November 26, 2012

Connor as OC Sportzcards with a famous baseball player.

Hi mom,

First a very happy early birthday. I don't have enough money right now to send you a card. I just want to let you know that I didn't forget. I hope that you have a happy birthday.

I'm going to miss the minivan. Crawling all the way into the back just to get whiplash and carsick from all the sharp turns in it. Those were fun days.... I hope that the new car works out. I'm glad that Jaylen is getting a lot of offers. I hope that she goes to a good school. Is she talking or thinking about a mission? She is one of the ones that could go right out of highschool right? Ha ha she doesn't have to just wondering if she is.

Thanksgiving was great. We went to the Moates. They are a Part Member family who are super awesome. It was just five of us and a 22lb turkey. We have a ton of leftovers. It was really fun I had a good time. I can't wait to be with my family again though on Holidays. We have to do it with Nana and Papa. They are retired now so they can do whatever whenever they want now right? Ha ha. How were they late to Thanksgiving if they were retired? Don't retired people show up early to everything? lol

Elder Mackenzie is doing great. He has been in the U.S. for 4-5 months now. We are getting along great, he is a really cool kid.

We still haven't been able to track down Mili. Still looking for her.

The Rodriguez family wants to be baptized so bad. They just are unwilling to changed their life style right now. We are taking baby steps with them, trying to get over coffee with them and get them lots of friends in the church. I am afraid that if we baptize them too soon they will stop coming to church and be like, I'm baptized now so I don't need to do anything else.

Well our weather doesn't change it is 70s during the day and i can get down into the high 50s now at night. Freezing!!!!! It already rained twice this year so it shouldn't rain again till next year ha ha.

For Christmas I would really like a really nice Phillips Norelco electric razor. My face can't take the razor blade. I bleed and then break out every time that I use it. So I have been using a crappy electric razor that a missionary gave to me. I would like a nice new one.

I did get you package thank you for the CDs. I loved the secret song also :) that was really good. Thank you

Our zone isn't the most athletic zone in the mission. So our P-days have been pretty lame lately. We have been playing hackysack and four square lately. Normally I just go shoot hoops while they are doing that. But today we are playing basketball so I am super pumped.

I still do take my vitamins, and it is hard to exercise at 6:30 in the morning. I will do like a six weeks to sexy workout six weeks before I go home :) Plus I ride a bike now.

I do eat fruits and veggies at members houses.

I love you mom. Thank you for everything. You really do a lot for me, thank you. I hope that you have a really good birthday.

November 19, 2012

Connor with his companions and his great friend Tyler that he baptized!!!

 

 

Hi family,

So this week on bike has been a crazy one. I did get a bike and it is permanently mine now. It is an old 80's racing bike with the skinniest tires I have ever seen. I have had to do a lot of tune up work on it but it is okay. If I die on my mission though it will be because of that bike ha ha. Elder Mackenzie was really lucky and because he is from Kenya the mission bought him a brand new bike to use. A missionary that went home gave me his bike to have so that is how I got this one. I can go super super fast on it though. My brakes don't really work though so I have to kinda start braking really far before I need to stop lol.

We found a new investigator. He watched the mormon southpark episode and was really curious about it so he referred himself on mormon.org and we went over. He read all of 1 Nephi in one day and loved it. He has a date for the 8th of Dec. We are super excited for him. His name is Jeramie, he is kinda of a stoner dude but wants to make a change in his life so that is why we are here.

The Rodriguez family are doing really good. We had a good lesson with them. They want to be baptized, they are just having a hard time. They don't want to read or go to all of church. We are still trying to help them quit coffee. It is tough, sometimes you wish you could make them choose the right choices haha. But that would defeat the purpose.

Our other investigator Mili is playing hookie with us and we haven't seen her for two weeks now. We are worried about her. We hope to see her soon.

Other then that I am doing good. I could use some batteries though. AA and AAA. being on bike again I use my CD player a lot to play my CDs. Can't wait for your CD your sending me mom. Thank you guys for everything. I love you so much. I am super busy down here especially on bike so sorry if this e-mail is short.

Connor

November 12, 2012

Connor's 20th Birthday!!!!

Ha ha so speak of the devil I'm back on bike. We are getting 100 new missionaries in the next four months so they took my car away to give it to someone else in more need of it. Elder Mackenzie doesn't have a license though so I drove everywhere. The mission is buying Elder Mackenzie a nice new bike today because he doesn't have the funds to get one himself. I am looking for a bike to borrow again, I think I may have to fight some Elders for one but I should be able to get one. Until then we are walking ha ha. Never can catch a break.

I sent Jaylen a Birthday card yesterday I hope it gets there soon. Wish her a happy b day for me.

We get fed really well here, an average of three meals a week.

I think that Jaylen needs to develope her talent for soccer and use it while observing the sabbath day. The church doesn't pin down specifics on how to keep the sabbath day holy for a reason. It is really between her and God. Not my decision to make.

I really do love California. It is a lot like Utah. Even the wards are super small and the church is really strong here in OC. OC is very different from the rest of California though. It is super republican and conservative here with the California hang loose attitude also though. I really like it. People aren't as nice as in Utah though. But it is super super expensive here though.

Um we have soup plantation, taco bell, target, panda express, flame broiler, Subway, five guys burgers and fries, that is all I can think of right now. (I had asked him what restaurants were in his area.)

So the Rodriguez family is going to have to have their date pushed back for a coffee addiction. Also they told us they weren't going to keep the Sabbath day holy either. Bro. Rodriguez wants to watch his soccer and take his family to the movies, beach, sporting games, and what not. I understand where he is coming from but it is frustrating when they are so close to being baptized. Other then that I am doing fine. I could use some deodorant. Thanks for everything that you do love you mom so much!

Letter from Connor's Mission President

Sister Hinckley,

First of all, thank you for sending us such a powerful, obedient boy to our mission. We are so blessed to have him and he is doing a wonderful job here. I was with him two days ago, and visited with him for a few minutes. He is a strong boy and he has unshakable faith. He read section 31 of the Doctrine and Covenants and told me that this is now his section. He said that he has total trust in the Lord; and he does.

I pray that the Spirit will be able to enable you to face this trial that you are going through. I always listen to a mother’s council. I will see that he gets the blessing.

Warmest regards,

President Bowen

November 5, 2012

Hi mom,

So this is California, with the California girls...... of course everybody is good looking here. Especially at Newport Beach! Ha ha Texas is just different.

So that's lame that Halloween was so dumb. I love Halloween. We are going to celebrate it super crazy this next year. I can't wait. We went over to a members house and helped them run a haunted house. We handed out the candy when they went through it all. Everybody thought that being Mormon Missionaries was our costume. They would not believe that we were actually missionaries. It was really funny.

I do have a CD player.

All missionary homes are apartments

I'm doing okay though. Just plugging along. Our investigators are doing really well and progressing really good. We are having some trouble with the Commandments with a few of them but nothing we can't work past. Reading is also hard, people just don't like to read. Other than that I am doing well. Thank you for everything. I love you mom.

October 29, 2012

Hi Mom,

So the ward is doing well. It is so super small though. Yesterday we had only 9 (including us) in Elders Quorum. Super small ha ha. The members are really good though. We are starting to form friendships and trust which is really cool. Mili came to church yesterday which was amazing!!!! She has a 7 year old daughter and she enjoyed it too. Mili said that she never felt like she wanted to leave or was bored. She also said that she wanted to come back next week. Also she wants to feed us this week. It was so cool. I was so worried that she would feel lost or forgotten or uncomfortable at church I was praying so hard for her to have a good experience. The Rodriguez's are super solid also. They didn't come to church but we chewed them out after ha ha. They promised us though that they would come this week. We had a super good lesson with them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. I love learning and teaching simple things. I have really learned to hate deep doctrine out here ha ha. I really do delight in plainness like Nephi did.

I like our area a lot. We have a ton of businesses in it. Target, 99 cent store, a ton of restaurants. The only problem is, is that it is Newport Beach so everything is super expensive again.

The temple was good. All I could think about though was dad going through with me when I went. Really weird, idk, it was a different experience. We go four times a year.

I love Elder Mackenzie. He has really taught me a ton about how I need to be grateful for what I have. His father just got electricity in the house last month and they are one of the more well off or middle class of Kenya. We had a really cool experience where some Kenyan's came to America to promote their non-profit organization Kenyan Keys. People from America support or pay for a college student who is smart and has the grades to go through college but doesn't have the money to do so. They talked and couldn't believe all the stuff that we have in our schools. Smart boards, projectors, computers, even desks. In some schools it is four kids to a desk. Elder Mackenzie told me about walking two miles to school and learning to use addition with twigs and rocks to count with because that is all they had. He is 25 now and was fortunate to go to college. It really is different there.

We had our ward Halloween party this Saturday and that was really fun. I came up with a fantastic three dollar costume idea also. We went to the dollar store and bought a large serving plate, a little trick or treat cauldron, and toy swords. I then took a sharpie and wrote spirit on the sword, salvation on the cauldron, and faith on the plate. Then we put the cauldron's on our head and made a duct tape handle for the plate and we wore the armor of God. Everybody loved it ha ha.

You can't send me that book sorry, I can only read the approved Missionary stuff. I forgave dad though, it was easy because he felt sorry and apologized. Jess doesn't though, she doesn't think she did anything wrong, that is was okay to cheat on me, lie to me, and do things that she did. That really hurts, the fact that she doesn't even care. I'm done with it though, I haven't talked to her since and I never even want to see, hear, or think of her again. It is hard sometimes. I am doing okay though, don't worry.

Don't you know why Psychiatrists and Psychologists become what they are? Not to fix other people's problems, but to learn how to fix their own ha ha ha ha.

I love you mom

October 22, 2012

Hi mom, thanks for the virtual hugs. I have a hard time letting people in or looking hurt you know that. I just don't want to be a special case missionary that has all these problems ha ha. I'm doing fine though now. It is a little hard to not care about some stuff. That is what everybody is telling me, "You don't have to worry about it while on your mission, don't think about it, don't think about Jess." It really isn't like a switch in my brain that I can just click and everything just goes away ha ha. I am doing a lot better though you don't need to worry about me.

I did get the package. Thank you so much for it.

 

The work here is going really really well. We have five investigators committed to baptism in the month of November. Mili is a single mom and is super strong. She wants to be baptized. The Rodriguez family (a family of four) also are super strong. In our last lesson the dad was just bawling because he felt the spirit so strong. It was really cool, it was our first lesson with them also so that was really neat. Hopefully we will be able to pull five baptisms next month. That would be so neat. Especially because the Ward hasn't had a single baptism this year. The members are super nice. I gave a talk yesterday in church and a lot of people complimented me on it. I used it to help me gain member trust and get people excited for missionary work. I hope that it worked.

We haven't gotten back to the hoarder lady's house yet. I hope we never do ha ha. We are really trying to get our investigators to church though. It is a huge tough thing to do here. Everybody is just so busy. We have the Halloween party coming up this Saturday though so hopefully people will come to that.

Money wise I'm sorry. Just got super depressed and we got whitewashed so like the apartment didn't have anything that we needed because the other Elder's took everything from it so I had to buy like pots and pans and stuff like that at the beginning of the month. I will do better though.

I love you guys a lot, Thanks for everything.

October 15, 2012

I'm writing you both because I am a little tired of repeating myself ha ha. So all the Jess stuff has been revealed. She is serving a mission, she has been seriously dating other guys for the last six months, and doesn't want to be with me anymore. It feels kinda weird to have someone you love so much to cheat on you and still tell you that she loves you and that she is waiting for you while she is doing it. I know now that we are not suppose to be together. She is changed and a different person, someone who I really don't like right now ha ha. It still hurts a lot, but I know that if she wanted me back right now I would say no. I need someone who actually can stick with me through the hard times, especially if I want to continue in my career of Criminal Psychology. That is something that Jess never did for me though, she never helped me through my most trying moments. I always had to be the strong one in the relationship. I loved her though and was willing to look past that and work with it. It is hard also because this was sprung on me so suddenly and is so new while she has had the last six months to get over me. She is talked like what we had was nothing important and just some simple pre-mission fling. I know that isn't how she felt because of the promises and things that she said to me, but maybe it is her way of coping. I just want to forget her. She hurt me bad, I guess Poison was right when they said "Every Rose Has a Thorn" but, I am tired of thinking about her. So in the words of Bryan Adams "I ain't going to cry over you, you're history baby." So I guess that all that I can do now is just say what Whitesnake said so well, "Here I go agian on my own, down the only road I've ever known, like a drifter I was born to walk alone.".........I miss my rock music ha ha. Mom, though I disagree with you on one thing. I believe that their isn't many people that you can be with and fall in love with. I truly believe that their is only one, and it hurts when you are so sure, and so positive that you found that one, and then she hurts you bad. I don't know what I am really suppose to do though. I still am waiting for the spirit to help me and what not. It comes to others so much and so powerfully. I want a hug more than anything, From a woman doesn't matter who just a female ha ha. I am doing better though, still having a hard time sleeping. It's like I can't shut my brain off at night and when I do fall asleep and dream about her and wake up sweating and then can't fall asleep. Just sucks. The world goes on though. Thanks for helping me through this guys, you are good parents.

I did get the package with the rice krispees. Thank you they were very good depression food and they were like really really good. The ward is really taking us in, we had church for the first time here. It went really well, apparently the Elders that have been here before were really bad, and disobedient so they are super excited about us. Can't screw up now ha ha. Not many people come to church though, like not many. There are more Less Actives then people coming to church in this ward so we really have our work cut out for us. We got a new investigator lady though. Mom you would have gone nuts though because her house is horrible. Straight out of one of the Hoarders episodes. We helped her move stuff around, didn't throw anything away, she was sure to tell us that. But we made some more pathways in her house so that she could sit down and eat at the table and start "organizing" stuff. It was really bad ha ha. We have really been trying to meet all of the investigators though in this ward. Some of them are progressing and some are just Eternal Investigators (they have been taught forever). Whitewashing is hard because you don't know who to visit, people don't trust you because you are new. We are doing well though. The temple trip is today and I have been looking forward to that. I am going to send all my Jess stuff home to you, I told her to send back my Spider-man stuffed bear that I gave her to you guys to so be looking for that. I love you guys thanks for everything.

October 8, 2012

I am retraining a kid from Kenya who does not know how to be a missionary because his trainer went home early for messing around with a sister missionary, and I am in a new area and don't know any members trying hard to just get through each day. I want him to help me, I just don't know how, or what I am doing wrong to have him help me.

My companion Elder Mackenzie is my favorite so far though. He is so funny and me and him get along really well. I get to explain little American things to him like why Mexicans are flagging us down on the side of the road (because they want work). Ha ha it is really funny. He is 25 though but he is super skinny like super skinny. The ward is good, it is nice being down in Newport again. It is a lot cooler and just the people are nicer. Our members seem pretty cool, we didn't have church though so I have to still meet a lot of them. Other than that I am doing pretty good. I could use some man soap, toothpaste, and contact solution though. Thank you mom for everything. You have a big heart, keep working with dad. I am over what he did. It still hurts having your biggest idol and who you want to be more than anyone turn out to have done something that you feel is worse than anything. But I'm over it. I love you mom so much. keep fighting the good fight.

Love,

Connor

Letter from a ward member

I had to tell you how much I've enjoyed having your son in our ward for the past few months. He was there for me at the hospital when I was not doing well. He gave me a blessing on more than one occasion that made a great difference in my health. He's come by and always been willing to give me a blessing or help me and my husband with things we couldn't have done. I love that he sees what needs to be done and then does it and does it well. He has knowledge and experience beyond most. I thank you for doing such a great job in raising you son. He's a wonderful example for others.
He and his partner are being transferred tomorrow to different places. They will be missed by others besides me. I have a picture of them I will send you when I get help in attaching attachments.
My thanks and appreciation for being able to have a missionary such as your son come into my life to help me when I needed it. Jan H.

- From the desk of Jan Hamutoff

I'd asked your son several times before he agreed we could take his picture. I think he knew I wanted a picture to remind me of him and Elder Healey. AND I wanted you to see a picture to know he's OK.

Your son is proud of his family and did mentioned you're a runner. (momruns5 is another clue) The best compliment I can give you is that I will miss your son.

- From the desk of Jan Hamutoff

September 24, 2012

Hi mom,

I'm doing okay :) I know it is your job to worry about me but don't. I love you so much and you are being so strong. I taught my record number of lessons this week. 10, so the work is not suffering. That is good to hear about Kate. She needs that big testimony and soon as she can get it. By that I mean before High School there ha ha. There is definite power in the temple mom. They are treated like gold out here in the mission field. When we get to go it is just awesome! Thank you for buying me the garments. Those should be fine. My legs have gotten a lot bigger. My garments won't stay down anymore because of my calves ha ha. It'll go down in a few months though because this is my last week in this area and on bike. I don't know where I will be going next. I really liked this ward. I am going to miss Tyler most of all. We took him shirt shopping two Sundays ago because he needed a white shirt and black pants. I help him tie his ties also before each Sunday because he never learned how to do it. He told me I was like the older brother that he never had. That really meant a lot to me. He is such a cool kid, and he is going to be my friend for life. I was supposed to come on a mission for Tyler. More so for me though than for him.

I wasn't around the mission president when I called. He told me in the morning before church then I had to teach a Sunday School class about being a ward missionary and then answer missionary questions that the youth had in the 3rd hour. It was a long day ha ha. President told me that I could call later that night. But to keep it short, the office tracks our calls so he could see how long it was.

I love you mom, keep being strong for you and the girls. I finally got all my pics onto the flash drive and I will send it to you this week.

Love,

Connor

September 10, 2012

I heard about Utah's game and about Wynn getting injured again with his same shoulder. I am kinda tired with him getting injured. This had to happen the week before the Holy War. At least I am on my mission for this game because it doesn't look to good now.

 

Tyler's baptism was amazing. I could not believe how many people showed up! We had that room packed. It was literally one of the happiest days of my life. I love that kid so much. You know how they say you come on your mission for one person especially? Well Tyler was that person for me, and it was for my sake more than his. He is such an awesome dude and we are the best of friends now. The baptism was super spiritual though. We had a ton of non-members there and it was amazing. Just over all a huge plus experience.

 

We get members to come play basketball with us all the time also here. Not so much anymore though because school has started and they all have to be there Monday. I hate the days we play baseball though because it is so hot outside and well it's baseball. You remember me playing little league? Well my skill level hasn't changed much since then.

 

Scriptures wise I am trying to finish the old testament still. I stopped for awhile and focused on the BoM but now I am back into it. I am in 1 Samuel and reading about David and Saul. I was thinking that it would be a cool movie to have about David's life. Shoot it like 300 and stuff. Ha ha. We have zone conference tomorrow and we are doing a huge service project for it. We are painting the fences for a horse trail in our area. The press is going to be there and everything. We are super pumped.

 

I did feel those earthquakes I have been in 5 of them now. They only last like 3-5 seconds top so they aren't that scary. By the time you realize what is happening they are gone. They are cool though, it is like being on a roller coaster and not knowing when the drop is coming ha ha.

 

Love you dad, thanks so much for everything.

September 4, 2012

That is too bad about the missionary that went home. It most likely was for things that happened before he went on his mission. That happens a lot more than you think. Tyler thank goodness is getting baptized for sure this Saturday. I can not tell you how happy and how thrilled I am about that. Tyler has grown to be one of my closest friends out here. He is definitely one that I will keep in touch with a lot after my mission. He is such a cool guy and I am so happy that he is getting baptized. His mom is still unhappy though but we finally got her signature to do it.

 

I do remember that game. (Utah game when ESPN was there) That was a really fun pre-game. I remember also helping you out with tracking down all the bootleg merchandise and helping you run the store in the tailgating parking lot. Those were really fun days. I can not wait to go to another Utah game. Hopefully they will be really good by the time I get back and be able to get a ton of good freshman because they are in a better conference now. I hope A&M wins. I can not believe that Urban went to the buckeyes though, traitor. Elder Jackson my good friend out here is from Michigan and a huge Michigan fan so he hates Ohio State ha ha.

 

I heard that Mitt gave a really good speech to the Republican convention. People here in Orange County are super super Republican. They all are behind Mitt a lot. I am not so sure about the rest of the state of California though ha ha.

 

I love you dad thanks for everything. Why do I need a new debit card?

Mom,

Sorry that I haven't been sharing much. I have just changed a lot. Training has let me look at how I have changed. I have stopped counting the days I have left if that makes sense. I don't like want to come home anymore but I do at the same time. I have adapted to the mission life and found out what kind of missionary I am. This is just how I live my life now. It doesn't bug me anymore that I can't watch T.V. or do things like that. It is just kinda how it is now. So like stuff that happens that would seem cool to you guys is just normal to me now. This is how I live my life now. I will try and write more though.

 

Jess and me are fine, she wrote me for my birthday which was nice. You definitely can send her my e-mails I am sure that she really appreciates it. We are still good to go though as far as I can tell ha ha which is a really good thing because I still love her :)

 

Tell the girls that they are doing too much. I did like one thing and that was band and I even felt like that took up too much time. I don't know how they are doing like sixteen things at once.

 

I haven't lost any weight because I have gained it all back on in muscle .My legs are big now and my g-s ride up all the time because they won' t stay down because my legs are too big ha ha. My butt is getting big also. First time in my life I have had a butt. Here is a funny story for you. We were at the Harri's me Elder Jackson, Elder Healey and Elder Hoch. We were doing service for him and we decided that we wanted to do a four person push up. Well I sat down on the couch to get ready for it and my cargo shorts ripped. Now  I mean ripped. I will send you a picture with the flashdrive. It was really funny. I felt kinda proud actually because of my rippling muscles ha ha.

 

I did get the dear elder package thank you. I do need new flip flops though... mine broke and I like to wear them on P-day because it is the only day that I get to wear them. My Mission President is a good man. He holds the keys over this mission and holds them well.

 

Me and Elder Healey have been praying really hard for someone to teach. Tyler is getting baptized this Saturday and so after that we are going to need more investigators. We are committing the members to help us with missionary work. To find us someone to teach in two weeks. It is a really short time but Bishop and President promised us that it could happen. Two men with Priesthood keys. It is working out okay. Some families are really offended by us asking them that. We honestly can't do anything without the members help. No one listens to us, we are treated like salesman and can't connect with people because of the lifestyle that we have to live. That is why members need to find us people to teach because they can do all that and still be in the lessons with us and bear powerful testimony which means so much more coming from a friend that you love and respect. That is why you have to help out our missionaries there and find them someone to teach.

 

I love you mom, thank you for everything that you do. Time is flying really fast out here now and I am sure that I will be home before I know it. I love you so much.

August 27, 2012

So here is a list of questions. I want EVERY single one answered :)

1. Tell me everything and I mean everything that you got for your birthday? People keep wondering if you got their packages and I said I would tell them.

I got way to much for my birthday. I got the Hunsaker's package and I got your giant big one with my pillow and shirt. Thank you for that. The money in the streamers was very clever also :). I have gotten a couple letters from family also like Aunt LaRae and Teri also.  

2. How is your companion?

Elder Healey and me are good. I always get the companions that like to sing though..... a lot..... all the time.... But other then that we get along just fine.

3. Investigators? Hows the work going?

Tyler may be baptized this Saturday fingers crossed. So much legal trouble and crazy mom stuff has pushed it back. Tyler is like one of my best friends now and I will not go home or leave this area till I see him baptized. We got a new investigator also. Daniel Lopez is his name and he is pretty cool. Definitely a truth seeker so hoping for a baptism there.  

4. Funny story that happened lately?

 Can't really think of one.

5. Found your keys?

Yes we did thank goodness. 

6. Do we have the flash drive or do you? Should I buy another one so that we arent' always waiting. I WANT PICTURES!!

I'm sending it this week. 

7. I keep seeing pics on Facebook of Elder Kenning and the missionaries he works with. You are never in them. Do you never see each other? How come you aren't ever with a whole bunch of missionaries, like he is in some of the pics?

Um I am around other missionaries all the time. I have tons of pics around other missionaries.  

8. Let me know if you need anything at all?

Deodorant and solution 

9. Are you eating well???? Are you taking care of yourself?

Yes but members need to stop feeding me Mexican food I don't think that my digestive system can take much more of this. 

10. How are your allergies? Face?

Both are fine

Hey Dad,

Tell Logan that the U of U is the best freakin places on the planet and he should go even though their baseball team sucks ha ha. I like Alma chapter 5. What is your favorite chapter in the BoM? Mine is Alma chapter 36, a lot about repentance. I love reading that one with investigators when I explain the atonement. Thank you for all the birthday gifts. You guys are too nice. I really appreciated them. I love you dad.

Connor

August 20, 2012

Hi mom,

 

I got the two packages. Thank you so much for everything. I am sure glad that all this Spider-man merchandise is out now because of the movie. Lined up perfectly for my birthday ha ha. 

 

I never get to sleep in ha ha. Elder Jackson and the guys though held a little party for me Saturday though. They baked me a Spider-man cake and bought me a Spider-man blanket and stuffed animal. They are really good guys. I'll have pictures coming of it. I do get to play basketball on my birthday that is really cool. Looking forward to that. The Hanses had a birthday breakfast for me yesterday. They are a really cool family in our ward that have a son on a mission also. They made me stuffed french toast it was really good! Other then that Things have been pretty normal. Just doing the same old routine. The members don't really know that it is my b day though because I would feel weird and they would feel like they would have to do something special. I don't feel any different just normal ha ha. Still feel a little immature still and have a bad sense of humor lol. But I guess I am not a teenager anymore, finally making my way to adulthood and responsibility. Yeah!!! That is exactly what I want ha ha. I love you guys thank you for everything. Love you mom and thank you for everything.

 

Hi dad,

 

Miss you a lot wish I could see you today also. Luckily it is P-day today so I get to play ball on my birthday. Ha ha I remember the pirate party and how you hid a ticking time thing in a stuffed crocodile except it wasn't a crocodile it was more of like a Godzilla ha ha. We had to go look for it also. Then everybody walked to the plank to give me presents. That was a fun birthday party.

 

 I had no idea that you actually didn't have enough money to buy me a new bike. I thought that you were just teaching me a lesson that crap happens to you and you have to deal with it yourself. Well if anything I learned a life lesson out of the experience. 

 

The guys here have been awesome. By guys I mean Elder Jackson and his trainie. They got some presents for me and baked me a cake. Brad from the card shop gave me some free comics for my birthday. Jackson and them got me a Spider-man blanket and stuffed animal ha ha. Thank you for all the stuff you got me. I really appreciate your pacages. I love you guys so much.

 

Connor

August 12, 2012

Well I definitely have learned how to live on my own a little better. Definitely learned how to manage my time and study effectively. I have learned a lot of life skills and lesson since I have been out here. Mostly how to deal with people and problems. I have been my happiest when I have been with other missionaries and been able to feel that brotherhood. Also with members. I love meeting new people and love telling them about the gospel especially when they will actually listen ha ha. My struggles have just been your average day to day things: waking up on time, studying for the full two hours, coming home at 9 and not 8:30, going and seeing the people that need to be seen and not that I want to see, and just anything really.

 

My companions name is Elder Healey. I think that Bishop thought it was someone different maybe. He sent me like a ward program with notes all scribbled on it. Kinda cool I guess...... That is so awful about Nate. People can be harsh to the missionaries. That is why I am taking self defense classes from members in our ward. I am going to be the next karate kid running around john woo style. Heaaaa YAH!!!!

 

Good for Cori glad that she is doing something. Hopefully her boyfriend will convert. But holy crap Lance got married. That is crazy, can't wait to see what he looks like. Dang, well good for him. I have lots of funny memories of when we were kids.

 

I really can't believe that Papa sold the store. What about John? Did they sell their parts too? Who did they sell it to? A corporate junkie who wants big business in that small town? Are they going to bulldoze it to put a shopping mall in there? We'll picket it if they do!!!! I don't think that it'll sink in till I go up there and visit them that they sold it. I still remember the little video section they had before they remodeled it ha ha. I use to always go there and get movies to watch.

 

I haven't gotten any packages yet. Maybe I'll get them Thursday. Also did you order a Family Life magazine subscription for me? Because every month I get one now and I didn't order that.

 

Exchanges or trades with other missionaries happen once a transfer (six weeks) with your leaders. With me right now it happens with our District Leader. Transfers are happening this next monday also but because I am training I will stay in this area. I will probably leave though after this next transfer is done because I will have been here for six months and on my mission for a year. Our investigators are still kinda struggling right now but we are going to be doing a lot of finding this week. Hopefully we will be able to find at least one new investigator.

 

Thanks for everything you guys. I love you so much and miss you guys.

July 30, 2012

I am glad to hear that the trip went well. That is cool that you got to see all the family even the new addition. Even got to see Jess, ha ha!! I am really jealous. She still seemed interested in me ha ha? I can't believe that all of my family members are buying mac computers. I leave home and everyone is just going to the pits ha ha.

 

Everything here is going good. We haven't been running (thank goodness) because we have been doing so much biking. I lost our keys yesterday, they fell out of my pocket somewhere. So we had to smash a window to get into our apartment, don't worry though I taped it all back up with packaging tape :) So now we just look white trash. Pray for me to find our keys we really need to find those.

 

I got the package that Nana sent. Tell her thank you. Thank you for the package as well. Whenever I seem to be having a bad day I always get a neat package from you guys. It really helps thank you.

 

Our investigators really feel in limbo right now and we are trying to get them out of it. Training is hard also, I am not a good trainer. It is nice though having Elder Jackson right next to me in Yorba Linda 4th and have him training also. They also give us rides everywhere on P-day because we can't really bike to the grocery store and carry everything home.

 

Things are going good here thank you guys for everything that you do. I love you all.

Hi dad,

 

I miss you a lot dad. That is really cool about ESPN game day. Of course I know who they are also. I remember when they came to the Utah TCU game also. I don't ever want to speak of that game again. Don't worry another game is coming up, on September 15th
I believe is Judgement day for BYU. I am definitely going to be calling members for the score that day ha ha. I live for that game. 

 

I had to buy some bike equipment. I bought a basket for my bike and a bunch of reflecters. A mobile pump and a tire repair kit. I actually like have muscles in my legs now and not just a flat butt anymore. It is kinda weird. I love you dad. Thanks for everything that you do.

 

Love,

Connor

July 23, 2012

My bike works because I was able to get a good one from the missionary that was going home. He put a lot of money into it so I really lucked out. Elder Healey is a good guy. We get along well. It is different training because I have to explain everything to him and kinda help walk him through the stuff. The mission is so different now. It really does just fly by. At first is was going by super super slow and now I can't believe that I'll be hitting my year mark when I am done training. That is great about Lisa. I am happy that everything went well with that. Thanks for everything that you guys do.

 

Love,

Connor

July 16, 2012

Hi mom,

Things are going good. My greenie is Elder Healey from American Fork Utah. He reminds me of Daniel Wiseman a lot the way he looks. He is a runner and a really cool kid. I got lucky. Being on bike really really sucks. Our area is on a complete incline so we try to plan our days where we ride up to the top in the morning and just coast downhill from appointment to appointment the rest of the day. That is really exciting about you going to Utah though. You'll have to let me know how that goes. Are you still going to have lunch with Jess? That really means a lot to me.

(This is from mom's letter so the next part of Connor's letter will make sense.) Also, (you will get a laugh out of this), Jaylen said yesterday in Sunday School Parker Trefethen was talking about how on the Nauvoo trip he was just a babe magnet. Jaylen was rolling her eyes, (inside herself). And then he turned to her and said he learned some of his smooth moves from YOU!!!! Then Jaylen paid you a really neat compliment. I was like oh yeah Connor was a player (sarcasm). And Jaylen said, "Yeah, but Connor is just a nice guy to talk to and really fun to be around so I can why Parker said that." We miss you, but know that you are where you need to be and all of us are so proud of you!!!!

That is really funny what Parker said. He is such a little punk ha ha. That is really nice though what Jaylen said also. Tell her thank you for saying that.

So we have five investigators right now. It is really crazy, I have never had that many on my mission before. Elder Healey commited  his first person to baptism this week and he said yes. Eric Teahan is going to be baptized on Aug. 4th. He has been struggling with drug addiction all his life. He is in his 50s now and has been three months clean. He is looking for a change and this is it. He already knows that the BoM is true so we are super excited for him. He is such a neat guy. Tyler is doing well also. His parents might get back together so we are holding off on the baptism until his dad makes a decision on whether or not to split up with her. Other then that I am doing fine. I do need some body soap though and some face wash also. Thank you for the Spider-man goodie package ha ha ha. I really liked that. I love you all so much.

July 2, 2012 (To Dad)

Hey dad!

 

First an Iphone then a mac then an Ipad. Next we are going to have apple tv and then there really will be no more hope for us ha ha. That is really cool about meeting your neighbor.

 

Yeah I remember playing baseball as a kid. I was always out in right field where I couldn't do any damage ha ha. We play a ton of baseball though for p-day now. I am actually getting really sick of it. But it has been pretty fun. Brad (the card shop owner) said that you guys talked to him over Facebook a little bit. That is really cool. We are going to have a little BBQ on the 4th of July with him because no one signed up on our dinner calender that day. I am super excited. So I got to meet another baseball payer. Kenly Jansen, no idea how to spell that. He is the closer for the Dodgers. He is a pretty cool guy also. I'm sending my flash drive with all the pics this week.

 

I was in an earthquake also for the first time. It was only like 5 seconds but it was centered in Yorba Linda. Really cool. Felt like just the whole house and ground was shaking. Nothing really like it.

 

Love you dad

July 2, 2012

Brad told me about you guys talking over Facebook. We are actually going to have a little BBQ with them on the 4th of July because none of the members signed up to feed us that day. So we are looking forward to that.  (Brad from OCSportcards in Anaheim said some very nice things about Connor when he replied to Connor's mom and dad on Facebook. He had posted a pic of Connor and his companion at their sportscard store.)

 

 I am sending the flashdrive this week don't worry. Just took awhile to get to a computer that could download my pics onto it.

 

Sorry that you had to spend time home alone. Annie isn't dead yet?....dang. Ha ha ha just kidding. I thought that infecting her with that skin virus before I left would do the trick. That really sucks about the A/C though. When I first moved into this apartment the A/C didn't work. Just blew air and our apartment got pretty hot also, not as hot though as Texas. The weather here gets pretty bland though. It is just always sunny no matter what. That is really cool that you are going to have lunch with Jess. Thank you, that really means a lot to me. When are you guys going to Utah?

 

Ha ha I'm glad that you edited some of the comments. Thanks for everything that you do mom. I love you.

 

Connor

June 25, 2012

Things are going well, it is sad to hear that dad is out of town again. 

 

That is so exciting about Mikey though. I am going to have to e-mail him when he gets to the MTC. (Mike Graham just left to the MTC in England!)

 

I will definitely be praying for Lisa also.

 

 Absolutely the spirit can be fun. I lot of missionaries need to learn that out here that is for sure. 

 

So I was in an earthquake this past week. It was pretty cool, only lasted about 5 seconds but the whole house shook and quaked. The ground was kinda rolling really weird feeling. It was centered right here in Yorba Linda which made it so strong.

 

 I have been doing a ton of service this week for our new investigator Peggy Anderson. We are landscaping her backyard for a party that one of her grandchildren are going to have there. We have been working a lot on it. 

 

Tyler is progressing and his baptism will probably be moved back a week from the 14th. The house situation hasn't really solved itself yet so we are waiting for that to die down. Other then that we have been doing a lot of finding. Knocking lots of doors and checking up on a lot of former investigators. One girl answered the door in a towel this week, that was pretty strange. We had a good conversation with her about the Gospel though. People I guess are just more laid back in California ha ha. 

 

Love you guys and thank you for the frisbee. Ha ha that was so much fun you guys sending that. I love you all.

 

Love,

Connor

June 18, 2012

I missed you guys too on fathers day. This ward did something really fun though. After church they put all these cookies, that every single mom baked in the ward, in a room and only dads were allowed in. We were allowed also because we are Elders ha ha. There were so many cookies and only guys in there, no kids and no women. It was like an elite club or something. Really amazing and really really good. I hope dad liked his card I thought it was funny and totally reminded me of what he has gone through with me ha ha.

We found a new investigator. It was so amazing we went tracting and prayed on where to go. We then saw two guys moving furniture out of a truck and we went up and helped them. We met the lady that owns the house and her name is Peggy Anderson. She is a 80 year old lady and super nice. She is full of spit fire though and has a temper ha ha. I love her to death. We are going to be helping her with some yardwork and moving things around the house. She is Catholic and has raised 9 kids all by herself. Her alcoholic ex husband walked out on her and her kids when she was 30. It was terrible. She has been through a lot and we hope that the gospel will apply to her life.

It is getting really hot here. We are in the desert part of the mission so it kinda sucks. I'm okay though because I know it is like super hot back home and this is nothing. Elder Kohl though is a little bit more over weight and if he starts sweating and can't stop sweating so we kinda have to take it easy some days and get lots of water when we go out. 

We have a member of the ward who is a karate master and has like 4 black belts. He teaches us how to fight and self defense on p-days. It is super fun. We get to spar and fight and stuff. I am pretty sure that I look like a dork doing it ha ha. 

We really aren't allowed to go to anything like any big events or Mormon night stuff because it usually is past our curfew and out of our area's so haven't seen to much of that.

I love you guys and it is so great to hear that Papa had a good fathers day. Thank you all for everything love you guys.

(Dad's letter)

Hi dad, happy fathers day. I really missed you the other day. Everybody went around the room and talked about their dad. It was hard. You'll have to read mom's e-mail to get more info I don't want to repeat information.

So I got to meet Howie Kendrick who plays for the Angels the other day. He was having a signing at OC Sportzcardz and the Brad the guy that owns it let us meet him. Elder Jackson got an autograph and I got a picture with all of us with him. It was really cool. He saw us and was like you guys LDS and we were like yeah. He then told us about how you guys were cool and that he use to play basketball with us every monday and that he would get smoked by these mormon kids. It was really funny. Really good guy. I'll send the picture to you on the flash drive. I also told Brad that you liked the Royals and he started to give me cards of them to send home to you ha ha. I'll have to send them. Like OC Sportzcardz on facebook and you can see a picture of me on there.

That is good that Jaylen is doing well in soccer. I hope that she goes far with it. That does suck about Kate though getting sick. (Kate only lasted one night at her first girl's camp. She got really sick and had to come home.) Ha ha that is funny that you had to do security. (Dad had to sleep over one night at girl's camp.) No kids running into barbed wire fences that night huh? Ha ha.

I miss you guys and don't need much right now. Thank you all for everything. Read mom's e-mail for more info on the week. I love you dad and happy fathers day.

June 11, 2012

Hi mom I'm doing well. Thank you for the package I just got it this week. The Jelly Beans are amazing, I was craving those so so so so much thank you. I think that our Zone Leaders are a little retarded when it comes to giving mail and it took awhile for it to get from the mission office to me. 

 

We don't really have very many cool dinners ever. Just standard run of the mill dinners. We did have dinner with an excommunicated member who served his mission in Japan. We all had uncooked meat and veggies and a big frying pan in the middle of the table and we cooked it and ate it as dinner went on. It was very difficult with chop sticks but I am getting better at using those.

 

So I never bought the steak and I haven't had any steak since Austin was my companion. He bought it all and cooked it. He was the southern boy so I just got fat off of eating his food ha ha. Except I think I have lost some weight. I can't tell though because I don't have a scale. Got to go on belly size ha ha.

 

Those are some really cool missionary experiences that you all have had. That is a good plan mom that you have. Did you pray about it to see if it was part of God's plan also? Maybe it is time now to give him the BoM or maybe it is after Christmas. I have never prayed so much as I do now out here. About little tasks also like who we should go see, what street we should knock, and what we should share with someone. It is really cool. Pray about your decision, doesn't hurt to run it by God, the source of all truth and knowledge :).

 

So this week was crazy. Tyler's mom gave permission for him to be baptized it was soooo crazy!!! We are super excited and set a date on July 14th with him. His dad and Tyler are really busy until then so that was the first open date. We really think it was the 40 day fast we are doing in our ward that softened her heart. The 40 day fast is where a different member of the ward fasts for missionary opportunities in their life each day for 40 days. We have been seeing a lot of miracles and a ton of missionary opportunities that the members are having.

 

This week also we had a Less Active member Sis Hamutoff trip and fall and break her hip. She is about 60 years old. We had just started to get her to come back to church and then this happened. We were the first ones to know though and we rushed to the Hospital and gave her a blessing. We were the first ones there and stayed with her and her husband for 2 hours till the relief society president came. They transferred her down to another hospital for surgery and now she is recovering. She has Parkinsons though so her body moves uncontrollably so she is in a ton of pain and is having a hard time healing because she keeps moving her hip. We are praying hard for her.

 

Other then that it has been a pretty normal week. We have a temple trip coming up in two weeks and it should be fun. Be sure to wish Jess a happy birthday on the 28th. Send her an e-mail to see if you can meet with her for lunch also while you are up in Utah. Thank you guys so much for everything I love you so much.

 

Connor

June 4, 2012 (Letter to mom)

Ugh, tell the BYU soccer coach to go back to happy valley. Jaylen is too good to go there. Ha ha but that is really exciting being scouted by a coach like that.(Jaylen met the BYU soccer coach at a soccer tournament in Houston.)

 

Members do a good job of feeding us. We have about one-two meals a week that don't get filled up.

 

So the acnefree face wash does help but it doesn't really matter. Just keep sending me some face wash and I should be fine. The like organic pills don't do anything for me either I don't think.

 

Elder Khol is good. We get along well but in social situations we differ. He just brings up random things sometimes during lessons and he sometimes has a hard time connecting with people. But we get along great.

 

The weather is getting really hot. I am in the desert part of the mission now so I am feeling the heat.

 

So we teach this older black lady. She is a Less Active because she has some problems getting to church. She has a really thick mustache. Like bigger than anything that I could grow. Anyways she got a new flat screen T.V. and was telling us how she got it. Her son Butch that lives with her went to social security and told them that he was having some memory problems (which he isn't). So they gave him a bigger pension each month and he took the extra money and bought a new T.V. with it. That was kind of interesting ha ha. Now I know why America has problems.

 

Every day is a difficult time. Just the never ending work that is out there. I just keep on going that is all that you can do ha ha. But you have what I call little tender mercies of the Lord along the way that make it all worth it. Like Tyler's mom just gave permission for him to be baptized!!! We are so excited! We are going to set up a date with him tomorrow. We are so happy about that. It really is a miracle because she has had a really hard time with him getting baptized.

 

That is fun about going to Utah. Let Jess know so that she can have lunch with you guys once. That would really mean a lot to me and her if you did that. Thank you guys so much for everything. I love you!

June 4, 2012

Hi dad. That is a really cool missionary opportunity that you had. I love it when people tell me that they have a personal relationship with God and that is why they don't go to church. That just means that they haven't put in the effort and church makes them feel just a little bit guilty ha ha. Keep bringing up the gospel with him. Miracles can happen.

 

That is really cool about Jaylen getting a look at all the colleges. Get some of your connections to get the Utah coach down here. One of the Hinckley kids has to go to Utah! I already betrayed that by going to USU there can't be another one of us not going to the Lord's chosen school (UofU).

 

That sounds like Annie is more trouble then she is worth. If she is gone by the time I get home I won't mind :) ha ha she never liked me to begin with and I really didn't like her. SoCal is the king of little dogs. I mean I have seen big manly men walking a little tiny rat dog thing and no one bats an eye. It is all about the little tiny dogs and I they are not my first love. I just say that SoCal has a rat infestation. Ha ha, so I have never been chased but I have been barked at and then when I enter the house and they are barking at me I make like I'm going at them and they run away and usually pee. Gosh I hate little dogs.

 

Ha ha I'll play some board games with you. I think it is kinda nice that I am not going right back to school when I get home. I have a little bit of time to adjust back into real life. Thank you all for everything. I love you guys

May 28, 2012

That is crazy about all the people moving. I'm going to come back and know no one in our ward.  (We listed all the people that are moving out of our ward this spring.) Bishop Garlick may not even be bishop anymore that would be weird! Things here are good. We got transfer calls and I'm going to be with Elder Kohl again for another six weeks. I'm driver though for this transfer. Thank goodness Now I wont have to pray every time that I get into the car that I won't die. Don't worry so much about sharing the gospel and offending someone. People actually aren't offended when you do. They really aren't. If you want to share something with them that has brought you so much happiness they take it as a compliment. Trust me, I do it every day. :) (Mom had said how sometimes she is nervous sharing my testimony.)

Kate isn't allowed to dance with any boys so that is good that she didn't. Jaylen can't date while I'm gone either. That is a super cool experience that you had though Jaylen. Did you call him to repentance and tell him if he didn't join our church he would burn in a pit in Hell? You should have if you didn't.... ha ha jk. Follow up with him some more because now he is interested. Place the BoM in his heart. As being a member of this church you are commanded to share the gospel to all that will hear it. You are given promises though that you will have the words given to you what you should say when you are in the moment. Call upon those promises.

 Jaylen is not allowed to join the enemy. She can not go to BYU ha ha. Sounds like you have been pretty busy though dad. Working with all CEO's of companies and stuff. Things here are going well though. Tyler's dad is getting a divorce and Tyler kinda hates his mom now. It isn't how I wanted it to happen but at least he will be able to be baptized. I love you guys so much.

Love,
Connor

May 21, 2012

Thank you for the package. I think that I am fine right now. I will send you some pics. I don't think though I'll send you any of my gut because that is kinda weird ha ha. (I had wanted to see if he really had gained any weight, because I just can't believe it.) There are rumors of me training next transfer which is next week and an Elder Monson is coming to the mission and everybody wants me to train him. That would be awful and we would never hear the end of it from members.(Get it:  Elder Hinckley and Elder Monsen!!!)

 

Tyler, our investigator, is really having some family problems. It is a big mess and I feel horrible right now. I can not imagine how Tyler is taking this. We have a lesson with him tomorrow and hopefully that will go well.

 

Love you guys and thank you for everything that you do :)

May 14, 2012

Maybe just our mission said no then. (I had asked him why another missionary in our ward and in the Utah mission had been able to skype and we hadn't gotten to)  I don't know. So many rules and rumors of rules go on here that I don't even know what is okay and what isn't sometime. So I just pray about it and follow the spirit. :) ha ha.

I'm a little mad about missing the Avengers. I know that everything will be okay. Me and Heavenly Father have a deal and a plan worked out so I'm not worried. Thank you for texting her. Thank you guys for everything. Something I do need though is batteries. I am running out of them for my camera. It takes AA. Thank you guys for everything.

 

Love,

Connor

April 30, 2012

Hi mom,

Thank you so much for the package!!!! The scotcharoos are so so so so amazing!!!! Oh my gosh they hit the spot so well. I loved them. Thank you also for the Spider-man egg with suckers inside!!! Thank you so much. We did mormon.org Thursday which is where we go and look at mormon.org for an hour and I sent you a quick e-mail that day.

 

So not to many new stores except Target!!!!! So happy to have that. We go to the one in Brea though which is in our zone but not our area because everything there is a dollar cheaper than the one by us which is crazy. This area is a lot smaller than my last which is a little weird. Can feel a little claustrophobic during the week not being able to leave. No much has happened with the new comp. He has got some interesting habits.  So I finally got Toilet cleaner today and I'm going to start working on the bathroom. Last week I did the kitchen and organized all the cabinets and everything. I did the dishes of course or else they pile up in the sink and look like a leaning tower of piza with crusted on food.

 

I can't believe that Tyler is home. That is so crazy. Ha ha funny to think that he missed Amanda's wedding and now she is pregnant!!! So once every quarter we have mission interviews and zone conference and that is really when I see President Bowen. I have never gone to the mission home except for when I came out into the mission. I e-mail President once a week but so does every other missionary in the mission so I keep it brief. 

 

You didn't need to send new medication for acne out. Thank you though. It isn't that bad. Doesn't matter out here either. Just matters when I go home and Jess sees me ha ha. Speaking of which you should e-mail her. So e-mail her asking her how she is doing. She loves talking and hearing about you guys. She is running a marathon and a couple half marathon's also so you could give her some tips.

 

Our bishop is very very very nice. BYU fan and grad, Institute teacher. His kids are nice.  They are like young adults and not real little kids. He is a good guy and is trying to do good missionary things in the mission.

 

So Mothers day I don't know much yet or even if I can skype and find a member to let us use skype. We aren't going to be able to talk as long as we did last time though ha ha. probably be and hour tops. I am excited though.

 

I have maintained 195lbs. and hopefully I will convert my little gut that I have into my six pack that I use to have. Crutches and 6:30 in the morning though are really hard to do. Especially if you just woke up ha ha.

 

That is good that you are trying to be a missionary. Remember that your friends are your easiest mission opportunities. I love you guys and I will write you all soon. Thank you for all the packages they are so awesome and make my day.

 

Love,

Connor

April 23, 2012

Whatever you do..... don't buy a Mac. (Our computer is broken at home and we are thinking of buying a new computer.) It is a trick and a horrible lie. You may have sold your soul to Steve Jobs (may he rest in peace) but that doesn't mean that the family has to follow you down. I do remember playing Mech Warrior, I also remember getting frustrated that I could never get past the first level when I played it by myself ha ha. Some things do change though..... now I can get past the first level. Oh Yeah!!! So what new computer are you going to get? You still got Mary Jane? (Mary Jane is the name of my computer).

 

That is awful about Matt. I(Matt Graham in our ward) Is he going to go back? How sick is he? I hope I hear from him soon.

 

That new High School does sound pretty neat. Hope that Jaylen has a fun time in it. Consol did feel like a prison though. Glad that this one is more open. The schools in California aren't buildings though. They don't have hallways they are all outside in individual buildings. It is crazy. To get to a classroom you just walk right into it instead of going into a building first. 

 

Well being transferred sucks. I hate it. You have to learn people's name again, move all your stuff, and start over completely. You know me I don't like change that much and this is a lot of change at once. Plus our apartment is awful.... lets just say mom would take one look at it and run away screaming. So I had a lot of cleaning to do. I don't think missionaries understand that they need to clean the table off after they eat. I think I wiped up about 3-4 years of food, dirt, and muck when I wash those tables. The Yorba Linda area is really nice, but it is a lot hotter here. About 10 degrees because I don't have that ocean breeze. It is weird not being in a student ward anymore because sacrament is so quiet and there are a lot more old people in our ward. The only place in the mission that is remotely dangerous is certain places in Santa Ana. This is a really safe mission for the most part. Member refferals are less in every area. I have yet to recieve one from somebody in my ward. Elder Khol my comp is cool. He was a band guy in high school. He is a kid in high school where I would have seen in the band hall and talked to but nothing more. So we get along well.

 

Let me know how that trip to Nebraska is. I wish I could go with that to you. Is the whole Hinckley clan flying up there for that?

 

Oh dangit! You put up that Student Union. I signed a petition against that!!! Definitely not for that! Ha ha I do think that your opinion is a little biased about it but I bet it looks really cool. Can't wait to see it when I get back. I'll walk on the grass and wear a huge hat also just to be a rebel like that.

 

I got something called dry-el it is suppose to be drycleaning that you can do in the dryer. It was 7 bucks and so I picked it up because dry cleaning here is 7-8 dollers per pant and 14 dollars for a suit jacket. So I will let you know how that goes.

 

I do need some toothpaste, deoderant, shampoo (anti-dandruff kind), and some med stuff. So I got a chemical burn from cleaning the oven the other day and it really hurts and is not healing very fast so if you could send some neosporin that would be awesome, also I was talking to this lady on the street and she said that vitamins that are Pro-biotics would help my acne. I didn't convert her but she may have given me the cure to my acne. So if you could send some Pro-Biotics that would be awesome. Thank you guys so much for everything.

 

Love,

Connor

April 16, 2012

Hi mom it is good to hear from you. That is really funny about Ellie and awesome about Nana and Papa coming down. I'm glad Jaylen is doing so well in Soccer.  She is a hard worker. That is funny about her Asian thing though. I don't even think Jess has seen me act full blown retarted ha ha. That is just a Hinckley family thing lol. I never did get any cookies so you might want to check with them to see if they sent them.

 

So I got transferred today. It was really sad because I really liked my old ward in Irvine. I had to say goodbye to the Kiesters, the Hawkins, the Knuetsons, and Stephanie the convert I baptized. The worst though was saying goodbye to Elder Austin. He was such a great companion and we got along so well. He said I was the only companion that he ever loved. He was really cool.

 

So now I am in Yorba Linda 5th ward. I have been for 1 hour so I don't know that much ha ha. My new companion is Elder Cole and he just finished training and has been out 3 months. So I will be greenie breaking him. He is a really cool guy so far. He is a music education major and loves piano and trombone so we should get along fine. He is also a comic book nerd so we should get along really fine haha. This is a really really rich area so I won't have dinner at any more student apartments ha ha. That I don't mind. I'll let you know more next week.

 

Can you log onto facebook and accept all the friend requests that I got? I told everyone to facebook friend me to keep in touch. Thank you for all the letters I haven't gotten a chance to read them yet but I will try and write you all back this week. Love you guys lots!!!

 

Connor

May 6, 2012

 This is  a letter from Connor to his dad:

 

Hi guys, I'm glad Nana and Papa got my letter. (The letter actually came to our house while Nana and Papa were visiting us! Really cool) Sounds like you are going to be doing a ton of traveling. Your job does sound cool. Sounds like you have be to around a lot of big whigs a lot though. Always have to have that happy pleasing face on. I have to do that also. Always have to be in a good mood with members and investigators. It is hard sometimes ha ha. But it is worth it. Some days you just want to be a bum. I never am though ha ha. You can use my computer also. Probably a lot faster than Jaylen's because it is awesome!!!! haha. That is cool that the Jazz actually made it to the playoffs. Hope that they build up next year and then I can watch them dominate when I get back haha.

 (Shane must have asked him about politics.)

So we actually aren't allowed to talk about politics. It is annoying because everybody asks us about the elections and Mitt. I do hope that he wins though. Looks like he is going to though just depends on how bad the democrats cheat now. 

I'll be able to call next week after church. They wont let us do skype anymore because I guess some missionaries abused it. Majority suffers from the minority. I will only be able to talk for about an hour this time also. Church ends at 2:30 so I'll call you about three to three thirty. My time. If anyone isn't there I can just call back later also. I'll call moms cell phone also. 

I love you guys and thank you so much for the Spider-man ball ha ha. (We sent him a kiddie Spiderman ball in the mail.) That was so much fun and everybody was stunned that I would get a Spider-man ball. I thought that it was legit. They were all jealous ha haha. Thank you guys and I love you!

April 9, 2012

For Easter we went to church, went out and visited some Less Actives, and then we had dinner at the Kiester's. The same family that we had Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving dinner with. I really like them.

 

Last night We ate potatoes, roast beef, stuffed mushrooms, asparagus, Sparkling Cider, and salad. It was very good.

 

 What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

I ate nothing. Breakfast stuff is very expensive. I usually eat it every other day and when I do I eat cream of wheat packets that I get from the dollar store.

Do you like it when we send you food?

I love it when you send me food. Although did you say something about cookies? Because I never got cookies. I did get your Easter package which was great. Thank you so much! Remember to put medicine or food on the side of the package to make it come a lot faster.

How does homemade food send? Like can we send you Rice Krispy treats? Will that send. Or is there something homemade that you have been craving?

I have been craving scotcharoos. They sound really good right now.

Do you still have the same companion? Is he the same age as you?\

I do still have the same companion and he is 21 he waited a little bit before he came out.

When is your next transfer date? Do you think anything will change for you?

Transfers are next Monday. There is a good chance that I could leave or I could stay. It is all up in the air.

Do you still have a car?

Yes we do.

Are you teaching anybody?

Ha ha of course we are. Just it is going slow. We are focusing on Less Actives and reactivating them.

How is the person you baptized doing? I still think that is so cool!!!!

She is doing good and still comes every Sunday and has tons of friends.

Brian and Brooke and the little b's just got back from Disneyland. He told me that when he went running in the morning he looked for missionaries. How close are you to Disneyland?

I am about 20-30min. away depending on traffic.

Elder Bednar came and talked to us Friday. It was really cool! Sister Bednar came also and talked about growing up in Afton. I got to shake Elder Bednar's hand. It was a really cool experience.

March 26, 2012

That is way awesome that Jaylen found her phone. That is the power of prayer right there. Ha ha. She could have survived with a regular phone though. I do no internet, games, movies, music. Just calls and texts ha ha. There is a rumor though about missionaries getting ipads or iphones that are locked out of certain functions. So we can report our numbers and do reports all digitally. The missionaries over in Japan already are doing that.

 

Ha ha I am glad I am not there to be in all those flowers to take pictures again ha ha. They were very pretty though. (He's talking about the bluebonnets in Texas in the spring.)

 

So I haven't gotten a package from you and I think it is because our Zone Leaders (who get the mail from the mission office) are incompetent. Put Food or Medicine on the side of any package that you send me and that way the mission office texts the zone leaders to come get it so I can get it faster, or actually get it.

 

So we got new ward missionaries in our ward and we have to train them on what to do in lessons. They follow our lead and testify basically to what we say. So we train them on the lessons, how to follow the spirit, and that silence is okay in a lesson.

 

I am filling my time wisely. A inactive member whose parents are actually the senior missionaries that check our apartment once a month owns a comic shop. I bought a card game there to play on p-days that's it. I didn't buy any comics because that is against the rules. Don't worry. I am going to be a lot better with purchases also. I'm not going to use my debit card at all this month. Wish me luck because it is a five monday month.

 

We went to general conference at the church. Me and Elder Austin pulled in a couch from the foyer and sat and watched it on that. We had some snacks also. My favorite talk was Elder Nelson's when he talked about the body's relationship with the Spirit. I thought that was really cool.

 

Love you guys thanks for everything!

March 5th, 2012

Everything here is great. I heard about the half marathon that's awesome! Have you been able to talk to Jess at all about the Marathon that she is going to be running. I think that she is crazy ha ha. I will just be dad in that department and be an amazing cheerleader for her.

Things have slowed down a bit since the baptism kinda happened so fast me and Elder Austin are going "well now what do we do" ha ha. So we have been working a lot on finding through the members and working with L.A. Sometimes now it is hard to fill up the days because the church is trying to have missionaries not knock on doors at all anymore because it really does just waste time and has no results. We are trying to get the members motivated to give us referrals but it is hard because no one really wants to ask their friends if they want to be taught the gospel by the missionaries. Heck you guys don't even want to ha ha. So we have been doing a lot of visits lately and making sure that Stephanie gets her new member lessons taken care of. Thank you for having Nana send me the medicine and also for your package with the gum and sucker. I love you guys and don't forget to forward this e-mail to Jess. Thanks for everything!!! Love you

Connor

MY FIRST BAPTISM!!!!!!

Hi mom, thank you so much for the Valentine's that you have sent me!!!!! The package was wonderful! Thank you for the movie and the Candy. Ha ha I laughed hard when Jaylen said that she didn't like the Valentine's card that you sent out. (She didn't like them because they were all just pictures of her and her sister.)

So the Baptism was amazing and she asked me to baptize her. It was such an amazing experience. Like nothing I have felt before. She was confirmed yesterday and is now a Mormon. She is so amazing and so strong she is going through such a tough time right now but she still made it through.

Something else that will make your day also is that I have been stretching every single night for a month and a half now and can almost touch my toes and I haven't had any back pain at all. Bro. Kiester the doctor who found the cure for scoliosis in my ward took a look at my back and told me that if I stretched every day I wouldn't have any problems and I haven't. You can say I told you so now....

The weather here has been 60s-70s now pretty steady. It gets kinda boring sometimes because is doesn't ever change. When it rains it is actually fun but it rains like once a month if even that. ha ha

I hope Mikey goes that would be so awesome. I know that some missionaries out here with me have more problems than he does so he should be able to go no problem. That is crazy that Matt has parasites in Ecuador. I am uber lucky that I don't have to deal with that out here. ha ha.

Jaylen is a tough girl but she needs to learn to hit back. She is too much like me and just sits and takes it and internalizes it. One thing that I have learned out here is that you have a problem with your companion you need to say it because if you let it sit then the Spirit can't be with you because you are angry. I do remember Belton also don't remember what school they are didn't really pay attention when I went on those band trips.... gosh I hated marching band ha ha.(I was telling him about Jaylen's soccer games at other schools.)

Cori is going to watch Kate ha ha, that is crazy.

I have had a lot of sad moments on my mission. Elder Catmull would get on my case a lot but I would get over it. Maybe one thing that was really hard for me was when I first got out in the field was worrying about home. I read a scripture in 3 Nephi I can't remember the chapter exactly but it was 19 or 18 around. very last few verses. It made me stop and think because in it, it talks about how you don't need to worry about where you are going to eat, or what you are going to wear tomorrow, it says to trust in the Lord and that the evil in the day you have is enough and you don't need to worry about things you can't change. That made me realize that I can't change anything that goes on back home, so I just have to pray that the Lord will take care of the people that I love and that will have to be enough.

Thank you again for the wonderful package I love you guys so much and miss you. Take care and share the gospel with someone.

February 20, 2012

Tell mom thank you for sending those e-mails to Jess. I am sure she appreciates it. That's good that you got to spend some time together finally. Our Golden Investigator is getting baptized next Saturday and I am super excited. My first one, everyone says that after your first Baptism the mission just flies by because you know what the success is like. I am way excited. We are going to meet with her tonight to see who she want's to Baptize her and speak at her Baptism.

I hope that Kate does well. I get called to bear my testimony a lot in church when there is extra time ha ha. I teach the Gospel Principles class a lot also, just yesterday I taught it about Talents and using them.

That is really cool that you just had a Recent Convert. Be sure to become friends with him. That is a really cool story. So where do the missionaries live. There is a guy in my ward that served in that mission Bro. McBride, and he said that College Station had the nickname temptation station because of all the parties that went happened on campus. That made me laugh.

I honestly wont know when I need a bike till two days before I transfer because that is when we find out where we are going or even if we are going to a new area. The odds are that I could never get a bike but there is still a chance that I might need one. I think that English speaking there are 4 areas of cars for every one area on bike.

So I am definitely exploring a new diet out here and that is called: vegetarian. I have eaten so many vegetarian meals since I have been out here. Me and Elder Austin are dieing because he is from Arkansas and is a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I just tried my first veggie burger last week and I don't know why people think that salad can be considered a meal but apparently a lot of people do. Ha ha I am actually learning to almost enjoy salad now, but don't tell anyone ha ha.

That is horrible about Lisa and I will definitely be keeping her in my prayers. It is times like these that I thank Heavenly Father for the wonderful gospel and plan of Salvation knowing that everything that was done wrong to us here will be made up in the next life.

I love you guys and thank you for everything that you do. Please forward this to Jess. I miss you guys and am working hard out here to save some souls :)

Love,

Connor

February 13th Mish-Mash of Dad's and Mom's e-mails

Stephanie our investigator is really nice. She is 37 and just finalized her divorce on her second husband who cheated on her. Her first husband and her had two kids who are 14 and 16. They live with her husband and his wife now. Her divorce attorney is Mormon and pointed her in the right direction and gave us the referral. She started to read Mormonism for Dummies and really liked it and then we came by and started to teach her. She runs and owns a company that designs and makes wedding dresses. They are really cool and we have been to her store. She ships them around the world to wedding dress stores and her dress has even been on "Say yes to the dress" twice. Pretty cool. She is an awesome lady and we can't wait for the 25th. Her kids live out of our area and the dad is against Mormons, so don't think the kids will be taking the lessons soon. She wants both of them to start going to the stake dances though.

Elder Austin is awesome and we are getting along really well. He has one younger sister and is from Arkansas. His dad is one of the few that don't work for Wal-Mart there. The work is going good and we teach really well together. He was a little bit of a rebel and came out a bit late. He is fine now though and we are working hard. He sold insurance before he came out and was on track to be making six figures. He want's to do finace and be a sport's team accountant or something like that.

I don't really feel any different. I feel more diciplined and feel like I can make myself do a lot more. But I feel like the same old Connor. Missionaries don't change much when they come out. They are still the same people with the same desires and same wants. I still want to watch TV and still Talk to Jess ha ha but the only difference is that I don't, because the Lord has asked me not to.

That is cool about Cody, don't tell anyone but Brazil missionaries have a bad rap. Missionaries that didn't serve Brazil say that it isn't a real mission down there because people average like 100-150 baptisms down there and just are always busy and no one ever fights them or gives them a hard time. Ha ha so whenever someone says they served in Brazil other missionaries will go "oh so you didn't serve a real mission then did ya?" Ha ha

That is cool about Teri coming down. Living with her was good and was nice to have a lot of space.

Have you sold my computer yet? If not just tell her to use that one or Jaylen's or my old one I think that I fixed it. Gosh I think we have enough computers in the house ha ha.

Tell Jaylen to stop talking to boys!

Tell Kate to punch back!(Dad told Connor that a girl was bullying Kate at school.)

Ha ha sounds like both of them are being successful though. I'm glad that they are both good at sports. That will make their high school experiences much better and easier. Tell them to keep working hard and having fun. I'm proud of them and all they are doing.

I don't think Mom will never stop running ha ha. Did you hear that Jess is running the Logan Marathon? You should give her some tips mom. You can't give up basketball either dad! I still have to kick your butt at church ball ha ha.

I love you guys and thanks for all the support you give me. Have you sent those videos yet? If you have thank you so much! Happy Valentines day!!! I love you guys and thanks for everything you do. I'll send you my baptismal picture after the 25th!