Tuesday, June 28, 2011

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

Monday, June 20, 2011

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

Monday, June 13, 2011

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

Monday, June 6, 2011

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