Wo Lowell Lo

Hello everyone.

I had a really good week this week. Lowell is a great area. It is one of the most southern areas in our mission and has the most dense population. Elder Morris and I serve in the Lowell ward. There is also a set of Portuguese sisters that serve the local Portuguese word that meets at the same time and has their own sacrament meeting. We refer to them as the Polo sisters. We also have a set of sisters that serve in the YSA ward that meets in the afternoon. There is a ton of diversity here. Cambodians, Indians, Brazilians, Africans, Spanish people, everywhere you go. We are in a car share with the Polo sisters and it makes it somewhat interesting accommodating for travel. Our district consists of 5 companionship, Us, the YSA sisters, the Polo sisters, Acton and Littleton Mass.  It is also pretty cool because Elder O'Rourke is just got sent to Acton so I will we him every week.

One of our investigators passed his baptismal interview and should be baptised on the 31st. His name is Joseph and he is 9. He is part of a part member family that is returning from less-activity.  I was able to teach him 1 lesson, I can't say I feel like much of a contribution for this one.  That is about all that I have for this week.

I hope that you have a great week. This gospel is true and brings lasting peace.

I am grateful to be His emissary.

Until next week, 

-Elder Connor Starr

Attachments area

Lowell, Massachusetts

Friends and Family,

I hope that you are all doing well. I apologize for the sporadic and confusing schedule.

we had a big snow day and it was transfer week so everything got mixed up which is why you aren't receiving this until now.

I guess to start of with the big news, I am being transferred from the Canterbury ward to....Lowell Massachusetts! not only that, but I will be with Elder Morris! my old MTC companion from Sacramento California!  I must admit that being transferred isn't easy. I have been in this area for a long time and it is difficult to leave all the work and the people that we have met behind.

I am however very excited for my new area. Lowell is actually the largest metropolitan area in our entire mission! it will certainly be a contrast from Machias ME.  Elder Smith and I have been together for 3 transfers. that's almost 5 months and the longest companion that I have every had.  I am sad to be leaving him but I know that great things lie ahead. In this mission I have been truly blessed by the Lord with amazing leaders, companions, and district members. It is amazing to see the faith and the conversion of so many people that I have the privilege of serving with.

In my next area I will no longer be a district leader. My experience as such has strengthened my testimony of the plan of salvation. I know that the trials that we are faced with are like a refiners fire. That with them and through them we are made strong and capable for the tasks that we agreed to undertake in the life before this.

I am grateful that Heavenly Father would qualify those that he calls. I have seen many miracles and I hope that you all can as well. 

Have a great week and know that I love you!

<3

Elder Connor Starr

Laying Eggs for Easter

Hello everybody.

We had a good week this week. It was fairly normal with the exception that we had a zone wide meeting on Friday instead of the regular district meetings.  President and Sister Blair came and taught us about the importance of Easter and how we can use it to help us fulfil our purpose.

President Blair talked about the final week of Christ's earthly ministry, primarily his entry into the city of Jerusalem. Pres. Blair connected this to the duty that we have as missionaries to proclaim that Jesus is the Savior, that He lives today, and that because He lives we all can live again and find peace through his gospel.

The other district leader in the zone and I were asked to give a training on simple ways that we can find new people during the Easter season. I would say that the main thing that I personally learned is that the Gospel is intimate to EVERY person's life and that it's effects change us into the people that we are meant to be.

I love you and I hope that you have an awesome week. I will try to make it more exciting next time. 

-Elder Connor Starr

Also, congrats to AJ Starr for his mission call! 

February 26, 2018

Hello everybody,

This week was fairly normal. I truthfully can't think of anything that happened that was terribly spectacular. We gave a church tour to a family that we have been working with since I arrived in the area almost *shudder, 6 months ago. They have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the Prophet Joseph Smith but they have difficulty coming to church which makes baptism all that more difficult. I think that the tour really helped them and we helped them to create goals that would help them to come closer to the sacred covenant of Baptism.

With the coming of new months means that we are setting goals for the coming month of March. I am certainly excited for the warmer weather, and the new opportunities that that brings into our work.  Transfers are coming up again in about 2 weeks. Truthfully I don't think that I will go anywhere, even though I have already been here a while. Although one can never really know.

I have been thinking that in the gospel we can become distracted or overly involved in minute detail. The details of the gospel that are very important and critical to follow and remember, but only in the more grand scheme of the entire plan of happiness. The way by which we can and hopefully will return to our Heavenly Father forever as families.

in Moroni 8 

25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love

endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

It is important as missionaries that those we teach understand these things and that we ourselves understand this as well. We don't need a perfect understanding of the gospel to live it, We just have to keep the goal in mind with the plan that has been set forth to reach it.

I hope that you all have a wonderful week. Thanks for everything

love,

Elder Connor Starr

Here are some overdue photos!

Exeter Zone Conference February 14, 2018

They are still coming... February 19, 2018

Hello everyone,

This week started off great with zone conference in Exeter.

President Blair talked about our need to use and understand Christ's atonement in our lives in order to teach it with the greatest effect.  We cannot expect those that we teach the Gospel to live it if we ourselves aren't doing so.

Sister Blair talked about our need to bring our hearts to the Savior and love Him so that we can love God's children and bring them to repentance. 

I love Zone Conference and the opportunity not only to see other missionaries, but also to be uplifted and strengthened by the Lord's authorized servants.  I am so grateful for their willingness to follow the Savior and for the power and authority that they are given through the priesthood authority that was restored in this dispensation. 

Later in the week we went on exchange with the zone leaders in Manchester. We did a lot of finding, especially in grocery stores and clothing outlets. It was really hard but I learned a lot. I have found that even in difficulty it is immeasurably valuable to ponder the blessings that we have been given. Even in some of our greatest difficulty we are given the greatest gifts of love and knowledge. So often we forget and overlook these things because we are too focused on ourselves.

This gospel is true and brings lasting joy. 

Love you, have a wonderful week 

-Elder Connor Starr