Date: Tue. 04 Dec 2007
Well dear family- transfers have come and gone and looks like I will be spending the last 3 months of my mission here in the area of Vernon, aka little Mexico! It is right by Huntington Park, which is considered the ghetto of the mission (story of my mission!) I was very surprised to get the news that i would be staying spanish. I was certain that I would go English because I have been Spanish my whole entire mission. It's interesting because I am the ONLY missionary in the whole mission that has not served in an English area... I think the Lord wants me to learn Spanish and to learn something from the wonderful Latin people. These last three months I really need to focus on Spanish and try to really learn from these people, because obviously there is more I need to learn from them. To be honest, I was a tiny bit disappointed to hear that I would be coming to Huntington Park, but only because I thought a change of scenery would be nice (although I really do love all the grafittied walls, gum-covered streets, shoes hanging from telephone poles, taco trucks, barred windows and yappy little dogs). It is a good area though and the longer I'm here the more I'm loving the people. It is very similar to Maywood and Wilmington- lots of teaching, but not many who progress. Vamos a ver que pasara.I know that there is a reason that I'm here and that there are lessons for me to learn and people for me to
touch. I am very excited! My companion's name is Hermana Marroquin from Quatemala/ Washington D.C. she has been out 16 months and goes home with me in Febuary. We are trying not to be trunky together and are working hard and having fun. We live with a member, which is a bit interesting. Right now I'm sleeping on this dumb little cot that has springs popping out of it and is really flimsy. After the first night I called the misison home up and said that I neeeeed a bed because I have back problems. So gratefully they are in the process of getting me a bed, but until then my back is not feeling too good! The thrills of a mission! I didn't even unpack my suitcases either becasue there is nowhere to put our stuff in our tiny bedroom. Luckily it will only be three months though! Besides those little details, it is great and I'm just happy that I
have a place to live that has light and carpet and a bathroom.
We have a few investigators, but are, as usual, in the process of looking for more. We have Armando who is set for baptism the 23 of December, but is having a hard time moving out of the apartment where he lives with a lady (they insist that they are nothing, nonetheless he still
has to move out, but doesn't seem to understand the big importance of it.) He's about 50 and is a humble, quiet man. He's really good and has a testimony of the church. We also have Eric and James. Oh man. I could write the rest of this email about those two- they are just both something else! James is from Jamaca and is way black with this white curly hair. When he talks he never says "I" rather "me" ("me went to the store and me bought you this...") it is pretty funny. He suffers from memory loss and so it makes it interesting to teach him. He also has
siezures regulary and so smokes a lot of tabacco because it calms him down. His roommate is Eric who is the only other white person in this town besides me. He is 31 and is always seen dragging an empty blue suitcase behind him- always- whether it's at church or the bus stop he always has that silly blue suitcase! I haven't asked why yet. When we called to invite him to church the first thing he said was "ya okay. I'll come. And I'll bring my suitcase." He's a bit wierd to say the least! But, they are our best investigators right now and soo sweet! It surprises me
how much I have come to love such wied people on my mission! They really are my friends and I feel so grateful to have my eyes opened a little more and see how Heavenly Father loves all his children, despite our quirks.
Friday we had a really cool activity with the HP ward. It started out in the gym where there were all these booths with different games and activities. For the games like basketball and bowling the people would receive a red ticket. For the booths like reading a scripture or
singing a hymn, the people would receive a white ticket. Everyone was just in the gym playing and playing, but randomly 2 elders, dressed in pure white, would come and take people out of the room. From there the people would wait and then go to a judgement (with the bishop and counselor). They were then all judged according to their tickets- whether there were more white or red. From there they were assigned to one of three different rooms. Of course you know what those were. My comp and I were in the Celestial Kingdom room. There everything was White- white fabric on the walls and floor, white coverings on the chairs, and we were dressed in all white too. It was so peaceful and beautiful- similar to the temple. Anyways, the other 2 rooms were so different and there really were such differnt feelings in all three. It was a very impacting activity for everyone. Parents would be in the celestial room just waiting and
hoping that there kids would soon come and although it was just fake, you could see the saddness in their eyes when their family never came and the joy when one would come and they'd hug and smile. It was a really cool activity and really touched everyone. I'll try to send pictures, but wanted to tell you about it and maybe you could try it too.
Yesterday we had our amazing christmas zone conference. I've been feeling a little like I was dying, but now I feel much better and am back to myself! The Lord always knows just what I need. It really hit me how limited my time really is and how precious this time is. I love my
mission and serving the Lord and although I am tired, I can't loose focus
of the great joy and privlege that it is. Just pray that I'll stay focused and enthusiastic about the work. I love you all so much and am glad you all had a great holiday. Thank you for the updates. Next time I'll probably be hearing about Kingston! YAY! Good luck to all in finals and in work. Work hard and pray hard and it will all be okay! You are the best of the best and I love you
MUCHO!!! Love, Herman Crosby
So this below is the before of the ceiling we are painting above!!! And it was a lot harder than it looks. I got a great upper body and ab work out!! Parts of the ceiling fell down on me as I painted. SAD!
So heres a brief account of what Tami and I did Dec. 21-23 2007. This is tami and i's second year to participate in this type of service project. It is through a organization called IN HERE!! They basically seek, find and organized service, ask for volunteers and then do it! This year we helped an orphanage in Hermosillo Mexico called Cuidad de Los Ninos. This place is home to not only children but to adults with out home nor family. It is set up like a little community where there are adults assigned to children in a "casa". The director asked the organization to help restore(make them livable-- not perfect) two casas so they might house additional people in need. as you can see from the pics these places are in bad shape to say the least. so think "while you out" only Two entire houses that are in shambles in ONE 13 hour day......thats a pretty big task. But the 30 of us worked our little rear ends off!! --new doors, water-proofing the roofs, installing new toilets and sinks, new electrical outlets, and matching, consistent FRESH paint on well, pretty much EVERYTHING, cleaning and fixing . WE all actually stayed at the orphanage. it was like camping! (in the winter) Love it! but those people do it every day! WE are sooooo blessed! we ate so durn good authentic mexican food ( I love tomales)!! and of course went to a mexican hot dog stand. We completed our task and the people were so very thankful. It sure is a great feeling to HELP!
tam and I overlooking Hermosillo
