Elder Crocker: Helping Others Come unto Christ

The Mandaluyong District (click to enlarge)

Elder Crocker  officially been in the Philippines for a month. it’s been an interesting time, and an extremely fast time. I’m about halfway through my training with Elder Antonio now. He refuses to be trunky, as he describes seeing too many good missionaries become useless for their last transfers. I’m not worried in the slightest. Time flies on a mission as you help others unto Christ.

This week was an interesting week. We were doing well with investigators for some time, but Elder Antonio determined that several of the investigators we had were not progressing and not following such basic commitments such as reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know the truth. Thus, we made the hard decision to drop several of our investigators for at least a few weeks. What that did for us was make us realize that we really need to find new investigators. Part of what we’re doing for that is really buckling down and working with the members. I gave a lesson in our Missionary Coordination meeting this last Sunday about how the most effective finders that we have as a church is through the members, and how we need the ward missionaries to both find themselves and encourage the other members to find and give us referrals.

Come Unto Christ (click to enlarge)

Come Unto Christ

In addition to that, the other night I read something that I wrote in my journal some time ago. It was from my time at the MTC, about how we as missionaries “need to keep the main thing…the main thing,” or in other words, keep our purpose as missionaries central to our work. Our purpose as missionaries is to help others come unto Christ. It’s not to baptize people. It’s not to help them keep the Word of Wisdom. It’s not even to help them get to the Temple and be sealed with their families for time and all eternity. We as missionaries know that following and accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the best way to come unto Christ. Our purpose is just that: Help others come unto Christ. That is our purpose. If we manage to teach a whole lesson without so much as mentioning Jesus Christ, we’re doing it wrong. Seriously wrong. Christ is the center of everything.

This week I thought that I would give you a bit of an idea of where I work.

This is a pretty standard street that we travel along to get to our proselyting areas. (click to enlarge)

Those kind of roads usually lead to a road somewhat like this. (click to enlarge)

This is a pretty standard street that we travel along to get to our proselyting areas. (click to enlarge)

Those kind of roads usually lead to a road somewhat like this. From those kinds of roads, it leads into this kind of road, where we actually do most of our work. We call them roads, but honestly, they’re more like alleyways. As I’ve stated before, I can’t imagine being one of the taller, six-foot something Elders in my MTC batch. Even I have to duck down some of these streets, and I’m 5’4″.

I forgot something to add to my list of miracles: I haven’t had any allergies. None. The only time I get runny noses here in the Philippines is when I eat spicy food. It’s super nice.

I’ve decided what one of the most different things about the Philippines is: Security. Here, nearly any biggish place where you can purchase things has a security guard posted out in front, even McDonald’s. They’re all armed. The guards who stand in front of the banks get to carry shotguns. It’s just a way of life. I reminisced how easy it was to get through customs when I first got here to Elder Antonio (I literally just said I didn’t have anything illegal in my bags and they let me through) compared to what one has to do in America, and the difference between America and the Philippines in terms of posted security. The way he described it to me was this,

“In America, all of the terrorists are on the outside, and you’re trying to keep them out. Here in the Philippines, they’re already here. This is where they live.” It was an interesting thought. By the way, don’t worry about it Mom. I’ll be safe.

Elder Crocker and Elder Antonio Visit with Family (click to enlarge)

A random thought. Back home, I remember having wondered how Nokia was still in business. It seems like no one in America uses Nokia phones anymore. However, here in the Philippines, that seems to be the only phone brand I see. Our companionship’s phone is a Nokia phone.

Elder Crocker One Month into his Mission (click to enlarge)

Missionaries Visit Family (click to enlarge)

Until next week,

Elder Crocker

Elder David Neal Crocker