Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Weekly letter Dun Dun dun dun (Jamaica)

 " "Some say when it rains it pours and knocking doesn't open doors. Cant you see......    That all our efforts are ignored. Cant you see......  Well cant you see that everything that we do effects more than just me and you.   In eternity...   and even if it was just that boy that you knew.. you know that he grew  to you..... YOU will see that one day you'll send him off and he will be... Become a man after that two year plan...."    

Yes I am writing a song! Haha I hope you enjoy the lyrics.

This week went by so fast. We have pretty much driven around the whole island of Jamaica, we went to training to Kingston, but we had to go to Port Antonio first. It was really fun and cool to see so much of the island. When we got to Kingston I was reunited with my brothers (Elder Toutia And Elder Snelson).


 It was so cool to see them again, definitily an Alma 17:2 Experience. I love them so much they are great missionaries and they work so hard. I got the opportunity to go on a trade off with Elder Snelson after training and we taught a lady named Sandrine. She accepted a baptismal date and to read The Book Of Mormon everyday. President Hendricks drove us back to Montego Bay on Thursday and did our baptismal interviews. It was pretty cool to be with him for so long. The normal way home was under going construction, and it allowed us to go through some of the most breathtaking views of my life!
   
Well when we got home there were many preparations to be made since we had been gone all week and we had 3 baptisms to do on Sunday. So we got straight back to work. We nearly didn't even have enough time to fill the font. Sunday morning came by the font was full And we were getting dressed in a full suit of white. I preformed Sister Nardia Curtis's, President Hendricks did Brother Paul Williams, and Elder Sorensen did Sister Amelia Foskins. I raised my right hand to the square, and I will never for get it. I can't even begin to explain the joy of being a missionary. 


I Know that this is the Restored Gospel Of Jesus Christ. Through Joseph Smith the Lord Restored his Priesthood authority and it is on the earth now never to be taken away again.

I love you all

Love,
 Elder Conder"

July 5, 2011- SOMETIMES IT RAINS BUT I CAN'T WAIT TILL IT POURS

"Dear Everyone,

In beginning this letter I don't know where to begin. I Guess since it is the fourth of July God Bless Jamaica Woops I mean America.

Heavenly Father really must love us, There are so many awesome things that happened this week. Let's start
with Wednesday and see if we can move forward from there.
Wednesdays are district meetings, District meeting is when we as missionaries get to learn how to be better missionaries. Ours or pretty interesting though because well, for one I am the one that is to teach it (Ya I am not very good at teaching), and two, it is normally just Elder Trumpet, Elder and Sister Sorensen and I. As Tuesday morning rolled around I found out that President Hendricks was going to be attending. I was way scared I was thinking what am I supposed to teach President Hendricks this guy is the mission president. So as I was thinking pondering and looking through all the options, It just kind of fell on me, talk about Loving your mission today. So I prayed and asked if it was right, and I got the confirmation so I moved forward with it. Wednesday came it was 10:00 and we were getting started. We went through talking about why we loved our missions and great experiences we have had and how someone has shown us love. I reflected back to the time when Elder Randle had shown me love by leaving little notes around the apartment. The spirit was there with us as we proceeded with our meeting, and nearly everyone had broken down in tears sharing their experiences of love. When the end came we sang, because I have been given much. I couldn't sing through as the spirit told me, I have been sheltered fed by thy good care. I ELDER CONDER HAVING been born of goodly Parents. I love my mom and dad so much I have been blessed with the best parents in the world.

After District Meeting President Hendricks interviewed me and gave me a challenge to start having a connection with Heavenly father when I pray at night. Taking that challenge I have been rewarded. I Struggled for a bit, but Friday night I found my self surrounded by the spirit. I can promise as you strive for this you will find very similar results.

Saturday service project, Food For the Poor and The Church came together and had a very awesome service project Saturday. They handed out wheelchairs called rough riders and trained people to fit others for wheelchairs. They plan to give out 500 by years end. Elder Trumpet and I have the opportunity to help By transporting people in and out of there cars and into there chairs. One of the first people there in the morning was a young boy named Brandon. As he came in you could just feel the excitement and love. He rolled out of the Church in his new wheel chair, with a  Giant smile Saying THANK YOU THANK YOU BYE BYE. I love Brandon he is a great example to me. There was another girl there regretfully I cant remember her name, but we had a great time. Her and I raced around her in here new wheelchair. It was so Awesome! 

Fast and testimony meeting, Wow wow wow, Mervin Mckenzie the father of the family we just baptized went up and bore his testimony. He told his conversion story. I am going to attempt to write what I remember of it. He stood up tall at the pulpit and said, I used to go to he seventh day Adventist church as a child then my grandma died and I was all alone and I stopped going to church. I came home from work one day and my stepson Duane had the missionaries over. I snuck behind the house and got on the roof. As I was sitting there something just kept telling me to go down there. So I went down. I was thinking what are these two doing here? They are telling me I need to get baptized and married. So I said if Nicky is ready then I am ready. They set a Date for the wedding. ON fathers day (he started to cry here) I Has the coolest experience of my life. I baptized my son. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
I was so unbelievably happy. I love my mission. I love all OF you that have helped make this possible.

Love,
Elder Conder"

June 27, 2011

"Hey everyone,          

I Have been sitting down every week now with these wonderful letters and packages, I was sitting here thinking how I am going to do this I almost feel overwhelmed trying  to consider how to thank you all. I really love all of you so much. I think these two simple words say it best, THANK YOU.


This week in Montego bay have been super awesome. I love this area so much. We have a big increase in member participation. They have been helping us in our efforts to invite others to come unto Christ. Some of our star members are, well all of our members are super awesome!! We had a couple from California visit church this Sunday. The man introduced himself in priesthood and said, I have been in my ward at home 10 years and I feel just as at home here as I do back home. That is just one of the awesome examples of how great our branch is. As we talked about this and our other experiences at church, I thought,  when I go home I want to help my ward be just like this branch. I will be that person that walks in with a giant smile and shaking everyones hands, even that same person as Elder Trumpet is. He really brings happiness with him everywhere, he is such and effective missionary. I really am greatful to have learned the importance of a smile from him.
Boom, I got the pictures of everyone with there Jamaica T-shirts on just recently, and wow you guys look great. That video is wow wow wow. I loved seeing you and I hope you are repping your shirts with pride.
 
Love,
Elder Conder"

June 20, 2011

"Dear awesome people out there,

Happy fathers day, Man I don't know of many fathers day events that are greater than the event that is about to unfold in this letter. So Prepare your imaginations to start envisioning this. We wake up 5:45 start preparing to get to the church by seven. We get there and turn on the font, and listen to the water fall in the font as we read from our scriptures. The spirit filled the room. We walked outside and saw Paul and his dad, Mervin, with huge smiles plastered on there faces. They got there clothes, put them on and sat in the sacrament hall. We proceed with the service.  As Mervin walked his son to the font I couldn't help, but think of my dad and what a cool fathers day present this was. Mervin having just been baptized and given the priesthood last week now baptizing his son.  This would have never happened without the unfailing love of my two fathers Corey Conder and my Father in heaven. My dad has taken so much out of his life and given it to me. Last night I was writing in my journal and seemingly to a trip through my childhood remembering all the things that my dad has done for me. Some big ones that stuck out were  all the great gifts he gave to me from my first motorcycle to my first car or the time he spent teaching me to ride to teaching me to be a man. I love him so much. I just got a picture in the mail for my birthday package. The picture was of us at Larry H. Miller race track with his friend Clarke. Woops I got distracted by some pictures of Ben and I don't know were I was going with that but is was great to see my dad again. I LOVE MY DAD. AND Mervin for standing up and being a dad. I love you all Please tell your dad thankyou from me for putting you into life and even into my life!
 
Love,
Elder Conder

P.s. Mom you are pretty cool Too HAha"

June 13, 2011

"Duh Dewey,

I don't even know where to begin. Where does one start to put together a tapestry of blessings from his father in heaven, and viewed only through my eyes. I boast not of myself, but of God (Alma 25) I was sitting in the chapel waiting to see the bride walk into her wedding, her soon to be husband saying a prayer under his breath. Such a scene I have never laid my eyes.  I was looking at a life change, and Elder Trumpet and I have been seeing it  play  out step by step. Up till this point as they prepared themselves to live as God commands, this was there step of faith. I picked up the Book of Mormon and turned to where I left off my reading the day prior, Alma 25. As I started to read I Immediately saw that god had prepared for me to read that at this time. I read of Amuleck rejoicing in the success that they  had among the Lamanites. We have had much successes and my heart was full of joy. I would not trade that moment for anything in life. I am so greatful to be here! That god would allow me to come here at this time. There is something that Machi's Dad told me "a mission isn't easy" I have to paraphrase the last part,   But it is worth it!!!  I have been reflecting on that over and over. Some days it is hard and is almost never easy, but it is always worth it. The next day WE had the opportunity to Baptize Nicky and Mervin and there Daughter Felicia. There are few Experiences that match this event!!!!


Well I am Almost out of time, but I love you so much,  everyone of you. It is going to be wonderful to see you all soon. This mission is flying past. I just want to tell you all that I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that there are always answers to your questions inside. I have had many answered. I really love the hour I get to study each day, I don't know what I would do without it. I know that obedience is literally the first law and if you are obedient everything will work. I love you once again.

Love Elder Conder"PO Box 2316
Kingston 8
Jamaica