Sister Crofts

Sister Crofts
Sister Crofts at the airport when she arrived home

Thursday, September 30, 2010

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." - Mother Teresa

Dear Family,

Another week has passed and gone and so much has happened. First of all General Conference is coming up and I am super excited!! I love it when I watch conference because I know (Well...I hope) that you are all watching it at the same time as me, and it makes me feel closer to you all. It is such an amazing blessing that we have a living prophet on the earth!!! Heavenly Father truly does love us, and its true that His whole work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39) I am so grateful that I get to share this wonderful news with others and let them know that God does love them, and he has provided a perfect plan through His son Jesus Christ, that through him we might be saved after all we can do. The gospel really does make me happy. I love it the most when people accept the message and their lives change. Of course everyone has struggles, but truly this life wasn't and isn't meant to be easy, we are here to learn, to grow, to be stretched even when we don't think we can go on. I personally know that Jesus Christ is my savior and we will never walk alone. He has descended below all things and it is up to us to let him into our lives.
So I am sick! I have a cold and I hate it. But don't worry I am getting better I think, plus I am tough as a horse. I got sick at the perfect time though, because I have been able to sleep today, because Its our P-Day WOOT WOOT!!! We woke up at 6:30 and got ready and studied until 10 and then I went back to sleep until noon! It was awesome! You all know how much I love naps! And you know how much I don't get to do that on my mission, but hey its a sacrifice I am willing to make. :) So just a random thought, did you know that Adaiza is getting married, well she is most likely already married, crazy stuff! If you go to her reception please let her know that I love her!!
Alright so last Friday one of our investigators Vivek Hari from India took us to a little restaurant called, "Curry Village" It was the first time I had Indian food and it was SOOOOO Good! I am totally converted to Indian food, It was almost a week ago and I am still talking about it. The food was so colorful and it smelled and tasted great! Yum its making my mouth water just thinking about it! I think that I really want to go to India someday, just because everyone that I have met from there are really nice and plus the culture and everything is amazing!! I just had to tell you all about that because it was so awesome. Its funny last week on Monday another investigator of ours made us Chinese food YUM! Then later in the week we had Indian food and on Sunday we had free food at break the fast. I love food! And I just love the different cultures here in Canada. I mean I have friends from India, China, St. Lucia, Africa, Canada, England, Brazil, etc. It is just amazing and I feel so blessed to be able to know so many amazing people. I really do love the people here and I am so happy that I am serving here!!! Happy days!
So the leaves on the trees are turning colors and it makes me happy. I am glad that Halifax gets all four seasons. But can you believe that on Friday it will be October. I have almost been out 8 months! Time is really going by fast. Before you know it Christmas will be here, then Mothers day, and BAM I will be home.
So the saddest thing happened yesterday...I had to say good bye to Sister Johnson :( She has been sick for the past 6 weeks because I mold that has got into her system and She was seriously dieing, so she was sent home. And after she gets better she wont be able to come back here, because of the mold that grows like crazy. It was so sad, because I really wanted to serve with her again, because she was my favorite. And I love her so much!!! I miss her, but I know that she needed to go home. It just seems like a reoccurring theme in my life that the people that I love so much get taken away from me, but like I said earlier life wasn't meant to be easy I am here to learn, I am just grateful that I have a knowledge of why I am here so I understand why things don't always go as planned. I am telling you family this gospel is perfect and it just makes so much sense.
But over all guess what I am super Happy! I love my life and I love where I am right now. And guess what else....the best is yet to come!!!!

Love,

The coolest
Sister Crofts you've ever known!!!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

So much to do, so little time!

Family,

Please don't hate me I went shopping today and I bought more than I should have. Please still love me.......Sorry this email is going to be way short, but good news I am staying in Halifax another 6 weeks!! WOOT WOOT!!! half my mission will be in Halifax happy days :) Our new apartment rocks and I love it! The work is going well sorry I can't really think of any cool stories at the moment. Just so you know I am trying to get some pictures and things ready to send from PEI and I will try to write a more detailed letter. By the way I love the picture of the deer dad you look hard core! Well have a great week. I am doing well by the way and I am really happy :) thanks for everything!!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

All we have to choose is what to do with the time that is given us.

Dear Family,

I am not going to lie these past two weeks of my life have been super fun and good, but at the same time I have been feeling very over whelmed. Let me just give you a recap of the last two weeks. PEI (Sisters Conference), Leadership training 3 days, And we moved this past Saturday!! Its has been super busy, like they say when it rains it pours. But don't worry I am doing really good, just feeling like I am sinking in the deep end, but I know that all these things shall be for my experience and shall be for my good. Just a side note, mom can you please call my bank and tell them to change my card so it will work internationally. Because I know I have money on it, but I can't ever buy anything and its getting kind of annoying. So if you could do that for my ASAP that would be awesome. THANK YOU!! So yes we moved apartments and I know that you are aware, but still it was a pretty fun day we had a bunch of Elders come and help us thank heavens and we moved everything and put everything in the new apartment and even cleaned our old apartment with in 5 hours I was pretty proud of us. That was like the first time I have moved everything out of a place, I am not excited if and when that happens when I have a family! That will be crazy! But the place we live now is super good. I love it! We can just walk out our door and we have a bank, grocery store, and most importantly our area. I love it, it has been saving us a lot of time.

Well school is back in and it is pretty sweet! There are students everywhere! I didn't realize what a ghost town Halifax was this summer. Its really fun to talk to students, but at the same time its hard, because they have no problem giving you their number just so you'll "get off their back" and when you call they either fake # you or they just don't pick up, but of course opposition in all things. Also its not very fun when you get profanity yelled at you in passing cars, but I know that it could be worse and I just feel so blessed to be able to be here serving the Lord and My Heavenly Fathers children. I understand that not everyone will except the beautiful message that I come to share, but I do know that many will and that makes all the difference. You know I am starting to realize something about life: there will always be more sad and bad times in life, but the joy of the good times will always out weigh the bad for instance yesterday we had like 6 appointments and ALL of them, but 1 cancelled on us for various reasons. Anywaysthe one appointment that didn't cancel we had a lesson with one of our investigators Isabelle whom I met last Monday and we have had one lesson and she came to institute and the CES fireside (By herself)!!! She is AMAZING!! Well last night we read the Book of Mormon with her and committed our her to baptism. She said yes and really it made up all the disappointments that had happened earlier in the day. I love this work very much! I am so happy to be here and I just want to thank you all for your support and love.
Dad I really want to see pictures of you deer and I want to know if you were able to get an Elk? Good times remember when we use to hunt together and I would NEVER gut the deer :D Thanks for being great and not making me. Anyways how are things at home? How is work going? Also I was curious if you received the package I sent you?
Mom I want to know how you are doing? Sounds like from you letters that things are super busy in your life like always! When I get back you will have to whip me back into shape! We will have to sign up for a race together. Remember when we use to run the mothers day race together. Those where the days :) I was also glad to hear the you passed you test good work!

We are teaching a lot of people right now and I feel really really blessed! Of course like always things have been a little rough for all of our investigators and recent converts, but hey we will just keep doing our best and everything will work out for the best. Remember that with the Lord nothing ever goes permanently wrong, but without Him nothing ever goes permanently right. I pray for you all daily, and I am just so happy that you all are my family. Have a great week and keep me updated on life. I LOVE YOU!!

LOVE

SISTER CROFTS

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

SUMMERS ENDING!!!

Dear Family,


Hello again! Well once again another week has passed. It has been a very crazy busy week and I really can't even remember half the stuff that happened. But on Saturday we had a hurricane which was kind of cool. It wasn't very good though...only a category 1 but it did knock down a lot of tree branches and our power was out for about 26 hours. Don't worry though we stayed in during that day, but I was super bored. I dont' know if I told you, but we were planning on moving to a new apartment in the area that day and of course we didn't so our house is just in boxes waiting to be moved. Our plan this week is to move on Saturday. This week has been an adventure so far. We have been having a leadership training and I have been learning a lot about being a more effective missionary I really have enjoyed it. It lasts for three days and we have sisters staying at our apartment so we have been able to go on splits and get twice the work done which has been nice. School is starting up again here and I am so happy!! Finally people are back in the city. And I will tell you what there is a lot college students. The YSA is getting bigger and that really makes me happy, because it has been so small this summer. Also I know that I already mentioned this, but it is getting colder here and I am super sad. :( I don't want summer to be over, because that means that soon enough it will be cold again and I will have to wear tons of layers. But I am super excited to see this place in the fall. I hear that it is so beautiful.So Kallie sent me the lyrics to this song and I wanted to share them with you, because I think that they are so great!! "All alone I leave the harbor. so many oceans to explore, on my own I face the darkness, I leave behind the safety of the shore, When I'm tossed upon the water, when waves of change begin to blow, His words of truth I will follow! The Saviors hope is the anchor of my Soul. Sailing on to deeper waters the journey starts to take its toll, I am lost amid the battles that test my faith and stretch my soul. When I am tossed upon the water, when waves of change begin to blow, His words of truth I will follow! The Saviors hope is the anchor of my Soul. Voices of the night try to tear me from the fight but somewhere deep inside my heart I know that when I'm tossed upon the water, when waves of change begin to blow, His words of truth I will follow! The Saviors hope is the anchor of my Soul." Remember this it is Christ who we should put our trust he will get us through any storm of life I know this to be true. I may not have had as many life experiences as some people, but this I do know; that Jesus is the Christ and I will tell everyone about it until the day I die! I love this gospel, and I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have. I also want all of you to know that I love you all! I miss you like the flower misses the sun and I just want to thank you for all the love and support that I get. It really means the world to me. Thank you!!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

P.E.I

Dear Family,

I am so excited to tell you everything! Of course you know that this past three days were sisters conference and man were they great! It was like a mini vacation during my mission that never happens! But yes it was really good. I learned so good stuff about missionary work and how I can improve! Which is always good. But the best part was being with all 12 sisters in the mission and just having SO much fun! We went to P.E.I yesterday and it was the perfect day for it! We woke up at 5:45 and left by 6:30 we had a huge van with a bunch of sisters so that was way fun! I finally left Nova Scotia and saw two other Providences, New Brunswick, and P.E.I. I took a ton of pictures and don't even worry I already printed them today so I will send them as soon as I get some time :D he he he But really I had a blast! We went to Green Gables where the story of "Anne of Green Gables" was based off and I did my hair in two french braids and I think I almost looked like her. I guess you all can be the judge. Then we drove around the island and went to the beach and some other fun towns. We got some famous ice cream here called "Cows" and it was pretty good. Then some members fed us and I felt so bad that I couldn't eat more, but I was just so full! I think I almost died I was so full. But anyways...the green rolling hills, gorgeous red sand beaches, beautiful sunrises and sunsets family you need to come here someday! I was a pretty fast day trip, but I really enjoyed myself. My most favorite part of the trip was when we went home on the ferry. It was so beautiful and to be honest I think that was the first time in my like that I have ever been on a boat in the ocean! It was so beautiful! We took pictures, sang songs (Cause that's what we Mormons do), had heart to hearts, oh it was just great and not to mention the weather was perfect. Oh, I am going to remember that place forever! It was great. I am glad to be back though, cause I want to get back to work! I love being a missionary and having this opportunity to work super hard and really just forget about myself. I love it here and I am super sad that I only have 11 months left! My 7 month mark is this Friday can you believe how fast the time has flown! It's crazy! Today has been I think the hottest day of my mission! Its probably around 80 or so, but with the humidity it feels way hotter. When I walk outside I just sweat, even in my house I sweat, because here no one has airconditioning! Its crazy! Oh that reminds me We are moving! We decided to be more effective missionaries we should move in our area so this Saturday we are moving! Want to give you my address so that we can write me letters to my new place!


So if you have anything send it there or to the mission office. I am a little stressed out to move, but hey I guess just take it one step at a time. Just so you know mom I got the tights and I thank you so much for them! They are really nice! Now I think I will have enough for this winter. Also in your letter to me mom you asked if I like the package and just so you know I didn't like it..I LOVED IT!!!! Thank you so much now Sister Hudson and I want to go there to get there bread, it was so amazing! So for future reference that would be great! You are the best mom and family Ever!! I love you all!! These next two weeks are jam packed with stuff. We had sisters conference and this Saturday we are moving. Then next week we have a 3 day training and everything else seems to be happening at once. Its great!!! Oh one more thing I wanted to clear up. About the Shawn thing Sister Simpson called and asked me if I wanted to call you and just talk about it, and I told her that I was okay. Of course I would have been nice, but I wanted to be strong and do it by myself so please don't you or dad be offended. It was my doing. Even President asked me if I wanted to call and talk about it, so who you should be mad at is me. Because I declined the offer. But Christmas will come sooner than you think and we can talk about this when that time comes. unless you still feel that you need to talk to me, and I will call and get permission. I just wanted to clear that up. Because when things go through the grapevine you know that happens.
Well family just so you know I am doing very well! Sister Hudson is awesome she is very spunky and just full of energy and I just love her, She is a bundle of joy! And I mean that also the English accent rocks! I am amazed that I haven't been really picking up on it. But yeah I am doing great the mission is awesome and until next time remember that I love you!!

Love,

Sister Crofts