Week 45: Last time with President Rappleye *done done donnnnnne*

Hola todos! Como le va?? Aqui en Coyhaique, hace muy frio ahora! Fue Perfecto solo con mis Shorts and Shirt este mañana, pero yo creo vamos ver nieve este noche o por lo menos este semana!! 

Hey everyone!! 

How are ya?! I am loving life here in Coyhaique! Its been a pretty crazy week!! Well, shoot, its hard to think about as well, because it was such long time ago... This past week feels like years ago, but a year ago feels like days ago, hmmm funny how time and stuff like that works?? 

Annie is getting married now as well?! How Marriages!! No really though, they are Holy if they are in the temple.... ;) But that is pretty sweet!! Bummer that the others are thrown away! Get me some pictures!! I want to see them lucky guys and girls! :) 

I think yes, I think that May here is like November there! That is what I was deciding this past week, which means.... This Thursday is TURKEY DAY!!! Yeah!! Ha we'll see if we actually do anything! ;) But today has been Lovely all day after yesterday's rain! But after taking my 7 minute nap before coming here to write it is now, dark and murky outside and I think I might just cuddle back up after I am finished and go back to sleep! :)

Also bueno Foto for whoever took the picture of the sunset! ;) You are almost getting to the skills of Elder Holy Que Humilde cierto? ;) Naw just kidding, it is really awesome! :)) 

Crazy that the cancer of Mr. Wilson came back, he is such an Awesome teacher! I am sad that I never got the chance to learn from him like my lucky siblings!! 

Ummmm no package still, I know... Its a bummer, we are praying this week! Because Elder Santisteban is waiting for his package as well! Ummm No I think I am still fine without a sleeping bag, I am actually sleeping SUPER Hot at night, that I wake up in the morning without any blankets on... Ha! Who woulda thought, I can only hope that I am lucky to have lots of blankets in all the houses I sleep in! 

 

We also studied in Chap. 19 of Gospel Principles of Repentance, in fact Elder Payares taught that day, because the sister who normally teaches called us on Saturday night, and asked us to teach! But it was awesome to learn about Repentance, Repentance really is something awesome, because like you said, we are all human and always make mistakes and blah blah! And so with Repentance we are all super lucky to have the chance to be able to, so we can become perfect and live with our Heavenly Father again!! 

We have had a great week here in Coyhaique! We started the week, hearing some sad news that the elders in Aysen, lost their house... To flames.... So the four guys there are getting a new house, nope. Two Missionaries and the other two are going to different areas, and then the elders and sisters there are now in our District and so we will be going to Aysen (1 hour) for our District Meetings every other week! #Sick be waiting for some Great Pictures, they tell me everytime they come for Zone Meeting that the bus ride is GORGEOUS!! So I am pumped!! 

We had some awesome lessons!! We taught our investigator Monica! She is doing awesome! In fact this was our first time ever in her house! Because usually when she can have a lesson, we don't have a man with us, but when we do, she can't... That happened at least 8 times... But we taught her the Restoration, and she loved it, and I think she felt the Spirit, because I sure know I did!! 

Sandra?? The Mom of Isaboth, who I baptized, has all of a sudden, gone kinda wacko... Like I dunno what's going on with them. When I first got here in Coyhaique, they were at EVERY. SINGLE. THING. The church offered, and now? Yeah, they have only been to church once in the past month... They have been reading some things on Google about the church, and she won't read the Book of Mormon... GAH!!!!!! Its super hard...

Then there is Salvador! He is the Husband of Iris who is a member but less active! I Love going to this house, we have been focusing on the Book of Mormon with them because he is an investigator for a year, and I want him to have a testimony of the Book of Mormon! Then I pulled a Brandon and actually listened to his advice for once to look at his record and he has NEVER been taught the Restoration, and so we are gonna be teaching that tonight I think!! HA just kidding, I work with the records all the time here! Thanks Brandon!! 

Yesterday we had some SWEET! Lessons!! We taught Moíses (Moses) which was awesome! He was a reference from the Zone Leaders like two months ago! We went there with Geraldo who is a return missionary from Brazil like a month ago! We taught the Restoration again, and it was Awesome! Filled with the Spirit and we challenged him to Baptism! He said "We'll see if I get an Answer" but I KNOW he is gonna get baptized, because he is the answer to Obispo Saavedra or Bishop Saavedra to become Active again!! (They both are Military)

Then we have worked with Roxanna and Roberto this past week as well! I dunno if I have ever told you the story of them?? They are 37 years old and married since like 2007! In 2011 Roberto had something go off in his brain when his Grandma passed away, that has just gotten worse since, he is now at this point he can't control his muscles very well, or his tongue. So he can't talk or swallow, but he still can walk if he needs to. When he talks, its VERY difficult to understand him! But with lots of patience you can understand!! Sometimes (I wish all the time) he just types on the Ipad, which would make everything so much easier (Since his Mind is still awesome!) But we have had some great lessons with them! I am hoping to see them Baptized before I leave this area! But I dunno, because I think I may be getting transferred here in a couple of weeks... Sad to hear... :( 

My studies this past week were awesome! I finished All the lessons in Chapter 3 in PMG and then today I started them again!! Elder Ballard told us that we shouldn't memorize them, but we should internalize them! So here I am, learning them again and again! 

I also am reading in Mosiah!! And one of my favorite chapters I think is Mosiah 24. The Brethren of Alma are so awesome! Just to take on Trials with Patience and just trusting in the Lord!! 

 11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.

 12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.

 13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

 16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

Which is awesome right?!? Then after they escaped?? 

 20 And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness.

 21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God.

 22 And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God

EVERYONE WHO COULD SPEAK PRAYED AND GAVE THANKS!! 

so I have two challenges for the people who read this email today!! :) 

First?? Go and start reading the Book of Mormon this evening! Start from the Title Page and go. After?? Give a prayer of GRATITUDE to our Loving Heavenly Father, because I know that he Loves Each and Everyone of us!! :) 

I just need to thank everyone who do things and pray  for me!! :) You guys are all Awesome! I Love all of you So much, and there is No way I would be here today without you!! 

Have a Killer Week! 

Elder Connor Holt

1 Zona

2 Presidente Rappleye, Hermana Rappleye, y yo

3 We had an Eating contest of 6 Completos and Yours Truly won! :)

4-7 Piedra del Indio (Indian rock) (Look at the Rock it looks like an Indian Head?? I don't see it either) 

Week 44: On Wednesday We Wear ....P-Day Clothes

Hey all!! 

Yeah so you thought I was gonna say Pink in my title didn't ya!! Ha I wish, I definitely don't have my pink tie anymore, in fact my bright red or blue one either... Dang other missionaries who have stolen them as we have parted ways.... I need to find more bright ties like those ones! Hahahaha my Favorites still! :) 

Anywho How was Texas?? I still haven't really gotten the chance to read everyone's email, because this morning when I printed emails, half of the paper didn't print because of the ink, and I still had to pay 200 pesos for the paper... #RipOff I got something about the Aquarium and I remember when we went with Jen and Nate in Georgia! That was a lot of fun, so hopefully it was fun with you guys there in Texas!! 

Hey before I forget, you should send me a picture with all the wedding announcements of Gardners, Bryans, and Beardalls, I would like to see their Pictures and Loved ones! ;) Also will you keep sending me the letters of Elder Beardall and Elder Nelson, they don't send me their letters, you don't need to make it in a document if you don't want, you can just paste it into an email, and send it to me before Sunday night if you really want to! :) 

Well because I don't have much to reply with I think I will just get into my awesome week! More like a very Long Week!! (Since I didn't get to write for two more days) It made it very long!! 

Well, every night last week except on Saturday we had a lesson in the house of a member, we had some great Noche de Hogares! :) Or in English Family Nights no mas! :) We had one with Sandra and Isaboth, Hna (Sis.) Iris and her husband Salvador, Our Papitos and Miriam and Eduardo, the cousin of Pilar (who is really not our investigator, but I think she likes us better than the other elders so we will have more with her I think!) and Yennifer! 

It was a crazy busy week!! Then we were also told that we were gonna change P-day to Wednesday because we were gonna go hang out with President Zamudio!! So that was lots of fun!! 

Lets see, Elder Sanchez definitely became one of my Best friends this past week!! Friday was by far the hardest day in the Mission for me. Just everything was going wrong and it was just so hard... In the end of the night I was just upstairs in our room praying while my comp. was in the shower and he came up to talk to me, because he could tell something was wrong. The kid is Amazing, thats all I am gonna say! If you really want to know more, you can ask me in a year and two months! 

Today was lots of fun!! It is a holiday here in Chile, I don't really remember why, but it is. Anyways, the four of us went to the house of President Zamudio and he lives in a high school! So it is super cool!! This school is super rich and has lots of land!! So we went and we explored and took LOTS of pictures this school has cows and sheep and lots and lots of land!! At the end of the day, we spent two hours barbecuing our meat! Oh man does Elder Holt LOVE meat now!!! I have learned to love it in the past 10 months here in Chile, and I believe I will be coming home to more Barbecues!!! :))) 

I don't have much time now, so I will be ending here, I will write more next week, sorry that I didn't get the chance to tell you that my Pday was gonna be changed, it sure made my week a lot longer as well, don't you worry Mom! ;) 

I Love you all and I hope that you are rocking the world there en el Lago Salado! :) 

Chao familia! Una Abraso! 

Elder Connor Holt

 and the Father said, "Elder Holt, go and feed my Sheep in Chile

 Yeah, if you ever have a problem?? Just remember Elder Holt :)

 The four of us with them Cows! :) Elder Sanchez Elder Santisteban, Elder Payares, and Elder Holt (Me)

Our M.E.A.T. 

Semana 43: Feliz Dia de Mama ayer!

¡Hola todos de los Estados! Como Están?? 

Well, how much fun was last night?! I am not gonna lie, I am still smiling at the "Basketball Poop" that was so much fun! I feel like we didn't talk about so many things, but that we just talked which was a lot of fun, to kinda relax for a bit, and now that P-day is ending once again, we will be in for a HUGE week of work! We have lots planned! A noche de Hogar almost every single night!! Wow! I am excited!! :) 

Okay, now to think of things to say......... Ha just kidding I have lots!! 

So obviously I have a new companion! His name is Elder Santistaban or close to be spelt like that, and he is still laughing at Jed for wanting whatever meal it was from Peru! hahaha :) He is super Chill, and we get along great! He is CAPO short for in English (SUPER BEAST MODE AMAZINGLY AWESOME) with the Scriptures, but he has never read the Book of Mormon all the way through, its Crazy! Our goal for this week is to share more of the Book of Mormon in the lessons, and with this Elder we have done that a lot!! Him and I teach so well together, and I can tell you that my Spanish is getting a lot better, being forced not to speak English, unless I am teaching them during Language study hahahha :) Or for example when the President called me today and asked me how to say "Terrone de Tierra" which is a Chileanismo (Only used in Chile) which means Dirt Clod. That was a lot of fun to figure out! :) But I have a companion a lot like Elder Matt Sommercorn, who isn't perfectly with the rules of the book, so we will see how this cambio goes, I know this is a test for leadership, because I am comp. Major as well, and so Ï really gotta be with the rules, because we more Leadership comes more Responsibility and all that fun jazz! It's gonna be a great cambio!! :) 

Anyways, we are going to have a lot of success though, because something that I didn't say yesterday is that we have found some PF's and PF's mean Baptisms and Reactivations! Woot Woot how I love them PF's that was how we got Isaboth and Miriam, so I am expecting to have at least one or two this transfer! Hopefully! We'll see! :)

We now have three people with Baptismal Date, we got Kati with date again, we have Roxanna, and we have Vivillana! I am hoping to see if we can get at least one of them Baptized! The closest I think is Roxanna, the only thing she has to do is to drop Smoking, because she is already married, but the only thing is, in the past year when she has gotten to know the elders she still has yet to come to church, but that is going to change here real soon!! :) Vivillana, her kids are baptized, but she only isn't because she isn't married, but they are waiting to receive a free house before they get married (some weird chilean government thing... Which I hate because lots of people don't get married...) Then we have Kati who also has to get married, but I don't think we will see that soon, because her Boyfriend has three or four other girls all with his children as well... He just moves around and lives with all of them... Its a hard situation, but if you guys could all help me out by praying for these three wonderful ladies, I know that with a little faith, lots of things can change, and we can see MIRACLES! :) 

My studies this week were lots of fun, I have been in Mosiah, and I just finished up the Waters of Mormon and now I am starting into the reign of the King Limhi! So we will see how that all goes down! In Preach my Gospel I am studying in the 5th lesson and in the Book of Mormon! Its so fun to see how much studying I get down, I took the advice of Preach my Gospel in January and I started a Study Journal, and at first my entries were very small, but they get bigger and bigger every day! I am gonna have to buy a new note book soon, I am almost half way done with it!! Gasp!! ;) Anyways, can't wait to start reading about what you guys all at home are studying every day!! 

You know you have an Awesome Comp when: He is Super Loco just like you!! ;)

Other than that I think its kinda short letter, because now you guys do know everything that has happened here in the past week and little while! I LOVED talking with you guys last night, and I really hope that we get the chance to have a little more time with the new President who comes in 7 weeks! Crazy!!! :) 

I Love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week, and I'll talk to you in 7 months!! 

Choose the Right! 

Elder Connor G. Holt

P.S. You guys are Amazing!! :) 

My Awesome District from this last Transfer! Elder Payareys, Elder Christopherson, Elder Sanchez, Me, Hermana Niño, and Hermana Howell

Wasn't a very bright Arco Iris, but I just realized that there was two! It was a good day! :) 

 I only have this many Cambios (Transfers) More... :(

Semana 42: Si, hay Nieve Aqui

FELIZ CINCO DE MAYO!!!! :D Oh wait, that is a different country.....

Hey everyone! How you all doing?? Here we are in the Ciber again! I dunno where the the time goes, it kinda just slips away! During the week, sometimes it feels like its ages, but then we get to another P-day and holy cow, here we go again! 

Lets see.... yes, no, no yes, no, yes, yes, no. Does that answer your email Momma? :) Just kidding, I dunno the order of those thousand questions! Ummm how about we start with, this Sunday we will skype at 7:00 our time, so it means 5:00 your time! But I may just let my new comp. go first, so it could be around 6:00 your time! Just be ready around 5 or 6! 

Yeah, we have cambios! I am staying here in Coyhaique, and another Elder is coming, I don't remember his name, but he has one cambio less than I do, and he is from Peru! So that is gonna be fun! I am going back to a house full of Latinos and me again! We'll see if its any better now or not, since I can understand Spanish now!! :) 

Yeah, yesterday when we got out of Church, it was snowing... The mountains have snow on them until the half way point, it just gets lower and lower, soon the snow is gonna be sticking here on the ground, and be very cold! Its gonna be fun though! And we have fires in the house now! So thats lots of fun! I have not only become a beast wood chopper, but also a beast fire builder! I can do it in like 2 minutes!! Woot Woot! At the beginning of my time here in Chile, it took me ages, and now it goes really fast!! :) 

Package? Todo vía no.... but soon! I think! We will see! :) I will be happy to get the under armor for more warmth! 

Oh oh oh and give Tanner a HUGE HIGH FIVE/HUG for me for making SBO's tell him how happy I am that he ran for SBOs I kinda did a little flip in the ciber this morning and everyone gave me weird looks, but I am super happy that he is doing SBOS! 

Okay I think that is the major of the questions answered from your email! 

Now about the week!! Well, hmmmmm we had a fun week I guess! I don't really remember to many things that were crazy happening! We had one day, it was Tuesday! That a member named Nicolas, came out with us the entire afternoon from 3-9:30 and we got three lessons taught with him, which was awesome!! :) He is getting prepared for his Mission, he should be getting his call within the next two weeks, which is super duper exciting!! I am super excited for the kid!! 

Ummmm then we had lots of contacts this week, in the street! Which was lots of fun, I love contacting people in the streets! Although, the people here in Coyhaique don't like to talk very much, which is kinda funny, because I like to play a game sometimes called "chase the random citizen" sometimes you'll watch ahead for a person walking in your direction, and then you will notice them look the other way to see if a car is coming, so they can cross the street, so we do the same thing, so at the exact same time, we cross the street with them, and then they notice us crossing the street, so they go back to where they were at, and then so we if go back to, they cross again... IT is lots of fun! Hahahahaha :) I dunno how people can tell that we smell bad... I mean we are just two Gringos that are dressed in black from super far away when they see us. I mean, I shower every morning and put on deoderant, and when I remember I spray myself with axe... So do I really smell that bad??? Shoota... Its just lots of fun to watch that, and then when we talk to people, they end up saying something like "Estoy Aparato" which means "I am busy" but what it really means is "You're weird, and I really just don't want to talk to you" Them patagonians are kinda harsh... But you know, it is what it is! 

Then we come to Saturday! The Baptism!! Woot Woot! I officially have two baptisms!! Isaboth and Miriam!! So it has been super cool!! I think I want to go see other elders baptize more, its super hard to feel the spirit at our baptisms, because we are always running around making sure that everything is going to schedule and working out!! 

She was super happy when she got there, and then we started it once a member of the Branch Presidency showed up after like and hour! But it was awesome! She was super happy, and then told us, after that she felt like a huge burden had been released! So that was super good to hear! 

Funny part is, Elder Christopherson was the one to Baptize her, and then after waiting for like 20 minutes for him to change, I went and knocked on the door, and asked if he was ready, and he told me he was still soaked.... He forgot his towel, and dry clothes, poor kid... But we got a ride home and I started another fire, and we changed and got out of there!! 

The next day, (Yesterday) I confirmed Miriam a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints, and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost, which was awesome!! :) It wasn't as hard as I was thinking it was gonna be, but I did one thing wrong... Well, not wrong, but I was just laughing afterwards when I caught it! At the end of the Blessing I said "este Bendición nos da" when I should have said "Este Bendiciòn nosotros damos" so in English I said "This Blessing that you give us" not "This blessing that we give" hahahahah yeah, it was a fail. But hey what can you do?? I just smiled and had fun! I am excited for the next time!! 

I believe that is all I have from this week! Not to much happened! But just the norm. It will be good to talk this Sunday, I can tell you all about my new comp. have some questions or something ready?? I am super excited!! Hope that everything is well at home!! 

Hasta Próxima Ves Utahanos, nos Vemos! 

Elder Connor Holt

1. Fall colors

2. Puddle Pic

3. Them usual Baptismal Fotos

4. Snow...