Mount Timpanogos Temple

Mount Timpanogos Temple

Friday, April 4, 2014

5 a las 5:00!

Hola mi amada familia, 


How is everyone doing? As I read each one of your letters I want so badly to give each one of you a big hug!:) I love each one of you muchisimo!!! Gracias por su amor y ayuda.

Miriam, Angela, Jose, Oscar, and Carlos were all baptised 29 de Marzo and confirmed 30 de Marzo. It was one of the most special experiences in my life. Miriam and Angela both shared their testimonies afterward. They both bore testimony that they know the Church is true. It was very powerful, and rewarding to hear their words. Isis, Angela's sister who was baptised the week before gave a talk about baptism and did a wonderful job. For the first time this baptism was coordinated by us and the Ward mission leader. It worked a lot better. Every person who was baptised changed their lives. All of them had to give up something, more than one thing and do more things than before in order to enter the gate of baptism. They all have strengthed my testimony and I am so grateful to be here watching and helping people make these miraculous changes in their life according to their faith and repentance. 

Miriam is 51 years old. Her husband lives en la Estados Unidos. Right now she just lives with her small grand daughter Valerie who is 3 years old. You can see Valerie in the picture. She is so cute. About a month ago my companion  and I were looking for a referrence but couldn't find him so we decided to contact Miriam's house. Right when we first started talking to her she told us to pass right in. That day and since we've had some amazing lessons with her. One day the whole lesson was just answering her great questions. A little over a week ago we had the goal with her that she would be baptized 5 de Abril but then we found out it is general conference so we needed to move the date to the next week. The day we were going to move her baptism date to April 12 we taught lesson number 3 The Gospel of Jesus Christ with a very great member named Brother Alberengo. At the end of the lesson I felt that I should give her two options not just one. We told her that because of general conference she could be baptised 29 de Marzo or she could wait and be baptised 12 de Abril. We told her that we were there to help her prepare for either one of these dates. She told us that this month would be better! To be honest it was not what we were expecting. The lesson started without even the idea of moving the date up a week. It was so happy to hear her response. This lesson was last friday the 21st.  My companion and Elder Reid taught her the commandments in one big lesson. I was with Elder Duran that day teaching with him in their area. When we all got home Elder Flores told me that during the lesson they found out that Miriam did drink 4 cups of coffee everyday. She made the change, right when she learned. My companion and Elder Reid and Miriam each held the coffe cup and dumped the coffee down the drain together! She is now giving away all the other bags of coffee she has. I wish I could have been in this lesson! Anyways Miriam was prepared by Heavenly Father. She has so much faith and I am so happy to have had the opportunity to baptize her. Her testimony is so powerful. 

Angela is 25 yrs old and is the sister of Isis. It would have been great if they both would have been baptised last week but it all ended up being part of Heavenly Father's plan. Isis gave such a great talk at the baptism. It was so special that Angela could listen to her little sister give a talk who was just baptized one week before.  Angela has gone through a ton! Another very strong case of faith. She gave up coffe also among other more serious things. Hours and hours of teaching her and her family. Im so happy that she made the great choice to be baptised. She has changed her life dramatically. My companion baptized Angela. 

Jose is 15 yrs old. He is the tallest of the three boys. Oscar is the G with his hands in his pockets and is 14 yrs old. haha and Carlos is the smallest. He is 12. They have been so fun to teach and get to know. We have become great friends. They are all reading the Book of Mormon. Jose gave up playing soccer on Sunday to come to Church. They all also gave up coffee. haha These HondureƱos love coffee! From when we first taught these three I thought of Matthew, Andrew and I. Jose and Oscar are real brothers but Carlos lives in the same house also. They rock! Future leaders of the Church!:) I baptized Jose and my companion baptised Oscar and Carlos. Carlos had to be baptized 10 times! haha His feet and knees kept coming out of the water because he kept paniking. The Bishop talked to him after about the 7th time and told him to keep his feet locked together. The good news is he was baptized! :) He was a good sport about it even though the bishop said he set the record for the ward. haha 

The confirmations on Sunday also went super well. I confirmed Oscar. It was my first time confirming! My companion confirmed Jose, the Bishop Miriam, Harlinton (18yr old young mens president) confirmed Carlos and Brother Jacinto counselor to the Bishop confirmed Angela. We participated in all of the confirmations. 

Im so happy for these 5 and I am so blessed and thankful for the privilege to be a missionary. We are now teaching a new family and the parents are married! We taught the Plan of Salvation to them yesterday and Denis the husband said he was willing to do it all to make it to the Celestial Kingdom. His wife Glenda doesn't quite have the energy he does but they told us the first day we taught them they started praying together. They have 2 children. I'm really hoping that they will keep progressing. They are beautiful and we need more worthy priesthood holders in the Church. Please pray that things can go well with this family. Pray that Glenda will have the faith to act and that Denis will continue to lead his family in rightousness. 

I love you all so much! Have a fantastic week! I believe we will be watching general conference at the same time! :) We are going to the stake center to watch. We will be able to watch all of the sessions. I am so excited!:) Last conference in the CCM I wrote some questions down before and that helped a ton! Each one was answered. I encourage you all to do the same. How did this Month go studying Charity together? I can't believe it's the last day of March! Sadly my toe isn't looking too good. I'm thinking that I will have the doctor look at it again tomorrow morning. We will see how that goes. Thank you for all your love! Adioooooooooooooooos!

Love Elder Conover

Bonus:
Here's part of his letter to me, since some of you may appreciate it:)  

Sounds like a blast you guys had in Las Vegas. That cold pool sounds like paradise right now. It is super hot here!! In the middle of the day it's 95-100 degrees! That is crazy that Bro and Sis Mendenhall are home from their mission and Tel! Wow! Dyer Highway joined again!:) It is such happy news about Josh and Megan! I do remember when you told us that you were going to have another baby. You told us the day before easter right? or no? out by the pine trees? I wish that I could  see my little brother Cannon rolling over and listen to his laugh and hold him in my arms. I want to sooooo bad! I'm so excited that we get to talk soon also!:) I love you Mom! Have a fantastic week!