My Life Today

I know that I am not a missionary anymore, but I figured I could post one last post. I realized this last week, that I still want to let people know what's going on in my life, so if you are bored and you really want to know? You can check out my blog!! Connor's Super Adventures It's where I hope to keep updated with everything now days, or there is also Facebook: Connor Holt or Instagram @connor_holt so if you want to stay up to date with my life, that is how you can do it! Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts that have come my way in the past two years, and especially here in the last month and a half, when I started to get sick! I Love you all!!

Connor Holt

Semana 91: La Ultima Semana

Well, I don't really know where to start. For those of you who don't know this past week has been crazy... I honestly have no idea what my thoughts are here, because at this moment. I am not in Chile anymore... :/ I am back in Utah. I had to come home early for this dang sickness, and I just don't even know what to think.

This past 21 months have been the Greatest in my entire life. I really have no idea how to explain them. I mean, I have had so many hardships and trials and everything, but wow... How do I even start? 

I can start by saying, wow. A lot has changed, I have thought after the first two days, that everything was going to be the same, except that my nieces and nephews now talk A LOT, and all the neighborhood boys are now HUGE with beards and everything, but I have realized that in my time gone, people have also changed. Not that it is a bad thing, its just that people are not always the same, the world will always be changing whether we like it or not, that is something I learned while being on my mission reading the talk of "The 4th Missionary" (If you have never read it, you should.) 

I could of sworn I wasn't gonna be all weird after FINALLY escaping the walls of the house that I had been staying in for 3 and a half weeks, that I would get here and everything would be awesome, and I would be the same! Although, looks like that is different too. I guess I have changed out there in the passed two years and all (Whether my family likes it or not) I sure have. 

In the past two years, I have seen so many miracles, I honestly can not say "The church is not true." Because I know that if I would say that, that I would be lying. I have learned over the space of 21 months that Heavenly Father needs all of us so that we can help him in his work! Not JUST the Missionaries, we are given the chance to go on a mission for two years, but something one of my favorite seminary teachers told me today was "The Mission isn't our last mission, but more like the MTC for Life!" I took that as a good thing, I am now back here in Utah, to help the missionaries with their work!! Especially because the mission boundaries are going to be changing here real soon. I have learned that Missionary Work is so important, because Heavenly Father Loves each and everyone of His children which would be us, and that through US He shows this Love to everyone. (Not through just the Missionaries, but through everyone of us who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) that way we can show this Love to everyone, and that everyone will want to learn more about how they can live FOREVER with their families in Eternal Life with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. 

I personally have gained such a testimony of Joseph Smith. I can recite the First Vision in Spanish (Don't even ask for it in English) and I Know its something that REALLY happened! I have had the wonderful chance for the past 8 months to be a District Leader, and something I did was always start by having one of the missionaries get up in front of the District and to recite this Beautiful passage by memory, because it really does bring such a sweet Spirit. I KNOW that it has to be true, because there is NOTHING in this world that brings such a sweet spirit, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that is something that God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, brought and talked about with Joseph Smith during the first vision. 

Because I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, I also know that he was called by them to be a Prophet, the first one of this last dispensation, and that he was given the Priesthood or the power of God by the hands of Peter, James, and John, which is a power that I, Connor Holt, hold now and today. This power is used to Bless the lives of everyone, so that they can one day live Together Forever, and be Blessed in this life as well! 

I have learned in a VERY personal way, that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior. That he sacrificed EVERYTHING for ME personally, and that through this Great sacrifice, I can be cleaned of my sins, but this isn't only for me. Its for Anyone and Everyone. Jesus Sacrificed in a Garden for all of our Sins, Pains, Sicknesses, and through him, we can find Relief, if we will just follow the 5 simple steps of his Holy Gospel. Faith in Him, Repentance, Baptism by His Authority, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by His Authority, and Enduring to the End. Then he was Crucified and died for us, that he could loose the bands of Death, and we can know that he did so, because three days later, he was resurrected, and he did all of that for us, that way we can achieve the highest happiness with our families in the Eternal Life and return to live with our Heavenly Father.

Now, the best part? Our Dear so Kind and Loving Heavenly Father has given us PROOF that all of these things are True. He has given this proof to the prophet Joseph Smith. It is very Special, it is something that compliments the Holy Bible, and it is a Book of Sacred Scripture that is called "The Book of Mormon." Before my mission, I wasn't the most fond of reading, the Holy Scriptures or normal books. Although here in my mission, something I learned from a Special Blessing, is that the scriptures are gonna be very important to me in my life. On my mission for 21 months, I have learned to LOVE the Book of Mormon, although I only got to 3rd Nephi in English, I had the opportunity to also finish it 1 and a half times in Spanish! I just love it so much, it brings so much happiness to my life, and the best part? I can feel the Spirit of Christ every single time when I am reading it!! Really?? My mission has been to share this book with everyone that I could!! I want EVERYONE in the ENTIRE WORLD just to read, ponder, and then pray about this book, so that way they too can receive this magnificent Holy Spirit that is just so Amazing.

I Love this Gospel, I will Always share it, and I will Never leave it. It honestly brings us the most Blessings that we could ever receive if we will only Live it. 

I am Mormon. I Know it, I Live it, I Love it. It is something that I am going to raise my family in one day here soon, so that they as well, can have the wonderful Chance, if they accept it as well, to feel these wonderful feelings that I have felt these past two years, and that I still feel today. 

I Love you all, and I thank you for all the many prayers that I have received in the past 21 months in my behalf, and for all the thoughts, letters, emails, packages, and really?? All the Love that I have received! I hope you can see the blessings that the Lord has blessed you with, for helping and blessing me in my life. 

I Love you all, and I have tried so hard to make you all so proud of me, and I sure hope I did so. I leave these wonderful words and my Testimony, that I too know that these things are TRUE, in the Wonderful Sacred name or our Dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

 Familia Delgado

 La Primera Mamita en la Mision

 The Last picture with Presidente Obeso y his wife

 Although he didn't get to go in, he took some pics

 Temple of Santiago Chile

 One More

 WE HIT THE STATES AGAIN!!!

 The two Elder Holts who were from the same group, same last name, and both came home early with the SAME SICKNESS.

Patiently waiting for Uncle Connor to come down the escalator

Here they all come!

Mom always gets first hug

Greeting 96 year old grandfather

Dad's turn

Meeting new niece, 10 days old

Nephew and Niece remembered Uncle Connor

Holt family that were available to come to the airport

The returning with honor Elders

 Bienvenidos a Casa!!! :D

 First time the Brothers get together the day he got home

 He is ready to go Chop some more Wood!

 Chile for Life!!

 Chile with Helaman 5:12 (Thanks Elder Rich)

 Look who he found! His new Companion!! Elder Beardall

The Classic *Cabbage Face*

Of course he took his speedo with him to Chile!

Semana 90: Confused...

Well, I honestly have no idea what to say at this moment. All week I have been throwin out the jokes about going home and what not, and everyone all weekend at conference have been throwin out the "Trunky" Jokes on me and what not, this morning the Zone Leaders told us that we were gonna have to go home on Wednesday, but as of like 30 minutes ago when we got here to the ciber and were waiting for computers Presidente Obeso called us and said that he talked with Presidente Hutchison and that I am going to Santiago for the better Neurologist. Well, past that Dad? Sorry, I have no idea what more is going down, I am about as much informed as you guys are. So looks like I won't be coming home this week, and I really have no idea what is going down. 

This past week yet again, hasn't been to exciting, I mean we just sat in the house again for another week, except when we had citas or meetings. (We didn't have many citas) so we were just in the house and what not. 

I am super tired from the medication I am taking at the moment. Its about now (5 in the afternoon) that it starts to hit me on the tired scale. 

I really have no idea whats going down, because I thought I received my answer yesterday of why I was coming home early in conference, (By the way Brandon, when they said a new temple in Bangkok, Thailand don't worry, I too Jumped and Screamed for Joy, although I was only with the Gringos so it wasn't too bad when everyone was startled or were looking at me funny) It was super awesome conference yesterday! I Loved it, there were so many good talks, and tons for the Missionaries who are ending their Missions like me (Soon I think) hahaha

Just so you know Mom, I think that "The Feeling" that I have felt my whole mission has been confirmed to me to be Epilepsy. I had it again last night, so I called the nurse today and she confirmed me that, she thinks it is. So I guess we'll see what the Doc says in Santiago, because honestly I have no idea how to explain it when I am trying to. 

Well, past that I really have no idea what to say. We had the chance to say bye to some people during the week, when we weren't sick and what not. But I am not sure whats gonna go down. I am just super duper tired right now, and sorry I also have no idea what is the email to Presidente Obeso, something I should I know, just because I email him through a Missionary program and what not. 

Anyways I love you all so much, thank you for your prayers, you all mean so much to me and I am so happy to have all of you in my life! Not sure when I am gonna see you, at Most in 3 months, more than that? I got no idea. 

I Love you guys!!

Trying to make you proud,

Elder Connor Holt

Capitan Moroni, My Hero.

Friday Night Food from Peru

Conference Morning German Pancakes

 Elder Germann and I being the only ones in Priesthood in English

The Gringo Group

 Last nights sunset

 Lunch with the ZL's today

                             I finished first

Semana 89: The Good One

Hey alls, 

DON'T WORRY! I brought my camera today! ;) 

Yeah, so where to start? Hmmmm I FINALLY LEFT THE HOUSE THIS WEEK!! Gosh dang it, it felt so good to get out of that little house, we have gotten to know every crack, nail, board, spider, flea and all that fun stuff in there... 

So let's see where to even start this week?? Ummm we were in the house every day until Thursday. 

Once again we had our leaders meeting in our house, which was super cool! Everyone came over and had some fun! We talked about a cool new video that came out that we are gonna be working with here in the Mission!! Really COOL video Click Here because I know that you want to see it in English and not in Spanish... But if you want to see it in Spanish Haga Clic Aquí. Anyways yeah its Super cool!! :) 

Then lets see, nothing much happened until Thursday, I mean I got to help the neighbors with some English, I got to finish Helaman, ummm and I got to sleep a lot because of my pill, and then I also got to be a little trunky when we watched the movie "RM" hahahah SUPER HILARIOUS because I get the jokes now and what not. Oh and a prayer got answered! We had to get my results on Tuesday is when the doctor who did one of the exams last week said it would be ready, so we did leave to go get those, but her nurse said they weren't ready yet, so I did say a little prayer on Wednesday so that we would get them, and then we ended up getting them! Then we went to the Neurologist, but he doesn't work on Wednesday so his secretary said that they would call us on Thursday if someone would be dropping an appt. because they were booked, and so I said another prayer, and on Thursday around 1 the Bishop called us saying that the secretary called him, saying that we have an appt. at 5 pm with the neurologist! So we called the enfermera and she with her comp. Hna Findlay would be there soon, because they were close to Valdivia helping another missionary. 

So we got there around 5 and yeah, well I entered with the enfermera to visit with the doctor and he looked at all the pictures of my brain for a couple of minutes not saying a word (Kinda awkward...) and then he said, "Yepp, from the looks of this, you have Epilepsy. Are you sure that you haven't had any hits to the head in your life??" So then I told him about the wood from a couple of weeks ago, and he said that had nothing to do with it, because it was on the left side of the front of my head, so then I told him when I was a kid about the fall I had, and I don't remember what he said, but he said something like it came from when I was a kid. Right before I was done, the Enfermera just HAD to ask "The Question" "Was there anything Abnormal about the results??" and the Neurologist said "Well yes, he has epilepsy..." So yeah... So we'll see what happens there. After she told us that as long as I feel good, and my companion as well, we could leave if we had a cita fija (Set Appt.) that we could leave the house HOORAY!! 

So that was a good sign, because on Friday night we had a cita for a super cool activity in the church to show the ward THE Video and so On Thursday night we called everyone in the ward and on Friday a little bit as well, to invite everyone there, and the hermanas were out working and inviting everyone as well!! Guess What... It was the FIRST activity here in Río Cruces that there were more then only THREE people there!! We had like twenty!! Woot Woot!! It was awesome!! We had an activity all on the Atonement, and it was just so cool!! I felt the Spirit so much!! I also did the Paper Cross activity, one day I will show that to you guys at home, its my fave, no biggie...

* Note from Mom Holt, Andrea Bruno who Elder Holt is now going to talk about is a foreign exchange student from Italy who lived with us 8 years ago. He is now working in Santiago and Elder Holt got permission from the President for Andrea to visit.

Okay now on Saturday?? Wow, where to even start? How about with it all started early in the morning when we woke up almost on time at about 7:20 (We haven't woken up on time since the 14th... Ha) and so we went to the Bus terminal at about 9 (Yes we had permission) and then all of a sudden like 5 minutes later this REALLY Tall Italian got outta a double-decker bus, so I sat down really fast so he wouldn't see the really tall Gringo in a White shirt hahahahaha and then he didn't see us and started to walk the other way, so I ran over and JUMPED on his back!! Oh it was so much fun!!! We left, and NOTHING was opened that early... So we started the day out just by walking around and that was lots of fun!! Hahaha but its okay, we got to be talking!! That is when we went to the mall and got some doughnuts and we got the internet password so he could Skype y'alls and then that's when he called Brandon so we could say that I was alright, (His idea so I am not in Trouble... ;) After?? We went to the bay front... Okay no its the river side, but there is a submarine there that we went and took a tour of, and that was super awesome!! I now know that I cannot be crazy enough to be a submariner and what not, because its SO SMALL!! (Look at the picture) then I can tell you I have changed a lot here in the mission, why?? Well after Andrea said that he was Hungry, and so we left, and we got to the Fish Market, and he said, "Lets go find a restaurant here close by Fresh Fish" I was super nervous..... But we went right across the street, and then we went into there and we ate... FISH! So I just want to say... I like Sushi... and I like Fish.... So lets go to the Crab Cooker when I get home yeah?? :) The Mission has changed my tongue... But you won't believe it until you see it... I know!! ;) Now the worst part of the day?? Andrea wouldn't let me pay for ANYTHING!! But I won him on one thing!! I bought Mote con Husillo!! Woot (Haha Andrea I Won) but then in the end of the day, he won by not hugging me unless I took the 10.000 he put in my shirt pocket.... (Just you wait Andrea Bruno... Just you wait...) Anyways it was a FLIPPEN awesome day!! The only thing that was super hard, was it was the first day in a couple weeks out walking the entire day, so I definitely had some CRAZY groin pains like what I had from playing Water Polo... So then I was stupid and put the little bit of the Icy Hot I had there Sunday Morning... Yeah VERY. BAD. IDEA. 

Anyways, yeah. I Love you guys, hope that all is going well at home and what not, and thank you for all of the thoughts, prayers, and EVERYTHING! I definitely don't deserve em. Love you guys!!

Trying to make you proud,

Elder Connor Gordon Holt

 Paper Gown

Elder Holt on Sleepy Drugs

The Kittens that were stolen the other day... :(

 Our activity

The Submarine

Andrea The Model

Notice that he is on his toes! ;)

The "real" height

 Elder Holt is Buff ;)

A Good Photo

okay not really that buff it looks like..

Chilean Birthday parties in the church... I'll Love to explain this one later!!