So it is Christmas and IT IS HOT and we ´´cant´´ go and work normally.
There are parenthesis because its just harder to work not impossible.
Anyways, So we are passing by people´s houses just to visit, say hi
and share something tiny. One investigator told us straight up he did
not want to attend us and closed the door. Merry Christmas.
Eventually we go to the Muñoz family´s house. There we begin to make
foods. At this point I decided ´´OK, we can´t go and do contacts or
teach people normally But its Christmas Eve and I will act like such
and make it happy´´ so we did :-D We made food, told jokes, laughed
:-D I miss a good get together with real laugher :-) Then we end the
day with a scripture and head out. While we are on our way out the
sun goes down and Las Luciernagas come out or how we would say
Fireflies. Fireflies that I haven´t seen for almost as long as Meri
has been alive. I got to spend Christmas eve with fireflies. It was
magical. Unfortunately my eyes made it hard to focus on the lights
but to see the lights pass through the fields and trees was wonderful
:-) And i thought ´´Thank you Heavenly Father for having me here, now,
in this place, at this point of my life, so far away from home. Thank
you for this moment.
i already knew but i knew again that God the Eternal father lives
and that he loves every single on of us :-) Merry Christmas
Thats all guys :-D Until next week. Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and
Sophie, I love you all and Be Happy :-D
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly EMAIL

HEY EVERYBODY!! :-D HoWZIT GOInG ?!?!
Hey Guys, how`re things? :-D I hope the best. SOPHIE TALKS!! :-D
Surprisingly well :-D
Things are going good here in Vilcun :-D 20 people came to church
yesterday which is awesome (not investigators, in total). This last
week was really fun :-D We got a lot done .-)
Its really sad to hear about Louis Yates :-( I would have like to
have seen him before :-( But we`ll see each other again :-D I just got
to behave myself .-D Louis Yates is a really great man.
I wrote yesterday and I`m sending the letters tomorrow So heads up :-D
The packages haven`t arrived yet but -i`m sure on wednesday that they
ill be there :-D
As for Christmas call, We`re thinking Monday of doing it. It would
be in the afteroon here but I`ll be sure to tell you guys when to be
ready.
Two cool things this week. We went to go and teach a -laura who is
really nice and we`re just barely starting out with her. The last
time we went we taught the first lesson right up to the apostasy and
left it at that. We came back to finish, and she told us that a
neighbor had passed away the day before and that the family was a
little distraught. She then began to tell us how her own father had
died recently and all the things that happened. Laura`s Dad had
cancer but they actually had done surgery on that but instead of
taking care of himself, he kept on working and taking freezing showers
until he eventually got pneumonia and passed away. Laura didn`t even
know he had gotten pneumonia when she got the call. She was really
sad about it, so we talked about the Atonement. I don`t know if she
understood but I felt the power of the words I said as I testified of
the Atonement Of Jesus Christ. I love those moments of truth.
Second, a more humbling experiance. I went to go and do a baptismal
interview on Thursday. Her name is Raquel and she is deaf. She and
her sister have developed a sign language system of their own so she
is able to comunicate BUT I KNOW that there are a lot of ideas that
they can`t explain with their signs. So we do the interview. I do
not believe that Raquel understands exactly why tithing, or the Word
of Wisdom, or Chastity, or the Sabbath -day, or what a prophet is BUT
. . . I could feel her belief in God, Jesus Christ, and what Joseph
Smith did, and how she knows that she needs tp be baptized. It
humbled me to think that perhaps this women of little understanding
could very easily have a bigger testimony than someone like myself who
has read a lot and been born in the church and whatever. I can`t wait
to meet her after and hear her tell me herself what she feels for God.
Thats it guys. :-D Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and
Sophie, O love you all and BE HAPPY
Sincerely
Elder JAmie McConnell

HEY EVERYBODY HOWZIT GOING
Hey guys, how`re things? I hope good. I just got done typing a
letter in Spanish so this is a little weird right now :-D English is
SO much better but don`t tell anyone :-D
Sounds like things are going good :-D Seeing the pictures of Sophie
are cool and weird. She was a lot smaller when I left :-D I didn`t
know Grandpa was using a walker :-P I hope he`s doing alright.
Forrest`s a Zone Leader? :-D Thats awesome :-D
Things are going good here in Cañete city. We were finally able to
put a baptismal date on an investigator that has been listening for
the longest time but hasnt done anything to show interest. His name`s
Yordy and he`s 14. He reminds me a lot of Sam but doesn`t look or act
anything like Sam if that makes sense. . . :-D
I`m kind of upset at El Diablo right now so I`m just going to lay down the law this week `cuz the prophet`s coming to town. Its like Christmas time. ``You`d better watch out, you`d better not cry, you`d better not pout`` ``Why?`` ``I`m telling
you Why!`` ``Yeah?`` ``Cuz the Prophet came to town, and look what he
brought`` ``Revelation!!`` . . . . I think Sam will get that one
better than anyone else. There was a family here that we`ve been
teaching but all last week there were out in ``El Campo``, something I
think that only Tyson Cook would understand. But this week we`re
going to teach them really well and challenge them to get married :-D
Keep praying for us :-D Their names are Claudia, Claudio, (the
parents), and Daniela and Vicente(or Bicho) :-D
I don`t have glasses or the books yet but I will probably get
them next week :-D The glasses are ready in Conce, we just need to go
get them. :-) I`ll send pictures :-D
An invitation to EVERYONE(This means you and everyone you know)
This weekend the Prophet of GOD and his 12 special witnesses are going
to give the WORLD(this means you again) whatever it is you need to
know to improve your life between now and next April. Any question
that needs answering, any doubt that needs to be resolved, any help
that can be useful, any comfort that is needed, will SOMEHOW be
brought up this weekend. I`ve been challenging everyone to go and
everytime I do I feel more sure that all of that is true. I challenge
EVERYBODY(you again) to go to conference this week, all of it, tell a
friend, and go with a question, a doubt, looking for help, guidance,
comfort, ANYTHING, and if you go SEARCHING for the things that you
need, you will find it. I promise. Miracles will happen.
Thats it for me :-) Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you
all and BE HAPPY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly Letter

HEY EVERYBODY :-D HOWZIT GOING?!?!
Hey guys. How`re things? Sounds like things are going good for you
all :-D I like what you said about Sam mom about how he thinks its
silly for people to try not to be LDS. I was thinking the other day
that it isn`t easy to be a mormon but its the only way that will work
:-D Let people laugh. We will be happy anyway
So things are going good. I`m going to be getting glasses I
was thinking the other day that I think that I`ve for a very long time
had eyesight problems but I always thought that my eyes were just
tired Nope So in like two weeks I`ll be getting glasses and
contacts :-D By the way, they gave me a test contact to see if I could
handle them AND THEY HURT!! :-P NOT FUN. They said i`d get used to it
but dang. I think that I`ll just use glasses
Things are going good here in Cañete :-) This last week was not fun
:-P i say that thinking about the work because we weren`t able to do a
lot this last week :-P We had to do a lot of traveling that took us
out of our sector and as well the 18th of September is the
independance day of Chile which really means that everyone gets
together to have a barbecue and drink beer :-P Very hard for
missionary work :-P We`re fine, we`re just going to work harder this
week thats coming up
Thats awesome about Kevin :-D AP!!! :-D That is so cool
Something else that`s cool, Dallin`s training :-D Its really cool to
see how everyone is doing in there missions
Something cool. We met the mother of one of our converts the other
day and we started off the conversation with how she couldn`t stand
the mormons. She was talking about how she had never liked the
mormons but now how she wants to learn more about us because her idea
about us was completely wrong :-D She was like ``You guys are actually
really cool .-D`` We got to talking and we eventually asked if she`d
like to be baptized and she said not right now but yes she would love
to be baptized :-D She can`t come to church yet she says because she
lives out of the city but that she`s going to make plans so she can
:-D Little Miracles :-Dç
Something I learned this week. It`s easier to be good all the time
than good most of the time. When you have always decided to do
something due to beliefs, wants whatever, and you always a faithful to
that, it`s almost impossible to fail. But when you just once decide
to be lazy or just be rebelious, it is so much easier to do it again.
And thats when people fall into the trap. Its easier to be a good
missionary all the time than some of the time. It`s easier to be a
good person all the time than some of the time :-D I promise.
Thats it for me guys :-) Sorry for the length :-P I`m writing
letters so heads up for those. Until the next, Mom Dad Sam Meri
Grace, and Sophie, I love you all and Be Happy!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly EMAIL

HEy Guys, how`re things? I hope the best as always :-D Things are
going good here in Cañete :-) We had an alright week :-) I`m just
tired these days :-D Thanks for the card mom:-D That helped a lot :-D
RELEASE THE BEAVERS!! :-D
This last week had nothing really interesting happen :-P Shoot :-P
I HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT :-D I have for the last
forever now, been writing in the back of my agendas funny things that
happen to us :-D Today I`m going to write a few :-D
1: The other day somebody told us from the inside of their house that
they weren`t home and I felt like Winnie the Pooh. ``That`s funny
because SOMEbody must have said NOBODY...`` :-D
2:A convert of ours came at us with a knife the other day and Elder
Aizpurùa said ``You got a knife Huh? TAKE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS!!``
and hit him with the D&C study guide. ``Scripture Power``
3: Me and Elder Lundgren were walking the other day, I was a little
behind him and it was windy and he spat and blinded me. Not fun :-D
4: An Investigator yesterday told us how she went to a funeral with
her ex husband and his family and how they didn`t sit next to her.
After she told us she says this ``. . .and THATS what happened to me.
Sucks. Right? I wouldn`t do that``. I laughed :-D
5: There is a member and investigator couple here in Cañete who ADORE
US and are ALWAYS inviting us over. They are so nice its impossible
to NOT go over sometimes which means we lose time. Elder Lundgren had
accidentally said we would go over but we had a ton of other things to
do that day so HE needed to tell them that we couldn`t. We are
outside of their store and we go over the plan ``We just tell them we
can`t`` ``OK``. We open the door and they see us and scream ``HEY!!
:-D HOW ARE YOU GUYS`` and Elder Lundgren turns around and tells me
``I can`t tell them, they`re too happy`` and I replied ``Coward`` :-D
We went over that night.
6: One day we got a phone call to go and teach a family really really
late in the day and whenever I don`t go to bed on time I get cranky
but it was a good reference so we decided to go. Elder Lundgren
convinced me and he was right but I was still cranky. That morning he
had gotten up late so he says ``I got up late today so I guess this is
time back to the Lord`` And I said ``FOOL! I got up on TIME!! You keep
your curses to yourself!!`` We had a good lesson that night :-)
7: We`re at church and some guy`s teaching a lesson and he brings up
the 2000 stripling warriors and says ``And it says that these young
men were taught by their mothers to be faithful and honest and good
because their fathers weren `t home a lot because they were working``
and I`m like ``Dude they were taught by their mothers because their
fathers were DEAD``. FALSE DOCTRINE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED
Thats it for me today guys :-) THe Church is still true :-D HEy I
wanted to specify that a triple and a bible for the whole family
(Graciela, CArla, Claudio and the baby Fernanda) would be good cuz a
set everyone would be expensive :-P THAts basically it :-) I got the
boots too so you know. Until the next guys, Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace
and Sophie, I love you all and BE HAPPY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McCOnnell
p.s. I forgot to mention that next week the entire mission is going on
an internet fast so see you all the 19th :-D Double loves until then

Weekly EMAIL

Hey EVERYBODY!! :-D Howzit Going?!?!
Hey guys, How`re things? :-) I hope the best. I liked that picture
Dad, ``We will rebuild`` :-D My first weeks in the mission were filled
with tremors like that and honestly, I`ve slept through bigger.
American Wussies :-D Thinking about all these earthquakes, there are a
lot of earthquakes in divers places if you know what I mean he he he
end of the world :-D Naw just kidding :-D We learned something the
other day, If you are prepared you shall not fear :-) True.
Things are going good here in Chile :-) I forgot that I didn`t
explain much about my eyes so i`ll do that :-D They`re very bad :-D
The doctor was like ``You have very bad eyesight James, You need
contacts``. So we go in on last tuesday to do that and we`re there in
the doctors office and he`s trying to get some numbers for my eyes so
that he can order contacts and its kind of taking a little while.
Finally he says ``This usually works a LOT faster`` and then says ``I
can`t find the solution`` :-P So he tells me that he`s going to take
all of the information from the tests and talk with some collegues
(spelling) of his and they`re going to figure out what to do with me
:-) So now I can`t hear OR see well and to top it off I forget things
sometimes too :-D. An Elder the other day said that I might be
developing Parkinsons and I punched him. :-D I`m alright though just
so you all know :-D Now that I`ve been ``enlightened`` I can see how I
have bad eyesight. Before monday last week I thought that I was just
tired all the time and for that my eyes would get blurry. Now I know
that its for Parkinsons I mean bad eyesight :-D We still don`t know
what we`re going to do yet but it shouldn`t be too complicated :-D I
hope nobody gets too worried :-D
Besides that things are going great here in Cañete :-D Last
Saturday Graciela was baptized as well as the daughter of Laura, Jenny
:-D Graciela told me to hold her under for a little while so that she
could think and I was like``. . . Yeah we`ll see`` Jenny laughed in
her baptism :-P Some people . . . :-D They are really cool :-) Thanks
for all of your prayers :-D
Now to explain people. Carla is the girl with me and the tall Elder
Brandt. Claudio is the guy in white with Elder Aizpurùa and Graciela
is the lady next to Carla giving the hug to the kid next to her (
whose name is Jose Luis bytheway and Meredith this is the guy you`re
talking to) :-D I think that I said like two weeks ago if you guys
could buy a bible and triple and then put your testimonies (from all 6
of you) and a picture that`d be really cool :-)
Cambios are tomorrow but me and Elder Aizpurùa are staying :-)
Until october 11th at least :-D
Thats it for me guys. The Church is true, the book of mormon is
also true, Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and Thomas S Monson is
the Prophet on the Earth today (and both men are very true :-D ) but
the most important truth of them all is that I KNOW that my Redeemer
Jesus Christ lives. Thats kind of a lot of gospel but the world needs
more truths like these :-D Until the next guys, Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace
and Sophie, I love you all and Be Happy!!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly Letter

HEY EVERYBODY :-D HOWZIT GOING?!?! :-D
Hey Guys, how`re things? The pictures all looked really cool bytheway. Sam that picture was tight of you by the wheat field :-D I miss you a ton man, its been awhile :-P ALmost a year :-D Time flies when you`re on a mission from God :-D How`s it feel to be getting out of the house?
Things Are Good :-) They could be better but perfection is overrated and causes stress when you obligate yourself to achieve it :-P :-D The week went by really fast :-D Graciela is fine bytheway :-) We were over there last monday in the afternoon and throughout the entire week :-) She`s so full of faith. Yesterday she told us that she maybe has 300 pesos (a little more than fifty cents) and she`s not even worried. She told us that she has sugar, wheat, potatoes, oil, and enough of all that to last her for a little while AND Carla, Claudio and Fernanda(daughter of Carla,2yrsold). She`s so awesome :-D Thanks for your prayers :-)
THe week was fun :-) We had a conference which are always a good learning experiance :-) That was on tuesday. On Friday we had interviews :-) I am SO glad I can speak spanish because that interview would have been the worst thing ever if I couldn`t have understood my own mission President :-D Pres Martinez is really cool and very fired up. His goal is that we all become 100% missionaries of Preach My Gospel. For real Sam, make a point to read PMG a lot right now because everything you learn will be helpful :-D I also asked him some questions like how could I help Elder Aizpurùa better and how I could improve as a missionary and how could I help the people understand that what we have is important to them and he said ``Predicad Mi Evangelio le ayudarà a ayudar a ELder Aizpurùa y tambien contestarà a sus otras preguntas`` . . . Basically that I should read PMG because it already has all the answers. He said it a lot more eloquently and inspiring if you weren`t convinced :-D But he is completely right bytheway. If you guys ever have a question on how to help somebody know the gospel, PMG. :-D
Things are going good with Elder Aizpurùa :-) Sometimes he likes to take things into his own hands but that`s mostly because he`s really fired up :-D He`s a great worker and a great missionary. We are probably going to be together until october so we should have a lot of fun :-D
The mission is a weird place :-D You have to talk to so many people COMPLETELY RANDOMLY and then invite them to change their lives. Try doing that for an entire day, at least 20 people, you don`t even need to talk to them, you just need to TRY and talk to them and it counts :-D I always think of Grandpa McConnell when we go out and do contacts because I`ve seen him meet people out of nowhere and in 5 minutes or less he becomes friends with that person. THAT is very handy on the mission :-D I`m glad that I wasn`t ever really the kind of person that got shy in front of people. :-D
Something I learned the other day. We were walking with a teenage member and the day had gone kind of bad and for some reason everything was kind of annoying and I was about to say something kind of angrily like ``Guys stop goofing around`` BUT I thought not to. And then I calmed down. I AM SO PATIENT NOW :-D You all wouldn`t BELIEVE how patient I am now :-D I can`t wait for anything still but with people I can wait forever :-D I wanted to say two things 1: Patience is a virtue that helps SO much to face life`s trials with a smile and good attitude :-) 2: If you can wait long enough NOT to say anything out of anger you will Uno: have more friends who respect who you are and Dos: Be happier. I promise that with all that I have that that is true :-)
Thats it for me :-) Something kind of different, it is maybe kind of`possible that I might need to get my eyes checked :-D and then get glasses :-D Just joking but for real my eyes have kind of been pushing to read things lately so I`m going to see if I can work that out. Just letting you know Dad because I think that I`ll have to pay for a checkup because the mission doesn`t cover glasses and things like that. AND I was wondering if you all do me a favor :-) I wanted to know if you could send another triple and bible to Graciela Carla and Claudio :-) Don`t send it yet, I need to get some information first but I wanted to know if you all could right something for them :-) Even if its in english, I could translate it :-D Like a photo of you all and your testimonies. Don`t write anything yet because I`m going to get their names and send a picture of them all first so that you all can get to know them before you write :-D
Thats all :-) Until the Next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all and BE HappY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly Letter

HEY EVERYBODY!!! :-D HOWZIT GOING?!?!
Hey guys, How`re things? I have good news, then bad news, then more good news, then more bad news. The first good news is that the boots didn`t fit me because they were filled with delicious fruit candies :-D The bad news is that when I took the candy out they still didn`t fit :-P I still get the candy though :-D They`re long enough but my feet are very fat :-P I don`t know whether or not to send them back or give them to another Elder because I don`t know how expensive they are :-P If you could let me know Dad the next week that`d be great. Now to the second good news. Claudio got baptized on Saturday :-D It was really cool too :-D Their family is doing really really well :-) Graciela has her date for the 27th as well. They are really special. The last bad news I will keep for later.
Things first, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE AND DAD!!! :-D How`s it feel to be eight Grace? and Dad, How`s it feel to be . . . I forgot. :-D And Grace, that is SO cool that you got baptized on Saturday :-D I am SOOOOO proud of you (and SOOO happy that there will be NO Elders at our house teaching her a year from now. Mom and Dad I think will understand). For real Grace, this is something that is very VERY important in your life and something that you should never EVER forget. You now have the Gift of the Holy Ghost which is the best gift you could possibly have on the face of the earth. Ask Mom and Dad to explain to you ANY question that you might have because it is very important that you understand how cool this present is :-D For real, it`s really cool to think that we were doing the same thing on Saturday :-D
Something cool this last week. There is a goal every week of contacting 140 people (which means trying to talk to them or invite them to church) which is kind of a challenge if you don`t focus in the week. They changed it last week. To 500. Guess who talked to more than FIVE HUNDRED people last week. . . We did. Thats whats up. When we heard about it on Tuesday, I almost laughed. Other Elders DID laugh :-D But we did it and I am very pleased :-D We get to the 500th person`s house and we are so pumped to baptize the snot out of this guy so we go and knock oo the door, it opens, we begin ``Hola we`re the missionaries`` and he says ``No thanks`` and closes the door. . . . . . . . I was so disapointed and tired that I took a picture of his house with Elder Aizpurùa and then we left a note saying ``Dear Sir. You were the 500th person we talked to this week. Maybe another day we can come back and talk more``. Even if the people reject you, YOU WORKED and THAT is what God asked you to do, not how many people who decide to listen. Good week.
Elder Aizpurùa and I are doing great :-) I feel bad because I feel like he could use more practice with lessons but we`re not having many :-P But he already is a great Elder and time will only make him better :-D
Now the second bad news. Graciela worked at an old folks home very close to where we live. I say worked because the home burned down last night y nueve abuelitos murieron en la accidente. Graciela wasn`t there, so she is fine, but she knew personally everyone of them(and so did we) so obviously she isn`t doing too well. We are going over tonight to visit and share of course about life after this life. I love the gospel when you want to share it and the people want to know :-) I was hoping to ask you all to pray for her and for the families of the abuelitos. For real guys, prayers are answered and your prayers have been answered here in Chile. I testify of that with everything I have.
The church is true, the book is blue and God`s a mormon and there is no force or power on this earth that can change those truths. Life is hard but with God and Jesus Christ and our own families it isnt lonely :-) I tesify of that.
THats it for me guys :-) I would like to send some presents to Dad and Grace sometime so Dad let me know if I should send the boots back or no. Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all and Be HappY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly EMAIL and Pictures

HEY EVERYBODY!! :-D CÒMO LES VA?!?! (HOWZIT GOING!?!?)
Hey guys How`re things :-) I`m glad that the letters got to you :-D I was kind of worried :-D By the way mom that story that I wrote to Meri was actually given to me by the pearsons who probably found it in another book that`s already published Good story though huh?
Good news Carla Jara was baptized on Saturday As well as Laura and her son Diego Laura was perfectly fine last weekend It was really fun :-) THe members came, there was food, very fun :-) It was all in all a very stressful week :-P I haven`t had to organize my own baptism since Febuary and its COMPLICATED But it was good :-) As well Graciela was able to come to both the baptism AND to church :-D We were talking with Carla and Graciela yesterday and they both were saying how they just felt like flying :-) That we had just brought something so special into their lives. It`s something really really special to see someone and know that yesterday they didn`t have the gift of the Holy Ghost and that today they do THAT is a good feeling :-D Graciela says that before I leave that she wants to get baptized so we`re going to see if we can find some time off of work or at least find the breaks necessary :-) Thanks for your prayers :-D Bytheway this Saturday Claudio is getting baptized Carla and Claudio are friends of mine on Facebook if you want to meet them

Something that Graciela told us yesterday that she feels so good about all of this and hopes that she doesn`t ever lose what she`s feeling, that it never leaves her :-) THere`s a scripture in 2 nephi somewhere where stuff is given line upon line. The verse ends with something along the lines of ``and anyone who says that they have enough, what they have will be taken away from them`` in terms of knowledge and light. THIS IS TRUE. YOU are the only person that can take away your testimony and faith. There is no power on earth, in heaven, or in hell that can make you lose those things. This is why NOW I love primary ``What do we need to do to be happy children?`` ``Say our prayers, read the scriptures and keep the commandments teacher.`` ``Thats right. Have a candy :-D``If we do these things, we will keep these feelings that we have had about the church, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith :-) I like guarantees from God :-D

Elder Aizpurùa is doing really well. He already is teaching and challenges everybody :-D I try to have everything perfect so that its all fun and spirit and thats starting to stress me out. :-P SOmething to Sam specifically but to everyone generally :-D The mission is not all fun and games. You all hear and read the vast majority of the GOOD stuff that happens :-D There are other stuffs I say this because when you`re in the mission Sam and having a hard time thinking that you could be doing better like you`ve heard from other missionaries, KNOW that there is no such thing as a perfect mission :-) It is ALL worth it so even when its hard you can go home and put your head on that wonderfully soft pillow and say ``Well, I will try again tomorrow`` and sleep :-) The mission is pure growth :-) and pure blessings :-D Its that sometimes it doesn`t look like it at the moment :-D

Thats it for me :-) I believe I will have the package this week So I`ll let you all know next week. Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and SOphie, I love you all and Be HappY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly Letter

HEy Everybody :-D HowZIT Going?!?!
Hey guys, How`re things?. It looks pretty warm up in Utah :-D I`m jealous, we`re in the dead of winter :-P Ah well, the weather will pass . . . eventually. Honestly, It helps to make people let us in their houses :-D
So this week was weird hard and fun :-D My new companion`s name is Elder Aizpurùa from Panama :-D Don`t worry about pronunciation, a lot of the people here can`t say it either :-D He`s really really cool, I don`tt even feel like I`m training him :-D He`s so ready to learn and to teach and testify. The only thing he needs to practice is talking with everyone and that only gets learned out here in the field :-D We have a goal of challenging at least 21 people to baptism every week and with trainers, we`re supposed to let the new missionaries take th lead in that. That was fun. I explained to Elder Aizpurùa that its always good to teach a little about baptism or the restoration and then challenge the people to get baptized. So one of our first contacts together, he`s explaining how baptism works and how it needs to be done with the proper authority and he`s doing really well and then he stops and looks at me. I wait a sec and say ``Well Challenge him Elder`` and then he goes ``Oh ok`` and challenges the guy. He said that he was already baptized but it was still a good contact :-) Good times :-D
Elder Aizpurùa comes from a Family of 6 and is the second oldest of four sons. His older brother recently got back from HIS mission in antofagasta Chile in October. Something cool, his family has always gone to church but his Dad never wanted to get baptized. But in January his Dad finally decided to get baptized and now the entire family are members :-D He says its really cool to have his entire family in the church :-) I`m glad too :-D
Graciela, Carla, and Claudio are doing fine :-) In fact, Carla`s Baptism is this Saturday! :-D She is super excited. As well the 6th is the baptism of Claudio and he`s looking forward to it as well :-D Graciela still hasn`t been able to go to church but as soon as she does, its straight to the font :-D They are all really awesome :-) I`m really grateful to have them so that Elder Aizpurùa can have a good beginning to his mission :-D
Laura is alright :-P She was able to go to the baptism of another investigator on Saturday and she really liked it :-) She was telling everybody that its her turn next week :-D She already knew everybody actually :-D She`s an old investigator. Unfortunately we got to her house yesterday to bring her to church and we we found out that Saturday night she and her husband had left for something and didn`t get back until five in the morning and (in Spanish) Ella tiene un problema con la palabra de Sabiduria y dudamos que estaba tomando bebida a las cinco en la mañana :-P We`re going over after this to see how`s she`s doing :-P :-) Everything will be fine :-D
I`m doing good :-) Just tired and worried, you want everything to be perfect for a new missionary so that he can have a good start and any little thing that goes wrong you`re like ``Shoot He`s going to hate the mission!`` :-D Naw, its just kind of stressful. Elder Aizpurùa is already a great Elder so I don`t have to worry too much about the work which is a blessing :-D Pres Martinez said that the BEST of the missionaries were pickedto be trainers and I looked around and said ``Who? Me?`` . . . I am not the best missionary but Pres Martinez doesn`t lie so I suppose that there`s something good that I do :-D We`ll be great :-) Keep praying still :-D
My feet are fine Mom :-) After so long in the mission you get used to being a little damp and as well the people here are always willing to let us dry off in their houses for a bit :-D I haven`t gotten the package yet but I`m sure at the next weeks conference it`ll be there. Thats it for me this week guys :-) Something that I learned in sacrament this week, lets say I got a personal revelation ``Faith, Testimonies, Anger, Love, and Pets will die if not fed``. WHoa, deep. Think about THAT for a day :-D Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all and Be HAppY!!

Weekly Letter

HEy EVeryBody!! :-D HOwzit going!?!?
HEy Guys how`re things? California looked like a lot of fun :-D Sophie seems ro be getting bigger every time I see her :-D Grace seems to be always getting taller :-D
Something cool, so we`re doing contacts the other day you know, declaring the gospel, and we get a call from the asistants. Nobody likes calls from the asistants :-D So Elder Lundgren takes the phone, talks for a sec says they want to talk ro me, Im like great, take the phone and Elder Rubilar says ``Hey Elder McConnell, you`ve been chosen as one of the new trainers, congratulations``. I`m like `` . . .Are you serious?``. My new comp flies in tomorrow and Im going to be a father in the mission :-D I`m freaking out :-P :-D Dad, Mom I can`t remember asking but did you guys train? I`m worried because any flaw that I have this kid is going to be like `` So that`s how its done`` and he might go on for his entire mission like that :-P I`m not that worried actually :-D We are going to work really hard :-D I was reading my journal today when I got into CHile and its so funny to think that this Elder is going to be the same story :-D Crazy stuff :-D Thanks for your prayers, We`ll be needed them :-D
Elder Lundgren is doing good, sorry for not saying anything earlier DAd, we were looking at our numbers for the entire cambio and we were off by 6 lessons to have completed with the goal :-D This cambio has to be the hardest(in terms of work) cambio that I have ever worked :-D Elder Lundgren and I never fought or anything, we just had different ideas how to do stuff. But honestly he has to be one of my favorite comps so far :-) It`s been really fun.
Things here in Cañet are going good :-) We had 5 at church yesterday AND it was raining :-D Members don`t go to church when it rains :-D ME and Lundgren are the coolest :-D It was a good week :-) Carla and Claudio didn`t go to church yesterday so we have to move their date a little but they are doing fine. In fact Graciela the mother has been reading and shes soaking up everything :-D She explained to US Lehi`s dream the other day :-D Thats a golden investgator :-D the only problem she has is that she can`t go to church for work. If you guys couald pray for a job that gives Graciela a more flexible schedule that`d be awesome.
We also put a baptismal date for Laura diego and jenny for the 30th. We just have to go over the baptismal questions and they`ll be fine. The missionaies have been passing by their house since last september. The only big problem is that Laura has a little bit of a drinking problem :-P Nothing serious, she doesn`t do anything bad when she drinks, but she does have a little bit of an addiction. She knows she needs to quit and she knows that we want to help( the other day we bought Coca Cola so that she wouldn`t drink watching a major futbol game :-D) She just needs a little help. If you could pray for them so that they can be ready for the 30th, that`d be great :-) Especially for Laura.
Thats it for me :-) Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace Sophie, thanks for being my family and NOT crazy. There are so many people here who are so unhappy because of famiily members and its kind of depressing to see all that. Thanks. I love you all and Be HAppY !! :-D
SIncerely
ELder Jamie McConnell

HEYO :-D Howzit going?! :-D
Hey Everybody, how`re things? I`m kind of confused, where is Sam and what is his job? I know he`s somewhere but where and doing what, I`m not entirely sure As well it`s cool to know that the adoption is moving along quickly
Things are going good here in Cañete :-) By the way Carla and Claudio were able to go to church yesterday so everything is going great for their baptismal date :-D Graciela wasn`t able to go for work but she`s the one who`s most excited about getting baptized :-D Honestly Carla`s just a present :-) She basically knows everything that she needs to know now and already wants to get baptized :-D It`s crazy what happens in the mission, the people you meet, the things they are willing to do :-D Hopefully we won`t have any complications
I am doing good Things are going good ) Things are going wonderful Things were hard this week but for some reason I feel great You guys remember that discovery channel comercial? ``The world is just awesome`` I think that`s how it went I can`t remember. :-D I don`t know anything about the life outside But I am Good Its awesome that Jami is heading out :-D That was fast. I`m going to have two new hermanos when I get home. I still have the four I had before I can speak Spanish. There are some people who are actually progressing in our investgator pool :-D I wrote letters today. Small things :-D
I forgot to mention our new Mission president I think :-P His name is Osvaldo Martinez and he`s a really cool guy :-D He`s 36 and he has 3 kids at home still :-D He said that he was really honored to be our mission president and that he can`t wait to get to work :-) Something cool he said. He was able to meet HIS mission president at the MTC while he was in Provo, Elder Ziwic of the Seventy and he was also able to meet the Mission president of HIS mission president, Elder Richard G Scott of the Quorum of the You already know. Pres Martinez said that he was talking with Elder Scott and Elder Scott said that him and Elder Ziwic were going to be stopping by our mission some time :-D I hope soon :-D
Something cool. I recently finished reading about Zeezrom in the Book of Mormon. I love how his story ends. Zeezrom thought he had sent Alma and Amulek to their deaths and because of his conscience got very ill. Then the very person who comes to see him at Zeezroms plea is Alma, son of Alma :-D The same person who had suffered the same thing that Zeezrom was suffering. I love how after everything that Alma had suffered becuase of Zeezrom, he still went and HEALED him. :-D How often do we do that? Wonderful story :-D
Thats it for me :-) I wrote letters today so those will be on their way :-D Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all and Be Happy!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

HEY EveryBody!! :-D Howzit Going?!?!
Hey Guys :-) How`re things? :-) Hopefully the best :-D Those ``stencils`` are really cool Sam :-D I liked the picture of Sophie
So things here in Cañete are going good :-) We`re working hard, being tired, its fun :-D We finding new people as well :-) its generally all good :-D We are having problems with people and their commitments but besides that there`s not a lot to complain about :-)
Cool story so me and another Elder, Elder Castillo, are on intercambios ``exchanges`` and we go and visit a lady who`ve we`ve taught before. She begins the conversation with ``I know that I need to get baptized but the big question is which church`` and we`re like `` . . . Um Teacher pick me I know the answer`` :-D So we go and teach the restoration to this little family and when we get to the first vision we had them close their eyes and think about how they felt when they listened to the first vision. When we finished it got very quiet and then we asked if Graciela, the lady, she believed that Joseph Smith had a vision. Through tears she said yes. :-) Very cool. Yesterday we met her daughter who has also been talking to missionaries for forever and she hadn`t wanted to be baptized because she didn`t want to be the only member in her family but now that her mom and nephew are with her too she took that as a sign that she should get baptized Very cool :-) We have baptismal dates for them the 30th and they need to go to church the next three weeks to reach that goal so PRAY FOR US THEM. Graciela needs to find a job to replace the one she has on sunday to be able to go to church so please pray for that. Their names are Graciela, Karla and Claudio Jara. :-D
Thats it for me :-P We got to get out of here :-P Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all and Be HAppY!!
SIncerely
Elder McConnell

Weekly Letter

HEY EVERYBODY!! :-D HOWZIT GOING?!?! :-D
So what happened was is that we had Pres Swenson`s farewell conference yesterday with the entire mission so pday was moved to today but next week pday will be monday again (and the Fourth of July GOD BLESS AMERICA!!). The pictures are cool Sam :-D I miss warm . . . My June and July are like your December and January. COLD. I`d be alright with the cold but its also WET. No one wins :-P :-D
The pictures of the Caldecott Awards were really cool :-D I`m surprised I even remembered what that meant :-D Hopefully you guys had a lot of fun :-)
So things here in Cañete ae going alright. I say that because we are working hard and being tired which is really fun at the end of the day but our investigators aer having problems with keeping commitments :-P As well a lot of our investigators need to get married (some need to get divorced and THEN married). Its complicated. The process of getting the papers together to get divorced and married is difficult and as well people don`t tend to make things easier . . . especially ex husbands and wives. That was my complaining for the week :-) the rest is good :-D
So Pres and Sis Swenson are heading off home either today or tomorrow :-P We were all able to say goodbye yesterday to our mission mom and dad. it was a really fun day :-) Sis Swenson talked to us about how we know that there is a plan of salvation but that there is also a personal plan of salvation for each and every one of us. She said that the patriarchal blessing is a glimpse of that plan as well as blessings we receive in life and whether or not we follow their counsels. Crazy stuff. :-) It was really cool to think about.
Something really really cool that I didn`t realize the repercussions until yesterday. Elder Valdivia introduced me to a little 14 maybe 15 year old girl and asked if I remembered her. I said no. Her name was Ingrid and Elder Valdivia explained to me who she was. Months ago it would have had to have been in October, Me and Elder Valdivia were ``attacked by a group of kids yelling at us stuff in english ``I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU`` the cellphone of that sector Camilo still has that video of them swarming me. anyways, days later a girl, Nicole, and her friend, Igrid who we hadn`t met before, came strolling up to us and we started chatting. We got to talking and I though it`d be cool to give them a book of mormon and Elder Valdivia was like yeah :-D Its funny because at the time Ingrid was hiding from her parents who exactly then as well passed by in their car. After that we never saw them again and me and Elder valdivia were transfered. About two months ago Ingrid, her mom Ingrid, sister Rossio, brother Branco and one other Family member who I didn`t meet yesterday were baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. Ingrids friend Nicole wasn`t really interested in the Book of mormon so she gave it to Ingrid who read it. Eventually Nicole told the missionaries there that Ingrid wanted them to come over and the rest is history. Until yesterday I hadn`t given it a second thought but then I suddenly remembered vividly two girls and giving them the Book of Mormon. She still remembered me even after all this time. It was really really cool. Its been more than 8 months since Camilo. Elder Bednar gave a talk once on Tender Mercies of the Lord and that my wonderful friends is one of them. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass and by small and simple things does god bring about the salvation of many souls. True as it can be.
Thats it for me. Dad I forgot to take the foto but I`ll see if I can send it off today. Until the next guys, Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all and Be HaPpy! :-D
SIncerely
Elder McConnell

Hey Everybpdy!! :-D HowZit GOING?!?! :-D
Hey Guys, how`re things?. hopefully the best :-D So like, When I get back I`m going to have two new siblings then? Or is it going to take more time than May? Regardless, I think that that is really cool :-D I`m worried that they may have some problems with the language but besides that, nope :-) Have you guys decided names yet? :-D
Things are going good here in Cañete :-) WE ARE WORKING A TON!! :-D Its fun :-) And wet :-P Darn winter :-P I guess you guys are having a wet summer up there. We`re all getting wet :-D By the way Dad, I don`t know my width size :-P I assume like your tennis shoes size but thats just guessing :-P AS well Mom, I ran out of the Wellness tablets today :-D I think that they help me stay pretty active so if you could send more.
Right up to Saturday, this week was really not fun :-P We were trying to get people to church, to read, TO LISTEN, and as well our lessons weren`t going very well :-P I just didn`t feel like I was reaching the people and helping THEM with what we were teaching. As well, I just didn`t feel as concerned for other people`s problems as much as I thought I should. It was really weird :-P It was just hard. So Friday night I got down and prayed, I`ve learned that you cannot just ask for things to be fixed, you need to be willing to put in your part, so I prayed for something that I could do to fix things. Then bed. I don`t know, the next day, I felt more sympathetic to people, I was able to teach to needs and not for numbers. It changed all of the lessons that day :-D As well we had 5 investigators at church yesterday which was really cool and we were able to challenge a lot of people to get baptized. This next week is going to be great :-D
Elder Holland gave a talk in the MTC January and somebody was able to bring it into the mission and it is really cool. I hope Sam that when you`re in the MTC that Elder Holland comes because he`s just a different person in the MTC and has even more of an impact with his words :-D anyways theres a part where he talks about Jesus talking to Peter after the resurrection, and Jesus is asking Peter if he REALLY loves him. Peter answers yes and Jesus asks again two more times and Peter answers uncomfortably two more times ``Lord thou knowest that I love thee`` to which Jesus responds ``Then FEED MY SHEEP.`` Elder Holland talking ``Leave your nets, leave your fish, gettison your boats and FEED MY SHEEP. I`ve asked you before to come follow me and I won`t ask again. When I said come follow me, IT WAS FOREVER.`` and then Elder Holland says ``And THERE was when Peter strove into eternity. Within days the power and authority of this man were so known throughout the land that the people brought their sick into the streets just so the SHADOW of Peter might pass by and heal them, so great was the faith of this man``. To be anything great in this life we need to REALLY love Jesus Christ. That is the great motivator of all things. My branch president in the MTC said `` so love is the great law of everything``, and he was right :-) Sing ho for Christlike love.
Thats it for me Guys :-) If there`s a counsel for names let me know. Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all and Be HappY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly Letter

HEY EVERYBODDY. . . the keyboard doesnt let me put exclamation marks :-P, or parenthesis. . . HOWZIT GOING.?.?
Hey guys, how`re things? I hope for the best IT was cool to see that picture of the girls at Salt Lake :-D I feel bad that I didn`t go to the temple more before the mission When you can GO. It was cool to see Grace with her ballet outfit :-D You looked very pretty Pookie :-D Thanks for Tyler`s Email too :-D It`s good to know that he`s doing alright :-D
So things here in Cañete are going good WE WORKED A TON : : : exclamation marks. For the first week of transfers there is usually a goal of 200 contacts instead of 140 but this week it the goal was getting into 25 houses :-D ITS HARD¡¡¡¡ we got into 19 only¡¡¡ :-D I felt like I was trying to invade¡ :-D It was a lot of fun :-D It was kind of sad yesterday because we had no investigators at the the chapel, which is a house because the actual chapel is under construction. So that was a bummer, but the only reason that we don`t have investigators is cuz before I arrived they were all baptized So everything is good :-D
Elder Dallin Lundgren is from Washington, state, and he`s been out since last october. He likes to work hard and he`s a cool dude. He kind of likes to blast people if they want to get baptized which is great but we do need to get to know the people a little better than hello how`re you? Will you get baptized? We talked about it, and We`re going to both try to get to know the people better :-D
Good news¡¡¡ William MAria Jose and Isis got batptized and confirmed saturday and sunday :-D HOW cool is THat??¡¡ :-D They put all the pictures on my facebook page so if you guys want to look at those, go for it :-D Next sunday William is going to get the Priesthood :-D So so cool Its amazing to see how people decide to change their lives and for the better :-D It`s also cool to help them out a little bit :-D
A little thought, the mission`s hard :-P :-D It is, you have to do a ton of work, you have to convince people to listen to you and then you need to somehow get them to understand the gospel, and sometimes in another language :-P IT IS COMPLICATED :-P BUT I suppose thats when faith comes in, and a desire to learn and study to make your message more applicable to people and as well the sympathy that helps people to trust you enough to let friendship grow. It`s hard, but worth it
Another thought, I was bombarded with Crazy Doctrine these last couple of days, things that may be true and are probably true but aren`t necessary for salvation to know. I found comfort in knowing that even though I couldn`t understand everything that the gospel implies, I know enough and with that I can grow. As well, everyone has the ability to take questions up to the man upstairs if they really need the answers
Some things. I need new boots :-P The ones I have don`t keep out water anymore :-P As well, socks :-D Socks rule :-D By the way I`m in a house with 4 Me Elder Lundgren and two other Elders, Elders Brandt from California and Elder WIlde who was with me when I started the mission way back in September :-D So if you send snacks, send to share :-D As well DAd, I don`t have a line of Authority and it`d be good to have one. Thats it for begging :-D
Well guys thats it for me. Oh Sam, its good you got home safe :-D and its cool you had fun. Maybe you`ll head off to hawaii for the mish :-D Until the next, Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all and BE HappY¡¡¡
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly Letter and Pictures

HEY EVERYBODY!! :-D HOWZIT GOING?!?!?

Hey guys how`re things? :-D Sounds like everything is going good :-D Nobody told me Sam went to Hawaii I wanted to go Something funny, people here think that everything is all close by or something because whenever they ask about the hawaii photos they`re like ``Oh of course because everybody lives close to Hawaii`` . . . Nope :-) I`m glad that the temple arrived. I was kind of worried that it wasn`t going to make it Happy Day :-D
Things are going good here in Gorbea Which is sad cuz I`m leaving!! I`m going to Cañete (The weird n sounds like nyah, Mom can explain it better I`m FINALLY getting a gringo comp :-D His name is Elder Lundgren I know nothing about him I`m sure that he`s going to be a cool guy He got into Chile in January so he`s got about 7 months more or less I think Hopefully I`ll be ok, this is my first comp who has less time than me and may not know spanish Ah well Adventure and courage and whatever :-D Honestly, I`m really glad to get this chance to lead. I hate it when my comps just like to hang out in the houses of people and just watch TV :-P I also hate the ``Iknowbetterthanyou`` attitude that comes from people with ``experiance``. :-P This is going to be something really good I think A challenge for sure but at the same time a blessing PRAY FOR ME :-D I`ll be fine for sure HAppy News :-D William and Maria got HITCHED today :-D Count it!! I got to do it and everything :-D . . . well maybe I didn`t DO it, but I was there :-) It was really cool In my next pack of letters to you guys I`ll send the pictures Saturday they get baptized William, Maria, and Isis Its so crazy how time flies I wish you guys could have seen how they`ve changed over just 10 weeks. Thats something that helps you know that someone is really taking and putting the gospel of Jesus Christ in their life. They slowly begin to change in character, appearance, even in presence. Theres a quote by Joseph Smith, somebody asked him how the mormon population behaved and acted so well and he replied ``I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves``. You cannot make someone do something that he or she doesn`t want to do but you can yet that person know what he or she should do and then hope for the best :-D William Maria and Isis have grown so much :-) It really is a blessing to see someone`s life be changed :-)
Thats it for me this week :-P Sorry for the length :-P I had someother things to do with the computer as well today :-P Next time will be better
Until the next, Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all a ton and Be HappY !!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly Letter

Everyone:

Many of you might get confused about Danie and what Jamie is talking about. We had Danie live with us since the first of the year as a nanny to help with the younger girls. Anyway, she became interested in learning about the church. Through her reading scriptures with us as a family and the love of the missionaries at Temple Square, she made the decision to be baptized. She was leaving on Sunday morning for new new assignment in New Jersey and decided to be baptized Thursday night! So, the elders interviewed her and we got it done Saturday night. We are sad to see her go as a family as she has become close as a daughter to Barb and me but excited for her new adventure back east. To give you an example of how the Spirit works, her new bishop in the area she moved to speaks Mandarin! So we are comfoted with that. Anyway here's Jamies Letter:



HEY EVERYBODY!!! :-D HOWZIT GOING?!?! :-D
That is AWESOME that Danie got baptized!! :-D I apologize for the lack of faith, but I didn`t know if Danie was going to come through because one I still have yet to meet her and two I`m surrounded by people everyday that say ``Yeah come over later`` or ``yeah I`ll read tonight`` or ``yeah sure maybe i`ll get baptized on saturday`` :-P Thats wonderful that Danie wanted to do that. It`s like you said Dad, ``When she got here, she didn`t know who Moses was`` :-D I remember something Mom told me way back when, apparently when Danie read the story she said ``You guys really believe all that?`` ``. . . Yes`` :-D I suppose when you think about everything the Bible and Book of Mormon have, there are a couple incredible stories :-D I am really happy that Danie feels that this is all true :-) THAT is something that is really amazing, a testimony. I feel bad that I haven`t been able to meet her :-P but I`m eternally grateful that she passed through Utah and through the house of the McConnell family :-) You guys rule. (Bytheway Dad, Your hair is really white now . . . Love you :-D)
Sam that is really cool that you graduated. I apologize if that sounds sarcastic :-P :-D But seriously it was cool to see you in that weird dress thingy (I think its called a robe right? :-D Spanish is killing my english :-D) You`re all grown up now :-) Make sure to try and enjoy this last summer vacation :-D
Enough about you guys :-D Things here are going good :-D The scriptures and sweets arrived on tuesday and William, Maria, and Isis loved the scriptures :-D They are so happy to be able to read ALL of the scripture references :-D They are so wonderful. They kind of had a hard week :-P They tried selling some things in the week (which bytheway is how food comes into their house) and it didn`t go very well :-P We stopped by on Saturday to have a lesson and we tried to lift their spirits a bit. We sang hymn 228 (well in spanish) and Mathew 6 24-27 and Ether 12 4. I explained how rain falls on everyone but the righteous are secured :-) If you are doing the best you can to keep the commandments YOU WILL BE BLESSED. YOU WILL HAVE HELP. Exactly when, I have no idea, but it will happen :-) They seemed a little better after :-)
Something cool :-) Our District President, Pres Ulbrich, announced in church yesterday that we are going to throw a party next tuesday in the church (as far as one can throw a party in the church of course) to celebrate William`s and Maria`s marriage :-D Everyone got all excited and wanted to pitch in. It got pretty crazy. :-D Its awesome when the ward`s got your back :-D
Transfers are next week so we`ll see if i`m even here for the baptism but if not, i`ll know that they`ll be fine :-) And if i stay, more food for me :-D
Hopefully that package arrives safely :-P i`m kind of worried about that :-P let me know when it gets there :-D
Thats basically it for me :-) Until the next Mom, Dad, Sam, Meri, Grace, and Sophie, I love you all and Be HappY!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly Letter

HEY EveryBodY!! :-D HOWZIT GOING?!?!?
I have to do this short cuz we are late today but to let you all know we are aight :-D The work is going and going good. Awesome note, You know how William and Maria Jose were going to get married on July 15th? For some reason they changed it to the 6th of June :-D No reason, Maria just wanted to do it sooner :-D I almost asked why but then I didn`t care :-D They are awesome. Out of the 8 weeks that they have know the church they have gone 7 times to the church. Consecutively. MEMBERS DON^T DO THAT. They are a wonderful family :-D They study, they pray, they ask us everytime we come what we brought to share with them :-) Very cool :-)
The rest of the week was good :-) But enough about me :-D Sam, You Graduated! :-D (seminary). Thats awesome :-D And you`re about to graduate high school man. Thats crazy too. Its kind of weird when you go to school for twelve years and then not everything after is all cut out and clear :-P But I suppose thats where the adventure is in life :-D Good job man.
I miss Rugby.
I sent a letter to Jon in the package if you guys could get it over to him.
Church is true.
Little thing before I go :-) If a person really WANTS to be happy in this life, that person will do his or her best to follow the teachings of Christ. That is the best way to have a happy life. To achieve that even more, we gotta create and help a testimony grow. There was something that Elder Scott said in the november conference about faith and character. He said (paraphrasing) Satan cannot take away faith, a testimony, or character from anyone. He does not and never will have the power to do so. The only ways we can lose those things are through doubt, laziness and rebelliousness. So if we`re being good, we won`t have problems :-D God promise :-D
Thats it for me :-) Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie (and Dani if she`s home), I love you all and Be HappY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

HEY EVERYBODY!!! HOWZIT GOING?!?! :-D
Hey guys. how`re things? I hoping good. It was cool to hear you guys yesterday. In Paraguay they celebrate mother`s day the 15th of may so yesterday it was Elder Gomez`s turn :-) Just letting you know.
Things this week were kind of glum :-P We did very poorly with the numbers this week which was a combination of people not being home and poor planning on our part :-P We did however have 6 people in church yesterday which was great :-D We had a really cool lesson with William Maria Jose and Isis (well William and Maria Jose) about the law of chastity. I know that that is something kind of awkward to talk about BUT it can be a really cool lesson when the spirit is involved as it was :-D I used a scripture at the end of Jacob 2 which is awesome and it was just a great lesson. By the way (forgot) William and Maria Jose are getting married the 15th of July! :-D They`ve called their parents and they are setting up plans to come down south to see them. As well they`re going to be baptized the 16th of July, even better :-D I think I said this in another email but I`ll say it again, they bore their testimonies some weeks ago and it was so cool to feel how strongly they believe in everything. Thats not something you get to feel with every investigator. Yesterday, William and Maria brought in their Tithing :-D Very very cool.
Today we have interviews with Pres Swenson instead of P-day so that should be fun :-) You always feel you`re in a hurry though because of all the missionaries waiting so hopefully it`ll be better today :-)
Short spiritual thought. When we make correct choices everyday even in the small things (especially in the small things) at first it will be hard because people won`t understand but after people will come to you looking for help because they know that you know what is right and what should be done. Building this habit at first will be dificult but later it will be something so fortified that you will never not know what to do and you will always have the strength of character to pull it off :-D Amen! :-D
. . . THats basically it :-P I have not had the time to send or write anything but i will! :-) :-D Just you wait :-D
I`m sorry for the shortness of the email this week :-P Nothing really happened :-P Next week will be better :-D Until the next, Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all and Be HappY! :-D
As always
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell
p.s. Tell Jon things will work out and that he WILL be alright :-)

HEY EVERYBODY!! :-D REPORTING LIVE FROM SOMEWHERE ASKING HOWZIT GOING?!?! :-D
Hey guys, How`re things? :-D I hope the best :-) Mom I think for the call I forgot to say Happy Mother`s Day so here goes, Happy Mother`s Day :-D That card was actually for your birthday but since you were thinking that it was for yesterday I was going to not say anything but my conscience got the better of me :-D
So hopefully things on the other side of the world are going good. The pictures are hilarious by the way dad and that looks like a super fun tea party but is Sophie the only one thats dressing up? :-D As for me, things here in Gorbea are going good. Our family (William, Maria Jose, and Isis) continue to go to church except that yesterday Maria had to leave after the sacrament to go and sell some things. She and William had made some wooden plaques (English?) for mother`s day on Saturday but they used some varnish that needed all of Saturday to dry and so they couldn`t sell them :-P So Maria had to go out and try to a couple of them yesterday and fortunately she was able to sell a few :-D William hinted that he and Maria had argued a little in the morning and its possible that he told her not to go out to sell the thingys on sunday. That topic never came up and I`m not going to ask :-D We went over yesterday to explain tithing because they had been asking questions about it and as well fasting. They want to do everything before we teach it :-D You will find people on your mission (Sam) like this family, and they really are a blessing. The rest will be an interesting combination of people who wish you were dead, have a desire to know about the church but perhaps not to the point to commit to anything, have family in the church, or simply like to have your company and no words :-D These are the people that we need to WORK with. We need to always remember that God loves them as much as everyone else even if they are honestly awful people :-D All of these people just need to know some thing that will turn them golden because if you really UNDERSTOOD that you gotta get baptized with proper authority to get to heaven, you`d do it in a second. Thats where we come in to explain :-D Its fun too if you got a sense of humor (sometimes a twisted sense of humor but regardless the ability to laugh in a difficult situation). Its hard somedays but they really are the best two years :-D
Thats it for me for the week. I wanted to share something that Pres Swenson shared the other day and its really cool. He got up in front of everybody and wrote two words down, Route and Destination. He then asked what is destination of our investigators. We were like ``BAPTISM, GOING TO CHURCH, MAKING COVENANTS WITH GOD`` and he was like and what happens after that and we were like `` There`s another lesson?``. Then he said that this is the destination of our investigators. ``The destination and greatest gift of God is eternal life and to get there we have the greatest gift in this world, the supreme gift of the Holy Ghost``. We were like `` MY EYES!!! HE`S TOO AWESOME!!!`` but seriously I at least was very surprised and very impressed. As well I was disappointed that I hadn`t had that in mind in my lessons. Every lesson is just the route, especially baptism. I laughed when I thought of this but baptism is really the beginning of the straight and narrow path not the the end not even close, so heads up, there`s more on the way :-D As well when your goal for your investigators is ETERNAL LIFE you`re going to have a little more focus and a heck of a lot more power and authority in your speech and in your lessons. The lessons aren`t for baptism, they`re for the second part, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and we have THAT gift so that we will eventually make it to the Celestial Kingdom. Gospel bomb. So that was what I learned this week :-D I wish everyone could go on missions and get this kind of information :-D
Thats it for me :-) For rills Sam, Read PMG and the Book of Mormon a lot before you go. I wish I did more. It will give you so much power when you ask people to read the Book of mormon because you`re doing it too :-) and knowing the lessons will help the spirit remind you of what you already know. For everyone one else . . .keep doing what you`re doing :-D So until the next, Mom Dad Sam, Meri Grace and Sophie I love you all and Be HaPPY
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell
p.s. I wanted to know if you guys could send me a good pair of spanish scriptures for this family to me. They don`t have a bible and they want to read everything. If you could, that`d be great :-D PEace

Letter and Pictures

HEY EVERYBODY! :-D HOWZIT GOING?! :-D
It was really cool to see the Cooks all together at last :-D Tommy was on my prayer list for the missionaries I know so let him know that if he feels like he`s not getting the same amount of blessings its cuz I`m not praying for him anymore :-D Just kidding :-D Sophie`s pictures were hilarious as well :-D
Things here in Gorbea are going good :-) We were able to bring 4 to church yesterday :-D The week was kind of a slow one for the fact that we needed to spend a lot of time in Temuco monday, tuesday and wednesday because Elder Gonzalez needed to get some xrays for his legs. Turns out that there`s nothing really wrong with his knees at least, except for a little inflammation which only a little rest from walking and playing soccer will help :-) He kind of got mad when they told him that :-P Besides that it went pretty well :-) We went to William, Maria, and Isis`s house several times during the week to put a date for their marriage and they finally did yesterday :-D but its for October 7th :-P We told them that we were very happy that they had a date set up BUT we encouraged them to continue praying about it to see if it`d be better to get married sooner. We explained how a blessing tomorrow or next week is still the same blessing at the end of the day except for when we receive it, and if the reason that blessings don`t come to us is because we are just waiting, then its better to do it sooner. Of course in a very lovingly way :-D They told us that they still hadn`t prayed really for the date so we told them that it`d help them a lot to do so. They said they would :-) At least there`s a date. :-D
Cambios are tomorrow, and I`m staying here in gorbea and Elder gonzalez is heading out. And guess who`s coming to gorbea . . . Elder Gomez!! :-D But this one is from Paraguay so its not as exciting as you all thought :-D I`m quite a little prankster aren`t I? :-D I don`t know much about Elder Gomez, but I`ve heard that he`s a hard worker :-) hopefully we`ll get stuff done and have fun :-D
I was able to give a talk yesterday, and I thought that it went pretty well. Apparently it went so well that a Sister Gabi came up to me after and told me that I had the gift of tongues. I nodded in agreement. :-D She said that I was using words that had two or three meanings in spanish and that I was using them perfectly. I laughed on the inside and thanked her. I can speak spanish but i`m not that cool yet :-) Good to know that at least she understood me :-D
Nothing really happened this week :-P Sorry for being boring :-P Next week should be good :-D
Yesterday was Easter :-) My major holidays have been rather pathetic here in Chile :-P I didn`t really feel the Easter spirit yesterday, but that doesn`t change my testimony. Something that I love about the Atonement of Jesus Christ (well two actually), is a talk that Elder Wirthlin gave called Sunday will come, and the knowledge that everyone has the ability to change and be better. There`s a line in Elder Wirthlin`s talk that I love, ``No matter how black our fridays can be, Sunday will always come, just like it did on that first Easter Sunday for Jesus``. and the second thing is that no matter how much we`ve messed up our lives (or how ever little), WE CAN CHANGE. We will forever have the ability to choose to be better. We will always be able to say I will try again. Christ made that possible and shame on us if we forget his pain.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Pres Thomas S Monson is the Prophet on the earth today :-) and we will always be able to find comfort in that because Jesus suffered everything, we don`t need to suffer anything.
Thats it for me :-D until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace Sophie, I love you all and Be Happy :-)
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly Letter

HEY EVERYBODY!! REPORTING LIVE FROM SOMEWHERE :-D HOWZIT GOING?!!!
Hey guys, how`re things? :-) How is the life? How are things going in Good ol`California (my second favorite state) :-D You know, I always loved the oakland temple :-) I loved the pictures with Sophie and the flowers :-D
So things are going good in the Concepcion South mission, the only celestial mission on the planet (that`s what our logo says). Yesterday we were able to bring 6 people to church which apparently doesn`t happen much in Gorbea as told to me by my companion Elder Gonzalez :-) We brought the family of three again (Will Maria and Isis), two husbands of long time members (Nivaldo and Ruben), and a sister of a recent convert (Valeska). It was a very cool sunday :-) This week with the family we taught them the Restoration which went really well. The Spirit was very strong. I love the feeling when you know that EVERYONE is feeling the same as you :-) Good feeling. They still need to get married but I think that that will come very easily :-) Pray for spirit pushes in the right direction. As well the wife of Ruben (Marixa) was called as the Primary President yesterday. This is perfect for her because her insane little two year old keeps her from staying for more than the sacrament meeting with her husband and 15yr old. Now she can take care of him herself AND start to build her self confidence. More than that her husband can stick around and learn from the classes and eventually get baptized and her son can learn more to prepare for a mission :-) We`re hoping for teh best with them :-D
I apologize mom that there are so many people talking to you on facebook. Constanza Rivas and Makarena Fernandez are of my baptisms, the others are members or possibly investigators. I`m looking for the email of my third baptism Barbara San Martin.
I did get the package :-) The ugly doll makes a wonderfully soft pillow and I feel invincible to the elements with my gigantic umbrella :-D As well I almost cried when I opened the bag of Goldfish :-D Thank you everyone so much :-D the pictures were hilarious :-D
I need to go but short truth, When you are trying your best to do good and taking steps to help that goal, even if it doens`t look like anything is happening or that you dont feel guided by the spirit, Know that good is being done and that it will be all right in the end :-) I promise
Thats it for me :-) Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace Sophie and Dani, I love you all and Be HAppY!!
Sincerely
Elder McConnell

Hey EveryBody!!! :-D Howzit Going?!! :-D How are things in the United States of A? :-D
I hope that everything is going good :-) Later today I`m hoping to FINALLY send off some long expected letters for you guys :-D As well, I don`t know when but I`ll be sending a package soon with some cool thingys so wait up for that :-D
Now more about me :-D Things here in Gorbea are going good :-) The work is kind of slow but its visibly growing :-D Yesterday we were able to bring a family of three to church :-D It was really really cool to see them there :-D Their names are William, Marìa Josè and Isis :-) They are really really cool people and very humble. They don`t have many things in their house but you wouldn`t say that they were poor or in trouble because of how happy and cheerful they are :-D They recently moved into the sector so we`re hoping to get them together with the members that live close by so that they can make some friends and coughgetbaptizedcough. . . :-D They really like what we`ve told them about the Restoration and Marriage (not married). Elder Gonzalez is very very blunt, but thats fine when you have good intentions and the Spirit of God :-D I already knew that he was going to lay down the law so I figured that I`d join him, so we went and told Will and Maria how they really need to get married and Isis joined us as well. They told us that they were going to pray about what we`ve taught them so far and about marriage and then takes the steps necessary to get married. Pray for them please :-)
A Happy anouncement. Carmen Gloria and Pedro (The Parents of the family back in O`higgins) got baptized on Saturday :-D I get a call from Carmen in the morning and she says hey McConnell (they never called me elder :-D) I have an announcement. They usually say good announcement so I was expecting the worst when she tells me that she and her husband are getting married at 6 :-D I was very very happy :-D I had honestly not thought a lot of ohiggins since I left. A little of course, I called sometimes and got called but I had forgotten that even when I left the sector, the work continues on. it was a very appreciated rude awakening :-D The work will go on with or without you Elder and hopefully YOU decide to stay on the ride because the work isn`t gonna wait up. :-D EGO SMASH :-D There`s something to learn everyday :-) It was really cool to hear that Carmen and Pedro were getting baptized :-) Their children have yet to make that decision but now that their parents are their hometeachers, it`s only a matter of time :-D
As well, an Hermana Rosa was baptized as well. We were doing contacts one day, weeks ago, and we found her. She was a very quiet lady and she has a lot of problems with reading and its possible that she never read a page of the Book of mormon when I was there BUT . . . she told us that she felt that it was true, and that she wanted to know more. And now she`s baptized. She told me that she was sorry that I wasn`t going to be there for her baptism :-) Little blessings.
Well thats basically it for me today :-) I haven`t gotten the package yet but I might Friday :-) Until the next one then, Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace Sophie and Dani(if she`s home still) I love you all and BE HappY!! :-D
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell