July 4, 2016

Hey Guys

I can't email a long one but I know what is happening to transfers. I will let you more know later in the week but Elder Prater is leaving and becoming a Zone Leader in Shreveport and I am staying in ocean springs 6 more weeks and becoming the District Leader over the missionaries down here. Love you and will let you know about my new comp later

Love 

Elder Crouch

June 27, 2106 Killing it in Ocean Springs

Hey Y'all,

Sorry for slacking and not sending out a group email in a few weeks.  It has been pretty hectic down here and me and Elder Prater have been working really hard and doing some good service for the community and we are starting to see the results of all the hard work and all the hours of tracting.  We started the week off by seeing some of our investigators that we have already had, Cheryl and Alana and Clint and those both were some good lessons and we see them progressing and it is nice to see some benefits come from your hard work.  Later in the week though me and Elder Prater really wanted to go find some new investigators and see if we can have some success tracting and so we went to a trailer park that is managed by someone in our ward and so we knocked four doors the first day... and four lessons and two hours later we left the park.  We had some sweet lessons with a few people in the area like a young lady named Lauren who is pretty interested and grasped the concept of the restoration pretty darn well.  We also met a girl named Laurie who had her boyfriend over who happened to be a member of the church in the Pascagoula ward which is a neighboring stake and it turned into a Member Present lesson.  Things like that just continued to happen this week and we had one of the best weeks for teaching that this area has seen in a long time.  

Besides the lessons, this week was a week that was filled with the spirit due to our Zone Conference held in Gulfport.  We talked a lot about the Spirit and the power of prayer and the culture of this mission and it was a spirit filled meeting.  At the end we had a testimony meeting and some of the testimonies of the missionaries were so strong and it was just a motivation to work and bring some more souls to Christ.  

I hope that you all are having great weeks and see as much success as we are seeing down here.  Keep staying awesome and I hope to hear from y'all soon.

With Love

Elder Crouch

Hey Mom and Dad
Those Pictures are pretty crazy to think that Mitchell leaves in a week and a half.  I bet he is stressing out a bit and is excited at the same time.  How was the trip to Vegas.  Mom said it was super hot one but was there any success in finding some homes or anything like that?
This week was a pretty good week for us.  Me and Elder Prater were able to find a bunch of new people and teach the people we already have in our teaching pool.  We tried tracting this one Trailer Park that some members manage and that place in is way good for teaching.  The first day we went there we knocked four doors and it took two hours because they all let us in.  One person was a senior in high school and her name was Laurie and her boyfriend named Kenny was at the house and he was the one that actually let us in.  He is a less active member at a different ward just down the highway a bit and it turned into a Member Present lesson and that was pretty dang cool.  We also taught a pretty solid girl named Lauren and we taught her the full restoration and she was pretty interested.  We also had two lessons this week with Shirelle and she is progressing pretty well and she is interested in the Book of Mormon and understands it pretty darn well.  We also taught Alana and Clint and they had a bunch of Anti Mormon material for us and they wanted to question us on it all and we cleared up all of their questions and that made our relationship a little more smooth and hopefully we will be able to continue teaching them and letting them feel the spirit.  

We had a Zone Conference this week and President Olson came down to Gulport and it was an 8 hour meeting on the Spirit and Culture and Prayer.  It was a way good meeting and we learned a lot.  I chimed in a bit and at the end there was a testimony meeting and I bore my testimony and President Olson came up to me and said that he is really impressed with how much I have grown in the past 9 months.  And then on Sunday we were at our Stake conference and Sister Necaise (i have been working on her non member husband) spoke and she like praised me to President Olson and he called me later that day to say that he thinks that I am turning into the Ammon of the mission haha.  Kind of weird but it was nice of him.

We also had our Family History class which was a big success.  We had one of our investigators show up and 7 non members and we were working with all of them One on One and it is always cool to break down the barriers of Mormons and the world and so they really appreciated the class and they all said that they would come back next time and so hopefully we continue to see success in our class as we continue to work in it.

 That is about it for me.  cant wait to hear back.  Love ya.

Elder Crouch

June 20, 2016

Hey Mama,
Sounds like you had a crazy week but glad that it was a good one and that is good that the girls had a good time at camp.  And its really weird now that you say that it was a year ago That i opened up my mission call.  Did not even think about that.  And that looks like a fun graduation dinner.  And who won the finals.  I know that it went to a game seven randomly even thought the Warriors were up 3-1 but I have not heard who took the series.  And which houses are you going to go look at today?
This week was pretty crazy for us. We had a lot of just long and hot days.  The heat index was around 105 but it was only really 90's so that shows ya the humidity haha.  We were pretty drenched since it got really hot when we didnt have the car.  But we were working pretty hard still.  We saw Rosco one more time this week and are trying to get him to commit to reading the Book of Mormon because he is starting to be flakey with commitments.  And then we also saw an investigator that has been taught for years and basically says he is mormon but he isnt haha.  He has a while to go before he is but he is super nice to us and he loves the religion.  His name is Jimmy and he just likes to learn about religion i guess. 
We did have a traumatizing experience while we were out with an 18 year old priest.  We thought that we should go try a guy named Brett and he is in a wheel chair and last time that I checked, he had only one leg.  But this time we go over there and now he had both legs amputated and he had just gotten home from the hospital the day before we showed up.  He decides that he is going to show us all his staples and so he lifts up his stump and of a leg and we then realized that he wasn't wearing any underwear and so we saw his stump and his guy parts that should be covered up at all times haha.  So dang gross.  I about busted up laughing so hard.  But yeah glad that we arent going back there for a while.

But cant wait to hear back and I hope that we can chat a bit while you drive.  Love you guys and have an awesome time in Vegas!

-Elder Crouch

June 13, 2016

Hey,

So this week was pretty good.  We worked pretty hard and we had a better teaching week than last week but then it slowed down at the end of the week and it was hard to get a hold of anyone that was nearby.  But we still did pretty good.  On Wednesday, right after the Cochrans came down, we had to go to Gulfport for a big meeting and Me and Elder Prater had to teach the whole group on how to Recognize and Rely on the Holy Ghost and how we can use that to our benefit for when we are teaching others the Gospel which was a pretty hard topic because of how much there is and we only had about fifteen minutes. 

It was fun seeing the Cochrans.  Deep down it was a little weird because it was like having my second family right there and it was like IDK if i should hug them or say hi or what not so that just made me think how weird it will be when i come home for real and see everyone haha.   But it was also cool seeing the Alhaltehs.  They took us to a really nice restaurant and that was delicious and then they gave us some ice cream and so they spoiled us for sure.  Then also on Sunday, a member from the Madison ward and her kids came to visit there parents who are in the Ocean Springs ward and they said hey and so this week was filled with seeing people from the past haha.  But other than that we just focused on doing a lot of service as always.  We helped the library take up some bricks that they need in their back patio so they can remodel and things like that.  So fun labor haha.  But that was my week.  Cant wait to hear back.  And in case morgan didnt tell you those pants fit pretty darn good.

Love Elder Crouch

June 6, 2016 Blessings Come When You are Tried

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for slacking and not sending out a group email in a few weeks. If you haven't heard, my new companion is Elder Prater and he is from Camarillo California and we get along pretty well.  We worked the hardest both of us have worked in a while this past week and we were not seeing any success at all.  We tracted a ton, we saw a bunch of potentials and it just was the worst time to see them, we had a bunch of rejections and what not and we were just getting pretty bummed.  Then the weather got bad later in the week and that just put the icing on the cake with the rain storms as we are having a rough week.  We were wondering how we would accomplish a challenge given to us by our Zone Leaders as it was mid Saturday and they wanted a new person committed to Baptism by Sunday and we didnt even have a good other lesson the whole week.  But on our way home that Saturday night, we saw a guy in his car port named Rosco and Elder Prater felt impressed to talk to him and so we did and we taught him the restoration and then it all went well and we set him with a Baptismal Date!! And we were so pumped and we thought that was the end of the blessings for the week but two more awesome ones happened.  Ma'Kala, the recent convert that was baptized 6 weeks ago, had been in a patch of not coming to church and we got her to come back this Sunday and it was way awesome seeing her there.  And then Sunday we got a referral on the phone for a bible and we contacted her and she requested for us to swing by this morning a few hours ago and so we swing by to give her the bible and ask if we can share a message with her.  We shared the Restoration with her and she was the most receptive person I have taught on my whole mission and she was way into it.  She requested for a Book of Mormon before we could even ask if she would like a copy and she accepted a Baptismal date of July 2nd.  So two new solid investigators to end up a rough week.  The Lord really blesses you in your trials and when you are staying obedient.  A good example of this is Mosiah Chapter 24.  Go ahead and read that chapter and let me know what it meant to you.  I hope y'all have a great week and cant wait to hear back from everyone.  

Love,
Elder Crouch

Hey Mom and Dad,

This week started so slow and until Friday I thought it was going to be the crappiest week I have had on my mission by far.  Like we weren't lazy.  Me and Elder Prater had worked the hardest I have worked in a long time with just a determination to find someone to baptize. We got rejected a whole day straight.  Like rude rejections.  Cuss outs.  All the mayhem.  Then it was like a hurricane and like the worst weather ever and we were just so dang depressed and wondering why things were going so bad.  Then Saturday came along and we had known about a challenge for us to set someone with a date by Sunday night and we were like "how the heck are we going to do that with such a bad week" and on our way home all like sad and what not, there is a guy outside his house just chilling and his name was Rosco and we talked to him and shared with him the Restoration and then set him with a Baptismal date.  And he was way pumped.  And then that night at one in the morning we apparently got at text for a bible referral and this morning we went to see this lady and she was so excited to see us.  We gave her the bible she wanted and then we asked her if we could share the restoration and she said yes and we shared it with her, committed her to a baptismal date and she is the most prepared person I have talked to. The Lord blesses you in your trials.  That is for sure.  

On another note, not to exciting.  Kind of sad actually. I had been getting really good at giving my self hair cuts and I needed another one and it just takes so long so i was seeing if there was a way with the clippers i could do it faster and so I saw this gaurd that looked like it was short on the left and worked to a longer length on the other side and it would cut it how i would usually cut it with scissors....NOPE.... it freaking bicked all my hair.  So now my hair is a one on the side and a two all on top.  Pissed me off so bad.  But luckily my hair grows back fast haha.  I look like that same kid from elementary school.  Its sad.  But i will have it back in a few weeks lol.
but thats about it for me.  Hope to hear back soon and hope your week is awesome.

Love

Elder Crouch

May 31, 2016

Hey Mom,

This week has been a crazy one.  First of all, my companion is Elder Prater from Camarillo California and he has been out for 15 months.and he was a computer programer at home.  Pretty cool guy.  We have barely been together this week though because he is the district leader and they had a two day long meeting on thursday and friday up in jackson and so I was with another Elder in the near by area for the two days.  We then worked saturday but we were doing the class for the library and so we were busy all day and so really wednesday and sunday and yesterday have been the only days that we have really worked together.  It was pretty fun thursday and friday.  Elder Crisp got transfered and he is on the Coast as well and so i have seen him a few times since Last week which was really cool to happen.  It was really nice seeing him. We also did some good service this week helping out a member and I am still sore.  We dug a huge trench around his house because he has to get it re plumbed and what not and so that was pretty intense because there were tree roots everywhere.  Today has started off as a good day so far as well.  We woke up at 4:45 in the morning and we went fishing and I caught two bass and so emma caught a trout and I caught some bass. Pretty funny hahah.  Out of our group it was the biggest fish too so that was pretty cool as well.  Today we are going to play a lot of basketball I think and so i will just be exhausted but basketball is fun and so it is worth it.  My week was pretty crazy and its just really hard to explain all in one and then in another email I need some advice.  But just wanted that seperate.  But I love you and hope that we can chat a bit.

Have a great week

Elder Crouch

Hey Dad,

This week has been a crazy one.  First of all, my companion is Elder Prater from Camarillo California and he has been out for 15 months.and he was a computer programer at home.  Pretty cool guy.  We have barely been together this week though because he is the district leader and they had a two day long meeting on thursday and friday up in jackson and so I was with another Elder in the near by area for the two days and I got to just be along for the ride.  Didnt have to plan or anything.  Elder Prater got back and then we worked saturday but we were doing the class for the library with family history and so we were busy all day and so really wednesday and sunday and yesterday have been the only days that we have really worked together.  Elder Crisp got transfered and he is on the Coast as well and so i have seen him a few times since Last week which was really cool to happen.  It was really nice seeing him. We also did some good service this week helping out a member and I am still sore.  We dug a huge trench around his house because he has to get it re plumbed and what not and so that was pretty intense because there were tree roots everywhere.  Today has started off as a good day so far as well.  We woke up at4:45 in the morning and we went fishing and I caught two bass and so emma caught a trout and I caught some bass. Pretty funny hahah.  Out of our group it was the biggest fish too so that was pretty cool as well.  Today we are going to play a lot of basketball I think and so i will just be exhausted but basketball is fun and so it is worth it.  My week was pretty crazy and its just really hard to explain all in one but glad it is over with because I am tired and burned out by a lot of meetings and traveling to different cities along the coast. But I look forward to hearing back when you can reply.  Love ya!

Have a great week

Elder Crouch

May 23, 2016

Hey Mama, 

Sounds like you are having a really fun time just working your butt off each week.  My week was pretty lame to be honest.  We just worked our tails off and did not see much success.  People were pretty rude actually so they can just deny blessings all they want.  But we did get our transfer calls and I am staying and Elder Schliep is leaving and I meet my new companion tomorrow afternoon and I have no Idea who it will be so you will find out next monday (: haha.  It is starting to get really hot and humid and it sucks but I am doing fine.  Just drinking lots of water and people are usually nice enough to give us a bottle while we are out tracting and what not.  I did get to go on exchanges this week with the Zone leaders out in Gulfport and when I was with Elder Jensen, we went to the mutual for his ward and we taught the youth how to play volleyball and that was really fun.  It was nice to play again indoors with someone else who could play as well.  I am hoping I dont get a deb of a companion and with Elder Schliep leaving, there may be a chance that I get thrown into some leadership position.  Who knows. Like i said, I will find out tomorrow.   But I will keep this short so we can chat a bit and so I can email some more people.  Love ya and cant wait to hear back.

Elder Crouch

So we ate at the best BBQ place I have ever had (The Shed).  It has been on DDD and other food network shows and stuff like that and so they had a cool truck so why not sneak a pic.  And then this is the Ocean Springs District!

Hey Padre,

Not much happened for me this week but it sounds like you had a pretty exciting one being the Doctor Dad and then getting showed up by Bishop.  He definitely is a goofball.  I got the transfer call and I am staying in Ocean Springs another 6 Weeks but Elder Schliep is leaving.  I get my new companion and all that stuff tomorrow so it is still a mystery to us what will go down.  We had a really slow week teaching too.  We saw a lot of hostility and also Elder Schliep wasnt feeling good one day and we were gone another day and then Schliep wasnt motivated and it hindered the work as well and so it was just a slow week.  So I am glad that it is Monday and that there is some change going on as of tomorrow.  And I am sorry that things are annoying with work as well.  It would not be fun being on call all week at Montclair but you dont have much of that left. You excited to get ready for the move.  With the people paying for the move how much do you have to prepare for it?? And i will keep this short so we can chat a bit and so I can reply to a few more people but I love ya and hope you have a good day.

-Elder Crouch