates. (Who actually was our zone leaders and two mandarin missionaries!) So funny. Taylor was so weirded out but held it together well. 20 minutes go by and the gay one, Ryan, Goes into his room to show us a surprise, because he said he was gonna come to church. His roommates started bashing with us a bit and stuff, and at the height of it, Out comes Ryan in a suit and name tag. Taylor's eyes got HUGE and he thought he was mocking us or was seriously gonna come like that. Then Ryan walks up to Elder Taylor and says. Hi, I'm Elder Stotts. And everyone starts BUSTING up. It was hilarious. Remember the friend from BYU who also got called to Calgary! He's in my zone now! Good old Elder Wilson! It was so good to see him. I was straight up GIDDY when i finally saw him again. SO cool. We had an appt with one of our gators, Francis, and when the door opened, we were smacked in the face with the smell of tobacco, alcohol and weed. I almost got high! At the door was Francis' little brother holding a cigarette, and not looking too good. He said Francis was "sleeping" and wouldn't wake up. Our member that was with us goes, Long night? and he just goes, No, I'm just still drunk. and proceeded to tell us of their previous nights activities. Holy cow that was weird. BUT! The next day we taught Rebecka, the girl i set my first baptismal date with, and that appt was awesome! She was feeling stressed with many trials and felt she wanted to drop her baptismal date. After talking to her for a bit, I felt an urge to offer her a priesthood blessing. Minutes later, Elder Taylor looked at me and whispered, "Can we give her a blessing?" It was then i know that we were supposed to do it. We offered, she humbly accepted, and asked that I do it. It was amazing. The Spirit was so strong as I could feel words that were not mine come out of my mouth. Afterwards, she said her thanks, and said that she literally felt burdens lifted off her shoulders, and felt strengthened to take on her next trial (Baptism). AWESOME!!!!! Its starting to get cold. The normals are dropping below freezing. oh boy. don't worry, i have lots of jackets. But there is something you can be proud about. It was 2 degrees outside, roughly 34 degrees F. And i was walking around at night in just a suit! And my greenie, who is from Provo, was freezing in a beanie, suit, and hoodie. Hooray! I felt tough. :) Well, that's all for now, I'm tired and am loving the work! buh bye!
Elder Crippen

November 4th Letter

Playing around at FHE with the mandarin missionaries they are cool

uh, i cant remember. (Comp had an emergency appendectomy!)

Some funny thing in a restaraunt

Some sweet vest in the lost and found box i wore during Zone meetings.

I couldn't breathe!!!! SO TIGHT

me being pregnant (TRAINING).

Girls wearing our suitcoats at FHE (I love YSA:D...)No worries though, i am REALLY am enjoying this break from girls!!!!!!!!!!

A cool view of downtown

Me and elder Hoyt jumping into a HUGE pile of leaves.

That was your FIRST missionary report? Have you not been in our ward or something? Those people we tracted into canceled our appointment but we went by and they're still good. Holy cow andrew is coming home already?!
holy smokes. Yeah, i really like playing the piano. its funnnn. Yes yes i know i wish i would've done it earlier. Trent's going to ventura?! There's a guy in my ward going there! Crazy! tell him to keep an eye out for nathan Turner. He's a cool guy in my ward and yeah. I haven't heard anything from Elder Low or Hopoate. Just that Elder Low got pretty sick and lost 7 pounds. He'll gain it back though. That kid eats like a camel drinks!!! Man, that would've ben sweet to hear the closing prayer by Bishop. That's awesome. The FEMA joke was hilarious. It'd probably work out too. Haha Trust me mom, I'm not too sure that my wife will have to convince me to marry her. You know that other side of me. I'll have to convince her. Did i not like preparing for a mission? I'm lost. YES ON 8!!!!!!!!!! yeah. I was talking to one of the institute directors about prop 8 and about how the temples in CA could lose their marriage license and that would be terrible. I don't want to say no "I Do" and then go to the temple. All Temple all the way baby. I will be married in the San Diego Temple. The only one I'll budge for is Mount Timpanogas. That one is beautiful. That's awesome about Diana and Donna. Please tell my whole basketball family hi for me!!! Tomorrow morning i go and pick up my greenis! I'm pretty nervous but confident. Its a great compliment to me. uhh, yeah. With ELder Pehrson getting appendicitis and our district leader getting the flu, i had the opportunity to give 2 priesthood blessings this last week.
It feels like its been forever and I loved it. Its a great experience being a mouthpiece for the Lord and knowing that those words are not yours. It was great. Well, I'm getting tired of emails, soooooooo yeah. LALALALALALAAAAAAAAA Give my love to everyone!!!
Elder Crippen

October 29th Letter

Hellooooo how's life? sounds like Halloween was sweet! I wish i could've seen all the kids. They're little cutie pies. Can i say sure to a nice warm hooded sweatshirt? That sounds niiiiice. and you know my style mom. :) Life is great up here. I'm pretty excited cuz i just got myself a Christmas present for myself from you(could i please have $70:)...). Brand new scriptures! i bought a compact black quad with a snap. My other ones were kind of falling apart a bit in the binding and were too big to carry around. I'm excited! Oh, and one other thing. I'm planning on not coming home. I'm loving this too much! maybe a visit every now and then... haha its great out here. We had this awesome appt with Rebecka. We wanted to set a baptismal date with her and after praying about it both of us felt good about December 13. it was an awesome experience feeling the Spirit like that. We taught the plan of salvation and that went very well. We showed Together forever, because her grandpa just died, so that was good. She felt the Spirit and i dropped my first date on her! it was a cool feeling and all. She accepted the challenge to pray about it and i feel good about it. Transfers are coming up and i don't really know whats going to happen. I've been here 3 months (crazy!!!) but there are other things going on that may lead to me staying here. I wouldn't mind. I love this area and my ward, but wherever the Lord wants me to go that's where I'll go! There's not too much else to tell you really, I'm tired! haha and my fingers are tired as well, and i get to play basketball today! woohooo! I'll send some pictures and stuff, NEXT WEEK IS TRANSFERS! I EMAIL ON TUESDAY!!!! with that said, i love you and give my regard to everyone!!!!
Elder Crippen

October 22nd Letter

hey, how much is the fee? no, i wasn't made aware. Stupid Canada. ugh. uhh, which box? i got the one with the jacket in it. is another one coming? cooooooool! mmmmmmm crab cooker, i miss thee. How'd the BEFY go? Did you talk about me? Things are going great with Tyler, he took us out to eat and we talked about him going on a mission. He'd be so great. And Pres Priday and his wife came and put on a missionary fireside, and Tyler spoke at it! He bore his testimony and told his conversion story. He Talked about me and how nervous i was in my very first teaching appt. Shaky voice yada yada yada. haha it was awesome though. I got to see elder page and that was cool. But the first thing he asked about was if i brought a CD of his. I wanted to punch him. NICE TO SEE YOU TOO PUNK! haha it was an awesome fireside. He's got a lot of friends. His home teaching companion is his best friend of a couple years, he's well friendshipped, no worries. SO whats going down in papa's loft? anything exciting? SO Brian got called to stake president! wow. I don't know if I'll serve in the south or not because of the family ties. I'd love to serve there, but i don't know. Pres is in charge. Maybe lethbridge, but i don't know if I'll serve in the cardston area. Which is really sad because i want to go to the temple! But I LOVE it here in brentwood. We have awesome RMs that come out with us, fun activities, good investigators. its great here. I got a letter from Irene, its great to hear from that family, i miss the Miles a bunch, give them my best please! Joey's gonna be a po-po? sweet! Liz broke up with him? weird. bailey married? REALLY weird. Tell anthony to write meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee please!!!!
I want to hear from him! Thats really sad about mark. I'll keep him in my prayers. What kind of nurse is garrett shooting for? tell him to write me as well! That poem was way cool, thanks for that. Yeah, so many times i wish that you guys could be watching me. It'd be great for you guys to see what you've made me into. I've really been searching for those experiences where you're just inspired to go somewhere, and i got one! We were trying by a potential, and he wasn't there, and i was just looking around, and saw the 1500 apt building and just felt to go tract there. And we taught a girl there and gave her a Book of Mormon. It was so neat. Its cool to see how different promptings can be. And we had a real neat experience with Natalie. We have really been pushing for her to pray. She has a hard time with it, but its amazing what the Spirit can do. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and you could tell she was feeling the spirit and we've seen a change in her countenance each time we go over and teach her. We originally were teaching her for her understanding but the Spirit has been witnessing to her, I KNOW IT! She told us that she prayed once, and it was for us. Pondering on that, we put it together that the same night she prayed for us we taught 5 people in 8 doors, and got 3 new investigators. She was quite freaked out, and the member that was with us just said, "God answers prayers." It was amazing! The Spirit does the real converting. SO guess what, tomorrow = me being out 3 months. CRAZY! We're going to play capture the flag again today. I'm excited for that. I thought of a funny scripture to send to people when they don't write me: Alma 62:1. I'm Moroni and they're Pahoran. :)
I'm pretty restless at the moment and don't really know what to write. Just know that i love ALL of you, and am doing well.
Elder Crippen
P.S.-In a talk Elder Ballard told me how to get my calling and election made sure! Ready? Live righteously! woohooo! hahah simple, yet so hard!