Week 98: The Biggest Miracle of My Mission

Hey Everyone!

This week was amazing, and about 10 minutes ago, it was sealed as the best week of my mission.  

This week, following Pday, we went to the offices of the mission (3 hours away) and we were there for a few days.  We had doctors appointments and what not, so we were there for a while.  Normally, we aren't allowed to visit old areas, but since we had some time, I asked for permission to go to my last area in Maipu in order to be able to visit the Familia Godoy.  Well, President was so amazing, and allowed us to go!  So, Tuesday night, we got to do exchanges, and I got to work in Maipú.  

So, we went to the Familia Godoy, and they had no idea that I was going to go.  I knocked on the door, and Nestor (the dad) opened the door, and threw his head back, yelled, and gave me a big hug.  

We got to talk for a while, and they were telling me about what happened after I left.  While I was there, they still didnt have their answer that the Book of Mormon is true, and they were reading and praying, trying to get their answer.  Also, Nestor told us that he would never wear a shirt and a tie to go to church.  Well, last week, he went to church in a shirt, tie, and a suit, and they got in the car, and picked up the missionaries from their house to go to church.  That NEVER happens.

Then, he said, ¨Benjamin (they call me Benjamin), I never told you about my revelation.  I was reading the Book of Mormon, and praying to know if it is true.  And I wasnt getting the answer.  However, one night, Milagros (his four year old daughter) was laying down next to me in bed, and she said ¨Daddy, can I tell you something?¨ ¨Yes.¨ and she said, ¨Last night, I was with God.¨ He was really shocked, but he asked what happened.  She said ¨He said that you shouldn´t be afraid.  You just need to read the Book of Mormon.¨ He said that from that moment on, he knew for sure that the Book of Mormon was true.  They thanked me for sharing the gospel with them, and they told us that they have the goal of going to the temple in a year.  The happiness could not be greater.  

Then, today, as I got into my email, I had an email from Nestor, filled with pictures of their baptism.  They were baptized on Saturday.

I am so grateful for my mission.  It has been the hardest thing that I have ever done in my entire life.  There have been so many disappointments, so many trying moments, but the Lord is so incredibly merciful, and in the most unexpected moment, he gave me a fullness of joy.  

I know this is the work of the Lord, and that this church is TRUE!

Elder Conover


The Familia Godoy! :)


They got baptized on July 1st!


This is the nicest bus in the whole mission


New missionary training


This is a hot dog place in my last area


Potreros....Pday today


I really like my new blanket

Week 97: Almost Got Robbed!

Hey Everyone!

This week was a pretty strange one, and we had a lot of unexpected things happen!

First off, for pday, we got together with all the other Elders, and we were playing soccer, but there weren't very many there, so we changed the game to four square.  It was fun trying to explain it to the Latins, since they don't play it, but it ended up being fun haha!

For the first couple of days this week, we had a lot of success. In two days, we found four new investigators, which was a huge blessing.

We got to have zone conference this week, and since our mission president is leaving this week, it was a really special zone conference, in which President Goates gave us all of his advice for life.  It was an awesome zone conference, and at the end, President gave all of the Elders permission to hug Hermana Goates haha!

Following the zone conference, we went back to the area to work, but my companion came down with the flu, so we went back to the pension.  And, when we woke up Friday morning, he was sick still, so it was a full day in the pension.  And let me just say, sick days are torture.  Missionaries just wanna work.

However, Saturday and Sunday, we worked super hard, and we talked to a TON of people in the street, and on Sunday we got to teach a family that we found last week.  They are the Familia Arenas.  The Dad, Ruben, is a member that is inactive, and the rest of the Family are not members.  We got to teach them about the Restoration, which went well, and they seemed to understand, and they committed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it.  At the end, the Father kinda freaked out on us, telling us that we can't pressure him.  He got way mad, and his wife told us that she has no interest, but the 12 year old daughter, Abril says that she wants to get baptized and go to church, so we are excited to teach her!

This week, I started changing up my street contact approach.  I have tried to testify more frequently about the Restoration, and especially the Book of Mormon.  It isn't always a great hook for everyone, but I love it because it ALWAYS is a hook for the people that are prepared.  I love the Restored Gospel!

Funny

Yesterday we stopped a guy in the street, and I realized that we have talked to him before.  We gave our shpeel pretending like we didn't know him, because he had lied to us before about his address.  After a few seconds, he was like ¨you guys already talked to me.¨ and I was like ¨oh ya, we went to the address that you gave us, and it was a fake address!¨ and I was all smiles, being as friendly as possible.  He just was like ¨uhhhhh....ya¨ Me:¨so, you lied to us?¨ Him......¨ummmm....yaaa¨

We were walking in a part that is really far out in our area, and there was a dog that was barking at us, and when it got mad, it tried to bite its own tail.  So, I decided to take a video of it (yes, that was dumb).  When I put my camera away, I looked over, and a creepy dude was in his car watching us, and he slowly drove away watching us.  Well, we kept on working, and a couple minutes later, we saw the car again, and he had looped around looking for us, and when he saw us, he slowed down, stared, and then turned again to loop around.  So, as soon as he turned, me and Elder Vasquez just took off, sprinting through a field, and ran to the closest busy street.  It was fun!

Love You All!

(Elder) Benjo Conover

President and Hermana Goates


Food that the Familia Arenas took to our pension


There were little birds taking a bath in front 
of our pension.


Hugging Hermana Goates!


Hermana Sayer....She was in my district when
she started her mission a year ago.


Elder Skonnard!


Sleepover the night before the Zone Conference


Graffiting your own house is a common way to say happy
birthday to your kids here.


Pday

Week 96: We Were Like Robbers

Hey Everyone!

This week was a crazy one, and we had a lot of challenges for the work, but we worked hard!

This week, we had transfers, so the zone and the District got mixed up`, which has been interesting and super fun!

This week, we were able to find some new investigators, and last night we were able to teach a little family in which the Dad is a less active member and the rest of the family is not members.  It is difficult to teach them, since they do not accept any type of committments, but we are gonna work hard and see how we can help them progress!

On Saturday, we were able to do some service for a family in our ward, and they have a lot of kids.  It was way fun!   We were hauling dirt and sand and what not, and in between hauls, I got to run around with the wheelbarrow with the kids inside haha.  It was way fun.

I'm sorry for writing such a lame letter, this week was pretty slow with the work, but we are talking to a lot of people in the street, but we had a couple of sick days in the pension, so the work kinda got affected.  

However, this week I was studying in the Book of Mormon, and I was reading about the Plan of Salvation and the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Book of Alma, when Alma squares up against Zeezrom.  The Doctrine that is within the Book of Mormon is INCREDIBLE.  It makes so much sense, and it so different from what the rest of the world understands.  I love the Book of Mormon, and I know that it is the word of God!

Funny

This week, we knocked a door, and an old woman came out, and was talking to us on the porch.  As she was talking to us, the wind blew, and her door shut, locking her outside.  So, me and my comp had to climb up the front of the house by stepping on the bars over the windows, and climb over the back side, and go through the back door to let the little grandma in.  It was way funny, and we totally looked like robbers (other than the shirt and tie).

On Tuesday or Wednesday, we went to contact a man named Jose Torres, who we talked to in the street a couple of weeks ago.  When we got to the house, a woman opened the door, and we asked for Jose Torres, and she looked so surprised.  She told us that he doesn't live there, and that Jose Torres is her ex-husband.  They got divorced like 20 years ago.  Jose Torres sent us to his ex-wife´s house so we would bother her and not him, and even gave us his name, just so she would know it was him.  Jose Torres gets the prank of the century award.  

I love you all!

Elder Conover

Breaking into the Grandma´s house


This dog was way mean.  It ripped my jacket


We have a lot of cockroaches in the pension


my comp with a dog


This is our friend that comes each day to say
hi to us

 
This is the crossed-eyed cat of some members


This dog was nicer than the others.  

Week 95: Roller Coaster

Hey Guys!

This week was pretty bumpy, to be completely honest, but we can see that the work has potential, and that some members have a few referals that they are preparing.  

First off, for Pday, we got to do Tacos with the zone.  It was awesome, and it was a really fun activity!

Anyways, this week, a lot of stuff happened haha.  

About two weeks ago, we got to talk to a guy named Franco in the street the other day, and he was golden.  Last week, we got in with him, and the lesson was so perfect.  We got to teach about most of the Restoration, and at the end of the lesson, Franco gave the closing prayer, and he said in his prayer that he hopes that the true church of God has been restored.  We were blown away, and we were so excited.  However, the next few days, he basically told us that he has no time to listen to us.  It was really crushing, since we had gotten our hopes so high, and then they got crushed.  

Then, we stopped another kid this week, who is 16.  His name is Valentin, and he is golden.  So prepared, and he is the friend of a member too.  He walked 15-20 mins with us to get to the lesson, and it was a great lesson.  We were really happy.  However, we found out the next day that his Mom is Evangelist, and she says that he cant listen to us.  

It was really difficult to take in, since all the investigators fell this week.  However, in my scripture studies, I came across a scripture that I love.  It was in Alma, and it says ¨joy that came after much tribulation and sorrow,¨ It is so true!  We are tried, and then come the blessings.  

Also, I just found out that my last area, Gutiérrez, had 10 investigators at church yesterday!  I am so blessed to have been a part of that!

Funny

We are talking to a lot of people, so we have a lot of fun experiences.  We tried to talk to a woman, and I stuck my hand out to talk to her, but she scowled at me, and looked away almost disgusted.  Right then, she stepped onto the curb to go onto the sidewalk, and she tripped on the curb, and almost biffed it completely.  And, all embarrassed, took off trying not to look at us, and we could not stop laughing.  

I love you all!  I know that this is the work of God, and that he tries our faith, but that he always gives us a fullness of joy following the trial!

Elder Conover

Burning the leaves at service

We did service, and we were on the roof

My kid and I

Elder Vasquez made rice, and drew a leaf 

and put it on top to make it look better.

Trying to Dog Whisper

The Church

Our Heater!  I LOVE this thing

Week 94: Trying to Lift The Area

Hey guys!

Another week of the mission has gone by, and it was a pretty good week!

For pday, we got together as a zone, and we got to do an asado.  A missionary bought like 16 pounds of straight meat, and I got to cook it!  It was actually way good!

This week, we did a lot of street contacts, and we have put the goal of doing a thousand street contacts before I go home.  That would be more than I have ever done in so short of a time, so I will be ending strong!

This week, I have been going through the area book, where it describes all the people that have listened to the missionaries before, and I found a family called the Familia Barrera, so we decided to visit them.  We have gotten to teach them twice now.  They are Seventh Day Adventists, so they have quite a few questions, but we think that they may have some big potential, since the dad, Lucio, came to church with us yesterday!

Also, this week, we were walking down the street, and we were crossing the street, and about to cross behind some buildings, and I looked down the road we were crossing, and I saw a little family.  I felt the need to talk to them, and I had one of those little internal fights since it was gonna look way weird to turn around and go after them.  But, I decided to go, and we stopped the family, and they were awesome!  The mom told us that she listened to missionaries a while ago, but that they stopped going, and that they just lost contact.  So, we got to teach them last night!  

Funny

It has been really cold lately, and it is way cold in the pension.  Yesterday, we were studying, and Elder Vasquez had his hands in his pockets to keep them warm.  I looked over, and he was rubbing his face on his open scriptures.  I was way confused, so I asked him what was going on, and he explained that he didn't want to take his hands out of his pockets, but his face itched haha.  

We stopped a man in the street this week, and he was really quick to reject us, but I wasn't taking it, so I went after him, and wouldn't let him reject us so fast.  He stopped, and said, ¨I can't talk, I´m in a hurry!¨ and grabbed his stomach, basically saying, I am having a bathroom emergency.  It was way awkard.  

A dog came after us, so I bent over to pretend like I was picking up a rock so it would run away.  It worked, but the dog ran to it's house, and when it tried to jump through the bars, it was too fat to slip through haha.  

I love you all, and I know that God is at the head of this work!

Elder Conover


Hoping my shoes can make it through to the end!


Asado!!

Week 93: First Week In Amppya!

Hey Everyone!

A new week, and a new area!  As well as a lot of new challenges!

First off, on Monday and Tuesday of last week, we worked, and I said goodbye to some of the people.  It was sad to say goodbye to the Familia Godoy, but I am grateful to have been able to teach them!  

Then, on Tuesday night (the night before I left Gutierrez), we had a miracle!  We went by house of a boy that we had found the week before, and had miracle finding him.  His name is Augustin Pécora.  We got to talk to him about what we do as missionaries, and then we talked a little about the Book of Mormon.  When I pulled out the Book of Mormon, he asked if there was a digital copy that he could download.  Then, we told him that it was a gift from us to him, and his eyes got huge and he hugged the book, and told us that he was going to cry.  Then, he asked us if he could be Mormon and have family members that are Catholics.  It was amazing!  I am sad that I wont be there to see him progress, but I am grateful to have been there to find him!

On Wednesday, I went to the offices, and I got my kid!  My new companion that I am training is Elder Vazquez from Lima, Perú!  Following a training from our leaders, we jumped on a two story bus, and took a 3 1/2 hr bus ride to San Luis.

So, we are now here in Amppya, San Luis!  This week has been crazy, and we have basically been so lost the whole week, since the old map that we have to carry around is super ripped, so it has been fun haha.  Unfortunately, we haven't been able to find any of the investigators that the other missionaries had, so it seems like we will be starting from ground zero again!  Lots of talking to people in the street!

Funny

This week, we have been way lost, and we don't really know much about the area.  So, we didn't really know what areas were dangerous areas.  One night, we were walking around an area that looked a little sketchy, pretty late at night.  Come to find out, it was the most dangerous part of our area.  Whoops!

We were walking down the street, and there was a pancaked cat in the street,  I totally didn't see it, and right before i got to it, my comp said, ¨Gato!¨ Well, too late.  I stepped on the pancaked cat and was disgusted with my foot the rest of the night

It is REALLY cold here, and the heaters in our house broke.  So, all day we can see our breath in the house.  It makes the post-shower dash to get dressed super exciting (and terrible).

I love you all!

Elder Conover

Walter and Nahir in Gutierrez

Elder Raymant from Canada


Elder Sosa Sporting the Super short tie


Hermano Scalise, the Ward mission leader in Gutierrez


The Familia Mandiola


Elder Dicou


Elder Mulliner


Elder Williams


Nico Abasolo from Gutierrez


Familia Tidei (the stake president of Maipú)


Hermano Blanco from Gutierrez


Lucas Molto from Gutierrez


Augustin Pecora


Me and Elder Vejar


Me and My Kid!



The Pension was super dirty when we showed up, now it looks a lot better


When we showed up here, we found out that the back door didnt shut, so anyone could break in and rob us from the back door.  So, for two nights, we put a set of weights in front of the door, so if someone opened the door to rob us at night, we would wake up and be able to stop them


Trainers and Kids.  The two other trainers were in the MTC with me!


Some Hermanas were taking a selfie so we decided to 
mimick them, and took a ¨Hermana Selfie¨