THE ROLLA HOLLA! 28.Jun.2010

The journey of a mission seems to come full circle. As I re-read this letter, I’m amazed at how similar, yet importantly different it is from my thoughts on the plane ride to Paraguay.

I just don’t want it to end here. It CAN’T. The Lord has a brilliant array of opportunities, adventures, and missions of ever greater importance in store for me. But, I don’t want to leave any of this behind. The land, the people, the work, even just the man that I’ve become—I have 1 month to take it all in, trim it down and pack it into two 30 kilo bags carried by one worn out, but still restless missionary into a world of post card memories and day dreams on P-day.

As always, it stands true that my heavenly Father knows just where to send me to meet the people, the challenges, and the moments that are tailor fitted for my own personal joy and for the good for of the work. I’ve seen and continue seeing in a very real way how among the millions of people in the world—millions of seemingly spontaneous chain-reacting events—God orchestrates them into a soul-shaking symphony for the immortality and eternal life of man.

Miriam had been taught by the missionaries for about 6 months. She had received very special revelation from God that told her (a) that she needed to be baptized, and (b) that the man she was with was not meant to be her husband. Conflicted by those two counsels, she continued growing in testimony, saving money to prepare for marriage, a necessary step to obey the law of chastity and be baptized. Four times she saved the money and four times, unfortunate circumstances reduced her hard work to nothing: a sick child, a needy sister, or an unexpected but necessary trip to Asunciòn.

Seeing her burning testimony and love of the Book of Mormon, when I arrived here, we decided to raise something like Moroni’s standard of Liberty, but for Miriam’s soul. We went from house to house of the members, inviting them to help her in her cause. We strived to help her husband to change and to become a NEW man, so that she could obey the Lord’s counsel and marry, not THAT man, but a new, changed one.

The day arrived and we had the money needed. The plans were all in place. But, as if choreographed, 2 nights before the big day, the husband fell on his birthday after 3 months of not drinking, and hit Miriam, and was sent to jail. There he had an apparently life-changing experience and prayed his days away despite the ridicule of his cell mates. As he came out of jail several days later, he was still the same man, but he wanted to change. One week later he has kicked his before impossible vice of cigarettes, gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon and is prepared to marry Miriam and be baptized so that they can be confirmed together this Sunday. Every step in the series of events seemed unproductive, unlikely, or unwanted, but the end result is one converted family that came to church this week before any of the other members. It is amazing to see the hand of the Lord in His children`s lives.

Little Monica who was baptized last week came to church with only her 8 year old cousin, about 12 blocks. Conversion is a powerful thing.

I’ve been admittedly a little sad that I wouldn’t be able to have my final interview with President Wade. As I came to understand the importance of Priesthood Keys and the way they’ll be passed to the new President, I’m excited to see the change and to get to know President Madariaga from Argentina in my last change.

We happened to be in Asunción when this group of missionaries left, Elder Vail, a good friend was among them. Since we were in town, Pres Wade invited us to their farewell dinner and I had the chance to ask these 8 missionaries about the pearls from their interview with President Wade. Wow. The lord is really looking out for me.

Well, I love you all and wish you the best. See ya soon!

Elder McCarty

Pics

005 Changes with Elder Williamson, Dani and Rodrigo back from the office days. 011 My comp (E. Lisonbee) and I being dufusses pretending to teach
018 Trying to be a cool bridge pic, but really not that cool...failure.
Dutac THis one is me on top of a giant rock, holding the book of mormon, in case you couldn't tell. Shluta This is a cool half japanese family. When I get home, ask me to show you the video of the cutest little japanese girl singing of all time.

(Top Picture)
025 This on the other hand....EPIC. I mean, come on, look at those grass blades. Props to the Lison bizzle. (thats my companion)

The Rolla Holla! Monday, 21.Junio.2010

Dreaming of the family or home or not being a missionary most nights of the week. This week I dreamt that Dad moved to Paraguay and that it was time to go back to his house. I went, expecting a fancy, luxurious house, since everything is super cheap in Paraguay, and it was just a big empty Paraguayan house, with nothing but rickety Paraguayan chairs. So, my companion and I moved in and just had the time in our life talking and joking in this giant, empty, Paraguayan room.

Six week left. This Wednesday begins the last change of my mission. Pretty sure I’ll stay here in Pedro Juan Caballero and my companion will go. The Assistents should call us soon to give us the changes for the zone. It’s been interesting to see the different effect the end of the mission has on different Elders. Some of them get the attitude of “who cares, I’m out of here,” others spend the time searching for souvenirs and preparing and planning what they’ll do when they get home. This morning was the first real feeling of fear for the end. I guess fear is the opposite of faith, but it just seems like it’s coming to soon. I’ve kind of just felt quiet and thoughtful, but the feeling is welling up into a desire to put some goals and take advantage of these last few weeks to work with all I’ve got.

The branch continues to move forward. The Activities commitee (formed spontaneously over the last few weeks) had a fire lit in them, planned a June Party and invited all of the surrounding branches to participate. Looks like the members are getting excited for it.

President Nunez continues to work more with us and we are starting to see why he is how he is. He had been Bishop in Brasil for a LONG time and then came here, where the church is beginning and struggling and the culture is much more relaxed. He told us of his struggles to get people to go to church in shirt and tie, and to get organized and to enlist the members in service, but that nothing worked. We also had a sincere, frank conversation with his wife, who is bed-ridden and demands a lot of his time. She cried last night as she bore us her testimony and told us of her desires to serve in the church, but regret of not being able to. Now that she is the activities coordinator and makes invitations and plans activities, she is at least fulfilling a part of what she had always wanted. As we help her and get to know the family, it is incredible to see the way the PResident opens up to us. Last night we gave him a list of members we thought would work well in callings, and the most needed callings that are lacking in the branch. He humbly accepted it and promised to pray about them and fill the positions (mostly the Elders Quorum President and Ward Mission Leader). THings are looking up.

We got back in our area on Wednesday afternoon this week, tired, smelly, and feeling behind with our own investigators. It seems like the division did some good, though, because some of the Elders that were struggling to invite people to be baptized and help them get to church saw some serious progress this week. It is always a great blessing to work with missionaries that sincerely want to do this work in the Lord’s way and in the best possible way, but sometimes just need a little help to do it.

Pretty crazy experience yesterday doing contacts and a drunk man kindly received us. As he got to know us and began to speak slowly about things he had heard about the USA, he got caught up in his own story and eventually kicked us out of his house, calling us about every bad word we know in Spanish and Guarani and some we didn’t. We were on a division with a young man from the ward and tried to keep the situation cool. We didn’t respond really, just said, “ok, we came to talk about Jesus Christ and say a prayer, do you want us to or do you want us to leave?” At the end, he just wanted us to leave, I guess. Haha, one of those classic Paraguayan mission experiences.

Nine year old Monica, who’s mom is less active was baptized this week. At first we were hesitant since we didn’t know if she would be abe to continue attending church, but as she made friends with her neighbor who is an active and excited member, and she strived to say the prayer and read the Book of Mormon, she gained a strong testimony and real desires to follow Jesus Christ. One thing she had to do to follow Him was give up coffee, which her inactive mom gave her every morning. We helped her to understand the commandment, and ask her Heavenly Father for repentance and promise him not to do it again. I was able to confirm her yesterday and felt the spirit as I promised her the blessing of being a light to her family as she continues in the path she was beginning.

Tomorrow we have a big wedding and baptism planned. Miriam has saved up the money to be baptized several times and hasn’t been abe to make it. One time her baby boy got sick, another time she had to help her sister so her family could pay their bills, and another time they had to travel suddenly to Asunción. Well, they’ve been doing all they could to save up, and got a substantial part. But the members, seeing her testimony and consistency of coming to church every Sunday, and her love of the Book of Mormon, pitched in and paid enough for the entire wedding. We’re hoping they’ll be strong and committed to overcoming any obstacle to follow Jesus Christ.

Well, the work goes on. I’ll let you know how things turn out this week. I’m excited to have a new change and another new opportunity to define myself and become the best man I can be. Love you all,

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Monday, 14.Jun.2010

Well, today we are going out to the farthest part of our zone, about 4 hours away, to do some divisions and help some Elders out there that are struggling. The bus leaves in 20 minutes so I'm a little stressed for time.

Setbacks this week had the zone a little stressed and feeling apathetic. In district meeting we tried to help them humbly take responsibility for the results, and to determine to do better, focusing on a raised vision of that of which we and our areas are capable.

Anyhow, in our area things are progressing and the members are taking charge of the activities. It's been great to see the changes, and that the members are getting excited. We also have some great baptisms preparing for this month.
Love ya, talk to you more next week. PROMISE!

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla, Mon. 7, June, 2010

Burly Pres Nunez slowly stood up to the podium in Sacrament Meeting to conduct. He was wearing his thick-rimmed glasses, and spoke with his thick Brazilian accent. After announcing the activities that are getting started in the branch, he paused and said “Something very grave has happened in our branch.” The whole room went silent. “Somebody has scratched “%/!”$?” into the wood on the sacrament table.” To us, the Americans, and to his Brazilian mind, saying the worst word in Spanish in Sacrament meeting wasn’t so bad, but the congregation gasped. Haha. Probably wasn’t necessary to say the word, but just a funny, Paraguayan sacrament meeting experience.

The branch is progressing. Our work in the area is starting to pay off and the investigators that we DO take to church are beginning to enjoy the experience and learning important things to help them progress, instead of feeling lost and unsure.

We had the first successful activity this week and about 30 members came, but the whole branch was a buzz with good talk about how well it went. They are all excited to support the Activities coordinator in the other activities they’ve planned this month. Pres Nunez is also excited about the work and even came out with us on Saturday night to visit investigators. For us it was a normal visit, but he inspired me as we arrived and he was shining up his shoes, neatly combing his hair and putting on his best cologne. He is a great guy and has a great love for the people, though sometimes might have difficulty showing. I can learn a lot from him.

We were going to have District Counsel las Saturday, but the District President called and cancelled on us at the last moment. We are planning on meeting up with just him and his counsellors when they have their meeting later this week. Our deepest desire is to help establisht he church here in the PJC, so that it can really bless people’s lives.

I feel ever indebted for the way that it has blessed mine! With love,

Elder McCarty

P.S. SORRY there are no pictures. I promise to do better this week!