Happy Mother's Day!!! ...again. :)

Yesterday I got to talk to my wonderful mother and the rest of my amazing family! :) Qué bien. It was so good to see all of you. Even though I hardly recognize any of you. Haha. You've all changed a lot. But you're all still as amazing and wonderful as ever. Obviously. You're related to me. Hehe...

That was almost funny. In a sarcastic, (not at all prideful) kind of a way. 

Moving on. It was kind of cool to be able to skype from am iPhone. Definitely a first. Even though a lot of Colombians are pretty high-tech these days, technology is still pretty expensive here. If it's not the phone itself, it's the data plan or the internet, etc... But our ward is pretty cool that way. There are always people with their smart phone or their tablet at church, reading the scriptures or giving a talk from there. Kinda fun. :) Just makes me laugh that I used to think Colombia was a 3rd world country. Nada que ver. It's like in that one movie where they show a jungle, and the little title at the bottom "Bogotá, Colombia." Hahaha. Bogotá is a city with 8 million people. Más o menos. ...nice try.

Anyway, tangent. Sorry. En fin, it was just wonderful to see and talk to all you guys. :) 

I don't know if I told you much about my new comp. He's from Argentina. Buenos Aires. But not the city. He's from the province. He's been on the mission for a little less than a year, and is a hard worker. We're going to start tomorrow (I hate saying that. But we really can't today...), contacting everyone and their dog. We'll probably end up contacting more dogs than people, but hey. Maybe at least some will listen to us. ;) My companion says he's afraid to contact. We'll fix that real quick. :) Haha. The only way to get rid of a fear is to confront it. As in, we're going to be contacting all day tomorrow. Hahaha. ;) Well, until 6pm, because we can't tract after 6. 

The mission is going really well. I love it so much. And am going to miss it. Así que, voy a aprovechar mientras todavía estoy aquí. 

It's also been really cool to have the Assistants living with us. They're two really hard workers, and have inspired me to work even harder and take my obedience one step farther. :) Also it's cool because one is Elder Guajardo, who was in my district in Tunja, and the other is Elder Raines, the other Elder that I came down to Colombia with. Basically awesome. It's also awesome because they wash their dishes, and clean up after themselves, etc. Couldn't ask for better house-mates. 

Anyway, thanks for all your prayers and support. This week, we're going to focus on having 10 new investigators. That's the mission goal that President set, so we're going to do our best to reach that goal. "Do or do not. There is no try."

Love y'all. :) 

Elder Cannon

P.S. Here's a foto of some tea we found for sale this week. It's made of cocain. Cool, right? Hehe...

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This week is Mother's Day! :D

Happy Mother's Day, mom! Even though...I'll talk to you Sunday. How exciting. :) 

This week was pretty good. I'm all better from my sickness, and they didn't transfer me. So I'm doing good. :) They did transfer my companion, however, and I am now with my first Argentine companion. His name is Elder Zapata. I'll send you a picture when I...take one. 

Today we went to the center of Bogota, and bought some cool souvenirs. I won't tell you what they are. You'll just have to wait. We were going to go to Monserrate, because I still haven't ever gone. It's basically this cool place where you take the teleférico (like a...cable car...tram line...thing. English doesn't like me) up to a really high place, and you can see all of Bogota and take pictures. 

So, that would've been cool. If we had gone. I think maybe we'll go next week, because it's a festivo. Holiday. 

Apart from that...que más les cuento...? Oh. We're going to have 2 more missionaries living in our apartment. But...they're the assistants. So...it'll be like they're only kind of living in our apartment, because they travel a lot, and are always in meetings with President and the Secretaries and the Zone leaders, etc. It'll be interesting. 

Have I ever told y'all that I've had dreams about the transfers, and then the dreams come true? It's happened to me 3 or 4 times already. Yesterday was one of those times. I dreamed that my companion left and that I stayed here with another Elder. Dicho y hecho. Here we are. 

So. That's about all I have to say. It's still raining goats and llamas here. That's not really news. Just hoping my paraguas holds out until the end of winter. 

Anyway, I'll see you all on Sunday! Love y'all!. :)

Elder Cannon

P.S. "And do you know what else? I never liked your spinach puffs! Never!!"

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I just bought a scarf.

They always say there's a first for everything, right? 

Like that one time I slept on the roof. Or when I ate a worm. Or when I ran a marathon. ...I guess some firsts are cooler than others.

So, there's this sister in the ward who's a recent convert. And she keeps telling me I need to take better care of myself and drink ginger water and take vitamin c and bundle up more when I go outside. I'd usually just tell her that I'll be fine. That I take care of myself, and that I don't ever really get sick anyway. 

But...then I got sick. It wasn't terrible, but it was bad enough to not be able to work for a day (the most boring day of my life, btw's). So I decided that she was right, and that I should bundle up more, and take better care of myself. After all, it has been really cold and rainy lately. So I bought a scarf. Which is weird. I've always been the type that takes the trash out in the snow barefoot, or goes out and plays in the rain just for fun. But while I'm working...I decided it's better not to risk it. I can't feed sheep if I'm sick in bed.

Anyway. This week was pretty good. We're getting better, number-wise, but investigator-wise...we haven't had many changes. It's honestly been pretty tough, because they've made a new rule that we can't tract after 6pm. And in the afternoon, we almost always have appointments. So...it's kind of been hard to find new investigators. We have received a few refferals, but none that are incredibly solid. We need to pray for more referrals, and then just ask everyone and their dog if they know anyone we could teach.

We'll keep working at it. Nothing is impossible, right? Especially with the Lord on our side. And all of your prayers as well. :)

We have been working with a former investigator who had told us that she didn't want to get baptized. Her name is Patricia. She came to General Conference and told one of the sisters in our ward that she did want to get baptized. I think she still may have some concerns, but she did accept a baptismal date. So we're working with her lots to strengthen her faith and get rid of her doubts and fears before her baptismal date. 

So. That's about all I have to say. Oh, I guess I should explain. I'm writing today, because we changed our Pday to go to the temple. Then I was still feeling a little sickish, so we didn't go. Hopefully we can go another day this week. 

Love y'all! 

-Elder Cannon

P.S. "We stole the Time Square Jumbotron! That's what I'm talking ´bout!"

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Hey y'all.

So, I can't believe another week has gone by. Every time I turn around, it's Monday again. This week was pretty eventful. :) Because...it was my BIRTHDAY!!! 

On Tuesday, we had an almost mission-wide sports activity, and they gave me my birthday package. Awesome. :)Then on Wednesday, we had an FHE with Gloria and Santiago and Lizeth. We got there and everything was decorated with tissue paper flowers and ribbons and such. We ate a delish cheesecake that they had made me (at my request), and then they gave me the coolest present ever! It was a huge poster of the family the day we got sealed. But they put it in front of the Salt Lake Temple. I'll show you pics. Don't worry. It was amazing. :) So now it's hanging in my room. :) 

Then we had our FHE. I gave the lesson. It was about President Uchtdorf's talk this conference called "La Esperanza de la Luz de Dios." The hope of the light of God? It was a good lesson. Well, I thought it went alright, anyway. Haha. :) 

Anyway, then there were the games and the strawberries in the chocolate fountain, etc. Oh, and I can't forget the ayacas. Yes, we're still in Colombia. ;) 

21st birthday? Success.

We talked yesterday with Sebastian and his mom, Marcela. We hadn't talked to them for a loooong time. He's a good kid, but he's only 12, so until his mom accepts the gospel...it'll be hard for him to do so. I mean, it's not like he can just get up on Sunday and walk a mile alone to church. Marcela is really receptive, and always understands really well and asks really good questions, but for some reason, doesn't want to join the church. I think she's just worried about "all the rules." We explained to her that we're not monks. We're normal people. We have parties, we dance, we enjoy life...just, without the alcohol and tabaco. I think it went well. I saw some progress. She just needs to come to church. I really hope she does. Because she would be an amazing member of the church. She already acts like one. Except for maybe a few Word of Wisdom problems. So we're praying lots that she'll soften her heart, and have the courage and faith to join the church. :) 

She'll come around. :) 

Isabel still isn't married. We're still hoping to do it this week or next week...but it's been hard. The truth of it is, she already has all the papers she needs, and the ward members have offered to help out with the cost of the notary. She just needs to make the decision. 

Operation: Contact Everyone went pretty well. We didn't contact everyone... but we got pretty close. We actually found a member from Barranquilla that's been here in Bogota 6 years and just didn't know where the church was. So we're going to visit her tomorrow with the Releif Society President. It'd be awesome if her family also joined the church. :) 

Well family, thanks for everything. I enjoyed reading all your birthday letters on my birthday! Haha. I love you all so much. :) What would I do without you? 

-Elder Cannon

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It's your birthday? I didn't know it was your birthday!!!

Ah, good old Kronk. 

It's not my birthday yet, but it is tomorrow. Thanks everyone for all your wonderful birthday wishes. :)  I still can't believe I'm turning 21. I still feel 18. Well, 19, because I'm a missionary. But 21? Ni modo. 

Life here is pretty good. I'm writing today instead of yesterday because President Andelin changed our Pday to have a sports activity with all the missionaries in Bogota, Duitama and Yopal. More than half the mission! It was great. I played ultimate frisby for the first time in 2 years, and we also played sand volleyball. :) It was a blast. 

I also got my birthday package!!! Happy day. I'll be opening it tomorrow. :)

Elder Coronel already went home, so I'm just here with Elder Sanford. We've already started "Operación: Contactar a todos." Contact everyone, and teach anyone that'll listen to us. :) 

I love being a missionary. I feel kind of old. I'm the oldest missionary in my zone (according to time on the mission...not age). It's just weird. But life is wonderful. 

Isabel has said that she¡s planning on getting married at the end of this month. Please, if you can pray for her, and her husband Armando so that everything will work out, and they will have the desire as well as the means to get married. :) She's amazing. 

Santiago is doing alright. We had a charla franca with him yesterday, and worked some things out. We read Mosiah 27 the other day with Gloria. I don't know if we need an angel to appear to him and strike him dumb...but we do need to figure out some way for him to really feel the spirit and have that change of heart. He's a really great kid, he just needs to feel the influence of the spirit in his life. 

Other than that, we're looking for lots and lots of new investigators. We have a goal to find 11 new investigators this week. I know we can do it. The best thing about righteous goals is that Heavenly Father will always help us complete them. 

Anyway, thanks again for everything! I love y'all. :) 

Elder Joey

P.S. Happy Birthday, Jorge! Te quiero muchísimo! 

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April showers bring May...showers.

I'm basically the biggest fan of April on earth. Except maybe Brother Bringhurst (?) from Eagle Mountain. He used to give me a candy every week in church, just because my birthday was in April. Haha. 

Here, April basically just means rain. And more rain, and more rain. What fun. Luckily, I have a new umbrella, because my old one died. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did, with how much I use it. I bought it almost a year ago in Tunja. Anyway, I'm set and ready to go for this "winter" season. 

This week was pretty good. We're doing pretty well working with our new converts. Now we just need to find more people to convert, and then work with them too. 

Isabel still isn't married. I don't know what's holding her back. She has all the desire in the world. I think she's just worried about what her husband thinks. He wants to get married too, but I guess he's worried about the whole money thing. Marriage has some expensive traditions, like gold rings and parties and cakes and dresses, etc. We're trying to convince them that what really matters is the ceremony itself. Hopefully they'll agree... We're still praying lots and lots for them. 

Our converts are doing great. Please add Santago to your prayers. He's been a little...desjuiciado lately, and hasn't wanted to do much. Gloria and Lizeth, on the other hand, are doing great. Lizeth got her temple recommend, and is going to give a talk next Sunday. :) She's scared to death. Haha. But we'll help her out. I'm sure she'll do great. 

Anyway, Hope life is good for all y'all. Oh! I forgot to talk about Confernece! I loved it SO MUCH!!! And received lots of answers to prayers and questions I had. Some of my favorite talks were President Monson's on Sunday Morning, and Elder Scott's. Elder Hales' in the Priesthood session was good too. Honestly, I just loved all of it. It made me laught how much they talked about turning off our electronic devices. And like when Elder Scott said that if we read a scripture as much as we read our text messages, we'd have them all memorized. Haha. :) They also talked a LOT about missionaries. It's so amazing that we went from 57,000 last year, to 65,000 this year. God knew what he was doing when He inspired President Monson to change the age limit. I've heard lots of people say that they're going to change the mission for men to 18 months, but that would completely defeat the purpose of having more missionaries. This work is just going forward. Like the stone cut out of the mountain without hands. They talked about that several times too. 

I'm so grateful to have Prophets and Apostles on the earth today. This church is so true. I love it. :) 

Love y'all. Happy April. :) 

-Elder Joey

P.S. "Tell me where the talking llama is, and we'll burn your house to the ground." "Um, don't you mean, or?" "Fine. Tell me where the talking llama is, OR we'll burn your house to the ground!" "...that's kind of a crucial conjunction."

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Otra foto. :)

I forgot! Camila came to Bogota this week from Cucuta! I was hoping they were going to get sealed this week, but they didn't. But they did come to church with us on Sunday! :) She's 3 months pregnant, and they're thinking of coming to be sealed after the baby is born. Sadly, I won't be here. I'll have to save my pennies to come down for the sealing. :)

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