Weekly letter

So I leave this Monday!!! We should leave at about 4:00 in the morning. Which means we should be in Salt Lake around 5-5:30. Which means I should be calling home some where between 5:30-6:30 (depending on when we get there, and how long it takes to get through the check in. We leave around 7:00 for Texas, then to Leon Or a town by it.

I am so excited! I can't believe it is time to go to the field. Also, today was the last time we are going to the temple for a while. That was really sad. The Spirit was there though. I am really going to miss the CCM. Last Tuesday we had Elder Christofferson come and yesterday we had Elder Perry. He is still spry for his age!!! He skipped up  the steps to the pulpit. I couldn't believe how fast he moved! IT was awesome! Also, he talked about the Martin Harris Pageant, which brought back some memories. Yesterday was a big day. It was when the Aaronic Priesthood was restored again to the earth. Basically the last week we have been reviewing Spanish. It will be a fun trip! I know the Gospel is true and that it saves lives! Also, our Branch President served as mission president to Leon and he brought some pictures yesterday and showed us what it is like. I'm excited! Also, I heard that next year or so Leon might be getting a new Mission president.

The Gospel is still true! I printed off a bunch of pictures and a cd. I will send a box with all the stuff I don't need home. Also, my journal should be in there.

Tonight my companionship and I teach a lesson in front of all of the new missionaries that are coming into the MTC today. There is a little pressure, but we are ready.

Well, I love you all so much! I am so very grateful for the Savior and for all that he does for me. I know that the Gospel is the only way to happiness.

Love you lots! Keep up the good work!

Love you!

Love, Elder Michael Blake Crouch

May 9, 2012

Hey Family!

Another week come and gone! It's been great.

Yesterday Elder D. Todd Christofferson came and spoke. As he was driving away in his car we waved and said, "thank you," and he said thanks back. That was pretty cool. Also, I went to Salt Lake City on Lunes with four other elders in my district (and a bunch of others). We went to the Mexican Consulate to sign some very important papers!!!!! =D So I should have my visa now!!! Just wait for two more weeks and I'll be heading out to Mexico!!! That was a "fun" trip. The bus driver dropped us off (by the way, we road in a "prison" bus, ha haha) and said, "Okay, they'll be a bus back here at 6 to pick you up." Then he drove off.... It didn't take us until 6. It probably only took an hour or so. Thankfully we had a senior missionary couple with us, and they called the C.C.M. and there just happened to be another bus in SLC dropping missionaries off. I learned that I am really sheltered in the C.C.M. How do you live out there? I was really excited to get back to my safe little home. Now I know what I need to prepare for. Basically all of Monday was shot doing the visa stuff. Today we went to the temple. I love it there! You should go as often as you can, because it is AMAZING!!! I only have one more trip left, and then I'm going to have to wait two years. That's going to be tough. Oh, also, we are now the oldest missionaries here in my zone. One of the branch presidency called us "seasoned missionaries." Until we get to the field. A lot has happened, but it is hard to remember it all. Elder Foote was temporarily out of our companionship because we had another Elder in my zone that needed a companion for three days. That was SO weird!!! After being with someone for 24 hours for 5 weeks and then they are gone. Not good for your brain. =D Sounds like you are all having a good life. I was wondering where my memory card was. Thanks mom. I'm not surprised about the jeep. ;) ha ha ha! I took it "mudding" one time and got stuck.... Mom, you need a hemi truck!!!! =D Love ya!!!  Ha haha! Tell Reed's son congrats for me.

I know it is short, but it is the same as always. The Spirit is strong! My Spanish is coming along (well, at least for the C.C.M.)! And I am loving life! I've also really enjoyed sitting by Elder Mackely during choir. That's great! And I saw Elder Sean Smith this week too. It was good to see him here! Oh, and I think I'm going to have to take a break from soccer. Lunes, I was tearing up the field. That was fun. And then yesterday, I was doing well, but I went after the ball and got a good kick to the shine. I hit the ground and it took a while to get back up. It KILLED!!! Eventually a staff member came down, and so I got up and said I was fine. I'm going to get it check out today, but I really think it was just a hard kick to the shine. I was running on it afterwards, so don't worry. Ha haha! I just decided that it isn't worth getting injured two weeks before I leave, so I'll probably play some v-ball.

Well, the Gospel is still true!! I love it so much!!! Keep being amazing! Keep having Faith. I know with faith, anything is possible.!

Love you all!!!

Love, Elder Michael Blake Crouch

ps. Every member is a missionary!

May 2 2012

Dear family,

How are you doing?!?! I am doing rather well!!!

Life is good here, as always! My Spanish is coming along much better! This week we have 5 days of solamente espanol, y next week is our cosecration week. I can't believe I have been here for seven weeks already! It can't be that long! Time flies when you are having fun! The Spirit is so strong here, just like always! And I saw Elder Mackley this week!!! I had been looking for him, and I knew I would find him at choir. I have my choir buddy back now!!!  I felt like Alma the younger, when he meets up with the sons of Mosiah. My joy was full, seeing Elder Mackley being such a wonderful example of Christ.

One thing I have decided is that the 6th week mark is always the toughest in anything. At Camp, and here. We all had some issues to work out, but unlike camp, here it was done with the Spirit of Christ, which made it easier. I have also seen my district grow SO much in the past week or so. It's crazy. On Sunday we went and watched a talk Elder Bednar gave at Christmas time. It is life changing. It was the second time I had seen it. It is SO amazing!! Wow!!!

I'm always amazed at how Spanish is becoming a part of me. I start to think in Spanish. I almost responded back to a temple worker today in Spanish. ha ha ha!!! Also, for the past week or so we have been reviewing. All 14 tenses of Spanish, plus other stuff. I have learned a lot about myself, and I'm trying to let the Lord mold me. It isn't always easy. Sometimes I don't want to change, but I know it is necesary.

Let's see. I recieved some cookies from the twins. Talk about heaven on earth!!! They will be gone by today (And I got them last night).

I don't have enought time to say everything I want to say!! I wish you could just feel how I feel. My love for the Gospel has grown SO much!!!! I know with the Lord, I am strong!!! I've seen it in my lessons. When I really humble myself and rely on Him, he helps. But when I think to myself, "This is easy," then I find it is SO hard to teach and speak Spanish. Also, so much happens in a week that I can't remember it all. Let me rephrase that, so much happens in a day that I can't remember it all! We got a new district, and we made all of their beds for the first day. That was fun. I made 6 out of the 12 beds. I also played the piano in Sacrament meeting. It is amazing how the Lord has helped me with that! I was able to learn the song rather quickly and played it well.

Also, I scored my first goal ever in soccer yesterday!!! That was epic!!!

Well, time is short. I will end with my testimony that I know this Church is true!! I know God loves and know every single one of us! He knows what we need! I am so grateful for them!! I see how the Gospel blesses lifes.

I am so excited to get to the field and teach my brothers and sisters. I'm nervous too, but I know with the Lord, everything is possible.

Love, Elder Michael Blake Crouch

ps. forgive my spelling. Learning another language doesn't always help spell correctly.

April 25th 2012

Hey family!!!

I can't believe another week has gone by! It seems like for ever ago when I last had a p-day, but the week also flew by! Basically I am loving it here!

We just went to the temple, and since we missed breakfast at the MTC (since we were at the temple at 7:10) we had it there. I THOUGHT I HAD DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN!!!!! =D After about 6 weeks of MTC food you get pretty tired of it. I had an omelet (SO GOOD) real bacon that wasn't charcoal, and some super good hashbrowns. Also, the temple session was amazing! I got a better understanding on how amazing the priesthood is!

Yesterday we went to TRC (which is where we teach members a lesson). We taught Bro. Underwood, who happens to be the guy that translates General Conference and he also did the Spanish translation for the temples. So, I'm going to hear his voice for sure 3 more times (general conference in Mexico). Here at the CCM you meet all sorts of note worthy people. Yesterday we had Elder Nelson come and speak to us. That was amazing! I felt the Spirit come in when he walked into the room! It was amazing!!!!

Another highlight of my week... The practice field is open!!!!! You don't know how nice it was to be able to run outside. We played soccer, and I did well! I had some amazing shots, but Elder Haynie, the goalie, was able to stop them just in time. I did have an amazing assist though! I kicked it into the center, and a teammate headed it in (which was against the rules, but... ). That was epic. The next day I played sand volleyball. It was nice and fun, but I'm still not a fan of getting dirty hands like that. Of course I ended up diving ( a lot of times) and I was super sandy by the end of gym.

I love it here! I have two buddies from high school that are heading out this week. I said adios to them.

So much has happened that I have no idea what to talk about!

Javier has accepted a baptismal invite. Oh, and I can't remember if I told you about Carlos, but a week before his "baptism" his daughter ran away with her boyfriend and he hasn't heard from her at all... Don't think about it KK. ;)   Anyways, we are working with him, and he has said that he is feeling more peace in his life because he is praying. He didn't do his reading like he was suppose to, so we read with him, and it was great to see him understand more and to see the Gospel start to take a hold of his life.

I know that this Gospel is true!!!! I see blessings that come from it everyday!!! I would say one of the hardest parts about my mission is helping others see that they need it and why they need it. I can only invite, they are the ones that need to act. It's not me that needs help, I'm already on the path, but THEY need to do it. That can be a hard thing to help them understand.

I do know that this Church is true. I know that Jesus Christ died for me and that through him I can live again! I have a testimony of the Plan of Salvation! I know Jose Smith translated the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for my ancestors for going through the hardships so that I can have the opportunity to help others with their hardships. I know that Faith and Acting on your faith are important!!!! I believe in the Gift of Tongues! My Spanish is coming along! We have already had two days of solamente espanol. Manana y viernes son solament espanol tambien. Lo es dificil, pero es posible con el don de lenguas! Yo se que the evangelio de Jesucristo fue restauarada en la tierra.

I love you family!!!! Keep being strong!!! Remember, Every member is a missionary.

Love, Elder Michael Blake Crouch

ps. Thanks to everyone that wrote me!