Monday, October 31, 2016

10/31/16 -- AM Emails from Connor

I'm on right now for a bit, but also at 4:30 I believe. I need to reprove my companion about how much he uses computers but my Spanish isn't good enough.

So my area of is called Granada. I'm in Bogota, in District Cedros.  So the actual place is Bogotá, in a smaller area of Bogota called Cedros.  My companion has been in this area a month and a half, but he's been out one year.  He's 27 so he is an old bloke.


We live in an apartment meant for four but just for us so it is nice.  He writes English but he doesn't understand or speak it.  It's really difficult for the Latinos to pronounce English for some reason. 


I should study Spanish but I haven´t been.  I read Book of Mormon or Bible for thirty minutes, memorize for thirty minutes, then companionship study a lesson, commandment, or chapter of Preach My Gospel. Everybody here is super catholic, so they usually don´t want to hear about the gospel


So my first Sunday was really interesting. We had a new investigator come. and he stayed all three hours. His name is Diego Garcia. (lots of people here are Garcera, Garcia, Ramirez). Anyways, he liked church I think. I gave a talk in Spanish about missionary work.  It was probably five minutes like a youthie.  But the special part about Sunday, it was missionary Sunday. There is only five young boys, about eleven, and four older guys 22-25 years old.  All of them pretended to be missionaries with us.  So we woke up an hour early, went to the chapel at 6:30 am, and had personal study, companion study, and other stuff with them. Then during Sacrament Meeting,we sang "We are all enlisted".  It was pretty bad. Also, there is nobody who can play piano, so a dude who plays violin accompanies everything.  


"Chevere." 
Chevere means lit or cool or dank. Really common word here.  After church, all the missionaries had lunch at different houses.  Then went and visited two in-actives, 2 investigators. We didn't get in any doors, but we found a new person to teach who lives near one of the in-actives. We went from 12 to 5 pm, and at 5 pm, we all regrouped and had a Testimony Meeting, and then went home.  We had dinner, then went to talk with an inactive of like twenty-five years. She runs a shoe shop. Anyway, we went there, I gave her a Book of Mormon, she said she might come to church next Sunday. 

All good. At closing time, the guy next to her shop needed help reaching his little tarp to dangle in front of his shop to "close" it.  So I tried to help since I'm way taller.  I saw that the inactive lady had a footstool, so I went to grab it. But when I did, I bonked my head really hard on a glass shelf, and gave myself a 3 - 4 inch cut on my forehead. So now I look really stupid. And I have a blister on one of my toes also. 


I don't need a new jacket.  Everything is fine, just super messed up from the rain.  A new copy of my patriarchal blessing would be good, but my other two are readable. We use Internet cafe's which are all over Bogota. I am not sure what part we are in.  But I think we're really close to the bottom half. I think we touch Bogota South Mission. But my Area is called Cedros. Few members, huge area.

I can communicate really well. I think I got the easiest South American Mission for white people, because they speak pretty clearly mostly and I can understand probably 70%, but I can´t respond very good. 

Got $60 bucks in Bogotard money (200 mil pesos). That's enough for a lot of bread from the store, milk, and some meat.  Milk is pretty scarce here, and comes in a 450 ml bag. It´s super weird.  And they serve all drinks at room temperature. So it is also gross if you don't buy it from the store.  Anyway, my Spanish is coming along.  I can tell my problem is that I need to develop a vocabulary. I can kinda conjugate, but I don´t know any words.

Good news though.  

We have four baptisms set for the 3rd of December.  But probably it won't happen because they didn't attend church this week, and they would need to attend all the rest of the weeks until then to be eligible for baptism.  It's my first family. It's a grandma, mom, and son and daughter. Leonor, Lucy, Diego and Allison. 

They fed us rice with milk, and it tastes a lot like oatmeal. It tasted really good.  Most of the food here is super bland. I miss the CCM, and the ability to have a lot of milk with frosted flakes for breakfast and dinner.  Here it's a little for breakfast, a lot a lot for lunch, and a bit of bread for dinner.  

I like the area, but I really wish we had bicycles.  It would make it really easy, although I´m not sure what we´d do with them once we arrive at an appointment.  But yeah, Colombia is very different from America, and I can´t believe that I've almost done two months. I also can´t believe that I have twenty-two more to go.

Also we blessed Leonor, and on the missionary Sunday.   I gave a blessing to the mom of a recent convert family. All good.

My companion, Elder Collahua, is from Lima Peru. He is 27 years old and he is a really interesting missionary.  I just need to work to love everybody. 

We teach this really old dude named Alfredo, and he doesn't remember any of the lessons we've given before. He's stuck in his house too, so he can't attend church.  But He did accept a baptismal date.  But he doesn't remember.  ha ha

I'll write for my blog tonight, I think I do need a card reader. 
I'll tell you for sure tonight, after I check if i can upload pictures.

I saw the group email. I will fire an email into it.

4:30 tonight.
One problem I do have, is all of a sudden my camera screen isn't working. It'll turn on, show me the waterproofing stuff, but afterwords It doesn't go into picture taking mode. It's charging at home right now, so I guess i'll see.

A word here that means rich. Pupi means rich, and Cheche (chichi) I'm not sure, means either crappy, or pee.

See you at 4:30 pm.



Saturday, October 29, 2016

OCTOBER 28, 2016 -- UHH

October 28, 2016
12:57 pm


Not sure why I'm having two times to email in two days, but whatever. 

We had a District Meeting today and we ate yogurt in bread. Dinner here is always a few pieces of bread. It's all really good here and adds meaning to the scriptures where it says you need to work for your daily bread or please grant us our daily bread. 

Anyway, Colombia is crazier every day.  Lots of stuff to do.

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

OCTOBER 27, 2016 -- MESSAGE FROM ELDER TRACY

October 27, 2016


Hey, I'm in the field.  


I´m in Zona Granada. It is really big, and everybody has said it is the hardest in the mission. We probably walk 7-8 miles every day, and the food is pretty cheap. My Preparation Day will be Mondays and I think email is at 4:30 pm.  It gets dark here at 6 pm.   So it´s weird.


I think the reason they say it is hard is because it is super big, and there is only like 85 members.  So we don't have much to work with.  But yeah, my companion's name is Elder Collahua, and he is from Lima, Peru.  He's pretty cool, and he has been out one month on his mission.


For breakfast, I've been having a little bit of this weird cereal kinda like frosted flakes, with a rhino on the front. And lunch is a piece of corn, some meat, five slices of cucumber, and rice. Plus some juice that tastes like really unsweetened apple juice, but my companion says its like tomate de arbor or something like that. 


I´m not sure how much time I have so I´m just sending emails to people until my time runs out. A slang phrase here is Qwuo ¨q-o¨ parcero, which means whats up friend. Or Qate for parcero, but that is in Mexico. 


Also in Colombia, I understand people much better than in Mexico. They speak slower and there´s less slang or curse words. It´s pretty good weather here, not very hot in the afternoons, but pretty cold in the nights. I will try and figure out a way to send pictures. I had been using another kids thingy in my district. It was like an SD card reader. 


But yeah. 3000 pesos is 1 dollar, and a lot of things are dos mil. (2000). Bought bread for about 60 cents. About as much as in America. Also, in my taxi ride to my house, we got the driver to schedule lessons with the South missionaries since he doesn't live in the North boundaries. 


Anyway, we receive lunch every day but Sundays from a member who lives close by, and then i think normally dinner is from an appointment. We don´t leave the house until 11 am, so it is kinda boring in the mornings. The water here is safe to drink so I´m happy with that, and the shower is cold! There are a lot of dogs here too, and sanitation isn't great. Also, all YM stuff got ruined by rain!  Send me another patriarchal blessing, because both my copies are soaked. Anyway I love you mom. and dad!





Wednesday, October 26, 2016

10/25/16 -- MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT LANEY, COLOMBIA BOGOTA NORTH MISSION

OCTOBER 25, 2016

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


October 25, 2016
Parque Nacional --  Bogota, Colombia


Dear family of Elder Tracy,

Your missionary arrived safely to the Colombia Bogota North Mission today.  We are so happy to have him in the Mission.  He was assigned a wonderful trainer and they left for their area today.  He is in good spirits and good health!  Thank you for sending such a great missionary!

President & Sister Laney


Mission Blog:
ourcolombiamission.com




Letter from Elder Connor Ross Tracy
10/25/16

Hola!  Estoy Bien.  I'm good.  Glad to be in the field.  My first area is Area Cedros -- Zona Granada.  Elder Collahua is my primero companero (first companion).  

I AM READY TO SERVE.

I had to wait a long time to get through Immigration.  One hour and thirty minutes.  But it was awesome. 

Anyway, I'm able to understand almost everything, but I can't really communicate anything.  

D & C 82:10 --
 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

Esta bien.  Y I'm excited to bring souls unto Christ.  Also, Bogota is awesome, but it's rained a lot both days I've been here (two).  I am with a good companion, and I am gonna get LIT!!

Le gusta eschuar de todos mis dias, o las cosas muy interesante?

Water here is gross.  Girls are very locos, y hombres feos.

Tell more people to write me.  Especialmente Susanna y Dad.

Gracias for being mis padres, and I love you guys.  

Tell Jon to be good, and Lonnie to send memes.

Chao --

Elder Conboy Tracy

"Una Colombiana, y algo tomer"  Un chiste -- a very funny joke.  It means a drink, and something to drink, but when you say "Algo tomar" it changes "una colombiana" to " colombian woman!  LOL

Sunday, October 23, 2016

10/21/16 -- GRADUATED THE CCM (MTC)

October 21, 2016
Mexico City CCM (MTC)
5:30 pm.


I have been given five minutes to write and tell you guys about what my *flight¨plans are. I proceed to the field on the 24th of October. I have to be ready at 3:00 am, and I leave for the airport at 3:30 am. My flight to Colombia departs at 8:20 am and takes approximately five hours to reach our destination.

So basically today, Friday, we watched this really cheesy play about using members, and I am super excited to hit the field. I have been kinda slacking in my studying of Spanish but I will start doing more.  I hope that you guys are all doing well.  I received a ton of emails last week and I hope it keeps up!

Anyway, I am officially done with classes.  Saturday, we are taking pictures and doing whatever, and Sunday, we will do the same, just with more goofing off. 

Tell Dad I love him. And Willy. 

I am so ready to hit the field. I have decided from 
Alma 26:22 that my goal is 1000 baptisms.   

22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.

I just have to work and get as close to that number as possible. I want to always be doing something, because I know how boring it is here. 

Anyway, I hope you guys are all doing alright and nobody has been hurt or done anything bad. I´m ready to leave, and Isaiah 40:1 "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God."  the people of Colombia! 


I love you mom. I'll talk to you soon.


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


Wednesday, October 19, 2016

CCM (Missionary Training Center) COMPLETE!

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

CCM COMPLETE!
OCTOBER 19, 2016


Me with my friend Elder Urrutia, from Barranquilla in Colombia.
He taught me some slang words, Como Quate, Parcero, y mas.




Me with Hermana Crave! (one on the left).





Credit to this picture of me goes to Elder Blair. Goodbye Mom.
Next time you hear from me I'll be a Colombiano!
 


Guess what?  

I'm officially in my last week of training, and I proceed to the field -- Bogota, Colombia -- on the 24th of October.  I have to be ready at 3:00 am and I leave at 3:30 am.  
Livin' la vida loca, verdad?  

Entonces (So), we have been doing things called TRC, where we teach other districts, plus real people who volunteer to help missionaries teach (usually members).  All the districts we taught were really struggling in Spanish.  I feel extremely blessed to know what I do within just six weeks.  Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women's President of the Church cam and spoke with us.  The talk sucked, and she had some crowd interaction, where a bunch of people talked about how hard it was for them to come on missions, and how getting humbled always really sucks for them because it is just hard for them to handle.  Good talk overall, but just some weird missionaries.
In the scriptures, Job 5:17, It says that "Happy is the man whom God correcteth.  Therefore: despise not thou the chastening of The Almighty."  Everybody here thinks the field will be impossible, and the hardest experience ever.  I feel sorry for their companions.  Nobody feels confident teaching Latinos, because they are afraid to be corrected.  Just as Moses taught, wouldn't God wish that all of us were prophets?  The way to this lofty goal is through chastisement . "Whom the lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."  Paul, in the New Testament talks about how he has been stoned and killed for the gospel.  Had forty Jews make an oath to kill him, take forty lashes five times, save it be one.   Escape some city by being lowered on the outer wall in a basket, and shipwrecked three times.  Paul also describes that he is the least worthy to be an apostle, or disciple of Christ, yet he is!  Paul is a true miracle, and through him many souls were brought unto Christ.

Just like with Saul, the Lord said "it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." and "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"  In Corinthians 8, Paul describes how if flesh would make his brother to offend, he would never partake again while the world stood. I feel so guilty when I read these passages. How could God ever allow a sinner like me to be a representative of Him, bearing his name to all those with an ear to hear, and eyes to see.

I know that "Through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws, and ordinances of the gospel. In James 2, the brother of The Lord, says that even the devils believe in Christ, and tremble.  I know that faith without works is dead, and I've seen it my whole life.  If only we had faith as a mustard seed we could say to yonder mountain "remove" and it would be removed. Nevertheless, this kind goeth not out but by fasting and prayer (the devil the apostles couldn't remove).

I testify of Humility this week. 

We know that in the kingdom of heaven, the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. We know that if ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me (the Lord). We know that humility is one of the Christlike attributes we all need. In D&C 19:23 it says "learn of me, and listen to my words, Walk in the meekness of my spirit, and ye shall have peace in me."  We know that it is harder for a rich man to enter into that strait and narrow gate, than a camel to go through the eye of a needle. I was very puffed up, and very overconfident in myself.  After six weeks, I realize that just like Paul, I need to help my weak brothers take confidence in righteousness, and not sin, while maintaining a broken heart, and a contrite spirit,  Just like the publican that prayed far off from the Pharisee.  As I beat on my chest, and ask God, that he might have mercy on a sinner. There is no other way. We must become as little children. Just like little William, my nephew.


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





Wednesday, October 12, 2016

October 12, 2016 -- WEEK FOUR

Well.  It passed by pretty quickly. We are all at a point where we are now trying to learn how to understand natives. They speak super quickly and when we have TRC (members volunteer for us to teach them) it is super hard!  I thought I had decent Spanish, but whenever I am talking with somebody who is not from the CCM (MTC), I just get blown away.



At Dinner about four days ago, I met an Elder Gutierrez, from Bolivia.  Jonathan, my brother served his mission in Bolivia and had been inside of their home and taught them!  (They were members).  We traded ties, and talked about how good a missionary Jonathan was!  He said that he spoke and understood like a native, and worked hard. I hope that I can be anywhere like Jonathan was by the end of my mission. 

We listened to a devotional by Elder Bednar last night, and he just spoke on how to receive revelation from conference talks.  It was good. Also every Tuesday night they have Costco pizza.  It´s very good and one of the few dinners where people come back for seconds, thirds, and fourths. 

My Companion was made District leader, and he is a District leader. It is still okay because in two weeks I will be free!  I cannot wait to enter the field, and I am so bored of being in the CCM.  Anyway one of the new fun things around here is a soccer version of Knockout.  You line up about 15 feet from the goal, and you all just shoot. If I make it, then the current goalie is out, and the guy behind me becomes goalie. If I miss, I become goalie and the guy behind me shoots on me, as I am running to the goal. It´s a pretty hectic game and it is actually pretty fun.

In the nights, I have started teaching a chapter from anywhere in the scriptures. I did Moses 7 last night, and tomorrow it will be 1st Corinthians 15.  A very good chapter of scripture, and it is very well related to us, since in the 9th verse it talks about how Paul feels unworthy to be an apostle, yet is one of the most powerful teachers. Conversion is a crazy process!

I am not receiving many emails, so I mean if anybody wants to send me some I wouldn´t be sad. I am going to be leaving the CCM in 13 days which is crazy. I basically feel like the Spanish learning has slowed down a ton after the first month. I still know basically nothing, though which is pretty spooky.

This week I memorized los articulos de fe, y Lucas 14 27 TJS (JST). esta bien por los misioneros.

My Testimony this week is on spiritual gifts!  I Know that I have the gift of tongues, but I want the gift of interpretation of tongues.   Like it says in Corinthians 14, that with only the gift of tongues the people you are teaching are still barbarians to you.  I already love the people, and I can´t wait for my first day in the field.  I love the gospel, and as a missionary I don´t feel like a pharisee for saying it every week!  Also, we need to be humble, like when the pharisee is praying, and saying I fast twice a week and give tithes on everything, yet the publican aways off is beating his chest saying, please God, be merciful to a sinner.  Without humility no blessings will come, because Mark 10.31 says the last first and first last.  Of such is the kingdom of God. I know God lives, and that he sent his Son to atone for all of our sins. Come unto him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness!

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



The picture with the Mexican flag was today.



The whiteboard is where I have been teaching.


Mexico City Temple










Wednesday, October 5, 2016

OCTOBER 5, 2016 -- WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK!


October 5, 2016

Elder Connor Ross Tracy and some other Elders


Me at the Mexico City Temple. I am standing near the fountains with my arms spread. I look pretty small in front of it. We went to the temple last Wednesday, and we are going again today.



October 5, 2016

This week and from here onward I'll stop breaking it down day by day, and just focus on the major point of the week.

Anyway, we are starting our Fourth week. I am feeling very comfortable giving lessons in Spanish, but I am not yet able to expound scripture or to relate my personal thoughts or experiences.  We watched General Conference, and a scripture I was actually planning to share, from the story of the Sons of Helaman, I think Alma 56:48 was mentioned.  
Alma 56:48
"And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."

They also shared a lot of things I have written in my previous weeks.  A talk from some General Area Seventy, which started off with the question, 

"If you only knew as much as you were taught by your parents (about the gospel), How much would you know?"  

And I am very grateful for my parents, who have taught me everything I know, just like Alma 56:48.  I also was reading in Isaiah, and decided to memorize Isaiah 40:1, which says 

"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God".

 I have decided that just as the prophets of old, I am going to bring many to a knowledge of their Redeemer."
 
Doctrine & Covenants 18:10-11

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him."

Anyway, the food this week actually wasn't bad.  And I'm grateful for all of the letters I've been receiving!  They are very nice to read, even though it costs me too much to respond via letter.  (Sorry! I only get 100 pesos a week).

I've met a chevere  "COOL" dude from Colombia, Barranquilla. He has been teaching me a few things, and I have been teaching him some funny American sayings.  One phrase that I learned which is super funny is Una colombiana, y algo tomar" jajajajajaja. That means "a Colombian girl, and something to drink."  But it's funny in Spanish because a Colombiana is a drink. 

Somebody left our front door open all night two nights ago, and a giant moth flew into our house, and everybody was super scared of it. So I bravely took a toilet plunger and threw it at the moth, I will send a picture of the aftermath. 









But it was super funny and all of the guys in our casa were running away from it because they are scared (wussies).  

Every day I play for about 45 minutes Cage soccer. I am trying to practice soccer and ping pong so people won't think I'm a nerd down in Colombia. 

Overall, it's been the best week yet.  The only thing that sucked about it was I had to get my tetanus shot. :(

My testimony I'd like to share this week is on no particular subject, but about the life of being consecrated to the church as a missionary.  

I have decided to dedicate two years of my life to only preaching repentance and faith.  I am allowed one day a week to play soccer, and do my laundry and what not. All days I wake up at 6:30 am, and I go to bed at 10:30 pm.  I study Spanish for about an hour and a half, and I study the scriptures for about an hour and a half. The rest is whatever lessons we are receiving from our maestros (teachers). I am not allowed to play any video games, or get on the Internet beside emailing once a week on my preparation day.  As in Mark 12:41-44, I am giving everything I have, like the widow.  

Mark 12:41-44

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

A few scriptures that go together very well for missionary service, are

Matthew 6:34 --  Because sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

Matthew 6:24

Matthew 10:39 --  Unless we take up our crosses, and follow Christ, we are not worthy of him.

Doctrine & Covenants 58:26-27 -- and the same is a slothful servant. Therefore I am anxiously engaged in a good cause, and I will bring to pass much righteousness!

TL;DR

Matthew 11:28 to the end. I know the church is true, and it's awesome to be a missionary. My mom is awesome!

Mathew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
   

P.S.
Send me some pictures of the family and Willie and Charlotte!  Thank you for all of the other packages Mom. The cereal will be good because normally, breakfast is inedible.  Even the waffles or pancakes or cinnamon toast is garbage.  











I love all of you guys!  

Tell Dad that he needs to email me every week!  I like reading his emails.  And that he should send me a scripture or two that are good.  

We are leaving now.  Goodbye my good mate!

Goodbye Mom.  See you next week.  Thanks again.  I can't wait to get all the stuff and win everybody.

ROONEY!

You are good blokes!  I love!

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








This is the Missionary Training Center store. I don't use any of the money I have. I live off the 100 pesos they give us each week. (Hermanas -- Sisters -- get 120, no fair)