Aloha.

Hey all. 

It's Monday again. That means I get to come here to internet and talk at y'all for an hour. Today, you're in luck, because I've got less than an hour. Haha. 

This week was really neat. We had an amazing conference with President Andelin, and he's changing lots of old habits and ways in the Bogota Colombia North Mission. This week, he did away with the contacts. Before, we had a goal to do 70 contacts on the street every week, as a minimum. This week he put a different goal. 10 new investigators a week, minimum. Wow. I actually really like this goal, even though it's a little bit high for what our mission is doing on average. With the goal of contacts, a lot of missionaries were contacting just to contact, and not to find new people to teach. So, we are now trying to find 10 new investigators every week, whether it be contacting on the street, asking for referrals, etc. It's a much better focus. 

Nicolás was interviewed yesterday, and passed! :) He's such a cool little guy. I'm so glad he's following his mother's footsteps. He'll be baptized this Saturday at 6pm. You're all invited, if you want to come. Capilla La Campiña, Estaca Suba, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia. ;) It'll be wonderful. Now all we need is his older sister Lina to get baptized. She's been attending a Christian church, and has lots of friends there...but her friends aren't a very good influence on her. We're hoping that her heart will soften a little and that we'll be able to start teaching her as well. 

We've also been working a lot with Jorge. He's been progressing...little by little, but has had some problems obeying the word of wisdom and the Sabbath day. They're just things that the average Colombian doesn't follow. Hopefully (we're crossing our fingers and praying really hard), he'll have his baptismal interview this week, so he can be baptized next week. 

Anyway, life's been pretty awesome. We went to the famous Chapinero's to buy ties today. They only cost about $4 each! The coolest thing is that the owner already knows the elders, because they come from all over Bogota to buy ties at his store. :) I'll attach a picture, so you can see. :) 

This is the last week of the transfer. I can't believe it's gone by so fast. ¿Qué será mi destino...?

Welp, that's all for now, folks.

-Elder Joey

P.S. Don't drink that racist coffee...

This week...

...was pretty average. I guess I'm just getting used to this ward. Which probably means they're going to transfer me soon. 3 transfers is the most I've ever been in one area. We'll have to see if that changes. I know missionaries that were 5 transfers in one area. My old companion Elder Romero went back to Cucuta, and by the time he finishes there, he'll have been a total of 1 year in Cucuta. Haha. Crazy. I think they're going to give him a calling on the stake high counsel. ;)

Anyway, we've been trying really hard to get the members more involved in the work and such. It's kind of tough when they're not used to giving references or accompanying us to lessons and such. But we've been sharing lots of messages after lunch and with random members every day about missionary work and how important the members are. chapter 9 or PMG talks all about that. And Chapter 13. President Hinckley says that people think that missionary work is just giving out pamphlets. But everyone who is familiar with the work knows that there's a better way, and that way is through the members. True dat. When members give us references, the investigators already have a friend in the church, and when we're not there to answer their questions, the member can. They can bring them to church, sit with them in the mtgs, etc. They are an incredible support to the investigators, and to the missionaries.

This week, we've been teaching Nicolás, Sister Rocío's son. He kind of has an attention problem. We've had to get creative and find new and interesting ways to teach the lessons...because if they last for more than 7 minutes and 34 seconds, he loses interest. The good thing is that he just loves his mom so much, and wants to follow her example. He's kind of a spaz, but just like every little child, he's just humble and innocent and ready to enter the fold of God. :)

Also, Sister Galvis...that I met in Cucuta as a future missionary, and then again here as a missionary, left for her mission in Puerto Rico this week! So here's a picture of the "farewell." We sang "Para Siempre Dios esté con Vos" and took pictures, and then she was off to the airport. 

Other than that...not much has happened. We have zone conference this week with President Andelin. That ought to be interesting. He's been changing a lot of things here in the mission, and although some changes might be difficult to cope with, they're all changes for the better. Because he's the one authorized by God to receive revelation for this mission. 

So life's good. :) I'm happy, and things are going well. There are lots of new investigators, like the Diaz family, and Leidy and Jhork. Thank you so much for all of your prayers. They make a big difference in my life and in the lives of our investigators. 

Love y'all. Peace out.

Elder Cannon

P.S. The other picture I'm attaching is of the monster sandwich I made and ate for lunch today. Subway exists here, and is even pretty close to home, but this was much cheaper. :)

P.P.S. Why read words when you could just kill the stuff the words tell you stuff about?

It's fun to stay at the...

YMCA!!!

...so pretty much the coolest thing happened this week. We moved. Yeah! Por fin. The apartment we were in had been a missionary apartment for like 5 years, and it was...really needing some fixing up. So we changed apartments. We are now, officially living in the coolest missionary apartment in the entire mission. Haha. It's bigger, nicer, newer, has wood floors and carpet, a balcony...sigh. Love it. :) I don't have pics...but I'll send some when I can.

The other cool thing that happened was that Rocío was baptized! Yay. :) I do have pics of that...so I'm attaching one. It was really neat, because it was the same day that we were working with the newbies from the MTC. It was their first day in the field, and tomorrow they leave the MTC for the mission field. I got to work with one from Paraguay and another from Peru. So they got a first hand experience at everything wonderful that happens on the mish. :) It was a cool day. Now the cool thing is that Rocío's son, Nicolás wants to be baptized. He's the little guy there in the picture. He's...9 years old, if I'm not wrong. So this week we're going to be teaching him.

Today we had a zone activity where we played fútbol, ninja, "have you ever?" and cooked lunch to eat. It was loads of fun. We're only 12 missionaries in our zone, so we're really tight. Like...close together. All friends. :) It's cool. I bought socks to play soccer. I hadn't bought any socks before today. The ones I brought...because white socks I haven't used very much...have lasted me until now. But now they're pretty much dying, so I bought new ones.

My life is basically average. I got a haircut today. I've officially decided that getting a haircut is the best way to lose weight. I feel so light and care free without all that hair.

I'm so weird. I'm gonna go now...before I bore you all to death.

3 more weeks in this cambio. That's the only sad thing...I might not get to enjoy the new apartment as much as I would have liked...hehe. Ah well.

Anyway, life's good.

Love y'all, take care. Pray for me. Even though I know you already do, and I'm really, really grateful. :) Thanks a ton.

Chao,
Elder Cannon

P.S. Unicorns I love them, unicorns I love them...

How's it going?

Hey fam. :) How're y'all doing? I'm doing pretty good. Well, really good actually. I got to see Elder D. Todd Christopherson twice this week. :) He came on Saturday to speak to all the missionaries in the Colombia Bogota North and South missions, as well as all the missionaries in the CCM (MTC) here in Bogota. Everyone from the entire mission came in planes and trains and automobiles...well, mostly just in Coopetran and Transmilenio. Anyway, we had prepared a choir, and I got to play the piano. Well, I actually got to play the piano for the whole conference. PS mom, the list of grateful general authorities is growing. Thanks for "forcing me" to learn to play the piano. Even though you didn't always have to force me, you did give me a love and a knowledge for the piano that I wouldn't have gained otherwise. :) So thanks. :) The Conference was really neat. There were some neat things that he explanied to us about the Atonement and how in D&C 19 it explans how even the Savior was afraid it would be too hard for him to endure, but that "Glory be to the Father" he was able to accomplish everything the Father sent Him here to do. :) After the conference, I took a bunch of pictures with my amazing missionary friends that I hadn't seen in ages. Then we left to conquer the world. ;) 

What's even cooler was that on Sunday, he came again to talk to our stake in a special stake conference. So we got a double dose of amazing insights from Elder Christopherson. We also got to shake his hand, which was also really cool. :) 

Anyway, that was basically the highlight of this week. :) I don't have a ton of time to write, but I just want to let y'all know that I'm doing well. I hope everything is going amazing whith everyone starting school and all. 

I love you all so much! You're amazing.

Elder Cannon

My dear family,

This week was pretty good. Still working hard. Still pluggin along. Still loving life.

Did I tell you about Elder Christopher Waddell of the 70 that came to speak to us? Because he did. There's a picture of all of the Zones here in Bogota with President and Sister Andelin, and Elder Waddell. It was an amazing conference. In the picture, I'm up in the top left side, and my son is right above me. What's even cooler is that this Saturday, Elder D. Todd  Christopherson is coming to speak to the Bogota North and South Missions, and then on Sunday, we get to listen to him again in a special stake conference here in Suba. It's going to be so cool! :D

So, the work is going well. We found a huge neighborhood this week that we didn't know was part of our ward. So we went to work, knocking doors like crazy. We've found some pretty receptive people so far, along with our Elders Quorum President and his family. Hehe. 

Rocio is still progressing. After we finish here, we're going to have a family night with her and another family in the ward. She's been really willing and ready to hear all of the different comandments we've taught her so far. Last week in District meeting, I talked about dividing the sheep from the goats, like it talks about in Matthew 25:30-32. I think. It's around there somewhere. There are people who, when they hear the voice of the Shepherd, they'll come, and follow Him. Those are the sheep. The goats don't really follow any specific master. They just go wherever they want. They maybe tend to be more rebelious, etc. as well. So this week we were looking for sheep. Because when we find them, they'll listen, and come, and become part of the fold of God. But if they're goats, then we'll be spending all our time chasing them around, trying to get them to read or pray or come to church. In D&C 4:4, it says that "the field is white, already to harvest..." Wouldn't it be something foolish to try to plant seeds, when the field is ready to harvest? Preach My Gospel chapter 9 talks a lot about simply having the faith that God is preparing the hearts of the people, and that there are people here who are prepared and ready to listen to our message. 

So that's what I've been working on. Just believing and trusting in God that He will lead me to those people who are prepared to hear this message. And I know that as I work with diligence and obedience, He will. 

Anyway, life's good. I'm just loving the mish. It's tough at times, but "after much tribulation come the blessings." That's from D&C 58. Not sure which verse. 

I love you all. Keep on keepin on, eh?

-Elder Moscas

P.S. Warming up? The sun is WARMING UP??

Ollo...

Hey all. How's life? Mine is pretty beawesome I guess. 

This week we had a lot of investigators in church. It was great. Then afterward, that same day, we had a Ward Family night, where everyone invited their friends and family that aren't members. We watched a piece of 17 miracles, which is AMAZING...I actually haven't ever seen the whole thing. But people always comment on how incredibly amazing it is. I really need to see it one of these days. 

Anyway, today are the cambios. Dun Dun DUN... I'm staying here. With my same companion. Because I'm training, so I have to finish teaching him stuff, and then they'll probably change us. Hehe. They did however, change the Elders in Fontana. The other companionship that lives with us. Elder Jaime is going to Bucaramanga, and Elder Acuña is going to Peru (he finished the mish). Ah...la mision, la mision...

The other piece of news is that a week from today, we're going to move apartments. That'll be fun. Apparently the new apartment where we're going is much nicer than the one we've got now. It's on the th floor...but it has an elevator. So we won't have to do so much exercise. Haha. Being on the 5th floor is fun sometimes...but it gets a little tiring after a while... Especially when we get home super tired...and then still have 4 flights of stairs to climb. :P Anyway, it'll be nice to move. :)

Our investigators are progressing well. We've been working with the Alvarez family, a family where the mom is inactive, the son comes to church, and the dad isn't a member (and there's the little 2 year old sister. She's a future member of the church too). Yesterday, they all came to church! :D Yay. :) Jorge is the dad't name. He's cool. And he likes to practice his English with me. He just needs a little more testimony, I think. Although, they've been reading and praying as a family, so we're just trying to him to pray on his own. Church attendance was a big step, though. It made me really happy to see them all there. 

Anyway, life's good. I'm hangin in there. :) 

Take luck and care when you have it,

Elder Cannon

"Megamind's head is not that grossly exaggerated..."

You are a skilled metal worker.

I did not know that!

Hey all. How's it going? My life is pretty good. Average at times. Awesome at times. Not so awesome at times. But always I'm learning and growing and trying my best to be like Jesus. 

I'm doing alright. I had a wonderful opportunity this week to baptize an elderly man named José. The reason I've never told you about him is because he's from another ward. But the sisters of that ward...obviously can't baptize him, and when I interviewed him for baptism, he asked me if I would baptize him. I told him I would love to. It's so wonderful to see someone take those amazing decisions and change their lives a little at a time. That's one of the reasons I love the mission so much.

So, we're still working with Johana and Edward and Diana and Jessica and Rocío (and her children, Lina and Nicolas) and a couple others. We've been really blessed to have so many investigators. In my time as a missionary, I think I've spent most of my time trying to find, and not as much time teaching progressing investigators. But this transfer has been different. Now the only difficult thing is trying to balance all of the appointments and not forget about any of them. Also we still have to focus on finding and contacting other people, for when our investigators get baptized, we still have people to teach and aren't left with nothing. 

Anyway, I don't have much else to say. There are some general authorities coming down soon, I think. That'll be awesome. I'll keep y'all posted. They've also made a choir to sing at the conference when the general authorities come, and Sister Andelin, the Mission President's wife wants me to play the piano. Que chévere. 

Well, I think I've talked long enough. Love y'all. Don't do drugs, stay in school, and don't take candy from strangers.

-Elder Cannon

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