Week 11 We're getting a car today!

Hey!

Been a great week and it just got even better! We got a call about an hour ago from one the Assistant's to the President telling us that they have a car waiting for us in Salt Lake for us to pick up at 2pm today :) This will greatly help us in our efforts to cover 2 stakes (18 wards). So we are excited!! :)

This week were able to actually leave our mission boundaries and head up north to Huntsville with our Stake President, Kyle McKay, his family and Chris Pratt & his family! We had a scripture study up at their cabin and went over Mosiah 18, the baptismal covenant. Chris had a great response to it and agreed with it. So things are coming along. Chris and his wife & daughter are coming with us to Sunday morning General Conference this weekend!  While were up there, we found out that our Stake President is directly related to David O Mckay, and took us to the house where he was born and raised in Huntsville!

James is also progressing slowly. We had a lesson with him at one of the stake centers near our house this week. We opened the font up and literally had the lesson in the font. He brought up the point that he needed to choose someone to baptize him. So he's constantly thinking about it. He is still on date for January 1st, 2014. He is also planning on coming with us to General Conference this Saturday!

We have continued to meet with Ireland, and continue teaching her. Things still seem to be going straight over her head, but she is excited to be baptized. We are going to give the "potential drop talk" to her parents. He parents don't want to "force" her into anything, but in doing so, basically giving no support whatsoever. We are going to explain that if they don't help her progress, it is basically pointless for us to continue teaching. It's great that she wants to be baptized, but if she is baptized then doesn't have the support from her parents, it would be no good. We're going over tomorrow.

I've been going on splits the past 3 or 4 Sundays with an awesome member in one of our wards, Matt Landheim. He's a great guy. We've been visiting some less active families and been having some GREAT experiences. Last P-day, Matt invited us to come to his work, where he has a room that he turned into a Dojo for Jui-Jitsu. He's been doing it for about 10 years and showed us some basic moves. He's such a great guy. There are so many members here that are amazing! They are just such good people. I know I have already made friends here in Kaysville and Fruit Heights that I will be friends with for a lifetime. Such a blessing :)

We went to the Davis High School football game again, its so much fun! It was the Homecoming game and they crushed their rival team 35-0. They are ranked in the top 3 in the state! The football games are awesome because there are so many people to talk to. And everyone LOVES the missionaries. It's quite entertaining to see people's reaction when they see us walk by, especially the high school kids hahah :)

We were also able to help out in the Primary of one of our wards yesterday again!  The kids are great. Such amazing spirits. We always have a blast when we get to spend anytime with them :)

Hope all is well at home, you are all in my prayers! :)

-Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week:  1 Nephi 3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Week 10 Teaching, teaching, teaching!

Hey everyone!

Week 9 (I think) was a great week! 

Both Linden and Kasey were baptized this past Saturday! What an amazing experience. They had some much support of family and friends there. These girls are amazing. Only 9 and 13, but they understand the importance and the meaning of baptism. They have such great spirits and I am so happy for them and their mom Kristy. Kristy is so proud of them and happy for them making this great leap of faith in their lives. They are a great family. I plan to keep in touch with them :)

We are continuing to teach Ireland, the other 9 year old girl. She is having a very difficult time comprehending everything we teach. We have taught her about 4 times and have gone through the first 3 lessons. During and after each visit, we are constantly asking her questions to see if she understands what we teach. She doesn't have a clue... well i shouldn't say that.. we are starting to think she is just super shy. We have invited a young lady in our stake (actually Linden and Kasey's cousin!) to come with us tomorrow to teach Ireland. We are thinking she might be more open to a girl. Scarlet (L&K's cousin) taught a great object lesson on the Holy Ghost at the baptism on Saturday, so we think she'll be able to get through to Ireland.

We haven't been able to meet with James recently but he actually just texted us about an hour ago, saying he wants to meet at 3pm today. We asked him earlier in the week if he wanted to go to General Conference with us, and he said he wanted to! 

We are still constantly meeting with Chris Pratt at our Stake Presidents home every Monday night, so we will be going again tonight for dinner and a Book of Mormon study. We are going to ask Chris tonight if he wants to go to General Conference also! He is a great guy. He goes to church, believes in God, and wants the best for his wife and children (all who are members). I'll keep you updated!

We have started meeting with a lady named Carrie this last week. She has gone though some very tough family problems in the past few years. She is married to an inactive member. He is a great guy, but works for Bountiful Police Force and has to work almost every Sunday. We taught her the Restoration of the Gospel and are planning on teaching her about the Plan of Salvation this week. Will think this will help her alot, because she has recently had a miscarriage and has had multiple families pass away recently. She is great and has been coming to church for the past few months. She is very receptive to the teaching.

We were able to speak in sacrament meeting again yesterday! That makes it 3 weeks in a row! We speak on Hastening the Work of Salvation, and remind the members how important their role is as a saint, in bringing others unto Christ. 

We also were able to see the Primary Program for one of the wards we cover yesterday! It was awesome. Children have so much spirit in them. It reminds me how we all need to be a little children.. Being humble and obedient. They did a great job :)

 Good news!! We will be at Temple Square October 5th and 6th for conference! We have tickets to the Saturday Afternoon (2pm) Oct 5th Session! If you're up here, look for me! :)

Thank you everyone, for the emails and letters! I can't even tell you how great it is to see a letter or email from back home! I love to hear how you guys are doing, and how the valley is! You can write me at:

1365 N 1670 W

Farmington, UT 84025

I hope all is well for you at home! You are all in my prayers! Please prayer for James, Chris, Carrie and Ireland. Thank you so much :)

Till next week, 

Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week: 

1 Nephi 2:20 And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands. 

Week 9 Service projects & a new companion!

Hey guys!

Been a great week! This last P-day, we were able to go to Boondocks (Pretty much like Amazing Jakes) with the entire zone! Transfers were this last Wednesday, and Elder Allen and I got a new companion! Elder Berg, from Boise! But, he only stayed with us for one night. President Hansen didn't have time to interview all the new missionaries (40 new missionaries just came in! That puts us up to 200 total), so he just assigned random companionship's for the first night. The next day, we had training meeting and here we were assigned another new companion--Elder Katoa! He's from Arizona! Paradise Valley area. He's actually waiting for his Visa, to go to New Zealand. So we don't know how long he'll be with us. So as for now, we're in a trio companionship.

Unfortunately, we did not get a car. Apparently the 20 new cars they were expecting this transfer, didnt come in.. Which is ok, bikes are good to keep us in shape :)

I cannot express how grateful I am for music, and the Spirit that it can bring. I am so grateful to be called to Utah. It's about a 95% percent chance every home we go into has a piano, and even sometimes a guitar! At dinner every night, as a spiritual thought, we usually leave with a hymn. We have had some amazing experiences with them. The Spirit is more abundant than ever, when music is in the air.

This past week we had the opportunity to give one of the Elders in our district a blessing. He has been fighting cancer for a long time now, and told us he has been having a really rough week. It is such a blessing to be able to be apart of such a great Church, that has the fullness of the Gospel of Christ.

We have been very active in the wards recently, helping out with service projects constantly. It's a great way to get us out of our white shirts and ties, and to get to know the members. The past week has brought amazing weather! It's rained probably every other day :) Although it's super nice, it made me realize how much i really do love the Arizona HEAT :)

We were able to speak in Church yesterday again! We all spoke on "Hastening the Work". We talked about how the members of the Church are our biggest asset. Lot's of people thanked us for speaking and told us they would do their best to find people for us to teach :) Member referrals are the greatest and most helpful ways of finding people. That is how all our teaching comes about.

We are still working with Chris, and are planning to go with his family, and our stake presidents family up to their ranch in Huntsville tonight, for a Family Home Evening lesson and just to have some fun :) Chris is a great guy. He was at one of the service projects this week, and was there for most of the day! He isn't shy with people in the Church, and has a great spirit about him. He's slowly progressing.

We have not been able to meet with James recently, but only because he recently got a job, at the SLC airport. He refuels the airplanes. Although we have not been able to meet, we have been keeping in close contact. He always texts us with questions he has. He is still on date to be baptized in January.

Linden and Casey's baptism is this Saturday! Their mom texted us this week and confirmed that we will be there and that we will be able to sing a musical number :) Luckily, Elder Katoa has a great voice. He is Tongan, afterall! haha :)

The work out here is great. I am seeing how much the Gospel blesses lives. What a blessing to be a part of spreading this great Work. 

I hope all is well at home. Keep me updated on whats going on :) I love the emails and letters a receive! Until next week!

-Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week D&C 88:77-78

77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. 78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand.

Week 8 Time is flying by!

Hey guys!

Week 8 has come and gone! The days are long, but the weeks are short. Seriously cant believe its already been 2 months since I've left! Thanks everyone who has been sending letters and emails, it makes my week to hear how you guys are doing!

We had a mission conference this week with President and Sister Hansen! They talked about our Mission Vision and Goals! Our goal as a mission is to help baptize 750 before the year is up! The work is truly hastening!

We have been meeting with Chris Pratt weekly(the guy who did pottery with us!) and he has recently brought up having a weekly scripture study with some of the families in the neighborhood! One of them being the Stake President! Chris is a great guy and has shown interest in learning more. 

We were not able to meet with James this past week, but only because he was attending a wedding of a friend! He is always willing to meet when available and I'm not worried at all about him! He has a great spirit and is progressing towards baptism :)

We have started teaching a less active woman, who hasn't been to church in years. She's almost as big a Green Day fan as I am :) haha  She's been to 6 Green Day shows! So that was a great common interest between us! She has 2 kids who are already baptized and go to church often with their grandmother. She wants us to come by every so often to teach her the discussions!

Linden and Casey are still on date for September 21st and I'm super excited for them!!

So, we've been on bikes for the past 6 weeks.. which has been good for my legs.. but it's been so hot lately! haha  Anyways, we're getting a car this week!!! So that will be nice, since our area covers 2 stakes and is somewhat large.

Elder Allen and I were able to speak in sacrament meeting in one of our wards yesterday! There was supposed to be another youth speaker, but she flaked! So Elder Allen and I had about an hour to speak between the two of us. Surprisingly, while I was speaking, I looked at the clock and I had been speaking for 35 min!! So it worked out well :) We have also been asked to speak in another ward in 2 weeks!

We were able to go to the Davis High football game again this Friday! It's such a good place for us to be. Everyone is Kaysville is there and there are no doors for them to hide behind :) We were able to receive 5 referrals while we were there! The kids are all about missionary work and love helping us out! It was a great game too :) They won 28-0!

Another blessing... one of the members in our area has his own chiropractic practice and lets us come in every P-day morning and get adjusted! I've said it once, but I'll say it again. The members here are amazing and such a blessing to us!

Everything is going great out here, I hope everything at home is the same for you guys! Keep James and Chris in your prayers :)  Hope to hear from you guys via email/letters. It really makes my week to get an update on how home is!

Till next week!

-Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week...
Moroni 7:33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.

Week 7 Little girls are getting baptized!

Hey everyone!

 

I honestly don't remember what week this is.. they all just mush together haha. But it was a great week! :)

 

Great news!- I was able to invite Linden and Casey (the two little girls) to be baptized, and they accepted! Their baptism is set for September 21st :) They don't live in our area, but they had been taking the lessons out of their uncle's house.. So, we handed them off to the Sister Missionaries who cover their area. Linden and Casey asked Sister Cope (one of the sister missionaries) and I to sing at their baptism! It is so amazing working with these girls. Even though they're young (13 & 8), they truly understand the importance of baptism and are super excited for it! I too, am super excited for them, they're mom and their family. Their mom Kristy, has been less active for some time now, but has been wanting to come back to church. The tears shed by her the other night truly show that she is grateful for the Gospel, and her daughter's decisions to be baptized. The Lord's work is amazing and it is such blessing to be apart of it.

 

We have once again been able to meet with James. I don't remember if I mentioned it before, but James was set in stone on being baptized... but not until Feb. 2015. This was because his friends were on missions now and wouldn't be back until then. But recently this past week, he has told us that he has prayed and felt he should get baptized sooner, so he has decided on Jan. 2014! So, we are making progress! :) He is a great young man. He wants to meet constantly and has many good questions each time we meet. We are planning on meeting again sometime this week.

 

So, we were once again able to attend primary this week! :) Not just attend, but we actually helped out with "Singing Time" and were able to bring a guitar :) The kids are amazing and have such a unique spirit. We acted out and played Primary hymns on the guitar and the kids had to guess what songs they were, it was a blast! :)

 

This last Friday we were able to go to the local high school's football game (Davis High)! It was a lot of fun.  As soon as we walked up on the bleachers, everyone started screaming, "Hey missionaries!!" and "We love you!!" hahaha It was funny! We get lots of that here in Utah, so it's starting to be a normal occurrence.  One of the many perks of being called to Utah :)

 

We were invited to Robert Garcia's (Ricardo Lopez's father-in-law) birthday this week! It was awesome!! They had tamales, that corn with chili from Nacho Libre, rice, beans and lots of other Mexican dishes that I don't know how to pronounce! haha :) They had a pinata too! We had lots of fun :)

 

More good news!- We are going to be able to attend General Conference in October! So if anyone will be up here, let me know! :) We are not sure which sessions we will be able to attend yet.

 

Hope you all are doing good at home! You're all in my prayers.

 

Thank's for the email's and letters, they mean so much!

 

-Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week:
1 Nephi 13:37 And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.