The Power of Prayer!

This is an email my mom received from the mission presidents wife about hurricane Irene! Pretty amazing!!

"Dear Sister Conder, 

I spoke to Elder Conder this evening about 7:00 p.m. Bahamas time. Freeport missed the center of the storm.  Irene had turned to the east when it left Nassau and so Freeport experienced just the outer edge of the hurricane.  All the missionaries in Jamaica had prayed for the Elders in Turks and Caicos, Nassau and Freeport that the storm would weaken or not hit those areas with the core of the hurricane.  We were blessed with an answer to those prayers.
 
Elder Conder is well and the church was not damaged by the storm.  They slept there last night and spent today at the church.  There is a generator there so they did have power most of today.  They had prepared their 72-hour emergency supply of water and food.  The branch president in Freeport is originally from Hawaii so he contacted the missionaries as soon as he knew they were in the hurricane's path.
 
The Freeport Elders have been very obedient during this time.  We have been able to remain in contact with them in the morning and evening for the last couple of days.  According to the news, Hurricane Irene has left the Bahamas and is headed towards the eastern seaboard of the United States.  There may be more rain but no storm danger for the Bahamas.
 
Elder Conder is a wonderful, obedient missionary.  I enjoy being with him - and worrying about him for the last few days.  Please be assured all is well with him and his companion.
 
Thanks for sending your son.  He is a blessing to this mission.
 
With appreciation,
 
Sister Hendricks"

HELLO I Love You Won't You Tell Me Your Name

August 22, 2011

"Hello Friends and families and respected readers,   

I hope you love these pictures and they are worth a 1,000 words for you because these are some of the coolest most priceless events that have unfolded in my life. I have a deep gratitude for this sacred calling. I am loving it and for anyone considering a mission the answer is yes! If you asked Nike they might even say "just do it". The mission is the greatest thing ever!!!!  I wish I could explain how good it would be for you to go if you have the chance!!!!  I also would like to let you know how much your neighbor needs you. I have been your neighbor at sometime in my life, whether it was living in the room next to you, down the street or 1,000's of miles away, you have left something with me that has helped me,  I want you all to know I am thankful for your positive impacts in my life and say that if you can't serve a full time mission serve a full time life, always help others to come unto Christ.
I love you all.

Love,
Elder Conder"

Dear Loved Ones,

"I am sitting in this library trying to decide what to write about. I am so excited right now, why well I am going to be hopping on an airplane on Thursday to go to Nassau our Neighboring island. It is zone conference and Elder Vines of the area presidency is going to be there! I can't wait. I love zone Conference it is a great opportunity to learn and grow as a missionary.  Plus being an off island zone leader has a challange that most other zones don't , we can go on trade offs with our missionaries to see how they are doing. This is going to be an awesome opportunity to go see how they are doing in their teaching. This will also be great because Elder Roberts and I have made a goal to start refining our teaching even more in the coming week so that we can be more effective and this zone conference should be just what we need to do so.

I am so grateful for  these opportunities they are always placed right in line by Heavenly Father. President Hendricks said that he can't wait to ask God how he gets all of his children right were they need to be. I am grateful that Heavenly Father has got this zone conference when it will benefit us most as missionaries. I am loving serving a mission. It has really shown me and lead me to know my master, even the savior Jesus Christ and my father in heaven. How does a man know his master whom he has not served? I don't know why before my mission I didn't realize that if I didn't do anything heavenly father asked, I wouldn't have faith. I am grateful for this knowledge now, and the faith and testimony that has been cultivated in me. I love the lord and I love my mission and I love all of you very much, you must know as I tell people everyday, my friends and my family helped me get on my mission. I could not have done it with out your example.

Love,
Elder Conder"

Elder James Conder
33  C Gold Coin Lane Apt. 5
Freeport Bahamas
(98 cent us stamp)

HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

August 8, 2011

"Well I just clicked on the [Compose Mail], button and here I am ready to compose a little letter to my Friends and family. Wow, lots o stuff is happening on the home front mission calls (Toni) and good times. That is so great I would really like everyone to know text toni CONGRATULATIONS FROM elder conder and yourself. DO IT NOW. If you are still reading and haven't done it yet shame. If you feel like you told her Congrats do it again. and if you are still reading I think you might want to stop and text her now.

I would just like to take a second out and let you all know how proud I am of Toni Cater. What an amazing girl. Toni has been one of the best friends I have ever had. She has always been a great example to me of how to love life. The way is charity, the pure love of Christ. I have never ever heard of a time when Toni was not willing to help someone out no matter what it was or who it was! She is always there. She radiates joy and happiness I know that her mission President and everyone she meets on her mission is going to be positively influenced by her.

Why YES I WOULD LIKE A DOUGHNUT. mmm doesn't that just sound great. Okay sorry Enough with my random desires for a doughnut, which side note, my mom rarely eats and she has a shirt to prove it. I almost don't believe it.....  maybe she left the crumbs on the shirt or maybe the memory in my heart of us going to get doughnuts at lest twice a week in the summer. Which ever one it was I love her. This week in Freeport...... Pretty great we had a really big rain storm Saturday it was really beautiful. This week Elder Roberts brought out the big guns, yup the new visual aid in our  teaching. His parents sent him this mini church made of blocks and it is amazing. We used it with a really cool family that we are working with and you could just see the change in her attitude towards us and the church and they saw how through Joseph Smith the Church was rebuilt. It was so amazing I really am greatful for the opportunity that I have to see people understand and feel the spirit testify to them that our message is true. It has been amazing to see how the gospel can effect lives. As Toni goes out to serve she will literally change the world. The effects her love and devotion to the people and the gospel will span generations and time. I love her and she has been recommended and one worthy to represent the church and to carry the message of the savior to the world I love her and all missionaries for expressing there love to all mankind by leaving behind all personal affairs and devoting all there time and attention to serving the Lord!

Love,
Elder Conder"

New address
Elder James Craig Conder                 
33C Gold Coin Lane, Apt. 5
Freeport, Bahamas
(98 cents us postage)

OR you can still use Dearelder.com James for FREEEEEE click on the Jamaica Kingston mission!

My Mom is Great, and My Dad could Beat Up your Dad!

August 1, 2011
"To my love(which is you if you are reading this),        

HERE I AM, I AM HERE. Yup you might have guessed I am here in the Bahamas(AKA the place were the spirit of the lord has called me to serve.) I love this place it is so amazing. Beauty + Trees + great people + the gospel + Elder Roberts+ Life + the bahamas + a great branch = This great area that I have been called to! It was so amazing as I Stepped my feet on the tarmac (or the runway) and boarded a tiny airplane. I watched as the lines flew by and then I was off the ground, and the wheels pulled back in with a thud. As we flew through the sky lightning danced and I couldn't help but to sing How Great Thou Art I have never seen lighting so close and not be able to hear it. I was almost in a dream as I floated to the place were I have been called to serve. I am so greatful for everything my heavenly father has given me. We started our descent onto the Island and I got and overview of the port with Giant cranes loading cargo ships.

Meeting my new companion was something I will never forget I walked out of a tiny airport to see a white car with two Elders leaning up agianst it and when they saw me they came and gave me a hug and put my stuff in the car and we were off. I love Elder Roberts he is an awesome companion. So supportive in everything. He is from Marshalli Islands where he lived until he was 7 then he moved to Portland Oregon. He is so great super funny loves listening to the Lion King soundtrack and he is so supportive to the branch.

Bahamas is so much different from Jamaica, it is crazy. I feel as though I have started a whole new mission. It's pretty awesome. It feels like I am serving stateside now. Knocking on doors(that was weird to do for the first time), being in a car, talking to our zone on skype. It is crazy. I love being here. I am about to drive on the left hand side of the road for the first time when I am done here I hope I don't crash. 

Well everyone I really do love you all I am so glad that you are all still writting me I thought you might of forgot about me by now. Sadly today I don have time to write most of you back. I love you all so much. And if you can please go to the temple for me and let me know ,I miss the temple so much. Toni I hear you are getting your Call this week!!!! that is so Awesome!

Love

Elder Conder
ps I love you"

Elder Conder is transferred to the Bahamas! -July 25, 2011

Today I had a wonderful surprise,  James called me from the Miami airport!!!!!!  I was so surprised!!!!!!!  No he is not coming home, even though he planned on playing a little practical joke on me.......  I already knew because I called a random phone number I had missed and the man who answered told me he had just met one of the coolest, kindest, and every other nice thing you can think of young man named Elder Conder.  He explained to me he had bumped into him at the Miami airport and had let Elder Conder use his cell phone to make a phone call home.  He said your missionary is one happy kid, and you should be way proud of him. I told him he just made my day, or I mean year....   Ha ha ..  anyway awhile later my phone rings with a collect call from Elder Conder,  I was so dang excited I forgot that collect calls cost ALOT of money, ha ha.  I hear James saying Mom, and I am in heaven!!!!!!!!  I just love this kid. So we get to chat for a bit, he is on his way to   being transferred to the Bahamas, Freeport. So he said I am now free to travel to Jamaica.  Thanks James. Taylor got to talk with him a minute. Taylor asked if he held any position and James said he is a zone leader instead of a district leader now. I guess that is a good thing, because Taylor goes "alright "  So anyway I am thankful he is safe and on his way to The Bahamas, and I have  been there so I at least know what it looks like. He also mentioned how GREAT America is, and he loved  being home for a few short hours. We have such an amazing country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He wanted McDonalds so bad, I hope we did not keep him from going and getting a hamburger.  When we asked him what has been the most important thing he has learned so far, he immediately said obedience. He said he can't even describe in words how happy you can be if you are obedient. Well I love you all and take care. I will let you know next week his new address.

                                   Love Becky