Humbled

Humbled

Truly humbled 

That's what the mission does to you, it humbles you. In so many ways. 

After two very quick miracle effortless weeks, Sarahy was baptized and it was AMAZING. As she spoke to give her testimony she was nervous, but it was  clear she was so touched by the spirit. Her eyes filled with tears and she became chocked up. She said "I know this church is true because of how I feel. Maybe I wasn't on the right path before but I found my way here, and I know it is here I have a family."

It's so hard explains just how amazing it is so see your investigators share their testimony for the first time, for the spirit they bring. Being able to watch them grow and be touched by the feelings of the Holy Ghost. Their faith and their testimonies are so pure, and so personal. I love it so much, there's just nothing more humbling or better. And as her mom turned around and grabbed my hand to say thank you. I couldn't feel more grateful to be a missionary, and to realize this just wasn't my work. I was just privileged to be an instrument and witness his work. I truly hadn't done anything but be there it felt like, and it was such a humbling experience. 

Our next miracle is a Nigerian family,

We met Rita on the street smd she invited us over. We knocked on the door and her
husband (who is Spanish) cheerfully let us right in. At the end of
other lesson Rita started talking to us and said, I do have to tell
you something; my husband NEVER lets missionaries in. Doesn't matter
what religion. And the last Mormons that came over he told to never
come back. But he let you in  even better was that THEY ALL came to
church!! Even the dad! Which is huge here! We're so excited for them

We also then had the (fake) funeral of our beloved hermana 

Hermana fennsickle has been a close friend to me through out all my mission, she's also the hardest working Hermana I know. She's been suffering with all sorts of medical issues but she fought-and is still fighting- to stay on the mission. But  because of her condition she has to move closer to Barc, so that she could be closer to medical attention. We gathered at the end of a long day in the living room, lit candles and Hermana plant hung the mural she made of her companion. We each took turns reading our talks, mine was "from heaven to Becky fennsicke"

I'm going to miss her so much! 

Which also brings us to the next news- IM IN A TRIO! Wheeeewww! The good news is Hermana Plant is our new addition and I love her so basically we are on cloud 9. So it's all great :)

All in all I feel so blessed and so happy to be here on the mission. I love the ability to be an instrument for the lord and to witness his work. Truly his ways our higher than our ways, and being able to labor in his vineyard is the most humbling and satisfying decision of my life.

Love you all and love this time of my life xoxox Hermana Cragun 

New week, new comp and new beginings

A bit windy apparently

Valencia

New week, new transfer, new companion, new beginning, new miracles. 

A new month has a arrived and and so marks the new beginning of a new transfer. It is crazy how fast time goes here on the mission. Was it really just last year I was opening my call? And now I'm actually here in Spain again, walking the same streets and speaking the same language but now with purpose and diligence?

BUT I HAVE A NEW COMPANION. La Hermana Wiseman. She's from the sunny land of California and is as loving as a penguin in her own words. Haha no I love her though, she's an amazing, amazing missionary and so sweet and basically she is the only missionary I've ever met who has stayed in perfect shape and still wears her Kate spade watch and Tiffany co bracelet as we walk through the broken down complexes of gypsies. Haha she's awesome. 

Well the lord DOWN-POURED us with miracles this week. I still can't believe it. Last Monday I was out contacting and sat down to search for an address when a woman casually contacted ME and asked where our church was. So of course I scribbled down the address and flooded her with questions about knowing missionaries and  where she was from. She explained she was a member who just moved here from Chile and then said her daughter, who was 16, was taking las Charlas back in her country and wasn't ready to get baptized. But she wanted us to come by and meet her because she felt like she was ready now. So we met with her Saturday and at the end of the lesson she said "well... I don't know how this all works but it's five Charlas right? And then she gets baptized? Oh. And I like feed you guys once a week or so right?" Hahaha I was laughing so hard but we were so excited!! Such a cool miracle. They all came to church Sunday and were working with them again tonight to have her ready for baptism.

The next miracle for the week is named none other than... Madelin :) I commended her for having such an amazing name. Hermana Wiseman and I were contacting in the streets when we stopped her and talked to her, she said she was off to work but could meet on Sunday. So we invited her to church and she CAME. I think it's so hard to explain just how amazing it is when people come to church. You just like shake their hand, find them a friend to sit with and then happy dance when they turn around. And not only that but she just gets it. As we taught her about the Book of Mormon she was literally finishing our sentences, she is so prepared such a great miracle :)

Well time is running short and so I must be off soon, but I hope you get the chance to view my video of teaching in the park and the African man. He is there everyday. Just though I'd give you all a taste of Valencia. 

I'm so grateful for my mission, I love the work, I love, love, love the work and the people and this beautiful country and all that this mission has done for me. I thought I had a testimony before but now I know without a doubt just how true this church is. Joseph Smith truly was a prophet and the Book of Mormon is real scripture, it has all the answers we need and the power to change lives. I am so grateful for  my mission. I have really come to know in my heart the things I knew before in my head. This truly is Christ's church, and it is such a privilege to be his representative in this country. 

Love you all!! Xoxoxo Hermana Cragun 

What a week

what a week.

TRANSFER TUESDAY! gotta love it when this day comes around. Always a surprise and a such a nerve racking event, sitting around the table, phones perfecly placed infront of you waiting for that special phone call to come from your district leader. But good news! I'M STAYING! And I'm so excited about it as well. I love this land of Valencia and the people in it.

I dont have much time (sorry!) so this email wont be able to be too detailed. But it truly was such an amazing week. My companion ended her missoin this week, so we spent the week visiting members, saying goodybe to investigators. Making plans for her to return to the mission home today. As I waved goodbye to her monday morning and watched her board the train it made me stop to think about all I had learned from her. And she had learned during her mission. 

Im grateful for the time we have here during our missions, its like a small little life here where we are able to be pushed to our limits and overcome our challenges to become the people we need to become. Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for us here, where he teaches us exactly what we need to learn from others, whether it be from members, investigators, menos activos, or especially from our comps. The key I have learned, is having the patience and humility to let him mold you, and having the trust in him and in our savior that they really will make you into the person you need to be, even if at times it wasnt the person you had in mind you wanted to become.

Miracle of the week was the baptism of ERIKA!!!!! Erika had been meeting for the missionaries on and off for the past year. We, meaning my companion and I, had personally been meeting with her for the past three months. It was a long process, but little by little we watched as she grew, and saw how the spirit and the power of the book of mormom truly did strengthen her testimony and help her be truly converted. She was baptized Saturday and there were so many people that came to support her. The spirit was so strong, and she just radiated happiness. Honestly one of the best moments of my life. Even better is that she has the goal to be sealed to her fiance in the temple in a year. Im so excited for her and know that she will only be an amazing member. An you can bet I will come back in a year for her temple sealing ;)

well I must go! But let me end by giving a shoutout to my best friend Em for getting called to the greatest mission on the Earth. It truly is amazing how much the Lord is in the details of our lives. Over and over again he teaches me that. with studying here to being called her, with being in the right moment at the right time to meet the right person, to meeting my father´s bishop here in the small dedicatory service, to having a student from spain come live with us, to her becoming my "spanish sister" I love her so much, and then to be called to her area. now my best friend-who i met in Spanish class no less- being called to my same mission. Truly the Lord is aware of us and has such great things in store for each and everyone of us. We truly were created to be happy, and he has a perfect plan to help us accomplish that. Trust in him, and we will be. I know that.

Love you all! Headed out to work now! 

xoxox

hermana cragun