Christmas miracles

It has truly been a white Christmas here in California (white Christmas as in White baptismal Clothes!). On Friday was the Baptism of one of our investigators, Moe. He was contacted by Sister Wimmer and Sister Hawkins, just last month and he had just arrived in the country and was getting out of his car from the airport when they walked up and introduced themselves and asked if he wanted to learn more. It's history from there. His journey has been incredible and, though I didn't get to teach him any lessons, I am so grateful to have been a part of it. The Baptismal Service was incredible! The spirit, warmth, and love in that room was amazing. One of the biggest things that Moe loves about the Gospel and our Church is the feelings of love and family whenever he goes to church and is around members. Because of that I thought it would be fitting to sing a musical number of "Where love is" and "Love One Another" from the primary song book. I know the love he feels is from the spirit. It was amazing for him to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost so that he will always have that feeling with him. It was even cooler that he received it on Christmas Day. One of the Greatest Gifts you could ever receive.

After the baptismal Service, Some Elders who attended with their investigator came up to me. Their investigator said he loved my song and really felt the spirit and wanted me to sing it at his baptism. That is just a testimony to me of the power that music can have on inviting the spirit and touching hearts. I am so grateful that through sharing my talents I can be of even more good for my Heavenly Father and His work. It was another Christmas Miracle.

I love this work and I know that it is of eternal importance and purpose. I know that Heavenly Father provides a way for us to accomplish the things that he asks of us and the trials that come our way.

I was wondering if you could some how get me attached to Elder Waymans group email or how ever he is sending things. Also, If you could keep sister Hawkins specifically in your prayers. She is really having a hard time right now. thanks mom!!
I love you!!!!!

Love,
Sister Crossett

Christmas dinner with the Rodriguez family.

FHE with David and Jenny Chamberlin

Elders Rasmussen and Williams and sisters Hawkins and Crossett.

We got to talk to Grace on Skype for an hour plus. She is doing great! She showed us her worn out shoes and cried and laughed with us.  She is living in a two bedroom apartment with another set of missionaries and she told us of the piles of treats the members had given them for the holiday. They ended up making plates of treats to give away to investigators cause they just couldn't, and shouldn't, eat it all!

Here she is just listening and enjoying being with us. 

and then smiling for the camera. 

She is being taken care of really well and we are so proud of her. 

Light of Christ

mommy mommy mommy!!

thank you for your email and word of advise about working with others. Sister Hawkins and I passed our test this week, meaning we made it through the mist of darkness and the Spirit of Contention is leaving. We got a lot of help from President, our Sister Training leaders, and from Priesthood Blessings. We are learning so much from each other and have come a long way. I really hope we get to stay together for another transfer and continue to grow and Stretch. We have been thinking a lot about the gift of Discernment and we actually are giving the lesson at our FHE tonight about it. We have FHE Every week at our Stake presidents house and sometimes investigators and others are there too. I would love some Vitamin C if that is a possibility. 

Nicole and Kayla are the ones with us in the Picture. They are investigators we are trying to build trust with. Nicole is a chatter but they are both so funny. We are just taking it slow with them and hopefully we can teach them more soon. Its really cool that sister Hawkins and I are so different. I have been learning to trust her more, especially in the work. We had a really cool experience on Saturday night. We knocked on the door of a potential we had contacted earlier in the week named Christian. He told us we could come back another time so we tried and a woman answered the door this time and invited us right in. It was a scene that was not the ideal setting for missionaries ( Siguarette smoke, beer bottles, Blaring TV) and I was very uneasy about the whole situation for a while, but sister Hawkins just walked right in. Tammy was the mom of these boys and she offered for us to sit down and share something with them. Sister Hawkins talked mostly at first. I was still feeling uneasy. As I sat there I saw a mirror hanging on the wall. On it was written in Red Lipstick, " What would Jesus Do". I Began to think about it and I realized that Jesus would be exaclty where we were right then. No judgement, just teaching anyone who would listen. As we talked more with these 3 boys they perked up a little more and I know they were feeling the spirit. It was just a really cool experience of the power that the light of Christ and the spirit has on every individual. As missionaries, we are just the guides. We bring the spirit unto their hearts and only they can let it into their hearts.

I know that Heavenly Father Has put specific people into our lives so we can learn from them but also so they can help us and strengthen us. I am so Grateful for the Plan of Happiness and for our Savior Jesus Christ and his love and sacrifice for us.

I hope you are all sharing His Light with the World this Christmas Season. Even the little things can make a big difference. 

Love and prayers to all,

Sister Crossett

A white Christmas

I was sent this picture in a text almost two weeks ago.
(Her first week in Mission Viejo. With Sister Hawkins) 

(letter recieved Dec. 12, 2016)

The person who sent the picture was my new Stake President, President Chamberlin. He's pretty cool. It was taken at our relief Society Christmas Dinner.  The theme was "Let Him In" and it was a beautiful program. I especially loved the musical number. Our Bishop, Bishop Baker, and Brother Hada (Guitar Accompaniment) sang a really cool arrangement of "Come unto Christ"the 2014 youth theme song. It definitely brought the spirit. 

I am missing the snow a lot. Dad sent a picture of his hard work in the driveway. Snow seems foreign to me now. Although they make up for it here by going all out with lights.  I'll have to send you a picture soon, of the line of lights strung up across the streets in between the houses. its crazy! ;)

(And an email from Dec. 12, 2016)

Dear mom,

I'm sorry I don't have the address with me right now but I sent a letter home with the return address for our appartment on it... Give or take. I don't really know how to write the address but I know we live in Mission Viejo and that our appartment is 6L. Its ok if you just send it to the mission office. Someone just said we aren't supposed to have mail sent to anywhere else but I'll ask President about it.

We haven't heard anything specific about christmas calls yet but I'm pretty sure we get to skype. Do we have that capability at home? We will be in a members home for sure for that but ill keep you posted on more details. 

This week has been rough but its getting better. I'm still working on communication with sister Hawkins. I want so much to make our companionship work and she has said that she's the kind of person to not have the desire or will to make it work if it doesn't click right away. We are working on things together though and today has been an easier day. It is testing my limits but I am learning so much and I am grateful that Heavenly Father has put his confidence in me to do it. I do love sister Hawkins very much and she has so many wonderful qualities.

Oh! by the way, we have an investigator on date for baptism on the 23 of december. His name is moe. I don't think its quite hit me what that really means but we are going to have a white Christmas here after all. Smoking was his only struggle and he is now 8 days clean so he's doing amazing! Pray for Moe! 

I had the amazing opportunity to go to our stake Sing Noel concert last night. It was amazing and the spirit was so strong there. It gave me a little bit of home when the childrens choir sang. I don't suppose you guys went to SLCC concert did you? Well I got my little taste of home here. I was also asked to sing at our up coming zone Training meeting. Its Josh Grobans "believe".

I've got to go but I know that the light of Christ is in all of us. Member or not, and that is why everyone feels so happy serving others. Charity Never Faileth and I know that it is the pure love of Christ that we feel went we serve. 

Much love from California,

Sister Crossett

Co-Senior Companion

(I decided to leave the greeting in the letter this time, cause it makes me smile.  She also sent me a bunch of pictures from her last area which are now on the Live Oak Canyon page of the blog.)

Mommy!

I don't have much time so I'm going to tell you about my week and then I will hand write you my advise and responses about all your Exciting news. It sounds like so much fun back home and I'm super excited about everything.

So Sister Hawkins and I are co-senior companions. I'm not sure exactly what that means but it makes sense since we have been out for the same amount of time. She has been here in the Las Flores ward her whole mission so far so she is helping me with names and faces but we don't have a GPS for the car like we did in Live Oak so we are figuring out the area together still. She is Designated driver. It has been a Challenge working with her because we are so different and communicating is hard but I am determined to make it work and to learn from her and love her even more.

Las Flores Ward has been very kind and welcoming so far. I am just trying to be patient with learning names and faces and learning the area. We have a few investigators which I am very excited about. We also had a really great experience on Saturday. We were headed to a members home and we had just parked and gotten out of the car. There was a man and his little boy just outside their garage and I took courage and introduced ourselves to him. We learned that he and his wife were born-again Christians. We offered him a Book of Mormon and he accepted and asked a lot of genuine questions and also asked for our number so he could reach out and ask more questions as they came. We were grateful for that miracle and we are going to follow up with him on the Book of Mormon in a few days and we are really excited about it.

During fast and testimony meeting for my first Sunday in the ward I thought I should bear my testimony and introduce myself to the ward. I felt the spirit so strong in that meeting and it testified and confirmed to me again that The Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saint is Christ's True Church restored upon the earth by the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Heavenly Father is the Same yesterday today and forever. He is always listening and will always give us more revelation as we are obedient to the commandment and have faith to receive it. I know that charity never faileth and whoso is found possessed of it at the last days, it shall be well with him. Moroni 7:46-47.

I hope you are all taking the opportunity to take part in the Light The World Initiative this month and that you are spreading your light and helping others to know of the importance of serving.

I love you all dearly! have a wonderful week!

Love,
Sister Crossett

goodbye Live Oak Canyon

We got a message from a ward member on Sunday telling us that Grace is being transferred! And how much they are going to miss her! And then another email this morning, before I got the letter from Grace.  

So sister Crossett is transferred!!! I'm so so sad about that! It's inevitable obviously but I've been dreading that and wish they'd have left her here through the holidays! She bore a truly beautiful testimony yesterday in ward council and then I asked her to bear testimony and say the closing prayer in RS. SHES JUST THE EPITOME OF GRACE, gentleness, sweetness and well so many things!!! She and sister Brown are a dynamic pair that are perfect representatives of the church!!! I know you miss her but she is doing great things and will come home to you more amazing than ever!!! I love Sister Crossett!!! She's going to Mission Viejo. Las Flores Ward. That is most likely a young ward and I know they will love her!!! Thanks Laura for raising a total jewel!!

Love,Jan

yes, I am being transferred. It was a surprise again but Heavenly Father was preparing me for it too. I am leaving RSM Zone, Live Oak Canyon Ward and Headed to Mission Viejo Zone, Las Flores Ward with Sister Hawkins who was in my District with me in the MTC. Cool huh!? I'm Sad to leave but am excited to learn from new people and experiences. I know that though I didn't see any big numbers while I was here, I did make a difference and touch heart and plant seeds that will grow into many numbers. I trust that I helped in Heavenly Fathers Plan here.


Our Thanksgiving was pretty cool. We ended up going to Bishop owens house. All his family was there plus every year they go pick up Some marines to have over for a home cooked thanksgiving dinner. We were seated right across the table from four young marines and it was so cool to talk with them and exchange experiences. What they go through is very similar to what missionary life is like. Just in a different genre of thinking :) They asked us a lot of questions about what we did as missionaries and it was cool to share that with them. later we shared a lesson with the whole owens family plus the marines. It was about gratitude and we shared the story of Captain moroni with them. It was powerful and Bishop Owens later told us that as he was driving them back one of the marines said he really loved the message and was truely touched. We thought we might not beable to get much work done on a holiday but that was a miracle to us.


Sunday was a great day as well. I especially liked a talk given by brother Williams. He talked about gratitude and how to have it, we must Engage in Thanks-living rather than just thanksgiving. gratitude is much more than just recognizing the things we are grateful for. It is Showing Heavenly Father through word and deed that we truely apprieciate the things he has given us. I'm going to try and live in thanks-living this coming transfer and invite everyone to try it. I also had many opportunities to bear my testimony yesterday Because I would be leaving. I know that through our Savior Jesus Christ and His atonement, we will be refined and changed to become more like Him and to walk in his paths.


With All the love I have,
Sister Crossett

Last week of my training.

(a compilation of info from three letters this week)

Answers to some of your questions.  Some good habits I'm creating. I definitely pray a lot more during my day. Our Stake President gave us a challenge to restart and finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.  I really want to finish and really dive into the scriptures.  

We have 9 o'clock church and we normally go to all the meetings.  We don't have any investigators still so we don't have anyone other than less-actives to look for.  We try and talk to people and ask how they are doing. I really love the relief society sisters and I almost know all of their names now! We meet at the Stake Center about 5 minutes from our apartment and I think it is just Santa Margarita Ward and our ward that meets there.  

Sister Brown is the coolest. She has been out for 9 months and was also half trained by sister Bambas (by the way, Sister Bambas goes home on Dec. 1st. We call our trainers our moms as missionaries and the family tree continues from there. :) It's so funny; All the missionary terms and traditions.  It's like a a whole other culture inside our LDS culture. )  Sister Brown is such a consecrated and obedient missionary and she just got done telling me how I need to just let things go and sort out what matters most. 

We have a laundry room in our complex that we use. 

We are scheduled to have dinner at our Bishops house for Thanksgiving.... and also the Mausse families house. I don't know how that will work out exactly but I will be well fed, that's for sure. The bishop always has marines over for thanksgiving so that will be really cool too. 

Sister Brown is so funny... I love her. It can be hard at times to work with her because she doesn't understand that I need a break sometimes.  She just wants to go go go and talk to people. But she is patient with me and I am trying to be patient with her. We are in this together so we have to compromise. I have learned so much from her and she has really pushed me to work hard and not worry so much sometimes. 

Transfers are coming up and this week Is the last week of my training. We don't know what will happen but I am preparing myself for anything. We had another exchange on Saturday. I stayed in my area and Sister Suchanski came to work with me. She is amazing and was so accepting and patient with me. It was easier to be bold when working with her because I knew the area and had to speak out when she didn't. She taught me so much about myself and what I am capable of as a missionary. 

We Talked to a lady at a park that was really nice and asked so many genuine questions. It was a good day. We were able to follow the promptings of the spirit and feel good about our accomplishments. 

 In my studies this morning I was studying how to live what I learn in PMG. I learned that we truly do need to be willing and open to what Counsel God Gives us through our study and also through others. We also need to "Treasure Up continually" The things that He teaches us, which means that we need to ponder and apply it in our own lives. Make an Action Plan for how you will apply what you learn and how you will work towards your goals each day. I know that as we follow the promptings of The Spirit in faith we will be able to see miracles and be Gods hands here on earth. I know that Heavenly Father wants to help us and listens to our prayers. If we act on the counsel He gives, we can receive even more counsel and help through the Holy Ghost. 

I love you all and think of you often. Have a happy, comfortable week.

Love,

Sister Crossett

Missionary Parents and Angels

Our 15+ year old Russian Blue Cat passed away over the weekend after some stressful days of sickness and I had shared with Grace how I had prayed for angels to help him and us get through it peacefully, which they did. 

Thank you for your letters!

I am sad about Rico, but I love to hear about your angels. Today has been a pretty rough day for me. p-days are not as relaxing as I would like. Today we went to a members house who has a modest clothing store in her home. I have been wanting a simple black and also navy skirt. There wasn't anything there for me because I'm so picky. Sister Brown just says beggars cant be choosers but I'm not going to buy something that I'm not going to like or wear. Then shopping for a watch was timely. I ended up getting a white one with a silver rim on it. It was more expensive but it should last longer and I think I made the right decision. I know I sound in a rut, which I am, but It will probably pass by tomorrow. Sometimes I have a bad day but that's ok because the Atonement is real. I just need to believe it. 

(in response to Dad's letter and questions)

I'll miss the snow this Christmas but I definitely won't miss the lights. Everyone here is loaded and there are some very devoted decorators around here. It will be fun to see. I'll have to get some pictures for you.

Transfers are every six weeks on a Tuesday. We are thinking we will both stay here. I'm hoping at least. We are getting fed better than we have been for dinners. Someone new was called to help with the calendar and he is really good at making sure we are fed so its all good. We normally have breakfast and lunch at home. I try to keep cooking simple and get things that don't take long for lunch. ....(minor issues)... other than that, I'm healthy.   Thanks for reminding me about the Angels.  

(Back to mom's letter)

On Friday we got to go to a really cool Missionary parent dinner. Almost All of the missionary parents from the ward were there including a non-member couple (The Hinkles) with a daughter out on a mission. It was a cool way to get to know them in a more casual setting. The members there were really accepting and welcoming to them too. After dinner we sat in the living room and went around the circle sharing one fun story, and one inspirational story about their missionaries (our Missions). I shared about my first tracting experience where Sister Bambas got heat exhaustion, and then I shared about how I am so blessed with the knowledge that As I open my mouth to share the gospel, it will be filled. It takes faith and courage but I know The spirit will give me the words to say. Even if they aren't perfect, they will be what that person needs. I know that as I shared that story, It was what the Hinkles needed to hear. 

I know that as we go about our daily lives and remember the spiritual and testimony building experiences, It will confirm to us what we know to be true and how we can improve in the future. I know that through service and selflessness to others, our loads will be lightened and we will be blessed. I know that the Atonement Of Jesus Christ is meant for each individual person and that each of us matter to him.

Keep praying for me,

I love and miss you. 

love, 

Sister Crossett 

more and more

Hey mom!
I'm Glad your doing well :) We Decided to email first thing after our studies this morning. Sister Brown always did it that way with her other companions so I decided to try it. I think it will help me be less stressed about it through out the day if I just get it done first thing. I'm so sorry I didn't send you any letters this week answering your questions. I just didn't get the time to. Im so sorry I didn't really send you a birthday note either. I promise I didn't forget. I was thinking of you all day though and I thought you would understand.


Its so cool that president Tate Talked about the penny thing because our Relief Society lesson was all about that same thing. We need to step back and see the bigger piture and realize all the good rather than just focusing on the pebble (penny) over our eye. That gave me great comfort as well. I'm so happy that you were able to just take it all in and feel the spirits healing. I kind of had that same thing happen to me as well. The first Sunday of every month there is a Temple music Devotional at the stake Center Across from the new Port Beach temple where missionaries and members of the stake in charge that month perform musical numbers. We went last nigh because sister brown is one of the mission music coordinatiors. It was so nice to just sit there and feel the spirit of peace and comfort that comes from hymns and songs of praise to our Heavenly Father. I am coming to love and appreciate music even more now.


This week we were in an area that I was prompted to visit that day. It was hot and we were tired and not super motivated. We passed a street that one of our potential investigators lived on and sister Brown said we should go back and stop by. Dennis and Amita Were their names. As We walked up the street we saw Dennis out in his yard talking to his landscaper. We walked up as the landscaper was leaving and Said " Hey Dennis". He is Super nice and said " Hey Girls, Pounding the pavement today?" we said yes and asked how he was doing. "not So Good" was his response. He then opened up to us and told us that he had recently found out that his wife had been having an affair for the past nine years. He broke down and said that he was too down to talk today but that he would love to sit down and talk with us soon. Although It was a sad experience to hear about we were grateful he opened up and it is in these times in peoples lives when they are most prepared to receive the restored gospel. It was a Tender mercy for us that day.

I am learning more and more about the atonement and just how personal it is. I know that Jesus Christ actually suffered all the pains, sins and temptations that I am facing right now. He knows Exactly how I feel and can empathize perfectly with me. Because of this I know that He loves us and that He lives. He is always there to help us and to be at our sides.


I love you all!

Love,

sister Crossett

...to have The Spirit.

I will share a little something from the week. One particular day we were just about to finish tracting and sister Brown felt that we still needed to be there on that street but we didn't know what to do. We decided to just get out of the car and we headed over to a house to knock on the door. No Answer. The house next door was all lit up so we went over and knocked. We were surprised to find a lady that was very welcoming and informed us that she was actually a less active who wasn't on our records. She said she was Lutheran now because of her family but she was so kind and we even taught her a lesson and ended with prayer right there on her doorstep. That was just a really cool miracle that we got from following promptings. I am coming to recognize more and more how Heavenly Father speaks to me through the spirit. 

I know that it is so important to have the spirit with me and to be worthy to have it with me. That is how God gives us revelation and guidance. I know Heavenly Father want to here from us and that if we listen to Him, He will help us know what to do and what to say. Something really interesting happened to us today. We got a Call from a less active lady in our ward today that we havent been able to contact. She Called and said that she is normally not humble enough to ask for help but she was having a breakdown so she said we could come over. We went and listened for a long time to her story and her struggles and why she wasn't coming to church. I didn't know what to say that would make her feel better but we are so grateful to know her and that she was willing to open up to us. It really taught me that we often don't know what people are really going through. All We can do is love them and help them know that Heavenly Father Loves them too.

... I will also send a letter home for the primary kids. that was the sweetest thing that so many of them wrote to me. It was just what I needed. Sarah's farewell is on the 20th?! I want to hear from her!!

... I am learning to live more simply and be grateful for the things I have. I am trying to give it all to the Lord so having less stuff will help me. Say thank you to Grandpa and Jon for me. I pray for you all daily and I love you. 

Have a Great week!! Just keep Swimming!!

Love, 

Sister Crossett​

​

At the Modjeska House.  Look it Up!! w/sister Brown

The struggle carrying in emergency preparedness water.

The work is picking up

This will have to be a short email but ill try to answer questions. I got the Photo Album and I love it!! thank you so much! I will have to hold off looking at it for a while though for it makes me homesick.  I sent dad the correct address I think. It sounds like fun in the Crossett home. 

This week has been another week of readjusting to My New comp. Sister Brown. She is so cool though and I love her. And Its no Coincidence that She is From San Antonio Texas! She has been going to BYU for a Music Education and she is mainly a Percussionist but she also plays Piano.

 The Work Is picking up and I feel like I'm Getting a lot more done and am being more productive. The Ward is So missionary minded and it is really helpful. We cant do it without them. 

I will share one little Experience we had on sunday. We were asked to teach gospel Principals and I didn't feel prepared at all. The lesson was on tithing. All we had was a few scriptures to go off of. I said a lot of prayers before hand and tried to have faith. It went amazing and we even ended with perfect timing. It is so helpful to have participation in lessons. Basically all we did was have a group discussion but we all learned so much from each other. It was also the primary program this sunday. It was so cute and the spirit was just beaming off of there little smiling faces. There is nothing quite like hearing and seeing the simple  but pure testimonies of little children.

I know that This Gospel is true. I know that through faith in Jesus Christ everything will work out in the end. I know that we will not be condemned if we always have the spirit to be with us. Here is a Cool Scripture Cross reference Chain that I really liked from studies this week. 2nephi2:2---Micah 4:13----2nephi32:9--- D&C42:6---D&C42:14---D&C63:64 all about prayer and faith and the spirit. 

I hope you are all doing well. I love you!

Love,

Sister Crossett

Please notice the new address for letters.  There was some confusion with the correct address but hopefully if you've sent something, it will make it to her. 

Transfers!

Hey Everyone!
I would just like to share a few experiences that I have had this week over here in Beautiful Cali. It actually rained today for the first time since I've been here! There is a Drought so It was a tender mercy :)


On Tuesday we had our second lesson with Faith. It went very well and she said she would be baptized when she receives the answer that its what God wants for her. She is the sweetest! I am so grateful to be able to be apart of her journey.


Thursday we had an amazing lesson with a less active in our ward. She has been doing so well with reading the Book of Mormon each day so we decided that we should talk about prayer this time. It was a very powerful lesson. She took such comfort in remembering that God Is our Father, our dad. The spirit was there and I didn't have to worry about exactly what to say. I know that If I open my mouth words will come through the holy Ghost. She even said the closing prayer. I know that through Reading the Book of Mormon and prayer we can keep that relationship this Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Strong.


A little fun thing that happened on Saturday was we got to Go do service at a boy scout camp. They were having a sort of Halloween carnival with different games at booths. Sister Bambas and I got to help with a rubber band gun game. We refilled the guns as fast as we could to keep up with the boys shooting. We actually got really fast at it and It was a lot of fun.


Sunday was a special day. In The Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints visitors are always welcome but this Sunday we had a day specifically devoted to visitors. We handed out flyers and asked the ward members to invite their friends and neighbors in preparation for the day. Although only a handful of people were visiting, I know the spirit was there and that they felt it. Seeds were planted.


Well it has been 6 weeks already and that means transfer calls. We were not expecting to be going anywhere because Sister Bambas is still training me but I will be staying in this Area and she is headed elsewhere. I will miss her a lot but I will never forget the many lessons that I learned from her.


I know that every person matters to our Heavenly Father. I Know that we are all his Children and he is always listening. We just need to choose to listen to Him so he can help us and teach us. I know that through prayer we can truly come to know Him and his Son Jesus Christ.


much love,
Sister Crossett

New Pictures on the Live Oak Canyon tab of the blog soon. Hike and others. 

An email from a stranger.

I thought the sight of these beautiful faces would be welcome!!! I'd give almost anything to have these girls as mine..... so you are LUCKY!!!!! They both seem super well, they either are very happy or they are the best fakers on the planet and from my standpoint I would imagine that they like each other so much!!! They brighten the life of everyone they come in contact with and are just amazing. They came over to pick something up and had just come from the home of a single sister who has struggled with activity, depression and so many things!!! They have got her reading, praying , committing to do these things daily and they are completely oblivious to any negatives as far as this sister (Zoe) or actually anything in life!!!! I love them with a passion and hope I always keep tract of them. Hope you are having a good day and please feel free to call or email if here is ANYTHING I can do for you or your angels!!!
Love,
Jan

Toy expert, exchanges and frogs

I don't have as much time as I usually do for emails so this will have to be quick. 

This week has been a RollerCoaster ride. The Work is picking up and we have Been seeing Miracles. On Tuesday we did service for a less active in our ward named sister Batimana. Our task included, sorting, organizing, and getting rid of toys in her 5 or 6 year old sons toy room. Now this is something that I actually enjoy doing but this was different. The little boy had a Billion toys!! I didn't even know where to start, let alone what half the toys were. It was very taxing for me. Four Hours of "Imagine-X or not", thousands of nerf darts and a tub full of cars really takes it out of a person. Although it was long and hard, I am a toy expert now and we actually got a lot done and hopefully blessed their lives by the service. 

We had a mini exchange on thursday and then a really exchange on friday to saturday. On the mini exchange I went to the foothill ranch area with sister hill. We always get paired together because our companions are sister training leaders so they have meetings a lot but I love sister Hill so much. During personal studies that morning I came across the scripture 2 Nephi 16:10. I'd read it before but It really got me thinking about being fully converted and receive the healing that comes from the atonement. In order to receive it we need to be willing to give everything up to the Savior. We need to remember that we cannot do it alone, willing to let him help us, carry us, and teach us. Then on Friday we had awesome exchanges. I stayed in my area this time while sister Hill and sister Gage came to me. It was hard because I'm still not super familiar with the area but I had lots of help and I always learn so much from working with new sisters. It can be hard sometimes being with someone 24/7 but you really learn a lot and are humbled and taught a lot of patience sometimes. I've been learning that I just need to do the best I can do in what ever situation and circumstance we are in. 

tell Flavia Thank you. Tell lauren I can't watch tv but we have church dvds that we can watch sometimes on our portable dvd player. Tell sarah I love her and that she needs to email me. Tell derek happy Birthday on the 17th. I need more contacts soon, my wish list for anyone who would be willing to help includes watches (black and white), a soft plushy blanket (with frogs on it), really anything frog related. I was wondering if you could look into that red bag for me at deseret book if possible. maybe send me some pictures. I just need a smaller bag with more a more accessable opening. Sister Bambas has a flash drive recorder that she records herself on and sends it home in emails. I think that is a really good idea but let me know what you think. I Also would love Mrs. Coates and Mrs. Mardens email addresses if possible. Thanks mom! whatever you can do would be fantastic!

I know that our heavenly Father has a Plan for each of us. I know my Savior lives and I know that he can help us if we are willing and have an open heart. I love this Gospel and I know It is True.

I love you all!!

Love, 

Sister Crossett

two weeks of many first's

A compilation of stories from letters and emails that I have pieced together in, from what I can tell, is chronological order. 

Monday Sept. 26, 2016

The work is very slow here to be honest.  We are doing things but we don't have any progressing investigators and I've only ever taught one door step investigators lesson. It just takes patience and diligence. I've been struggling with knowing what God's expectations are for me. I know I just need to do my best, but what is my best?  These questions have been on my mind yesterday and today. I decided to pray and study about it and the answers I got didn't really answer my questions but made me realize that my questions weren't really important. The jist of my answer was from a talk someone gave on Sunday.  "Winning is getting up each time you fall down."

Sister Bambas and I were out visiting a potentials house one day. As we were walking, there was a little girl that came up to us on her scooter and said hi.  She was super friendly.  She asked us who we were and where we were going.  We said, "We are the missionaries out talking to people about Jesus".  She responded with something like, "I love Jesus! I know about him. God is good because he helps us."  We asked her where she learned that and she said,  "No one taught me, I just know."  If only everyone could be like little Katelyn.  We are going to stop by sometime in the future to see her and her family.   

Another fun story from last week was a first for me.  To tell you the truth I was just being silly me and left the spoon in the blender and the lid partially off as I turned it on.  And yep, you guessed it, Smoothie went everywhere!  from the counter, to the ceiling, to the top of my head.  I wasn't happy, but it was really funny. (smiley face) Funny story of the week.  

We visited the Newport Beach temple for a session on Friday (Sept. 23) It was beautiful. I got an answer to my questions. (pictures posted)

The Trip to the Mausses (Fri.23th?)
The Mausses are a member family in our ward that live outside of the mission but have special first presidency permission to live way out there and still be in our ward. So every once in a while the Mausses have the missionaries over for dinner and they drive down and pick us up.

The Mausses live way up in the Mountains in a little ranching neighborhood area.  it takes about 30- 45 minutes to drive up the winding and pretty schetchy road to their house.  Brother Mausse came to pick all four of us up ( a lot of families feed the elders and sisters in the ward altogether) for my first trip to the Mausses. I was told it would be quite the experience. The car was little so Elder Fullmer and Sister Bambas and I were squeezed in the back...a pretty awkward experience for missionaries, especially with the ride that was about to happen. 

Brother Mausse is quite the character: Always cracking jokes, telling very interesting stories, and driving confidently (with higher speeds than necessary) up the steep twist and turns of the mountain. It was pretty fun.  We finally got to his ranch/house and we meet the dogs, cats, horses, sheep, and people too. 
I think they sent pictures to you of us with the horse and maybe one with me holding a kitten.  (yes.  pictures are posted on new Live Oak Ward page)
O MY GOODNESS the KITTENS!!!  Their mom was an orange cat so they all had orange on them (smiley face)!  There were 5 kittens and they decided to name them after the little women characters because they matched their personalities exactly. Meg, Beth, Jo, Amy, and Teddy.  Amy was the one I held in the picture.  Anyway that was one of the highlights of the night for me.  Then we had dinner and talked and laughed.  I needed a good laugh. (smiley face)  Then we had a great lesson about the B.O.M. When it was time to go, Brother Mausse and the missionaries piled back into the little car.  The drive home was a lot scarier in the dark because occasionally Brother Mausse would flip off the headlights (his justification was that he had driven that road a billion times, but it was still terrifying.) Anyway we made it home in one piece and that was the trip to the Mausses. 

Women's Conference, Saturday 24th.  I loved it all.  Just sitting in the chapel with women of the church watching together made me feel so warm and welcomed.  The closing song was especially good because I was having a hard time and there was a down syndrome girl sitting next to me singing her out-of-tune little heart out and it just touched me so much.  

We sang that song (I Need Thee Every Hour, posted previously) in Sacrament meeting Sunday. The arrangement was really cool. from the Favorite Hymns of the Prophets book. Sister Kinnison, ward music coordinator/chorister, played for us.  Everyone loved it.  

(Wednesday Sept. 27th)
So, yesterday was a pretty amazing day. We had our very first real life lesson with an investigator.  Faith is golden and she committed to reading the B.O.M.and praying to know if it is true.  She also accepted a soft baptism invite.  I am just so excited and happy for her!  There really is nothing else quite like teaching someone of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love that her name is Faith, too (smiley face). 

O.K. one last story from yesterday and then I have to go study and pack. We are going on exchanges starting tonight. Fun Stuff. Anyway, last night around 8:30 we were sitting in the car parked outside a house we had just dropped off a note at. 8 to 9 pm is a hard hour to fill so we were writing a B-day notes for people in the ward to deliver. Nest thing I know I seea police car pull up and stoop. They turn on their bright lights into our car and one officer walks around back to check our license plate. I was really confused at this point. The officer then taps on our window and asks for our licences and what we are doing there. Sister Bambas says, "We are missionaries delivering notes to people in our congregation." He says "missionaries in this area? O.K."(smiley face) Then another officer walks up and says "The reason we stopped you is because you are parked just down the street from a drug house. People often are parked around here smoking weed at night. You're not in trouble, but we just needed to check it out." We were like "Good to know" and then they let us go. So that was a first for me. Pretty funny that it happened on my mission. Just thought you guys might enjoy that story.

I just want you to know I'm doing well and having great adentures. I love you all and I know that through Jesus Christ everything will turn out right in the end Because He Lives. Don't give up, Keep praying, and Endure to the End.

(now an email from Monday Oct. 3)

I'm so glad to hear that your conference experience was awesome! It was for me too!

So as missionaries we went to the stake center to watch conference. Basically it was just all the missionaries from our area that were there. It was so Fun!! We brought blankets and snacks and had fun laughing at all the little missionary insights. I definitely took notes too though :) My favorites were Uchtdorf, Hales, Anderson, and Jaun C. Ucedas ( he spoke to us when I was in the MTC) talks. I remember the Earlier sessions better because by the last sessions my brain was on overload just like you, but it was all amazing! when I heard that it was the MTC choir I said rather too loudly " Man! I was Just There!" everyone laughed. But its ok. They were Amazing weren't they? They brought the spirit like no other young adult choir ever could.

I Love Conference. I know that the prophets and apostles words are the words of God and they can help us in our lives if we are Willing to receive them. D&C 1:38

This week has been so cool. I had my first exchanges. Exchanges bring miracles. I went to the lake forest ward and was in a trio with sister Sakurai (Japanese sister) and sister Hill (from the MTC). It was actually really cool to be in a trio. Our first real miracle was when we went tracting around the apartment complex. We were lead to a building and the top floor, first door. We knocked on the door and a man named Kabir (Indian name) answered. To make the long story short we stood there and talked with him for an hour and a half and shared most of the plan of Salvation lesson with him. He was very philosophical and a very deep thinker but as we began to testify, he was intrigued by the conviction on our faces and he listened more intently. He accepted a Book of Mormon and I know a Seed was Planted. I know that I was there on exchanges on that very day for very specific purposes. It is just so cool To think about just how Our Heavenly Father works every little detail out.

I started learning to play the Ukulele because every missionary who had President Orgill as there Mission President has one. I borrow sister Bambas' and she has a book of chords. It is really fun and super easy and I have Callouses already! I thought Derek would appreciate that :)

I Love you all and hope you are having a wonderful week so far!
I know that My Savior Lives. I Know he loves us. Our Heavenly Father is just one prayer away and he IS listening. I know that the Doctrine of Christ is an ongoing cycle that we must use in our lives to return to him and I Know it is true.

Love
Sister Crossett

(from a correspondence with her dad Oct.3)

Thank you for your awesome emails. They always make me smile :) 

Yes, sister Bambas is a really great trainer. We are soooo much a like. The work is picking up. The first few weeks were really slow but I have my first Investigator Named Faith and she is Golden. We don't really have rules for what we are allowed to do during the day so we do knock doors but not all the time. It depends on what we plan for. 

Well I better get going but I want you to know that I love you too and everything is going well. I know that everything happens for a reason and I know our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will always be at our sides. A cool little phrase I learned from Conference is that God is always listening to us so we need to listen to him. I hope you have a wonderful week dad!

My Life is a Gift

After hearing the news of Lexy Hipwell's accident, I called the Mission President to ask what the best way to let Grace know of the news.  He said he would go tell her himself. I wasn't sure how well she knew Lexy, nor how she would take it. True to her nature, she is mostly concerned about everyone else. (And being obedient.) 

Hey mom,

I did get the news about Lexy this morning. President and Sister Clark gave us a wonderful little visit this morning at our apartment. Sister Clark gave us both little music boxes, and called me Grace and gave me a long hug. My first thought was of her family and friends,  I didn't know her too well but I was in classes and musicals with her and she is such a wonderful girl. Its a little weird, having known her that is. I do think its a good idea that I say something about it to everyone though.

Tell them this:

I've never really been very good with words or expressing my feelings from the outside. But I would like to say something that might be of comfort and meaning to each of you at this time. I would like you to each read this as if I were talking directly to you individually, because I am.

 I Love you. I Truly do. But more importantly, I know your Heavenly Father loves you. He made a plan each of us and that plan is only through Jesus Christ. Listen to this primary song:

My life is a gift

my life has a plan,

my life has a purpose

in heaven it began

my choice was to come

to this lovely home on earth

and seek for Gods light to

direct me from birth

I will follow Gods Plan For me

Holding Fast to his word and his love

I will work and I will pray

I will always walk in his way

then I will be happy on earth and in my home above.

" I lived in Heaven" is also a really good one.

well mom I spent all my time doing this and I just really don't know what to say. I just want people to feel loved and comforted right now. I know that they can have that through reading the Book of Mormon and continuing to pray and have faith. I want to be sensitive to peoples feelings also. 

People on my mind right now are Derek, Savannah Lund, Jocelyn Fox, and The Hipwell family.

I wish I could share more about my week but my time is up. I think this was the most important though. 

Love,

Sister Crossett

There are also more pictures added to the pictures page!

I need thee every hour

 

I received a text at 10 o'clock last night from an unknown number telling me to watch my email for a link to this youtube video that has "your beautiful missionary daughter singing at my house".  With the power outage at our house, I was not able to access it until this morning.  But, isn't it fantastic?  She's wearing her glasses because of the eye problem still healing.  (see previous post)

When I lose myself...

Hey mom, 

So I need to give you our apartment address because if you have been sending me things I only get it once a week on pday when my zone leader picks it up. So I haven't heard anything from you yet. An email would be good too. My address is 

30 Via Amistosa

Apt. G

Traduco Canyon, CA

( you might have to look up the zip)

 I don't know. I will get my mail today in a bit but I have been kind of needing my glasses. I just have the best luck. Last Thursday I got a red blotch in my eye and by Friday it had spread and I was sure it was pink eye. We had to get a hold of the mission nurse and she told us to go get it checked out and get a prescription and that I would have to stay in until it was better. Sister Bambas was super patient and accepting of that, So I took my first trip to an urgent care. It was really nice and easy though. Sister Bambas helped me and I got to fill out electronic forms which was way nice. Then we waited a while. The doctor said that I needed to take out my contacts asap because it was just irritating my eye even more. My eye was hurting a lot. Then we went and picked up my prescription at CVS and went home. So I have been blind since Friday night. 

typing this is really hard too. Saturday we stayed home and tried to be productive. It got a little frustrating that I couldn't see peoples faces but I'm coping.

I was able to go to church because I had been taking the drops for long enough that it wasn't contagious anymore. Sunday was amazing because it was my first actual sacrament meeting in the ward... sort of. It was the young women's program Sunday. The yw and leaders gave talks and sang and then they presented the medallions and awards. It was pretty cool. We were also invited to sing the final song the efy medley with them ( I've learned to just love it :). going to our ward finally helped me feel like I belong here. Everyone was super accepting and loving despite my scary eye.  We sanitized every five minutes just to make sure. We got to sit in for a bit of primary in case they needed help and then we went to gospel principals class.

( I'm really sorry I don"t know how to organize my emails)

Dad asked how food is going. Mostly we have to make our own but we get a lot of member dinners too. Its hard shopping for only a week and knowing what I need or want. I'm trying to be healthy and cheap and smart. Its hard. 

Tell Derek to keep holding out strong.  

I want to tell you about a really cool experience we had this week with a part member family. Kevin is the nonmember and Cheryl is the member and they have a little girl named Harper. We have these things called windows of heaven during the week where we pray for a specific time and place to be and then we go there. This was during a window and we decided to stop by their house. Kevin works all the time but we caught him home playing with Harper in the driveway. Harper Called him at work and said she wanted to play with him and he took the rest of the day off and came home. He is such an amazing dad. Harper is super shy so she stayed by her dad but we talked to him a for a while. He is super friendly and as we talked the thought kept coming to me that he needs the priesthood. I could see that in him. We talked a little more and then headed to a house of less actives. As we were walking we met Cheryl around the back as she was putting her horses away. She really opened up and told us that she really wants her family to be sealed in the temple. She's had a hard life but I told her that we knew she would get that wish. I just love them so much and I hope that sometime soon we can start teaching Kevin and get the Smiths to the temple. 

I love this work. When I lose myself and just love, that is when I find myself and feel real joy and happiness. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and has a plan for us. I know that charity is the pure love of Christ and that serving others helps us have that pure love and become more like him. 

Love , 

Sister Crossett

I did send her a package last week, with a long letter and her glasses. She had broken them in the MTC and sent them home for me to get fixed. Her dad sent an email which hopefully she got.