the bartolozzis SOO sweet

Making my RING! woot woot!

we look like the von trapp children from sound of music doing the cuckoo song

burn baby burn

jeah

train tracks are neat

Yup.

Kickin' it.

Middle of nowhere

The Judds, a WAYsweet family

this was scratched into the door of the community center where i emailed last week.

Wow, i can't believe this is it. This totally blows my mind that I'm on a plane and HOME in 2 days. I can't even remember anything else besides being a missionary so this is going to be weird. It was a great last week full of adventures. I'm just trying to replay them all in my mind so i can tell you!

Monday, we got a ride in for pday, and when we arrived back in Strathmore later that night i realized that i had left our car, AND our apartment keys in Elder Byington's car. oopsie. So we walked to all of our appointments that night carrying around our shoes, haha. A family let us borrow a ladder so then i broke into our apartment and we were all good. Wheeler had his car keys there so we were set. Later that night i was telling the story to Byington and Clawson, and was joking that they should come out and bring the keys. Clawson goes, buzz your door people are looking at us weird. So i did it jokingly and seconds later heard footsteps down the hall and out door opened. They actually came out! I was freaking out it was really exciting. SO yeah, that was a fun night being able to see them like that. Tuesday we went in for our meetings and also our zone pizza party award that we won for having the cleanest cars and that was fun. Then on Thursday we went on exchanges, did some service, and burned the suit! I tried sending the video of it but it didn't work. we drove out in the country, saw a road that said, 'road impassable" so of course we took the challenge. We stopped at the train tracks and had some fun there. We laid the pants on the ground, soaked em in gas, and then soaked the tail of my suit in gas, i put it on, and clawson lit it on fire. I ran to the pants and took off the coat and threw it down. It was exciting.

OH man! Wednesday night our dinner calender said "Rellief Society Activity" SO we went there and it was SO awkward. We were the only men in sight and i was scared. Also annoying was the fact that no one really talked to us. Only a couple members, two less-actives,and a recent convert. Tip to everyone, Missionaries are far enough from home. The ward they are serving in IS there home. They like feeling welcomed! ok, onward.

Saturday morning we helped out at the ward breakfast, I wanted to help cook stuff, but all we ended up doing was crack 100 eggs. I guess people think we only eat top ramen and stuff, haha! It was a day full of service for sure! We went and helped a family pull out a tree, then re plant it somewhere else. Then we went and helped a less active lady move a weight machine and an elliptical machine. That was crazy intense, mostly because there was so much assembly and tools and things to remember. I love putting things together, it was a blast. Then we went to the Woods, the family who gave us the fish oil, and helped them move a bunch of stuff. They're awesome.

Sunday was good. Elder Wheeler was giving a talk on hope, and Bishop Laycock asked me to bear my testimony at the end. It was fun because the majority of the ward thought i was only out a bit over a year. SO i said, "As Elder Wheeler and i have been going around to your homes, and you've asked me how long I've been on my mission I've always said, a bit over a year. I have a correction to make. As of last Friday, i have been out a bit over two years." It was fun to see surprise on people's faces. Then i spoke about a few of the things that I've learned. Then we went out to the native branch and both of us spoke there as well. We also found out that a guy who's been coming there for 4/6 weeks that i have been there isn't a member and wants to be baptized! Surprise! wow. well, I'm off to play some ball. SEE you guys soon. Love you!

Elder Crippen

This morning. Clawson, me, wheeler, byington

mmmmmmmm peanut butter

Flooding in the road. CRAZY!!!

after running to the car in that storm.

Hey! Want to know something weird. This is my second to last email home. agghhhhh!!!!! Its starting to really sink in but i think i'm still in denial Your last 2 weeks you get to call whoever you want and invite them to your lil farewell fireside and stuff, so its been so much fun to talk with people from past areas and it really feels good when they remember you. I had a couple people who forgot, and that hurt, haha, but they said it was just on the tip of their tongue. Riiiiiiiiggghhhht. But its fun. That fireside is going to be PACKED cuz i invited a lot of people, and there's about 20 other people going home with me. Last Monday after i emailed this HUGE storm came in. We were in the mall at the time and when we got to the exit we could see all of the hail and stuff outside. There was about 10 people standing in the entrance just looking out and holding their shopping bags. It was funny. We stood with the and looked out with them in awe. I asked Elder Byington, "Do you remember where the car is?" "No." "Sweet." "Let's go." Then we opened the door and ran out screaming into the rain. All four of us were soaked instantly. it was a blast. The hail was about marble sized, but it didn't hurt. Supposedly other parts of the city had GOLF BALL sized hail. LOTS of car damage. But we were ok. Water was FLOWING in torrents down the street. There was so much water flowing through the sewers that we saw a geyser coming out of a manhole cover and then we saw the cover blow off!! Then, it was over 30 minutes later, in typical southern alberta fashion. Supposedly back in Strathmore 3 tornadoes touched down in the county! And when we got home i discovered that our bedroom window was open, and our window faces east, where the storm came from... SO yeah, my bed was soaked, Elder Wheeler's was totally dry. I threw my bedding in the washer and the turned on some fans to dry everything off, and that worked. There was a couple more storms throughout the week but luckily we didn't get caught in any of them while outside.

I made guacamole with some avocados that the Bartolozzi's gave us, it was really good.

My last zone conference was Tuesday, it was great. The Archibald's gave great trainings on how to really be a good missionary,we revamped some mission programs, and i had to give my farewell testimony. At lunch we always sing to the relief society sisters who prepared our meal, and we sing 'Army of Helaman' but change the words, like, "and we are now the Lord's Missionaries...
and stuff. I love it. Halfway through i realized that its our last time doing it and my voice started cracking. I was arm in arm with a couple buddies, and one of em looks over and goes, Dude, you are going to BAWL. You're gonna WEEP. When it came time for the testimony we went up on the stand and while i waited for my turn my knees were bouncing like crazy. Then While i was at the pulpit my whole body was shaking and i couldn't control it. People told me that i was gripping the pulpit like it was going to float away. It was really hard because that time is like the beginning of the end. I spoke a lot on how i was grateful for every second of my mission and stuff. I got decently emotional, but no tears, take that Elder Elkins!!! But when i sat down my eyes welled up and spilled over a bit. I love my mission. It was a way powerful zone conference, and a bunch of my favorite people were there so i got to be around them, that was great. A couple people thanked me for my testimony and said its what they needed to hear and that felt really good.

Sunday was interesting. One of the speakers went for 30 minutes, so we went 15 minutes over and i wanted to pull my hair out. BAHHHHH!!!!! Then we went out to the native branch and while we were pulling into the parking lot of the chapel, the gas light turned on. And we were 50 km from home, but had to drive an extra 45 to go to an appt. basically 100 km to go, on not that much gas. We thought the Lord would rather have us doing his work than stuck on the side of the road so we tried to gas up in Gleichen. The gas station was closed. SO we drove to Standard to meet the an awesome family, the Sommerfeldts. They tried to help us get gas, but they're gas station in that town was closed too. At this point the car said it had 7 km to go, and we had to go 40. We had to get back for some appointments so i told Bro. Sommerfeldt we'd call if anything happened and we took off. I told Elder Wheeler to say a prayer and he laughed and was like, yeah. But then i said, No, for real, say one now. so he said one. We drove going 80 km/h (45 mph), supposedly the most fuel efficient speed, the whole way, A/C turned off, knuckles white on the wheel. We made it, our next appointment gave us a little gas from a jerry can and it was enough to last us the night. We looked at the data display and it said there was 4 km left. We were SO watched over. Wonderful little miracle, that's fo sho. Next time i think I'll try and look at the gas gauge more... :)

Oh, a couple drunk natives came to church out at the branch, and one of them, before lunch was served, kept asking us to help him out, so i said, I'll play you some music! He said ok, so i played A poor wayfaring man of grief, I need thee every hour, and nearer my God to thee. Somewhere in that time, his possibly drunk friend came and started talking to him, and the guy goes, "shhhhh he's playing my song!" It was funny. He kept asking us to help him out and Elder Wheeler said, "Silver and gold have i none, but such as i have, i give thee." It was really funny. Hooray for drunk people.

We spent this morning with Elder Byington and Clawson and Byington got his ukulele back from a previous area so i spent most of the time playing that and was reminded how much i love it! So awesome. Well, i love you all, and I'll talk to you again fro the last time on TUESDAY!!!! love you mucho!

Elder Crippen

July 12 Letter

Hey! Life is good here in Strathmore! We had a week full of adventures. monday was pday, and i got angies package. I couldn't tell whether i like the R2D2 toy, the jerky or the cookies more. I think its a tie between the cookies and r2d2. Cuz the cookies are long gone, and i make r2d2 make noise everytime i sit at my desk. I consider him my magic 8 ball. :) On Tuesday we went on exchanges with the zone leaders and the mission is really stressing to have effective exchanges. It being july, and half-kilometer month, going on exchanges is a big deal, because we live far away. I was with Elder Gardner in Strathmore and within 20 minutes of arriving back into town, all of our appointments called and canceled, haha its was comical. But we had alot of good talks about things and had a great dinner with an awesome family, so YEAH. woot woot. We took back roads coming home because it was shorter that way and it was fun hitting up all the back farm roads. We saw a family of skunks! I was trying to get a picture but they ran away. Elder Wheeler jumped out of the car to snap a photo, and i was scared cuz i could just imagine him getting sprayed BAD, but they ran away luckily. On Friday, it was BOILING hot. it was in the mid-90s, and before you laugh, you need to remember that i've been suffering through -40 degrees of winter for two years! I've lost some of my hot weather tolerance sadly, i'm gonna broil back home, haha. But then saturday, the next day, it poured rain. Notice to anyone coming to visit Canada. No matter what time of year you come, or for whatever duration, bring Swimming gear, snowboarding gear, rain gear, windy day gear, normal day gear, cuz you'll most likely need all of it. Then on sunday it was WAY stormy and windy when we came out of church but it calmed down. After church we went out to the Siksika native branch and thats always fun. I was nervous when we entered the tiny building because it the 3 young men we normally work with weren't there. Then we found out one of them was there, he was just hiding in the Primary room. Enter Jacob "Spotted Eagle" Crowfoot. He's a very round, funny native kid who's dad is just now coming back to church and we're gonna be teaching his mom soon. WOOT WOOT. he was excited to see us, ran to the classroom, jumped into a chair and pretended like he was asleep. Then we taught the Restoration to him and somehow, miraculously, was able to hold his attention here and there. :D After the potluck, as we were leaving, he ran out with us and got in the car. After joking around with him for a bit, he got out and stood in front of our car and started dancing. I pulled out my camear and then seeing that he was on film he ran away, but then ran back and tried stealing our cameras. I have video but i won't be able to send it because its too big. You'll see it soon. he's a blast and makes the long drive out there worth it. Than we drove to a members house in standard, 30 km away in a near opposite direction from strathmore all on back roads, FUN. THen back home. It was a good week. I felt really good at church, and life is just flat out good. Goin out with a bang!!! There's a new that if you live more than 20 km away from where pday is held, you aren't allowed to drive in. sadly, that is us. Luckily you can have members bring you in. Brother Fawns works as an accountant in the city and let us come in with him! they're a sweet family, we like them alot. SO he dropped us off at the East Stake center at 7 am, haha and we waited 20 minutes for Elder Clawson and Elder Byington (i love them) to come and pick us up. in the meantime, i ate an entire apple, except the seeds, and watch a bird feed its babies. its been a fun morning. I left my wallet at home in Strathmore though, so the plans to make guacamole are out the window. The Bartolozzi's, a sweet couple we visit with in Gleichen, the town where the branch meets, gave us two avocados! woot woot! Well, i love you all and will talk to you soon! Elder Crippen

July 5th Letter

Hey everyone! Happy Independence day/Canada Day! We got to watch fireworks from our apartment on Canada Day and that reminded me of how much i love fireworks and where you see them, the beach, baseball games, it made me happy. :D Strathmore had a little Canada Day celebration and we tried to make it to the pancake breakfast but were too late. Then we walked around A LOT, (july=half-kilometer month) and later walked back to the celebration in time to see a magician. He was really talented but extremely eccentric and a little bit creepy. Later we were walking down the street and i heard someone yell, "HEY!" Me, normally curious, would've turned around to see what was going on but at the same time i felt a voice in my head say, "Don't turn around." I told Elder Wheeler the same thing and we kept walking, despite the repeated "heys" we kept hearing. We had just walked past a house party so who knows what would've happened it we turned around. Whatever would've happened i'm glad for the Spirit's little whispers to protect us. While watching the magician we also gave a Book of Mormon out to a lady who came up and spoke with us. that was neat. I bore my testimony for the last time on fast sunday. that was weird. We found out this member served in the same mission as Carrie, but a little bit earlier than her. That was cool to make that connection.
Its a bit of a struggle right now and its really annoying. We aren't receiving a lot of help from the members. this week is girls AND scout camp so we haven't been able to get any appointments set up. Its frustrating. In the 3 weeks i've been here, we've had 3 dinner appointments with members. We've had dinners scheduled each day, but people always cancel and drop food off. Its really nice of them but frustrating because I don't get to know the members as well and they don't get to know. As members of the church, we think that our purpose is to feed the missionaries. That's nice, but not the real reason. We're supposed to be in their homes encouraging missionary work and letting them get to know us better. People have asked me, "Are you getting fed?" If i say that we have 2-3 nights a month without a dinner they go crazy and are all worried. Then they'll ask, "how's the teaching pool?" and when we tell them its lacking, they shrug it off like, oh darn elders. keep working, we're praying for you. Moms will feed us and say, if i feed you i know my boy out there will be taken care of. If your son is anything close to a good missionary, he'd care less whether he didn't have dinner that night if he had 4 people to teach! bahhhhhhh!!!! sorry, a little rant. :) There are a few awesome people here though, no worries. I love you all! talk to you next week!
Elder Crippen