The Rolla Holla!! Monday, 13 April 2009

.Ruben was baptized! I may not have mentioned that he is like 6 and a half feet tall, and only 16 years old! He is the sweetest 16 year old boy that I have ever met, and has strong, if simple desires to learn the little that he can in order to be a devoted follower of Jesus Christ! We struggled with his Mom that would hide every time we came by and an aunt that continually threatened to send him off to camp if he got baptized (she and Ruben`s Mom are his legal guardians). The scheduled day came and we still didn`t have permission. As we talked with him at his neighbors house (they are members) we gave him the baptismal record and told him to ask his aunt to sign it, since she wouldn`t talk to us. At one point, his Mom said she was ok with the baptism but wouldn`t sign (and the temptation and suggestion of some our leaders was to just have Ruben sign his own form). With time, the aunt also refused, and we got ready to leave, dissapointed.The beauty of all of this, and likely the design of a loving Father in Heaven to increase our Faith and try Ruben`s testimony, is that Ruben chose to overcome every obstacle and to help us find ways to make his Baptism possible. As we left, he told us to come by at 4, because the whole family would be outside for a famous Paraguayan ¨Reso¨ or prayer for their deceased grandmother. Ecstatis with Ruben`s initiative and willing to try anything, we began our fast and made a few visits until 4 oclock. We prayed under a nearby trea around the corner and went to Ruben`s house. They looked at us like we were crazy, clearly frustrated by the interuption. I felt that we should just explain who we are, our purpose, the details of our call, Ruben`s desire to get baptized, and ask her to sign. AND SHE DID! What an amazing blessing that after 3 weeks of attempts, her heart was softened so that this beloved son of a loving Heavenly Father was able to be baptized.The mission is GREAT! I am so happy! Prayer and fasting work and Heavenly Father is so willing to show us miracles in our lives! I love you all! Thank you for your love and support! Have a wonderful week! Make it one!Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Testimony: The Fire Inside 4.6.09

Today we ate at TGI Fridays, I got hit by a truck trying to catch a bus (ok, it was more like ME running into the side of the truck as it sped by), fell asleep on the bus, and got here well rested and with a pain in my ribs, just in time for us both to use our hour of computer time, go do some shopping, and get back out to work!It has been a beautiful week of torential Paraguayan storms, flooded apartments, conference, after conference, after conference, and trying, unsuccessfully, to bring investigators. Being dissapointed and drousy at night, only to wake up excited and anxious to have another go the following morning. The beauty of the mission (and all of life, really), is that every time we learn something new, we have an IMMEDIATE opportunity to go out and apply it! Not just because life is FULL of inter-human and personal growth experiences, but because a loving Heavenly Father makes sure that it is so!This week we finished teaching and baptized little 9 year old Rosalina and her 8 year old sister Jasmin. It was a great experience as their aged, active grandmother stood and wept bitterly to give the closing prayer, in gratitude that these faithful, beaming young girls, were rescued from the danger of disassociation from the church because of their inactive parents. Now, the two of them are the motivation to their parents that are now rediscovering the joys of church activity. We continue to pray for them, and hope to keep teaching the whole family to one day enter the temple and experience the fulness of the blessings available to them!This week, we are hoping to baptize 16 year old Ruben, whose mother was happy for him to be talking with us, until, that is, she spoke with his aunt. He had to sternly express his desires to attend church, which is difficult for a boy who always smiles, and loves to spend time in the garden nourishing and helping plants to grow. As we taught Alma 32 and the importance of nourishing the seed of faith so that it can become ¨delicious¨ to him, it struck a chord deep within him. I am excited for his baptism and af praying fervently that his Mother and Aunt can find a soft place in their hearts to let him follow his Faith and seal it with his commitment.
12 year old Rosana, and Teresa her mother are also scheduled to be baptized this week, but we are working with them so that they can gain a testimony and be baptized for the right reasons. At times, here in Paraguay, the reputation of the church for it`s good, honest people, is only overshadowed by it`s reputation of helping those in need. This wouldn`t be a problem if it was never taken advantage of by those that are not. So, we work hard to TEACH and invite people to COMMITT to live the gospel for testimony and love of God, and for no other thing. At the end of the day, we have to take their word for it, but we work hard to show them the joy and happiness in a deep, burning testimony of the gospel and it`s restoration.I love you all! I loved what Elder Anderson said in his Conference talk: If I have ever been less than I should have in your presence, I apologize. I too ask for your forgiveness. I am ever striving to learn and am SO far from perfect. I love you all and am so grateful for all you have done to help, love and support me.
With all my Love,Elder McCarty