Monday, September 30, 2013

Family!

Hey so first talking of the dentist so I waited, and it was worth it:) the dentist I got was a reference that was really good and only cost $56 mil (112 US) so a lot a lot better, So i think I am good with money, I have used a bit to buy some recuerdos but not to  much so I think im good,

haha speaking of doctor stuff we have been having to travel to the doctor a coup`le times my comp is in the process of recieving a vaccine for rabies haha I know I shouldnt laugh but it was just random, a dog bit him when we were knocking on doors, the doctors said most likely he doesnt have rabies but the mission wanted us to go anyways just in case, which is funny cause my last comp got bit by a dog as well but Im pretty lucky and the dogs dont like biting me.

This week has been awesome. We had a super long first two days of the week but the end we found  3 families and one person that could progress immensely and recieved a  reference of another family that wants to be taught. God is truly answering our prayers, it has been pure sun as well which has been nice, its funny though here cause when it rains you want sun and when theres sun you want rain cause the sun here KILLS your skin, im pretty sunburnt but nice to be sumburnt havent had that feeling for awhile.

 Ah how cool with joshs parents, Id like to know how that turns out, hows brother combs doing randomly pòpped in my head? blake is super tan haha hed laugh if he saw me, theres not usually much sun so im whiter then ever. you could call me elder snowflake.

 This week we finally had an investigator at church!!!! and its the lady that lives right next to the  family that is a member. She stayed for all hours and loved it, oh man how happy I was after all our work this transfer to see an investigator at church, makes you feel good after working hard to see someone excited at church.

Also I AM SO STOKED FOR CONFERENCE THIS WEEKEND!!!!!  its going to be amazing, we are really really going to try to pump up all others as well for the super bowl of revelation. haha im sure you can feel the excitement as you read these words.

  I was thinking for some things if i were to get a package would be some good church socks, mine are starting to get holes maybe like 4 or 5 also a picture of christ (the one that is all of the bishops offices) and any others that you guys like. and....yeah i cant think of anything else for now but Ill let you know, oh maybe burts bees chapstick like just  2 sticks.

For my studies I think one thing that called my attention was when christ was talking to nicdomeous in juan 3, I love the scripture where he says if you dont  understand worldly things how are you going to understand spiritual things. I applied it to us as members, a lot of times we tend to forget that our convenio bautismal is to take upon the name of christ. I learned something new from the scripture in that God wants us to live the gospel and be disciples of him at all times, now that doesnt mean knocking doors in our neighborhood telling them to repent but being good people, developing good traits and understanding that with the atonement of christ we can became better people in all aspects of live. I admire that about you mom and dad, you guys always have this desire to become better people. And as we show God that we understand earthly things (referring to our daily life) like cleaning the house, doing service, managing money wisely, etc we are showing the lord we can manage the great mysteries and blessings he has in store for people that take upon his name. For me that would be striving to be 100% obedient, waking up on time, doing my exercises, cleaning the dishes, taking out the trash. Its cool how being mormon or in other words a disciple of christ helps us become better people every day in all aspects of our life. Thats one of the great benefits of being a mormon, knowing that through the atonement, and the teachings we recieve we can become more and more like our heavenly father.
Thanks for the photos looks exciting!!! i feel like that would be way cool to go to sea world with carter cause its a dream come true for a kids his age. tell everyone I said hi, love you all, keep praying and reading your scriptures ;) haha chao (im embarrassed ive been spelling that wrong my whole mission) i spelt it chow ( super gringo) that sounds like a type of asian chicken.


Elder Carter

Monday, September 23, 2013

HEY HEY! (Lot's of Photos from 17 de Septiembre)

Hey family!
So this week was way awesome. We had some great progress in the work, as well as an opportunity to really get to know and enjoy the culture of chile.
So this week was the indepence day of chile the fiestas patrias. We had 3 days off, we did so much, we ate pork barbecue by the stick, and much much more. The first day of the holidays we visited a family that invited us to have that bbq, soooooo much meat! before the meat we ate some empanadas and mote con huesillo (that picture with the dried peaches with wheat in a cup of liquid stuff) sooo good (ill cook that at home forsure). Also we played a lot of chilean folklore games. One of which is something called a trompo, its like a top or spinner but better. It is kinda hard to make it spin but im getting better ha i bought one for $2 and im addicted so every pday im going to practice. But yeah SOOO MUCH FOOD!!! we had dessert it was a cake and alfajores which are cookies with manjar (dulce de leche) super good, I was worried we werent going to have an oppurtunity to share a scripture (as missionaries we had to really take advantage of this time to share even if it was small) I had a chance when I left I shared a small scripture in 3 nefi 14 and thanked them for the family standards they have and how they showed us that we as disciples of christ can have fun on a day where... well where the rest are not going to remember what happened the next day.
We also went to another house of members for another asado that night,,,, haha we were soooooo full that night, the next day it was the huge activity at the ward. Sooo much carne again, we got to play a chilean game called tejo which is kinda like bachi ball in a sense where they have a box filled with dirt on the ground and a string tied going a across and you try to throw metal cylinders closest to the string, the had a competition and me and my partner in the game (a priest of the church named esteban) won!!! ha i had some nice bragging rights the rest of the day. Also watched tons of people perform, dance the cueca and do other cultures, it was super cool, I had heard a ton of the culture songs before and it was super cool because I knew the words and really enjoyed the show, ha the culture is rubbing onto me. but yep and the next day we still couldnt leave to knock our proselite but we had another awesome meal. Ha soooo much food though it was forsure an awesome experience.

In other news we found an awesome family this week and are excited to see their progress. Also other cool story, (still not used to wards they are so huge) but luckily I always salute everyone I see and turns out I talked to one of the hermanos for awhile at the activity and 3 days later we passed by an hermanas house trying to see if we could teach her family knowing the fmailys dad isnt a member, he showed up and looked realyl familiar, turns out it was the hermano I talked to at the acitivity and i had no idea, it was a great way to gain his confidence and we were able to bring the spirit when we taught.

Also going to get my tooth fixed, ha sadly still havent done that because of all the cambios i couldnt do it then so i have an appointment tomorrow.

But yep ended up being a great week, only thing after 3 days of no work is you really really are stoked to get back to work after. And the day after we had that great chance to get back to work and we had a great fin de semana de trabajo. ive really been noticing all the small miracles god gives us every day and am so greatful, Its amazing how much we can learn on the mission. Im really really enjoying the book of mormon like never before and its amazing how the spirit constantly testifies to us as we read.

But yeah basically eso por la semana. if I could think of anything I need is a flea collar for my birthday but im going to try to find that here so you dont need to spend money sending a package

Thanks for all your letters here are a ton of pictures of the week,


Elder Carter








 





Monday, September 16, 2013

FELIZ 18 de SEPTIEMBRE!!!! (Photos)


Hey Hey!
So this week has been pretty sweet, ha tons and tons of animo, this upcoming week will be 18 de septiembre, HUGE HUGE holiday here in Chile, its like our 4th of july but even bigger, they celebrate for 3 days and its called the fiestas patrias.
This week has been super good, a lot of rain at the beginning haha like always but then it got sunny the rest of the week and im sumburnt now hah super bipolar weather. But was a super great week, im for sure learning so much here in on the mission.

For starters the truth of things is in our sector we dont have too much regarding investigatores so it was a week filled with tons of contacts and capicitating members. ha but I loved it, and I know your probably saying oh no elder carter is going crazy he is enjoying a slower week, BUT! I did enjoy it in many ways and here is why,

1. The Atonement, every single thing that we testify and talk to people revolves around it, and reading the talk by holland, Missionary Work and the Atonement, I have been inspired, one thing I love he states is that in order to really learn and appreciate the atonement is to expereience a part of it, (now as holland said not comparing difficulties on the mission to be anywhere close to what he paid) but he suffered for a purpose and thats for the opposicion that is oh so essencial in our life for eternal growth. So as we were recieved poorly or someone made a cheesy gringo joke we continued and smiled knowing these experiences we will carry forever and will help us on that journey to eternal life.

2. Faith, Faith is gift from God, a hope for something not seen, and comes after the trial of our faith, 2 great examples of the trial of our faith would be one our district had a baptism this weekend but as we were filling the font and had all the plans we got a call from the person that was going to get baptized and canceled, so instead of the baptism we just had to get out and put on a smile and get working :) I think a even simpler one would be this sunday when we found out we were going to be eating lunch with a fun family that sunday, but then to our suprise a sister from the church made us a bag lunch, she was a poorer lady and it was a very humble meal we had to take it home and eat it by ourselves, that change humbled me immensely and as I put away my natural desire I thanked the hermana and enjoyed that meal immensely at the house with a smile, I was so greatful for that hna that made us the food, small things happen every day that test our faith and help us grow, it is up to our decisiones when no one is watching that will help strengthen our virtue, also if God answered every one of our missionary pleads for miracles then how would we learn diligence, patience and well almost all of the atributes of christ, These times on the mission have taught me that God is our Heavenly Father and He knows what we need, as we do his will eternal blessing come our way. So although we cant see the success we know it comes thanks to the faith in our savior jesus christ.

3 Anxiously engaged in a good cause- ha obviously all these things have so much in common but one thing I love about the mission is we truly have sooooo much things we can do to bring us more success and invite the spirit, its endless, in our lives as we are anxiously engaged to do good things we reciece more blessings, this sunday we really really just wanted to find progressing investigators and so we fasted and that day God blessed us with some amazing contacts and a the opportunity to teach one family of our churchs neighbor with the members. I am so greatful for the plan of God and how he has planned for us to learn.

This week we will be helping to prepare for the 18 de septiembre party that the ward will be having, tons of empanadas and so on, ill be sure to take tons of photos:)
One of these photos is from the intercambio we had as missionaries this elder is from peru, I ordered pizza for my first time on the mission, (ha never lived in the city so never could)

but that is awesome for fred sounds like he is doing amazing!!!!! ha mormon night at mission hills.
ha mom sorry I cant think of really anything I need for christmas but if I think of something I will tell you :)

love you guys so much I am so so so so greatful for our family, got the program with my pictures from the church, ha thank the hermana that does that, tell her its the only letter letters I ever get and Im very greatful haha:)

It is so amazing to invite others to come unto christ, and to see the power of the word of God. Greatful for our family and this great plan that makes it possible for us to be eternal. Love you guys:)

tell you more about the 18 mas adelante ;)


elder carter





Monday, September 9, 2013

New Place! como esta

Hey Hey Family!!!!
So this week was sure a change ha.
It was super hard saying goodbye to my last sector, I really fell in love with that place and I really got to learn so much and see the lords hand in the work. Actually that lunes before I left the branch held a family night for me and elder bate who both left. Some bore there testimonies of Jesus Christ to us and the rest and talked about some experiences we had with them. It was super emotional. We got to take a ton of pictures with everyone and some gave me some gifts, one of which was a hat knitted by wool from a shape, (right off not fabricated) still smelt like sheep ha, it was hard when I began to see some cry and I began to cry as well, after 6 months there it really became a home that I will always remember. hah some promised to let us stay in there houses and other is a guide to torres de paine and told us he would take us on the best tur possible with you guys if we ever go back there. We have a couple baptisms there in the next month but I wont be able to see them.
But here I am in puerto Mont again!!!!
haha I cant lie im kinda sector sick (kinda like home sick but for my last sector) but that will soon fade forsure. Im in a huge ward! the culture is super different here but im getting used to it slowly. But there are some super nice members here. My district has 6 missionaries including me and my comp, ha 2 of them are the hermana lideres (like AP of the sisters) ha so thats different. We are all missionaries for this ward. It has been a week of work thats for sure, Im finishing the second half of the training for my comp, its a interesting challenge cause being more new he doesnt really remember where any one is really so its been a lot of work but still just going at it with excitement, excited to see how God helps us out here. ha Our shower us heated by gas tanks like that we use for bbq and we ran out of it because we live with 4 elders so so far all my showers have been super cold:( hahah but great way to wake me up in the morning:) I am excited to see what we can do in this sector, ha havent lived in a ward ever on the mission its super different! but one thing that will take time to get used to is that there are a lot more leadership and I dont have to do tithing and all that good stuff, just pure mission work ha, so thats sweet. But yeah awesome stories! love to hear from all of you.

One cool thing that happened this week was we entered a house and as we were teaching I just really felt as though the spirit was teaching haha I know that sounds like something very normal for a missionary but I just thought Id say how much I love to have the gift of the spirit to help me ask inspired questions. We are truly truly blessed.

I got to talk to the missionaries of los muermos and here how its doing, they arent in my district so I cant have intercambios there but maybe Ill have a chance to visit. the weather right now is pretty nice back to 100% humidity here but ha gotta love it.
I love serving and im way greatful that God gives us changes in our lives so that we can learn and overcome them. Its so cool how much we can learn as we have to adapt to knew surroundings, cultures, people, cold showers, and as we embrace the change with the gospel we are super blessed and see the miracles and blessings that come to those that endure to the end.

Well hope all is well, Ill have more to say for next week, excited to get this place going and to serve God,
So greatful I have the gospel in my life, There is no doubt in my mind that it is true. Que este muy bien this week love you mom and dad and the rest!!!!

Elder Carter

Monday, September 2, 2013

New Place! como esta

Hey Hey Family!!!!
So this week was sure a change ha.
It was super hard saying goodbye to my last sector, I really fell in love with that place and I really got to learn so much and see the lords hand in the work. Actually that lunes before I left the branch held a family night for me and elder bate who both left. Some bore there testimonies of Jesus Christ to us and the rest and talked about some experiences we had with them. It was super emotional. We got to take a ton of pictures with everyone and some gave me some gifts, one of which was a hat knitted by wool from a shape, (right off not fabricated) still smelt like sheep ha, it was hard when I began to see some cry and I began to cry as well, after 6 months there it really became a home that I will always remember. hah some promised to let us stay in there houses and other is a guide to torres de paine and told us he would take us on the best tur possible with you guys if we ever go back there. We have a couple baptisms there in the next month but I wont be able to see them.
But here I am in puerto Mont again!!!!
haha I cant lie im kinda sector sick (kinda like home sick but for my last sector) but that will soon fade forsure. Im in a huge ward! the culture is super different here but im getting used to it slowly. But there are some super nice members here. My district has 6 missionaries including me and my comp, ha 2 of them are the hermana lideres (like AP of the sisters) ha so thats different. We are all missionaries for this ward. It has been a week of work thats for sure, Im finishing the second half of the training for my comp, its a interesting challenge cause being more new he doesnt really remember where any one is really so its been a lot of work but still just going at it with excitement, excited to see how God helps us out here. ha Our shower us heated by gas tanks like that we use for bbq and we ran out of it because we live with 4 elders so so far all my showers have been super cold:( hahah but great way to wake me up in the morning:) I am excited to see what we can do in this sector, ha havent lived in a ward ever on the mission its super different! but one thing that will take time to get used to is that there are a lot more leadership and I dont have to do tithing and all that good stuff, just pure mission work ha, so thats sweet. But yeah awesome stories! love to hear from all of you.

One cool thing that happened this week was we entered a house and as we were teaching I just really felt as though the spirit was teaching haha I know that sounds like something very normal for a missionary but I just thought Id say how much I love to have the gift of the spirit to help me ask inspired questions. We are truly truly blessed.

I got to talk to the missionaries of los muermos and here how its doing, they arent in my district so I cant have intercambios there but maybe Ill have a chance to visit. the weather right now is pretty nice back to 100% humidity here but ha gotta love it.
I love serving and im way greatful that God gives us changes in our lives so that we can learn and overcome them. Its so cool how much we can learn as we have to adapt to knew surroundings, cultures, people, cold showers, and as we embrace the change with the gospel we are super blessed and see the miracles and blessings that come to those that endure to the end.

Well hope all is well, Ill have more to say for next week, excited to get this place going and to serve God,
So greatful I have the gospel in my life, There is no doubt in my mind that it is true. Que este muy bien this week love you mom and dad and the rest!!!!

Elder Carter