Miracles Before the End
stephanie, priscila, junior, miracle, jacqueline e fam, zone conference,
3rd to last e-mail. :)
It's hard to not think about that. This week went well, and, many thanks to Elder Bryant, we're running running running to find more people and to get the people we have to baptism. I'm very happy to be ending my mission this way... :)
I hope to keep up the speed after I get home too. We had an awesome zone conference on wednesday where I got to see a lot of people from my CTM group, and also see Elder Carroll and Elder Persinger - my growing stepsons... :) again. It was awesome. I hardly ate anything in our huge and expensive lunch cause I was busy catching up with all my buddies. I discovered that a bunch of guys from my group'll be attending UVU with me after the mish as well. I'm especially excited to be able to study with Elder Anderson, Feller, and Gibby there. :) I love those guys. We made a bunch of after-mission plans which made me a little trunky at the time but I'm over it now. :P
Our Conference was with Seventy Elder Itesorio, and was very spiritual and talked about a bunch of new teaching techniques to improve the work. Very enlightening.
We have a nice little group of progressing investigators here, and people are finally starting to go to church every week (unlike in the 3 months when I arrived here) I am super excited for Stephanie, who's accepted baptism for next month and participated in a Young Women's activity this week. And even though Priscila was sick this week and couldn't go to church, she's progressing and seeming to start to "get it". I hope and believe that I will be able to see her baptized. We've been teaching a couple other cool families, Jacqueline and Fabio, and Paulo and Juliana, and Marcelo and Maria. It's been good to be able to not JUST find, but also be teaching alot.
The other night we had a special experience. It's 8:30, and we finished teaching Jacqueline and Fabio, but they were worried about Everton, who had had some problems and hadn't come home yet. We agreed to look around the neighborhood for him. We walked around for half and hour, it's cold, it was a long day, and no one was on the streets. We started walking towards home and instead of going home at 9:00, Elder Bryant insists that we keep walking around looking for Everton. I wanted to just tell him to give up because Everton could be anywhere, and there was probably nothing we could do. We walk around a bit more, come back to our street, but Elder Bryant doesn't let me turn and go home. I want to humor him (little greeny optimist that he is), so we walk down a side street. We get to the end of the street and notice an alleyway that I had never known existed, even though we knocked all the doors of that street one night. We walk to the end of the alley, it's a dead end, and so we start walking back. Suddenly a young women runs out of her house, we can see a large family inside. She's all smiling, and I give a big friendly hello, and I suppose Elder Bryant thought she was a member I hadn't told him about, so we start talking, and she asks for us to come back and talk to her family about the church. We mark a visit, and then I ask her how she knew about the church. She said she doesn't know anything about our church. I ask her how long ago she's seen the missionaries. She doesn't know anything about the missionaries. I ask her if she'd ever SEEN the missionaries. Nope. She says she just saw us walking down the street, after 9:00 at night, and had a feeling that she needed to invite us in so we could talk to her family about their church. Well, we shared a quick message about Jesus Christ and the family, and not wanting to spoil a good thing, booked it out of there. More news to come on her, Andressa, and her family, for sure. I'm absolutely certain that's the elect family we've been praying for. Stuff like Andressa running out to meet us in the cold empty night NEVER NEVER happens. Man, I was pretty astonished after that. Very cool.
So, there will be miracles before the end. I am so thankful that God remembered his cold, tired Elder Carpenter to send him a little sign that He's still in this.
Anyway, I love you all bunches! Have a great week! Keep the faith burning!
Love love love,
Elder Con
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
July 19, 2011 - Letter Home
Outstanding
Hey Family!
Thanks so much for the great e-mails and pictures. This week was VERY busy. Man, I've very thankful to have Elder Bryant with me because he's full of energy and won't let me slow down for a second. :)
That's a very good thing.
I'm looking towards the end of this transfer as a big question mark: what will happen to me after the 16th? I think my mind is rejecting the fact that my life will change drastically on that date.
Well, we built our house and we couldn't find (and didn't want) any truck to help us do our move, so we got a member's wheelbarrow and did the move peice by peice! Luckily the new house was only a couple of blocks away. This whole week actually, we've taken a peice of furniture a day. That include a stove I carried by myself in the rain, and a fully made (and with covers tucked) bed, hoofed by two American elders. We were probably a strange sight, but for some reason we wanted to do it all ourselves.
Our running and sweating in the rain has apparently given some results, as Priscila and now her little brother, Alison, Stephani, and two new investigators, Everton and Rose came to church. That's a record for our branch! Priscila went to an awesome activity earlier this week and we're trying to get Stephani to activities this week as well so that she can get really integrated. Junior is doing well, and we've had some good lessons with him, but it's still going slowly. I'm hoping for miracles! Surely they will come!
Anyway, I hope you all don't mind that my e-mails get slowly shorter and shorter as we get closer to the big day; I'm really trying to gaurd myself against all possible trunkiness (it's a lot harder than I thought it'd be when I was a "greeny", but I'm taking it 1 day at a time, I'm getting there!)
I am so thankful for each one of you. I am amazed at the blessings I receive every day, and especially the many blessings that it appears are waiting for me in UT.
:)
Absolutely amazed that the Lord has so far blessed me and my family so much in this way. I am so thankful to be here for another month and for all the time I've had in this very special corner of the Lord's vineyard. Man, it's outstanding.
Another great week for you all!
Until then,
Elder Carpenter
Hey Family!
Thanks so much for the great e-mails and pictures. This week was VERY busy. Man, I've very thankful to have Elder Bryant with me because he's full of energy and won't let me slow down for a second. :)
That's a very good thing.
I'm looking towards the end of this transfer as a big question mark: what will happen to me after the 16th? I think my mind is rejecting the fact that my life will change drastically on that date.
Well, we built our house and we couldn't find (and didn't want) any truck to help us do our move, so we got a member's wheelbarrow and did the move peice by peice! Luckily the new house was only a couple of blocks away. This whole week actually, we've taken a peice of furniture a day. That include a stove I carried by myself in the rain, and a fully made (and with covers tucked) bed, hoofed by two American elders. We were probably a strange sight, but for some reason we wanted to do it all ourselves.
Our running and sweating in the rain has apparently given some results, as Priscila and now her little brother, Alison, Stephani, and two new investigators, Everton and Rose came to church. That's a record for our branch! Priscila went to an awesome activity earlier this week and we're trying to get Stephani to activities this week as well so that she can get really integrated. Junior is doing well, and we've had some good lessons with him, but it's still going slowly. I'm hoping for miracles! Surely they will come!
Anyway, I hope you all don't mind that my e-mails get slowly shorter and shorter as we get closer to the big day; I'm really trying to gaurd myself against all possible trunkiness (it's a lot harder than I thought it'd be when I was a "greeny", but I'm taking it 1 day at a time, I'm getting there!)
I am so thankful for each one of you. I am amazed at the blessings I receive every day, and especially the many blessings that it appears are waiting for me in UT.
:)
Absolutely amazed that the Lord has so far blessed me and my family so much in this way. I am so thankful to be here for another month and for all the time I've had in this very special corner of the Lord's vineyard. Man, it's outstanding.
Another great week for you all!
Until then,
Elder Carpenter
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
July 12, 2011 - Letter Home
Until the End
Elder Bryant, House almost done, LO, Junior Priscilla Stefanie Jacqueline, Grass Cut, Comforters,
Hey Family!
:) How is my family today? Thank you so much for the good photos and letters today! This week has been a good one.
Another week, come and gone. This week was very good. Man, it was hard to say goodbye to Elder Persinger, and I've actually been missing him quite a bit because we were such good buds, but I'm happy that my new companion is also going to be a best friend. He's from Washington, and from what I've learned, lived way out in the boonies and is quite an outdoorsman. I like 'im. :)
We've really gotten to be good friends with Priscila, a young lady who went to church last week, and her family. She's been reading and went to church this week again (!!!) and was introduced to all the young single adults and invited to an activity. I am really excited for her and am hoping that the Spirit can slowly enter into her life and she can embrace a new path in her life, based on the Lord. I am really hoping all goes well with her.
We contacted another girl, Stephanie, who's 14, and she got really excited after the lesson and said she would be at church and our English class. She came! And she also realized that a close friend from school is a member of the church and they really connected. She had a good first experience and says she's reading, and it looks like she's going to accept the gospel in the future.
Junior has continued to take lessons from us but due to strange circumstances wasn't able to come to church, but I'm really praying for him and hoping that he receives an answer soon because he says he's been really looking and praying recently, but hasn't felt anything yet. Well, his time will come.
I hope you all can continue help me by including these three in your prayers. I really love 'em and am thinking they'll be the last marking relationships I'll have in my mission because I'm really trying to give my all so that they can accept the gospel.
We did a couple of service projects this week on the new house, and it looks like we'll be able to move in TOMORROW! Finally! After 3 months of waiting! I'm excited to live behind the Dullius' house!
Anyway, not to much new stuff. I'm dedicated to working hard, making contacts on the street and giving every moment of this last month the Lord has given me in His vineyard. Sometimes it's been hard to not get trunky or not think of home, but my companion and our awesome investigators and the knowledge that I'll never get to do this work again keeps me running! Until the end!
I love you all and I apologize for my short e-mails recently... But we'll get plenty of communication in in a little bit. :)
Love love love! Have a great week everyone!
Elder Con
No photos AGAIN because, well, my camera has been broken for a while now. The battery simply doesn't charge. And I was uploading photos from my companion's camera, but Elder Bryant doesn't use his as much. SORRY! I want to take a bunch of mission action shots as remembrances. I'll do that.
Elder Bryant, House almost done, LO, Junior Priscilla Stefanie Jacqueline, Grass Cut, Comforters,
Hey Family!
:) How is my family today? Thank you so much for the good photos and letters today! This week has been a good one.
Another week, come and gone. This week was very good. Man, it was hard to say goodbye to Elder Persinger, and I've actually been missing him quite a bit because we were such good buds, but I'm happy that my new companion is also going to be a best friend. He's from Washington, and from what I've learned, lived way out in the boonies and is quite an outdoorsman. I like 'im. :)
We've really gotten to be good friends with Priscila, a young lady who went to church last week, and her family. She's been reading and went to church this week again (!!!) and was introduced to all the young single adults and invited to an activity. I am really excited for her and am hoping that the Spirit can slowly enter into her life and she can embrace a new path in her life, based on the Lord. I am really hoping all goes well with her.
We contacted another girl, Stephanie, who's 14, and she got really excited after the lesson and said she would be at church and our English class. She came! And she also realized that a close friend from school is a member of the church and they really connected. She had a good first experience and says she's reading, and it looks like she's going to accept the gospel in the future.
Junior has continued to take lessons from us but due to strange circumstances wasn't able to come to church, but I'm really praying for him and hoping that he receives an answer soon because he says he's been really looking and praying recently, but hasn't felt anything yet. Well, his time will come.
I hope you all can continue help me by including these three in your prayers. I really love 'em and am thinking they'll be the last marking relationships I'll have in my mission because I'm really trying to give my all so that they can accept the gospel.
We did a couple of service projects this week on the new house, and it looks like we'll be able to move in TOMORROW! Finally! After 3 months of waiting! I'm excited to live behind the Dullius' house!
Anyway, not to much new stuff. I'm dedicated to working hard, making contacts on the street and giving every moment of this last month the Lord has given me in His vineyard. Sometimes it's been hard to not get trunky or not think of home, but my companion and our awesome investigators and the knowledge that I'll never get to do this work again keeps me running! Until the end!
I love you all and I apologize for my short e-mails recently... But we'll get plenty of communication in in a little bit. :)
Love love love! Have a great week everyone!
Elder Con
No photos AGAIN because, well, my camera has been broken for a while now. The battery simply doesn't charge. And I was uploading photos from my companion's camera, but Elder Bryant doesn't use his as much. SORRY! I want to take a bunch of mission action shots as remembrances. I'll do that.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
July 4-5, 2011 - Letter Home
Finale'
Hey everyone! It's transfer day today! I will stay here in Neópolis while Elder Persinger *sniff* will soon be transferred, it will be very sad to see him go. Honestly, it seems like every companion I have is better than the last. Elder Persinger is from Powell, Ohio, and he'll go home in a year and 3 months.
Tomorrow I will meet my last companion of the mission. :(
My new companion, though I have not met him, is Elder Bryant, from Addy, Washington.
Another green American! 4 in a row run! 6 transfers!
I hear he's awesome, but I had wanted just one more Brasilian comp. Oh well.
I can't believe it's my last transfer! Holy smokes! No counting down the days, alright? :)
This week was nice: we find a couple new families, and Priscilla and Junior came to church, and they were very well accepted by the young adults. They will be baptized before the end, I know it!
Thank you very much for the e-mails!
I cannot believe 4th of July was yesterday! I totally forgot! Say hi to everyone for me. I wanted to be with the rest of the family so bad! Soon soon.
I think I'll have time to write more e-mails tomorrow.
Hope you like the photos! I think the photos are probably more entertaining being left up to interpretation. :)
I love love love you all! Have a good week! Run run run!
Elder Carpenter
Hey everyone! It's transfer day today! I will stay here in Neópolis while Elder Persinger *sniff* will soon be transferred, it will be very sad to see him go. Honestly, it seems like every companion I have is better than the last. Elder Persinger is from Powell, Ohio, and he'll go home in a year and 3 months.
Tomorrow I will meet my last companion of the mission. :(
My new companion, though I have not met him, is Elder Bryant, from Addy, Washington.
Another green American! 4 in a row run! 6 transfers!
I hear he's awesome, but I had wanted just one more Brasilian comp. Oh well.
I can't believe it's my last transfer! Holy smokes! No counting down the days, alright? :)
This week was nice: we find a couple new families, and Priscilla and Junior came to church, and they were very well accepted by the young adults. They will be baptized before the end, I know it!
Thank you very much for the e-mails!
I cannot believe 4th of July was yesterday! I totally forgot! Say hi to everyone for me. I wanted to be with the rest of the family so bad! Soon soon.
I think I'll have time to write more e-mails tomorrow.
Hope you like the photos! I think the photos are probably more entertaining being left up to interpretation. :)
I love love love you all! Have a good week! Run run run!
Elder Carpenter
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| Andre |
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| Hillbilly |
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| Hitch Hikin |
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| Junior |
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| Mauro and Family |
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| Novaldonamissao |
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| Pres Marcos and Family |
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| Pumpkin |
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| Vilson and Family |
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| District Feast |
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