Week 84: Progression

Hey Guys!

This week, we finally made some progression!  It is slow, and difficult, with a lot of rejection, but we are making progress.  

We had a few tender mercies this week, and a couple of people stopped us in the street that had talked to missionaries before asked us to go by there houses.  

First off, a guy named Ernesto stopped us, and he is 28 or so, and he talked to the missionaries a while ago.  He still has the Book of Mormon, and he is excited to read it and to learn more. 

This week, I also got to do intercambios with one of the Elders in the Zone, Elder Sosa, from Paraguay!  He is a fun, super crazy guy, and it was nuts working with him.  At first, I was mortified by his way of contacting in the street, because he pushed so hard that the people would get offended.  But, it ended up being fun, so I went along with it haha.  It was nuts.  But, heis a super hard worker!

Finally, yesterday, at church, Satan was really working hard on me.  As we sat down for Sacrament meeting, I felt super down.  I felt forgotten, like no one cares, especially since I realized that the members still dont know my name (Memorize the names of the missionaries in your ward, please).  It was rough.  But, during the sacrament, I prayed a lot, and I read the scriptures, and the Lord blessed me with so much peace.  The Lord loves us!

Funny

Last week, I forgot to mention this, but we were walking down the street, and we were about to pass a house, when suddenly, a dog came flying out, coming straight at me, and it was like 1 1/2 ¨Toby´s¨ for those of you that have seen my dog. 

 I started jumping backward, still facing the dog, trying to not get bit, but the dog was way mad and still was trying to get me, and got super close to biting me.  So, I went all ¨Colonia Bombal¨ on him, and I gave him the hardest kick I could muster. 

 It was the best dog take down I´ve gotten.  It was awesome.  I got it right in the head, on the bottom side, and as I kicked it, it got shot back, and barked once or twice more, and walked away all dizzy. 

 I think I got a few more chest hairs that day.  Haha!  

I love you all!  

Elder Conover


Last week we went to a buffet for pday!

By the way, the gringa that is in the picture of us is an hermana
in our zone, and on monday we realized that she
is kip sheppard´s neice!


We bought ice cream during intercambios! Me and Elder Sosa


Elder Sosa in the Bus


Un Pancho (Hot Dog)



One night this week I threw a mattress on the roof and me
and Elder Sosa chilled on the roof for a while!


I look Fat!! HaHa

Week 83: Still Pushing

Hey Everyone!

Another week has gone by, and it went by fast!  

This week, we really tried to find a lot of new investigators by talking to people in the street, knocking doors, etc.  We got some new investigators, but man, it was a bumpy ride.  So far, I think that this area has been the hardest in my whole mission for finding new investigators.  We got a lot of really mean and a lot of rude rejections, which are not exactly ¨make you feel good moments.¨ 

However, this week, we did have some really cool moments.  

We got to teach the parents of a family that we found, and it has been a big blessing for us.  We got to teach them about the Restoration, and the family has clearly been prepared.  The Spirit is really strong in the lessons, and they say that they can feel peace. We invited them to be baptized right after the lesson of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon, and they asked us what the difference is between us and the Catholics.  Hee-ya.  But, they committed to read and pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  

This week, we only taught 6 lessons the whole week, which wasn't very much, which meant a LOT of time in the street.  We started to knock doors, and we knocked like 10 doors and no one even opened the door to reject us.  It was rough.  So, me and Elder Véjar decided to go to the two most busy streets in our area, and go ¨hunting.¨   We spent an hour or so doing that, and we were able to talk to a lot of young people that seem to have interest!  

Funny

This week, Elder Sosa (The Elder From Paraquay that is living with us) was taking a long time in the bathroom, so we put three mattresses, a bunk bed, a suitcase, and a bunch of weights in front of the door to lot him in.  He ended up going through the back door, and had to climb over the pension in order to get back in.  I will be sending pictures.  

We knocked a door, and a really rough looking woman opened the door, cigarrette in hand, and she seemed really grumpy.  When we walked away, this was our conversation:  

Me: ¨Vio lo que yo vi?¨ 

Elder Véjar: ¨ Sí che, ella tenía más barba y bigote que yo¨ 

(Use Google Translate if you dont understand)

Love you all!

Elder Conover


My new scripture case!  Drawn by hand!


We did a church open house this week, and we got to explain
baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.


Graffiti


When Elder Sosa climbed the roof

Locking Elder Sosa In


La Zona Maipú


Pizza After Zone Meeting


Asado On Pday last week

Week 82: Starting Over Again

Hey Guys!

Another week has come and gone in the mission, and the fight continues!

Last monday, we got to get together with a bunch of Elders from the Zone, and we got to play soccer with all of them in our area.  It was fun!  

Overall, this week was actually a hard one.  We don't really have many investigators, so we have been talking to a lot of people, but we got a lot of rejection this week.  But, of course, there were blessings and tender mercies along the way.  

First off, this past week, we have been trying really hard to help an investigator that we have, named Esteban.  He is 19, and his family got baptized, but he hasn´t been able to, since he is addictied to Cocaine, among other things.  This week, we were able to feel the spirit a lot while teaching him.  

We are going over the 12 steps to addiction recovery that the church has put on Mormon Channel.  Those videos are amazing, and they applied so well to his circumstance.  The spirit testified with so much power, and put all of us in tears.  We could just feel how much Heavenly Father loves Esteban, despite his problems and his imperfections.  The Lord Loves us!

Like I said before, not much happened this week, but someone brought their friend to church, and he loved it!  So, we will get to teach him.  His name is Augustin and he is 16!  

Funny

We were going to bed, and we usually sleep with all the windows open.  At about 11:30ish, the wind started blowing really hard.  It slammed one of the windows, and we thought it was the door, and that someone had just gotten into the pench.  Elder Véjar and I just sat there watching, and whispering, ¨What do we do?¨ ¨I'm not going, you go¨ hahahaha.  

This one is kinda weird, but whatever.  When I was in San Juan, training, my kid used to try to bite the leaves of the trees that we passed, seeing if he could grab one.  Well, this week I remembered that, so I tried it.  Well, I got the leaf, and I just had it in my mouth, and I was about to spit it out, when I noticed a man staring right at me.  There was no way he didnt see me bite it, but I didnt want him to see me spit it out, so I just avoided eye contact, with a bit leaf in my mouth, until we passed him. hahaha

I love you all so much!

Elder Conover


Me and Elder Levander!


The Mission Counsel


The Asado to Celebrate Elder Sosa's 1 Year Mark


They Stole My Camera


Elder Nunez.  He was in my district when I was in my training.


I Saw Hoagie this Week!


One and A Half Fingers for 18 Months


The Maipu Zone!  Aguante Maipu!

Week 81: The New Area

Hey Guys!

Crazy week, and we had a ton of stuff to do.  

First off, on Monday, in the afternoon, I got to go around and say goodbye to all of the investigators and the members in Tunuyán.  

First, I got to go by the Moltó´s house, and it was so special.  They complimented me and thank me for the work.  I didnt mention this in the email last week, but while we were in church my last week in Tunuyán, the branch President, Presidente Vera, stood up in Priesthood meeting, and thanked me and told me how much my work in Tunuyán has meant to everyone.  When we went to the Moltó´s house, Hermano Moltó told me that President Vera has been branch President three times, and never in his life has he done that for a missionary.  It made me cry. 

I then said goodbye to Eugenio.  He is such an amazing kid.  I thanked him for allowing me to see miracles in his house, and for being such a good person, but then he stopped me, and thanked me for giving him the Book of Mormon, and giving him so much peace.  It felt like my heart was going to burst.  

We also got to say goodbye to the Familia Pinto, the family of the Ward Mission Leader, Pablo.  While Pablo was in another room, his Mom was with us, and she told me all the nice things that Pablo said about the work that we were able to do together.  

As I left Tunuyán I was so grateful for the opportunity to serve there.  It was by far my favorite area, and the Lord blessed us so much.  

Anyways, I got transfered!  I am here in Maipú again, and I am with Elder Véjar, from Concepción, Chile!

I am in an area called Gutiérrez, Maipú.  It is a strong ward, and the members seem awesome, so I am super excited for that!  Unfortunately, we dont really have any investigators, but hey, when it comes to that, this ain´t my first rodeo, so we are just gonna put that shoulder to the wheel, and push really really hard.  

This week I got to take part in my first mission Counsel with all the Zone Leaders and President and what not.  It was a wonderful experience, and I am excited to be able to work with all of them!

Thank you all for all of your love and support! I know that the church is true, and that the Lord lives and loves us!

Con Cariño,

Elder Conover


The Vera Family


Elder Sorenson and I are Zone Leaders Now!


Me and Eugenio!


Elder Escobar and I…We were in our training together, and
now he is AP!


My Comp!


Me and the Pintos!



Me and Maria


Elder Dicou


Elder Tyler


Elder Johnson


Me and my comp


Elder Sosa…He lives with me right now…and
he has a little crush on my sister, Emily.