Life serving the Lord in Progreso‏‏

[Today is a happy, happy day for this missionary mom!  Elder Conover finally got his Christmas package.  It was held up in customs in Honduras for over 2 months. His sweet mission president emailed that it was delivered to him today.  I've been crying with joy!  Merry Christmas to my precious son:)]   

Elder Conover and his new companion, Elder Flores from El Salvador

Elder Eric Conover

San Pedro Sula East Mission

12 Calle Av. Circunvalacion S.O.

Edif Yude Canahuati, 3 Nivel, Oficina 4

San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras C.A

Dear mí marvillosa familia,

Oh I love you all so much! Mucho gracias por sus coreos (emails) cada lunes! They mean so much to me. You are all doing so great! It is a huge comfort and blessing for me. Thank you.

Things are going absolutely fantastic with my new companion Elder Flores here in Progreso! He is so great. We get along the best out of all my companions. He is very loving and works hard. We have gotten off to a great start. It's been great getting to know the members and investigators here. I have made some great friends. People are great here as in Sonaguera. 

Elder Flores and I live with 2 other companionships in a pretty sweet condo! Each companionship has their own apartment but we are right next to each other. We are also on the second floor. The view is beautiful. We also have a hammock out front on the patio. When the sun is out in the mornings it is absolutely paradise. Today in the morning I was reading Jesus the Christ in the hammock, there was a nice breeze and it was probably 70-75 degrees. I felt like I was in heaven. The shower doesn't always have water so we take bucket showers sometimes but it's been fine. 

Progreso!

Our proselyting area is beautiful. We are literally in the mountain. Everyday feels like I'm hiking in the mountains. Heavenly Father really did know where to call me on a mission. :) Friday and Saturday it rained more than it ever has while I've been on the mission. We put our books in plastic bags  and then in our packs and then went to work. We were soaked all day but it all is a great adventure. I love it! I have used quite the ¨fun¨ bathrooms here. Ours is great but it's hard to describe how poor some of the people are here. Another great part of the adventure!

Funny things: There was a man who lived in the U.S for 24 years, he came up to us as we were walking
in the street and started talking to me in English. It's always quite the surprise to hear someone start speaking in English. He was a little drunk and kept shaking my hand and telling me how much he admired us missionaries. He told us God will protect us and that we are so great. He was super friendly and even though he wasn't in the best condition he gave me a great boost. A few minutes later we walked past the pulperia (little store) he was in and he yelled to us ¨we got your back!¨ haha He was hilarious. We got directions to his house and may visit him soon. Another thing is some little kids as we walked past their house started yelling Adios Gringo!! There are always comical things here in the mission. I'm going to try and remember them better for you guys. :) 

Elder Flores and I have been going to town! Literally and figuratively. ;) We took a bus from the condo to the center or city part of Progreso today. It's only a 10 minute drive and costs about 35 cents. The missionaries here always go to the city on Pdays and eat lunch and buy groceries. We ate at Pizza Hut. It was super good. The last time I had Pizza hut was with Jonah and Mitch Armstrong. :) I have had to take some money out of my account because I ran out of money during all the crazy transfer things. Elder Guzman needed some of my money and Elder Flores borrowed some of my money. We will get our money from the mission next Monday. But yes Elder Flores has been working hard! We ended the week with great numbers and only had a few days together. We both know that working hard and being obedient are the keys to having the spirit and in turn having success. 

Thursday was the meeting with Elder Soares of the presidency of the quorum of 70. It was incredible. Such a powerful message of obedience, hard work, and dedication. He related the story of the Brother of Jared in a whole new and very creative way. Our missions are the rocks the brother of Jared brought to the Savior to touch. We must obey, and work hard and then the Savior will touch our rocks and we will literally shine! Our countenance will shine brighter and we will be happy. I know that his words are true and that he spoke for Heavenly Father. I know his words are applicable for all of us missionaries but as well as all people. One of my very favorite scriptures Mosiah 2:41 says to ¨remember the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments of God¨. I know that Jesus will touch each one of our ¨rocks¨ (our lives) if we come unto him, are obedient, and work hard. 

I have ran out of time! I wish I could respond to each of your emails but I hope my main email answered some of your questions. I love hearing from each one of you and you are doing so many great things. 

So my package is still here in San Pedro Sula?! Crazy! I will pray it gets to me soon! I can possibly send the art kit through the ruta (the mission mail system) to Elder Cruz if that's what you want to do but I'm sure he will be fine. I know it's crazy to send a package. 

Sonaguera district

I love you all and miss you so much but this is an experience I wouldn't trade for the World. Have a super great week! XOXOXO

Love Elder Conover









[I just realized I forgot to post our second letter last week.  We received it on Wednesday, January 22nd, but the pictures came this week.]

Hello dear family!

Last family night in Sonaguera

What a crazy couple of days it has been! On Monday Elder Cruz and I had a great FHE with Karla, Lester, Astrid, Nikol, and almost all of their family. Its been a goal forever, I'm sure before Elder Suazo and I to have a meeting with all of their family together. It was very special. Karla who was baptised a couple weeks before I got to Sonaguera and just recently returned from EFY conducted the meeting. Right when she began she burst into tears. We knew how much this meant to her to have her family all together. Karla chose to talk about Faith. We had a great discussion and read many great scriptures. Elder Cruz and I bore our testimonies at the end. After I arm wrestled Karlas Dad for the second time and beat him again. haha We are almost exactly even though. We ate some crackers with this mashed meat stuff on top for a refreshment. It was good. At this point I felt I was going to be changed but did not know for sure. I'm so glad I was able to participate in this great family night with some of my greatest friends my last night in Sonaguera. That night we also ate homeade pizza with President Campos, his family, and the other Elders at his Mom's house. Great last dinner. 

When we got back to the house we had a text on our phone of all those who were being changed. It's 

Colon Zone

quite the feeling right before you know. Elder Cruz read off the names and yep Elder Guzman and I were being transferred. I had so many mixed emotions and still do. Elder Monterosa called and told us that we also had a district meeting in Tocoa in the morning so I had to get all packed that night. That was a bummer because we were planning to go around and say good bye to everyone on Tuesday but we had to wake up and head straight to Tocoa. Luckily before, I felt that I was going to be transfered so I got emails and said good bye to almost everyone. It was sad to leave Sonaguera. It is such a beatiful place and I have made many great friendships. Tuesday Elder Guzman and I visited investigators with the Elders in Tocoa and then stayed the night with them. We had to get up at 1:00am this morning to take a bus to San Pedro Sula. We woke up and took a taxi to the bus station. We were supposed to meet 2 other elders there but turns out we got there two minutes late! We had to wait there until almost 3:30 to take another bus! I tried to sleep as we waited but it was hard, so I read my patriarchal blessing. On the bus I tried to sleep as good as I could. Elder Guzman and I didn't even know exactly where we needed to go. It was quite the adventure. Elder Guzman called one of the APs on the bus using a cell phone of a nice man and asked him exactly where we needed to go. I'm still confused about the whole thing but we finally made it to the huge bus transition place in San Pedro Sula at about 8:30. The transfer meeting started at 9:00. The bus we were ¨supposed¨ to take from there was not there so we ended up paying a taxi to take us all the way to the Chapel. We ended up talking a lot about the Church with the driver. God works in mysterious ways and I do not doubt we were meant to end up with this man at the time we did. We gave him a restoration pamphlet and a Book of Mormon. He said he would read the books and would like to visit the Church and listen. We made it late to the transfer meeting but I'm confident it was all part of God´s plan. 

The transfer meeting was very spiritual and fun. The Elders and Sisters who were about to be heading home shared some very powerful testimonies. One of the Elders sang a beautiful song solo with the piano. I felt the spirit strong. It's quite the feeling when they start announcing the changes. Each person stands up when their name is called and then moves to sit with their new companion and zone. ¨Elder Conover, of Sonaguera, Companion Mayor, in Progreso with Elder Flores!¨ My new companion is from El Salvador. He has been here in Honduras for 1 month. He is great! We are going to have a great time! I saw Paige Porter at the meeting! Along with Elder Christopherson and Elder Winkel who were both in my 

A friend from home!  Sister Paige Porter in yellow

district at the MTC. It was so great to see them all. Elder Winkel is actually in my zone now! It was so good to see Paige.  My companion and I took a mini bus to Progreso. It was about a 20 min drive but the bus was so packed with people! Standing and sitting. I had my suit jacket on for the first part and felt like I was in a sauna. There was a young adult who new good English who talked to me on the bus, he works on a cruise ship! We made it to Progresso and very first ate lunch at Wendys! Then we took another taxi to my new house! The house is a lot bigger, has a toaster, and a fridge that works good. I grew to love our little house in Sonaguera and in some ways I like it better but this house will be great. 

I feel great with my new companion! Our specific area is a little ways from the center of town which is a lot bigger than Sonaguera. Our area is a lot like Sonaguera with dirt roads and very poor people. There is a huge beautiful mountain that has houses going up a little ways. They are all in our area! I got all my things organized and unpacked and now we are writing in the house of the relief society president. She has a public internet room as part of the house. She is super nice and gave us some drink similar to hot chocolate with bread. Right now all I need is some sleep but I am very excited for my new area! My companion told me that there hasn't been a baptism here since August but they have one this Saturday. He said the other Elders before didn't work too hard so I think we can change those numbers. Oh and tomorrow we have a big meeting with the other San Pedro Sula mission and a quorum of the 70! I'm super happy about that because in my zone before they weren't going to go because its so far but now I get to go! Thank you all for your love and support. I love you all more than words can describe. How's the work of Salvation going back home? I will write again on Monday! Have a great week! Count your blessings. The temple back home really is so close to not be going at least once a week. Love the Challenge! I hope you like this long email Mom. Adiooooos!

Elder Austin Measles from the Scorpion soccer days! (ages 10-12)

Love Elder Conover

Maybe my last p-day in Sonaguera‏

This is the life!  I love this picture!

Hola familia!

Sorry I didn't tell you last week that today I would be on earlier than normal. Today we only have 1/2 p-day because this week is the week of changes! Tonight we find out who will be leaving Sonaguera. I will for sure have a new companion this week because Elder Cruz is going to be training a new missionary. I think that I will be heading to a new place because I have been here longer than Elder Cruz. If I do leave it will be sad to leave all the great people I've gotten to know here. I do feel up for a change though. Tonight we'll find out! 

How's everyone doing? I hope life is going great for each and every one of you. 

Did I ever tell you about the "moto-taxis" here? When we don't have a lot of time or we need to travel aways we take a moto-taxi. They are quite the vehicles. They are imported from India! Pretty much only Sonaguera uses them, maybe some other small towns. I will send a picture.

Last Saturday we had interviews with President Klein here in Sonaguera. It was great being able to talk with him one on one again. He is so great. Remember to keep him in your prayers.

I played the piano yesterday in Church. We took it back to the chapel before church in a moto-taxi. :) 

I want to tell you more about some little things we do as missionaries. Every night when we walk through the door we first kneel down and say a prayer then we evaluate the day and write in our agenda what our actual numbers were for the day of the following goals. Then we plan in our agenda for the next day. We set goals for how many lessons we would like to teach with a member present, other lessons, how many references we would like, contacts, new investigators, and how many lessons we would like to share with members. We set these goals according to the visits we have planned for the next day. Its great to be able to plan like this and it helps us have more success. This last week with the three different types of lessons we taught 49 lessons! It has been a great week! I love you all so much and hope you are having a great Martin Luther King Jr. day! Everyday my faith grows stronger. I know that this is the work of God. I know that the Spirit guides us in all that we do everyday. I know there is great power in studying the scriptures in the morning and pondering and applying what you learn throughout the day. "Pray always that ye may come of conquerer" I know that studying the scriptures, praying always, fasting, going to the temple, obeying the commandments, keeping our covenants, and repenting are the things we must do to make it back to Heavenly Father. I know that we overcome the power of Satan when we do all of these things. Remember faith is hoping for things which are not seen, which are true. Alma Chapter 32 is a great chapter about faith I challenge you all to read it. Something President Klein told me is faith is not a yes or no thing we each have a certain level of faith. I know that his words are true and that we must continually strive to strengthen our faith. Last week I told you to read Ether 5 but I meant Ether 12, both are great! Have a great week family! We'll see how this week plays out! I love you!

I love the stickers on the table-he sent some of these to our little girls!

Love Elder Conover 

I am learning more and more each day

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing? Thank you so much for each of your emails! Last Monday as we were traveling to Trujillo to go to the beach a truck filled with Honduras military stopped the bus and every male in the bus including us were told to get off the bus and line up against the side of the bus. I knew things like this happen in Honduras so even though I had no idea what was going on I just went with the flow. Us 4 elders were the last ones, at the end of the bus. Everyone put their hands up facing the bus and the military started checking everyone for guns and asking for ID. I was worried because I didn't have my Passport or anything because it was Pday and all of that is in my bag I normally carry but not on pdays. One of the military guys was looking at our name tags and told us he visits our church where he lives. For some reason I don't know by the time they got to us they told everyone to get back on the bus and didn't ask us or check us for anything! Turned out only to be a great blessing because I needed to take a leak really bad. :) haha [Editor's note:  I almost took this last sentence out, but those of you who understand the reference to one of Grandpa Cannon's quotes may get a kick out of it.] But seriously it could have been a very bad situation if they would have asked us for our passports. Great blessing! 

I had a great experience there in Trujillo sharing the gospel with a man from Oregon who has a house in Trujillo. He has had quite the rough life but has and is continually searching for God in his life. I bore my testimony of Joseph Smith, he told me "that is powerful". He told me he has a Book of Mormon. I told him to read it and ask God if it is true. It was a very spiritual experience. It's these little experiences that keep me going (my gasoline). I challenge you all to pray and have the same experiences back home.

Friday afternoon I started feeling very sick and by that night I was super sick! We were doing divisions so I was with Elder Guzman and spending the night with him. I was so sick we had to stop teaching and go home. I had bad diarrhea, fever, headache, and threw up once. Elder Guzman gave me a blessing and was a great nurse. I tried to sleep as much as I could and by lunch Saturday I was feeling quite a bit better. I'm so happy Heavenly Father blessed me to be healthy enough to be able to baptize Astrid! My companion baptized Nikole and I baptized Astrid. They are the sisters of Lester, the young man Elder Suazo baptized. It was great! Afterwords I went home and Elder Monterosa stayed with me while I rested more because I was not in condition to visit people. Elder Cruz and Elder Guzman went around and visited different investigators and members. Sunday morning I felt a lot better and made it to Church. I was able to go around Sunday. Which was great! That night Brother Ortega gave me three lemons and told me to squeeze all the juice out and drink the straight lemon juice with this one pill. That night I drank that (man was it sour!) and today I am almost back to full health. 

Not yesterday but the week before I played the piano for the hymns during sacrament meeting. Finally the branch brought out the keyboard they have had the whole time! We brought it home with us yesterday in the Ortegas truck and I am going to practice this week. I plan to keep playing each Sunday! I'm happy with this opportunity to improve my piano skills and learn more hymns!:)  [and his parents are thrilled that all those years are paying off!]

The Work of Salvation is covering the earth. Please share the Gospel back home.  

This Saturday we have interviews with President Klein! This also may be my last full week with Elder Cruz! This change has flown by! We are going to finish strong this week! I am learning more and more each day. I am trying to have a good attitude and focus on one day at a time. If you guys want to have a goal with me I am focusing on one Christlike attribute from Preach my Gospel each month. This month, Faith! It is great! I am learning each day! I also challenge anyone to beat my sit up time for 100 sit ups, 4:35 right now. ;) I love you all so much and hope you have a great week! Let me know if there is anything specific you would like me to share. I will let you know how things go this week!:) Search, Ponder, Pray. Ether 5 is a great chapter to study. I love you all so much! Keep being so wonderful. I am so grateful for each one of you.

Love Elder Conover

Pictures from the baptism: Astrid and Nikole Contreres. I do not look good in these pictures but that's alright. Astrid is 10 and Nikole 8. We are hoping with time we will be able to help convert their parents and whole family! They and their family have become great friends of mine. 

First time touching the Atlantic Ocean!

Dear my incredible family,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! After I wrote last week I realized I didn't tell you happy new year and felt bad. I hope you had a great celebration and that the new year is going good. It sounds like you did! I'm pleased to inform you that at 10:20 my time so 9:20 your time Elder Cruz and I brought in the new year here by banging pans:), lighting off fireworks, and screaming happy new year and feliz año nuevo! Because of mission rules, I happily slept the last hours of the year away. :) Thanks for bringing in the new year Honduras time! haha 

Don't worry about the package. I'm sorry its caused so much trouble. As much as I would love to have it, It's helped me understand more what really matters during Christmas time. It's not to hard because I'm here with people who never have Christmas. Thanks for trying so hard to get it to me! I will love it no matter what day it gets here!:) 

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas break! I'm sure it's tough to go back to School. I know how that feels. I'm glad that you are enjoying Cannon and focusing on the things that really matter. It really is so important to be grateful for and focus on what is really important. 

That is so nice of Aunt Gloria, Uncle Earl, and Great Grandma Hicks. When I have time I will write them a thank you.

Haha I'm glad Miriam is concerned for the welfare of the bishopric. :)

Ahhhh! Mom, you and Dad saw the new Hobbit! Lucky! That's so fun you got to go together and I'm glad Cannon was good. New Cannon printer! Awesome. Wow, that is awesome Mom; all you are doing with PhotoShop and this new mission wall. Sleep Spirit Salad! :) I'm glad you are loving the pictures. I have a feeling you will love the ones I send today. Jairo is trying to go to Utah. But it is very difficult for people here to go to the U.S. If he does go I will for sure give him the house phone and address. He is awesome! He has jumped right into magnifying his calling as a priesthood holder and has drove us around in his jeep and taught lessons with us and everything! He is one of my best friends here. 

We were just told that they are closing so I have to wrap up right now. I wanted to write a lot more. I'm so sorry! I will respond and write more next week.

Today we went to the beach in Trujillo! It was awesome! First time touching the Atlantic Ocean! Things are going good here! I am growing and learning a lot. I am realizing more and more each day all the blessings I have had all my life. This week we are going to have a baptism! I love you all so much. Thank you for all the support. Thank you for all your emails and notes from when I was ordained. I will write more next week. I'm very sorry I can't write more today. We got back later than we wanted to from the beach. I know that the Church is true without a doubt. I have had some great experiences I will share next week. Love you all!

Love, Elder Conover

Elder Eric Conover
San Pedro Sula East Mission
12 Calle Av. Circunvalacion S.O.
Edif Yude Canahuati, 3 Nivel, Oficina 4

San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras C.A

Heavenly Father's plan for us is the Plan of Happiness

Dear Family,

It was so great to Skype with you all on Christmas! It was weird not being home for Christmas. I am missing you more than ever. You guys were all really blurry when I talked to you but it was still great to hear you and sort of see you. For the next time we Skype if you can I would love it if you got a new and better camera so I can see you clearly. Don't get me wrong it was still so wonderful, I would just love to see each of you better. You all were so awesome on Skype and I'm glad you had the great ideas to pray, sing, and have me bear my testimony in Spanish. It was a very spiritual and amazing experience for me. Thank you all for being so supportive, loving, and kind. Thank you Mom for doing the blog and sending out the email, and for all the many other things you do. Thank you Mom and Dad for helping me before I left get all the things that I needed. I truly have been so blessed to have everything I need. You helped me be so prepared. Thank you! I want to hold my little brother Cannon so bad! I know Heavenly Father will help me make it to that day and everyday afterwards. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I'm glad that you got my letters! I hope when I'm a Dad to keep the same Christmas traditions going! They're the best!:) Yes my package is being held in ¨hostage¨. President Klein last Saturday at our Zone Christmas meeting informed me about it. Don´t worry about it. I'm glad I get a longer Christmas!;) That is a wonderful Christmas miracle you found your bracelet right after we talked Mom. I'm so glad Matthew found it! Definitely a great tender mercy from Heavenly Father. I'm glad the music program went good at Grandma's! All of you are so talented. That's crazy Elder Christophersons sister got called to Honduras! That's fun you're talking with other parents on FB Mom. I'm sorry you missed Sacrament meeting. I hope soon you both can make it for the Sacrament. 

After we talked on Christmas we visited some people like normal and we also had a Christmas dinner with Brother Suamy in his house with the other Elders. He cooked super good chicken and we ate it with bread and super yummy hot chocolate. We also (probably breaking the rules) bought some fireworks and celebrated by lighting some of them off! haha it was quite hilarious. It was a very different, super hot, but great Christmas! 

Yesterday 5 minutes before church started Brother Suamy asked me if I could give a talk because one person didn't show up. I told him I could. I quickly thought of what I would like to share and looked up some scriptures. I shared Moses 1:39 and John 3:16. I testified and testify right now that Heavenly Father's plan for us is the Plan of Happiness and that only through Jesus Christ we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and our families forever. It was a great experience giving this talk on the spot, the Holy Ghost really helped me say what the Lord wanted me to say. 

Other than really missing you guys, things are going great here! We are working hard and experiencing wonders everyday. I love you all so much. How's the missionary work going back home? Always be in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that the second coming is right around the corner. We must all repent and be ready for and help others be ready for that day. Keep doing all the great things you are doing! You are the best family I could ever have! :) I love you so much.  

Love Elder Conover

P.S Elder Cruz is wondering if by chance you will be sending another package? He is wondering if you could send a small art kit and he would pay me for it? I told him I don't think you are but that I would ask. 

Pictures: Eating dinner at the Canales familys house on Christmas eve! Elder Monterosa and Elder Guzman had two baptisms this last Saturday. It was great! 

Elder Eric Conover

San Pedro Sula East Mission

12 Calle Av. Circunvalacion S.O.

Edif Yude Canahuati, 3 Nivel, Oficina 4

San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras C.A