Week 45: Zoom calls...more like DOOM calls...

Well, the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission has gone Facebook this week! We have had Facebook since before I got here, but it's like official now! And it's been a crazy week because of it...well as crazy as a week can be in quarantine! We have been on our phones literally so much all week so my eyes are honestly dying from all the blue light but anything for God's work! It's been really cool to see the mission get excited about this new change though and have a chance to still find people to teach! It's been awesome.

Something not so awesome about this week is Sister Craddock and I had TEN HOURS OF ZOOM CALL MEETINGS...we had meetings with the leadership in the mission to talk about heading the Facebook pages we now run and that took almost 3 hours then a mission-wide zoom call for 6.5 hours the next day!!! I was deceased but it's all good. It has been really cool to talk about our new way to proselyte. So we made a page for every zone in the mission to try and find people by posting uplifting content! It's been working really well in other missions so we are trying it out! It's been fun so far lol. A little stressful, but fun so far lol.

Easter was really so different this year but one that definitely is going in the books. Our mission did a Facebook life worship for everyone at home and it was really cool to still worship our Savior from home! And how cool was it to fast on Good Friday?! I'll be honest, that was like the hardest fast of my whole entire life! I was shakey by 11am haha. I thought to myself about how hard this fast was and the Spirit taught me a lot in that moment about how hard our Savior's Friday was. So if you struggled with your fast, you're in the best company ever with Jesus Christ! Thinking about Him all weekend was the only way I found joy with my quarantined circumstances and being away from my family, it's what got me through! Then I realized that that's what Christ did. He focused on US to get through His Easter weekend. Just some food for thought, He focused on YOU to get through what He had to go through. That makes me feel pretty darn special and loved and hopefully it makes you feel the same way! 

I'm in 3 Nephi right now with our 90 day challenge and I just read the story of the resurrected Christ appearing to the Nephites on the Americas and letting them feel the nail prints in His hands one by one. I always thought it was really interesting that He had scars since I grew up believing being resurrected gave us a perfect body (like minus scars!). I read this scripture a few months ago and it hit me why He had the scars :) 1 Nephi 21:16 "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." Christ engraved us on the palms of His hands, He always remembers us. That's the thought that's been in my mind all weekend and I hope yall were able to feel our Savior's love for you the way I was!

I am grateful that we got some time to reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for each one of us! I am grateful for His love and grace that let's me change and repent and become more like Him everyday. I'd be a different person without my Savior. I love Him and I know He is real and He lives!! I love yall and hope yall have a good week! 

Love, Sister Crouch 

1. Easter cookie decorating! Remembering the reason for the season :))

2. Trying to Facebook 

3. Hour 5 of our zoom meeting...

4. My favorite stop on our walks!

Week 44: President Russell M. Nelson? More like Hustle M. Nelson!

The Lament of Sister Crouch:

Its day 20 of quarantine. The days are getting longer, and growing dimmer. But only because it's been cloudy in Mississippi this week. The pages of my Book of Mormon are well-worn, my eyes burn from the blue light of phone screen from all the Facebooktime we have had (gotta spread that gospel). The only comfort I have, is knowing we have Bluebell ice cream in the fridge, and google photos movie maker to create our masterpieces. 

Okay, in all seriousness! This week was slow, but full of tender mercies. Sister Craddock and I discovered a movie creator on google photos (for all you isolated missionaries who are trying to get creative!!) and its changed our isolation time! The past few weeks have been pretty sad...being inside, not able to proselyte like normal has been a tougher adjustment than I thought it'd be. But nothing stops God's work! We had a total miracle with the video creator! I had an idea of how we can share who we are and why we are here through a video for Facebook, and the Spirit literally put so many ideas of how it could be put together and it fell into place so perfectly! So we posted it and together, Sister Craddock and I got 1000 views! Don't get me wrong, we aren't focused on the views or numbers. It was just a tender mercy knowing we are still able to touch someone watching the video from our apartment. It was so amazing and changed the mood of our whole week!

Other than that discovery, the rest of the week has been about the same, BUT! GENERAL CONFERENCE WAS AMAZING! I think we are all just trying to keep up with our prophet, President Nelson!  I dont know about you, but it was the best conference I've ever watched because I really spent so much time preparing for it. The Lord loves effort, and He definitely blessed all those who prepared! I am so grateful for Joseph Smith, the restoration of Christ's church and gospel, and the direction and peace a living prophet gives the God's people. God still works with us because He still loves us! I'm so grateful for that knowledge. 

I've been reflecting a lot on the early days of the church this week and I am always amazing with how the First Vision (the event itself) relates to me. God the Father and Jesus Christ visited 14 year old Joseph Smith in answer to his prayer. I've been thinking about that a lot. On paper, Jospeh Smith seems like the most unlikely person to have anything extraordinary happen to him. He has a 3rd grade education, has never read the Bible all the way through, didn't know where to turn for forgiveness of his sins. But God sees potential, and decided to work with and through him. God called him BY NAME. He cared enough to answer Joseph's question and that's how God cares for and loves us too. God cares and works with and through me too and He does with you. That event changed the world, and it has changed my life. Follow the prophet's invitation and study the new proclamation about the Restoration of the gospel! Miracles will come :)

I am so grateful for this gospel, for a loving Father in Heaven who still leads and guides His people! I'm grateful for the peace I have during these crazy times. I'm grateful for Christ and His sacrifice to bring that peace to me. For those who are looking for peace in these hard times: check out comeuntochrist.org and learn how you can find more peace in your life, despite circumstances! I love yall and am praying for yall! God's got this 

Love Sister Crouch

1. The only picture I took all week...whoops. 

2. The video we made for Facebook for those who didn't have a chance to see it! 

Week 43: Yes, yes that is facial hair...

As you can probably tell from the pictures attached, this week has been whack! We are on day 13 of isolation as of today, and we'll be here in isolation until (at the minimum) April 14th...so things can only get weirder from here!  In all seriousness though, it has been a good week! Sister Craddock are really getting creative when it comes to ministering to members and their families! I'm really learning how to utilize Facebook as a tool in missionary work, and I'm really gaining, or at least trying to gain, patience! So all in all it's been a wholesome week!

So the mustaches. We have turned them into a tool for ministering!! Weird right? Yeah, you're right it is weird, but it's also so fun! One of our favorite families EVER had a birthday in their family! Their daughter is so cute and sweet so we decided to make a birthday video of us singing and being super goofy (hence the stache) to brighten her day! Although it is pretty unconventional lol, she loved it and thought it was hilarious! It felt really good to still bring people a little bit of joy from the apartment. There even came a funny story out of the mustaches! Right after we made the video, we heard a knock on our door and it was our neighbor bringing by cheesecake to our house! Sister Craddock and I PANICKED! We were throwing props off of us, but I came to the conclusion itd take too long to take off our mustaches so I just full sent and opened the door! His face was shocked to say the least.  I explained how we were making a video for a kid and wanted it to be silly and he replies "well, you hit the mark." #ROASTED. It was hilarious. 

Quarantine is still pretty boring, but we really are trying to make the most of it! Just to update y'all:

-we still cant crochet anything except a long chain of yarn

-we have been going on like 3 mile walks to get out of the apartment and it has been glorious

-we are still making funny videos to help us laugh 

-we finished Saints one and are 15 chapters into Saints 2 #addicted

-our Spanish skills are improving thanks to duolingo! 

-my forearm muscles are sore from the extensive coloring we've been doing lol

-we are still studying the heck out of the gospel and it's been legendary 

If theres one think the past 12 days has taught me, it's that happiness really is a choice! There are some days we are down in the dumps being stuck in the apartment but we choose to make the most of it and by the end of the day we are just happy! During my extensive study of the Book of Mormon this week, I got to the war chapters (honestly they're some of my favorites!) and the idea that happiness is a choice slapped me upside the head! Just for some context, the Nephites (aka the good guys) are at war with the Lamanites (the bad guys) because the Lamanites want to take away their religious freedom and subject them to bondage. Sounds like the Nephites have plenty to be unhappy about, right? Well, in Alma 50:23 it says "But behold there never was a HAPPIER TIME among the people of Nephi..." Crazy right?! These people are at war, times are uncertain, yet they are feeling so much happiness! The most happiness in the past 550 years! Isnt that insane?! They chose happiness. I know it's way easier to say to just choose happiness, but like the people of Nephi, if we rely on our Savior Jesus Christ during this scary and uncertain time, we too can find happiness! I've felt that this week and I know yall can too :)

I know God's got this. Times may seem uncertain to us, but this is all apart of God's PERFECT plan. Keep trusting in Him and leaning on our Savior and Redeemer to get through! Miracles happen when we trust God and Christ! I love yall and I'm grateful for all yall and the examples you have been to me! 

Love, Sister Crouch

Ps during my extensive study of Book of Mormon, I came to the conclusion that the Lord of the Rings is based off the Book of Mormon. Shoot me an email to hear the theory.

1. The South is just too beautiful 

2&3. Costume and props for our videos

4. Please enjoy the product of our boredom pt. 2

Week 42: Self Isolation... more like self isoLAMEtion #nothingcanstopthiswork

It's safe to say that this has been the weirdest week of my whole mission. Like all the other missionaries across the globe, sister Craddock and I are also quarantined for the time being which has been very interesting! I'll admit, it's been less than ideal, but I've decided to turn the 2 weeks inside into a spiritual bootcamp that makes my faith grow instead of 2 weeks that shake my faith. Because of that, I have seen the tender mercies of the Lord all around me everyday! That's been a huge miracle for me!

In all reality, quarantine has been pretty boring. But to enlighten yall on what these two sisters have been up to, we have:

-learned how to shuffle cards like a true Vegas dealer (bridge and all)

-learned how to do the cup song using an actual cup

-reenacted scripture stories using kinetic sand, and creative sets on the kitchen table (s/o to the Sherman's for letting us borrow their sand!)

-learned how to crochet a long chain of yarn...still cant turn it into anything yet though haha. Stay tuned!

-have listened to 25 chapters of Saints in 48 hours...I'm actually officially obsessed with church history!

-sang primary bops while doing the cup song cup beat. Pretty legendary.

-have studied our booties off! 

-have become professional directors and producers of goofy videos that make us die laughing 

-have walked around our neighborhood more than I walked around BYU campus

And that's really about it. It's been interesting to try and fill our time and also ENJOY our time, but everyday we have miracles! Sometimes that miracle is just that we found something to laugh at or that we found joy! It's definitely an interesting time to be a missionary!

I've been focusing my studies this week on faith, because I really need it right now! As I was reading in the Bible dictionary, I read a super cool line about faith. It says "Where there is true faith there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that He gives to His saints." Sometimes the miracles aren't that our trials disappear or that covid19 is suddenly cured and life goes back to how it was (even though that would be a pretty cool miracle). Sometimes our miracles are that we came out from trials and hard times stronger than we went into them or enduring them with joy! The Joseph Smith translation for the scripture Hebrews 11:40 says "God having provided better things for them through their sufferings, for without sufferings they could not be made perfect." Sometimes trials and hard times are better for us in the long run than a miraculous solution or deliverance. Trust the Master Creator, trust that His plan is perfect for you and this work. Nothing can frustrate His work or His plan. Keep having faith and find the miracles that happen! 

I'm really grateful for the peace that the gospel brings! I've felt the peace and comfort of the Holy Ghost this whole week as our mission is changing. I'm grateful to have another experience to grow my faith! The world is in our Father in Heaven's hands! He's got this. I love Him and I'm grateful for that knowledge! I love yall! Have a great week, stay healthy and happy.

Love, Sister Crouch

1. Social distancing who? 

2. In honor of Vegas being shut down...

3. My favorite covid meme.

4. Please enjoy the product of our boredom ;)

Week 41: We crashed a funeral in the hood (**not click bait**)

This week has been insane! As far as we know, sister Craddock and I are happy and healthy!  It's been crazy seeing the world around us freak out! We are just chilling over here in Madison! Other than the coronavirus madness, this week has been flat out hilarious. Sooooo much fun! 

We sent to Baton Rouge for MLC (mission leadership council) with all the STLs and zone leaders and it was so awesome! The Spirit was so strong as we were counciling about the missionaries and their needs, I felt God's love for us and it was awesome. But the best part about being in Baton Rouge (other than seeing my mission friends and the spiritual upliftment that comes from a meeting like that) was living my mission dream of going to the ORIGINAL, FIRST EVER, Raising Cane's!!! It was founded in BATON Rouge off of LSU campus and it was the best canes I've ever had. Dreams really so come true on the mission, friends.

Okay yall. Do I have a story to tell. So Sister Craddock and I were in Canton, MS this week which is a dinky, sketchy, town. There are some neighborhoods that are definitely the hood. Well, we were in one of those neighborhoods to try someone and we pass this house on the corner of a street with easily 50 people there all in matching white shirts. 90s Rap was blasting (those of you who know me well know thats my JAM), and everyone was having a grand ol time. Basically, once I heard the jams, I knew they were my kind of people. So we decided to go and talk to them and see what they were celebrating and maybe have some conversations about who we were. We park up the street and walk down to the house. Well, we walk down the street and up to a group at the party, and I swear all eyes were on these 2 dressed up white girls in the hood. We stuck out worse than a sore thumb haha. We ask this group what they're celebrating and this one lady goes "this is a funeral. We arent celebrating today...oh I guess we are! We are celebrating LIFE!" Our jaws were on the FLOOR. We walked up and crashed a FUNERAL!!! It was crazy! They inisted we joined and grabbed a plate of the best southern food I've ever had and my goodness it was just hilarious. We offered our condolences, told them their friend was in a better place, mingled for a sec, got plates and it was just too funny. They were so kind and accepting of us it was amazing and now we have some friends in that part of the hood! 

With all the craziness that's going on in the world right now, the peace that comes from the Gospel, from living the way God and Jesus Christ have commanded us, and from having faith has been reiterated over and over to me. The last line of Alma 12:37 says "...but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word." There is a peaceful rest that comes when we continue to have faith in Heavenly Father and His plan and as we try to live the best we can. Peace can be kind of hard to find in times like these, but turn to Christ! Trust God's will! You will find peace and be able to enter into that rest which has been prepared for you.

I love my mission and the people I get to serve! I love that there is peace that comes with following God and Jesus Christ. I love them so much and I love yall! Have a great week, keep having faith and stay healthy! 

Love Sister Crouch 

1. A good wholesome covid19 meme

2. MLC in Baton Rouge!

3. The OG Canes!!!!

4. Another pregnant mama at the animal shelter we serve at. 

5. We got to see some of our fav missionaries on our way home from MLC!

6. Sister Craddock is still teaching me ballet lol.

7. KATHY! 

Week 40: Hump Daaayyy!!

Hey yall! We had a crazy busy week her in Madison! We started my 7th transfer of my mission this week (how have I been out that long?!), hit my HALFWAY mark (ahhhh!!!), and have been working our way hard out here in Madison! It's been a fun time. My love for this place and these people grow more and more with every passing week! 

So something you should know the people here is they are very open, especially when it comes to God. Because of that, we had a downright hilarious interaction yesterday that made me laugh so hard! We were trying one of our friends in an apartment complex and we saw some ladies working on their car in the parking lot, so us being missionaries and all bolt over to see if we can help in any way. They said no but asked what church we went to. We told them and talked to them a little about church and this woman named Laura was talking about how you need to choose to follow God right now. And us being missionaries, obviously pull out the Book of Mormon to share a scripture that applies to the conversation and Sister craddock asks if she can share a scripture to Laura. She stops here and says "I dont need you reading nothing to me right now, honey. I dont need to hear the word now because we are finna gamble! I ain't gonna lie to you but we finna gamble!" I was CRYING I was laughing so hard! At least she was honest, ya know? Haha. These people just are always cracking me up. 

I had a really cool insight this week during my studies this whole week that I wanted to share! In our 90 day challenge for the Book of Mormon,  we were in Mosiah all week and I just noticed how Mormon chose interesting language to talk about faith. He said over and over how Alma went about preaching "repentance and faith ON the Lord." Well I thought it was interesting he used the word on instead of in. Well, by the end of the week I came to a conclusion that faith on the Lord must be different than faith in Him. I think faith on Christ means relying wholly on Him. It's more than just believing that He is our Savior but believing in His promises, in His enabling power and the way He can help us through anything and everything. This week I've tried to have more faith ON Christ and trust Him more in the day to day. I've seen miracles. I've done things that are hard for me as a missionary this week that I normally NEVER do because I just trusted! I've made it my goal to have more faith on Christ, to rely more on Him, to be a better disciple of Him.

I've been thinking back on the past 9 months and I'm honestly shook. Shook that it's gone by so quick, shook by how much I've changed and by how much I've seen God's hand in my mission. I'm so blessed to be here. I love my Savior, I know He lives and because He lives, I can have hope and peace in this life. 9 months seems like a long time and 18 months seem even longer (sorry elders, 2 years is long too). But it's the most worth it thing I've ever done! I'm so pumped to see what the next 9 months bring!

I love this gospel, I love Jesus Christ!!!!! I love my Father in Heaven and I am grateful to know I can make it back to Him one day because of Christ. Life is hard on the mission, but man it's too good everyday. I love being here. Thanks for all the messages and emails this week, it means the world! Love yall!!

Love 

Sister Crouch

1. Hump day celebration calls for some froyo. Sister Craddock came out with me so we got to party it up together!

2. Apparently that finger thing is a heart? We tried to teach Kathy last time we were over because we just love her haha.

3. Its SPRING!! 

4. Weekly tanning pt 2.

5. We played an iron rod game with all our mini peeps this week and it definitely involved some blindfolds haha. It was hilarious! Kids are our favorite!

6. I love the people here! 

Week 39: What the leak?!

Howdy howdy yall! Transfer news came and Sister Craddock and I are staying another transfer in Madison together! I'm super stoked and excited! We are FINALLY starting to figure out the area, finally finding more people to teach and finally getting into our groove! So I'm excited to be able to keep it up this next transfer! 

This week has been so much fun! The sun's been out, the weather has been perfect, and we totally got out than on...walking 15 miles the last few days of February because we were sooooo out of miles haha. Every month, we get a mile allotment and every month we are barely under! Safe to say we got our steps on this week!

Another funny thing! We volunteer at the animal shelter in Madison and there are so many mamas there! This one pitbull Miss Hershey had a litter of puppies last friday and we got to see them again! Last week, her puppies were 4 days old and oh my gosh they were so cute! I learned something new too. Fun fact for yall: mama dogs leak too when they hear their babies cries...all over the person in whose lap they're sitting in. Beware of the nursing dogs people! 

For real though, this was such a good week. I keep finding myself relying on Christ more and more as I go throughout my mission. I've been thinking a lot about trials because I feel like I've been having so many of them! Then I read Mosiah 14! It is so comforting to know we can be healed and strengthened through Christ. He truly was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. And because of that, we can be strengthened through all we go through. Life is hard for everyone. All our trials are valid to God and Christ. They help us through them all. I love that I don't have to walk through this life alone.

I love my mission even though its hard. I love the people here, I love Madison and I love Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father. Rely on your Savior this week like that's the only thing you can do and I promise miracles will come. I love yall!

Love, Sister Crouch

1. Ms. Hershey!

2. Mile 10

3. A mural we found in an apartment complex in this town Canton that we also cover! Small towns are so cute.

4&5. More butterflies!