Dear friends and family,
Well, the time has come.
I'll be home this Thursday. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. It has
been an adventure, but mostly just the most spiritual experience anyone could
ever have. I've never in my life been able to look into my future with a positive
attitude. I know exactly the man that i want to be.
October 2014 I left the MTC
in Mexico. I landed in Tegucigalpa knowing zero Spanish and having a very weak
testimony. We're not even going to talk about my lack of knowledge of the
gospel I was about to teach. I received my first companion, Elder Marin and was
sent to my first area. Girasoles. I was so excited. I thought he was going to
be the best trainer and that he was just full of knowledge. Haha little did i
know he had only four months in the mission. Together we fought as hard as
possible to find investigators and baptize. Unfortunately, we weren't able to
baptize as a companionship. Just six weeks later I received my second
companion, Elder Kim. Elder Kim was an excellent teacher. He honestly knew
exactly how to reach out to people. We also were together for six short
weeks.
I then had my first area
change. Elder Workman and I opened La Honduras. I had so much to learn from
Elder Workman and he was so patient with me. We worked harder than i had ever
worked in my mission. We weren't able to baptize, which was very hard to face.
Again, six short weeks later I had changes. I welcomed Elder Villanueva to the
area. I'm going to have to be honest, that change I really learned patience. We
clashed a few times, but in the end we finished friends. We also worked hard
and that change I passed my first semana santa in the mission. Let me tell you
about heat!!
Like normal, six weeks
later, I had area changes. That change I finally witnessed the south. I
remember riding the 2 hour bus ride from San Lorenzo to Langue with my new
companion, Elder Fernandez, completely asleep. I felt so alone. Little did I
know that the next two changes were going to be my personal favorite changes of
my mission. Elder Fernandez and I just clicked. We worked hard, had fun, and
almost had 3 baptisms. It was so hard watching those baptisms fall, but it just
wasn't their time. I learned so much about humility from Elder Fernandez. When
the two changes ended, I was finally able to prove my "leadership
skills." My next companion was Elder Avila. I was put as senior companion
and we had fun. We worked a lot more with the branch president. It was an
interesting time because we always left to work as a trio. it was very rare
that just Elder Avila and I were outside working.
Six weeks later, I get sent
to open....Zamorano. It had been closed to elders for two years for
disobedience. I experienced the hardest moments in Zamorano. I started with
Elder Wardle. We got along very well. He was almost done with his mission
though, so we fought a little bit. after six more weeks I was given the
opportunity to finally train. Elder Fredrickson. My beloved son. We clashed,
but worked so hard. I didn't want him to lose his new missionary energy. I
learned really how to teach with Elder Fredrickson. I learned how to follow the
spirit in everything that we do as missionaries. I was also given the
opportunity my second change to be assigned as a District Leader. As District
Leader I learned how to formally teach lessons in the church. Before i had no
idea how to search materials and form a legit class.
I was with Elder
Fredrickson for 10 weeks. I was then sent back to the city to finish the
training of Elder Madero. I can picture elder Madero being one of my best
friends after the mission. We made teaching fun. He has something special about
him. He's going to be a great missionary in this mission. I really wanted to
stay with him one more change, but unfortunately, the Lord had bigger things
in plan.
I was then assigned to
Porvenir as a Zone Leader with elder Geronimo. I just wish everyone could meet
Elder Geronimo. He was all smiles 90% of the time. And out of nowhere he would
get super serious. It threw me off for a bit at the beginning, but I was very
very happy being with him. We were also able to baptize for the first time in
my mission. Nathaly, Olvin, Ronal, David, and Yoselin were all baptized in two
weeks. They were amazing investigators and I have special places in my heart
for each one of them. I then had changes and Elder Rodriguez was sent my way.
Elder Rodriguez is also one of my favorite companions, and the only companion
whose name i couldn't pronounce well. We were best friends those 8 weeks. We
worked very hard as well, but unfortunately, a little before our investigators
got baptized, Elder Rodriguez was called to be a secretary. I was sent Elder
Hernandez. With Elder Hernandez I was able to baptize my first family. Mario
and Bessy. I love them. I could say that that Sunday morning was the happiest
moment of my mission. Seeing their faces coming out of the water...wow. Even
Mario smiled. He never smiled!!
I then received news that i
had a final special assignment. I was being sent to the city to be junior
companion. I didn't understand that assignment. It was honestly hard for me to
accept. Elder Figueroa. I have no words to describe this elder. he's the only
member in his family and he's just crazy. He doesn't care absolutely what
anyone thinks. and that can be a good thing! sometimes...We've been on and off.
We have our good times and bad. My goal was to give him a little vision by the
end of my time with him. I really hope that he's been able to see that. I think
he'll be fine.
I am so grateful for these
two years. I will always be in debt with my Savior for giving me these moments
and experiences. I can't express how much they mean to me. Thank you all for
your love and support. We'll see you on Thursday.
Elder Carter
