WEEK TEN: CHRISTMAS!

December 26, 2016

¡Halo! 

This week was pretty awesome. I got to call my family, we had a lot of opportunities to talk to people in the street, and I've also never had a week where more appointments fell through!

A recent convert family has a friend who lives in the same house.  Her name is Erika, and she is eager to learn about the Church. I think we will be able to set a baptismal date for her for the 14th. She's already came to Church twice, and she is in a great environment to learn more and comply with our compromises. 

We had a few members want to give us food, so that was awesome. The family Bustos we are working with so that we can reactive their two sons, and also just to try and build enough relationship with any members that they'll be willing to help us. They all speak English, Portugués, Spanish, and one speaks Italian. Really cool family. 

A family that I really love, is the family of Diego Gonzalez. He has a ton of family, and his Mom runs a nail salon, where only Christian people come. Every time we swing by there is always new people to teach, and they normally accept to have (ANOTHA ONE). They also give us food, and we spent all of today playing soccer with them. Family of six, plus the other people like twenty. 

This week was obviously pretty unique in that I was able to witness my first Colombian Christmas, and also my first away from my family!  All of the poor people make a huge fire in each street and cook meat and drink beer, and the richer people are inside their houses sleeping. They really celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, from like 6 pm to 12 am.  They party and dance, and at Midnight they eat dinner, and then dance some more til like 3 in the morning. There's also some fireworks, but not much, since it's Illegal in Bogotá. 

We also had a six zone Christmas dinner! Salitre, Duitama, Granada, Bogotá, and Dorado all came to a suppppeeeerrr rich area of Bogotá to have a dinner, secret Santa, and all of us performed a skit. Our zone's was super bad, and really embarrassing to be a part of.  We had a good time though. I got to see Blair, Karren, and Mooney from my CCM Group, which was awesome. 

This week, my testimony is over CHRISTMAS! And more specifically, the way people change in this time, to be more giving, charitable, and more able to feel the spirit of God, and give thanks to Him. The people in Colombia don't have that same spirit as we do in the states, and I just want to give thanks for the 17 Christmas's I had with that spirit.  In Moses 7:18, it talks about the people of god, Zion. They have no poor among them, and they dwell in righteousness, with one heart, and one mind. I think that we get the closest as possible to this state during the time before Christmas, and it is a wonderful way to express love and gratitude for our Savior.  But what we should do more, is to keep that spirit, and try to apply it to every situation we are in, that we might be able to edify others and warm their hearts, whether the temperature is hot or cold. I'm so happy to be in Colombia serving the Lord, and trying to bring that spirit to his children here. 

I hope that all of you have something to write me about, because everybody has stopped emailing me!  Three months down, twenty-one left to go. I hope you all have a good week, and set some goals to improve your life, and become closer to the Savior. For me, one of my new year´s goals is to read the Bible, and Book of Mormon in Spanish. We should all read them once again (or for the first time, in English). 

I love you all, and I hope that the Lord blesses all of you in your righteous endeavors and goals. See ya in the 2017!

Love, 

Elder Connor Tracy

Colombia Bogota North Mission

12/20/16: WEEK NINE

MY FIRST BAPTISM! 

Gilbert Alexis Venegas Saenz, or something like that. He is 44 years old and is my first baptized gangster!

This week we had one baptism. Three accepted baptismal invitations, and we have around ten people who we are waiting to attend Church regularly to baptize.  I am going right now actually to extend six more baptismal invitations, so wish me luck!

We are starting to really pick up the pace here in Cedros. Starting to contact way more, and we are starting to get a huge influx of Venezuelans. They are super golden to teach. They all come here because you make $10 a day, but in Venezuela you make $1. They are just all illegal so they have to search with caution!

We had a Christmas Dinner as a Ward, but weren't allowed to attend by rules.  SO we went out and searched for three hours.  Found a family who wanted the gospel, and then five others who just had curiosity. Then we snuck in to the dinner at the end to eat. It was a fun night. 

So on Sunday, I was the one who confirmed Gilbert, IN SPANISH!  It was super chèvere, because I said what the spirit directed, just in Spanish. He is going to be a big help to us in having a member in lessons. He knows the Bible super well, but needs time for L.D.M.

My Testimony this week is over diligence.  A scripture super good for this is in Doctrine & Covenants 56:26-28. We need to be anxiously engaged, and be willing to have some initiative. In the mission this is imperative, because if you don't seek, you don't find.  Also, we need to be diligent in all of the things that we need to be doing daily. Read the scriptures, pray, try and search for ways to do good for others. In this way, we can prepare others to hear the gospel, or just to make small changes in their life.

This week was sweet. We have a lot of Zone Conferences or whatever, so I'll be having a good Christmas. I hope to you all also a Merry Christmas.  Isaiah 7:14. 

Love, 

Elder Connor Tracy

DECEMBER 12, 2016: WEEK EIGHT

12/12/16

Hello my adoring fans! 

This week has been the weirdest I've had in the mission. We are walking down the street, and I started thinking about our semi new investigator, Gilbert. We stop by his house, nobody is home. Ugh.  So we leave, and I felt my FIRST PROMPTING!  WOOOOOO.  Anyway, we took a different path than normal to get to our next cita (appointment). The first steps we take on the new path, we see Gilbert down the street! He had been hit by a car.

He doesn't have a job right now, doesn't have insurance, and the dude that hit him did a hit and run.  He looked suuuuuper bad.  Face all swollen, road rash on hands and face.  He said he had it all up and down his body. So every day, I've been bringing him food, four headache pills, and nothing else, since he says he hurts super bad. He slept through church (we even had a ride set up for him) but I can't really blame him. Hopefully us helping him brings the answer he needs to feel the church is true. 

Other investigators are doing well.  We are just struggling to get church attendance, or times to visit with them. Members are starting to warm up to us also. Basically just a swagalicious week.

This week we also have been trying to have some contact with one of the recent converts.  They told us that the rest of their family is arriving in Colombia from Venezuela, and they are bringing with them a young lady who they say is super ready for baptism! Heck yeah.

 

Celebrating the candles 

Day of candles in Colombia 

My testimony this week is over the nacimiento de Jesús (birth of Jesus). Born of a virgin, in the little town of Bethlehem. Isaiah 7:14.  Pastores (shepherds) tending to their flock, and angels appearing and singing to them, about peace on earth and good will to men. How hard is it to believe in the little things like we need to obey the commandments, when we all accept without a doubt or question these Extreme Wonders that have been shown. Both of these things are in the scriptures. Also, that men from other lands received this sign, and sought out the child, bringing gifts, and then from heavenly guidance, returning another way, that Herod the "great" wouldn't be able to find the child.  What a wonderful message, and a time of the year to be thankful, and remember what matters most.

Gratz to Oscar T. for making THREE All State Bands. That's préééééééétty dank. 

I hope you all have a great week, and find some opportunity to pray and read about the birth of Christ! 

Elder Connor Tracy

Colombia Bogota North Mission

September 2016 - September 2018

WEEK SEVEN

December 5, 2016

¡Halo! ¿Qué más? 

This week was sick.  We did a lot of cool stuff, and the Lord is helping us harvest the field, and also to bundle the tares.

We had exchanges with the Zone Leaders. During the day I couldn't find all of the houses of the people we wanted to teach. But it's all right because, since I couldn't find one house, I decided to try and knock another door of a dude who wanted to learn about prayer and a personal relationship with God. 

Well. . . 

His name is Diego.  He has four kids, and a wife. He's super awesome, and I think he's golden.  He told us we were an answer to his prayers after we taught him one lesson about prayer.  Also his kids played a bit of soccer with us today. Tan Chévere. 

Then we got a reference from the Hermanas for a lady who has two kids and a husband, Luz Estela.  She heard the first lesson, and denied to be baptized, but then when I reiterated the question if you can come to a knowledge that this is true. She said for sure, and her family also. (Husband wasn't there for the lesson) it's going pretty good.

Gilbert is progressing super super, and Marcello is starting to de-progress. We will be trying harder with them, and I know that everybody has the agency. 

I loved the First Presidency Christmas Broadcast last night, even though I didn't really understand much of it. I got enough out of it that Christ is important, and we need to be focusing on having the Holy Ghost to be with us. The gift he himself gave to us after he left this earth.

My testimony this week is over how we can become more like Christ. During this time of year, it is easy to look for activities to help others and to better ourselves.  But later on in the year sometimes we forget what we wanted to do,or we just give up on our goals because they're a little hard to do.  But I know that we all have the opportunity to change, every year, month, day, hour.  It all depends on us.

Revelations 3:20 is good for this, because we know that the Lord stands at the door and knocks.  We just need to recognize this, open the door, and let him change us for the better.  Micah 6:8, to see what things specifically the Lord requires of us.  D & C 4:5,6 to see if while we are changing, are we developing these attributes that we need for this earthly life. 

I love all of you, and I am doing good in Colombia. Please, write me and tell me about any experiences you've had. Or just write! 

Elder Tracy

NOVEMBER 28, 2016 -- WEEK SIX

November 28, 2016

This week we had a special event at the Church at 6:00 pm to talk about happiness, and to have a bit of food. We also had Sacrament. Typical.

This week was a week where we had a lot happen. A lot of good, and one super bad. 

The investigator Gilbert attended the special event at the church at 6, and also for Sacrament. He said he loved it, and after wards we had a lesson with him on the Restoration.  He accepted a baptismal date for the 17th of December, if he feels that our message is true.  He also was pretty open with us and said he felt comfortable around me.  I think because I can speak English and he can ask questions he thinks are stupid to me without others being able to understand.  He knows a lot about the scriptures, so when we talked about Joseph Smith's first vision we also had to talk about Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration to be able to explain it.  It's crazy because you'd expect a gangster without religion to know nothing more or less about scripture.  Anyway, he is a golden investigator.

Marcello is progressing still.  He is working to break some addictions.  He is a guy who knows a lot about the scriptures, but it's Jewish belief, and his wife knows the catholic way, so we have a lot of talk during those lessons also.

My favorite family (I love this family) is the Family Garcia. Leonor, Lucy, Allisson, and Diego Andres. They are super cool.  They are super open and willing to believe, but the problem is attending church.  They are about 30 minutes walking from the church, and money is somewhat a problem, because she is paying for her kids to receive good education. We just need to keep visiting and talking with them, and they will start to see the blessings.

This week, we met a lady who can see spirits, and contacted her.  After about 30 minutes, we had probably nine new spirit investigators, and also her.  It was a little crazy, but now we just try to avoid her in the streets.

Another cool experience when we were walking down the street, and we started hearing this whistling.  Well, in Colombia, thieves whistle to call their friends to them.  The whistling was a dude behind us, so we started walking super fast and when we turned a corner, started running.  It sucks because I like whistling a lot, but if I whistle I'm going to get robbed!  This has happened about three times where we've been marked for robbing.  Edgy.

Anyway, my testimony this week is over Joseph Smith!  He is such an awesome person!  Almost everybody in the United States knows about him, whether they call him John Smith, or the gold digger, they all have had his name, for good or for bad. The first Prophet of the latter day, and final dispensation. I bear testimony that he was a prophet, and he did restore the Church of Jesus Christ back to the earth, that we might all come unto a knowledge of our Redeemer.  Just as all of the greatest prophets like Abraham, or Moses, he has something incredible he has done. A fruit, that we may know him by. For Abraham, he was willing to sacrifice his covenant son. For Moses, he led Israel out of Egypt, and performed some of the greatest miracles we can read about, along the way.  For Joseph Smith, we have the Book of Mormon, and other modern revelations, as well as The True Church, re-established on the earth!  I invite all men to hear his story, and to study the Book of Mormon.   Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and then for them to ponder it. It is so important for us to know about these things for ourselves, and we have been given a promise. 

In Moroni 10:4-5. 

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

If we hear of these things, or read the Book of Mormon, we should pray, not accepting any teachings of men as enough, but to go to God himself, and ask if these things are true. And if we do this with faith, real intent, and a sincere heart, we can know the truth of these things! 

Anyway, I am doing good in Colombia. It's awesome that Harrisonville won State.  Now we just have to do it next year. Best of luck also to all of the people in Elf.  I wish I was there to be able to watch it.

Love,

Elder Connor Tracy

Colombia Bogota North Mission

September 2016 - September 2018

NOVEMBER 21, 2016 -- WEEK FIVE

Elder Connor Ross Tracy
Colombia Bogota North Mission
September 2016 -- September 2018

November 21, 2016

This week we had Stake Conference, companion exchanges, and other stuff. It was a good week.

We received a reference from other Elders to teach a man named Gilberto. He lived in the United States 30 years and is in a humbling place in his life right now.  He is ready to be taught.  He also lives with a ton of Jehovah's Witnesses. We have visited once and tried to visit twice. The other two times the Jehovah's Witnesses have tried to Bible bash with us, but we don´t contend with them. 

We have been trying to visit the families that have inactive members and try to help. We are also starting to drop people who aren´t progressing, and try to work around areas which are easy for people to receive help or attend church.  For example, in a circle around the chapel is an area that is strong, because the people can't have the excuse the chapel is too far away, which is an excuse for others in the far parts of the area.

I am way better than I was when I left at football. And I am adjusting to Micro, which is football on a small court with a super small ball. 

]Also, my Spanish is getting way better.  I can speak 10x better than I could my first week in the field.  Also, there are tons of people who try to speak English in the street with me and invite me to smoke or drink or to help them build a factory or give them money.  There are also a lot of people who want to rob me! I wouldn't plan a trip for Bogotá.  It is safe from 5 am in the morning to about 7:45 pm at night. After that you need cuidado. 

I don't really have much else to write, but this week is my first where I've felt like Colombia was normal for me, and that I knew more or less the area. I haven't been having any super big struggles, so this is good also. The Lord has definitely been protecting me.

 

My testimony this week has been over the Lord's ways compared to our ways.  

Isaiah 55:8-9 is a good scripture over this topic. For me, I love my friends and want to be able to talk with them. But just as all of us, the first two years of freedom sometimes is too much for people. I am out serving the Lord while all the others I was acquainted with are making their first, and sometimes biggest mistakes. I am in a more humble place, and I can see a different way of life, and appreciate so much more the United States. We all need to think over our ways, and then his ways. Then, like Lamentations 3:40, we need to return to it if we have strayed. It is like in John 7:17. If we will live in his way, we will see the benefits and blessings. 

I am doing fine, and I'm starting to get a grasp on the language. It sucks being the last one to learn Spanish, but I will get there!

Good luck to Harrisonville in the State match.  If we can beat Webb City,  we can beat anybody.

Elder Connor Tracy

P.S.  Added from email to Connor's Mom.

Here in Bogota people would love to buy all of our stuff. The people here are willing to pay 100 pesos a minute to talk, and the phones are tied to windows or carts in the street, and also there is usually candy on the carts. There are also tons of people who live off of the trash of other people. With carts that they pull themselves that are probably super heavy.  Also, another legitimate job is bottle collectors. and the beer here that is most popular is called Poker. The streets have a few dogs, but not too much, and all of the parks have people in them until about 8 pm. After 8 pm, you are going to get robbed if you are walking in a street that doesn't have camera's, guards, or other people in it.  But we are working.

For me, I was just thinking how I have lived more of my life baptized than not. My next goal is more endowed than not, and my next more married than not. I have a lot to go until I am where you guys are. I will try to take more pictures. The problem is, if you stop to take them, the ladrones (robbers) will see us and want to steal our stuff. So we don't take many pictures in the streets. 

There are people who enter every single panaria, give people candy, and then ask for money. If you touch the candy they'll hurt you or make you pay 1 mil per piece of candy, which is crazy.  Or people that pretend or are blind, or have babies who get on the bus service, and get on and off of every bus they can and sing or beg, and hope that people will give them money.

I never give money. I only give the restoration pamphlet if they want something.

November 14, 2016 -- WEEK THREE IN THE FIELD

Elder Connor Ross Tracy

Colombia Bogota North Mission

September 2016 -- September 2018

November 14, 2016

Elder Tracy -- Granada Stake, El Cedros Ward

I started teaching my first gangster. We have been trying to do more in the day, and we have been getting a good amount of investigators to church every week!

So the gangster is from Los Angelos.  He lived there twenty-two years. He is from Argentina, and he prefers being taught in English (Yes!). He has an inactive wife, and she can understand English, so double whammy. He accepted Baptism Lesson Two, and he is progressing pretty quickly.  Pretty humble family. Has attended church two weeks in a row. Just gotta keep him coming.

We have another baptism (if he feels that it is true) on the same date as the gangsta which is December 17th. He is from around here, has lived in Venezuela for a long time, then came back. He also has a super good member friend who brought him to church and taught him about the restoration.   And he really wants to understand about a spirit world, because he feels there is one.

Another lady who we are going to invite to baptism, who we think will accept, is super humble named Rubiela. We have had one lesson with her, where we basically just answered questions about the temple and other things that are super typical in Missouri.  She was willing to offer the closing prayer and started crying when she asked God to bless us. Awesome!

We have a lot of others we teach, who aren´t progressing or who are solely curious.  If those change I will write about it, but for now, let it suffice that I am finding as much success as I expected, and we will start doing more as I learn the area!

Elder Collahua and Elder Connor Tracy

An experience I had this week that has helped me to try and attend all church meetings, is we were going to a lunch appointment on Sunday, and on the way (I have a rain jacket and umbrella, my companion has nothing because he lost his umbrella) it began to rain and hail so much that my head hurt through my hood!  The roads became rivers, but we kept going because food, right?  We arrived, and she wasn't there, which really stunk. But, we walked back in all of this rain, and got to our apartment, and had some food.  But I was hungry for the rest of the day though.

But, the next day (today) there was a special testimony meeting scheduled for 6 am.  My compánion didn't want to go, but I made him.  We arrived, Marcello (the gangster and inactive wife) attended, and it was a really good experience. But what made it good, was that afterwards, we got six slices of bread, three pieces of cheese, a lot of eggs, and hot chocolate . After this, I will attend a meeting even if it's at 2:00 in the morning. 

I testify this week of our godly nature. We are all formed in the belly, and before this, God has known us. 

Jeremiah 1:5-6. We have been sent here, to gain experience and to learn, so that we might receive all that the Father hath. If we are zealous, Christ will sup with us, and us with him, and we will have an opportunity to receive all the Father has. Revelations 3:19-21.

A scripture that I have been pondering all week is 

Psalms 82:6. 

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Obviously, we are not gods. But it is curious that it says this. I think that just as a caterpillar is a butterfly, so we are children of God, who have not yet progressed to that point. 

I hope everybody at home is doing well. Can't believe that we beat Webb City in football! I love you all! And I hope you are having success in whatever endeavor you put your hand to. 

Elder Connor Ross Tracy

Preparing the Baptismal Font Before The Baptism.

For 66 cents I can have a small dinner or lunch or breakfast at a panaria. (with my companion we each get two normal pieces of bread, two sweet ones). It's pretty good. 

I love you mom.   Thank you for emailing me! It is boring during the week. The first two weeks of the field were the only times I've felt homesick.  During the CCM I didn't, and I don't think I will from here on out. I just need to work harder, and the Lord will bless you guys so I won't have anything to worry about or be thinking about.  Also, I want to know when Willy is able to talk, and when Charlotte can walk. It's crazy to think that Willy is almost one year old right now, and Katie might have another baby before I get back. Same for Bep Bep.  And Lonnie or Wee Wee might be married!

Anyway, I write in my journal every day also so I have my large plates. Maybe my emails and other things can be my small plates. I also write a little tidbit in the email every week about important things in the week, either for me to remember or to use in my homecoming talk. I don't know. 

Anyway, I Love you guys! I gotta go!!