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Monday, October 31, 2016

Week 63: First Week In Tunuyan


Hello Everyone!

Another week has gone by in the mission, and I spent it in my new area: Tunuyán in the Valle De Uco Zone.  

Last monday, we got to eat as a district for the last time, which was super fun.  We really had an awesome district!

Then, in the afternoon, I got to say goodbye to all of the people in the area.  It was such a blessing to be able to meet these people and serve with them.  The last family that we visited was the familia Maldonado, and they are like our second family.  They bought some soda and snacks and we chatted for a while, and then I got eggs and flour smashed in my hair (that is how they say goodbye to missionaries).  They are amazing people.  

Anyways, Tuesday morning, after 3 hours of travel, I met up with Elder Mulliner (my new comp) and came to my new area.  We have the best pension ever haha.  

Anyways, the last week was kinda difficult, because when I showed up, we literally had nothing.  Not even contacts from door knocking, because the last missionaries didnt do it at all.  So, we have started from scratch basically.  

The one investigator that we have that could progress is named Javier, and they are a great little family.  Javier has recently stopped drinking, and needs to stop smoking and get married to get baptized.  Well, things were going awesome, but then on Saturday, he told us that he isnt gonna do the other stuff, and we found out that he started drinking again, and they didnt go to church, so that was hard to hear, but we are going to see how we can help.  

With all the things that piled up suddenly, I felt super weighed down.  It was a pretty long week.  I just knelt down so many times begging for help and support, and I had many moments when I just had a feeling things will work out.  I have felt better these last few days.  

As I said, we have been just doing Abrir La Boca basically, and every time we are about to knock doors, we offered a prayer.  We had so many miracles with that.

We had a lot of cool experiences, and the first one, was the Familia Barroso.  We were ending the morning work, and on our way to lunch.  Well, the Hermano sent us a message saying that he was gonna be like a half an hour late.  So, we said a prayer and started knocking doors.  First three.....really bad rejections, And then, a guy let us in!!!!  Super nice family.  A mom (nancy), her son (Maxi), and the cousin/niece (Micaela).  We have had two lessons with them, and they are reading the Book of Mormon, and have talked to missionaries before!  

Other miracle.  We said a prayer, walked across the street, and talked to a man.  He led us to his brother, who was in his house, hosting a radio channel.  He asked us if we want to talk on the Radio this coming Wednesday and about 25,000 people will be listening.  Woooo hahaha.  Of course we accepted haha.  

Also, we said a prayer, and first house we knocked on a woman opened her window and the things that she was saying were PERFECT!!!!

Then, last night, I could not find the phone, and I had to call the zone leaders.  We said a prayer, and in the middle of the prayer I had the exact place of the phone come to my head.  Prayer is SO real.

Funny

We were in the Familia Barroso´s house, and Micaela comes in.  She is like 22 maybe.  All of a sudden, her face is right next to mine, to do the Argentine kiss-the-cheek thing.  When that happens, we usually just put our hand out, so they can't get close.  But, Ya Fue.  It made the lesson kinda uncomfortable.  

It started hailing like crazy yesterday, and it was super hard.  It looked like it snowed after wards.  I told Elder Mulliner that Id give him 10 pesos if he ran out, and he did it, and just slipped and biffed it so hard hahahaha.  

I Love You All!

Elder Conover


The Familia Maldonado


The egg attack!


Hermana Sayer


Elder Williams


Hermana Udall


Hermana Henrie


Hermana Blanco


The awesome view in my area


It was hailing hard!







Monday, October 24, 2016

Week 62: No Power and Transfer Calls!

Hello Everyone!

So this week was insane!  We had so much stuff happen that was not expected at all, but it was a good week and we had quite a bit of success. 

First off, on Monday, we got to do ¨Super Pday,¨ which is a multiple zone pday and we just play a bunch of soccer, which was way fun, even if I still play terribly, BUT I did score a goal, so basically I'm up there with Messi.  

That night, we were doing some contacting, and I have been taking attendance at church to make sure no one slips through the crack of inactivity with out anyone noticing.  I noticed that one completely active family didn't show up to church for two weeks.  When we went over, we talked to the mom, and she told us that she is going through a divorce, and that her father was in the hospital for a week straight, which is why they didn't go to church.

They told us that they sent messages to the bishop, but unfortunately, nobody from the ward responded to them, or even sent them a message.  We ran over to the Dad´s house, and we got to give him a blessing, which just made us feel so good, and he was so happy that we were there.  It was such a blessing for me to be able to participate in that experience, and then the Hermana went to church yesterday!  So amazing how the Lord guides us.  If we work hard, and we are obedient, the Lord guides us, often times without us even knowing.

Anyways, after that, everything got crazy.  We had Elder Lybbert, the Zone Leader with us for the whole week, so we were working in two areas.  That was crazy, but super fun.  

We also got to sit without power for the week.  The owner of the pension forgot to pay the bills for 3 months, so someone came and shut off the power.  Yaaaay.

Later in the week, we went to a house, and the woman told us that she couldnt listen to us since she was busy washing clothes.  We tried super hard to get in, but she wasn't budging.  Finally, I rolled up my sleeves and told her that I was gonna wash her clothes.  She  let us in!  Hahaha.  Fun stuff.  

Anyways, at the end of the week, we finally got transfer calls.  I will be leaving Krause, and going to an area called Tunuyán in the Zone Valle De Uco.  I am going to keep being district leader, and I will have 4 Elders in my district.  Quite a big change, but I am feeling calm(ish) about it.  

This morning as we were leaving the pension, I felt so grateful for this area.  I remember walking into the pension 4 month

s ago, and just falling to my knees, feeling so alone and overwhelmed, begging the Lord to ease the burdens.  The Lord has lifted me, and blessed me so much in this area, and has allowed me to see the power of his infinite atonement.  As in all areas of the mission, in this area, he has allowed me to cross the valleys of hardship, as well taste of the mountainous joy that comes from seeing the power of the gospel in the lives of  God´s children.

Funny

We were walking, and Elder Lybbert said (as we passed another dead dog) ¨You know, I never thought that I would recognize ´Dead Dog´ as a smell¨ haha #sanjuan


I Love You All!

Elder Conover


The District.  I LOVE this district.  I am super sad to leave

Hermano Vega on his roof

Joel, Gabriela and Estela.  Joel will be baptized in two weeks!

This is Hermano Quiroga...the less active man that yelled
at me a few weeks ago haha
The Bishop's family

Hermana Araus...she is SO small


Me and Gabi


Lucho...He wanted me to crouch so we were
the same height


The Flia Godoy!


Franco...he is a stud


Joel and Juan!


I cut Elder Crist's hair last night, and it actually looks way good!



I got caught by some barbed wire...The aftermath


The blackout


Hno Vega and Elder Crist.....I'm not sure what Hno Vega is doing






Monday, October 17, 2016

Week 61: A Very Different Week


Hey Everyone!

This week was pretty slow as far as the work goes, but we felt good so that was a huge tender mercy!  

We started the week off with Pday, and we made tacos as a zone.  They actually turned out well and we had a really fun time talking to everyone.  

That night, we finally got into the house of a man named Dario Yubel, who we have been trying to contact for a while.  He is a really humble man with a lot of problems in his life, and the lesson went well!  We should be able to teach him again this week and see how he will progress!  

Then, on Tuesday, we were going to go to Mendoza for some stuff, so we had no plans for the afternoon, however, we got a text, saying that they canceled our trip, so we got to have a really fun afternoon of no plans haha.  It turned into a lot of walking, and it wasn't the funnest thing in the world haha.  However, we planned for the next day at night, and we set a lot of appt´s for the next day.  

Then, on Wednesday morning, we went out to work, and we got a call from the mission saying that Elder Crist had to go to San Luis for a couple days, so we then had to cancel our appointments and then head to the bus terminal.  

I stayed with some other Elders while Elder Crist went on ¨Vacation¨ in San Luis, and it was a good experience for me.  The time out of the area made me proud of the work that we are doing and how hard we are working, even if our numbers are not super high right now.  

We also got to teach a boy that we found a couple of weeks ago, named Jesus. He is sixteen and he got baptized a couple of years ago.  We taught him outside, and it was so sad.  He lives in a house where there are constantly people who are yelling and saying mean things, and we could see the pain that it has caused him.  He told us that he smokes, and then he showed us his arms.  He has cut scars from getting depressed with his life.  It was so incredibly sad.  

After that lesson, as we were walking, we were walking through a pretty dangerous area, and just looking around, we both felt so grateful to have the gospel in our lives.  Before the mission, it wasn't so apparent for me seeing the difference the gospel makes, but here, it makes us feel so grateful for the Restored gospel.  

Other than that, we taught a few other lessons, and got to have a great Argentine Mother´s Day!  

Funny

I literally got clothes lined by a clothes line this week.  I just really liked the irony.  

We were teaching a family, and we invited the dad to pray, and his wife, (who had just pulled her shirt up after exposing herself to feed her baby) just started belly laughing in the dude´s face and pointing at him.  Destroyed the spirit, but his face was priceless.  haha

Love you all!

Elder Conover


We had an asado with the Flia Godoy this week!


These are Noquis.  Waaaaaaaayyyyy Good!



Monday, October 10, 2016

Week 60: The Confirming Truth

Hey Guys!

This week was a little different, but it was a good week, and we got to see some great miracles in the work.  

First off, on Monday, we played a little bit of soccer with some other missionaries, and then in the afternoon, we got to experience the roller coaster of the mission.  

We went to the house of a woman who was super nice to us, and seemed to really want to listen.  When we got to her house, her husband came out, and he wasn't so nice to us.  He told us that there is no way that we can help him and that all churches lead to God (a common misconception here).  We decided to testify as hard as we could about the Restoration, and it felt so good.  In the end, he denied us way hard, but it felt so good since I could feel the Spirit strongly, confirming the truths that I testified of.  It was such a privilege.  I was thinking about this experience, and I was so grateful for it, because it feels so much better for me to be able to take persecution and mean words, than to receive a ¨I Dont Care about what you´re saying but I'm gonna listen¨ look.  I read a scripture in the Bible this week that I loved:

 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus,  and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council,  rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. ( Acts 5:41)  
Truly Being and Feeling like a testator of the Savior, admist persecution is such a blessing!

Anyways, in the afternoon on Monday, we got to teach a new woman, Isabela.  She has a lot of problems, and she just is so sad, and cannot feel love what so ever.  As she was talking, it brought tears to my eyes, and it felt like all of my worries and complaints melted away.  It was incredible.

Monday was great. and we were happy, and then came Tuesday.  It was difficult for a number of things, but because of some things out of our control, we felt like we weren´t able to work at all.  It was hard to accept that, and then in the next two days or so, we got dropped by Fernanda, the woman we found last week, and Guadalupe, Gabriela´s daughter, decided she won´t be baptized :(.  However, we did still have miracles!

We got to teach Isabela again, and it went well.  We taught her about the Restoration, and invited her to read the Book of Mormon, and to be baptized.  She accepted both, and she committed to the 5th of November!  We then challenged her to give up alcohol and tea, and she agreed, and gave us her tea to destroy! It was amazing, and she said that she feels better when we are there to talk to her and help her!

This week, we also went to Mendoza for a night, which was fun, since we got to stay with one of my best friends in the mission, Elder Levander, whom I haven't seen in like 4 months.  It was so awesome.  

Anyways, we also got to teach Cristina again, and she had read the Book of Mormon with her entire family, and they liked it!  We talked about the Book of Mormon, and invited them to baptism (which we are trying to do within the first two lessons), which they didn't accept, but they are going to pray and read about the book of mormon!  

Finally, in church, we were in Sacrament meeting, and I was sitting there while the sacrament was being passed.  I didn't feel too great, and I was wondering why.  After a few minutes, I had a thought come, that basically was ¨Love the members and make them happy.¨ It was surprising, but during the rest of the meeting, I looked at each member, and tried to think of the positive, loving attributes they each have, and see them as our Heavenly Father sees them.  Then, after the meeting, I ran around to each member that I could find, thanking them for everything and trying to make them feel loved.  It made me feel SO good immediately, and allowed me to forget about my own problems and worries.  It was amazing!

Funny

Argentine English Shirt of the Week: ¨Feed Me and Tell Me I´m Pretty¨ 

So public breast feeding is a very common thing here, and we see it on the daily.  But some how, Elder Crist NEVER notices it.  However, he finally got it this week.  We were walking, and there was a woman in the sidewalk, that was very prominantly breast feeding, and I knew there was NO WAY he wouldnt see it.  After we passed, I looked at him, and he looked at me from the corner of his eye, and said, defeated, ¨Ya, I saw that one.¨

Finally, we were talking to a guy in Mendoza this week, who could speak really good English, and I complimented him on his English....his response....¨Ya, I know.¨ hahaha it was awkward.

I love you all!

Elder Conover



On the WAY NICE bus


I got my second curse of the mission...a bird
pooped on me this week.


Me and Elder Levander


On the way to Mendoza



Now this is a LARGE bag of cereal


Monday, October 3, 2016

Week 59: Got Dropped, But Found Some More

Hey Everyone!

This week definitely brought its challenges, but it also brought incredible blessings!

First off, we started teaching a girl, named Maria, who is the daughter of a convert of two years, and she has had some things happen to her to humble her into listening to us.  She is 24 or so, and she has a little boy, Benjamin!  We are excited to teach her.  

I´m not sure why, but I have had some hard feelings lately, and Tuesday night was difficult.  I just felt super down and lost, and it carried into Wednesday morning.  However, after a lot of praying, and scripture study, we left, and the feelings went away, and then, we got into a house IN THE MORNING.  That literally never happens.  We found a woman named Cristina and her daughter, Bianca, and we gave the lesson of the Restoration.  They committed to read the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi 11.  

Anyways, fast forward to Thursday, and we had interviews with President Goates.  I just love interviews.  It always is just filled with answers to prayers and counsel.  

Hermana Goates gave a lesson about the Restoration, SUPER deeply.  It invited the spirit a lot, and most had tear filled eyes by the end.  As we were enjoying the presence of the Spirit, we heard the phone ¨text tone¨ go off.  We looked, and it was the Familia Sosa.  They dropped us again.  Ouch.  

Anyways, last Sunday, we did a ward activity with the youth, in which we went to the main plaza of our city, and talked to people and tried to get contacts.  I got to go with Gabi, the ward mission leader, and we went crazy.  We got a contact that seemed really promising, and Elder Crist and I found her this week.

Her name is Fernanda, and she is 24 or so, and she has a 5 month old baby.  She said that the Father wants nothing to do with the baby, or Fernanda.  Because of that, Fernanda is barely getting by trying to support herself and her baby.  She also said that she cannot feel the Love of God, even though she is ¨Resando¨ or spewing off memorized Catholic Prayers.  We got to teach her the Restoration, and it was great.  She listened super attentively, and she committed,to read the Book of Mormon, which we know that she did!  Woohoo!

We also know that Cristina and her daughter read the Book of Mormon and really liked it!  During our lesson with them, Crisitina told us that her husband is not into religion, and that he won't want to listen to us.  However, we promised her that if she is an example, her husband will follow, and we  know that he read the Book of Mormon as well, and LIKED IT!  WOOHOOO.

Conference was so wonderful and I especially loved the Saturday morning session.  I especially loved the talk of Devn Cornish.  It was a WONDERFUL conference.  

Funny (Kinda Short)

A lot of Argentines wear shirts with english on them, but they dont know what they say.  This week we saw a good one.  There was a woman that walked by, and her shirt said, ¨I Dont´t Sweat, I Sparkle¨ Classy Argentina.  

I Love You All and Hope You Have A Great Week!

Elder Conover


the plaza 25 De Mayo


Package!


Peanut Butter!


Reeses!!! In my Mouth!


This is a deep fried peanut butter covered lender truffle...Yum!


Learning only the most important words