Week 15 Ummmmmmmmmm

Hello Friends and Family,

In case you were wondering, the days are getting SUPER long here in our very tiny Sector (area) It takes us maybe ten-fifteen minutes to walk from one side to the other! And everyday seems to be exactly like the others, where we wake up at 7 do all of our studies, go to lunch, come back and study, then we go out and walk for a couple of hours the same paths, and then we talk to people, and have an once with a member and try to get someone who isn't a member there as well, and then we go back home, talk about the day with the other two elders, and go to bed at 11. That is what our days are like in Camino Real right now, but this week we have had some changes! 

Before I get to the changes, I need to talk and answer questions! :)

I better get pictures of ALL my Niece and Nephews in their Halloween costumes!! :) (Preferrably in a attachment, because I can then print the pictures out next Pday) But all three sound like they are going to have a fun night recieving lots of tooth rotting candy! 

Wow Brandon, you must be a Stud! You scored a girl who went to BYU-I-Do and she didn't get married, look at you... Taking after the ways of your younger brother, wearing his clothes, and doing your hair like him, to look all Studly for the girl! ;) P.S. Super Jealous you went to Imagine Dragons............

The "Welcoming into Heaven" part about Grandpa's story was really funny! :) Made me smile today when I read that, but the whole shindig going down does sound super cruel... They just want my Grandpa to pass away before I can get home, hopefully my letter gets back to you guys before anything else happens!! 

You (mom) presented designs, and I haven't gotten anymore pictures of your drawings, come on mom, I like to see those! Hit me up!! 

Yeah, the Bishop?? I really don't understand his ways either, he does things a lot different... But to much to get into detail, and of course, we are always with each other, they were just rumors that someone started and he used to get to talk to us...

Cambrio? I don't know what that means... But Cambio means Change, and so yes, that is what they use to Transfer and so Inter Cambio is Splits or Divisiones, and Sober Cambio is Emergency Transfer! 

The Pants from MW are actually starting to get small, length wise and waist wise... I sure hope that is a good sign and not bad! Ha :)

Mail?? Oh man, it was Christmas this week with Mail, on Saturday, I was loaded up with a whopping 9 letters! And the dates are getting closer and closer to present day, and so I think that the mail is starting to function again! FINALLY!

Dad... A New job?? Come on I was just finally getting used to say Proficio Bank! Hahahaha Naw, that is really cool! To bad you didn't have it while I was in high school, you could have helped out when they donated us money for the basketball and football games! 

Okay..... I think that is everything I wanted to cover! Now on to about this past week! 

I said last week was long... Boy was I wrong, I feel like last P day was AGES ago... Like I can't even remember what we did it was so long ago... I think it is a true statement that on the Mission, Days become Weeks and Weeks become Years, but Years become Days. Because it feels like I was in the Airport with you guys just this past Wednesday, but other things like the CCM feel like years ago! 

Anyways, a cool experience this past week, is that because we have our new thing of Always carrying our Book of Mormon's in our hand, I remembered right before I left talking to Brother Merrill at the Seminary building! He told me a way he talked with the Chileans was he taught by showing the picture of Jesus in the Book of Mormon. So I saw this lady in the park and thought hey, she is watching her kid, lets go talk to her! Keep in mind, this was a frustrating day for me as it was because Elder Walker decided not to talk, he told me that he was the one in training, and I was the Senior Comp. for the day! So I went over to her and said hi, and she said "Gracias, pero soy Christiana" and I got all confused and nervous and was like..... "Ummmmm okay gracias!" and so I turned around and we walked away real fast, and Elder Walker having a smirk on his face! So I looked up and saw this woman at a bus stop waiting for a bus, so I went over to talk to her! This time the Book of Mormon down on my side and I started to talk to her at first and then when the time came I opened the Book of Mormon to the picture of Jesus, and asked her if she knew who he was? And she nodded her head, and so I decided to bear my testimony right then and there, short and simple. I could feel the Spirit present and I think she felt something, because I noticed she started to tear up a little bit, and had to wipe her eyes, so I hope it touched her. Then when her bus came, I asked if she would take a copy and read it and she smiled and nodded, and so I gave it to her and she was off! It was super cool!

I thought about the Small and Simple testimony because a member who has been struggling showed me that the day before, he took my Book of Mormon, and then looked at me and told me he knew what it was, and that it was true and the Spirit was SOOO Strong, so I tried it, and guess what... I am Pretty sure it worked!! 

Anyways, this past Satuday, Elder Gubler, our District leader was Sober Cambioed. NOT because he was bad, some other Zone leader did something bad, so a lot of people were moved around, we ended up getting a New District leader and he is Latino, he is a cool guy from Mexico, and because I still don't know how to pronuciate or spell his name, I am going to refer to him as Elder Mexicano! Anyways he is a super cool guy, but he Speaks less English then I do Spanish, so that means the English in our house just left with Elder Gubler, and now we only can speak Spanish in the House! Lucky for Elder Walker, cause he is a PRO when it comes to Spanish!

Elder Gubler was my running partner, but now Elder Mexicano runs with me, we went for the first time this morning, and boy am I gonna be sore tomorrow... He worked me super hard! We went probably three times as far, Elder Gubler and I finished our run on Saturday at 10:23 and that was cutting like a minute off our time because we sprinted it! Then today we got back at the house at 7:30 so it was about a half hour run.... It was up and down hills... Ouch.

Anyways, I dunno if I have ever really explained Elder Walker or not, but he is a super awesome guy! I hope our friendship extends to past the mission and we can hang out when we get home! He is so much like me and I really look up to him! The way he teaches is Amazing, and it is super cool! I feel the Spirit so much during Lessons, (When I can stay focused with the Spanish) I Love it here, and I think I will probably be here another Cambio, I think Elder Walker will be going to a new Sector in three weeks because he has been here for 4 months.

Anyways, that was this week. Thanks for all the Love and Support! I Love all of you at home!! :) 

2 Nephi 33:12

Elder Connor Gordon Holt

They didn't call me the Puddle Master at the CCM for no reason

A cool morning after our run on Saturday Morning

Saying Goodbyes with Goober the Gubler

Baby bird we have watched grow up (Mother is top left flying at us. She wasn't happy)

I figured Brandon would like to see what the Ambulances look like here so I snagged a sweet picture of one last night!

The drama has come to an end

Hello Family and Friends,

How are things back in Utah? I feel like right about now, if I was still there I would be enjoying that fireplace in front of the TV with the big pillow, but shoot, I am not there, so I will have to keep enjoying my little space heater next to my desk, while I read the Book of Mormon, since all of our Firewood has been gone for a couple weeks, and it is only cold in the mornings and nights now! 

Speaking of Weather, I feel like we have hit the San Diego weather button! It is Awesome! Well, when it is *GOOD* weather! Ha, some days like this past weekend it is cold and miserable, but all last week, it was super awesome! The Morning, you see the sun rise, and then it is covered up by clouds until right around lunch time and then the sun burns off the clouds and it gets really hot until right about sun down when it gets "chile" again, and then we bundle up again until the next day! :)

This past week, not much has really happened because we have been dealing with all the drama, and getting it settled out! 

Although, we have started running in the mornings! Elder Gubler the District Leader go out and run every morning now! (Except Sundays, come on keep the sabbath Holy!) So that has been pretty great! I have added Running for 20 minutes to my 75 push ups, 75 sit ups, 75 squats, 75 calf raises, 20 curls, and 20 tricep lifts. So I now have like a 45 minute work out every morning! I am pretty sore by the end of the week, but this kid is seeing results! *cough cough* if you know what I mean! ;) 

Ha Carter is looking up to his Favorite Uncle! ;) As is Logan praying for his Favorite Uncle! :) Thanks to both of them! :) But is that a National Museum?? Does that mean the Government is back on?? All I can say is, I am super glad I am out of the country for 2 of the 4 remaining years with Obama as president, ha its really funny to see how many people down here don't even like him. Our Papito at lunch just bashes on him! 

I realized this week, I have a dropbox account on my photography email, so I can use that, I just now need to figure out how to send pictures, and how to send them to you... I got my card cleaned over at the chaipul's the other day so that isn't a worry anymore! But I still want to get all the pictures home, so I don't have to worry about them! 

Anything about the suit, doesn't exsist anymore, I was going to go get it fitted last week, when Papito Delgado told me it was to big on me, and so we went to go get it exchanged today, and went through all this crap, to realize that the one I wanted wouldn't work, so I just gave it back and got my money back, so my birthday present to me, just turned back into plain old money, that will probably be used next week for food, cause I think I am really low on church money! 

Yes, I think the Liahona is in English, but I now dunno if I will be able to keep it, so better just send one just in case! That would be wonderful! :) 

So with the drama this week, well lets see.... It got crazy enough that we had to talk to the DL, ZL, AP, President, Stake President, and then finally the Bishop. It went up and then down. It has been a great week, trying to figure things out! In the end all the things that we talked about last week, were things said, just so we could talk to the Bishop. He didn't have a good relationship with us, and he didn't know how to talk to us, and so that whole shin dig went down and we talked with him yesterday, and now things are better! Woop! 

So at our Zone meeting this past week, we have this new rule where we have to ALWAYS have a Book of Mormon in our Hand, and it is good and bad. It is bad when it is cold because you can't put your hands in your pockets to warm em up. But good because it is a lot easier to get into conversations with people about the Book of Mormon, and we have given out 4! Right after the meeting I had an Inter Cambio with the District Leader, and we gave one to this guy who wasn't drunk but he was... Buzzed? One of the guys we always see who are working with lumber who say hi to us when they are drunk! Then we gave one to two different members to give to people, and then the other day when Elder Walker got his hair cut, I "Accidently" left my Book of Mormon on the stack of other books and magazines! So hopefully that works out as well! :) 

and today was Mail Heaven! I didn't get the package, but I got 2 letters from Niccole, 1 letter from Cami, grandpa's letter, and a letter from Uncle Bruce and Aunt Chris! That was exciting! It was nice to hear from everyone, and just so everyone knows, the Mail Strike is OVER but it is still pretty slow going! But it is working! :) We are about a month, month and a half out!

I know it isn't much this week, but that is really the most I have! It has been a REAL Slow week! 

Anyways, I Love you all, and you are in all of my prayers! :) 

Love always,

Elder Connor Holt

Week 13 Parties, Drama Best P days

Hello Everyone! :)

First... HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! :D Hope its the best 56th Birthday Ever!! 

This past week has been pretty sweet! But before I get to that, let me answer all your questions! :)

First off, if you are getting old because you are forgetting things to email, I must be ancient, because I forget it all the time, and then I realize after Pday is over that I forgot and then I have to try and remember ALL week! Ha crazy stuff! :) 

Vanessa got her Mission Call to Washington?! Man Matt is a Lucky kid... Now he has Elder Poulson and Sister Wilkonson! What is this?! 

That is crazy about the Missionaries! Super sad as well, that I could have seen them just a couple weeks ago... I am not sure who they were, so they weren't anyone close to me, but I will definitely keep their families in my prayers. I can asssure you that we aren't *TOO Crazy* here. We just like to feed the Poisonous spiders at night the bugs we catch... ;) Super fun! It is like how I use to throw the little berries on the bush across the street from the Jone's, on the way to church as a kid, to make the spiders come out of their little holes! But here? It is a Crazy experience! We have spiders here, but they are different. Their webs are made just into a hole, so kinda like on Lord of the Rings, and when a bug comes close to their hole, They come out and snatch em and take them back in their hole! They are pretty big as well! Its like the hand on Harry Potter two that he gets his hand stuck in! I will try and send a video one of these days, but we found out they are super posinuos so if you get bit, you have to go to the hostpital! So we are CAREFUL, we use tweezers to feed them the beatles and stuff! ;) But there is a HUGE one above our door! It is super Creepy and Super Cool! :)

Ummm before I forget! Will you get my both Sister Wilkonson's Emails, and also Sister Palmer in San Diego?? I don't know how Maddi spells her name, and I figured I would see how my cousin is doing up there! 

Thank you for sending Grandpa's testimony! Super excited to get that! Don't know when it will get here! Today, I got my first letter in the mail since I got to Chile, that was sent back on Aug 26th, so I guess we will see! The Mail strike and being so far from home doesn't help but it is slowly starting to pick up! Which is why I think it is so weird I got your package so fast! 

The Birthday was SUPER FUN! I found out that Chileans Love cake! So I had like 4 cakes... Monday night, we went with the family Gonzolus (no idea how to spell) but it was with Kata (thier daughters friend) who isn't a member who we have been teaching, so we gave a sweet lesson on the first vision, then had cake first, we had a RICH chocolate cherry filling cake, and also a cheese cake with Rasberries on top! SOOO GOOD! :) I LOVED the raspberry cake! Then the next day at lunch with Mamita, she had bought a super good cake! It has little chocolate balls on the inside, and we decided if you get one you are the lucky one, and I got one of the two! Woot woot! :) Then that night, we finished the cake from Monday night, and went over to the Delgado's to party and have MORE cake! So the reason I had cake on my face is, after they sing happy birthday, the person with the birthday has to take the first bite, in the cake, and of course, you already know they are going to push your face into the cake. The first night, I kinda thought that was going to happen so I made sure no one was around me, and the second night, there was no way I could avoid it in the smaller space around the table, so I just let it happen! The flag I received is now hanging up on the wall where I study! :)

Still haven't figured out Drop box, I really don't have much time to get on it and mess with it, I need Jen to send me an invite, or I just need all the info from you (account and Password) so that way I can get on and send pictures home! But I dunno if my card is to busted up now.. I have 3 viruses on it. So that should answer your other question, we email from a ciber (cafe) and so the computers are filled with viruses, but I didn't think about that, and yeah... So I am going to have my card and my flash drive cleaned off at the Chaipul's but only if everything on my flash drive isn't deleted, because I would be SUPER sad if I lost all my pictures... :( 

I got the tie sent off last week! So over to Elder Russell, hopefully he gets it this week and sends it off next monday! 

Umm I can buy a Sim card here, so maybe just a little money on the card or something! 

Music with Elder ____ and the other guys, is on a Speaker! I am using Elder ___ Ihome and then I also have a small speaker I bought at a little market one day that works when I need it to, but I am pretty sure it was stolen when I bought it....... ha! It was in an open container and kinda jacked up. But I would Love a flash drive or two with more Music, because I didn't see everything on there, but I Love it all on there! :) But If you could put Fable, Halo, Starwars, Tron, all the Harry Potters, and Star Trek (new ones) on a flash drive that would be AWESOME! :) Oh and all the Motab we have would be great as well! :) 

I am glad you can see a growth! I don't see a big one, but maybe a little small one.. :) 

I also Love Vanessa's thought of the week this week! :) Made me happy! :) 

Hey also, on my facebook, if any of the Chaipul's have added me as a friend, will you add them back for me?? Or the Delgados! :) 

Okay, now that that is out of the way, I already told you about the beginning of the week, hmmmm well on Thursday we were contacting all day so that was fun! We had a challenge from our ward mission leader the night before to give out a book of mormon to someone and to do service that day, so we counted chopping some wood for Ruth (crazy cat lady) as our service. Then Elder___ turned to me and said, "okay, you are now training me... You have ( months in the mission and I have 1 go" So I had to talk to people!!! AHHH!!! ME! So the first guy I started to talk to was just chilling there and looking sad, so I kinda started to make conversation and it was kinda awkward, and then his buddy with all his tatoos came out right after I ended up apparently saying that "we don't believe in the bible, we only believe in the book of mormon" Don't know how that happened but NOT TRUE! and he thrusted out his hand and said "Ciao" so there goes that guy... 

We went over to a park, and heard some music, then this guy started to preach, so we sat down and listened and it was crazy! Not normal at all! Ha, but we went to talk to him after and find out where their church was, and he said their chapel was being made so they were meeting in a house and they meet three times a week. So we tried going last night, but we could't find it. 

**How cool would it be to convert a preacher?!**

Then it was almost the end of the day, and we had fifteen minutes left, so we ended up saying a prayer so I could find someone to give my book of mormon to! Not even two minutes later, a guy comes up and asks us for money, I said "I don't have any money but can I give you a message of christ?" He said sure and I ended up giving him a small message and giving him a book of mormon, after Elder __ gave him some money to "Buy Milk" Ten minutes later we saw him on our way home, coming out of the alcohol store with his buddy, he waved to us and had no Book of Mormon... Ha so that was kinda a waste of a book. I wrote my testimony in Broken Spanish, and left a card with our number on it, so hopefully someone will find it and call us! 

We also had a small fùtbal tourniment at our ward the other day, and there were lots of kids who weren't mormon, so we got to go hang out and talk to everyone and then we had promission from the president to play, but we didn't play at all, but I took some sweet pictures of the trophies! :)

Anyways, today was a sweet P day! Got some Sweet emails from Home, got a Letter from Niccole, and I bought a new suit! I looked at them last week, and then this week I tried some on and bought a suit for 30 mil ($60.00) I figured that was a Deal to Seal! So yeah! :) It's been a good day! I even got a 20 minute nap in before coming to write! 

 Last of all, I realized this week How Cool the Book of Mormon really is! Since starting my Mission I have only made it to 1 Nephi 16... That is because I am Really studying it! I wish I would of read it more before the mission, not only the Book of Mormon is cool, but ALL the scriptures! I LOVE EM!!! 

Anyways, I Love you all! Hope that everything, Everywhere is going well for everyone! 

The Church is true, and I Know it! That is why I am out here with my Broken Spanish Testifying of it! I Love you all, and Love the Letters of Support, so keep em coming! 

Love,

Elder Connor G. Holt

Don't tell Chip! I fell in love with this puppy.

Birthday Lunch with Mamita

Dreams do come true if you believe

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is worth more than any trophy

The tie I sent to every missionary serving from the Murray 15th ward. They are to take a picture with it and send it on. 

My zone before all the guys who were cambrioed last Wednesday

A sweet picture I took in the Baptismal font. Figured its a little of God's power coming down on me

 

Elder Holt Loves Letters and Emails! Send him some Por Favor!

Week 12 Birthday Fiestas!

Hello Everyone! :)

Well, I am officially 19... Holy crap. Where did the year go?! I was just in school 4 months ago, and now I am out here serving the Lord, half way around the world... 

While, things are getting cold up in Utah, we are getting some nice Warm days down here in Chile, and I am Lovin it! :) Although, warm means... Fleas! I have decided in the past week FLEAS SUCK! Much much much much much worse then Mosquitos... Flea bites are like 100x itchier! There is a spot on my left ankle, where one flea had a party and bit me like ten times... yeah, it sucks... 

I have decided today that I Love drunk people! They make me Laugh SOOO HARD! And they are always Super Friendly! The only downer is, we can't teach people when they are drunk, so like... All of Chile... hahahha but there are these drunk guys that are Always yelling "Hey Elders!" with Big smiles on their faces and waving to us, and so we always wave back! Then when they are sober... they Hate us! Hahahaha funny how the world works! :)

Boy, how about that conference though?! It was awesome here in Chile! We had plans to go and watch Saturday sessions at our ward, to support our ward because it was the first time they were broadcasting it at our building! So, we got there 15 minutes to 1:00 and there were 2 people there. Keep in mind, we have two wards in our building. By the time 1:00 rolled around, we gained 3 more people, and for some reason the broadcast wasn't working. So we decided we were going to go get some more people (we had been inviting people ALL week!)  We ran over to the Chaipul's and told them they needed to come, it took them a while to get to the door, because they were just waking up. They had just gotten back from the youth ward temple trip up in Santiago. They said they would be going to the next session, so we took off back to the ward to watch the rest of the session! When we got there we saw Elder Bednar's face frozen on the screen and no one was in the chapel... So we knew something was wrong, so we decided to run over to the stake center ten minutes away, and watch the rest of it in English! We hit it up with all the other Elders and one Hermana in our Zone, and watched the last bit of President Uchtdorf's talk! I wish we could have watched the whole session... So I was bummed when it had ended ten minutes later. 

We made it back to the next session, and all the rest after that! We watched them all in English, except Elder Walker watched it in Spanish with the ward members on Sunday for the first session. That was the only session, that almost the entire chapel was full of people, every other session, barely the first few rows were full. 

People here in Chile, kill me. They are SOOOOOOOOO Lazy. This was the right mission for me, because I definitely know Exactly how people felt about me... Especially Niccole... Opps. Sorry Niccole. No one came to conference to hear the words of the prophets, because they were tired or they didn't want to walk to the stake center... GAH!! IT IS THE PROPHET WHO IS SPEAKING FOR GOD!!! You gotta listen!!! But nope.... I just want to Drag them ALL to conference, but then I have to remember that Everyone has their Agency, just like Kaylie's little primary saying "I have agency and I am responsible for my choices" Which sometimes I really hate that rule... But it is what it is. Besides, they like to read the Liahona here, so they will read it next month I guess! 

Speaking of, I won't need an Ensign, because I guess I can get my own Liahona here! :)

On Sunday when I visited the Chaipuls they gave me a copy of the Testiments, that they bought from the Temple, and when I wanted to give them money, they wouldn't accept, so  I started that as my birthday gifts! Then this morning I opened the package! Thank you so much for everything! The music is Amazing to all of our ears! We were getting really tired of the same 20 songs we listen to every day! The candy was perfect! :) I had mac and cheese for lunch today, and we are going to roast starbursts tonight maybe or tomorrow morning! :) 

Our Zone went to the Beach today! Elder Walker and I didn't end up going, so we could get some other things done, I needed to send the tie today, and so we spent a lot more time down town in central today! I told Elder Nielson and Elder Gubler to take some sweet pictures, and so I looked at them when they got home before we came to write you guys, and there was some sweet pictures at the Beach! :) It looked wonderful! But super cold, and thinking on it, I wish now I would have gone, but I know if I would have, I would have broken rules and jumped right in with all my clothes! So hopefully, I am called to serve by an ocean sometime so I can get some Sweet pictures! One of the pictures was of all the guys in the zone showing their butt, (They were not nude)  and then I was told it was a video, so when I pushed play, they all turned around and said "Happy Birthday Elder Holt!" so it made my day! 

Thank you for all the pictures of everyone back home! :) It was super sweet! It sure made my day seeing all the pictures of the festivities at home! :) (Please print those pictures off and put them in my book) I tried and couldn't here... :( Also, thanks for putting it up on Facebook! I got a lot of letter lovin today! :) Hopefully people keep that up as well! :) Since, the only thing I have gotten in the mail here is the package! So I love getting emails so I can print them off and read them during the week! :)

Tonight we have plans to go party with a members family, I am kinda nervous, because Elder Walker received "Whitey Tighties" from them called "El Tio" so.... Hopefully I don't get any of Uncle's underwear! hahahha but we are going to be teaching some of their neighbors and friends as well! I am super excited!Tomorrow we are eating with my favorite family the Delgato's and hopefully they will bring friends, and then on Wednesday we are back at the Chaipul's! So pretty much, three days of parties!! Woohooo!! Oops, I mean Fiestas!!! 

So conference?? Yeah SUPER COOL!! I LOVED IT! I can't wait to get the Liahona next month to read it all over again!! There were SO MANY things in there that Chile needs to hear, but since they weren't there to hear it... GAH! Oh well, I guess that means I will just have to Teach it! :) Favorite talks?? I REALLY Loved Elder Ballard's Saturday afternoon! Then Elder Oaks and Elder Nielsons on Sunday! It was super cool! :)) I paid attention during every session, and didn't fall asleep once! You guys would be SOO Proud! I wrote down two pages worth of questions Saturday morning, and a lot of them got answered! I think that I will go through it tomorrow and write all the answers down from my 15 pages of notes I took! I sure felt that the skiing talk was meant for us boys, and Pres.Monsons talk during priesthood with the driving was meant for mom... ;) This whole conference was on how Members need to help the Missionaires! Please, make our home at home avaliable for the missionaries to come teach! I wish the people here, would let us do that more! Then, take up on President Ballard's challange, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE who reads this, needs to invite someone to church! To take the discussions of the missionaries and just all of that fun stuff! If everyone of the 14,000,000 members in the church invited one person to be baptized we would have 28,000,000 now only imagine if everyone invited MORE THAN ONE!! :D The Work of the Lord is being hastened, because the Second Coming is coming closer and closer Every day!!! :) 

I Love you guys, and I am praying for each and everyone of the family members, friends, and missionaries I know! My prayers are becoming so much more sincere to the Lord. I Love being out here and doing his work. As hard as it is some days, thinking of those who are praying for me, strengthens me, and knowing that Christ is always with me helps me lift my spirits! Even though it feels like the Church isn't true down here some times... I know it is. and I am here to help everyone else know that as well! The Church is true, and NEVER doubt it! I am a Mormon, I know it, I Live it, I Love it! 

You are All in my prayers,

Love your 19 year old son,

Elder Connor Gordon Holt

Now is the time to choose to serve the Lord!