Weekly EMAIL

HEY EVERYBODY!! :-D HOWZIT GOING?!?!?!
Hey guys, how`re things? I hope good. SOunds like the despidida
is getting coplicated :-P Thats never fun. But thats ok, Things will
work out. Pres Hinckley said that AND HES A PROHPET. Prophets rule.
SO Sam, YOu`re on your way out. I know its hard, but you are
going to see everybody a LOT sooner than you think. Right now thats
really hard to believe, and honestly I don`t think you realize it
until like 20 months into the mission. But that day will come :-)
So things are going good here in Lota Bajo. Honestly things were a
little complicated, we had some companionship issues but we were ok at
least :-D Problem was that we weren`t able to work a LOT this week
:-) But thats ok. Thats why repentance is so handy, you stop doing
what you did before and you never do it again, genius:-D
FAbian is doing good. He can`t get baptized this week, cuz he
didnt go to church yesterday :-P BUT HE WILL BE BAPTIZED!!! Just not
this week :-) Keep Praying. The other investigators we couldn`t see
but I think SOMEBODY coughgodcough kept them safe. At least I hope.
THe attendance here is on average more than one hundred. Last week
it was 150. ITs a good branch and in fact, the city had a ward and
two branches in it at some point but something happened :-P Thats why
we`re here, to fix that :-D The members are really cool , and we`re
really cool so its a perfect fit :-D THAts one thing sam, where ever
you go, try and share something or at least ask your comp to do it.
Even if they are long time members, leave something behind.
I sent letters today so those should arrive sometime in two weeks.
It also has a picture card in it :-D Sorry for not sending one in so
long :-P :-(
Something I learned this week that was really cool. The 2000
stripling Warriors were not afraid to lose their lives, WHY?. I
listened to a talk by John Bytheway and the answer was ``We are not
afraid because we are clean. We have nothing to fear. If we die,
we`ll be with God, if we live, He`ll be with us`` HE said something
else interesting ``You know whats better than happiness, Peace.`` If
you are doing what you should and things aren`t working out ``Be still
and know that I m God``, and things will work out. Maybe not now, or
soon, or in this life, but it`ll work out :-D I like believing in all
this because its easier when you believe :-D
Thats it guys :-) Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love you all
SO MUCH And BE HAPPY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Elder Gomez and Elder McConnell

Dearest everybody. HOWZIT GOING?!?!
Hey guys, how`re things? :-D How is LIFE :-D On this side of the
world its awesome :-D Live it up. Every moment. :-) (Sophie, don`t
fall down :-D)
SOOO. I have decided, after a quite long session of reading,
praying, pondering, thinking, whatever, that, I am going to stick
around a little while longer here in Chile. Sam, I`m really sorry
that I`m not going to see you before you go. It was really hard to
decide. I honestly would never have missed that opportunity if it
wasn`t for the mission. Ever. BUT, President Martinez said that I
can call on monday next week for an hour to talk with you :-) So I`m
not completely going to not be there. I hope you understand.
I spent this last week thinking of several things over a very long
period of time. The mission in itself, what I`ve learned here (and
THAT is a lot), the people I`ve met, all the things that are forever,
lots of stuff. Elder Demke just left for UTah :-D My father in the
mission, Elder Valdivia also is heading home, to Arica Chile. You can
see it in all of there faces. ``I can`t believe its over``. I
thought to myself why. And I realized its because the mission is
awesome. How can someone destroy their feet and burn their skin and
withstand ridicule and rejection on a VERY regular basis for two
years? Because its one of the greatest things he or she will do in his
or her life. So much of what happens in the mission will last through
the eternities and that is a long time. Mom, Dad, I`m sorry I won`t be home so soon to see you and for school. Sam, I`m sorry we won`t see eachother with our eyes for
a little while. Meri, I`m sorry that I won`t be home soon to talk and
hang out. Grace, I`m sorry that I won`t be home soon to play with you.
And Sophie, I`m sorry that I won`t be home for your birthday. BUT
we will regardless have another birthday when I arrive. ANd
June isn`t all that far off :-D And Sam, two years FLY when you do it
right. I promise.
We`re doing good here in LOTA :-D mY new companion is called Elder
Montalbàn and he`s Chilaen who speaks perfect English. He`s fairly
new but VERY awesome and we`re going to have a ton of fun. Our
investigators are called Fabian, Margarita, Victoria, Bido and
CEsar. Fabian and Margarita have been going to church for a little
while now and Victoria the granddaughter of Margarita went yesterday.
She isn`t sure about god but we`ve been testifying a ton about him so
we`ll help her with that :-D Bido also went yesterday and his older
brother is a member already so we`re helping him out. and Cesar
already wants to be baptized but needs to quit smoking so we`re going
to fix that. :-D
Thats basically it guys :-) so until the next, Mom Dad Sam Meri
Grace and Sophie, I love you all So Much and BE HAppY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell
p.s. I read the miracle of forgiveness in spanish the other day.
Pres Kimball was pretty heavy duty

Weekly Letter

HEY EVERYBOSY!!! :-D HOWZIT GOING!?!?! (I put the S on purpose)
So to get things straight, Sams going to the MTC on the 22nd? Thats
too bad, the waiting game is the worst :-D
Hey guys, How`re things? Hey Sam I like your talk. I wish I had
typed mine. I cant wait to take your homecoming talk and compare the
two :-D But that might take a while :D
So things are going good here in Lota. It`s hot but thats better
than rain so no complaints. We just entered into February (spelling),
Kevin`s got a month left, I have a little more :-P Crazy stuff :-D
Sorry for not writing monday. We had to go to a conference and we
thought we`d have time to write during the day but nope :-) We`re fine
though :-D once a month on a monday we have that conference so it
should happen again maybe two more times.
SO . . . one runs out of things to say after so long :-D Oh i got
it. I learned this week that Sin is not self sufficient. IF someone
sins long enough they will lose everything. Sin needs a constant
import of fuel to live. It gives nothing that lasts. King Noah was a
parasite to his people but because it was fun in the moment they
followed him. There are however people who appear to have a lot and
that do not live a ery Christ like life but I bet that if we looked
closely that they are constantly feeding a creature that cannot be
filled. Gambling, you get money you use it to gamble. Lying, you
sacrifice honesty to keep a lie alive. Greed, you must keep what you
have and have to have more. There are several examples more but thats
enough :D
Something cool this week, A guy yesterday sincerely asked us what
the Book of Mormon was and naturally we sincerely responded. He
wasn`t interested in the church YET but he did want to kno about this
little blue book. We explained that it was the word of god (And if
anyone who is reading this doesn`t know, believe, or is unaware of
this fact, it is true) and he seemed interested, not crazy head over
heels baptize me interested but he wanted to know a little more. He
asked where he could go to get a copy and I almost screamed `` In My
BACKPACK!!`` and I whipped one out and put it in his hands. I then
had the thought, ``How sad is it that there aren`t more people who ask
us `where can I get these books, the scriptures?`` NEVER unappreciate
the scriptures. There was a LOT of suffering so that you can have
them in your hands today.
Thats it for me guys :-D M;om Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie, I love
you all and BE HAppY!1
Sincerely
Elder JAmie McConnell

Weekly EMAIL

EHY EVERYBODY!! HOWZITGOING!?!?!

So how`re things everybody? :-D I feel very close to home :-D Its
almost sickening :-P I thought what its going to be like when I
finally see everyone after SO LONG. THAT will be quite the feeling
:-D.
So Elder Corbridge of the Seventy came over the other day and
dropped some pretty heavy gospel bombs on us :-D VERY awesome. I even
had the opportunity to talk with him privately about the ``Fullness of
the Gospel`` and he explained that very well. If you guys remind me
about it, I`ll tell you later :-D I took several notes so I`ll share
those later but some of the things that he said that I really liked
was ``What profit is it to get everything and lose your soul``.
Elder Reyes and Elder Fernandez boxed the other day (the Elders
that live with us) Elder REyes isn`t a really big guy but he beat the
snot out of Elder Fernandez. :-D I`ll take a picture :-D
We did intercambios with a companionship the other day as well and
it was really weird to have this newer Elder Rico ask me so much
stuff. I forget that I`m awesome some times :-DAnd By awesome I mean
really really old in the Mission.
Some guy told us that the Book of Mormon was false the other day.
Didn`t know what he was talking about. If he had been any other guy
and not a leader in his church I might have been very . . .
rambunctious with my response but I held my temper and just told him
that it was true. Thats all you need to do.
Whenever we tell anyone that we are the true church, the usual
reply is ``Thats pretty egotistical of you guys to say that`` and I
usually say ``Yeah, it is, but it`s still true`` :-D You can be very
``mean`` and very honest at the same time :-D
I should describe the sector. Its called Lota bajo but the city`s
just called lota. There are in total 6 missionaries but only 4 live
together. Elder Reyes is from Washington but his parents are both
from mexico and he speaks fluent spanish. Elder Fernandez is from
Uruguay and both of these Elder`s families are all members. We are
right next to the ocean but they tell us that the tsunami can`t reach
us where we live because of how the cove is shaped. We have one big
hill in our sector and it a pain to climb but I`m fine. If I were
newer it`d be a challenge. :-D Lota in and of itself is kind of a
challenge because the missionaries have been around here so the people
know us :-D :-P There are a bajillion evangelical churches (I think
that Mom might be able to describe what that means) which is always a
blast :-D We love it when we find people that don`t go to any church
because we dont need to explain why they`re wrong or have to fight
over the bible :-P :-D Thats basically it :-D
Guys, the church is true. Elder Fernandez was sick on sunday and
we had to bring him the Sacrament. We did it right there in the
bedroom. We sang a hymn that Elder Demke played on his guitar and the
bread was crackers. I then read the prayer straight from a random
Libro de Mormon that I had at arms length in the room. ANd to top it
all off we did it with the power and authority of God. Church is
true.
Thats it guys :-) Until the next, Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie,
I love you all and BE HAPPY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly EMAIL-Going back where he started

HEY EVERYBODY!!! :-D HOWZITGOING?!?! :-D
SOPHIE!!!!!! WHAT`RE YOU DOING HAVING A SEIZURE!!!???!! Fetch. I
always get emails that say what happened and then one later that
explains how it ended :-P Thats aight but still. :-P
I hope that everything is alright. IT seems that everything is, so
no worries :-D Things are alright here in Lota as well :-D Bytheway
Mom I didn`t actually say I was a Zone Leader in my last letter so
don`t worry about not reading about it :-D I forgot to put that in :-D
My bad. Yeah so me and Elder Demke are the bosses of the Zone of
Coronel where I began my misiòn more than a year ago :-) Like a Boss.
I actually ran into some members from that Camilo yesterday here in
Lota :-D Now I could talk with them :-D Cool stuff. I counted the
other day, I have around 13 weeks left :-P Blegh. Where`d I put the
years? As for you Sam, you are now on the month countdown :-D How
does THAT feel? Spooky?, I know :-D
We are doing really well here. I feel really old and wise and
we`re helping out a lot of missionaries and a lot of people who need
the gospel :-D THe last time I was here I couldn`t really give a lot
of good advice let alone talk with them :-D GUess who`s back. Back
again. Jamie`s back. Tell your friends :-D Elder Demke is not dead
which is awesome and we`re having a lot of fun. We have a new game in
the morning. Whoever gets to the lightswitch first in the morning
gets to slap the other one, hard. Gets you up real fast :-D As
well, the branch here is awesome. There are a ton of wonderful people
and the vast majority of them are converts who are so strong :-D I`m
going to have a lot of fun :-D
I read a scripture the other day (I do that sometimes) and I came
across one that talks about Sherem and Jacob and how Sherem was
thinking that he could get Jacob to give up his beliefs( I got to give
Sherem props for the guts but Oh my gosh are you serious?). Jacob
explains why in Jacob 7:5 why he couldn`t ``be shaken``. He had had
revelations, he had seen angels, and do you know why he had had
revelations and seen angels? Because he looked for them and did what
they said, thats why. People do not recieve revelations or see angels
without searching for them or unless they are going to do what the
revelation or angel says. I say this because in spanish it says
``descarriado`` which is like derailed or astray. Its a common phrase
that people use here to say that they have a religion but they dont
ever go. They say ``Estoy un poco descarriado`` and then laugh a
little like when they say that, their behavior is fine, like it`s not
there fault. Any person that becomes ``descarriado`` is a victim of
his or her own choice. You do not fall away because it ``just
happens``, you fall away because you didn`t hold on, you didn`t look
for the angels and revelations and were left to fend for yourself.
Search the scriptures, really pray, obey the commandments even when
its hard and the angels will come and you will never fall away or
become ``descarriado``.
Thats it for me Guys :-D Hey Sam, Happy birthday, I hope you had a
lot of fun :-) Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace and Sophie I
love you all and BE HAPPY!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

Weekly EMAIL

HEY EVERYBODY!! :-D HOWZIT GOING!?!?! :-D
Hey guys, how´re things? :-D I hope the best :-D
Cool things :-D I´m leaving Vilcún!! Actually thats not
cool but where I´m going it is :-D CORONEL :-D Where I started the
mission :-D Fetch YES :-D My new companion´s name is Elder Demke :-)
and he´s really cool. As well, he´s finishing the mission this next
cambio so I´M KILLING HIM :-D Weird stuff man :-D Coronel in spanish
is colonel and for the life of me I don´t know why it sounds like an r
in english :-) Somebody find out please :-D The sector is actually
called Lota so if you guys want to look it up there it is :-D
So honestly this last cambio was really fast and really weird :-P I
´m kind of bad at making really good friends in 6 weeks :-P I need at
least two cambios :-P So It was kind of weird saying goodbye to
everyone because I wasn´t able to have as much of a relationship with
them like Elder Beatty who´s been there since July :-P I´m still going
to miss them all :-) I took Pictures :-D
So now I have two and a little more transfers left in the mission
:-P TOO FAST. I can´t believe that it has gone by so fast :-D Sam for
real, even when it sucks, enjoy the mission :-) I am so old :-D I
don´t know anyone really anymore. I´M that old wise missionary that
all the new missionaries want to be :-D Fetching old. 20 months on
Friday, count them. I can´t wait to see the pictures :-D By the way
Grandpa and Grandma McConnell were asking if I had taken any pictures
so if somebody could go and show them some, that´d be awesome :-D
Something REALLY REALLY cool that I learned yesterday. Yesterday
was new years day which isn´t anywhere near as exciting as the night
before and on top of that its sunday where we need to go to church :-P
7 went to church as in people :-P Sadness :-P Regardless, an awesome
testimony was given yesterday. Luis, the guy who had been assigned to
break and bless the bread went up and gave his testimony. He said
that when he was breaking the bread he knew that there weren´t a lot
of people so he made the pieces really big :-) He said that when there
are a lot of people the bread is broken into smaller pieces but still
everyone gets a piece. I had this thought. There was more bread than
there were people today. There will ALWAYS be more bread than the
people. No matter what we do we will always be able to change and
have the bread to feed the soul. JEsus made it so that there will
always be enough bread for the people :-) I wouldn´t have thought that
if 7 hadn´t come to church on sunday :-) Thanks heaven.
Thats it for me guys :-) Until the next Mom Dad Sam Meri Grace And
Sophie, I love you all and BE HAPPY!!
Sincerely
Elder Jamie McConnell

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