October 19, 2010 - Letter Home

 "Walking into the Water"


 Hey Family!

This P-day me and Ribeiro are heading off to the Porto Alegre temple. I am so excited!!! It's only been... 3 months since I went to the temple last (a lot less than how long I had to wait before that... 9 months!) But it still feels like forever. How lucky I am that Elder Ribeiro just arrived on the mission and thus I have an excuse to go to the temple! I'm packin all my moneys with me to buy a bunch of gifts for investigators here from the Temple Store there.

Nathan, Roberto and Dylan are super firm, and are excited to be baptized... IF we can figure out a day to have a baptism! I've been telling the leaders here "23rd, on the 23rd we will have a bunch of baptisms," for 3 weeks now but just yesterday they said it wasn't going to work because of another activity at the stake. I offer to do it next Saturday and there's another activity. Friday, activity. Hopefully they can get back to me with a date that'll work for them. This ward's had problems of other missionaries baptizing people that shouldn't have been baptised, and it's a little disheartening to see some people really just not excited that there will be baptisms. Sometimes I feel like we just have the confidence of the young adults leaders and members, who are the only ones really helping us with visits and references. Oh well. Just a little venting. It'll go through all right.

Man, I love my investigators. They are so awesome. Dylan is even doing visits with us now, and he's really excited to be baptized. We're bringing them to seminary every night and getting really integrated with all the other young adults. It's great to see them start to change and start to ask us when they're gonna get to be baptized.

Tavares!

Cristielle and Andreia are progressing, but giving us the opportunity to really stretch ourselves to our max. Breaking the habit of smoking is a horrible chore. Man. But they are progressing. Every visit we try to help them to not give up on themselves and to help their faith that God will do His part and help them.

Honestly, as you can see, I'm to the point now where the only thing I can think about is my investigators. I can't even remember what I've done this week, only how their doing and where there out and what more they need to learn and progress in. Whew. It's taxing but when it turns out all right in the end (like I KNOW it will!!!) it's going to be the greatest feeling because when I started this transfer I wanted to do all that I could and see if it would make a difference. Right now it seems to be making a difference, but Heavenly Father is really making me stretch for it and you can't slacken up until the people are in white and walking into the water with you. That is a wonderful moment!

I am sending a video of our awesome district meeting last week where Elder Green made french toast and REAL maple syrup! (I brought milk!) That was cool. 

Valter and Lunch

This week we went to the Porto Alegre hospital to visit Brother Valter, who is having to do some pretty serious surgeries. Man, I love Brother Valter. He's a recent convert that I got to know last time I was here in Elizabeth, and just a really elect grandfatherly type guy who's facing problems. I'm placing his name in the temple today to make sure it goes well. We went to the Hospital and got in free because they let religious leaders in for free. It was cool to finally put to use my ministerial certificate. 

It was cool to see the center of Porto Alegre again. Our mission covers the worst half of Porto Alegre, I think, and I can't wait to see the rest of it with you guys when you come to visit. 

Yesterday we hoe'd the yard of Sister Olga as a service project, and took some photos. It's nice to get your hands dirty and use your arms once in a while for things other than shaking hands or flipping scripture pages. 

"Hoe-Down!"

 

 

Sister Olga Says...

"Don't...

"...Use the ..."

"...Internet, Elder!" (hahaha)

Anyway, I'm really good! I'm really happy and satisfied with myself and my work and what we're doing, but really just stressed and nervous for my investigators. If you want to put the following names in the temple in your prayers, here are the names of our investigators: Nathan, Roberto, Dylan, Cristielle, Tainara, Andreia, Aneici and Nadir. It would be much appreciated!

I love you guys and am really homesick for all of you! But don't worry, I'm not letting it affect any of my work. It's all worth it!

Live in the light! Loving my sweet family forever,

Elder Carpenter