Elder Crocker: Children and the Book of Mormon

With Pinoy’s baptism last week, this week has been a good moment to catch our breath before we have a couple more baptisms this Friday.

We had a birthday celebration for Samantha, the daughter of Brother Richard and Sister Marichu.

While there’s always much joy as a missionary, there are also those moments of heartache. Two weeks ago we found a whole family, whom we were very excited to teach, and they seemed very excited to learn. This week, we went to teach them another time, but when we arrived, only the oldest son was there. He invited us in, and then went out the backdoor, saying that he would go see if his mother was there. There we sat for a few minutes, until one of the young boys belonging to the family walked up and said that the rest of the family wasn’t there. We shrugged, headed for a less-active member who lives nearby.

There was a lot of food at the birthday celebration, and then we had a family home evening afterwards.

Children Return Books

The less-active wasn’t there either, but as we were waiting to see if someone would come to the door, we noticed a group of three young children walking down the street, two holding copies of the Book of Mormon. That seemed strange to me, but after a moment, I realized something wasn’t right.

Book of Mormon

As the children approached, they offered us the books. Elder Cabeza and I looked at each other, blinked, and asked the children what they were doing. The oldest looking girl, who couldn’t have been older than 7-years-old, told us, “Mama said to give you back the books. We won’t be reading them anymore.” That’s only the second time on my mission that someone has given the Book of Mormon back to me. Tough, really tough. We’ll just have to find other people who are prepared to read the Book of Mormon.

I was staring down the dog that’s in front of the house of one of our investigators. It hid afterwards. No joke.

The gospel really is true, and we have the marvelous opportunity to help God in His Work and His Glory, that is, bringing His children back into His presence.

The work is not easy, but it is worth it.

Until next week,

Elder Crocker

Philippines Cavite Mission

Elder David Neal Crocker

Elder Crocker enjoys a meal among birthday party attendees

The family home evening.

Time to head for home.

A Few Questions and Answers:

Q: It’s been a while since we got a report on your health. How are you feeling, mentally and physically?

A: I’ve been a little sick this week, but we’re doing well. My mind is fine, I don’t know that I’ve ever had a problem there.

Q: When will you be going back to Manila to go to the temple?

A: I will go to the Manila Temple a day or two before my flight home.

Q: Your return itinerary shows Sister Beus on the same flight? Do you know her?

A: I know Sister Beus well, we’ve been in the same zone a lot, and I was her zone leader here.