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.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
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.
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.Saturday, November 7, 2009
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.
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.
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