Letter #37

Yo FAm, 

 

bash onda? hows e´r bodi doin´?¿ Im great, thanks for your letters mis padres, they´re great. ill start out with the Q´s:

 

QUESTIONS:

1.  I am very confused.  Did you ever get my Easter package--it had Easter candy and stuff in it--I think you could tell......It sounded like you GOT THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT..DID YOU GET ONE WITH WRAPPED GIFTS AND AND WRAPPED BOOK?  It also had a silicone cupcake pan so you can make the cake mixes and frost them.  Enjoy!!!!!

 

wow, sounds good, the thing is we don't have an oven to cook cupcakes ha!  I can give it to the Presidents wife to make them.  Yeah I got that Easter one, the freaking cadbury eggs are the BOMB.  No i didn't get the wrapped book one yet.  I'll save the book.  Also mom, something funny, so the Hermana Salinas, the presidents wife, was in the offices Monday, and I've had that nativity set you send me from Christmas in my desk and I decided to give it to her~ (sorry if you wanted me to keep it) but she absolutely loved it.  She collects them like you do, and you sent me some pics around Christmas that were of the hutch with all your nativities, so i showed them to her, she loved them!  Then she discovered the family calendars, looked through both of them, loved them!  Couldnt believe I had 12 siblings, then, as everyone does, saw the pictures of Robbie, and said " is he your brother? is he active in the church? " hahahahah.  Then I say he's a rockkkkero y tiene su banda.  She took the Christmas CD of Cait and Rob, then president gave it back to me a few days later and said they listened to it all day the past few days ha!  Anyways, I'll let you know when the others arrive.

2.  Your companion looks so cute in the pics--tell us a little more about him. 

Elder Suarezzz, hes awesome. welllll, hes from Peru, one of the 14 or so foreigners here in the mission, other than the Gringos de USA. Hes older than me, but i have more time in the mission than him. It took him 6 months to get his call then another 4 months to leave.  He teaches me stuff/words from his country. He's the oldest in his family of 2 kids, his mom has always been a member, and his dad got baptized like 5 years ago, but right now he is inactive, he hopes to get them sealed when he gets back.  He has a little sister that's gonna go on a mission within a few years.  He's changed a lot with me, we get along really well. ummmmm, lets see...any specific questions you wanna ask?? and one things for sure,  I'll be visiting him in Peru post mish haha ;)

3.  Mothers day phone call....CAN WE SCYPE?  how fun would that be?  If you have a computer in the office we thought maybe the pres would let you...?

 

I know, crazy huh, 2 weeks?  I'll be calling from the offices. ... ha definately possible~ but I don't think so. but we´ll see.  We have web cams~but it's for sure 13th of may.

 

So the work, things are goin´ good. we found a bunch of new investigators this week~ we started to contact a lot more than we used to, and its paying off. We have some appointments all set up and stuff, I'm excited for this next week.  We are teaching Irma still, she's doing really good, has a testimony of the church but is waiting a little bit to baptize...we were gonna have it today but she backed out Thursday. so hopefully soon.  Also we have Jennifer, another 9 year old girl that is just soooo excited and enthusiastic about the church.  Her parents aren't members, but she goes to church with the grandparents, who are awesome, recent converts of about 3 years and are preparing to enter in the temple within the next 6 months.  We hope to be able to baptize Jennifer and if we can, come back and enter the temple with her and the grandparents when they go through to get sealed, but we don't know if we will be able too. I AM WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO GET TO THE TEMPLE! and the only ticket is converts that go through to get sealed or take out endowments. Elder Dominguez and I are still planing on Raul and Pili, our convert in Brisas. THey are doing so great, we´ve been writing them letters of encouragement and I'm praying I'll get to go in 9.5 months!  Also Mirsa Dominguez is still listening to us, the miracle family we found and brought to general conference. also we got Mirna and her daughter Helni, those are are potentes right now. and we hope to get some more out of our contacts. more next week.

 

So 6 iphones arrived at the offices today with our names on them, one for every secretary and the APs!!  I couldn't believe it~ president Salinas mentioned it to us that we were going to get them like 5 weeks ago in our weekly meeting, but they arrived today in the mail.  I already set mine up, the the thing is there is no number yet cause they didn't buy the special micro sim card, but it should be up by next week. We´re stoked!  Maybe we´ll be able to do skype for the mothers day call from my phone! haha!

 

Also, so in the past 3 weeks, like 5 elders have gone home early!  It is such a bummer. So it was my turn to go to the airport to drop them off earlyyyyy in the mornin´ on Tuesday, which was taking me back to the first day when I arrived here over 8 months ago.  The funniest part was half the TVs had a countdown timer until 21 of December 2012, the END of the world at noon day haha!  It is just funny.  I can't wait for that day~ its gonna be just CHOAS.  I have met true believers of this. u Unless God is planning some big joke and he really chooses to end the world that day, its just gonna be a baptizing fest the 22nd of December and for the next couple weeks after that haha!  It's gonna be NUTTY!~~ I'm stoked ;)  also i saw all the advertisements for all the Resort Golf courses down here dad, you´ll have to come back and play them with me ;)

 

other POI´s (points of interest)

• its transfers next week
• i have to open 3 areas
• close 3 other areas
• 10 missionaries are gonna arrive
• basically,  I'm gonna have a good ole busy next week! but I'm excited!

With all my love, i'm outie!     Connolly, the Elder

Elder C. in Mexico Letter #33

CARTA #33, CONFERENCE!

Inbox

x

 

Hi. another week gone by, onto week #33.  I think counting them should make them go slower... but they still go so fast

 

We had a great week.  My report:  Well, in the offices, it was great.  I have finally organized my stuff and gotten {almost} everything in order, which has resulted in a LOT lower stress and happy Richie.  So, that's good.  I felt like the first transfer was catch up and organize, this transfer will be current, and the next will be getting things done a head of time and NOT HAVING PENDIENTES, or things pending.  It should be chill here for the next week~ my big event is getting everything in and supplies sent off to the zones next Tuesday for the month of April, and the good news:  I have my 1,800 Book of Mormons ready to go for this month. We won't be short in hand for the WORD this month~ ha!

 

The work:  Well there's a 2 week spring break for the people here, called La Semana Santa. The Holy Week[s] . I was excited for this week because I thought it would be a great opportunity to do divisions with the members so we can visit more people, but it turns out everyone either goes out of town, or better saying, goes to their pueblos outside of the city for the week, or gets caught up in the other religious stuff that goes on in the other activities of the various churches around this Easter and resurrection time of Christ. 4 of our investigators won't be able to progress for 2 weeks because they leave for 2 Sundays, and worse, they aren't able to go to conference..... it is a bummer, but we have also been blessed with some other investigators.  CRAZZZY story, yesterday:  we didn't have many appointments in the afternoon, so we had a bunch of visits planed and back up plans, so we could cover up if they weren't home since they weren't sure. but on the way to a visit, my comp just says, ah, we're gonna knock this door ~ our first door contact in about 3 weeks.  Opens up, and there's a 16 year old girl, and her 10 year old brother and a mother. We do our thing, they let us in and we had an amazing lesson.  They are coming to conference with us tomorrow at 11 for the morning session.  I don't like talking about contacts like this before I really know wha'ts gonna happen, because I write home all excited about plans and stuff, and then the next week, I inform you all that it all fell... haha. but we'll see what happens with this contact.  I feel really good about it. and the best part is the mother is a hair cutter, soooo[ thinking ahead] with a family baptism comes free haircuts... SWEEEEEEET.  I plan my converts and think ahead...haha!

 

So, the pics, yep la

hermana Magdalena and Hermana Dayra got baptized.  It was soooo awesome.  I realized it was a miracle. 

From the first time I met her and taught her, I didn't know her whole story in the past until the service.  There were about 5 or 6 talks from the various leaders of the church, welcoming them and stuff, but everyone one of them congratulated her and said that they had waited a long time to see this day.  Her kids were all baptized 10 years ago, but she never was.  The bishop got up, and said he was the ward mission leader at that time, and he had visited her so many times, as well as the other leaders with their visits, and finally! it was her time.  It was humbling for me to realized that I got to be here when she finally felt ready and to help her have a more complete family.  I see them in the street after church walking home, and it just brings a smile to my face.

 

Well I've been in and out writing this email, because of conference!  Wow isn't it awesome.  I just watched the first session at my computer desk, in ENGLISH! haha.  I like the talk about: The gospel and the Chruch~ the difference between them and how the church supports the Gospel and the Doctrine.  That talk was SWEEEEET. GO MORMONS! Ha!  And also President Eyrings talk, BRING ON THE MOUNTAINS!!- Pres Spencer W Kimball, getting the blessings from the hard times and getting ¨Polished¨ even if we are already good people.  I had a cool little experience with that that I will share next week if I remember. GO CONFERENCE!   Well I'm out.   We're going to the chapel for the 2nd session and we're gonna try and pass by for some investigators.  Love you all. peace!

 

ps, the pic of the pizzas (ward activity, delicious!) reminded me of robs song: ¨Went into work, and I tossed another pizza to the floor.  It's funny you think 19 years of living would amount to so much more.¨ - Robbie Connolly, Change my life. Raincheck. 

 

I'm out, laterrrr

 

Elda C

Elder Connolly Letter #32

HOLA FAMILITA!!!

 

Wow!   What a great week.  I can't believe how fast the weeks go by.  Onto week 32~ nutty!

 

So,  some good news that you already knew that I told you I'd write about~ Gaspar got baptized last week!  It was a great experience for him, he was so super excited and just couldn't wait to do it. There was a great turn out for him and support from the ward, including Jose Romero, who was baptized a few weeks ago, and a few other investigators.  And he was confirmed the next day. Also something so cool on Sunday at church, on the way we stopped by some investigators to take them with us, but they didn't end up coming... we were bummed, so we just went on to church, got to sacrament meeting with 4 investigators already there who were brought by members that had been arranged!  Haha! I love it!  That's the best :)

 

So,I  broke the word of wisdom this week... not on purpose of course.  It was only a taquila 38% alcohol swig, but I took it good ;) . It was my comps fault, he should know Spanish!  We bought some oaxacan ice cream, picked a flavor that sounded good, and started eating it only to meet up with our buddies again back at the bench in the park to find out it was mezcal.  The funny thing is that picture of me next to all the flavors with a spoonful of delicious ice cream is the SIN!! BESO OAXAQUEÑO! CHEERS!! Haha!

 

We had a killer ward missionary activity in the ward yesterday~ we got 4 new references!  It was super cool, unfortunately I couldn't take any pictures... I'm bummed.  It was a cool idea.  It was a trip to VEGAS!  The chapel was transformed into a airplane, and inside was a video, where we were on the airplane, and it crashes and EVERYONE DIES!  Then you leave the chapel and walk to the "Spirit World", and then see the rays of glorys, up to the celestial kingdom, each room explaining stuff!  Each organization in the church had their assignment, YM, YW, RS, Elders Quorum, etc. then after, where I was, they all come in into the last room and my comp and I talked about the programs of the church, and sacar las references!  Get some references!

 

So the work... its going GREAT! TOO GREAT!  We have been sooo blessed, I can't neglect Heavenly Father every time I pray for thanks for our investigators that we have.  They are so great, and the work is transforming less and less into a labor and more just fun.  We met this guy on the way to the activity, we were walking on the train tracks when we hear, hey! We turn around, it's just a guy that wanted a pamphlet. We gladly gave him one, asked him if he wanted to come to the activity, and he came! haha and loved it!  Too easy?  His brother was baptized 20 years ago and knows of the missionaries.  Also we had some drama this week, one of the Canul Boys, Armando, told us he was gonna get baptized this weekend!  He's been an investigator  for 6 months, and so far only his mom has been baptized.  But turns out, it's not gonna happen. maybe next week?? ÓJALA!

Well, some other good news, we have 2 baptisms tonight!!!  yahoo!   The hermana Magdalena and her granddaughter Dyda!  These  baptisms are gonna be really cool, we have the primary singing because Dyda is 8 years old, and it should have a good turn out because on Saturday nights at the church there are a lot of activities.  Soo  I am stoked.  I'll send pics next week.

 

Well I have to comment on the other picture I sent of me and a bloody forehead... I am sooooo sick of hitting my head on things here~ it happens everyday.  Everything is forehead level for me: signs in the streets, doorways of houses, trees on the side walk... I just have to laugh.  I have to say this is the first time that it has shed blood, ha!  But anyways, story of a tall gringo in a city of mayans :) love it

 

I love you all, have a good week. thanks for e´r thing, peace out!

 

Elda C