Monday, August 25, 2014

Semana 58: Trabajamos hoy en el obra del Señor!

Hola todos de Gringolandia! Como estan? Que Baka.... nope can't say that anymore.... (I'll talk about that a little later)

But really though... how is everyone??? This past week has been awesome!! yet again another week fuuuuuuuuuulllllllllllll of successs!!! 

But before we get going, please send my regards to the Ross family! I had no idea, I am gonna send something to Elder Ross as well!! 

Sounds like you had a fun week with Kaylie and Carter, Mom! I feel like Logan must be a little jealous that they get all the attention!! We did hear about the earthquake on Saturday, That was a lot of fun, it must not have been too big, because I didn't have an inbox full of people seeing if I was alright! ;) although the bishops daughter from Camino Real told me that she was there and she felt it in her mission today. so that is always fun! 

Well, where to start...

With a new president there are new rules... some that are pretty hard... we received palos at zone conference that we need to talk better, more formal, which means we can't talk like Chileans anymore... one way to say cool is genial, that is in Spanish, but in Chile we say Bakan, well not anymore. Then there is another word that I have learned to say here learning to speak Spanish which is "po" which would be "si po" "no po" "ya po" pretty much you always use po, its super hard to give it up... but I know that I can do it!! :)

This week has really just been full of success! We had another week full of lessons with members!!! Only 14 this week, but still... from what I have seen here in the mission... its sooooooooooooooooo much!!! So that should be a hint for all of you reading this now, missionaries WANT the help of the members!!! We ended the week with 7 people for date of baptism, and then we also had 7 investigators in the church yesterday! Yeah, we are working so hard here in Rio Negro!!! 

Just want to share a couple of experiences this past week! We didn't get the chance to pass by Karen our neighbor, so I hope for that this week! But we have felt the Spirit so much here this past week!! We had divisions on Friday night and I went and taught Jacob with Hno. Sanchez who has a date for baptism on the 12th of September!! I finished up teaching him the commandments, and it was such a spiritual lesson, when his wife bore her testimony about prayer, I felt the Spirit so much!! 

After, on Saturday I went on divisions with our branch president, and we started at the house of an eternal investigator, who hasn't come to church in my time here in Rio Negro, we just talked to her about the gospel of Jesus Christ and felt the Spirit so strong, and in the end we talked about baptism and put her with a date of the 12th of September as well now!! :) I feel like its a real date because after, she asked if the president would baptize her, and so she became a main focus of our branch yesterday during our branch council. and then after this lesson, we had a family night with a less active family which was super awesome, we talked about the atonement of Jesus Christ, and everyone was so into the lesson it was amazing, almost started crying as well when the president started to cry bearing his testimony about the atonement.

My testimony has grown so much here in the mission, and I just want to thank everyone for the prayers, thoughts, concerns. I am still out here because I receive the strength from all those!! I know that this church is true, and that through Christ and only Christ, can we return to live with our Heavenly Father with our families forever, and that is my goal. 

I love you all, trying to make you proud,

Elder Connor Holt

p.s. Yeah go check out these videos!! "come what may and love it" "create" and "mother told me" a few videos that helped me last night when I was having a tough time!! :) Love you all!!! 

p.s.s. BAPTISM ON SATURDAY!!!! :DDDDDDDDDDD


Chip has an opponent... this is the new puppy of our mamita who I play with everyday before lunch! :) 

 We are the "Mormons" that live in the "Catholic" house!


Monday, August 18, 2014

Semana 57: La Mejor Semana en todo mi Misión!!!!

Hola todos los Gringos!!!! 
Este semana ha sido la Mejor semana en todo de mi Misión!! Fue tan genial!! Yo estaba tan Feliz con todo que.... Oh wait, you guys don't know Spanish, well... A few of you guys do... ;)

We'll get to that mas adelante!! California!! Super cool!! Sounds like you guys had a blast!! With two mission reunions!! One for Brandon's mission, and one for mine! Hope they were both awesome!! Super jealous that you guys got to ride bikes there in Newport, that definitely was the last time that I rode a bike!! Angels?? Way to kill them Red Sox in the end!! That is my team!!!! I don't even want to ask about the Crab Cooker, but just know that in a year we have to go, because you will all be surprised with what I will eat there! :) 

Anyways, I am glad that ya'lls had a good week there, because we have had one Amazing week here as well!! We had SO much success!! But Cami told me that she got to see you guys and that she got to ride the Moto before I did.... Man.... 11 months... Just kidding, I am NOT counting down at all! Especially after this past week!! 

We'll just start with going down the list of days that we had!! 

After writing you guys last week, we went back to the house to clean up and make sure all was well, before p-day ended. Then around 8 we had a lesson, but with our Neighbor!! We share a house here. Its HUGE!! The best house I have had in the Mission, and its HUGE!! In the front there is a store, which is on the first floor, and then there is our house in the middle, which is above the store, and then we also have the downstairs of the house, which is below our neighbor, but when we had to pay for the water bill the other day, we share water with our neighbor, and so we went to talk to her about it, and then I started to talk to her to see if we could get to know her and come talk to her about why we were in Chile, so we set up a date on Monday to come, and we went! Guess what, SHE WAS THERE! *Gasp* So we went with our Ward Mission Leader, and we taught the restoration! It was super sweet!! We then set up a lesson for Wednesday to go and teach her again and give her a Book of Mormon, but on Wednesday she wasn't there.... That was a bummer. But we talked with her on Friday as she was leaving to go visit her family in Puerto Montt for the weekend, so we gave her the Book of Mormon, and then we set up a lesson for last night. The lesson last night was AMAZING!! She was there and we went with our branch president who is 28 years now oh and by the way her name is Karen and she is 25 years, but it was SUCH a Spiritual lesson!! We are super excited to go back to her house on Wednesday to see if she prayed/read the Book of Mormon! So please keep Karen in your prayers!! 

Tuesday we had our Zone conference with Presidente Obeso!! It was AWESOME!! We were there the entire day with 2 other zones, so Rahue, Osorno, and La Union. It was sweet!! So much Spirit there, and not only that, I had 5 of my 10 companions there!! Elder Robertson, Elder Walker, Elder Hawkes, Elder Torrez, and Elder Rasgido! It was super sweet! I was thinking about taking a picture with all of em, but nope, although I did get one with Elder Robertson! It was the first time we had seen each other since the CCM and it was awesome! I was happy to see the kid!! :) I also had many district leaders and zone leaders there that I had known! But I was happy just to chill with Elder Walker and Elder York for lunch!! :) Have I told you that Elder York reminds me of Mike Jones?? As in the Adam Jones?? Yeah, like EXACTLY!!! Except he's a red head.... Hahahah jk!! ;)

On Friday the Zone Leaders came and we had divisions with them! It was sweet! My companion taught a whole bunch, and me?? Well... We just walked in the wind and rain all day... Not a fun day, but we did contact some people!! It was a bummer that our citas fell through...

 (I just received palos from a past Zone Leader from Coyhaique, I was wearing a hat, and I guess you can't wear hats... Poop)

Saturday in the Morning? We went out contacting knockin on doors no mas. But we came to a door that I felt we should go to, I yelled and no one came... But I felt we should still be there, so I yelled another time, and then this little old man came out, I said "hola!!" and then told him that we were missionaries, and that we had a message we would like to share with them, so he called for his wife, to see if we could come in, and she said yes, so we entered and we showed them the Mormon Message "Lo Que es Importante" from President Monson, and then after we showed them a message of the Atonement. Which was awesome! There was Spirit there, and we invited them to be baptized and to come to church, the wife said yeah that is a possibility, but couldn't come yesterday, so we are gonna bring them next week hopefully!! :)

Later in the day we had a stake youth activity, for the young men!! We went to Rahue for the stake center and it was an activity that the young men could accompany a pair of Missionaries to do some Missionary work! Presidente Obeso was there and it was awesome!! After they had three sectors that we could go to, Las Vegas, Rahue Alto, or.... CAMINO REAL!!!!! So I was just praying that I could go to Camino Real... and I GOT THE CHANCE!!! I got to go with Elder York and Carlitos Chaipul!! Oh man it was so awesome!! We went first to a cita with an investigator that Elder Whitaker and I contacted!! They are doing really well and are investigating the church a bunch now!! But they were busy, but I got to talk to Amparo which was sweet!! After, we went to the Mom of the Twins who are now both on Missions, took a picture and that was fun, after we went to the house of Daniela, who we went to the water falls with, and I gave them a picture of me with them from last Christmas, and then we ended the day with Familia Delgado!! It was so amazing! I definitely felt Trunky for my sector, but it felt just like yesterday I was working there!! I was super sad that I couldn't go and see the Chaipul family, or Makarena and Andres, but its okay! 

But yesterday at the end of the week, when we were planning for our numbers, I counted and saw that we had a BUNCH of success this past week... Drum Roll please.... 15 with Member!!! The most I have had my entire mission!!! 5 with baptism date, and its just going to get better and better here on out!! We are planning on having a baptism for Andreas, he is 9 years and is gonna be Baptized on the 30th if he passes his interview this Saturday, so keep him in your prayers!! :)

Then today, we are here in Osorno, and we just got finished playing Basketball, oh it felt so good to just relax and play after this past week of working so much!! It was Amazing!! :) Although Elder Walker ended up beating my team again by 1 point... Shoot. Just like when I was in Training... ;) 

But now it is time, to go suit up and put my Armor (White shirt, tie, and name tag) back on and head back out into the field for more War against the evil, and bring the World His Truth!! 

I Love you all so much, thank you for the prayers and everything that you do for me!! :) 

Trying to make you Proud,

Elder Connor Holt



Elder York and Elder Holt

Elder Robertson and I

Charlie Chaplin

The Mom of the Twins (The Middle)

Mi Familia Delgado

Elder Wood and I He is the cousin of Jacie Epperson of the 33rd ward and he played Polo for Bear River!! 

Monday, August 11, 2014

Week 56: El Espiritu Freakin Santo

Well Howdy ya'll! 

So first things first, I can not tell you how jealous I am that you guys are all in warm weather... Not Raining... On the beach... In Laguna... and as Mom says, its the LAST TIME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :( Of course it has to be the last time.... just because Elder Holt isn't there.... 

So I didn't get an email from Sister Palmer, because she is in her casa now huh?? I was wondering about why I didn't get an email from her today, but she has officially "died" then huh? next is Elder Hale... here in December!! he is gonna be home here real fast!

Don't even worry about pictures, you are going to have 16 today.... so they are all loading up now!! hahahaha

Sounds like the missionary moms lunch was a lot of fun! its funnY that you are going to be eating with more tomorrow, because we have zone conference tomorrow and I will at least be with Elder Medling because he is still in the office, 

(sorry if this email is really misspelled, this keyboard is messed up and I am tired of trying to erase with the broken backspace...)

Lets see... something that I have noticed here in Rio Negro is, I am back in the world of fleas.. Elder Wood told me the same, them fleas love our gringo blood, and we both are just bit so much, but I have been free of fleas for a couple days, so that is always good!! ;) 

Anyways it has been one awesome week!! really though!! we have seen so much success this past week! 

Lets start with last Monday night we went to the house of Jacob and Veronica. they are a couple for a looooooooooooooong time, Veronica is a member and Jacob is an investigator for a loooooooooooooooong time, he practically is member, I think for like ten years something like that, but this past Monday, we had a lesson on marriage and the plan of salvation, and we told them in the end that if they could pray right now, and ask Heavenly Father if they should be married on the 6 of September and then baptized the same day that God would make it happen through miracles because they have been trying to get married for some time and that Elder Spriggs (one of the aps) would be able to be there. (he started his mission here) and wanted to be here for his baptism. so we got down in the end of the lesson and prayed about it. The Spirit was there. it was amazing and they chose to be married on this day .

Tuesday morning during the meeting for leaders, elder spriggs called me and was super excited1! HE told me that Jacob had called him and said that he was gonna get married on the 12th of September and then baptized the same day!! It was super cool!! He asked Elder Spriggs to baptize him, so it will be super cool because he will be going home after that and the fact that he started his mission here and now will end it here as well with a baptism!!

So we called Jacob after the meeting and he told us he had some great news to tell us and that we needed to come over that night@11 so we did divisions in the night , because we had a meeting with the elders of camino real and our branch presidency about a program that Chile is working with and with the missionaries. My comp told me that is was amazing that they had a ton of success and the spirit was there, that he said he needed all the lessons taught to him, and he was super excited!! At the end of the lesson, Jacob just couldn't hold it in anymore and blurted out they had a date for marriage and for his baptism!! So it was super cool to see he has lots of excitement!!! 

Also on Tuesday we moved the other elders to our house that is gigantic! 

Ummmm 

Thursday was the birthday of my comp. but sadly he was sick that day with a cold, and got me sick. 

We had a super sweet lesson on Saturday night with the president of the branch who is only 27 years..... he has 8 years more than me... crazy.... he is president of the branch. In this lesson there were us two, the president and a family of three, a mom, a son of 23 and a son of 9, all were members but the son of 9 and we taught them of the plan of salvation, and set him with baptism date for the 30th. So that will be lots of fun! The Spirit was there and it was awesome to work together with our branch president!! 

After this lesson we went to the house of the President to give a family home evening, because his family is all less active except for his mom, but I can not tell you how much Spirit was there... like it was all just there. It was amazing. I loved it, and I am just feeling more and more of the Spirit every single day here. I love the feelings of the Spirit. 

Something that I realized today is time is going so fast. like really there just is not enough time to do anything... gah I do my things, and then I can't do everything here... it just doesn't work... so I have to figure something out.

But hey all you guys who are reading this, if you want to do something really cool!! go help the missionaries. you don't have to go on splits, (although that would be amazing as well) but offer your house, give them a reference, or go on splits. really this is the work of the Lord, not the missionaries, and we need your help! Go read chapñ. 13 in Preach My Gospel!! Please and thank you! :)

Anyways, I love you all and just want you to know that my testimony has grown so much, i know without a single doubt that this is the ONE AND ONLY true church over all the earth!! You all are amazing!! thank you for your prayers, and you are all in mine!! 

Trying to make you proud

Elder Connor Holt


 Elder Gibelyou and I

Familia Cuevas de Los Muermos

Elder Jurado and I

 This is Josefa, I was told by her mom that I brought her back to activity!!

Familia Alvarado

 Me and Elder Gubler

 "Aunt Dixie and I"

 another :)

Yeah this was here in the market next to our house

Rio Negro is beautiful right??

Do I have to say more??

Feliz Cumpliaños Elder Rasgido

i was eating a "Man Cake" it was #Delish

this many transfers left...

 I bought this today, because I have been having trunkie swimming and water polo dreams this past week...

Monday, August 4, 2014

Week 55: The "Trunkiest" Week of the Mission

Hello Hello Hello!!! 

You guys are going to kill me.... I don't have my camera here this week with me... Well I have my camera, but I forgot my cord, so I can't send pictures which is super dumb.... because I have so many pictures to send!!! Sorry not sorry.

Wow, I don't even know where to begin, you guys are gonna be in Laguna this week... Super Jealous, but don't worry, I am on a Mission, which I know makes you ALL Jealous!! ;) 

I don't even know where to start with this past week! It has been lots of fun!! hmmmmmmmm

Well we can start with Monday after we were done writing, we left to go to a house of a Menas Activo named Jorge, his son from Santiago was there and his daughter who is Menas Activo was also!! We got the chance to share with them all! They also made us a dish of Salchipop! Which is French Fries with hot dogs. Super Yummy!! :) But the next day it was not so happy with my stomach. Because we ate SOOOOOO much with oil... Hahahahaha All day Tuesday I definitely had diaria... hahahahah 

Tuesday, I got to say bye to Elder Gibelyou! He was in my Zone there and we took pictures, but I still can't send them until next week.... 
Then in the evening we visited my two favorite families of Los Muermos! Family Alvarez and Familia Cuevas. It was super hard to leave Familia Cuevas, they were all crying. Like it was super cool to see, because I thought I hadn't done anything there in Los Muermos, but they showed me wrong, that I at least helped them out! The mom pulled me aside before we left and personally thanked me for helping her daughter become active again! Since she attended church this last week, and gave a talk which was awesome!! Familia Alvarez was super awesome as well!! I had lots of inside jokes with them!! They are awesome!!! :)

Wednesday we had cambios! Oh man, how crazy it was, I had to say goodbye to Elder Dennis, but oh boy how crazy it was!! I got to bus up to Osorno with Elder Walker, because he is in my zone again here in Rahue!! Elder York is still in Camino Real, and Elder Walker is now in Rahue Alto who live with the elders of Camino Real!! But I saw so many elders that I knew that day!! Elders who had cambios and Elders who were Ending their Mission!!! Ahhh it was crazy how many elders I knew this Wednesday pasado!! I didn't even realize how it was!! Like.... Super Trunky!! 

I am now here in Río Negro!! Super Awesome! I am with Elder Rasgido from Argentina. My fourth Latino Comp. in a row! (You would think that my Spanish was good or something) But its really not hahaha but it is getting better! :) Not only that but I am his ´´Mama´´ which means that he just ended his training!! He is only on his 3rd cambio!! So he is new here in the Mission, and I can't even begin to tell you how awesome it is!! The kid has so much Faith and wants to do so much!! So we are going to have lots of success here!! 

We have an investigator who we passed on Thursday night, named Verta. Both of her daughters are members, but her son isn't. Her oldest daughter is going to leave on a Mission here in October, to Mexico. She has a baptismal date for the 23rd of August, so we will see if we can make it happen!! And there are a bunch of people here who are getting ready for Baptism, so we will see what we can do!! :)

I can't even begin to describe how trunky church was yesterday.. First off the AP's called me at 9 and said that they were gonna come to our church, because they don't have an assigned ward right now, and they both started here in Río Negro. Then two members from Camino Real showed up, because they have a calling in the stake and apperently work with my branch!! It was super awesome to see the Familia Sepulvida, I was super happy!! Also, Elder Gubler (My first District Leader) came to our church, WITH HIS FAMILY! So we had 7 elders with us, and we sang ´´I'll go where you want me to go´´ right after the sacrament, before the testimonies! It was awesome! They all stayed during the church, and so we had 7 elders there and it just helped the Spirit be there!! After church I took a picture with Elder Gubler, and his sister pulled out her camera, which was like mine at home, and I got so jealous... Gosh dang it, I miss taking pictures!! hahahaha algunas meses mas! ;) 

Then last night?? Yeah, want to know who I met here in Río Negro!! The one. The Only. Aunt Dixie!! I walked into this house and I recognized this hermana immediately, but I didn't know from where. We were eating with them, and I just kept thinking, when all of a sudden it came to my mind that this hermana looked JUST like Aunt Dixie! So I took a picture to show you guys!! But... I don't have my camera cord... So you will have to show Aunt Dixie she has a twin down here in Chile! ;)

Really though my zone is super awesome and I can just tell you that this cambio is going to be awesome!! I am super excited to see what we can do!! Although I am a little sad, because we are changing the districts here in the zone tomorrow, I had planned an inter cambio with the elders of Las Vegas this Wednesday after our District Meeting, so I could go see my Mamita from Camino Real, they had been pumping her up for it as well, but now I can't because Las Vegas is going to a different district, and its only going to be the 4 elders of us here in Río Negro!! Although that is cool too!! We are going to move the other two elders to our house tomorrow!! That will be fun, because Elder Wood is here, and he is the cousin of Jacie Epperson! He is one of my favorite elders here in the Mission, he is HILARIOUS!! Hahaha

Anyways, that really was my week, once again, I am super sorry that I don't have pictures to send along, it just means, that next week, I am going to have to send like 40!! Hopefully I can last another week with my memory card, because I have like 10 more pictures I can take. I am gonna buy a new card next monday!! 

I am also super Jealous that you guys are going to be in California.... I expect picture of the beach!! and Sunsets!! :) 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA HALE!!!! 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYLIE DAWN CALL!!!! 
Love you Both oh so much!!! :)

Keep killing it with the Mission Mom and Dad! You guys gotta give it your all!! You only have a couple months left!! 

Keep killing the school Brandon!! You gotta week left! Cree que tu puedes! Por que yo creo en ti! :)

Jen and Nate... You guys are in Laguna now... Enjoy the sun for me!! :) 

Ally and Jed, you guys are gonna be on the plane here real soon!! Super Jealous!! :)

I Love you all oh so much!!! 

Trying to make you proud!

Elder Connor Holt

P.s. Sorry no pictures