August 28th, 2012 Email

Hey Britt,

I sent some pictures obviously. I also found the blog you were doing online. That is a lot to write. Are you sure people are reading it? If nobody is reading it, then I dont want you to waste your time putting it up. It would be a lot of work to put all my letters online. Also are you updating my facebook? Someone requested me as a friend and there was some old picture up.If you forgot the password it is: *SENSOR* ;) There! no excuses haha! just check it every once in a while and make sure to accept all the friend requests and stuff. Thanks Britt!

How are you doing? Getting ready for the wedding in 3 months? you better, it will come faster than you think haha. Well have fun!

Love ya!

Elder Connell

August 21st, 2012 Email

Hey Britt,

 

You should ask dad to forward his email cuz its just easier that way. Though I will update you on one person. We taught this girl Rosie last Wednesday. She lives in Salt Lake, but she has a friend here so she comes up here to learn. It was a really good lesson. We bore great testimony and the spirit touched her very stongly. She will get baptized, but its kind of a question of when at the moment. All the other peeps are pretty much in the same spot. Gloria is still going through kemo so her baptism is delayed indefinitely. And Jim dropped us, but we can still meet with his family so there is still hope there. If you are confused about any of this, ask dad, and if he doesnt know then ask me.

 

My new companion is great! He is from San Diego and we get along very well so far. This transfer will go by a lot better than last transfer I think. It will be way cool.

 

Glad to hear that everything is going well over there with your peeps and your wedding. Keep me updated with everything.

 

Love ya Britt! Keep at it!

 

Elder Connell

August 14th, 2012 Email

Hey Britt,

 

Update on transferrs. I will be staying in Ben Lomond and getting a new companion. That's it, not very exciting ha!

 

Awesome that you are getting to see those baptisms! That is quite a bit of action going on in that area for the Elders. Thats too bad that you had to push back your day of wedding. October is a good month, but so is November, so you will love it either way!

 

I gave dad some pretty good details about what's going on, so they should not have much to complain about anymore. Plus, I sent a letter yesterday i think, so more information will be coming your way! Thats exciting for Austin. Tomorrow is his day, did I have a farewell? Did anyone come? I dont even remember it was so long ago.

 

Keep in there Britt!

 

Love,

 

Elder Connell

August 12th, 2012 Letter

Dear Family,
   Guess what?! I hit my 6-month last Wednesday and I burned a tie. Don't worry mom, it was a disgusting one that I found here (she wasn't the only one that said "Whaaa!?" about the tie burning). Boy the time sure flies here (not here!).
   These past few weeks have been very stressful. We have been working super hard and getting into some interesting situations with investigators. We had a 3rd and final lesson with George and Beasgott last week. They were the anti-people. I didn't say anything that lesson because it was pointless. We are also working with this family who has a daughter who wants to be baptized, but her parents won't let her. We have a lesson in a few days where we can try and help them realize our church is good. I'm going to be counting on the Spirit 100% in that lesson.
   This other investigator, Jim, is pretty solid. We have taught him twice now and he has felt the Spirit. He just needs to read the Book of Mormon now and pray to find out whether or not it's all really true. Same situation with this girl Keidence and her sister Kama. We had one lesson with them and they felt the Spirit. They just want to be totally sure before they move on it though. We are teaching a whole bunch of other people, but they are not as exciting at the moment.
   Do you guys remember Bill & Joy from my previous area? They got baptized yesterday and it was so exciting!
   I have learned the past few weeks how much I really rely on the Spirit to help me as a missionary. You may not know this, but I am a bit shy (Nooo...really??!). And I have a hard time describing things, so teaching lessons are hard. I have humbled myself to know that I rely on the Spirit to help me teach, and He does! I have said many amazing things during lessons that I thought I would never say! And today I spoke in church and it went great! I wasn't nervous and I knew what to say the whole time because God was speaking through me. I have also gained a strong testimony in prayer. When we went to this families house where the girl wants to be baptized and her parents won't let her, i was super scared to go to that house and confront the mother. But I prayed, and we prayed as a companionship and we went and knocked on their door and set up one lesson that we already had that went okay and we have another set up. The Lord heard our prayers and answered them.

Brittany: Thank you for writing me! You must be crazy because I don't remember the whole grass thing. That shooting is way too horrible, I'm glad I don't watch the news anymore. How was Nauvoo? Meet any cute girls that coule write me? KIDDING...but did you? Have fun!

Mom: I don't remember if I wrote you for that letter you sent me a while ago, but oh well. You had a super busy summer and now soon to be a super busy fall. by the time you start to relax again, I will be home...HA! Have fun!

Dad:...I mean...Bishop, Hey. There is a Snap Fitness here in North Ogden, thought you should know...What is Zack Alldredge's address? I would like to write him. Have fun!

Everyone else: Have fun!...and write me...

I love you all! See you on the other side!

Love,
Elder Connell

P.S. I need stamps (Okay, big boy, that's nice ;))

August 7th, 2012 Email

Hey Britt,

 

I got your letter. I will write back some time this week when I find some time. Also tell people to write me back, remind them of my address as well. When is your wedding. I have a gift idea for my birthday and christmas, but I dont want to stress you out right now cause it would take a lot of time. (lol) I will explain later.

 

Plus Dan is getting baptized! super awesome. As long as he has a testimony of the Gospel that should be enough. Just keep fellowshiping him when he gets baptized. We have an investigator getting baptized here on the 18th, Gloria, I told dad all about the peeps here so ask him.

 

Transfers in a week, dont know what will happen. seeeeee ya

 

Love

Elder Connell

 

ps, tell jeremy to write or email now that he is home.

July 24th, 2012 Emails

Hey Britt,

 

I have not heard anything about this CO shooting cause of the whole no news thing, what happened? Anyways the area is still pretty much the same. We have picked up a few more people we are teaching. Actually, we are teaching this LA woman with 2 kids. She got divorced a while ago and wants to go back to church but it is too painful. It just reminded me of you a little bit (lol?). We had a good lesson with her the other day and have another one tonight I think. Me and my companion are doing alright. I just don't like the way that he does missionary work. It just bugs me, idk. I think I'm more stressed than last transfer which is weird because we are working very hard right now. But anyways I am making through it all.

 

Good luck with the wedding. Love ya britt!

 

Elder Connell
______________________________

Hey Dad,

 

I told mom that I gave you guys the wrong zip code. The correct one is 84414, you may get some mail back if you sent any. Today is a state holiday. I was in the Ogden parade this morning. I felt like a rock star. Kinda weird... nothing else really planned for today except a nap.

 

We are technically still teaching the anti-s, but they rescheduled for a few weeks. We are thinking of dropping them though because they aren't really listening, its kind of annoying. Our other gators are doing alright. Its all a bit weird and confusing being in a new area and keeping up with the people, but I am adjusting pretty well. We have an average of about 2 lessons a day which consist of LA and NM and sometimes active members, its all pretty fun stuff though. The members here are actually pretty good. They just go on vacation a lot because they can afford it so people are usually not home which is annoying.

 

Its still crazy that you are Bishop now. So you will be the Bishop to welcome me home in 18 months which is weird. Right now I work with 7 bishops and their job is pretty busy like you mentioned. So many meetings!! We went to 4 different meetings in the morning before church even started! It was very busy ugh. Have fun! I know that you are going to be a great Bishop though because you are so dedicated to the work and you pretty much know pretty well what your doing.

 

So who are the next Priests to go on missions? Can you keep me updated with who is going where? I hope that someone gets called to Ogden. Its the best mission eva!

 

Love ya dad! keep up the Work!

 

Elder Connell

July 17th, 2012 Emails

Hey Britt,

Yes, I heard the news. And yes, it is pretty wierd. Who knew? (My dad just got called to be the Bishop in our ward...still not use to it!)

So with the new area, its a bit dead. Its a hard area really. A lot of the people are prideful and wont listen to us. That's why we teach a lot of kids who are close to baptism. Oh the joys of being a missionary in Utah... So ya, my new companion is alright. He is a hard worker which is good, but the way he works is not how I would do it necessarily so that bugs me a little. Its probably just me though, so I should get over it.

...That is so cool to hear how close Dan and Natalie are (to baptism) though. I like to hear when people want to change their lives and listen.

Also I am pretty excited still about your wedding. It will all work out so don't worry too much. Well...love ya!

Elder Connell
_______________________________________

Hey dad,

So ya, yesterday night was pretty stressful. We had two lessons, the first was with those people who had the anti stuff and last night they were doing it again and not really listening to our testimonies, ARGHH. Then we were late to the lesson where Bishop Briggs was at. That lesson went pretty well, he just has to follow up with his commitments and he will be solid. It was stressful though and that picture was taken right after the second lesson. I look happier then I felt haha.

Anyways, first Happy BIRTHDAY on last Saturday. I need to get a card out to you soon. It will be late, Im sorry. But also Congrats on being made Bishop! That's pretty weird. Its cool though cause you are now my bishop haha!

Sounds like the Trek was pretty fun. I would have liked to do a trek while I was a youth, but oh well, its in the past. I will just have to do it as a leader.

Not much else is new so I will end here. I am in Huntsville at the moment which is very nice. Its a district activity, its not my new area. I am in the Ben Lomond Stake which is right on the mountain and we overlook the valley. Pretty cool Stuff! Love ya!

Elder Connell

July 13th, 2012 Letter

Dear Family,
   It is a new transfer and I am in a different area with a new companion. The area is North Ogden in the Ben Lomond Stake. It is pretty much on the mountain, so I have a fantastic view of the valley. The people here are very wealthy, but there is still work going on here which is good.
   My new companion is Elder Robertson. He has cerebral Paulsy, I think, and he walks around with a limp. He is a hard worker though, so we will get a lot done this transfer.
   So far not much has happened in this area. The only thing worth mentioning is a lesson we had yesterday that was kind of weird. We taught this couple who had prepared a bunch of anti-material for us to read. We tried not to talk about it too much and we just bore testimony about the Book of Mormon and told them to read it to find out for themselves if it's true. We will see what will happen there.
   There really isn't much else to talk about. Let me know what's going on there. I will write you later on about my investigators here and more about what's going on. Love you all! See you on the other side!

   Love, Elder Connell

July 10th Email

Hey Britt,

So to give you an update. Tomorrow is transfers and I just found out that I am being transfered. I will be in North Ogden covering the Ben Lomand stake which is right by the mountains. Its pretty crazy that transfers is here already. I liked Plain City Farr West area, but i think its good that Im leaving so that I can experience something new. I am not training and I dont know when I will be training. It may be in August or it may be this Fall. I would like to train, but right now  I am not ready or not needed or something, idk.

So ya, I knew Jeremy was going to live there for a little while. That is pretty bomb digity, but now I wont have any siblings by me haha. Will you guys see me when you are down here? You would have to ask President first but i think he would say yes.

The mission did split and we do have our new president now. He seems to be a pretty cool guy even though I dont really know him very much yet.

I have no idea what any of those colors look more like so I am the wrong person to ask. I have not been able to do much geneology so far. The only thing I have done is trace my genealogy all the way back to Adam. HA, bet you cant do that. But no, genealogy is cool stuff, I would like to do it a little when I get back.

So i got bit by a dog the other day cause I was being kind of stupid.There is a story for that that I may share some day.

Anyway I got to finish up because of time. I will have a new address so dont send the letter until I give you that address. Love ya Britt!

Elder Connell

July 3rd Email

Hey Britt,

 

Dont worry about not emailing or whatever. Its fine. October is a good month for marriage. Plus, you will be kinda near me in August which will be weird. (Date was changed to November)

 

As far as the area goes. That girl, Cassandra, she had a date for the 22nd, but she has pushed it back indefinitely. It is very frustrating because she knows its true, but she doesnt want to make a committment that she cant make. She has an older sister who got baptized recently who is not doing good things at all and that has discouraged her a bit from getting baptized. She is going to girls camp soon and I am praying that she gets some kind of revelation there that she needs to do it. It is kinda stressful.

 

We have another investigator like that who knows its true, but doesnt want to get baptized because she doesnt think she can physically do it. She can. But it is so frustrating to try to work with her because she is so set that she cannot do it.

 

Missionary work is pretty stressful, but we do have a couple that are getting pretty close. The wife's only issue is smoking and she is getting really close to quiting. The husband wants to know its true, but has a hard time recognizing the spirit. 12 weeks ago they were complaining about the people at church and about family. Now they want to be baptized. Oh the things the Spirit can do when it touches someone's life.

 

Other than that there is pretty much nothing. It is lame. And yes I am struggling with my companions, but I will write about that in a letter sometime.

 

Love ya!

Elder Connell

June 21st Letter

Dear Family,

What is up everyone? I just had mission conference today, so I will pretty much write about that. Everything else is pretty much the same, so nothing to report there.

mission conference was pretty cool. The first part was President Olsen and Sister Olsen talking, followed by a training from the AP's. The thing that stuck out the most to me was when President was talking about companions because I am struggling a bit with one of them right now. He pretty much said I need to work things out and now I think I know what to do. Whether or not he will take to it, I have yet to find out.
After lunch we had a special guest. Can you guess who it was? It will make you very jealous, Britt. (YES, YES IT DID!!!~Britt) It was Jon Schmidt. Ha Ha lucky me! It was way cool! He played Waterfall, All of Me, some Hymns, a Taylor Swift cover and a few others. He even played upside down! The unfortunate thing though was that I forgot my camera...sorry. (Ya, you better be sorry!!!)..oh yeah, Erick Hickenlooper is in our area. Look him up and you will probably laugh. He looks like Jack Black.

After the performance we played some games outside. It was hot, but fun. It was overall a pretty good mission conference, especially since President is leaving.

I can't think of anything else to say, so I will end it here. Love you all! See you on the other side!

Love,
Elder Connell

June 19th Email

Hey Britt,

 

No worries about the letter. Bill and Joy now have dates to be baptized. They are really making progress and I am happy to see this change in them and very much so want to see them get baptized. Cassandra on the other hand is struggling a bit. She knows its true, but does not want to committ to it because she thinks she wont be able to keep the committment. Other than that there is nothing new. It is rather annoying. Glad to hear everything is going well with you back home and your "friend". And yes it is pretty hot here as well.

 

Again im sorry, I dont have much time. Talk to you later! love ya!

 

Elder Connell

Emails from June 12th

{SORRY FOR SLACKING OFF!! It has been a crazy couple of months for me...I apologize to you, and to Zach, for not keeping this updated. But I will be better! I promise!!}

______________________________________________

 

Brittany...!

 

Congratulations on all those things, especially your engagement! That is soooo cool. Apparently mom called someone in the office and told them to tell me so I found out a few days ago. It was kind of scary though cause the office usually calls when you did something wrong or something.

 

...Unfortunately I will miss it, but I will still be there in Spirit which is all that matters....

 

Next thing. You are now a missionaries dream member..congrats! No really that is way cool Britt. Giving a BoM was the perfect thing to do especially with your testimony. And you offered to have him over to take the lessons with you. That is PERFECT! Do it at our house because the missionaries in our area are zone leaders apparently so they know whats up. And yes, we can give blessings to anyone. They just have to know that they need faith in order for the blessing to work and they need to understand what the blessing is all about. But ya, blessings are super awesome things!

 

Honestly talking to nonmembers about the church is totally different. I had to get used to that at first and it is still a little weird. You have to explain things very simply as if they were a child. Kind of hard for someone who grew up in the church. It is also hard to answer some of those questions that people bring up. I get a lot of anti stuff here, but in your situation we pray to God through Jesus Christ. It is pretty confusing and I still dont fully understand it. There is a scripture that goes with it, but I dont remember where that is.

 

That is totally cool that you had a good Missionary experience. Keep it up! It gets better. And the more you do it, the better you get at doing it and it strengthens your testimony by a lot! It is way cool stuff. That is why being a missionary is so exciting!

 

Well I have said a lot finally in an email and now I am pretty low on time so I will end here. Love you Britt and congrats again!

 

Elder Connell
_________________________________________________

Hey Dad,

 

Happy Fathers day this weekend! I will try to get a card out sometime this week for you to enjoy. It is nice to hear what is going on back home. Thank you for all the updates! I do not have much time because I spent so long writing Brit. She is engaged, im sure you heard. Cool that Jacob is going to Colorado! Wish he would have come to Ogden, that would have been cooler. I did get moms letter btw.

 

I am still with the 2 companions and not much has happened with my investigators except that there are a few now that are digressing, it is frustrating and it is adding to my stress. I have been a bit stressed the past few weeks, but I am hangin in there.

 

One of the Bishops here is related to the Thompsons somehow. He is Bishop Costley, so ya haha small world. I really like Plain City though, it is very homely and everyone seems to know each other.

 

Well I will write you this week. Love ya!

 

Elder Connell