The Rolla Holla! Saturday, December 26, 2009

It was refreshing to speak with my family and to remember how much I love them and how well I get along with them. They are so incredible and I am so thankful to all of them and to all of you for the prayers and support.

It’s heatin up in Paraguay. Rain is even unwelcome since it only makes it hotter afterwards from the evaporating moisture (almost like reverse rain going upwards) from the HOT Paraguayan sun. A feeling I’m sure I’ll look back on in 2 years with nostalgia. For now, I’m just trying to pretend like I’m in a Sauna.

Things really are great. I can’t express how excited I am to get back out into the field and I know Heavenly Father will send me RIGHT where I need to go…like he always has, both on the mission and off. I know he takes care of those that are at least TRYING to do what is right, imperfect as we may be.

Training has been crazy here in the office. There have been more than several occasions where Elder Peterson has leaned back, rubbed his red, bloodshot eyes, and said, “my brain is fried…we need a break.” That’s how things roll here in the office. There is lots to do and never enough time to do it. I sure have learned to be at peace even with lots of things up in the air.

Changes are different again this time, so we are going out to eat all you can eat meat at Paulistas tonight, and the departing missionaries go home on Wednesday. I could go out THEN or possibly the following Wednesday when the rest of the mission gets changed. I’ll let you know what happens.

The special changes along with Christmas have made it hard to get much work done in my new area (Campo Grande, where I’ll be just 2 weeks). We’ve still seen the miracles with the little time we’ve had and found an awesome investigator named Maria who lit up when we told her she could speak with God. The miracle was that we found her through a front gate speaker contact. There’s a first for everything. We gained her confidence when my new companion (and even before that, best friend) showed her a picture of his dog at home, which looked a lot like her dog (which happened to be HER best friend). Through small and simple things… :-).

Well I love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas (a little late) and a Happy New Year! With love!

Elder McCarty

Img 0499 Elder Maddux’s birthday was full of funny stories. WE had a rental car because the other mission needed to borrow our van. Well, Maddux wanted to go see if he could eat a whole KILO of Quatro D (the BEST) ice cream on his birthday. As we rushed there, he crashed the car (not too bad) and blamed it on the brakes not working…lol. Anyhow, he ate the ice cream and we were all amazed, since we ate 1 Kilo among like 5 of us. Hahaha.

Img 0495 Pres. And Hma Wade took us out to lunch for Elder Maddux’s Birthday. The waitresses made him dance and before he did it he glanced at them, then at pres, and back and forth, until President NOT saying anything was taken as permission and he did. She even spun him around. It was hilarious.

Img 0476 Elder Vail and I swinging at our new favorite place to eat in our area where they make REAL smoothies and delicious sandwiches. It’s called “Lemonaid.”

122009 034 Cool sunset, and me just as happy as can be.

122009 026 Rodrigo (a Joven from the ward) and I sitting at a bus stop. We didn’t take a bus, but just thought it would be a cool pic. I think we were wrong…lol.
011 Trio pics. Pretty awesome sunset but our faces didn’t really turn out. Me, Elder Vail and Elder Peterson.

Remember this as you put your new years resolutions.

“He whose life is not in harmony with his conscience, and who is anxious to remedy his mind and conduct in a particular direction, let him first mature his purpose by earnest thought and self-examination, and having arrived at a final conclusion, let him frame his resolve, and having done so let him not swerve from it, let him remain true to his decision under all circumstances, and he cannot fail to achieve his good purpose; for the Great Law ever shields and protects him who, no matter how deep his sins, or how great and many his failures and mistakes, has, deep in his heart, resolved upon the finding of a better way, and every obstacle must at last give way before a matured and unshaken resolve.” –James Allen

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, December 19, 2009

Well, Elder Peterson from Arizona came into the office yesterday to begin his training as the new Executive Secretary of the Paraguay Asunción North Mission. I’ve been teaching him everything I can, since I’ll probably be out of here within 2 or 3 weeks. The funny thing is how much he has been teaching me. He is an incredible guy who is kind and loving and so desirous to serve his fellow missionaries. He will do a GREAT job here in the office and I’m excited for him to take my place.
This morning we were studying to begin our Pday and the phone, which I had given to him already to get him used to responding to the phone calls we get each day, began ringing. Usually in study I either silence the phone calls or answer quickly and write down what the need is to take care of it later. But he was so helpful and understanding and wanted to get this particular misisonary the help he needed as soon as possible. It was a lesson to me. There are times when all of the demands here in the office drag you down, but I have been watching how he overcomes it all to give the best service he can give. It has been a great example to me.
Needless to say, I’m also excited to get back out into the field. I feel like there is a whole world out there waiting for me and I am fired up to go out and give it my best shot. I don’t know where I’ll be going yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as I do. Soon I’ll be going back to the Monday p-days, the utter physical exhaustion and the uncontrollable happiness of being all day in the service of my God. I’dm finally found that peace here in the office, and I’m sure it will be as powerful as it was before as soon as I get back to the field.
I love you all and thank you for your support!
Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, December 12, 2009

Reinforced Resolution

Resolutions are interesting things. Everbody makes them. We’re getting ready to make a whole list of them with the coming of the new year. But do we really understand what it means to make a resolve? This week I have been struck over and over again with the importance of being slow to make and determined to keep resolutions in order to become more like Jesus Christ. Slow to make them, because when hastily set, they really don’t mean anything, and determined to keep them, beceause that determination is what really brings us lasting happiness and peace in the end.This week has been one in which the Lord has made me strong in my weakness (Ether 12:27). I don’t know if I told you about the problem with the family we baptized, that had a fight with one of the great member families of the ward. Most of all, it was just a big misunderstanding. With the help of the Spirit, my companion and I were able to carefully handle the delicate issue. I felt especially prompted to invite the long time ward member family to write a letter of apology and to warmly invite our converts back into friendship (since before, they had been the best friends and greatest support to our converts). Really, the misunderstanding and getting unjustifiably angry happened on the part of our converts. But I have learned that often he who is not at fault is also most able to fix the situation through humble apology. They did, and the situation was resolved. I was overcome with joy to see them return to church and to see the brightness return to their eyes. God truly guides us as we humbly serve him in order to bring to pass his work and glory. On the lighter side, this week we took Elder Vail’s nametag hostage in the office. We had a whole prank planned out since we locked him in one part of the office. We were going to change his desktop screen to show the picture that I’m attaching and then make our demand. Anyhow, being the escape artist that he is, he got out and walked in on us in the middle of our schemings. Sometimes amidst the hard work and hurry of office life, we’ve gotta have a little fun. Speaking of failed plans, we tried to have a family night Monday with the Montiel Family (converts from about 6 months ago). We took a DVD player and the Restoration DVD but forgot the remote! So, we couldn’t change it into Spanish. We toyed with the idea of translating as we watched it, but just decided to come and do it another night. We ate the brownies I’d cooked and taught a quick lesson. Then, as we got ready to go (our time to be in the house was near) the mother of the family brought out dinner. Oops. We told her we couldn’t but she insisted, again and again. So, we ate a little bit, quickly, and complimenting the food, asked if we could take the rest to go in my brownie pan. We ran to the car, with the other Elders that had been waiting for us and sped home. After it all, we made it home just 10 minutes late. We’ve also been seeing some great success among those lost sheep of our ward. I mentioned Hermano Dure who overcame his addiction. He’s now brought all 4 of his boys back to activity and we’re even hoping they’ll be able to come out with us and help us in the work. We visited the Romero Family as well this week. They have a hard situation in which they have to pay a lot towards the wife’s health condition. The Father of the family has little education and has to drive cattle trucks to make the necessary income, which won’t allow him to attend church. It is so hard to see these families that have such difficult situations and to know what they could do to get the Lord’s help in overcoming them. Sometimes, though, we can just love them, and encourage them, and pray for them to overcome. I am so happy to be in the Lord’s work and to see it from this perspective—an opportunity I NEVER would have had anywhere else. I know I’m where I am supposed to be.

I love you all so much!

Have a great week!

Elder McCarty

120709 009 Cool paintings on a wall in our area.

120709 025 Almost falling in a 3 foot hole. They often put sticks in these that stick up like 2 feet so drivers know to avoid driving there. In this picture, the tire serves that purpose.

120709 035 A cool sunset after a rainy day.

121209 003 This is where we go to pick up the mail every week. Looks like Harry Potter.

121209 012 The plaza inside the mail place down town. Pretty cool

120709 021 Sitting on top of an old building structure. There are lots of these here in Paraguay.

120509 038 We took Elder Vail’s Nametag hostage.

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, December 05, 2009

Floods of Water and Adventure
Friends and Family! This has been an incredible week. Thursday we were caught in a giant Paraguayan rainstorm as we hurried Elders from the farthest zone to the bus terminal from zone conference. We drove through 2 to 3 feet of water and almost couldn’t see through the frantically flipping windsheild wipers that became almost useless in the torrents.
On the way back, we had to brave a steep hill and while we were sure we could make it, and did, some unfortunate soul had broken down in the middle of the road. Elder Vail and I looked at eachother, smiled, and started taking off and out the things we didn’t want to get wet, because we DID. Ties, planners, white handbooks, cell phones and wallets were all left in the car. We jumped out into almost a half a foot of water running down the asphault and were instantly soaked by the huge raindrops. We ran down to see if we could help and found that the car was stuck in park. Mustering all of my auto-mechanic know-how I tried to change the gears as Vail stood ready to push. Nothing worked and we left soked and useless, only able to offer a smile. Sure was an adventure though.
The work in the area is moving along. There are so many people that need our help and so little time. We hope to get Ramon and Mirta to church tomorrow as well as a new Peruvian family we’ve been working with. I know God is preparing people for us and can’t wait to continue forward in His work, having lots of great adventures along the way!
Elder McCarty



Trying to get a pic with the sunset that really didn’t work

Sweet sunset when Elder Vail and I had to go on a roadtrip to drive the judge to a wedding (cool stories to tell later with more time)

Playing a cool table soccer game with the Vailster

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, November 28, 2009

Frantic Week, Calm Finish
Yesterday President Wade came down the stairs a little frustrated and said, in a voice loud enough for everybody to hear, “What are we, BRAND NEW at this!” He had just received a phone call that Elder Goodwin, who stayed in the MTC 3 extra days for surgery was wandering around aimlessly at the airport. Miraculously, Elder Rodriguez and Elder Vail went there to send off letters (which they NEVER do) and they saw a scared, lost looking missionary all alone. He only waited 5 minutes there before we found him, and it wouldn’t have been so bad except that somehow all of the Latin missionaries showed up unexpectedly just 3 days before. None of them had the warm, welcoming reception that we always try to give them. Other than those flight plan difficulties, changes went relatively smoothly and we have scheduled back into the relative calm of daily office life.
President Wade rented us a fancy practice field (which he has only done a few times while I’ve been here) and we played with his 2 sons, who are incredibly good. The big surprise this time was that President showed up, not to play, but to watch and bring us ice cold water and oranges to eat during the breaks. It was HOT and after an hour or so I felt like I couldn’t really breath. Between games we would go into the showers and just sit under the cold water that felt SO refreshing. For the first time in history, the office team lost. We played against the 2 Wade boys and the assistants. The new assistant, Elder Curtis play really well and so while we won the first game, we were so tired by the last 2, we lost.
I guess this has been a week of cool priviledges after the frantic work of change week, because on Thursday, for Thanksgiving, Hermana Wade invited us over for a homestyle thanksgiving lunch. We ate stuffing and turkey and cranberry sauce, and at the end we all said something we were thankful for. Since Elder Haskell, our great friend and assistant to the President was leaving, we also all said something we love about him. It was a great experience and I felt strongly the love and unity of the office—things I will definitely miss when my time here comes to an end.
Ramon and Mirta are progressing. Ramon set a goal to go 1 week without smoking and I am calling him often to check in. While he hasn’t said it out specifically, I have a feeling that he has fallen and that we will need to give him loving, supporting, encouragement to get him on the path again. Sometimes I think of how these people we help are the PIONEERS in their family. So many of them will be the first person or the first generation to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. How incredible that in 30-50 years they will be strong families in the church whose children will go on missions and the cycle will begin again. It is such a beautiful process. I love every minute of it. I love you all!
Elder McCarty
Pics
PB250222 We stuffed like 5 mattresses and bed frames into this tiny van. I know.


.PB210365 Sitting in the captains seat, lookin like a captain.

112809 044 Cool Boat picture, under the bridge, me, Elder Rodriguez, and Elder Vail

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Challenge to Become

Last Sunday, a family we have been working with made it to church. They are a young couple with a 4 year old boy who loves Michael Jackson and even knows how to dance like him (I might have told you that before), named Fabricio. Ramon and Mirta are going through some financial difficulties right now. They are the family that we found on the very day that Ramon was robbed of his entire savings, which he needed to continue running his self-started lending institution. Needless to say, God has prepared them and they are excited to come back next week for all 3 meetings (last week they only made it to 1), and to prepare for their baptism on the 4th of December. God gives miracles even to his imperfect servants.

This transfer is over. I have reached the point where it is typical for Executive Secretaries, who is like the team manager of the mission, to finish their time in the office, put on the ol’ helmet and get back out on the field. I can’t contain my excitement. Maybe it is a little premature, but I am hoping that my replacement is called soon so that I can prepare him well and then get back out there. I’m thinking, sometime around December 5th would be great (coincidence that it is right after the baptismal date of the family we’re teaching? I think not :-).

We had an activity last night and watched “Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration,” with my ward and the other Office Elders’ ward. President Wade also came back from a Mission President’s seminar in Argentina with Elder Bednar, and told us all about the amazing man and how he learned at his feet for 3 solid days. This week’s experiences got me fired up and excited to do all I can to become a great man, like President Wade, or Elder Bednar, or the Prophet Joseph Smith. I want to be a man that wears himself out in the service of God, for NO other reason than that he loves Him and wants to serve Him. I want to be a man that helps other people out of love and never wants credit or recognition. I work and strive and pray to become that man, and know that with God’s help, and through the Savior’s sacrifice, I can BECOME a new man, because, frankly, the man I am right now, just will not do. I love you family, and am grateful for your support and love in this great cause! Carry on!

Elder McCarty

012 We took this a while back at the temple. I’m holding a Guarani book of mormon. 017 This was dropping off the missionaries who went home last change, I got an important phone call right when it was picture taking time, apparently. President Wade was nice enough to hold the phone, lol. 019 Looking pretty hard core driving the blue bullet (the giant 15 man van we have in the office). 014 Took this around Halloween. Someone got a gummy tongue dracula tooth in a package.

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, November 14, 2009

Growing and Protecting the Fold
On Sunday some lost sheep came back to the fold. Brother Dure, who had been a counsellor in a bishopric, but fell into drugs and away from the church, came back on Sunday and made me feel so humbled and grateful to see his teary eyed smile as Sacrement meeting ended. He has kept himself clean and is now preparing his 5 boys to come back with him this Sunday and to prepare for missions.
Sister Dure, who’s 2 children died in a terrible super market fire, overcame her family’s bitterness and desires for revenge to find peace within the churches sacred walls. I was so happy to see her, as she hussled and bussled into the room late, dragging 4 year old Chiquitin by the hand, the only son she has left.
This Thursday, we had planned a family home evening with their family. She came down the long road to let us in the gate, and Chiquitin excitedly grabbed my hand and drug ME up to their house, where he asked us if he could pray and then pour us some cold juice. The family is finding happiness and unity after a tragedy nearly tore them apart. We watched “Together Forever” about a young family who had lost a daughter but found the solution in the blessings of the temple. We solemnly set a goal and helped them make the determination to overcom ANY obstacle in their road to the temple. Those blessings are real. I know that.
The old man, Jose, that we are teaching right now, is always home alone with his 4 year old grand daughter and she is SO cute. She can’t say her R’s or her N’s very well and so it makes for a fun game trying to understand her. She always askes me, when we are on divisions: “donde está tu compalelo?” (“donde está tu compañero,” or where is your companion). She loves to bring out books or dresses or any random thing to show off to me, and sometimes while I am teaching she just leans up against my side and plays with my arm hair. Jose is very patient with her, and loving, and he plans to bring her with him this Sunday, as he comes to church meetings for the first time.
The work goes on and I am happy. I love God for these experiences He is giving me and know that they will make me the man that I need to be.
I love you all!
Elder McCarty


276 It’s so hot these days, we’ve got to play with our Sombreros on when we play Soccer on Pday.

039 Cool color function, not so cool picture: making some goof ball concentrated face at my computer one day.

019 Our favorit juice place after a hot night. 1 Mil, or about 25 cents for a good sized cup and it is always fresh and delicious, and it is pink, so it reminds me of the 50’s.

002 A SWEET red Paraguayan tree and me, happy as can be.

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, November 07, 2009

Divine Delay
I guess if the Lord gave us immediate responses to our righteous actions, we wouldn’t learn the heavenly virtue of patience. As I’ve mentione the last few weeks, we have renewed our efforts in our area to work dilligently and effectively. For 2 weeks, we gave all we had and saw only minor progress. This week, the windows of the heavens opened up.
We now have 4 promising investigators preparing for baptismal dates this month. Celeste is a brilliant, 19 year old law student, that showed up with a less-active family we have been trying to re-activate. Never having met her before, she came last Sunday, loved the meetings, determined to read and pray to get an answer, and set a goal to prepare for the 20th of November. Over the course of the week she has read, come to love believe in the Book of Mormon as the word of God. The 20th of November has gone from a “goal” to a decided date for which we are now actively planning, and she is a driving force behind the very same family that brought her last week to church, so that they will go this week and forever thereafter. Many are called and few are chosen. This week God blessed us to find one of those sweet, prepared, chosen spirits.
Pechi is an active member of an evangelical church, which she loves and actively contributes to. While she hasn’t yet received an answer, she believes we were sent for a reason, and is determined to keep trying until Heavenly Father lets her know. She won’t be able to make it this Sunday, but promises to go next week. We are praying that she’ll be able to have the courage to hear the answer that God is so willing to give.
Jose is an old man who was almost baptized many years ago, but couldn’t because of problems with drinking. We found him one hot afternoon by clapping at his house. He let us in and is on the path again towards happiness and salvation. Monica is a young girl who has had far too many difficult experiences. Raised by her abusive aunt and having spent her life on the street, she wants to change and loves going to church, but is trapped by a difficult, painful circumstance. We are praying and hoping that she can be rescued by miracles from our Father in Heaven.
Last night around 830 pm I realized we probably weren’t going to make it to our planned visit to Hermano Dure, a less-active, drug addicted father of 5. The week before we had prayerfully and with great faith set a goal to go 7 days without taking the drugs that have taken claim over his body. When I called him to let him know, he told me that it was ok if we could not make it, and that, while he had saved the last box for me to mark in my visit to him, he would just mark it himself. Encouraged by the fact that he had really DONE it, I told him not to worry and that we would make it even if we had to run. With little, awkward Felix, the youth who I was on a division with, we sprinted from one end of our area to the other in less than 10 minutes. We got there around 9 pm, and shared a scripture from Mosiah about having no desire to do wrong. We congratulated him for what I KNOW to be a heroic effort, and prayed thanking God for the blessing of strength that he had been given. His wife, who had been hurt by years of addiction and pain, smiled radiantly and listened quietly. The whole family of 7 promised to be there this Sunday.
The work is moving forward. I am happy and rejoicing in the blessing in our area. I have found that I work to be more efficient in the office just SO that I can spend more time out in the field doing the work of my God. The mission is going by too quickly. I am trying my best to take in every moment and love it like it is the last oneI’ll have. Thank you family, for everything! You are great!
I love you!
Elder McCarty


053 Hesiman pose with a Rugby ball. We went and checked out the fancy Adidas store downtown

047 One Elder wanted to buy a new suit so we went to Robert’s, the nicest suit maker in Asunción. Before I get home I’ll have to get one, since a custom made, high quality fabric suit costs $130.

028 Aldo and I (Marcial and Saide’s little boy) after we watched “Together Forever” for a family home evening this Monday.

Rolla Holla! Saturday, October 31, 2009

By Small and Simple Things… Family, Family, Family! Friends, Friends, Friends! How the heck are ya? Things are great down here in the motherland. I am happy and hard-working. Blessings are rainin’ down on me every day and I feel so grateful for each of you, and for a Heavenly Father that’s always hookin’ me up. This week has been great. I’ve continued strong. I’m about to come up on 21 days straight of some important new habits I want to develop. I’m already seeing myself, at night, feeling uneasy if I haven’t written in my journal, or filled out my personal progress checklist, or prayed with my companion. It seems I had those things down pretty well in the field, where my every thought is caught up in the Lord’s work, and investigators to help, and cool stories to tell. Here in the office, the typing, making phone calls, and sending faxes doesn’t exactly inspire those things naturally: we’ve got to FIGHT for them. And a fight it is. Lately I’ve been winning. Apart from that, I’ve been finding ways to go the extra mile and do things that may not exactly be under my list of responsibilites, in order to help others. President had me create a checklist to help all of the future missinoaries of the district prepare all necessary things to go on a mission. I got his permission and have been calling them and helping them fill out the forms, get dental work and Doctor’s exams, and progress spiritually. It is so gratifying to see these fellow young people, who I come to love and respect greatly for the many trials they overcome, take important steps toward such an important decision. They truly are incredible. Several weeks ago, one of these youths, Iban Ibañez from a tiny branch out in the Paraguayan desert, showed up outside of our house here in Asunción. Tired from the 8 hour bus ride, lost, and nervous for the adventure upon which he was about to embark, he knocked on my door. It was the first time I’d met him, in person. He and his father had come, since they only had money for 2 tickets. We arranged all of the last minute details and early the next morning at 4am, we took him to the airport. Without all of the fanfare and glory that should belong to a missionary leaving his home, the 4 of us stood in the empty airport as he prepared to pass through airport security. The father and the son looked into eachother’s eyes and said a thousand words in one fleeting moment. Clearly not used to showing affection, they gave an awkward hug and the boy was off, into a world that would make him a man. The father fought to hold back tears, and asked to borrow my cell phone. Weeping, he told his wife that Iban was off. He asked me to comfort her over the phone. I offered a few words of reassurement that he would be safe and would get there fine. Both parents thanked me as they wept. I realized in that moment, that our part in this work, however great or small, is a blessing so huge that we can’t even begin to comprehend it. God is giving us these experiences for a reason. I love Him for that. I am so grateful to be here. Grateful to weeping parents, that are making great sacrifices. Grateful to friends who always supported, uplifted, and encouraged me. And grateful, more than anything, to be alive and in God’s great army. That we all do our little part to deserve such infinite blessings.

With love,

Elder McCarty

056 Pancake breakfast this morning in the office kitchen. Tie tucked into my shirt.

..008 On a division with Rodrigo, and awesome young man who always goes out on divisions with us

001 A cool old car we found sitting in a green, palm-covered field.

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, October 24, 2009

Back on Track

I set a resolution this week. I decided, I WILL NOT let my head touch my pillow until I have done 3 things: written in my journal, prayed with my companion, and sincerely, soul-searchingly, and with all energy of heart, said a personal prayer. Since I made that resolution, I have not missed a day, and I have SEEN so clearly that God is pouring out blessings as a reward.
This week was infinitely more satisfying. We worked hard and saw the results. Elder Vail told us last night, during the nightly “tell stories about your day” session, that we are experts in finding young, golden families. This week we found 3 that resemble Marcial and Saide. They welcomed us in with arms wide open, offered us water, listened to and enjoyed our message and got fired up about doing what it takes to get an answer from God. As Marcial and Saide continue to progress, now filling out a chart we made up to develop habits of reading, praying and family night, the fruits of our labors LIGHT THE FIRE inside to continue striving and sweating even if only to help “the ONE.”
As my time here at the office surely winds down to it’s end, I have also decided to learn Guarani so I can use it out in the field. The lady who makes us lunch here in the office so that we don’t have to leave is teaching us a little bit each day. I like to learn little phrases that are funny or that help in the work: “Arundeve peteí mensaja porá’ite va” means “we bring a beautiful message”, or “Anga che kuña taí ove a paga ta ndeve,” which means “I’ll pay you when you are young” (to an old person, or, in other words, I’ll never pay you). Those good ol’ Guaranies, just have hilarious ways of saying things.
Today, Elder Frutos took a moment to explain to me how GREAT the mercy of God has been from Adam up until our time (Moroni 10:3), and how we need to at least show a FRACTION of that mercy to those we love. He learned the lesson powerfully because of those moments when he didn’t have patience with his kids, and now they are distanced from him, and respond more to their mother. It must be a painful regret, looking back at something now impossible to change.
Sometimes we get that feeling: those moments where it hurts us so badly that we aren’t something more; that we couldn’t DO more; that we fell when it was so important that we stood strong; we were harsh when tenderness was needed most.
This morning the Spirit touched my heart, and I was almost brought to tears by the realization of the people I have hurt in my life, both before and during the mission. The pain was a refreshing one, because it led to the ABSOLUTE determination to do better. In those moments, my mind always asks: How? I’ve tried so many times before. What will be different now? The answer is always the same: Christ will help me. That ´s why He´s here, by my side—that’s why He came! I know He will change me as He has before, and I will be a “new creature,” escaping the weakness and corruption of the natural man and feeling the happiness that I can always take with me—a constant possession. I love you family, and hope that we all grow in Love and Obedience to our God.
Elder McCarty
057 Catching Cocroach: we wanted to see if we could catch it without it flying out at us. Eventually it did and we ran away screaming. Then, Elder Vance snuck up on it and caught it.
029 He is a less active family we found, I may have told you the story: we felt like we should go see a new part of our area, and it turned out to be a ghost town. On the way out, we decided to contact this random house and it turned out they were members that were baptized a year ago in some other ward and had lost contact with the church! Crazy!

p8…126 An oldie but a goodie: Elder vance always wanted to take awkward old-fashioned pics. Here is one of them.

PA 030144 Cristian Baptism. I’m not sure I sent one of these. PA120249 End of Changes, all of us tired, up in President’s office, doing some late night work.

PA220253 At my desk, working like a dragon. PA160166 Derlis House, Luz turned 11 and so she made us dinner. It was pretty good.

PA230196 Dog for Dinner. The family Canisa is hilarious, and I was amazed the dog let us do that.
PA230195 Or maybe Brother Canisa for dinner?P8090121 Doing some kind of dance, coordinating, not sure what is going on.

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, October 17, 2009

They say that being away from home makes you a poet and a dreamer. It has always been interesting to me the connection between suffering and genious. The way that so many great poets commit suicide, and super-star musical artists die of drug-overdose. Maybe the highest hights of human achievement are made possible only when we are brought to our lowest depths. Maybe we achieve piercing focus only when we are painfully stretched. There always has been and always will be opposition in all things.
This week a million things came together to bring me down. As we struggled to open 7 new proselyting areas, findg houses, purchasing furniture and appliances, and organizing transportation, we didn’t get out in our area to do the work that we love ALL WEEK LONG. When Thursday came around and the 17 new missionaries were with their trainers in their new areas, and the 5 veterans were on planes headed to all parts of the world, exhaustion and sickness struck, and combined with the discouragement of not getting out all week, the few days that we DID have, have been ineffective and unsatisfying. But the work must go on. Moments like these are moments that determine whether we will take the difficult road, apply ourselves, and pull out of the slums we are stuck in, or whether we will give up and give in, and go down the gently declining pathway that only ever leads to sadness and despair. I am choosing to climb.
Next week my brother, Elder Andrew Allen McCarty will head home. He has completed a full and honorable mission—a heroes task that I think we may not always fully understand. Two years of humble, quiet, dedicated service. Away from loved ones and on his own. He is an example and a beacon to me. I pray that I will be able to measure up. Thank you Drew. Thank you family. I love you all,
Elder McCarty


017 & 020 My guitar and I. This is in the waiting room of the office, after having just taken a quick little nap on the couch on Pday (thus the red, puffy eyes :-).
PA…239 Out to lunch. We decided to try a cool new mexican place we found: “Pápagos.” It was pretty good. The first REAL spicy food we’ve found, and they had really good quesadillas.


243 Out of the house, to the office. Getting packages ready to send.
217 and 219. 2 Attempts at a soccer Bicycle kick. First attempt gone wrong. Second, looks better, but I totall missed the ball.

230 and 231 comp pics in the train. The one in the round window is supposed to be preaching to the multitudes, but I’m not really sure why you would do that from the window of a train. 223 Broken down train, we decided to do some boy band poses.