Mother’s Day with Connor May, 2014
We had made arrangements to talk to Connor through his email
the week before. He wanted to talk on
Monday morning because that’s when his companion was talking to his
family. But I told him that wouldn’t
work because I had to be to work and his brothers would be at school. So we decided to talk around 2 p.m. on
Sunday. We would go to Sacrament meeting
and come home ready to talk to him.
Allan was asked to give the closing prayer so we waited until Sacrament
meeting was over. Lauren, Dennis and Taymar
came to church with us, too. Allan gave
a nice prayer and we rushed home to wait for the call. We waited for a little while and then we
received a facetime call from Spencer and that turkey, Connor, called Spencer
first. They had been talking for a
little while before they called.
We have Apple TV so we got the Ipad set up and he called and
everyone was here they then. Allan, Me,
Mitchell, Garrett, Grandma Linda, Lauren, Dennis and Taymar. We also had Spencer on facetime on my
phone. The first thing we did was show
Connor Taymar. He has only seen her in
pictures. It was fun. The newest trick is to point to people and
they point back and touch her finger.
She kept reaching for him. He
even reached back. He took a couple of
pictures of her and then I got my camera out.
I had the tripod so we took a family picture in front of the t.v. with
everyone in it. Thanks to technology,
our whole family was together since before Spencer left on his mission almost 3
years ago.
Then the questions began.
He was Skyping from the computer at his church. We asked how he was feeling and what was
going on health wise. He had been to the
doctors to run some tests for a bladder infection or UTI but he didn’t have an
infection. He needed to go back to have
more tests run. The Dr. said they would
test for diabetes and prostate, but they didn’t know. He would be going on Tues or Thurs. He wasn’t too concerned because he had blood
work done before he left on his mission and nothing showed up as far as
diabetes was concerned. He would let us
know once he got the results back. All
we could do was pray from him. And that
we did!!
We asked him how the food was going. As we all know, Connor is a very picky eater
and doesn’t like many things, especially pasta.
He says they eat a lot of Chicken Nuggets. It sounds like chicken you would use for
chicken parmesan. He likes that. They call it Milanesa. He also eats a lot of empandas and
pasta. And usually with the pasta he has
a second plate. Boy do these
missionaries grow up while they are gone for two years.
We asked about the apartment he sent pictures home a couple
of weeks ago. He said they didn’t move
in there because it was too dangerous of an area. So they are still in the same shack taking
bucket showers. Bummer. That looked like a nice place. They said it was too small of a place, too. It can’t be any smaller than the place they
are already living in. I’ll go with the
excuse that it’s too dangerous of an area.
H said that it’s transfer week in a couple of weeks and one of the two
of them will be transferred this time and the other will be transferred the
next time. So he won’t be there too much
longer.
They get to go to the Temple on May 26th. They found out that the other mission that
has the temple in there area gets to go whenever so they go like once a
week. I don’t know if that is true, but
he is excited to go at the end of the month.
I wonder what that will do for pday emails? Hummm?
Then we talked about the grocery stores. He is still trying to find spices. It’s so weird to me that he can’t find cumin
or paprika or red chili flakes to make salsa.
So there are two kinds of places to shop for groceries. Lots of people will open up a Meat shop or
fruits and veggie shop just in a neighborhood out of their home. If you need something quick, you go to the
neighborhood store. Then there is the
regular grocery store that you can buy whatever you need. He says that things taste different down there
especially milk. They get water
delivered to them in 5 gallon drums.
We asked about Florencia.
He told us what happened to her.
She was progressing really well.
Members were helping with her.
Taking her to church and her parents gave permission for her to be
baptized. Then her uncle found out about
her going to church. He is a Christian
and he told her family some anti-Mormon information. He told her that she would be taken away from
the family. Connor’s companion told her
they couldn’t teach her anymore until they got permission again from her
parents. So they had to stop teaching
her.
Then the two children they were teaching, the parents had to
be married. They were from Uruguay and
the dad missed his old life so he packed them up and moved them back home.
I asked him if there were places to go site seeing? Are there hikes or places to go? He said that the capital building is the only
place he knew of and it was too far away.
He lives in the country. There
are a few paved main roads, but most of the streets are dirt roads. He doesn’t get out his camera too often
because it’s dangerous and he doesn’t want to be robbed. He says it’s like
living out in Queen Creek. There’s the
city and then there is the country.
He’s glad that he took his sleeping bag. The mission gave him a blanket but he doesn’t
like it. He uses the sleeping bag like a
blanket. It’s too small to climb
into. He also likes his shoes he
took. He took 3 pairs of Eccos, one
boot, one shoe that is like the boot and one Sunday looking one. He trades them out and loves them all.
He has people in the branch make lunch for them
everyday. They will have cereal in the
morning, then go to a lunch appointment and they usually eat so much that they
don’t eat dinner. They may have a snack
when they get home. He likes eating at
member’s houses rather than having lunch ready for them and have them take it
home to eat. They enjoy visiting with
the member’s. I asked if they get fruits
and veggies? Do they have apples and
oranges? What about strawberries? They do have fruit. They are not allowed to eat
strawberries. It’s a MTC mission rule in
Latin America. They can’t be cleaned
well enough to be bacteria free. I did
not know that. Usually their dessert is
a piece of fruit, an apple or orange.
He really likes his Mission President. He is a real down to earth man. He is like a good Bishop or Stake
President. He feels he can talk to him
about anything. Connor told him about
his medical problem and his President made him go to the doctors. Connor is one to maybe not say something like
that and just think is will go away. He
must really trust Pres. Ayre.
His Companion, Elder Micanquer, is from Columbia. He has 8 months left of his mission. He knows the Bible really well and can answer
many investigators questions.
I asked him what his favorite thing to make and he said
Chicken Wings. I have sent him some
recipes and he as tried French toast. He
wants to make corn dogs but he hasn’t found baking powder yet. So we will see what he comes with.
We talked about sending packages. I am still getting mixed messages about
sending packages to Argentina. I’m
afraid to send anything because things aren’t getting to the missionaries or
else there is an expensive tax that whoever picks up the package has to
pay. I have several things I want to
send to him, I even showed him the bag and told him I’m nervous spending so
much and have it stolen by the postal service there. He wants pictures and music as his Ipod
broke.
We talked about other things, but I didn’t write them
down. We had a nice visit. It lasted about 2 hours. It’s always so good to hear from your
missionary, and it’s always hard to say goodbye. I always start crying and he warned me not
to. Can’t help it. I love and miss him so much. But like the saying goes, I wouldn’t want him
to be any where else.
He has a very strong testimony and loves teaching the gospel
to those that are searching. He is to
the point that he knows Spanish better than English and he kept looking at his
companion for help to remember English words.
He doesn’t have an accent like Spencer does, but that will probably
still come. Spencer and Connor talked a
little while before we talked to him, and Spencer said that his Spanish is
different than his. He had a hard time
understanding many of his words. That’s funny
because Spencer is very proud of his Spanish.
It’s just different.
We are so blessed to have Connor on a mission. We know that what he is doing is sharing the
gospel to those in Argentina. He has a
strong testimony of the gospel and he strives everyday to be OBEDIENT. He studies, prays and listens to the Spirit. Through his obedience, he has been blessed.
Mother's Day May 11, 2014
Wishing Dad a Happy Birthday. Connor was told that he could call his dad and wish him a happy birthday the week after his birthday. HAHA Happy Mother's Day Call
We Love our Missionaries!
He eats Milanesa a lot. I googled it and this is what came up
Enjoying Havana Cookies
I'll have to try making these
Connor always loves the sweets
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