It's not so much "whatever that means." It's whoever...

"Dear Elder Cannon: you are hereby called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Colombia Bogota North Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months...You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language... "


Monday, November 26, 2012

Today is Monday, today is Monday, Monday all day long...

Hello, all.

Today is Monday. That means that I get to type at you all in hopes that you read and maybe actually benefit from my words. Who knows...

This week was pretty average. Sad as that may seem. No one wished me a happy Thanksgiving. Besides the Mission President's wife. She gave me a sucker. 

Luckily, we have an oven, and we made an amazingly delicious pie at 10:00 at night. Delish. So...happy Thanksgiving everyone. 

We're working these days with Ricardo and Yuranny. They are the little brother and little sister of Jorge Alvarez, who was just baptized a few weeks ago. Jorge this week passed the sacrament. This net week he's going to bless it. 

That's really my favorite thing about the mission. I'm sure I've said this before, but I absolutely love to see people change. Even the way they smile, or...I guess it's what you'd call "the light in their eyes." It's amazing. Jorge has changed a ton, and so have his siblings. We're hoping and praying that they can both get baptized on the 8th of December. It'd be way cool in Jorge himself baptized them! :) 

Anyway, life's good. We're still just working hard, and trying to find and find some more. 

Thanks for everything, y'all. Love you.

Elder Cannon



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Monday, November 19, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

So, to tell you the truth, I realized yesterday that this Thursday would be Thanksgiving. Kind of sad, right? But they don't celebrate it here, so I guess that's just part of the whole new culture experience. I remember last year, there was one person who remembered. And she gave us scrambled eggs with hotdog pieces to celebrate. :) Yum. We'll have to see if anyone remembers this year. I kind of doubt it. 

Anyway, this week was pretty much the best. We had a baptism on Saturday! Which was basically a miracle. Johanna's been attending church the past few months, but she kept saying she was going to move to Medellin and get baptized there. But she went to Bogota, and met up with Elder Ure, who had taught her, and they decided on a baptismal date. So on Saturday, we got to work with my awesome friend, Elder Ure who came out just for the baptism. He's assistant now, so he has those kind of priveleges. Haha. He was actually out here to work with the zone leaders, but he worked with us, and his comp with the ZL's, so he could come to the baptism and baptize Johanna. It was an amazing baptismal service. There were more than 30 members there, and they even brought cake, and cleaned the room beforehand and after, and everything. We just showed up, filled the font, and sang the musical number. We made an awesome trio, btw's. :)

So, I'm feeling lots better this week. We're starting to gain the confidence of the members, and this Sunday, the Bishop had us speak in Sacrament mtg. Despite only having Saturday night and Sunday before church to prepare, I think my talk went fairly well. I talked about the differences between Lehi's 4 sons. Laman was actively disobedient, Lemuel basically just did whatever Laman did. Sam followed Nephi, but Nephi was 100% obedient, no matter what anyone else said or did. So I talked about how we need to read our scriptures and come to church because we want to, not because our mom drags us out of bed, or because we "have to". This church has something very unique about it. Every single person in this church is a member because they've had a personal experience with our Heavenly Father, and a personal answer to a prayer. We're not here because we have to be. We're here because we want to be. In this world, it's not enough to just do what's cool, or what's "in". Because in our day and age, living the gospel just plain isn't. We need to do it when it's easy, when it's hard, when it tries us so much we think it's not even possible. That's what Nephi did. He lived the gospel when the rest of his family was, and he lived the gospel when his brothers were beating him with a rod, or when they tied him up on the boat and everyone was about to drown. That's what we need to do. Live the gospel because we believe it. 

DyC 58:26-27
DyC 76:79
There's another scripture that I used that I can't find. It said basically that we're not obligated to come. Whoever wants to can come and drink freely of the waters of life. 

So. Live the gospel. Y punto. 

Anyway, hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. :) I know I will. I'll be working all day, but I guess that's what I'm here for, right? ;) 

Love y'all.

Elder Cannon

P.S. I can't upload pics...sorry. I'll get them to you next week.



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Monday, November 12, 2012

Skip >>l

So...in the land of Colombia, "El Día de Acción de Gracias" (Thanksgiving Day) only exists in movies and fairy tales. Sometimes not even that. So, the day after Halloween, they're already putting up Christmas decorations. 

So...Merry Christmas!!! I'll bet I'm the first one to wish you a merry christmas, aren't I?

Go me. 

This week went pretty well. We've decided to follow the counsel in Preach My Gospel and serve the members. So...this week, we painted a house, today we're going to help someone move, and we've done several other various service projects with the members. It's been a really fun week. :) I'll attach pictures. 

We've been working with Yuranny and Ricardo, which are Jorge's sister and brother, and yesterday, they both came to church!!! I was so excited. :) All 3 of them, and their mom were there. :) It made me really happy. Another little miracle that happened this week, is that Johana, one of our investigators, had talked with Elder Ure (Who was here before us and is now assistant to the President) and told him that she wanted to be baptized! So, he's coming down this week, and if everything goes well (cross your fingers...and pray lots and lots), she'll be getting baptized this Saturday! :D How wonderful. 

Anyway, Sorry this is so short. We have to be to the members' house at 3. 

Love y'all! 

Elder Cannon

Monday, November 5, 2012

Remember, remember, the 5th of November...

Wasn't is the 5th of November? Sometimes I think it was the 4th. I never can remember. 

Anyway. This week was awesome. :) We had a baptism!!! Yay. :) Jorge Alvarez got baptized. Then, even cooler (well, not really...but...also really cool) is that last night, we commited his little sister Yuranny to baptism as well. We're planning on baptizing the whole family, but...we have to do it one step at a time. At least we have the support of their mom. She's awesome. 

Today are cambios. Transfers. So...we're currently in a trio while another Elder waits for his companion that gets here the day after tomorrow. Isn't that a movie? The day after tomorrow. Anyway. My companion and I are staying here. :) We have a plan to take over the world. Operation: Noche Blanca, December 8th, 2012. Baptize everyone within the sound of our voice. ;) We've already got one on track. Now we just need like 20 more. That's not a joke either. I mean, it's a big number, but we have plans to invite basically everyone and their dog to be baptized. ;) It's gonna be awesome. 

So, life's been good. A little hot at times, but I can't complain too much. Oh! I just remembered. My two sons, Elder Valenzuela and Elder Numa are going to train! So now I'm going to have 3 grandsons. Haha. :) Before long I'm going to have to change my name to Abraham. Hahaha...just kidding. That...wasn't funny. Okay, maybe a little. :P They're both going to Bucaramanga. Fun stuff. 

I've been reading the Isaiah chapters lately, and comparing them with the "original," although, the version in the Book of Mormon is probably more original than the version in the bible. It's really interesting to see the changes that were made. And if that many changes were made in the whole bible? Crazy. most of the changes aren't doctrinal. I mean, you still get the same basic picture out of the words that are there. But other times, there are some pretty big changes. Interesting. I love the Isaiah chapters. Like it says in 1 Ne 19:23, we need to liken them to our lives. It also says the same thing in 2nd Nephi...I'm not sure what verse. But then later on, Jesus Christ himself gives the commandment to search the words of Isaiah diligently (3rd Ne 23:1). So, it's important. Promise. 

Well...I'm out of time. Peace out. Sorry I don't have pics of the baptism. I'll get them to y'all when I can. 

-Elder Cannon

P.S. I'm sorry, but you've thrown off the Emperor's groove. "Sorryyyyy...!"