Elder Benjamin Michael Conover Mission Blog : Week 32: Feliz Pascua!

Hello Friends and Family!

Hope Everyone had a great Easter, and may you all feel the endless blessings of the Savior's atonement.

This week was definitely so much better than the past few weeks, and we did not have any doctors appts, broken bikes, etc, so we could actually work super hard! My legs ache so much from pedaling so long, and it feels so good haha.

First off, last Pday, I felt kinda just downtrodden and beat up from the lack of work from the previous week, and I just felt like I really am not making a difference in anybody´s life. However, the Lord blessed me so much!

We had ¨super pday¨ so a ton of missionaries got together in Mendoza to play soccer, and the Mendoza zone leaders, who are now in my last area, San Miguel, were there too, and they told me that same day Sergio and Ines, my investigators in San Miguel, were going to the lawyer to get their divorce papers done so they can finally get married, and hopefully they will be baptized in a few weeks and Ines, my favorite person in the world, asked the zone leaders to make sure and invite me!!!!! I was so grateful for that, the Lord is truly aware of us.

Next, we had a scary experience this week.

We were riding down the main street, and I was in front, with Elder Hollis behind. We had just turned, and I was on the side of the street, and Elder Hollis kept going into the street a little bit, just as a GIANT Semi-truck blew by, literally missing him by about 2 feet. He literally almost died and it was terrifying. Then, the truck drive got mad, pulled over, walked past me, and started screaming in Elder Hollis´ face, saying some mean mean things. It was terrifying, but luckily nothing happened after that.

We found a new investigator this week, Antonela, who is a 17 year old girl, and she listens very intently, and we got to give the first lesson about the restoration and we also watch the restoration video with her. It was a great lesson and the spirit was strong. There really is just a sweet spirit that comes every single time we talk about the first vision and Joseph Smith. IT IS TRUE!!

Yesterday was great, and a really strong recent convert gave a talk, and her mom, who is not a member, came to church for the first time, and stayed to watch the baptism of an 8 year old girl, and there was such a sweet spirit there. Afterwards, we went to the house of some members for lunch, and they did a HUGE asado. SO GOOD! Pictures are attached.

Yesterday, we also had an awesome lesson with a man who smokes SO MUCH, in order to help him stop smoking. It was an awesome lesson and it was a blessing to be a part of it.

Finally, last night we got transfer calls, and I am staying in Colonia Bombal, but Elder Hollis is leaving. I will be Senior Companion with 2 other gringos with about the same time as me, so I am super excited. However, Elder Hollis´ bike broke (yes they are brand new) last night, so we now have 1 bike for 3 elders. Should be an interesting week haha.

FUNNY

We got off a bus and Elder Hollis dropped his scripture case straight into the Acequia.....and yes there was water. Luckily, they didn't get wet. He also forgot his name tag that day. The poor guy has terrible luck.

We were riding in the MIDDLE OF NO WHERE just trying to explore a little, and we were riding side by side. I was on the right, Elder Hollis on the left. Suddenly, two HUGE dogs came out of a house to the left, and I saw them coming, so I positioned myself so Elder Hollis was in between me and the dogs, so he would take whatever they dished out on us haha. Anyways, the dogs surrounded Elder Hollis, and I made my get away as he was fighting them, trying to kick with both feet and pedal at the same time. It was quite interesting to watch. Suddenly, my companion just went kung-foo ninja and just pounded one of the dogs in the head, and just dazed it. It then came after me and I got off my bike to fight it, and it ran away. On the way back the dogs were tied up cause we think the owner saw what happened. Don't mess with Mormon Missionaries haha.

I also got a good dog face kick this week. The dog was chasing me barking and being mean so I gave him a nice little smack in the face. He ran away quickly haha.

The Lord really blessed me beyond expression this week with feelings of peace, support, love, and just a feeling of contentment. Thank you all so much for your prayers and love.

Elder Conover