We got transfer news!

Hey mom!!

Monday night I had to stay the night with the DL in Nacaome. So we left Nacaome at 5 

in the morning and took a bus into Tegus. When we got to changes, President grabbed my shoulder and

said "Elder Carter, have I got an assignment for you." We went into a room and he did a little interview with me. 

He asked a little of my worthiness and what I had accomplished in Langue. Then he said "Well, Elder Carter

if you haven't noticed, I've sent you to some very difficult areas." And I said, well yeah, I noticed. haha 

But then he said "That's all been for a reason. I'm sending you to an area that hasn't had Elders in over a year. 

There's a branch weaker than Langue's branch there. Strengthen it and report back to me in six months

"Then he talked a little about my new companion and sent me off. So now I'm here in Zamorano in the east. 

By the way, this is one of the coldest areas in the mission. We have a lot of work to do here, but I'm pretty 

stoked. My new comp's Elder W. He's from Boise Idaho. He's a stud and is pretty excited to end his mission 

here.  

So that's the first news. Second, guess who came to Tegus! President Russell M. Nelson! He came to give an 

address to the elders in Central America and he decided to come to talk to our mission and Comayaguela as 

well. It was such a special experience. We got to shake his hand as well. He gave us a ton of counsel about 

using the Family History Consultant to work with investigators., That's going to be a huge blessing. He also 

joked around a bunch. He's a lot more funny than I thought! Elder Duncan also came to talk to us. He's such a 

stud. He's the area 70 here. Well, I'm sorry this is so long. I gotta go though. I won't have time to write the 

family letter. Can you just edit this one? And I still don't have pictures...sorry. :( But this area is beautiful. 

I love you so much!! 

Love, Elder Carter

Changes may be coming.

Hey Everyone! Another week. I'm not going to talk about the time, because we're coming up to an unspeakable time in my mission. Well, the change is coming to an end this Wednesday. We find out news about the changes tomorrow. To see if I leave or stay a month and a half more. It's pretty probable that I'm going to leave. President Bowler likes to rotate missionaries. And I like to get to know more parts of Honduras, so we'll see where this week takes me!

This week in Langue has been really chill. We've been challenging everyone we see in the street and we've gained a little reputation. We contacted a person and as we were talking, he asked, "Are you guys really going to ask me if I want to be baptized?" We kind of just laughed and said yes. He didn't accept, but at least he now knows our purpose as missionaries!! This week we were teaching our investigator Mixi when she received a phone call. Her abuelo had passed away. We were actually teaching the Plan of Salvation at the time. That happened on Saturday. We haven't been able to get in contact with her since then. She left for Tegus that day. So just as a favor, keep her in your prayers. I really hope that she can embrace this gospel in a time like this in her life. It's really been a pleasure being able to teach her. She's so accepting and open about what we teach her. It also really helps that her best friend is the Branch President's wife. 

I was able to go on divisions with one of the Zone Leaders this week. Elder Laureano from the DR. He's a stud. He was also my ZL in my last area. I was able to learn so much from him. We were teaching a menos activa family and decided to read Ether 6. This has become one of my favorite passages from the Book of Mormon. especially verse 8. In this part of the story, the Jaredites are already in their boats in the middle of the ocean. They have already seen soo many miracles with the rocks of light and the confusing of the languages. In the verses before it says that the Jaredites praised their God and prayed to Him day and night. Then in verse 8 it says "And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven 

forth before the wind." 

I love this verse because it talks about the faith that they had. The wind literally never stopped blowing to the Promised Land. That didn't happen just because it was the will of God, the Jaredites had to put in their part. It also says that they were on the waters for almost a full year. Imagine what kind of miracle had to have happened in order for them to arrive safely. I love the Book of Mormon so much and the small treasures we can read in it every day. I love you all so much. 

Love, Elder Carter

Another week passes!

And another week passes. I still can't believe this time. The change is coming to an end too fast and I'm entering into to the time where it's almost certain I'm leaving Langue. There's still two weeks before you guys know that though. I just hope that when I eventually leave this area, the people here will have strengthened their testimonies in Jesus Christ and this church. 

We've been able to work a lot with opening the mouth, contacting, and challenging people to baptism. We have been trying to do our best to challenge everyone we talk to and really, it isn't something uncomfortable anymore. It really just feels like part of the flow of talking to people. that's what I love about the mission. About 5 months ago, we waited until the 2nd, sometimes 3rd lesson to even talk about baptism. We've been able to see the blessings of challenging people the first time we talk to them. It shows us how ready they are to hear the gospel, and how willing they are to progress. So far, we've been able to decide faster whether to drop people as investigators or not. We aren't any closer to baptizing, but we are working hard with that. 

There's a joven in our neighborhood. His name's Eduardo, but everyone calls him Colocho. (I'm sorry if I describe an investigator twice in my letters. I honestly have no idea what I wrote last week.) Anyway, he's really close to baptism. He's 12 years old and attends church every sunday. He's not too sure about getting baptized, but he loves going to church and all the activities. His mom lives in the States, so we have to get permiso from his grandparents. They're members, but they inactivated about 3 years ago. He's been scared to talk to them about baptism, but this week, we want to talk to them together. The branch president says that they shouldn't have any problem with it. There's another small problem too. He says bad words all the time. I don't ever realize it because I'm still learning the bad words in spanish (There's like 100 more than in English.) He only says them when he's with his friends. It's pretty rough for him because there are only 2 other 12 year olds that attend church and they both live about an hour and a half away. 

We saw the attendance in church drop this week. When we arrived at the capilla at about 8:40, there were only two people there, Presidente and Colocho. In the end, 23 people showed up. We have been really working with the members, but some just don't care. That's the hardest part of the mission, trying to get people to care about church. 

This has been a rough week, but I'm really stoked to put all my heart into this last full week of the change. I love you guys so much, until next week...

Love, Elder Carter

Hello from Langue

Hey everyone!

How has your week gone? I hope great. The weeks are going by super fast aren't they? We're already halfway through this change. I absolutely love it here in Langue. It is so different from the other areas here in the south. We had the opportunity to go to Zone Conference in Choluteca this Tuesday. It was cool being in a city a little bit bigger, but I missed Langue so much when I was there. We got to eat Wendy's for breakfast though. They don't have Wendy's breakfast in the states right? Anyway. We received some great counsel from President Bowler and the assistants. We are really blessed to be able to receive so many teachings from the servants of the Lord. There is no other experience like the mission.

The work in Langue is slow as usual, but we've been able to progress a few of our investigators. Mixi is getting so close to baptism. Right now she only lacks attendance in the church. We haven't been able to teach her a full lesson this week though. She is super busy because she studies at the U everyday. She didn't make it to church yesterday either, but she is reading the Book of Mormon every week.

The other investigators that we have right now aren't progressing, but the less actives are taking a few steps. The two families both didn't make it to the church this week, but one other family did. We have to go visit Maria and Malcon today. Malcon has made a ton of changes in his life, but we heard today that his wife found him drunk in the bar yesterday. Addictions are so sad. That is something that I never understood before the mission. I always thought that is was just a choice. But these people really try their hardest to stop drinking and everything like that, but it's just too hard.

We've been working a lot with the Branch President, President Sauceda this change as I've said, and we've been able to make a plan as a branch. It is like a mix of missionary work and home teaching. Home teaching is kind of a joke here. A companionship has over 10 families they need to visit every month and in the end, they just don't do it. So what we are going to do is, we are going to go on divisions with the members three times a week to help them complete their home teaching and to create amistad in the rama. I am super excited to work with this plan, especially now that there are more Priesthood attending the church.

I just want to let you guys know that I absolutely love the mission. I can't say that I don't think about home, but I think about it in another aspect. I honestly don't want to go home. I love helping people so much. There's a reason they say SERVE a mission and not just go on one. I've learned how to serve people in every aspect of that word. I've learned to live in a new culture, make new friends, talk to anyone and everyone, and not to mention speak another language. I've been so blessed for this small sacrifice that I am doing in my life. Really, two years is not long enough to serve. But that's what we're given. I am very grateful for this time that I have to be away from my family, friends, and comfort zone. And I am very grateful for all the support I receive and have received. I love you all so much.

Elder Carter

anda chapeando?

Hey friends and family!

How's everyone going? I hope well. It would be nice to get a few pictures of you guys. Maybe picture of the family dinners....

Haha no that's all good. Everything's great here in Langue. We're doing our best to invite everyone to listen to the good word. We had a pretty healthy attendance yesterday at church. We hit 30 exactly. That might not sound like much, but the rama hasn't had that in 6 months. We've been working really closely with 2 families in particular and they both came to church. W didn't even pass by, because Saturday they told us they wouldn't have time. It was super exciting to see them there. The mother of one of the families actually prayed in sacrament meeting. They felt super welcomed and the spirit was really strong. 

My companion and I also had the opportunity to give a talk in sacrament on prayer. It was actually a suprise. A sister in the ward was assigned the talk, but didn't show up, so the councelor that was directing just announced that we were going to talk! I sped through my scriptures, looking for something to share. It actually turned out pretty good. It's amazing what a mission can do. Missionaries can give 15 minute talks without any preparation. Because that's what we do everyday! Just talk to everyone about the Restored Gospel.

We've also been able to work a lot with an investigator named Mixy. She's the friend of the Branch President's wife. She's so ready to receive this gospel in her life. We have only taught her formally one time. She had so many questinos about Josph Smith and the Book of Mormon. She promised us that she was going to pray about it all. That night she sent a message to the Branch President's wife at midnight that said she had received an answer. She has a baptism date for the 8th of August. She only has one problem. She lives 15 minutes from the church by bus. She was going to attend church yesterday, but someone was shot and killed on one of the busses in the morning, so she decided not to go. 

I hope everyone is doing great and enjoying the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. And if you're not enjoying the blessings, what are you waiting for? The time is now!

Love, Elder Carter

Rain and Lluvia

Hey everyone!

I hope it's nice and cool in the states or wherever you're serving your missions, because in Honduras, it's hot. We've been receiving some rain though. Yesterday we were actually contacting about 2 hours away from the house when the storm hit. Lighting was striking all around us and it was starting to flood. By the time we made it back to the house, we were soaking wet and my Missionary Manual was completely wrecked. Luckily I had put my scriptures in a plastic bag! Other news...We're going cave exploring today in our area. I'm super excited for that. They tell a story here that in the cave and angel fought with satan. In the end, Satan lost and the angel slammed him on his back. There's and imprint of a human spine inside, so we're going to check it out. 

SO this week, the work has been pretty chill. Like I told you guys last week, we've been trying to focus ourselves on helping members gain testimonies. While doing that, the members have entrusted us with references. We've been able to teach these people with the members present in the lessons. There is nothing better than that. The lessons are always more effective when the investigator has his friend testify of the truth! We also worked with the branch council yesterday and planned a Relief Society activity. This is going to be the first Relief Society activity in years here. The sisters are super stoked. One sister said that she's going to invite five friends. With our spare time, we were able to contact a few houses as well and at one house, we found a young couple that are excited about this message. They had received the missionary's before, about a year ago, but the missionary's just stopped coming one day. They only have one problem, they aren't married!! So we really need some prayers for Yaneli and Milton! 

Sorry for the short letter everyone! I'm rolling up on my 40 minutes. But Iove you all. Just remember the church is true, no matter what anyone says!!

Love, Elder Carter

Chanfaina

Hey family and friends!!

How are you all doing? I hope the summer is treating you guys well. It's started to cool off a bit here. We've been getting a nice breeze every once in a while. The rain still hasn't come back, I hope that doesn't affect the watermelons. Everyone tells us that in August, they sell watermelons here for 5 Lempiras a pice. That's about a quarter. 

So we had changes last week. My new companion is Elder Avila. He's from El Salvador. He's a stud. He loves to work and we pretty much both love all the same things. We share the same vision of the work and I can see us doing good work here in Langue. 

So during Consejo de Rama (Ward Council) and Weekly Planning, we made a lot of plans with the members here. We are focusing ourselves on working a lot with the members. Their testimonies and animo is pretty weak. So what we want to do this change, is help all members have strong testimonies and a desire to work with investigators and other less active members. Our goal is to have a solid attendance of 40 members in the church every week. Right now we have from 8-25 every week. It varies drastically.

With this as our goal, we won't stop working with investigators and we won't stop looking for new investigators. We are still following the council that Presidente Bowler gave us to search for the chosen. We've decided to not waste our time with many investigators we've had that aren't necessarliy progressing that fast. We have a new investigator name Rixy that is pretty excited to listen to us. WE also have another new investigator name Mixy that was a refernce from the wife of the branch president. They both have huge potential to progress in the church, not just to be baptized.

Thank you all for the love and support for all the missionaries in the world. Don't ever stop praying for us!! Not just we need the prayers, but every person we meet does. I love you all and until next week.

Love, Elder Carter