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!

April 18, 2012

Hey family!!!! Life is really good here!

So basically Sundays are my favorite days! I'm pretty sure last Sunday you couldn't have felt the Spirit because he was WAY, WAY, WAY, too busy at the C.C.M. =D Okay, we all know that the Spirit never gets too busy, but it was SO strong last Sunday! We were singing prelude music and as we were singing "Onward Christain Soldiers," Elder M. Russell Ballard came in. We all stood up. I didn't see him come in, but I just felt so overwhelmed and started crying! Basically, I cried a lot Sunday night! Elder Archuletta sang a rendition of, "The Spirit of God." The Spirit was amazing! It was like a big huge blanket suddenly was wrapped around my whole body! I can't describe how strong the Spirit was that night. I know how Lehi felt when he wanted his family to partake of the tree of life. I wish you were all there, just so you could feel the Spirit and know how true the Gospel is! Plus we sat four rows back to the front and I had the feeling that Elder Ballard was looking and talking right at me! So basically, I wouldn't give this up for ANYTHING!!!!

We got a new maestro this week. Hermano Riechert moved to Texas with his wife and daughter (he graduated and has a job lined up in Texas now). I was really sad to see him leave. He pushed us SO hard and we accomplished a lot! Now we have Hermano Torres, who is just as amazing! He lets you know when you are not doing your best. It's really humbling! Hermano Guertes is still with us and he is still amazing!!!!

Tuesday night we had a devotional, but it was more like a class. We were taught on how to use members. They are SO vital to missionary work! and EVERY Member IS a missionary. It is a covenant we make. Share the Gospel and find people to teach to!!!!
I also love my district!!! They are so amazing!

Kaitlyn, I get the hint. My car isn't going to be working when I get home. You can stop informing me of that and just kill it already so I don't have to worry about it! ;) Plus, you better watch out when I get back. I am becoming a PRO at volleyball!
Sounds like you all had a great week! I really can't remember what everyone said in their letters. We just got back from doing sealings and that was an interesting experience! I love the temple SO SO SO much!!! It truely is a blessing and I'm going to be sad when I get to Mexico and can't go every week.

I received a lot of letters this week! Ashley promised me she would make and send me some cookies (YES!!!). Grams wrote me. I got your letters along with Tayler's. Raleigh wrote as well as Sierra and Carson. If you see any of them, tell them thanks for me! Also, I got some letters from some primary boys! Yep, I got to brag about having the best primary kids! =D. And, I can't write any of my granparents (except Grams), because I don't have any addresses. So you can either Dear Elder them to me, OR... have them write me.

Wow!!! I can't believe I have been here for a month already!!! it isn't possible!!!!
I know that this Gospel is true!!! I have a firm testimony of the Gospel of Christ! That is what brings us closer to Christ! I have a testimony of the priesthood. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that it was translated by Joseph Smith by the power of God. I know we have prophets here on the earth today and that they do receive revelation. I know that I am learning Spanish so that I can bring people to Christ!!! I know that I am supposed to be here on my mission and that it is a calling for all worthy men! I KNOW the atonement is real! I use that every day! It is such a powerful gift from God. I know that through covenants that we make, we access more and more of the atonement! This Gospel blows my mind about how easy and loving and amazing it all is!! I am a child of God! I have been sent here to gain my own testimony and body and to bring the Gospel to others!

Okay... hmm... the rest of my week was amazing!!! I keep learning how to teach every day! I love the Gospel. Have I mentioned that yet? Well, everyone else is done writing and I only have about two minutes left, so I guess it is time to sign out!
I love you all SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, much!!!!
Love, Elder Michael Blake Crouch
P.S. Zach, YOU are awesome!!!! =D

April 11, 2012

Sounds like y'all had a great Easter weekend. I really can't complain about my Easter. In fact, Sunday was one of the best days here so far. We had a huge conference and President Packer came and talked to us! That was really amazing!!! I learned a lot from that!!!

For the Sunday night Devotional the BYU's Men's Chorus came and sang. They dedicated a song to all the people going to Mexico. That made me feel great!!!! I really loved that! They sang some of my favorite songs and the last song they sang, "Who is He in Yonder Stall," was a song we sang this Christmas in Arise. It was reallly touching to me and I will admit I got a little teary-eyed.

Then after that we went and watched a recording of the Christmas Devotional by Elder Bednar. That was amazing. As Elder White puts it, "It's like you were having Thanksgiving Dinner and you were expecting 80 people, and you were the only one to show up and had to eat all the food." That is how we felt spiritually. By the end of the day I was SO full!!! "It is like a pressure in my chest. Bigger than I am." That is how one person described the Spirit. That is how I felt!!! I can't get over how amazing Easter was!!!

Also, the Howards sent me two dozen doughnuts. My whole district loved the doughnuts.
So, I had a couple of crazy experiences. So the day it snowed was one of the first. All the snow was melting and there was water running off the awning. It was landing about a foot away from a metal pole. So I had the brilliant idea to "jump" under the water withought getting wet. I was really going to jump through the foot gap. Well.... I jumped.... and instead of making it through the gap, I hit my head pretty had on the metal pole. I bounced off of it and rolled to the ground. It was HILARIOUS!!! I was laughing SO hard, along with everyone else. I had a huge goose egg on my head.

Well, the next day, the gym was closed so we went to the weight room. We worked out and I was a little tired. Then Elder Rummler and I had a rowing competition on the rowing machines. I may have really excerted myself. I won, but I did not feel well afterwards. I am grateful that there was a garbage can nearby. I was sick for about 20 minutes and finally I sayed a prayer asking for me to feel better. I knew excatly what was going to happen, and enough said. But I felt better! ha ha ha!

My spanish is coming along. The MTC is tough. I get really tired at times! You are constantly pushing yourself. Constantly trying to do better. I love it here though!!! Seriously! Just when you think you can't go any farther, the Lord picks you up and carries you. It is amazing!!!!

I love my God. I love my Savior. I love the Holy Ghost. I love the Gospel. I love my mission. And I KNOW that this is where I need to be. I KNOW that Jesus Christ died for me and that throught the Atonement of Christ everyone can recieve eternal life! I am so thankful for it! I love you all!!!! I am so grateful for the wonderful family I have!!! Thank you!!!! I might be sending a written letter because my time is up. Just know I love you!!!!

Love, Elder Michael Blake Crouch!
ps. We lost a missionary this week. Elder Montgomery is on his way to the Peru MTC. It was really sad to see him go. He is such a great elder! And since Elder Foote was his companion. He is now in my companionship. Ha ha ha! So who ever said we were going to be companions at "Village Inn." was right. ha ha ha!
Love you!