Week 65: One Freakin Crazy Week...

Hello everyone (in a deep voice) Since I am now a Man... hahaha just kidding! 

Anyways... I don't have very much time, because we went to Volcán Osorno hoy día como Zona!! So we just got back to Rio Negro, and now I gotta write the fam here and Presidente still!! So I dunno if I am gonna have time to write anyone else back today... Sorry not sorry! (If that's still in...)

This week has been SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Crazy!!! The best part?? There isn't gonna be ANY pictures of it.... This morning I was blue-toothing some music from one of the other elders phones to my phone, and then I needed my card for my camera, and then all the pictures were erased.... So I am gonna work on getting those back this week, so sorry Mom, you'll have to watch for next week's episode to get the pictures of everything that you'll hear about today!!! 

Where to start with... How bout when I turned 20?? Well, I woke up in the morning and did my exercises like normal!! It was a good morning, and then I got in the shower, and when I got out, I came into my room to find "Breakfast in Bed" made by my companion, so I took it down stairs and ate and it was super sweet!! I figured I was gonna be safe, because Elder Petrovelli wasn't feeling well, so he was in bed still and I knew they would try and do something!! But after I finished, all the elders whipped out some gifts which were awesome!! Then my companion told me that our neighbor Karen was just about to leave so we ran outside, but when I realized I was alone, I turned around and saw him jumping on me, and then a pot full of Flan was thrown all over me!! Then Flour... So yeah.... Had to go shower again, and do all that fun stuff!! I will explain it better when I get home one day, because let's just say I had to change my clothes 5 times and by the end of the day, I was wearing my companion's pants, which aren't the tallest of shorts...

At the end of the day as we were coming home, we got a call from the other elders saying they were gonna go to the hospital because Elder Petrovelli was feeling really sick!! So we went with them at 10 pm and we left at 11 pm because the paramedic told him he would be fine until Morning. Well... In the morning, we ended up calling the President's wife, and she had us leave Immediately for a Hospital in Osorno!! So we left, and after the analysis we found out that Elder Petrovelli had Appendicitis, and also stones in his Vesícula... So he went into Surgery immediately! It was pretty crazy... But I had the chance to give him 3 blessings this last week. Also after we gave him a blessing before he went in for surgery, we saw another lady who was about to go through surgery, and my companion and the hermano we were with both felt the Spirit at the same time to go ask her if she would like to have a blessing, and at first she said no, but then she let us! After the blessing, she was crying and it was super Spiritual!!!! 

Just so you know, Elder Petrovelli is okay here now!! He is now just resting in the house!! But we visited him on Friday when we had to go to Osorno for a Meeting!! That was fun!! 

Then last night, we went to the house of the Elders in Camino Real and Rahue Alto! We slept the night there, and I got to talk to Mamita Chaipul on the phone, and also Hermana Makarena, but we were there with them, because today we went to the Volcano Osorno!! IT was super fun!! It was a great night spending it with the elders there, and having another chance to spend the night with Elder Walker my trainer!! Today we had a Snow Ball fight, the Gringos vs the Latinos!! It was super fun!! But I only have photos from that today!! Sorry, I am gonna try and get my pictures back tonight with a member that we have plans to do a Noche de Hogar!! 

Thank you for all the Birthday Wishes! I just wanna wish my Dad the Happiest Birthday tomorrow, right along side with Erik over there in the UK!! Love you guys!! 

Thank you for all your prayers!! And just know that Elder Holt is gonna be "Playin that Funky Music, because he's a White Boy!" Heard that song on the bus today and so its gonna be a "Funky" Week!! :) 

I Love you all!! 

Trying to make you proud

Elder Connor Holt

Ps... Sorry I lied, this computer USB ports are glued shut... So you'll have to wait until next week... Love ya'll!! 

Elder Holt and Elder Gibelyou on Volcano Osorno

   

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!

Week Seven Chile is Chilly

Hello Family and Friends de la fabrica,

¿Qué es la fabrica? Well, la fabrica is what you call a factory. It is what people say I am from, every time I tell someone I am from Utah. Hahaha :)

First Off... I LOVE IT HERE! This was where I was meant to serve! It is Amazing! The people are sooo cool! The buildings are sweet! Our house is... well.... yeah. We'll get to that later! 

Yes, the coat does have a jacket on the inside! But I wear them both when I go outside! But when I am at the house I just wear my thermal top and my pjs. So I need to get a jacket, because the jacket on the inside of my coat is huge! But I am very thankful for it, because the rain jacket they gave to us here is pretty sweet I guess, but it isn't for warmth at all! 

That's sweet about Josh! Since Jeff got welcomed by Elder Thomas Rodreguis (butchered that name) but that is way cool that they both got to see each other!! 

P day is obviously Monday, and it will probably be more like this of me writing you in the afternoon, because at least for the next 12 weeks we come in the morning and print off the letters and then come back and write later in the day, because we only have an hour to write every day. They just changed the rule a week before we got to Chile, you use to only be able to write for 45 minutes and only the president and your family, but now it is your president and your family and then everyone else in an hour, so my fingers are hurting because I am typing super fast! But don't worry, Family is ALWAYS first! 

Sounds like Jen had a fun birthday! I was thinking about her the other day, must have been her birthday! 

Okay... Drum roll please...

I am in Chile....

Hahahaha just kiddding! I am in Chile, but I am still in Osorno! :) I am on the other side of Osorno is a place called Rahue, I am serving in the Camino Real ward which translates into "the real way" yeah, what can I say? Its the best ward! 

My Trainers name is Elder Walker, he is super cool! Love the guy, and guess what... His name is Connor! See that??  "OR" he spells it the right way as well! He is such a sweet guy! Him and I are super similar!! 

The people here are Awesome! I Love them! They are so nice! Probably only because I am a Gringo, but if that's what it means to be a gringo... I Love it! :) 

Um the meals here are pretty different, we eat a little breakfast, then we study until Lunch, where we go to our Mamacita's house, (Little Mother) where we eat lunch with Mamacita, Papacito, Elder Carlise, and Elder Barney. It is one of my Favorite times of the day because her food is so good! I always take seconds, because if no one does, she gets upset and complains that no one liked her food. Then at night time we usually teach a member and have what is called "Once" which pretty much means bread and whatever. So it could be meat or jelly or yeah... I LOVE IT! Also, I met my best friend. It is called Echo,  I hear it is up in the states, but now I can drink coffee without drinking coffee! It tastes just like it! Oh yeah.... We can't have Matè... :((( But that is okay we can have herbal tea! So I am okay with my Echo and Herbal Tea. 

Cool experience from last night! We were teaching a member, and well... Okay, I was trying to catch what was being said, since it is pretty hard... But at the end of the lesson, I was told to give the family a scripture, so I whipped out my English Book of Mormon and looked up a scripture then pulled out my Spanish scriptures. I said a small prayer in my heart that the scripture I would choose would help the man and his trials. So when I had flipped through half of the Book of Mormon I stopped at what I think is Alma 26:12 (I am pretty sure) then I had him read it, and then I read Philippians 4:13 and bore my testimony that I knew Christ is always here to help us, and that we can do anything through Christ! I know that to be a fact! That is how I communicate with people (and LOTS of Sign Language) but I know that through Christ our Message will touch their hearts, and that is EXACTLY what it did last night, he told Elder Walker, that I Must have the Spirit with me, because I couldn't understand a thing going on the entire time they talked, and I had touched his family with just what they needed to hear! It was AWESOME! The Church IS True! I Love it so much!

I am So glad to be down here! I kinda forget that I have a family during the week, even only being here a week, I feel like this is my home... If I am not home in two years... Well, I'll be in Chile! ;) 

Oh yeah, and the music thing? Well I dunno about any rule... But I had to fill out a music paper thing, and then when Elder Walker found out I could play the piano (even a little bit) He told me I am going to be playing the piano for the sacrament... (here is your cliche thing) "Mom why did I stop playing piano?!" Ha its okay I practice every day pretty much even if its for like 5 or 10 minutes. 

Um also I am in a ward, and there are about 70 that are active, but with the baby blessing, yesterday we had about 80! 

I Love you all! 

Peace out from Chile for another week,

Elder Holt

This is the farm outside our house

A bird named Anderson. Named after an elder who baptized the crazy cat's son (more on that later)