The Wisdom of Chefs and Old Men
78 year old Braulio told me today that he worked in Miami for 4 years as a security guard. He said he was blown away by it’s beauty, cleanliness, and organization, but that he would never exchange it for home. For him, Paraguay was the place. As we did service this morning at the old folks home here in a local Catholic Church, I pondered life and the experiences I’m having, and some that I may be missing out on. As much as I love Paraguay and it’s beautiful, humble people and striking countrysides, nothing can ever replace home.
Braulio also told me that life is just too short to spend time hating people or even to just forget to appreciate them. He said that however much hate you show to others, that is really just how much you hate yourself. Sickly and sometimes alone, he finds himself regretting those little moments of hightened temper or shortness with loved ones that he no longer sees and sorely misses. The beauty of my mission is that I will see you all again, and I will not forget my determination to love and appreciate you with all my heart.
The work carries on. Cristian, a professional Chef is working from morning until night opening his new restaurant. Among buying all of the cooking machines and supplies, training a staff, obtaining necessary funds, and launching an advertising campaign, he finds time to listen to our message, and to sincerely inquire as to its truthfulness. That inquiry will lead him to the waters of Baptism this coming Saturday, the 3rd of October, early in the morning, to fit with his hectic work schedule that day. As my brother Drew said, when God prepares something, no obstacle is too great. An immigrant from Argentina who comes from a struggling, divided family, this sincere, humble young man will make an excellent member in the restored Church of Jesus Christ.
It is exciting to be here building it. It’s not all about baptizing, though a lot of it is. Establishing the Lord’s church is demanding. It must be balanced. Yet, at the same time it is the most rewarding endeavor I have ever or will ever experience. Thank you for being by my side. With all my love,
Elder McCarty
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Rolla Holla, People Who Get It, Saturday, September 19, 2009
Let’s be people that get it. We come from all different walks of life; dancing to the rythym of our own, personally selected iPod music; seeing this world through a lens that is uniquely our own, complete with judgements, biases, and insecurities. Why is it so hard for us, sometimes, to just accept? I include myself. Why is it so hard for me to just accept? Those few, choice moments where I am more focused on my love for people than my disapproval; where suddenly I count myself lucky to be blessed by their presence and I swear to myself that I won’t miss one happy moment, or hardy embrace—the perls.
I love this life too much to not enjoy it. Sometimes I forget that. Put me in the smoggy Utah desert weighed down by too many classes and a full time job, or in a musky Paraguayan jungle, resisting the urge to scratch 13 different mosquito bites while wondering why Emilio won’t stop drinking to help his family. Heck, even stick me in the office where my skin turns pale and I can only get out 3 hours a night because I’m too busy designing, printing, and cutting up invitations for other missionaries to use to invite people to general conference. This life is not short on trials or on people willing to complain to you about them (like I just did :-).
But let’s be people that get it. People that patiently and lovingly listen, and then offer those simple, savory words: “I understand.” People that show their love because they feel it, and then even sometimes when they don’t. Let’s be people that make this world a better place.
Because when all is said and done, the Savior of us all was someone who got it. He was one whose entire life and death was based on understanding: suffering what we would one day suffer to understand and to feel what we would one day feel.
I love this life too much to not enjoy it. Sometimes I forget that. Put me in the smoggy Utah desert weighed down by too many classes and a full time job, or in a musky Paraguayan jungle, resisting the urge to scratch 13 different mosquito bites while wondering why Emilio won’t stop drinking to help his family. Heck, even stick me in the office where my skin turns pale and I can only get out 3 hours a night because I’m too busy designing, printing, and cutting up invitations for other missionaries to use to invite people to general conference. This life is not short on trials or on people willing to complain to you about them (like I just did :-).
But let’s be people that get it. People that patiently and lovingly listen, and then offer those simple, savory words: “I understand.” People that show their love because they feel it, and then even sometimes when they don’t. Let’s be people that make this world a better place.
Because when all is said and done, the Savior of us all was someone who got it. He was one whose entire life and death was based on understanding: suffering what we would one day suffer to understand and to feel what we would one day feel.
I love Him for that.
Elder Kyler James Rolla McCarty
Elder Kyler James Rolla McCarty
PICS
00 Send 1 Here’s us office Elders at the museum here near our office where we went for Pday. This is the giant bug part. Pretty cool.
00 Send 1 Here’s us office Elders at the museum here near our office where we went for Pday. This is the giant bug part. Pretty cool.
00 Send 2 PRETTY exciting office pic. Lookin pretty fat, but at least I’m happy :-)
Send 3 Speaking of fat, my companion and Elder Haskell, one of the assistants signed a Diet plan and asked Elder Vail and me to be witnesses and sign with them. We are also the enforcers, which mostly means eating in front of them and laughing because they can’t. 
00 Send 5 Here we are in the museum next to the stuffed lions. The great thing about having the zoo right next to the museum is that whenever an animal dies, you just stuff it and have a sweet new addition for the museum.
00 Send 4 Here we are at the Botanical Garden (the same place where the Zoo is and the museum, and there are also some soccer fields. We had a blast. 
00 Send 6 Me looking debonair (in my opinion…I know, cool word…I think it’s a word) a while back at a going away dinner for the old missionaries.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Rolla Holla, Sunday, 9.13.09
The unwritten rules of God’s true church. There are so many and they sure keep things interesting. President Wade taught us that when you are asked to give a talk for 10 minutes, you give one for 8 (something I need to work on, especially in Spanish when I never feel like I say exactly what I want to and so just say A LOT), or that you always offer the presiding authority an opportunity to speak at the end of the meeting, or that a meeting usually has to be pretty short and really good to be better than no meeting at all.
sometimes here in Paraguay they have their OWN set of unwritten rules (mostly because nobody in their right mind would write them). Nestor, a convert of 2 or 3 years in our ward has assumed the post as guardian of the door during the sacrement. It would be an excellent calling for a new convert…except Nestor takes it a little too seriously. Wrestling with door handles against late church-goers until he gets the startled glance and then understanding nod of the Bishop that it is ok to let them pass. Then opening the door just enough for them to get in and closing it right behind them, sometimes knocking up against their heels.
It is also an unwritten rule that you do not drink Terere (cold water poored over the same type of herb used for Mate) in the Sacrament meeting room or in any of your classes and so, consequently, you must miss many parts of important meetings in order to be in the kitchen with your best friends in the ward, participating in one of Paraguay’s favorite pass times.
I guess it is better than outside of the church where there sometimes are no rules whatsoever (written or unwritten). Every night we office Elders come home from fun-filled nights out in our areas and tell the funny stories of things that happen to us. Elder Vail and Elder Vance told us last night of an evangelical lady that they figured knew enough about religion to offer the last prayer on the first visit. Boy did she know. Upon being asked she immediately stood up from her chair, grabbed the two Elders by the head—one in each hand—and proceeded to give them a shouting, chanting, blessing.
Of course, strange prayer experiences aren’t limited to those that aren’t members of our church. My companion and I were lucky enough to be blessed so that we could find ourselves in Heaven one day with Mahatma Gandhi, while praying with one of the less active members we visit. I guess that wouldn’t be so bad…or unlikely.
Well, all is well. I am enjoying life and learning a lot. I love you all!
Elder McCarty
sometimes here in Paraguay they have their OWN set of unwritten rules (mostly because nobody in their right mind would write them). Nestor, a convert of 2 or 3 years in our ward has assumed the post as guardian of the door during the sacrement. It would be an excellent calling for a new convert…except Nestor takes it a little too seriously. Wrestling with door handles against late church-goers until he gets the startled glance and then understanding nod of the Bishop that it is ok to let them pass. Then opening the door just enough for them to get in and closing it right behind them, sometimes knocking up against their heels.
It is also an unwritten rule that you do not drink Terere (cold water poored over the same type of herb used for Mate) in the Sacrament meeting room or in any of your classes and so, consequently, you must miss many parts of important meetings in order to be in the kitchen with your best friends in the ward, participating in one of Paraguay’s favorite pass times.
I guess it is better than outside of the church where there sometimes are no rules whatsoever (written or unwritten). Every night we office Elders come home from fun-filled nights out in our areas and tell the funny stories of things that happen to us. Elder Vail and Elder Vance told us last night of an evangelical lady that they figured knew enough about religion to offer the last prayer on the first visit. Boy did she know. Upon being asked she immediately stood up from her chair, grabbed the two Elders by the head—one in each hand—and proceeded to give them a shouting, chanting, blessing.
Of course, strange prayer experiences aren’t limited to those that aren’t members of our church. My companion and I were lucky enough to be blessed so that we could find ourselves in Heaven one day with Mahatma Gandhi, while praying with one of the less active members we visit. I guess that wouldn’t be so bad…or unlikely.
Well, all is well. I am enjoying life and learning a lot. I love you all!
Elder McCarty
Friday, September 11, 2009
Philosopher Investigators and Troubled Youths
The Rolla Holla,Saturday, September 05, 2009, 4:00 pm
(2:00 pm back in the states, and the latest I check my email)
Elder Kyler James Rolla McCarty
Mission Paraguay – Asunción Norte
Capitan Miranda 1681
Casilla de correo 1871
Asunción – Paraguay
I imagine my letters could get boring talking about the office too much. It is a lot of the same: a rotation that takes place over and over again, doing different tasks—changes, zone conferences, President’s trips, etc. The most interesting stories come from the work in the field. I realized I didn’t send pictures last week of the family that was baptized, so here they are.
Some sweet stories this week. Looking like a philosopher with his 50’s style golf cap and button up sweater, sitting on his porch pondering life, we met Luis, golden of golden’s. We set the appointment and he was thrilled about being able to go to church. He called us today to inform us that he regrettably wasn’t going to be able to make the appointment, and my hopes dropped. Then he asked, “but, will I still be able to come to church with you tomorrow?” I told him yes and he proceeded to tell me that he had studied the pamphlet we’d given him and underlined it, but then given it to his daughter so he needed another one. Some people are just prepared.
I’ve been wondering how to talk with this young man that goes out on divisions with us. We have heard that he has been getting involved with a dangerous crowd and was drinking and taking other misguided steps into a world he was prepared and didn’t want to enter. Last night as we did contacts we went and sat down at the park. It was raining just slightly and I talked to him frankly about it, trying to be his friend, but also sharing experiences and trying to help him. He is now talking with the Bishop and on the road to repentance. He is a great young man, with an open heart, who will someday be a great servant in the kingdom of God.
Some sweet stories this week. Looking like a philosopher with his 50’s style golf cap and button up sweater, sitting on his porch pondering life, we met Luis, golden of golden’s. We set the appointment and he was thrilled about being able to go to church. He called us today to inform us that he regrettably wasn’t going to be able to make the appointment, and my hopes dropped. Then he asked, “but, will I still be able to come to church with you tomorrow?” I told him yes and he proceeded to tell me that he had studied the pamphlet we’d given him and underlined it, but then given it to his daughter so he needed another one. Some people are just prepared.
I’ve been wondering how to talk with this young man that goes out on divisions with us. We have heard that he has been getting involved with a dangerous crowd and was drinking and taking other misguided steps into a world he was prepared and didn’t want to enter. Last night as we did contacts we went and sat down at the park. It was raining just slightly and I talked to him frankly about it, trying to be his friend, but also sharing experiences and trying to help him. He is now talking with the Bishop and on the road to repentance. He is a great young man, with an open heart, who will someday be a great servant in the kingdom of God.
Thanks for everything family, I love you all!
Have a great week and write me an email, even if it is just a SHORT one!
It is so great to hear from you!
Elder McCarty
Elder McCarty
061 The family we baptized last week! They are happy and excited to be members. They have a great future ahead of them!
003 Sweet soccer action pic. A cool game my comp taught us where you have to stand at the other goal and try to score, where the goalie can’t use his hands. I lost every time to him, but it was cool.
083 Walking with my companion, Elder Rodriguez down a street in our area. Javier, who we baptized lives about a block away.
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