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