I am in love with my little brother

Dear my family with one more boy!!! 

Sorry I didn't write yesterday. We had a multi/zone conference so today is our pday. I got a call from President Klein thursday night informing me that CANNON Joseph Conover was born! I was so happy to hear this great news. It's so cool he was born on 11/12/13! Tell Cannon I say hello. Thanks for talking to him about me. I am so happy that Cannon and Mom are both healthy and back home. I cannot express fully my joy for having another little brother. It's a wonderful blessing to be the oldest of 7 kids. Thanks to Dad and Mom and Heavenly Father I have this blessing. I received all of the pictures and even though I can't see him in person I am in love with my little brother. I don't think you guys could have chosen a better name also. I am so happy with his name Cannon Joseph. Ever since my spiritual experience in Pine Valley this last summer when we had that lesson about Joseph Smith I have had a very deep love and unshakable testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that he did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. These are Joseph's words about the first vision in Spanish. It took me a while but I have them memorized. Vi una columna mas brillante que el sol directamente arriba de mi cabeza y esta luz gradualmente descendió hasta descansar sobre mi. Al reposar sobre mi la luz vi en el arre arriba de mi a dos personajes cuyo fulgor y gloria no admiten descripción. Uno de ellos me hablo, llamandome por mi nombre, y dijo, señalando al otro, Este es me Hijo amado, Escuchalo. I know that Joseph Smith restored the same church Jesus Christ established on the Earth. I am blessed with the opportunity to share this testimony with others here in Honduras. Nice job Mom having another baby! I don't know how you do it. But thank you. Thanks for your words "blessings come after suffering". I'm glad that you are doing better now and are even making rolls! I wish I could eat one of your rolls so bad! haha 

Yesterday on the bus ride to the multi zone conference I saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time! It was great to see the ocean! The conference was in Ceiba. I actually got to see President Klein also this last Sunday for a big multi branch conference in Tocoa. The whole chapel was packed with people! Our whole branch here in Sonaguera took a big bus and drove there together. The bus was filled to the max. I stood in the very back for most of the time. It was fun. It was like a rollercoaster. I didn't listen to the youth part of the conference because it wasn't for us missionaries but a family in our branch here said President Klein talked about our family. At the zone conference in Ceiba 5 other elders and I sang Rock of Ages in Spanish for the special musical number. The last part of the conference President Klein told us in the middle of December his daughter was going to be married in the Tegucigalpa temple! He was very happy for this but was also sad because his wife would go back to the states for the reception after and they would not be able to share a Christmas message with us. So they shared one with us yesterday! It was probably the most spiritual experience I've had on the mission. Sister Klein bore her sweet and powerful testimony of the Savior, President Klein shared his favorite scriptures about the Savior's birth, we sang I Believe in Christ in English, and I Know That My Redeemer Lives in Spanish, and then we watched the Piano Guys Christmas video. The spirit powerfully witnessed to me again that Jesus Christ lives and that He is my Savior. I was reminded of my love for Christmas and the special time it is to remember Jesus. I am going to miss very much spending Christmas with you all. Because it's like 90 degrees here it's weird to think Christmas is coming up. Because of the Honduras Presidential elections this Sunday we have to stay inside of our house Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Crazy! The only time we get to step out of the door is for one hour of Church on Sunday. We stocked up on food today and we also get to watch one Disney movie a day. The other Elders in our district, Elder Guzman and Elder Monterosa are also moving in for those 4 days. Its going to be quite the party. Because of this my next pday will be next Thursday. 

I got your letter you sent on Oct 18! Thank you so much! Please tell the Bennetts thank you also. I loved reading all of the notes. This won't work for everything but I heard that there is a package in the U.S. postal service, some blue box thing that you may want to do some research on. Its a cheaper package. Also tape pictures of Jesus on the package. 

I love you so much Family! I love my new little brother Cannon. Even though it's hard not being home with you and him Heavenly Father has blessed me with a great peace and happiness here on the mission. I have been making a list of my favorite scriptures. Read Helaman 3 verse 35. I love this scripture. I hope that we can all grow stronger and stronger and firmer and firmer in the faith and have out hearts sanctified by the power of the Atonement. Thanks for all the prayers, love and support. Thanks for doing the Blog mom. I love and miss you all. Until next week!

Love Elder Conover 

Doubt Not, Fear Not

Buenos Dias Familia! 

Thank you for all of your emails, they mean so much. I smile every time I read them. Wow, a new bishopric! Bishop Juchau was incredible and I'm sure in some ways its hard for him to leave but Bishop Whitlock will do a great job! The other counselors are awesome also! Thanks for sharing the news. 

I had my FIRST BAPTISM this last Saturday! and it was in a RIVER! I baptized a girl named Sully, she is 15 yrs old. The same as Emily! We had the baptism program on the side  of the river and then Sully and I walked into the river. There was a small current in the water and the water went up to about half my thigh. I said the word of the ordinance in Spanish and then baptized Sully. When she was under water it was very hard to hold her because of the current. I almost fell! But it was successful! It was an amazing experience. I was so pumped my first baptism was in a river! Sully is wonderful. Her mom has been less active for 8 years but recently started listening to us missionaries. Elder Suazo had already taught some lessons to Sully and her family before I got her but Elder Suazo and I probably taught her 4 or 5 times before her baptism. My first lesson with the family was very special. We were teaching the family in their garage. During the lesson the power went out so Sister Merino got a candle and we taught by the candle light. You all know I love fire, it always brings a strong spirit. I bore my testimony in Spanish which is the one thing I feel like I can do decently in Spanish, that and pray. I know that the spirit speaks through me when I testify. That was my first experience with Sully. During a later lesson with her last Monday Elder Suazo asked her if she would be okay with me baptizing her and she agreed. I had no clue he was going to ask that! I was so happy when I found out I would be baptizing her. The baptism was definitely one of the highlights of my life so far. 

Elder Suazo went to San Pedro Sula last Friday to do some things to get his residency card with another Elder who is in Olanchito. I stayed in Olanchito with the other Elder Thursday night, Friday, and then we came back here on Saturday. In Olanchito the ward had a Night of Talents. I sang with One Republic the song Secrets. It was pretty awesome. Elder Rodriguez who is from D. Republic and I also participated in a talent with some other members acting out the parable of the good Samaritan. We were the robbers. haha The grand finale was Gangam Style! The Branch President who looks kind of Asian started it out and then us and a bunch of other members joined in. It was quite the event! Very hilarious. 

Remember the extra shoes I brought. Elder Guzman here in Sonaguera shoes were falling apart and he only had one pair so I gave him those shoes. I'm very glad I had them to help him out. He did not want to take them but I insisted and now he wears them everyday. The language is coming very slowly but I am trying to not let it discourage me. It's hard not being able to express all my feelings in lessons and with my companion. Its difficult to live with a companion 24-7. I guess it's very good practice for the future. I don't know what it is but I am almost always hungry. I eat good meals here but within a few minutes I'm hungry again! I'm getting used to the heat and the humidity, it's not too bad. It's weird not going through the season change like normal. I'm so used to it being cold this time of year. With these trials I am also learning so much and am almost forced to become stronger. The mission is a very good refiners furnace.  I have a very strong testimony that Heavenly Father's plan for me is the best and happiest plan for me and that He can make more out of my life than I can. I share this testimony with others here often. I am so grateful Heavenly Father is blessing me with health and strength. Lately I have been noticing that when I walk and say a prayer in my heart I feel more power in my legs and it's easier to walk. Many times I feel like someone is pushing me forward from behind. I know that angels are helping me and God is giving me strength. So many great things happen everyday. I love the members and the people here. I feel like everything in my life led me to this place on this mission. Spanish immersion in 2nd and 3rd grade and learning about the Aztecs and Mayans, who I have always been interested in, struggling through Spanish in 8th and 9th grade, Crossfit, being friends with the Hispanics at school, Scouts, the Gospel, family life and all the other little things have led me and prepared me for this moment in my life. I love you all and miss you. I think and pray for you everyday. Continue sharing the gospel. It's worth it. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that he created our spirits. I know that He knows each one of us specifically. Jesus said ¨look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not.¨ Trust in God and look unto and follow the Savior and all will work out for our good. Forever strong on and off the field! You're the best family I could ever ask for. I love you!

Love Elder Conover

Happy in Honduras!

Crossfit Honduras Style!

Familia! 

Wow, there are a million things I want to share with you. I do have more time than I thought I would have but not enough to share everything. I will share as much as I can. When I email I may only have time to send one big email and not send emails to each person individually. Know that I have read your emails and I love and appreciate all of them. Where to start... When the plane landed it was pouring rain. When I stepped off the bus there was a big humidity change. President Klein, Sister Klein, the AP´s, some sister missionaries all met us at the airport. It was so good to see them! They were so kind and comforting. President Klein gave a great "pep talk". He got us all very pumped. From the airport we drove to a chapel and had an orientation meeting. We ate pizza hut also. 

Each elder had an interview with the President. There I found out my new companion and where I will be serving. My companion is a great man, Elder Suazo from Nicaragua! I am serving in a town called Sonaguera. It is so beautiful. It's super tropical, almost all the roads are dirt. Shops run down all the main roads. It's very hot and humid but I am getting used to it. We walk up some stairs and onto a big patio type thing and in the middle is our house. It's a nice little home. We have two fans but no air conditioning so that's fun. :) The shower usually has running cold water so that's nice. We have a little kitchen. I made some yummy scrambled egg sandwiches. To get to Sonaguera it took about 7 hours on a bus. My first two nights weren't in Sonaguera, they were in other Elders' houses but I don't have time to explain all that. There are 4 elders here in the district of Sonaguera. The other two are also Latinos. Elder Guzman, and Ëlder Monterosa. They are great! I love all three of these guys! They are super fun to be with and are very patient and helpful with my Spanish. I am totally immersed in Spanish here. Everyone calls me "Gringo" which means white person. Apparently I'm a pure gringo because both my parents are white. I'm the only "gringo" in Sonaguera. 

Everyday a nice lady (Hermana Gladis) makes us lunch at this awesome little outdoor restaurant. We make our own breakfast and we either pay members or the members feed us dinner. The members are all very nice even though they laugh at me a lot for not understanding what they say. haha I love them though and am already great friends with many of them. Last Thursday I arrived here in Sonaguera. We taught a lesson that night. An awesome man name Kenneth who is 21 years old, he served a mission in Mexico drove us to the house we gave the lesson at. He drove us in his small truck. I sat in the back on one of those small seats that faces inwards. It took like 45min to get to the house. Super beautiful and tropical drive all on dirt. We taught Sister Ocampo and her daughter the law of tithing and fast offerings. They were baptized this last Saturday! The lesson I taught with Elder Suazo was the last lesson before their baptism. The baptism was wonderful. Victor, the father of Sister Ocampo, who is 72 baptized them both. Here you 

Filling the Font

either baptize people in a river or you have to construct a font out of stuff they have in the shed about 50yds from the chapel. This time we built the font. Once we had the font built, we filled it up using buckets of water. In the shed there is a well of water that we would pull water out of and then carry buckets over to the chapel and fill the font. We are SO blessed in Utah. We had us 4 elders, and 4 other young men. It took us a few hours. 

First Baptism!

I'm doing crossfit every morning here. It's good to be back on schedule. Thanks emily for the list of crossfits. Fasting was very difficult on Sunday. In the church they don't have air conditioning, they have lots of fans though. Church is at 9. Up until around 10:45 the electricity was out so the fans didn't work. It was so hot! I did bear my testimony in Spanish! There were about 85 people who attended, Elder Suazo said it was a very good amount. The work here is moving very quickly. Part of our fast was to have 4 baptisms in November. When it was hard fasting and other times here I think about the time Jesus asked Peter "lovest thou me more than all" and I am strengthened because I forget myself and start thinking about the Savior and others. 

Let me share some random things you see here on the road you guys will think are interesting. The houses are very colorful, There are always people riding in truck or trailer beds, I saw a man with one leg chopping down plants with a machete while on crutches, two young boys driving a small horse carriage, giant ropes on the ground for speed bumps, soldiers with AK47s, vendors run up to bus stops and lift the food up to the windows yelling and trying to sell their food, many skinny horses, cows, dogs, and chickens, trash dumped into ditches, burning the trash on the side of the road, man riding a bike with a woman on the pegs holding a baby, man carrying a bundle of wood on his back with an axe in his hand, a lady came onto one of the buses I rode carrying a chicken in a bag, woman balancing a bucket of laundry on her head, people washing clothes in the river. Those are some of the things Ï see here. :) Its a whole new world! It is so beautiful and tropical. During lessons many times chickens are walking through the house. One odd thing is often women here breast feed right in front of us during lessons without covering up at all. Wild dogs are everywhere. I'm so grateful to be where I am with the people I am with. I love and miss you all so much. I wish you could all be here with me. Keep up the missionary work back home. I love you!

Love Elder Conover