September 5, 2011

"Hello EVERYONE! Well this week started out really well with one of the best preparation days on my mission, a nice nap, and then I looked at some pictures and thanked God for all the good times that I have had, it was probably one of the most relaxing days on my mission. I am sorry to those that I should have replied to your letters in that time so I hope to make that up this P day and next. I am so grateful for your letters!!!   I love reading them very much!!!! During this week and last we have been really trying to work on our teaching and it has been going really well especially towards the end of this week. We focused a lot of our efforts on finding this week and by Sunday, President Kanakoa(our branch president) told Elder Roberts he looked about three shades darker. It is so awesome to find people !  We had some great first lessons. Brother Bethal's lesson was really one that stood out to me. We knocked almost every door in this apartment complex not a single door opened and then we walked around back and started knocking on those doors, nothing, finally we saw a door that was already open. We looked inside to see him sitting on the couch watching family guy. So we asked his name and started small talk, "oh you watch family guy ...." ha-ha he was like you can come in and watch it. So we stepped and started talking to him about the church and his relationship with Heavenly Father. He told us that his dad is a pastor and a little about his life. I don't remember to much of what happened, then all I know is, it was taught by the hand of the lord and the direction of the spirit, we taught the restoration to him. By the end he  said, I believe everything you said is true. It was amazing to have the spirit direct us in asking inspired questions listening and teach the doctrine. And no we didn't watch family guy with him haha ! We had a similar experience with a lady that told us after the lesson that she had been praying and believes that we are her answers to her prayers. I was so happy after that lesson that I literally shouted yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! after we had walked a safe distance from the house. This week we had also been working with some less actives and it was amazing this sunday to see almost everyone of them at church. Welcome, welcome sabbath morning. This Sunday was so amazing! I loved it so much We came in and started getting the Sacrament ready. While doing this my heart started to fill with joy as members walked in. Then as church neared the start,  boom!  Bro Cooper walked in, then I spotted Sister Kemp, Then as my smile threatened taring  and my face and started hurting from it,  the Evans family walked in, and I will admit that I started to tear up. It was so amazing to see them. Then Bro Evans took me aside and told me that the note we left meant a lot to them! Love, Elder Conder P.s. "YOUR ALL AWESOME" Elder Kurt Randle"

August 29, 2011

"HELLO IRENE,     "Here I am rock you like a hurricane", yes my first experience with a hurricane this week. We went to one of our members house Tuesday morning to go do service for him and he was like, do you have all of your stuff and we looked at him, a little puzzled. "No not yet" he is like you have to go now to get it!!! This Hurricane is going to be serious. I am thinking holy cow man this must be a big deal. He is like I want you to go shopping before you come back here so, we got back in the car and headed to the store. We approached and there were hundreds of cars and when we went inside it was a mad house, People running into each other, it was almost like a movie that we were in. We got what we needed and then jumped into the line. The line was an 1 1/2hr.'s long, so we waited and waited while people ran and grabbed and sat in line. Then the power went out in the store, it stayed out for a little under 5 minutes and when it came on everyone was clapping. It was such a cool experience I will never forget. I love serving!  We ended up spending the night at the church and the next day and the next night. It was really fun to be there, and after waiting for the hurricane we found out that it changed the direction and the only thing that happened here was some wind and rain.   Well Family and friends I love you all very much and I can't wait to hear from you all again. Love, Elder Conder P.s. Tell my Grandma Happy Birthday if you see her. and Kyle happy birthday yesterday."