Week 18: Podcasts, Quarantine & Love

Hi family!!

Update on the haps of Coulee Dam, Washington!

We're still quarantined. The stay-at-home order has been extended to May 31st so... that's fun... not. It's not fun. But it's okay because there are perks to quarantine! Namely, we've listened to some great podcasts as a mission! David Butler, Emily Freeman, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Meg Johnson, Brad Wilcox, and John and Jean Groeberg! If you want to listen to any you can find them on the LDS Living podcast.

We had Zone Conference this week (all over Zoom) with some guest speakers for the kick-off and finale firesides. Hank Smith and John Bytheway both Zoomed in and we had great discussions about Tender Mercies and Keeping our Focus on Christ. My favorite takeaways were when Brother Smith said, "We don't get our meaning from where we are in the Lord's vineyard, but from who we are." This means that either missionary, Relief Society president, nursery leader, or high-councilman, it's who we are and how we serve that pleases God, not what our calling is.

Brother Bytheway said many great things. One of my favorites being when he said people often leave the temple and say, "Well, back to the real world." But this is false. What happens in the temple and the world it belongs to is what is real. This fallen world is a temporary one and what is permanent is what is real. That touched me because I've found myself saying that as I've left the temple in the past. But he's right, this world can and will burn and fall apart and be ravaged by war and disaster, but what we do in the temple, that is real. That is what matters.

We're teaching a young lady who is very excited to attend church! Haha, so are we. She has many strong beliefs in God which is great. Updates on her later, hopefully!

I usually listen to a General Conference talk every morning while I make breakfast. The other day this stood out to me, "Love without service is like faith without works; it's dead." -- Jose L. Alonso. Love is more than just something you feel, it's something you do. You do it by sacrificing comfort or effort for others; you do it through compliments, and communicating and being a peace-maker. Lasting love doesn't just happen, it is earned through our efforts.

I love you all.
Elder Craig

Week 15: Speakers and Yard Work

Dear Fan Club [I mean family],

This week was pretty smooth. We've been teaching people over phone calls and having many Zoom meetings. The work moved forward at the speed of WiFi!

As a mission we tuned into the YouTube Live Fireside with Hank Smith, John Bytheway, and Meg Johnson. It was very touching and super insightful. My biggest takeaways were when one of them (I think it was Meg Johnson) said that gratitude is the greatest weapon against sadness, despair, fear, depression, and negativity. Truly, gratitude is a life-changing power that we can choose to have.

I also loved when one of them (I think it was Hank Smith) talked about what happy people do. He said happy people surround themselves with happy people, try to be happy, have deep conversations, listen to happy music, exercise, take time to unplug, get enough sleep, meditate, pray, and spend money on other people. These things, especially unplugging, are things I'm going to work on and I think we all should too. (Not that you're not happy,... I mean, no, yes; I do think you're happy... Okay, you're happy!... Geez...)

My favorite thing that John Bytheway said (besides his Barney Fife impression) was when he illustrated what to do when trials come. 1 Nephi 11:17 I know that God loveth His children, nevertheless I do not know the meaning of all things. Nephi starts with what he does know. Goes back to his foundation. And then he can tackle any question or doubt or trial of faith. We can do this too.

We also listened to a podcast with Scott O'Neil talking about basketball and his conversion. (For those of you who, like me, don't know who Scott O'Neil is, he's the CEO of the 76ers... apparently he's a big deal, pardon my ignorance, Scotty.) These are some thoughts I had while listening to the podcast: Life is long. People say it's short, but it's long. It is meant to be enjoyed and experienced; not endured, not suffered through, not survived. Give things time -- tough decisions that need to be made, bridges that need to be built, healing that needs to take place, projects that need to be completed, places that need to be seen, and words that need to be said -- because there is enough time. But don't let a moment slip by that could be spent loving, giving, sharing, cherishing, and being with the people you love. It was a good podcast.

Spring is coming and service is happening. We did three hours of yard work on Saturday and it felt AMAZING. The sun on my neck, the dirt on my hands, the sweat on my brow and the blood on my finger (wait, what??), nature has this way of rejuvenating the soul.

Have a great week and hopefully this pandemic thing wraps up soon.

Love and hugs,
Elder Craig

Week 14: Zoom Meetings & Conference

[Written on April 13]

Dear family,

Welp, we are week... three? I think? Into quarantine. We've been surviving though! We have many meetings on Zoom and calling people has never been more productive!

This week was the Worldwide Fast. What a turn out! I don't know how many people participated but there are 16 million members of the Church worldwide, and there were 300,000 on the April 10 Worldwide Fast Facebook page, so I think there were, how shall we say, many. As I fasted and prayed I felt honored to be part of something so much bigger than just myself.

Spring is just around the corner! The trees in front of our apartment are blossoming and we see tulips at the park. Also, there are insects and birds everywhere! My allergies haven't woken up yet either so, who knows, maybe they like Washington.

Easter was this week. What a day. I spent most of the day sending Easter videos to people - you know, those incredible videos the Church makes. On Friday we had a speaker on our mission-wide Zoom call and he gave a great talk about Easter Week. The thing that stood out to me the most about his talk was when he spoke of the disrespect Jesus was treated with just before the crucifixion. He was spit on and assaulted and all He said was, "Forgive them, Father." How incredible is that? With that perspective, it's easy to see that there is nothing we can do that our Savior cannot forgive us for.

Transfers are coming up soon, hopefully I'll stay in Coulee Dam, I love it here. We went for a gorgeous drive the other day to the best view in the area. This photo (see above) doesn't really capture what it's like in person, but what are you going to do?

This next week will be great. We're teaching great people and technology allows us to continue to do the work even with social distancing and such.

Love, hugs, and all that jazz. I'm still here, still working.
~Elder Craig

Week 12: Officially Quarantined

Connor and Elder Williamson

Well, we're officially in Quentin Quarantino!

We teach over the phone, we meet over Facebook, and we visit over Zoom. What a unique time!

We get lots of time, and an hour+ everyday, to go outside. We go to parks, lakes, grassy fields, and hikes. We throw paper airplanes on windy days and take our shoes off on warm days. Nature is a centering and rejuvenating force.

We are teaching some really great people right now! We're teaching a young family, a sweet older lady, and a man with lots of questions. All over the phone! It's definitely not what I thought I'd be doing six months ago. But I'm learning a lot and gaining lots of insight and perspective of what we can really do with technology.

Unfortunately, we've had about a dozen missionaries from our mission go home for health reasons. We are all very sad for them and pray for them a lot. I've had many friends around the world head home - some temporarily and some for good, for health and safety reasons. I feel blessed that I am able to stay here in Washington. I'm so grateful that I have been called to the work at this incredible time. The fact that I get to stay is a privilege and it makes me want to serve twice as hard as before!

I'm so excited for General Conference! The opportunity to hear from God's chosen servants is always something to look forward to but especially at this time of chaos and turmoil, I feel extra anxious to hear what they have to say to us.

Hugs and love,
Elder Craig

Week 11: Pseudo-Quarantine

 Quarantine Preppin'

Hello, everyone!

I'm sure you - and everyone else - is wondering what's happening in the mission, with so many missions quarantining and sending missionaries home. So here's all the information we have:

• My companion and I call it "Pseudo-quarantine." We are suspending door-to-door tracting and street contacting. 
• We are putting a big focus on working with members and online work. (If you see a sudden surge of Facebook posts from me, now you know why.)
• About a dozen missionaries are unfortunately leaving our mission due to health concerns that put them at higher risk of COVID-19. (I say "unfortunately," but fortunately they are being kept safe.)
• The mission is still open and the work continues to move forward. My heart goes out to all who return early or are reassigned on their missions. Unexpected turns of events are tough. 

Elder Williamson and I are teaching some new people this week, which is exciting. We're working on teaching over video calls and phone conversations. It's not what I expected when I started my mission but I'm so glad we have the technology to continue God's work!

This week was supposed to be Zone Conference and the mission temple trip, however, as you might imagine, those will not be happening.

I love this area and how secluded it is. The sunsets are beautiful and Elder Williamson and I have a favorite park we go to during out "fresh-air time" hour. (I say favorite park ... it's the only park for miles).

I sometimes feel like I have to take care of the rest of the world and it's craziness, but then I remember my sphere of influence is right here and this is what I proactively work on--Coulee Dam and Facebook.

With technology as advanced as it is and right at our fingertips, while we do face a big trial, we also have a mighty big opportunity. So take the opportunities when you see them!

Love and hugs!
Elder Craig

Connor found this photo on the ward's Facebook page, from years past. That Elder on the right? That's Elder Trent Peterson. He is now married to Katie's sister. About 8 years ago, Connor's uncle served in the same ward/area that Connor is serving in. It's the smallest of worlds. 

Week 9: Canada & Spokane

Connor's area: Grand Coulee

This week is transfers! Elder Jervoso is getting transferred out and I'm getting a new companion and staying in Coulee Dam!

We had back-to-back exchanges this week with other Elders so we were out of Coulee for a few days! I got to see the northern most part of the mission and glanced at Canada!

Sing it with me: Oh, Canadaaaaa...

I also left the mission boundaries this week! Don't worry, it wasn't against the rules, we went to the Spokane Temple with some recent converts. The Spirit was very strong and peaceful there.

I had a wonderful, spiritual experience this week. There is a family we meet with regularly - the dad and children were baptized already and the mom is still searching. She said she "felt hesitant" about getting baptized. When I got bold and simply asked her if she felt the gospel was true, she said, "Oh, yes." I then shared Mosiah 18 and we talked about believing and being willing to make covenants to love the Lord and love others. The Spirit was there and it was a powerful moment.

I gave a talk in church yesterday. I spoke on Elder Uchtdorf's talk Your Great Adventure. My favorite part is when he says we don't have to live the Gospel perfectly, but that we should live it intentionally. I think that's where grace comes in. When the intentions lead to intentional actions. Then after all we can do, grace makes up the rest.

Love and hugs to you all,
~Elder Craig

Week 8: Guns & Dog Bites

Hey Fam. Ya'll are beautiful and I miss you.

This week we knocked on the door of a man holding a rifle while he asked us, "Who's there?!" So, it wasn't exactly having "a gun pulled on me," but ... it was the most Jason Bourne moment of my mission so far. Also, Elder Jervoso got bit by a dog this week.

I don't have any real good stories this week. (Unless you count the dog bite. Which I do.) We had two exchanges and both went well. We have two more this week. Being the district leader, Elder Jervoso does a good number of exchanges with the missionaries in our district. I'm always glad to meet other missionaries and see their areas and how they work. I learn something from each one of them. I'm also glad to get back together with Elder Jervoso. And not just because he makes me pork menudo.

We went bowling as a district on our prep-day. It was lots of fun. There are many different personalities in the district - but bowling really unites the masses, you know? No? Well, it does in chilly northern Washington in March.

The Missionary department released a video this week of Elder Uchtdorf and Elder Nielson talking about missionaries being more "normal" or natural in their interactions with people. They had clips of good examples and bad examples, all staged of course. Some were reeeeeeally cringe-y, which I think was what they were trying to show, so I guess that means they did a good job producing them. Anyway after it was done I lead a short discussion on sincerity and how we can have more of it in our teaching.

The time sure does fly here. It feels like yesterday was Friday and the day before was last Sunday.

This next week we are taking a temple trip to Spokane and I'll be giving a talk in church on Sunday (foreshadowing).

Love and hugs.

Elder Craig

Week 6: Loving the Work

Elder Connor - and both of his grandpas, when they missionaries at the same age. 

Dear amazing, hilarious, creative, supportive, and talented family,

Yes Dad, it does feel like the weeks are flying by.

Thank you for praying for those people. Keep at it. Especially for the J---- family. They need all the prayers of strength and comfort they can get.

Driving is fun, especially with other elders. We listen to movie soundtracks and Enya. #enyaislyfe. We watch Church videos occasionally. Mostly the church's "inspirational messages," so we know ones we can share with others.

President Jackman is soft-spoken and gentle, and Sister Jackman is hilarious and energetic. They are great. The mission focus is "Find, Teach, and Baptize." And "Learn by the spirit, Plan by the spirit, Find by the spirit, Teach by the spirit, and work with members through the spirit." The mission motto right now is "Raise The Bar."

Dad, thanks for sharing those experiences about Grandpa with me. They really touched me. I'm praying to, as my setting apart said, know and understand and feel the presence of those guardians.

I heard about Sister Nau in the ward bulletin. Prayers to their family.

Sorry there weren't any real great stories this week, I hope you read the one last week with all the storytelling craft possible.

There isn't much to do for besides what you've been doing. Praying and emailing.

Life is good.

I love and miss you all.

Service, Love, and Truth
Elder Craig

Week 5: I like it here.

We didn't know until this week just how much taller Connor is than Elder Jervoso. 

Dear Everyone:

This week we had a Trainer/Trainee meeting. That's when all the new missionaries from a zone and their trainers meet with the President and the APs and get some training and eat food. We met in Quincy.

We saw a lot of deer this week and a ton of turkey tracks in the snow. Also, it snowed 6 inches on Tuesday and Wednesday. So that was cold.

On Saturday we knocked on a door we had passed earlier last week. Turns out it was the home of a Seventh Day Adventist family who homeschools and the father was having a meeting with the Pastor in the living room. We briefly got acquainted and wished them well and high tailed it to avoid any Bible-bashing.

We are teaching a man named Milo. He's had some really good experiences with the Book of Mormon so far and we're trying to help him understand the visions he had last year. For example, he talked with his uncle ... whom he had never met ... and he saw some people that others couldn't see. Pretty cool stuff. Ultimately the Spirit has to tell him what it means, but we're doing our best to help.

We had three people come to church yesterday that we were really hoping would come. Yay! And we had a wonderful potluck afterwards and really fellowshipped with the members. Which is great. I love this ward. I love this area. I sometimes think I could stay here for two years and be alright with it. We also drove to Buffalo Lake the other day. Good scenery. Frozen surface.

This next story is something that really means a lot to me. It sounds a certain way in my head, so I'll try to convey it in a way that you can experience it like I want you to. Imagine it like a talk in General Conference:

I focused a lot on Charity this week and what it is. An excellent verse on charity is Moroni 7:45. (Cue the general authority voice.) I had an opportunity to practice charity this week when Elder Jervoso and I shoveled some snow. We went to an older sister's house to shovel her driveway and she had two shovels for us to use. (Proceed slowly.) Having lived seven years in Utah, I immediately recognized that one shovel was going be a lot easier to use than the other. It was better designed, weighed less, was sharper, etc. I likewise knew that my companion, having lived his whole life in a country where the coldest it ever gets is 45 degrees, would not sense that I had short-changed him when I handed him the lesser shovel. So I did.

(You're still reading too fast, read slower.)

I had completely ... turned ... inward. I was thinking only of myself and my convenience. I was acting selfish, self-centered, and un-Christlike. I could have easily justified my actions. "Because I've lived longer in snow, I probably shovel better than him, so I should get the best shovel." Or, "I'm bigger. I'll work more effectively than him, so give me the best tool to use."

(Pause)

And then Moroni 7:45 came to my mind. And all I had been studying that very morning ... And I realized ... what I had done. (Emotion rises in the throat.) I realized that the Savior would not have for a moment selfishly pined for His own convenience. He gave all convenience and comfort away on the cross for everyone else and their needs. As long as I wear His name, I know my place in reference to the needs of others. (Pause.) And in that moment ... (looong pause) ... I knew what charity felt like.

These are the experiences. These are the stories. The ones I pray for every morning and night when I say, "Please bless me with charity." These are the moments that shape us. The next step on the path in following the Savior. These little nudges make us turn more and more ... ever so slightly ... little by little ... to be in line with God's will. And if we make that part of our character ... that's when the changes are evident. That's what makes missionaries different at the end of their missions from when they started. Letting those experiences stay in their mind and become part of them.

I know Heavenly Father answers prayers. He works through others to bring about His will. I know it because I have seen it.

Service, Love, and Truth
Elder Craig

Week 4: First Area: Coulee Dam, Washington

Connor and his trainer, Elder Jervoso, from the Philippines. 

Dear Family & Friends:

I arrived in Washington Yakima mission on January 28! I spent a day in the mission home training and eating, and then got my assignment to serve in Coulee Dam. There are a lot of deer and wild turkey in Coulee ... and sooooooo many dogs. Everyone has dogs. Ev. Ry. One.

My companion is Elder Jervoso, and he's Filipino. We have a car! The mission doesn't usually have new missionaries drive, but Elder Jervoso doesn't have a U.S. drivers license, so I get to drive around our Toyota Rav4. The Coulee Dam area is in the Ephrata zone, way north of Yakima. We're the only two missionaries in the area, and it's very spread out. Elder Jervoso is also the District Leader, so we get to do some leadership stuff on occasion.

This week was great. We tracted and drove around the area a lot. We had dinner last night with a recent convert, Maria. Classic cornbread and chili. So good, I had two massive bowls and probably gained 20 pounds.

Right now we are teaching a man named John. He's a young man who is very familiar with the Bible. He's reading the scriptures and exercising faith. We're extending a baptism invitation this week, so hopefully that turns out.

Service, Love, and Truth

Elder Craig