FELIZ NAVIDAD

Wow. The time is here. Merry Christmas everyone!! I can't believe how fast the time is going. This week has been such a good week!! I am so stoked for this letter.

So first off, We have a baptism planned for the 2nd of January!!! His name is Eddie. He is such a stud. His two brothers are members. In fact, his brother Noel served a mission in England and got back not too long ago. We taught him the first lesson and he honestly knows so much about the gospel. We challenged him to baptism and set a date for the 3rd weekend in January. He accepted. Flash forward a couple days when we return. We start just talking to him about his baptism and how he feels. He tells us a story of earlier that day. He said he was walking home from a football game and was thinking about church and getting baptized. He said that he felt really good about it and that it was the thing that he needed to do. He then said that he has been afraid to get baptized because he doesn't want to serve a mission. We old him that is wasn't 100% necessary that he serves a mission right after baptism. We told him about how amazing the mission is and how it can help him. He really calmed down after that. He then asked us if we could change the date of him baptism. We said yeah that was fine. He then told us the 2nd of January! I though he was going to want more time!! So we've been making plans for this baptism like crazy!! We've been going to his house every other day teaching him as much as possible so he can get baptized. I am so excited!!

We also contacted this girl named Bolep. It was a regular door contact. We asked her how she was doing and what religion she was. She said she was Catholic. Then we took a different route than we usually do. We asked her who was the first Catholic in her family. She was surprised we asked that. Then she said that she didn't know. We asked her if she had prayed to ask God if the Catholic church was the church that He wanted that she attend. She said no. Then we testified that asking God in prayer is something that she can do. Especially asking specifically. We challenged her to pray about the church. Anyway, we set up a cita and left. We went back on a friday and she wan't there. Normally we wouldn't return because a lot of people set up return citas without intending on being there. But on Sunday we were out by her house and just decided to drop in. She let us in and we taught the first lesson. At the end, we asked her how she felt hearing the message. She said that she felt really good. Then we asked if she had prayed that one day we passed by. She then told us a story of how Sunday, the day we were there, was her birthday! She said that earlier that day she offered a prayer and asked if she should listen to our message or stay in her church. She said she finished the prayer and not 5 minutes later, we showed up on her doorstep. She told us that she took that and the feeling that she had hearing our message as her answer. It was such a miraculous experience. She has a baptismal date for the 9th of January. 

I really hope that you all have a great Christmas. I love you all so much!!

Love, Elder Carter

THE CITY!!!

Wow. They sent me back to the city. It seems so different. The last time I was here was almost a year ago. I'm in the area Miraflores in the same zone I was in in La Honduras. This place has PISTO. Everyone here is so dang rich. The ward is so strong too! The attendance at church two weeks ago was 260. I am so stoked to be working here. Our ward mission leader is not only active, but also works with us! My new companion is Elder Madero. He's from Arizona. He's super chill. We get along very well. I'm finishing up his training this change. We are opening half of the area this change. There used to be 2 companionships here, but they took the hermanas out and gave us the whole area. It is so big!! We walk so dang much. But at least the whole area is flat.

So when I first got here, we ate lunch at this ladies house and in her garage were parked a Land Rover and a Porsche. The maid atually let us into the house, then cooked us lunch. Fish fillet...We then talked tothe hermana for a little bit and she gave us a reference of one of her neighbors...a 5 member family!!! We're goingto be teaching this family in the house of a member. I am so excited. Also, we had Missionary Correlacion on Sunday and set up a few divisions with the ward missionaries. We are working so dang hard. It's pretty rough though. A lot of the house are closed off and we have to talk to a camera and an intercom. and most of the time, the maids or butlers answer. And we can't really teach them...but it's okay. We are teaching a few college students right now. They leave pretty soon though, it's pretty sad. I don't really have too much to say about this week. We'll make sure to work super hard so we have more to say next week!! I love you all!!

Elder Carter

It really is the best time of the year!!

Hey everyone!!

Wow. The days are just too fast. This week just went by so fast. Well, this small 4 week change has come to an end. We have changes this Wednesday. I don't think I have changes, buuuut we'll see.

So this week. It was pretty crazy. It all started out normal. Tuesday we worked pretty hard and also Wednesday. Like always, we had district meeting on Thursday, but after District meeting, I went on divisions with Elder Torres in Yuscaran. Elder Torres is from Mexico and Elder Rasmussen is training him. He's a really chill guy. He's out here for the right reasons. Well the reason for doing divisions was to do a baptismal interview. The kid was 13 years old and he knew a ton. The sad part was that he never showed up to the baptism on Saturday...So that was rough. Anyway. On divisions, I met this guy that started talking to me about US history and the influence of rock music. It was super cool. He also started talking a lot about the Beatles. Haha those are just a few of the easter eggs of the mission. Anyway. We ended divisions on Friday and I had to pick back up and go to Moroceli at like 2 on Friday. They were also going to baptize. I went with Elder Ruano. I shared an area with him when I was in La Honduras. He's from El Salvador and he's one of my best friends in the mission. It was rough though because the kids that were going to get baptized weren't there!! So we went out and visited a few of the investigators. We also did a ton of contacting. It was pretty good though because they've been having trouble getting new investigators lately. 

So we ended divisions on Saturday and went straight to work. It's always rough going to the other areas to work because you never get to enjoy the work that you do!! Haha but Saturday was a decent working day. We got to teach this lady named Magda. She's super humble and super sick! She has a tumor the size of a basketball in her stomach!! It's a huge bummer because she is really positive and she just left to Tegus to have surgery. So keep her in your prayers!! We challenged her to baptism for the 3rd of January, and she accepted it without hesitating. 

On Sunday the Devotional was super good. I absolutely love Christmastime!! The Mo Tab did so good (As always) and Elder Clayton's talk was great. I always love hearing about different people's Christmas traditions. 

Well, I hope you guys are enjoying the spirit of la Navidad. It really is the best time of year!! I love you all. Until next week,

Love, Elder Carter

Hey friends and family!!

Wow. What a week. This week went by so fast. It's been a pretty good week. Nothing too special happened. Elder Fredrickson and I have been working super hard here with a few investigators. 

We've decided it was time to cut a few of our investigators off for a bit. We've had like 8 or 9 investigators on our board since the first week that my companion came here. We just had a special visit with them, talking about what they were able to learn in the time that they've been visiting with us. Then we tried to ask a few inspired questions, what we were feeling prompted by the spirit at the time. After that, we testified hard. We just layed it all out on the line. After the prayer we put a cita with them in about 3 weeks. Oh we also left something behind for them to read. We made sure they knew that we wanted that they prayed. Then we left!! We just have to keep them in our prayers. I really hope that this time away will help them realize how important our message is.

This week on Tuesday we went to a place called Guinope. Elders haven't gone to this pueblo in over 3 years. We weren't really sure what to expect. It was an hour bus drive from  Zamorano and this place in gorgeous. It was super cold too!! It was really high up in the mountains. It was pretty funny getting off the bus because everyone just stared at us. I guess everyone in Zamorano is just used to seeing two gringos dressed up knocking on doors right now. Anyway, we talked to loads of people, but not one wanted to listen to us. It was a pretty big bummer, but the people there were at least nice. 

After that on Wednesday we did divisions with the Zone Leaders. I stayed here in Zamorano with Elder Quintanar. It was really cool because we opened the mouth like crazy. We worked in a place called La Quebrada Seca about 15 minutes from our house. We knocked on almost every single door and got 6 new investigators that day. They aren't even chumps either! They're really positive!

So, officially this week, we were able to reactivate Jorge and Socorro Flores. They're amazing. I absolutely love visiting them. They went inactive about a year ago just for a few personal problems they had. Wait, I might have told you guys a few things about them. Anyway. They came to church yesterday and that makes 3 Sundays in a row!! We're going to continue visiting them, but they're officially active. We talked with the branch president to get them callings quick. I am really excited to see them progress.

Well, I love you all so much. I hope you can all visit a few less active members of the church. Members never know how much they can actually do with one visit!!

Love, Elder Carter

Hey everyone!!

Sounds like things are going great back home! It's crazy how we're already at the end of the year. Thanksgiving is coming up....I hope you guys can eat a bunch of turkey and sweet potato pie for me back in the USA.

This week has been wild. On Tuesday we had interviews. That, like always, was amazing. I love the time that we have one on one with president. I expressed to him a little of my discouraging thoughts of not having a baptism to this point in my mission. He just told me to keep working hard and that there was not time to get discouraged. He gave a little more advice on how I can find more people that are ready to listen and how to change a few of my teachings up. I've started to put all of that in practice this week and we have found some solid investigators. He also ended the interview with a prayer and asked specifically in his prayer that I would be able to have a baptism soon. I have so much faith that that will happen. But I guess it kind of hits me as well. The whole reasoning behind why I want to baptize. Because don't get me wrong, I really want these people to enjoy the blessings of the gospel like I am. But sometimes it feels like I want a baptism just to say that I've baptized someone. And obviously that is the worst way to look at it. I know that as I keep my focus on the Lord, I and my investigators with be blessed.

This week I also had the opportunity to do divisions with Elder Rasmussen from Spanish Fork. He's such a stud. It was super cool learning from him and being able to work with him for a day. And the area that he is in is absolutely beautiful. It's called Yuscaran. I'm a huge fan of that place. We did divisions on Thursday and then we were able to return and be witnesses at his baptism on Saturday. They baptized in a river and it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. 

On Sunday we had Stake Conference and got to go all the way to Tegus to see it. It was a super special experience. They talked a lot about the roles of a father and a mother in the households. The Stake Pres also gave his full talk on the 10 commandments. That was a pretty powerful talk. 7 of the menos activos that we have been working with were able to show up to the conference as well. There's a couple that we've been able to reactivate. Jorge and Socorro Flores. They're so so special. Hno Jorge has been in the church for over 30 years and hna Socorro has been in the church for about 5. They went inactive about a year ago, but now they are so excited to be back. They've already gone to church two times in a row and also an activity. They're so sweet and always give us free pupusas. And they're some of the best pupusas I've had.

Well, I hope you guys can have a great week. I hope you can all open your mouths to share this gospel with everyone you come in contact with. Us missionaries need so much help from the members. I love you all. Take care.

Love, Elder Carter

I'm staying in Zamorano!

Hey everyone!!

Well, I'm staying here in Zamorano!!! I'm really excited to be able to stay here and work with the investigators and the less active members. This week has been good. It's been a little slow. Changes week always is when you don't have changes. 

Well. The work. The work is slowly progressing here in Zamorano. We just had a lesson with Avelino and he's not married. So we have to get him married first before we baptize him. It's goingt o be very hard, because Honduras has so many laws for marrying people. We'll see what we can do. I'm not going to lose the faith with this one, because he really has a testimony of this truth. Every time we ask him he tells us, "No, I know this is true." We've been praying really hard for him this week. He made it to church again, so that's three times in a row. Our next cita with him will be on thursday, so we'll tell him how important it is for him to get married. Other than Avelino, we really don't have other investigators progressing. I really want to work hard on opening the mouth to find new, positive investigators.

So this week, I've really learned about submerging yourself in the work. That's been something that has been hard for me. There has always been something in me that has held me back from being 100%. Whether that be thoughts of home or thought of inadequacy. I've really been trying to get myself to be a disciple of Christ, which we learn from Elder Holland is not an easy task. He says that even he still can't grasp the meaning of being a disciple of Christ. The mission, like they always say, is the perfect preparation there is to real life. And honestly, I'm living that right now. I'm growing up. I'm on the downhill slope right now and I feel the time slipping through my fingers. I've been reading a lot of Jesus the Christ lately. What a book. I've been studying it in depth every day. I usually get through maybe 2 pages every personal study. This book is amazing., I have really been able to appreciate my savior Jesus Christ while I read this book. I have learned so much about him and his role in my life. He truly is the savior of the whole world. We as missionarys testify all the time that He died for us. But what does that mean? Does that mean that he's paid the price and we're all good. cheke. No worries? Of course not. Preserve to the end is the key and the finaly step in the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we don't stay faithful, we have no promise. It all depends on what we do every day. We have to try our best to LIVE like disciples of Christ. Not just talk to believe. This is something I know. This is the knowledge that I've been able to gain as a representative of Him.

I love you guys all so much. I just want everyone to know that this church is the true (and only true) church in this world. I know it.

Love, Elder Carter

Hey everyone!!

Well, I've been hearing that in Utah the snow's been falling! Santa vaca. That's crazy. I can't imagine that kind of cold. It's still really hot here. Don't worry about that. 

Anyway. This week has been rough. There has been so many little small things that have been stopping us from working 100%. On Tuesday we did divisions with our district leader. Those are nice, but we lose about an hour or two. Then on Wednesday as we were returning we got stuck in a place called Ojo de Agua waiting for a bus that didn't pass. We ended up contacting a little bit there and that was all the work that we did that day. We stayed the night at the Elders' house in Ojo and returned to Zamorano the next day. The work here has been good though. Yesterday at church, two of our investigators made it. Avelino and Saul. We haven't actually payed much attention to these two. I don't even have a reason for that though. They're solid people, but they are a little bit older. I always have said that people over 60 aren't worth talking to becuase I've been rejected by so many in my mission. But they both showed up to church! So Sunday night we went to visit Avelino. When we got there, we taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and challenged him to baptism. He accepted it with a smile!! He's going to be baptized the 5th of December, so we'll see how he progresses. His only real problem might be marriage. We haven't asked him, but I don't think he's married to his wife.

Also, changes are coming up this Wednesday. We'll see if I stay or if I go. I really want to finish Elder Fredrickson's training. It's been a blast being with him. 

Well, I hope everyone back home has a great week. And someone tell Joran Cutrer that he's a stud for going on a mission for me. Thank you!!

Love, Elder Carter