CHI!!! CHI!!! LE!! LE!!! VIVE CHILE!!!

Well first off we had permission to watch the game of chile, if we

were with an investigator or as a activity. So we did just that and

did an activity at a members house with all the elders quorum and with

an investigator. Im glad we got permission cause in that moment there

wasnt one person who wasnt watching the game, it was pretty awesome to

watch the game and gain more confidence with the members, me and my

companion put on our chile jersys over our shirts to get the spirit

going. as well...

Watching the game of Chile helped us in the work! A couple days after

the game we were knocking doors and started talking to this one women,

we saw her husband was eating lunch and she gave us a face that said

they were busy. We began to speak about the game to her knowing her

husband would be listening, it was awesome you could see the husbands

face with so much excitement to talk about the game with us. He then

came over to the door and began to talk more and more, then invited us

in to talk more and more, as we were talking their kids (ages 21 and

17 walked in and began to talk with us as well. The game of italy was

about to start and we were able to get the topic to change to the

gospel.we found out that they shared before with missionarys and

before the game started we were able to give them a folleto and spark

their attention with a short summary of the restauration. We were able

to end with a prayer in which without even asking they turned off the

TV (even while the game was on) and we offered the prayer, As we left

them at peace watching the game together they said, you gotta stay and

watch the game with us!!! or to have once with us, you dont have to

leave! With that we said dont worry we will come back to see how you

are and we can see how the reading went. They agreed with excitement.

Its cool how God will always find a way to hasten the work.

As well for Fathers Day, ha didnt even remember it was fathers day

until the morning of, some members of the relief society made some

pillows as gifts to men that live in a retired home facility in back

of the hospital here. They asked if we could accompany them and it was

a sweet way to spend a part of Fathers Day. We  visited the houses and

I was moved by some of their expressions as we came to visit, one man

was 87 and got excited and started showing us all his test results to

show us how healthy he was haha We sang to them and they told us they

felt something real good in their heart as we sang. It was cool to

visit some fathers, well most grandfathers, I put one picture of the

experience this is hermano raul, we read the book of mormon with him

almost every week, he still reads super well if he didnt have trouble

walking he would be one of the most faithful members to go to church.

But he loved the visit.

But yeah well its cambios week again, and my companion is heading for

his house.  This Wednesday we will be heading early in the morning to

osorno. My companion got permission to go to one of his old sectors

before he has to meet in the house of the mission so I will be going

with him to a place called Frutillar for the morning there, then in

the night I will be pickin up my new companion, he is from Colombia.

his names Elder Sanchez. Its funny cause when I was Coyhaique Elder Da

Silva and Elder Sanchez were some of the district leaders in our zone

so before being their companions I have already been in intercambios

with them and gotten to know them. Im stoked to end with a latino so I

can end my mission speaking spanish the whole time. I have had 7

latino companions and 5 gringo companions. But stoked to give it my

all this cambio. We had 4 investigators at church this week, 2 are

eternals and the other 2 are progressing well. We actually had a noche

de hogar with one of them saturday at the church. Its cool because

some members here are awesome and always invite their friend to share,

the 2 investigators that are progressing are friends of the members.

Its so much easier the work when the members help.

But hey take care this week, Once Again Happy fathers Day DAD! love you a ton.

I love the new sandals mom super stylish hahha,

Elder Carter

Busses and Mission Work

wow I had some awesome experiences this week, this week we had to do a

lot of traveling and it took a lot out of our time to work in our

sector, but I was dying to have spiritual moments. I was suprised at

how many experiences I had this week being able to share the gospel

with people on buses. Here is one experience I had:

 As we were waiting to get on the bus to head to osorno for the lider

council I saw a man and felt impressed to start a conversation with

him, the bus came and all we had chance to talk about was that he had

talked to missionarys before and had a book of mormon but loaned it

someone , so we handed him a pamphlet of the restauration. We had to

get on the bus so our conversation had to end, as we were looking for

our seats I look up and the man pointed at the seat next to him and I

decided to sit there and continue talking. The man took out the

pamphlet and got excited he said you gotta pass by so we can talk more

about your church, I found out he was from panguipuilli and I wrote

down his number and said the missionaries from panguipuilli would be

in contact with him, as we talked more he told me earlier in his life

he was preparing to be a catholic priest and knew a ton about the

bible but now he doesnt believe to much in the catholic church. I

talked about the restoration of the gospel and something he loved

about the bible was the stories of the pueblo de israel, I talked

about the importance of prophets in the old times as well as in the

time of jesucristo and talked about how now its of the same

importance. He understood completely and had the doubt about the many

false prophets, I love that doubt because I told him the elders from

panguipulli will be giving him another book of mormon which is the

convincing evidence that there is a prophet of God here today. He was

filled with excitement and thanked me for being able to talk with him,

the elders in panguipuilli have an appointment with him next week, I

think its so cool how ALWAYS God puts people in our way.

We decided in lider council that we are allowed to watch the first 3

games of chile of the world cup! President wants us to take advantage

of the situation to have activities in the church, watch with

investigators, and after the games end leave immediately to the

streets talking with the people about the games as a tool to gain

confidence. It will sure be interesting this next month because there

will constantly be games and everyone will be glued to their tvs but

we just gotta be creative and us it to our advantage:)

President Rappleye is still here he leaves the 29th of this month,

actually we had a district conference (like stake conference but for a

district) I was touched by the testimony president rapplye gave in the

session of the conference of his experience with an experience he had

with accompanying the missionaries, he didnt mention the names of the

experience but told with details. I soon realized he was talking about

the experienced with Denny and us. He said when Denny stood up after

the lesson and with tears in his eyes shaking the hand of president

rappleye and said "thank you for sending these angels of God to my

house" , that was one of the most precious moments of his mission

here. As for me as well Im so greatful to have had such a memorable

experience. Im so greatful for the experiences the mission has given

me, my testiomny of the gospel has boomed on the mission, its truly a

blessing to be part of the restoration.

Amo Jesucristo y este gran obra de salvacion:)

Elder Carter

Sigo sonriendo:)

Some things that happened this week is we had found some amazing
people and during the lessons I had felt the spirit super powerfully.
Now the hard part sometimes is asking the people during the lesson
questions to see if they understand, and when we asked they said they
didnt understand anything haha I left the lessons kindve frustrated in
my mind thinking "Why cant they understand!" But then it hit me, these
people said they felt peace and joy when we shared these things and
they want us to pass by again but they dont understand anything?" I
pondered why and it was clear these people felt the spirit. I have
taught people on my mission who cant read, or have a no level of
education. And I can testify that the lord loves them as well and
wants them to feel the truth of this message. Now Im not saying that
we can baptize them next week for feeling the spirit, obviously these
people at one point need to understand what we share. But what I
learned from this experience is the only way to gain a testimony our
message is through the spirit. Feeling the spirit can come in many
ways, one of the most common is listening and pondering the doctrine
we teach in our minds, other ways could be simply trying to listen and
understand, others can be prayer, others singing. The lord loves each
and every one of his children and God knows the way to touch the
hearts of his children and testify to them of the truth, and when they
feel it in the way they can understand, they will have the chance to
choose if they want to continue learning more. I have heard
testimonies of people that didnt understand anything before they got
baptized but with years of trying to learn they now understand. I have
a lot of faith for people like these, sometimes i lack patience but I
know their are gods children that can go from illiterate to
comprending the doctrine found in the book of mormon. Its all part of
the plan ;) Alma 34:32

I dont have much to say this week but Im just greatful to continue
serving the lord. Its rained almost every day and I love it:) I dont
love it because it gets me wet and its cold, but I love it because its
a trial, and trials make us stronger, We have met some very loving
people this week, they told us very clearly they dont want anything
but we lovingly got to know them and shared part of our message with
them to help them be able to feel the spirit and have the opportunity
to choose, I know without a doubt that when we do our part and not
have the fear to share, even with people that appear to be happy in
their lives and have everything together the message of the
restoration of the gospel will touch their hearts, and they will be
left with the question or doubt if this could be true, if they choose
to investigate it more they will realize there is something in their
lives they dont have, and will feel the joy of the true restored
gospel of christ. I love the lord, and testify of his healing
atonement. Im so greatful for his love for me and for the people here
in chile and all over the world. Hope you have a great week
haha I loved the photo dad your beard is good ;) some things have
changed in these past 2 years hahaha

Love you a ton
Elder Carter

this is a picture of a sea lion... we went to valdivia and there
theres a river where theres tons of sea lions just chillin wherever
they want. kindve scary not gonna lie

and a completo from a fast food place we tried while we were there

What a Blessing it is to be a Missionary

Hey family, wow this week was really special I dont know how to

explain it. Its funny because it was one of the weeks where I think I

have been more rejected and criticized by people on my mission, but

looking back on it im happy. There is something super special about

being a missionary, I can happily say I have completely eliminated my

fear of talking to anyone on the street, door, bus, etc. And talking

to them about their lives, their hopes, their favorite soccer team,

Etc and then directing the conversation to our special message of the

restoration of the gospel of Christ. I cant tell you how happy I am to

be able to share this message, I feel every moment I testify of what I

know to a stranger or conocido, the spirit fills my soul.

Yesterday, we had a very interesting experience with our neighbor the

typical uninterested grandma that loves to give us food but wants

nothing with our message. haha her borther in law yelled out to us

earlier that week asking why we havent come by for weeks, we said we

would pass by for a bit sunday. As we passed I immediately started

laughing because as I entered her brother in law came down the stairs

with chips and cookies, they took out a huge piece of meat to difrost

to serve us, hot milk, soda, etc. We let them know we just barely had

lunch but still filled us with cookies. I dont know how but the spirit

somehow allowed me to get us on topics of the gospel, my companion was

amazed because each time we came by she said no. Thinking about it,

thanks to a movie based on Noah and the Ark that I guess is coming out

we got on the topic of the story, I took out my bible and said oh man

we got to read the story its incredible. We did what you did dad when

you served simply read a story from the bible, as we read it we made

it more entertaining and the spirit filled the room, we talked about

how amazing it would be to have a prophet guiding us today. They were

etertained by the story and next time we pass they agreed that we

could pass by to read another. We are truly messangers of Gods Church

and the spirit of our message cant be ignored

I cant lie in some sectors it takes time for members to gain

confidence with, but Im one to be diligent;)

We had an amazing family night with a member and 4 investigators, that

I talked about my last letter. Went AMAZING!!! We watched a video

about the great apostacy and the spirit was incredible everyone felt

it, we talked about baptisms for the dead and it sparked the attention

of all of them. ha except the funniest part is the grandma of the

member said she felt the spirit so strong during the video and said

she is so greatful for finding her evangelical church and being

baptized there. We just smiled and continued on with the message hahah

Ending the week we were looking for some inactive members on a list

and asked a joven of 25 years if he knew one of the directions on the

list and started helping us look for the direction we couldnt find it

but he said but are there others on the list? we were shocked by how

friendly he was and began to talk with him, he never had shared with

missionarys but you could sense he wanted us to pass by his house. He

agreed and said today we could pass by.

There really is no place where people are being prepared. It truly

depends on our faith and attitude, sometimes we have to stroke when we

dont want to stroke but I know without a doubt this is Gods work and

God has helped me become an instrument in his work.

Hope all is well

I love the lord, I love serving him and talking to every person I

cross that he lives and has restored his truth here on the earth.

Mucho amor, Elder Carter

Last conference with president

Hey Family! so this week was awesome, I dont think its possible for

their to be a fire here because it has rained every single day this

week. We had some interesting things happen. I had had sinus problems

all week but that didnt keep me from working. Friday we had our last

zone conference with president rappleye ad it was incredible, We

talked about a lot of things but I think the coolest thing that

happened was he told us a story about how for his work he felt

impressed to take an job offer in brazil, he and his wife felt

impressed to go there. While they were there his boss told him he

would be transferred to go to the dominican republic in charge of the

caribean having to travel to all islands nearby (haiti jamaica, etc)

He looked in the directory of the church to find santo domingo,

domincan republic but it didnt appear he realized that the church

didnt exist there and he got worried, When he got there the second day

he went to pick up his bags from the airport and when he was there a

hermana talked to him in english (this was weird because they talk

spanish there) and asked if he was mormon. He found out that this

family just had moved here from the states and were all mormon, he

called the mission president from florida and got permission to start

a branch because they had 2 melquisedec priesthood holders, they bagan

to share the gospel with friends and one of which was incredibly

prepared, the joven of the family read the book of mormon and

remembered all stories telling him about lehis dream, later that

family got baptized. This was just one small story that happened

there. Later other member familys showed up from the states and could

help support leadership, they had tons of success from family nights,

Then our president kept asking for missionaries and finally they sent

10 to the island. They used the radio and tv program to tell the

island that there was the church because no one there had heard of it.

The telephones there began to ring off the hook with people interested

in the church. For interest of time ill get to the end, mas o menos 3

years later the church had grown to have 18 mas o menos branches and

tons and tons of leaders, elder ballard came to dedicate the country

for mission work, one other cool part was presdient rappleye was

having dificulties having to travel to all these branches and dealing

with the tithing and other administrative work, he prayed that someone

could help but didnt know anyone on the island who could. The very

next day the missionarys called and asked if president had met a new

family that moved to the country from the states. He went immediately

to meet him and his family was members but he wasnt (he was the dad)

he asked him why he came and he said he didnt know why they moved, but

he spoke spanish, and he was an accountant. He got baptized and

overlooked the tithing and other asuntos of all of the country. Its

truly incredible how God has his hand in the work.   I have a

testimony of that here as well that when God needs to hasten his work

he   does it, now the question is are we doing are part to be ready

when God works these miracles?

But on the part of here in the sector we had a division with the APs

they are both my last 2 companions hahah I was stoked to go with elder

salazar we were together for 2 cambios and it was some of the best

months of my mission. That night we put someone with a baptismal date

the first night we found them. It was sweet to work with him again and

to talk. Hes the one I would love to visit in argentina if we ever

come back to chile.

We had some amazing lessons with some members as well. One for example

was last night we entered a house of a member to say hi and they

happened to have 2 friends visiting and there grandma that isnt a

member, we just talked for a bit and there friends were COMPLETELY

CLOSED, we laughed together then thought to just sing a hymn, we sang

the hymn and it just felt right to ask if we could pray, we prayed and

it just felt right to share a small scripture. After we shared the

scripture, we asked when we could have a family night and they said

they didnt know maybe in the next month. Then they started asking

questions one saying she didnt understand a word we said and didnt

understand the message. We then felt impressed to answer her doubts

and teach the restauration, I think it was one of the times were a

felt most the spirit saying the first vision and everyones eyes

watched us with 100% of their attention. They had questions and

excitement, we then testified of this truth and asked when we could

have that family night with their friends. The member jumped up with

excitement and began to look at the calendar the grandma said next

week next week! excited to hear more of the message. The friend said

she would love to come and learn more. So... this wednesday we will

share more.

But I just have a strong testimony that this message we bring is

something we need to share with confidence and boldly without fear.

Then simply tell them now this is my testimony, we cant give you our

testimony but we can give you the opportunity to gain your own, cause

if this message is true, it would change your lives. We have guidance

from God from a modern day prophet, and the authority of  God to teach

us what we need to do and allow us to have have peace in this life and

in the life to come. Its true or its not. And it all starts with

hearing this message, pondering it, and asking god if its true.

Take care this week and hope theres not more fires! ha love the

pictures thats crazy

Elder Carter

a member is a carpenter that makes caskets, I get kinda creeped out in

his workshop haha

Awesome skype sesh, love you mom and family!

Hey Family! It was great talking with you guys yesterday, all is well

here in lanco, I forgot my umbrella in the airport wednesday :( but

hna rappleye was nice and let me have a used one that someone left in

the mission home. Its pretty ghetto and I look like mary poppins using

it but im dry :) Im feeling better today... I am just stoked to get

working in the sector its tough being sick right when you get in the

sector cause you just have so much excitement of finding and meeting

all the people. This thursday we have the last conference with

president Rappleye. Its crazy that he is leaving, im sure its going to

be a good one. Had an awesome talk with the new president of the

branch here, he has tons of excitement for the branch and we are going

to try to get things going strong here. I love working in small

branches, its so cool how the church can teach the same thing in all

of the world, the manuals we have and the way it is organized works so

well. Every now and then people in classes teach things a little off

but with the leaders, manuals, and scriptures everything gets right

back on track.

Im so greatful for the blessing god gives me to serve him every day,

and each day I learn so much about how I can become more like Jesus

Christ, as well as be more prepared for my life. I know without a

doubt that there are people like denny just waiting for us to share

this message with them. And I will give it all I got each day. When

Denny gave me the book of mormon that we left with him the first day

filled with his notes and testimony it was one of the best gifts Ive

recieved in my life. I left him with the mission guide, "Preach my

gospel" with my testimony that now that he knows the truth its his

turn to share it with everyone he knows, especially his family and

friends. As well I left him with the picture from his baptism in a

picture frame so he can always remember that day. Excited to let you

know how the week goes!

Take Care

Elder Carter

ME VOY a Lanco....great memories made here in Coyhaique

This week was super sweet, Denny got confirmed a member of the church

sunday and was super super happy. I was so stoked, it was fast sunday

and I bore my testimony of how god truly perpares people it was a very

emotional/spiritual moment.

Well we have cambios once again and I am heading to the city of Lanco!

 they just split the Zone Lanco in two and I will be in the Zone Los

Lagos. My companion is going to be a brazilian named Elder Da Silva I

already know him from earlier on in the mission he was awesome. Ha he

helped me before learn portuguese so this cambio will be fun learning

more. The mission is growing immensely its crazy. There are soooo many

more missionaries in the mission in comparison to when I started. Its

crazy how much has changed ever since what happened my first sunday

here in chile when president monson dropped the age requirements. Did

you know that Weston Joyce  a friend of mine from our stake that was a

freshman when I was a junior is here in the mission I talked to him

the other day haha how cool.

We did something fun this week, one of the recent converts was telling

us of his fear of talking and giving prayers in church. So the thought

came to our mind to practice. We assigned each other a topic and one

during this week we met up at the church and he had the chance to give

his talk in front of us. I thought it was so cool, he came all

prepared with his scriptures and talk in hand and loved the idea. He

truly wants to get better. He is a more serious military guy but with

us and everyone he is actually a man with a big heart. As he gave his

talk he was super super nervous at first but as he talked the spirit

began to calm his nerves and he gave an amazing talk on the faith.

After we talked about how it went. This experience gave me a strong

impression that it would be so cool if the church had a form of

toastmasters to help people give talks in church. I got all excited

with the thought cause I loved my public speaking classes and giving

talks. I feel like that would be something cool we could try to start

dad. Think of what that could do for the church, improve the quality

of sacrament meetings and give an opportunity for members to progress.

We also had the opportunity to bring a investigator and her kids,

cousin, and her cousins daughter to the baptismal service in the

building of the other missionaries of the city. We had a member pick

us up and we were super super excited. But it didnt go so well as we

expected because it wasnt organized very well and the service started

45 minutes late waiting for a representative from the presidency of

the branch. The investigator got a little impacient. Luckily the

meeting went well and the spirit was way strong during the baptism and

when the lady that got baptized testified, at the end the investigator

said "It was super long, but beautiful" We just need to help her

continue to feel the spirit and teach her in short lessons.

Today we are going to make a american breakfast with one of the

members we are soooo excited, with the fruit salad grandma carter

always made(mayo and honey haha) , pancakes, BACON, Eggs with bell

peppers, etc. These type of breakfasts dont exist in chile so we are

going to have a nice feast ha.

But yeah bummed to leave coyhaique I loved the branch here, the

members are incredible, and I had the chance to see many numerous

members reactivate and investigators come unto christ. As well gain a

testiomony that there are people incredibly prepared by God. Take care

this week:)

Elder Carter