Elder Crocker: “You’re the Singing Elder!”

Singing Elder Crocker at the Manila Temple (click to enlarge)

Singing Elder?  I’ll get to that.

This week was transfer week.  If Elder Antonio were not still training me, I probably would have gotten a new companion, or even a new area.  It’ll happen next time, at least, since Elder Antonio will be departing the mission in five weeks, only to tackle the next big challenge: marriage.  *wink wink*

Singing Elder

As such, we got two new missionaries in our district:  Elder Manongas, a native Filipino (with exceptional English skills) and Sister Tuia, a Samoan who has lived in Utah for most of her life.  When I first met Sister Tuia, we chatted for a moment, and then she stopped, looked at her companion, and looked back at me and almost yelled, “OH, you’re the Singing Elder!” My only response was to throw my hands up in the air, turn around and walk away, moaning, “Oh no.  I’m famous.  I don’t want to be famous.”

Mandaluyong District with Zone Leaders and Sister Sabordo (click to enlarge)

She mentioned that we had met before in the MTC.  I…  didn’t remember.  Apparently my reputation as the Singing Elder is starting to precede me.  Mixed feeling about that one, but I guess I’ll deal with it.

Also, I sang at a funeral this week.  That was sort of a somber experience.  It was for a 24 year-old returned missionary, but most of the people at the funeral service were not members of the church.  It was interesting to see how they treated death versus the way we, as members of the church with a full knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, treat it.

Elder Crocker with others on Manila Philippines Temple Visit (click to enlarge)

On Saturday, we had the temple tour, where we bring investigators or less-active members or recent converts to the Manila Philippines Temple to explain the purpose of the temple.  This is my second temple tour.  We, along with the other set of Elders and the Sister missionaries, rented an entire jeepney this time.  It was mostly full of the Sister’s investigators.  We only brought Sister Norra, her son, Raine, and her friend Merci, a member.  It was a nice experience.  Sister Norra will be baptized soon.  We’re just waiting on marriage papers to be processed so she can be officially married to her RM husband.  Then, in a year, they’ll be able to be sealed in the temple.  I look forward to the time.

Elder Crocker Looking Back (click to enlarge)

The best for last:  Earlier this week, Elder Antonio and I were given a miracle.  We’ve been teaching a less-active woman in the ward, who was not really progressing.  Her mother is active, as are her children, but this sister is not.  Elder Antonio and I determined that it was due, in part, to her husband, who is not a member of the church.  I’ve maybe seen him a total of three or four times.  He’s either always gone or, when he sees us, he runs.  We can walk into the house and he’ll immediately excuse himself, saying that he has something that he needs to do.  Thus, we came to the conclusion that we needed to teach him.  And, long story short, we did.  We walked in the house this week and he was there.  He immediately stood up, as if he was about to excuse himself.  I don’t believe that I’ve ever said a more earnest prayer in my life, asking Heavenly Father to make him stay so we could teach him.  We sat down and he walked into the other room for a moment, but then came back, sat down, and proceeded to participate in our lesson.  It was perhaps one of the best experiences of my mission so far.  Even if we never have the chance to teach him again, this one experience was enough.

Until next week,

Elder Crocker

 (The Singing Elder)

Elder David Neal Crocker

Elder Crocker’s earlier efforts as he became the Singing Elder:

David Crocker (Singing Elder) Sings
– The Trumpet Shall Sound from Handel’s Messiah