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

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"