This week has been a really special one.

What a week!!

Hey everyone. I hope you guys are all doing great. This week has been a really special one.

On Tuesday we had a world wide broadcast from Salt Lake City. Elder Oaks, Nelson, Clayton, Bednar, and Anderson talked. It was really amazing. I especially loved the words from Elder Anderson. He talked a lot about Repentance. He told us to focus more on teaching about repentance. That's been something that I haven't really taught in depth. They also gave us a new theme. "Enseñar arrepentimiento y bautizar conversos" (Teach repentance and baptize converts.) He talked a little about the short times in the day where we should be continually asking for forgiveness because we all fall short. It will help us missionaries even more if we can apply that in out every day lives. It helped us a lot this week alone.

We also had Zone Conference on Friday. That was amazing. There were a few Elders and Hermanas that broke down the broadcast and taught a little more about the principles that we need to learn as missionaries to help our investigators progress to baptism. We also had a few changes in the mission. The biggest change is the changes meeting. We used to all meet in the stake center for a meeting to know where we are getting changed to, but Salt Lake City did away with that. Now we get a call that tells us who our new companion is and where we are going, meet in the parking lot in the same stake center, and leave to our new areas without wasting so much time. It's supposed to take about 30 minutes to finish, but we'll see what happens.

On Saturday we were able to go with a few members of the ward to the temple with our investigators. We had a family go. Famillia Bentacourt. They're new this week and are amazing. We had a bus ready to take us all there, but the father of the family insisted on taking his own car to the temple instead. A bunch of red flags were going off in my head, but I finally decided to tell him that it was okay. I had a feeling that he was going to blow us off and not show up, but he did!! And he took his wife and three kids. Once we all got there, we walked around the temple for about 5 minutes. Oh and by the way...It was FREEZING!!! IT was so cold there. We finally were allowed to enter the temple and go off into a waiting room to feel the spirit inside the temple. Our Ward Mission Leader, Freddy, invited us all to offer small prayers inside our hearts. Everyone bowed their heads and offered the small prayers. After about 10 minutes, we went back outside. Once we were outside, I heard Hermano Bentacourt talking to Freddy and was telling him about the spirit that he was feeling inside the temple. He then started asking a bunch of good questions. We then rounded everyone back up and had a small devotional. I was able to teach that. The theme was Families can be together forever. (Side note) Who doesn't want to think that families can be together forever. That's the most beautiful thought that I can have. The reality is is that's it's true. Each and every one of us has the opportunity to live with our families forever and ever. (Okay back to the letter) I read the lines of the hymn Families Can Be Together Forever and then bore my testimony of temples. The spirit was so strong. 

We left there and went to get some hot chocolate and donuts. The next day, Sunday....the dad had to work, so nobody showed up to church. BUT they had gone to the temple with us without having received a lesson yet. We just showed up to their house and invited them. I am really excited about the progress that this family is going to make. Thank you all for the love and support. I love you all so much.

Love, Elder Carter

Wow. What a week!

We've been able to do so much with our area!!

So on Tuesday, we went to visit the Family Tilguant. The mom is a member but the and and three daughters aren't. We've only been able to find this family one time and that was before the holidays. We finally found them and made a cita for Tuesday. Well, this all starts about 3 weeks ago. We were going door to door knocking when we knocked on their door. We knocked and the mom, Saiyra answered. She asked who sent us and we said no one. Just that we were getting to know the area and the people. Anyway. She told us that she was a member and that a few days before she had made the decision to return to church! She told her husband and he said it was okay. She then told us that she has 3 daughters that are of age for baptism!! So anyways. The daughters are sweethearts. On Tuesday we showed up and taught the dad for the first time about the Book of Mormon. He said he was really interested in reading it. Then we challenged him and the 3 daughters to baptism and they all said yes! We invited them to church and they said they would go. Well, they ended up sleeping in, but today we have a noche de hogar with  them in the house of another member! THey're super excited to go and get to know a little bit more. It's going to be so great.

We really haven't been able to find any new people this week. We have a few that are like half interested, but nothing to write about. We haven't even been able to find any of our other investigators. It's been a really rough week.

OH! I almost forgot. about 2 weeks ago, we got permiso to go to a part of our area called Las Brisas. This place has been a grey area between us and Comayaguela mision. We just decided to get permiso and go there because it is a huge place. We show up there two days ago and start getting to know a few people. We found out that there are 2 people that aren't baptized, but go to church every sunday! We also found out that there are a bunch of members that live there. Enough that the Stake wants to make it it's own rama. So, we have a ton of work to do there!!

Other news, we were chosen to give talks next week in sunday. They're only going to be 10 minutes long, but I am so glad they gave us a whole week's notice to prepare. That was a relief. Besides all that, it's been a pretty low key week.

I love you all so much. Thank you for all that you do for this gospel!!

Love, Elder Carter

Feliz Año Nuevo

Hey everyone!!! Feliz Año. Wow. 2016. We made it. I can't believe that my blackout year in the mission is already over. What a year. 

So, quick news. The baptism did not go through. In fact, we haven't even been able to find Eddie. in over a week. It's been pretty hard, but his brother keeps us a little updated on what he's doing. He started working, so he's been super busy. We still pass by his house every day, but nothing. I'll definitely keep you guys updated with him. 

I don't remember if I've mentioned anything about Nancy. Anyway, Nancy is a joven of 22 years. I was on divisions with a member called Noel. He's an rm. We contacted her house and she let us in super fast. She's super prepared, we are just waiting for her to receive an answer. She's super excited to visit the church. She has so many questions about the church because she's heard so may (bad) things about us! So we've been able to clear her doubts. It's pretty crazy how many things people make up about Mormons. It's kind of ridiculous...Anyway. We also have a trip to visit the temple. Nancy is going to go and also we have about 7 other investigators that are in.

This week has been absolutely crazy. It's been super difficult to even find people. I'd imagine that it's the same all over the world. Everyone is on vacation and even when they're home, they're more closed off that normal. But we just keep trying. We still have a few baptisms planned for the end of this month. That family with the three daughters finally got back home. We went to visit them and now we have a cita for tomorrow. I am super excited for this family. They are going to help this ward out so much!! And obviously this church is going to help their family so much. 

I really hope that you all are doing great. This time of year is so amazing. We have the special opportunity to set goals and think more about our future and what steps we are taking to make our lives better! I invite everyone to make a few goals. That is something that I've learned to do in the mission. Write goals!! Without goals, we honestly don't have a view of our future and where we want to get to. I love you all.

Love, Elder Carter

Happy New Year!

Dec 31 at 1:12 PM

Wow, it was great talking to the family this Christmas.  I can´t believe my last Christmas in Honduras has passed already. It was such a good time. I got to go to a member's house on Christmas day ans skype with the family. That was an adventure. The house was packed!! I'm sure some pictures on their end will make it on the blog. This letter is goingto be really short because we don't have to much time to write today. We have regular pday on monday though, so everyone can wait for a better letter then!!

We still have the green light for our baptism this Saturday. We just have to get the interview done tomorrow morning. I'm really excited for Eddie and the steps he's taking in his life.

Thank you all for the Christmas wishes. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and can have an amazing New Year's! I love you all.

Love, Elder Carter