Week 26: Service, Art, and Counsel

Connor, with comp Elder Jolley, plus roommates

Dear Family,

Welcome to Yakistan. Or Crackima as it's also lovingly nicknamed. Yakima is known for three things: Apples, COVID-19 ... and COVID-19. Soooooo yeah, were still on heavy lock-down.

What we can do is service though, and we do quite a lot of that. From moving families into the ward to cleaning out backyards to helping out the Salvation army, we do a ton of service, which is nice. Aside from service we make phone calls, have Zoom meetings with members and make content for the WYM Facebook page.

I've been in Yakima for almost a month now and I'm navigating this new environment well, but for the first couple weeks it was pretty rough. I experienced a lot of mood swings and some really dark days. Days when the sun shone on the earth but not in my life. Those days made functioning hard. I struggled to eat well, to study, and to find motivation to do anything. After having several of those days in a row I decided to talk to one of the mission counselors about it. We've worked together (over Zoom) to help me navigate better. This quarantine is rough and missionary life looks different - perhaps more than it ever has before. I don't think we need to suffer more than necessary (if we can help it), and my experience has taught me that reaching out to others is a great way to get some help on your side.

I'm the unofficial barber of the Yakima Zone, which makes for good social interaction; everyone needs a haircut. Well, all Elders do. I've done 37 haircuts now. I'm getting better and better.

I'm working on finding new ways to do missionary work, mostly though art and crafts because that's what I'm good at and there's a lot of that on Facebook so it has potential to be a great thing.

My Spanish is coming along well. (thanks Duolingo!!!) Yo necesito usar mi celular para cartas! 😁😁😁

Welp, that's about it, we aren't really teaching anyone right now, so pray for creativity to flow and new people to be found!

Love and hugs,
Elder Craig

Week 22: Yakima!

Connor and the Ward Mission Leader in Coulee Dam

Dear family, 

Here it is, June 8th, my five month mark! I've been a missionary for longer than I worked at N.O.E. Bullet Moulds! 

After four months in Coulee Dam, President Jackman decided it was best that I see different sides of the mission. So Friday morning I packed my bags and headed south. Now I'm in Yakima, Washington. The heart of the city! Yakima is the biggest city in the mission, but as far as big cities go, it's pretty small; welcome to central Washington. 

I have new companion and roommates! My new companion is Elder Jolley. He's from American Fork and is a cool guy. He served for eight months in the Mexico City South Mission and then got reassigned to the Washington Yakima Mission after going home to isolate. He's really good at the Kendama! Like,... really good. My other roommates are Elder Smack and Elder Price. Elder Smack is an original WYM missionary and Elder Price was reassigned from Costa Rica about three weeks ago. They're both really cool and living in a four-pan is a ton of fun. Because I'm the only English speaking missionary in the apartment, I'm considering picking up a little Spanish this transfer. That should be fun. 

The area I'm assigned to was previously covered by Sisters, and at one point both Elder Jervoso and Elder Williamson served in this same area. Small mission! The biggest shock in moving has been having so many missionaries everywhere. I went from having other Elders an hour north and an hour south to having some under the same roof, literally next door, and a host of others in a five mile radius. So many missionaries! 

Even with missionaries closer, we don't see many or do much outside. Quarantine still exists and is still very much in the WYM. Rumor has it Yakima county might be the last county in America to open up again. Last week Washington had 200 new cases of Corona and 110 of them were in Yakima, so... nice timing, right? 

It's all okay though, I have plenty to do. Between learning Spanish and memorizing church proclamations, there are still things we can do to teach others and improve myself. Still, quarantine is rough. I miss the scenery and rural feel of Coulee Dam, I miss teaching people, and I miss feeling normal. The world is in absolute chaos and I feel the responsibility as a missionary and a human being to spread light and joy in the world. (Please note: We are all missionaries and human beings! We can all do our part!) 

"Brethren [and Sisters], pray for us." (1 Thes 5:25)

Service, Love, and Truth

Elder Craig

P.S. The couch in the Elders' apartment is leather ... and quickly unraveling. It's "peeling," and Connor is taking some creative liberties. 

This is a "peeling leather" (new art form) illustration of Abraham and Sarah and their posterity 

that Connor created on their couch.