Happy End of November

Hey Hey Hey!

Wow! Looks like you have been pretty busy having a super sweet Thanksgiving! Hah glad Dad is still giving it all he’s got on the football field. My Thanksgiving was pretty sweet, I think we remembered it was Thanksgiving at like 1pm and played a song about giving thanks so that was pretty cool, and later that night we bought a cookie at a market haha. Yeah I don’t think one person here knew it was Thanksgiving. It was a great day though all days are.  To answer your question mom I’ll probably be in good old Los Muermos for 10 more weeks. After your training (2 cambios or 12 weeks) you usually are in your sector for one more cambio. So yeah, loving it here though. That is so sweet for Mackynzie! Tell her I said congrats! Ha Carter is getting so BIG!

Dad I looked into the flea thing and they don’t have the bomb thing but we have this flea spray. I covered my mattress and sheets in it and aired it out. I just did it so I haven’t gotten to see if it worked. I still have SOOO MANY Bites. I had a couple nights where I couldn’t sleep cause my body itched too bad, I would wake up itching. So that last 2 nights I pray way hard to be able to not itch at night and so far I haven’t had to wake up. (prayer is a great anti-itch cure haha) But yeah haven’t got the package yet I won’t find out till tomorrow when we drive in to Puerto Mont, it usually takes awhile but I’ll let you know when I get it.

We have had some fun weather lately. This whole week we would wake up and our house would be 40 in the morning, and that cold with humid is bone chilling. Getting out of the shower is always fun. And we don’t have more wood left. Because once it gets to like 1pm the sun comes out (cause its summer) and it gets way hot in the day. So we get the best of both worlds I guess ha. But it’s all good. Got to watch some drunk guys the other day TRY to fight, it was kinda lame though cause they would try to fight and end up like doing an awkward hug. There was also just some guy cruising around the streets in his horse drawn carriage. Something new haha.

But yeah, had my first BAPTISM Saturday! It was so great, the service went so smooth, we pretty much did all the planning for it since we don’t have a ward missionary leader, had to go early and clean the chapel, print out the fliers, call and remind everyone and fill and clean the font which was gross cause it is just in like a shed attached to the capilla. But the hard work paid off! The spirit was tan fuerte! I loved it the 11 year old girl seemed very happy. Also Sunday we had our 2 progressing investigators at church today!!! That made my week I was so happy. It was Luis first time assisting the church. You are constantly praying and just hoping he gets the best experience. It was perfect because it was our primary presentation this week and our 5 kids in primary did such a good job, he loved it. It’s amazing what children’s testimonies can do to people. Also in Sunday school he learned more about the importance of baptism and repentance in order to receive the blessings of Israel, which is just what he needed.

Days with lessons are like holidays here, and tracting all day is like a busy day of work on a Monday ha. But you just gotta do it and stay positive. It’s amazing what positivity does. I’m back in 1 Nephi now just finishing Moroni and the funnest thing in the world is starting back in 1 Nephi and ALWAYS learning something new, I think my favorite chapter of 1 Nephi is ch 13 of the vision of the gentiles coming to the Americas bringing the book of the Jews and just basically the restoration all capped in to one amazing chapter. I need to be more careful with not getting sidetracked with all the footnotes though they are just such a temptation to learn about some sweet doctrine. You just gotta be careful, Today I went from learning about that vision to Angel Gabriel being Noah, haha but yeah we are starting a new program for the Ward, we had one earlier called Plan 9, where they have set scriptures that they read every night at 9 and then pray as a family after and before for how they can relate the scripture and how they can invite or find people they can invite to the church. It blew up and they loved it, so we are going to kick it back up in December. We are doing it a little different though trying to give it themes for like each week, like for Christmas just scriptures of Christ, or one week just being about obedience. I started a little book I keep in my pocket of different topics of scriptures so if I ever need one in a lesson I can share it. Having simple things like that makes it that much easier and helps you so much. But yeah still struggling to find new investigators here but we are working and staying positive, love it.

We have been getting our Christmas spirit getting some tunes going for Christmas. Love it. That’s to bad Blake is sick tell him I hope he gets better. And tell him and Erin I said HEY! Also Kristy and Dalan and especially Carter ha. Glad you tried to do something with the missionaries ha always a fun one when you’re at an activity or a house with a TV on and no matter what it is you gotta tune out of it and look away. Anyways things are going good here. Love you all. If you could look up the best way to relieve itching, cause this itching cream does not work. and yeah. Love you! Ha nice your doing Spanish dad, here are some Chilean words for ya,

wawa=baby
Al Tiro= right now
bacan= cool
mich= kinda like wow or huh

p.s. hey to all the people I forwarded this too ha sorry I can’t send you an email so here it is! Hope all is well out on your missions!!!!

Nov. 19, 2012 (+Photos)

Hey Hey!

What the heck soooo many girls are going on missions now; ha glad I’m here for the right reason, cause it’s not going to be such a common thing that no one will really care when I come home haha. That is so cool how Audrey’s dad is going to be a Mission President that is so awesome!!! You can tell Audrey she can email me that would be sweet, I just can’t write her through email but through letters so she should get one,  (ha takes like a month for people to get it though:/) keeps me concentrated though but you can forward her the emails as like everyone else.
I get so caught up in the work that it’s hard to write people and think about what’s going on in the world, love this work it’s awesome. So yeah please let people know it feels so great to get emails or even letters if they have time, ha nothing like words of encouragement. Oh my goodness I feel the mission changing me every day for the better. I pray every day to just have God change for the better and become who he wants me to be no matter what the price. That usually results in the next day being one of the hardest days of my life. I really have a testimony of hard work and trials, if you don’t have extremely rough days where nothing goes right and you just can’t believe how hard it is then how can you change. I am now realizing for me to change and become someone better I gotta be stretched and feel uncomfortable at times.
This week so far was probably one of the hardest weeks I've ever had and I just look back on it and love it. We have a lot of work to do. We had to drop 6 of our investigators and have been searching and trying every possible thing to just teach and find news. We also have the obligation of keeping the branch happy being called as the ramas counselors dealing with tithes and visiting the members. Not to mention the mental rollercoaster of the language. It is NUTS at times. This whole week we only got to teach 6 lessons which is so little and the rest was searching, talking, and putting all of our energy to find news, we have already knocked on all the doors multiple times and we recognize the majority of the people here, my companion said he had never been so rejected before this place. but I was reading in Moroni 9:6 where it talks about the hard hearts of the people and how no matter how much you get rejected and how much it seems like it’s no use, you gotta continue to preach these things to conquer the enemy of all righteousness. My testimony of faith, hope, and charity has grown so much, you honestly can’t for one second get down and think there is no use, because this gospel must be proclaimed the people whether they want to hear it or not. We just gotta love these people and try all we can do to get through to them.
I have found such a great joy of reading and studying the doctrine of Christ, I have sooo much to learn of this gospel and I just want to learn it all, I am taking Spanish one day at a time and just studying and practicing as much as I can, not the most gifted with Spanish but with faith and diligence in studies its possible.
Ha I also learned a lot of the bad manners that are different here, I am not sure if I told you about how rude it is to yawn in front of people, point at them, and throw things to hand people are just terrible. Ha kind've found those all out the hard way. I am pretty used to not eating anything at night now. Oh so for our investigators progressing we have Luis now and this lady named Lucy, Lucy we found on the street but she was getting the lessons like a couple years ago but couldn’t be baptized cause she had a partner, they are broken up now and she is down to listen again so we are stoked. She said she doesn’t really have the desire to get baptized though saying that they were just great memories she has and she will keep them forever, we reminder her that without works (reading the scriptures, praying, going to church) that desire will go away. She agreed to come to church this week and came!
We had really prayed to have good assistance this week and got 38 so we were way stoked! But yeah we are just keeping our heads up and really pushing through, I have about 60 probably flea bites or so and some spider bites, our house is invested with spiders and I think my bed has fleas, but we are going to clean it again today.

Anyways I pray for you everyday love you guys so much thanks for the prayers and your emails! just making sure are u getting the photos I send?

HEY HEY! (Nov 12, 2012)

This must be the stick Zack talked about eating last week. 

Volcano Osorno?

So this week has been a great one! SOOOO MUCH WALKING haha, So hmmm trying to think of what to say... It is weird sometimes I can’t remember anything, I am so glad I write in my journal even if nothing really happens because you forgot the details soooo fast. My bad I forgot to bring it with me. First of all Congrats to all the girls that are going on a mission that is sooo cool! Tell them all I said Congrats! Ask Brent if he got my email last time I’m not sure if I sent it to him. Also if you could get Landon Plilers address that would be so awesome! Sorry dad btw that one link you sent to my blog I can’t look at it ha only can go on this page.

Ahh let’s see, This Sunday I directed our sacrament that was pretty cool, we had a pretty sweet attendance of 36 so that was awesome. I started to write all the people that we could potentially have during sacrament meeting and try to see if we could meet them this week and share something. I have to admit it gets pretty dang fun trying to figure out what to teach someone and how to do it. We have our weekly branch meeting with the president and even though I can’t speak very well I can still give input. Understanding is so much easier then speaking for me. You gotta try so hard sometimes and once you stop paying attention you forgot.

Last week we had to go to Puerto Mont 4 times for meetings and interviews with president. My interview went great, I loved it so much because you can ask him whatever you have on your mind or helpful tips on what to do to find more investigators and he gives you something golden. Such a spiritual amazing man. So grateful to have him as my President.

I have really tried to speak as much Spanish as I possibly can and try to think it, there are just some days where you can’t understand a thing and just want to speak English, ha but once you’re out and about you are forced to speak Spanish you have no choice. Sometimes I forgot that no one speaks English, they will ask you a question and you will respond and think nothing of it. So I think one thing that has been super humbling is how hard it is to teach simply, you may think you know all the lessons and what the gospel is, but it’s a true test to teach it and have a farmer family that has received not much schooling to understand. I really have some hard work to do. Another thing I have learned is the importance of sucking up your pride and just showing love to someone. Some people are so hard hearted and just attack you with how you’re wrong. And you know EVERY come back. But proving them wrong does nothing and takes away the spirit immediately. You just gotta smile, say “I would love to talk to you about the gospel another day” and leave. We really have to show a good example and not stress. There is no doubt in my mind that this gospel is true, that The book of Mormon is the word of God, as Holland said if you fell from the church no matter what you did no matter what you tried to prove wrong you could not run from the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon, even the 3 witnesses that fell from the church never could deny the divinity of the sacred text, which testifies and holds of the rest of the religion. It has truly been a blessing being able to study the Book of Mormon and preach my gospel for a couple hours each morning.

I do have to be real and say how Los Muermos at times can me very hard, we have had countless days of walking kilometer after kilometer finding no news. But the other day we had one of those and then walked for a good 20 min out to this house in the campo and taught and the spirit testified and filled a ladies room as we testified she would be able to live with those that passed before. It is such an emotional rollercoaster and physical with all the sicknesses, bites, language, and all, but it is so comforting to know that this is true. Why we are here in Southern Chile in a small farm town is to share this truth with everyone. As it says in Jacob 5 of the parable of the vineyard at the end, that some of the caretakers (being missionaries set out to tend and spread the vineyard, as the vineyard keeper was right there with them (being Christ). Thanks a ton Dalan for your awesome inspiring words.

For other news we found a HUGE slug in our house as big as my pointer finger, we got chased by another drunk we named him jack in the box cause he sprung at us, and a German Sheppard almost chased me down and bit me. haha It can be so hard sometimes but it is such a great adventure and is a blast all at the same time. Loving it here. Say hey to everyone back home! Tell Noel Garcia I said hi I haven’t talked to him in forever, I have been trying to write him a letter I just have no time on pday its tough. kinda goes with all other people there are just so many things I want to do on pday ha and things I need to do. I am getting rid of the parasite with a pill so yeah:) starting to get more and more used to the food! we are going to make French toast for the members soon.  They have never heard of it! stoked... oh! If you can in another letter or something send some photos of just some fun things I have done in high school or college like physical pictures and with just some of my friends and some pictures of the family. The members love seeing them and it’s fun to show your comp some things you have done in your life. If you can whenever! thanks! thanks for everything! PS SOOO BUMMED ROMNEY LOST but whatever ill live, church is right about what we need to do and be positive

Hey Hey!

This week has been great! We really have had an urge to build our branch up. We had 2 fasts this week, one on Thursday and one on Sunday for fast Sunday. It is such a miracle to how much God provides for you when you pray and fast with full purpose. One cool story was our plans fell through and we didn’t really know what to do so we went to the chapel to pray. Literally 5 min after that prayer we knocked on a door and finally got in a door after like a week of not getting in. Also we did that the next day and got in.

I just made a new language study plan so I am pretty excited to try that out. We are about to end my first cambio so I have one more with Elder Gardner, So stoked to have one more. We have gotten along so great and we work hard. I am in this 12 week program it is pretty new where we have studies more than a regular missionary and by the end of the 12 weeks you could become a trainer...or be a missionary who potentially could be, so basically training to get you to be ready quick for the mission. It is pretty sweet. All the stuff like planning can be pretty stressful because you really have to do soooo much work and really be tuned to the spirit planning is really everything.

Hmm bum story of the week, so these 2 guys walked up to us right when we walked out of a store to get a quick candy bar for a animo booster, as I am eating it one of the guys says...Hey! Give me some of that candy you got there...and my first thought was...ohh heck no I am not losing my precious just bought candy to this bum. So I just laughed and said no I’m hungry,,,then he asked again and finally just said no kinda laughing and we walked away...next thing you know the two guys got kinda angry and followed us a good couple blocks. Luckily we got away though.

Hmm ah yeah so food is starting to become slowly normal. I’m not saying its gross at all just new. But we were invited Sunday to have a bbq with one of the members that we helped build their house for and they had just killed their pig for the feast. I was stoked cause I just fasted but I was starting to get a cold so felt kinda sick. I start eating the meat it was good just really really fatty. But then I get to my 3rd peace and I look and the outside had like hair. Like how we have hair on our hands. I thought I could like cut that part off but as I did the hair was deeper than I thought and it was still there. Anyways just kinda new stuff. Everyone says you get used to it, and I am in a more farmer area. Oh yeah I also had to eat this Huge long stem of a plant that is like a delicacy here. That was fun too. haha

But yeah we found tons of news this week it was amazing. It was a vacation weekend for the day of the dead and stuff so there was a lot of people at home. We have also really pounded out our studies. I really want to learn as much as I can possibly can; just gets hard sometimes. Have been sick for awhile it stinks because no matter what we gotta wake up and get to work, it really is helping me grow up and just get to work.

The weather is still cold here it still rains a good amount. For our pday today we went to Volcano Osorno, kinda was a bummer though because it was really foggy so you couldn’t really see it. But we went sledding down it on plastic sheets. We won’t be allowed to do that for awhile I’m sure though because unfortunately our Zone Leader who I really really liked, way cool guy, was sledding down and hit an icy part to dirt and nailed his back and head against a huge rock. Everyone only sledded down once and that was to go help him. It was very icy snow. But he was in very bad shape at first. But as he was being taken away in the ambulance seemed like he would just need to stay in the office, but who am I to say. But yeah maybe put him in your prayers. He was in pretty bad shape. That really shows how careful and how fast your mission can be ruined. Definitely would be heartbroken if I had to come home early. I would die actually that would be terrible. But yeah, he seemed to have been doing better as he was leaving probably will just need to spend time in the office. But I am no expert ha.

But yeah my head hurts always, the language really kills ya some times, it can get pretty dang frustrating but you just gotta push on, sometimes I get scared I’ll be that missionary that doesn’t learn it, but everyone says that here and everyone learns it, that is what president said, you just gotta work and be patient.

Um hmmm I’m good on spices we don’t really make any meals cuz we just have one meal a day and cereal in the morning so just like snack stuff. We have mac and cheese, nothing really like that I need. Just like American Sour Patch Kids and Reeses. idk they have a lot here. Just kinda like the stuff I said before. Sorry you’ll just have to surprise me. They have all the like American Super main brand stuff like Nutella and Skittles and stuff like that at the main stores. Ummm oh and yeah just like an mp3 that has like a little memory card thing you can take out, cause that is how you get music here, you share with other missionaries. Doesn’t need to be to over the top. ha sorry I can’t really think of anything, maybe like a deflated football cause those don’t exist here and that would be so cool to have. and yeah.

Oh I have met president once at the beginning and I have my first interview with him tomorrow. Anyways yeah. Love you so much! The work is going great in Southern Chile! I can’t tell you how much prayer means to me now. It’s like my best friend. It is such a Rollercoaster here on the mission of great times to an immediate just frustrating really hard day but with faith and God anything is possible, and just smiling helps a ton. Just gotta always enjoy every moment, and get lost in this amazing cause.
Love you so much!
Elder Carter

Oh! PS! We our having a baptism on the 17th!!!! SOOO STOKED! It was a part member family and it was their daughter that was the only one not baptized at age 11, she really got the desire after hearing about the blessings of temples. So stoked for them to be a whole family and get to go to the temple. Such an awesome family her dad is about to be our mission leader. Such an Amazing family! I’ll tell you more about them next week. Love you!