The Rolla Holla

Last Rolla Holla from Paraguay! 8-2-10

2010-08-02T16:19:00.000-07:00

Family,

It is an INCREDIBLE but also overwhelming feeling to know that such a BIG change is so close, but is not quite yet here. Everything inside of me screams for me to prepare myself and organize myself for the future, but that still, small voice (sometimes aided by inspired counsels from friends and family) encourages me to keep my focus here and trust that everything back home will take care of itself. Of course, that comes with an understandable measure of preparation for needful things.

We’ve been practicing all of the things that I’ll be doing once I get home: I got some references from my beloved companion, Elder Lisonbee, for my next mission, and we’ve been practicing how I might approach a first phone call to a girl that I don’t know, but would like to take out.

Haha, we’ve even been practicing my homecoming talk and everything. I’m a little nervous and unsure about giving a whole talk in English, but I trust that the Spirit will help it to turn out well. It’s sure funny to see all of the Spanish words that just so naturally come out. We’ve been hitting each other every time we use Spanglish so that we can learn to just stick with one language.

We’ve just been having a blast, but still working hard. Five of our investigators made it to church, even though there was heavy rain. One of them, Marcelo, just has this incredible glow in his eyes and is also very talented. The other night he played us “Sweet Child of Mine” on the guitar and sang what HE thought he understood of the lyrics. It was pretty incredible. I’ll miss those experiences.

I also had an experience this week that I’d never had before. I was actually with my Office Grandson (as they say in the mission), who is the current Secretary (trained by the Secretary that I trained, haha), on a 4 day division. My companion had gone to Asuncion for a big training that ALL mission leaders took part in as part of some fundamental changes in Missionary Work from SLC. Well, since I’m old and going home, they decided to let me work the last few days of my mission.

Anyhow, as we ended the division, we had to do a bus exchange where I got off and another Elder got on. As we got to the meeting place, nobody was there. I looked around and didn’t know what to do since we can’t be alone. I called him and they were just leaving the house (the bus had arrived surprisingly fast). Well, about 10 miles later, after having tried to call the Assistants to the President (it was 1145 pm by this time), I decided to get off and catch the next bus back, and send the other Elder alone to Asuncion where he would meet up with my Office Grandson, Elder Adamson again. Well, when I got off the bus in a small Brazilian Colony, in the middle of Paraguay, alone, it was amazing the feeling of uncertainty. I waiting for about 30 minutes for a bus to come by and it never did. Well, I talked with 5 mildly drunk guys at a bar and one of them said he would take me to where I needed to go since he lived there. So, I went flying down this dark road on the back of a motorcycle and made it safely to my companion at that time. But wow, it was sure a different experience.

I received a letter from my Stake President and loved how he told me that I will be making the transition from Full Time Missionary to Full Time Disciple of Christ. I’m really not that interested in resting. I just want to be the most effective, helpful instrument that I can be in accomplishing my Father’s work for the rest of my life. See ya soon!

Elder McCarty

Last pictures sent 7/26/10

2010-08-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

002 Baptism of Sara

003 Investigators we took to church Sunday

Me at the computer writing to you all!

The Rolla Holla! Monday, 26 of July, 2010

2010-07-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

Bom ba dum bum dum dum! Announcement: I’ll be reporting on august 8th in Kaysville at 11 AM. I might also talk in Orem, but I´ll let you all know.

Even up until the VERY end, or the twilight of my mission as my brother called it, the Lord is raining down His miracles. This week we met, taught, and baptized 18 year old Sara who has been prepared by her Father in Heaven. She attended church twice in a branch about 3 hours away and came to visit her member sister. We invited her to a fireside for youths, then to church, then to be baptized. She accepted the first two and decided to ask God to be sure about the last. The answers came line upon line, as they always do, and she came to know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, the Church of Jesus Christ is His true church in the earth today, that the Priesthood has been restored and finally, that one must be baptized and endure to the end to obtain salvation. What a journey.

We had planned for her to be baptized on Saturday, but then an obstacle came up, as they always do. There was trouble in the family and suddenly she and her sister had to travel hom to be with their parents. Yet her faith didn’t waver and she asked us to arrange for her baptism that very day. Her baptismal service was simple but a sweet, reassuring spirit was felt. We all knew that what she was doing was right and correct and approved by a loving Heavenly Father smiling down on her.An incredibly musically talented Elder Collura and I sang a special musical number, and she asked me to perform the baptism. She was smiling and almost glowing all throughout, but more than anything as she returned from the dressing room and we laid our hands upon her damp hair to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. Though she may live far from the church where she is from, she promised to read and pray every day, and do EVERYTHING she could to be in church every Sunday. What a beautiful experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

One lesson that we taught to her this week was on a division with an Elder Hopoate. This big, Tongan, full of heart Elder smilingly greeted her and we began to teach. We had planned to cover the Plan of Salvation and were amazed by her willingness to listen and desire to understand. It was the day after she had received her answer about the Book of Mormon. As we taught, a powerful example came to my mind. I knew that she was away from her family and that she would empathize with the feelings of being away from home. As I talked about all of you and how overjoyed I will be to see you again, I felt the spirit testify to me and THROUGH me to her, that our heavenly reunion will be a source of such great joy that we cannot even imagine. All we have to do are those 5 simple things that our Savior taught: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Endure to the End.

As Elder Hopoate and I came out of the mission, we both exhaled and were just amazed at the spirit we felt. I’ll miss those experiences, but look forward to others that will make life just as sweet after the mission and forever. I love you all and look forward to being there with you soon!

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Monday, July 19, 2010

2010-07-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

The time is a-tickin on. NO, of course I’m not trunky, or home-sick, etc…haha. Of course I can’t WAIT to see my family and friends and all of you. I just have one request: when I get there, I’m expecting some good solid hugs. Don’t rush it, family and friends. In fact, it’s better if you just let me determine the length of the first hug. You can let go as soon as I do…haha. Kind of joking but mostly serious.

Well, not a lot of time, but I LOVE THE MISSION. Today in District Meeting we had only a few minutes after accounting for our work and making plans to take the zone forward. We all closed our eyes and imagined ourselves back in our homes, on the couch, watching our favorite million dollar game show. We talked about all the ridiculous things that people will do win a million dollars (eat bugs, starve, fight with eachother, betray their best-friends, EVERYTHING). Then we asked them, if ALL you had to do to win a million dollars was to take 5 people to church, what would you do.

They came up with ALL kinds of crazy ideas: bringing people in off the streets. Asking EVERYBODY what is holding them back and what we can do so they can go. Promising them all kinds of blessings (the normal, spiritual ones, and even some material ones to help them bridge the gap from where they ARE to where we want them to be…like to take a picture with their family at the church and print it off and give it to them, since the Paraguayans LOVE to see pictures of themselves and their family). It was amazing to see the zone LIGHT on fire and think of EVERY idea under the sun, with which we covered the chalkboard, listing ALL of them. We had them write all of those ideas down.

Then, we had them draw a line under that list. We told them we would be taking 5 minutes to think about something else. I turned and erased everything on the board. We asked them, If you would do all that for a million dollars, if THAT was your reason, what would you do if you reason was this. We wrote up on the board: “Jesus Christ.” I sat down and we thought in silence. We asked if anybody had EVER in their mission thought of a list like that: of all the possible things to achieve a specific goal. Nobody raised their hands.

I think sometimes in life we lose sight of JUST how important it is what we are doing. I am FIRED up to do everything I can in these last two weeks to do it for HIM. I know that as I do, I will feel and hear those words at the end of my mission: Well done thou good and faithful servant. I hope you all think of your goals and ponder what would you do if you could win a million dollars, and then realize WHY you are really doing it. Have a great week!

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Monday, July 12, 2010

2010-07-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Our new President Madariaga is a great man. He reminds me of leaders I have had in the past that are just FULL of love and kindness, and clear in their vision of where they want to go. We had a leadership counsel with him, then interviews, then zone conferences. In a matter of 3 days he got to know every missionary in the mission, let them know about his expectations inspired them about his vision, and invited them to be united in purpose in order to achieve it.

Traveling to Asunción and back and then working like crazy to make up for the work we missed those 2 days, didn’t help the cold that had been lingering in my sinuses and throat for the past week. I’m hoping to be able to get over it today.

On Sunday, I was a little disappointed to see that Miriam stayed home from church sick, though Gustavo showed up early to meet with the Branch President about receiving the Priesthood. I was saddened again when Gustavo left before Sacrament Meeting because of a supposed emergency, of having to work to pay a debt on Monday. We went by yesterday night and stressed the importance of the sacrament. I had felt strongly about this as President Madariaga taught us to focus on ordinances, since they really are the purpose for the church’s existence and our service.

We explained to them that so many people go completely inactive just by thinking, “meh, it’s just once Sunday, what does it matter?” and lose their salvation by missing out on an ordinance that is as simple as taking a piece of bread and a cup of water from a tray to your mouth. Of course, we explained, the ordinance has a much deeper significance, which only makes it sadder when people chose not to do something so simple, yet with such grave consequences both immediately and eternally. I felt like they may have been thinking: “whoah, calm down Elder McCarty,” so I just expressed my love and told them how much I want them to be happy and together forever and that THIS is the way to do so.

We also met another pretty cool family this week, as we were visiting another inactive member. He took us to meet his neighbors and I saw the man practicing guitar. I told him I played and he asked me to teach him something. We just played and chatted for about 10 minutes as we got to know the family. We began a strong friendship and then explained what we do and how our message can help families. Marcio came to church yesterday and enjoyed it. I can tell that he felt something and we’re excited to keep teaching them. His wife promised us she’d go this week as well.

I’m pretty excited about the ward, because they’re doing activities on their own and getting some good visiting and teaching going. We had several more men in Elders Quorum and some great families are getting active again. There is no work more exciting than helping others to take the needed steps to find lasting happiness. I love you all!

Elder McCarty
Pics (sorry, bad picture week)

001 Me cutting cake at the wedding.

002 Elder Snow, Elder Brazier, and I, at the zone leader counsel. They committed me to go with them to an Iron Maiden concert when we all get back. Never been a big fan, don't really even know any of their songs, but I guess I'll have to get to know em.

003 Elder LIttle and I, long time friends from the mission. He's kind of crazy, but I love him. He comes home the change after me.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, July 05, 2010

2010-07-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Gustavo and Miriam were converted and baptized. They are new creatures in Christ. They read daily together, mark their scriptures with their red pencil (or as they and the rest of our investigators call it, their “Fishing Pole,” for finding and pulling out those fishes of the Lord’s inspiration for them), and then share them with each other, where Miriam usually ends up explaining to Gustavo in Guarani since he is improving his Spanish. They arrive early to church, before any other member, even President Nunez and us, since we are always picking up investigators.

Their baptism was beautiful. The ward showed up in full force to support them and encourage them in their change. I love this work and feel like this family was a giant gift from God, and one of my most important challenges for these last weeks of my mission: prepare them for an eternity.

We had the baptism in the Sacrament Meeting room, moved to the baptismal font. A sweet spirit of willingness to follow God on Gustavo’s part, filled the room as he humbly smiled and his eyes glowed. It almost brings a tear to my eye to know these experiences will be coming, at least in some way to an end.

I am, however, SO grateful for friends and family that share their INVALUABLE experiences and to help me prepare my heart for this important change. My Mom helped me to be confident in the post-mission life, with her unwavering belief in me. My brother Drew helped me to feel satisfied and accomplished with the 2 years I have spent here in the mission. Other friends helped me to recognize that this is another change in an ever-changing life and to accept it as yet another call from the Lord. Thank you all. Don’t you worry, I will give it my all until the end,and will fall into your arms when I see you again! With love,

Elder McCarty

FOTOS!

007 Here's me, looking pretty fly.

001 Here we are in our sweet red brick, Paraguayan original house, eatin some french toast. DEEELISH.

004 Elder Hopoate is a master of the Haka, as far as I can tell...and that's far. He's tryin to teach me, but I'm white.

008 We both like this pic, because we both look skinny, oh and because it's outside the Registro Civil where Gustavo and Miriam got married on Wednesady night befor their baptism.

009 Here we are at the baptism. Pte. Nunez did the baptism, hopefully it'll help him feel responsible for the family.

010 We had to twist their arm to get em to dance. But they did. ANd they KNOW how to dance.

011 Looks like so do I.

015 Today we had the first transferly Baller's Cup. We lost in triple overtime and had to hand over the cup (hand made by me and E Lisonbee).

018 So, we were good sports, and lifted the champions up so they could feel the joy. I think our area will have it locked down next change since I'm leaving and my bball skills are suffering a bit.

Top picture: 005 Here is me and Lisonbee practicing afterward. Got a case of fat face going on lately, so I'll be losing some weight.

THE ROLLA HOLLA! 28.Jun.2010

2010-06-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

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!

Rolla Holla, Monday, 31 of May, 2010

2010-05-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

Even being here in the Internet café, typing, makes me anxious to get out and work. It’s funny, I’ve been pretty good throughout the mission at setting clear, actionable goals and then working towards them, but now I’m almost in a frantic rush to do EVERYTHING. So, this is my note to self: calm down, choose a few simple things and do better. That’s why I love President Hinckley’s counsel to just “stand a little taller.” In the hustle and bustle of life and the mission, we can simply continue forward, serving, loving, and doing our best, and then a little more!

To follow the request of the area seventy that all missionaries move out that live on chapel grounds, we moved to a new house. We lost some things: heat, paint, walls of something other than brick, and closeness to the chapel. But at least this week we gained a new pet cat. Chester showed up on our porch day after day for some unknown reason and so my companion put a box on the front porch for him to sleep in. Things were great until one late night, getting home from the work, my companion was playing with him and…he BIT him! Yeah, we didn’t expect it. So we took away his box priviledges and called Hermana Wade, the health specialist to see if we should do anything about it, haha. I think he’ll be ok.

We’ve been focusing a lot of our efforts on helping the local leaders to run the church correctly here in the PJC. Most of them know how it should be, some of them have even done it in the past, but now, they just don’t do it. It takes lots of patience and tact but has been an incredible learning experience.

So, today in we invited the District President, Pres Villasboa to give a short talk to the zone on how to better coordinate our work with the members here in Pedro Juan Caballero District. It was great to hear about his desires to better the district and his goals to become a stake. Most of all, I think it was great for the missionaries to see that there ARE leaders who care and want to help, and for him to see that we as missionaries REALLY want to establish the church and the work we are doing to make that happen. He also invited us to attend District Leadership meetings on Saturdays

In our Branch, specifically, the members and leaders are getting excited. We were able to work with Pres Nunez to set up a schedule for weekly activities. He called an activities coordinator and she is excited to plan and prepare and with our help, invite members so that the activities are successful. The youth is getting excited as well, and enjoy the Sunday school youth classes, as well as young women’s and Aaronic Priesthood classes that weren’t being held before (which means, we teach them often, but are working to change that).

This week we had a leadership meeting and then Zone Conference in Asunciòn. Since I was there all night after the leadership conference, Pres Wade invited me to his house to help him prepare a presentation for the zone conference the following day. The presentation was to help the mission get to know our new mission President, Pres Madariaga. After finishing, Hermana Wade made us some burritos and spaghetti, American-style, and we sat around the dinner table talking about the mission, and our purpose, and the great changes that will soon be taking place. It was an incredible experience.

Then, after giving the presentation the following day in one of the zone conference sessions, Pres Wade walked slowly from the big white screen to where Hermana Wade was sitting. As he walked he sighed deeply and said, “well, this whole thing makes you feel pretty darn dispensable, doesn’t it.” We all listened intensely, as we thought that he was ANYTING but dispensable. Thoughts ran through my head from the night before, hearing that he will only train the new mission President for a period of 2 hours before flying to the States and leaving it all in Pres Madariaga’s hands.

We talked about his life quest to become an indispensable member in the Kingdom of God. He talked to us about how really being indispensable means being the kind of person who SEES a need and then FILLS it. He said, “those are the kinds of people that the angels tap on the shoulder, when help is needed.” I felt the spirit deeply and have been striving and praying to see needs and fill them, and to become that indispensable missionary and member in God’s kingdom. It has brought a new and deepened sense of purpose to my mission and to each of my days as I am about my Father’s business. I invite each of you to pray for that gift and to see needs and then to fill them. I know THAT is the way to feel real joy in life, and to experience REAL growth and progress. I love you and miss you all. Have a great week!

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Monday, May 25, 2010

2010-05-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

The office moved and now has a new address for any letters or packages (if you´re going to send them, you´d better get on it, these weeks are your last chance)

Elder Kyler McCarty
Paraguay Asuncion North Mission
Avda. Santisima Trinidad 1280 c/ Julio Correa
Asunción Paraguay

It is exciting to be a part of such a great work. This week it showed that as a zone we were more consistent in our prayers, faith, and felt need for the miracles we desired. It was incredible to see the big leaps of progress that came, which are only possible through mighty miracles of God.

We won´t be having District Meeting this week, and will have to travel all Thursday for Zone Conference, so as we Rendired, we asked the District Leaders to stress that we didn´t want to make any excuses or have any set backs because of those things. They passed that on to their districts along with several things we´ve been applying to move the zone forward and we will all be praying to see the miracles necessary to raise the bar to the next level in the zone.

The area itself is also moving forward. We were able to see a very well organized and executed baptism with the help of the ward (after insistence and careful coordination), and the overall attendance continues to increase, from 40, to 49, now to 63 last week. We have the goal of 80 in church and met and prayed with the branch President to bring it to pass. He is a good man with a humble heart. We are working with him, and plan to continue organizing and coordinating our efforts to establish the kingdom in Pedro Juan Caballero. Well love you all and miss you. Hope you have a great week!

Elder McCarty
Pics

001 Me and the Villalba brothers. Juan and Froilan. AWESOME.

002 The whole group in San Pedro

003 At changes with good ol Elder Vail and Elder Maddux, both going home ALREADY!

004 Elder Walker and I preaching outside the temple

005 Me watching the bags of like 4 Elders.

006 On the bus with giant fancy comfortable seats.
007 See what Im sayin
008 Elder Snow and I with a little chubby girl wearing my hat. Shes cute and likes to swear, oops.
010 After a big FHE at an inactive family. Most of them came this Sunday for the first time in a long time.
011 The baptism of Sunilda. She has a great testimony and will be a good solid member!

The Rolla Holla, Monday, 17 May, 2010

2010-05-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

From helping established wards in downtown Asunción stay organized and do things in the Lord´s way, to watching the Lord prepare, help progress, and organize the church from the nothingness that was San Pedro. Now I´ve been sent to help sound the call of repentance in a Branch of the church with over 500 members. This week 49 of them went, and things are looking up. Patient, consistent work from dedicated Elders is starting to pay off, and I´m excited to do my part in that effort.

Here in Pedro Juan Caballero, there are 5 branches. One of them has a total of between 10 and 15 people in church each week. I imagine the church here started much as it started back in San Pedro, with lots of excitement and solid, prepared converts from the beginning. In the excitement, 5 chapels were built, and the growth continued. For whatever reason it may have suffered set backs, the beauty is that these people have testimonies, and have them deeply. Now we´ve just got to help them remember.

We´ve been doing our best to find quality men and families to strengthen the church. One night, a man passed by on his motorcycle whistling some familiar tune. Five minutes later we came to a house and decided to get to know the family. Out came 45 year old Elisha, happy to be living, and curious about our message. He offered us coffee, or if not tea, and we settled for hot chocolate. We had a good talk about how he could be with his family that he loved so much for the eternities. As we left and continued chatting, I took my eyes for a moment off of his giant german shephard. 2 minutes later I heard him growling and felt something bruch my leg and jumped. He grabbed my pants and tore them, but somehow, maybe miraculously, my flesh escaped the jaws of death. Yikes. But don´t worry, I´m ok.

Today with the whole zone, which is very spread out, we met in our chapel with the rain pouring down on the cement outside. After an inspiring meeting and feeling our vision being raised together, we went as a zone to play soccer in a nearby field. As the rain poured down and we got soaked, I looked up at the blowing palm trees and realized how much I love this place. Pedro Juan Caballero is on the very border of Brazil and we see brazil almost everyday from our area. Lots of people speak Portuguese so I may get to learn it a little myself. I´m loving the mission and excited about the new challenges and opportunities to learn of the mission!

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Monday, May 10, 2010

2010-05-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hugo and Fernando are the grandsons of Elida Garcia Villalba, the wife the humble and always incredibly happy bread salesman Juan. They live about 20 minutes walking from San Pedro, but come to visit grandma almost every weekend, and that is how we found, taught, and baptized them.

From the beginning they loved the church and felt the spirit clearly and powerfully as little children so often do. When there baptismal date approached the path to their house was blocked by giant puddles, 2 or 3 inches deep from the previous day’s rain. We went barefoot so our shoes didn’t get wet. We were on a mission to their little village of Curupayty, where we’d help their parents overcome doubts about their sons’ baptisms. They both consented and their home filled with excitement to see them take this important step towards bringing the blessings of the gospel into both their own and their family’s life.

The next day, the famous day-of-the-baptism-phone-call came and I figured something must have been wrong. As I’d suspected, the Father’s doubts had returned, and, as usual, because of negative comments from his neighbors. We prayed about it and took the leap of faith to rent a truck to take us to their house and then afterwards to the river for the baptism.

We arrived in Curupayty and talked with their father for almost 2 hours, determined not to return without his consent to allow these blessings into his family’s life. All of that talk seemed to get…nowhere. The truck we’d rented kept the clock running as he waited for us. But suddenly, as if by some unseen power, the father consented, signed the Baptismal Record, and we were off. The next day, their mother, Graciela, attended church to see their confirmation and is excited to prepare for her own baptism. Their father continues to open up to us little by little, and even invited us over for a Barbeque next weekend.

We found a new house and moved into it today. It will be a bit of an inconvenience since it is about 10 blocks from the chapel, but is otherwise a great house, with plenty of space, low rent, meets the conditions of the mission, and is owned by the father of my good friend and great convert Joel Caballero.

I was amazed by the members this week and their strength. Though only about 6 women and 7 men stay for the classes after Sacrament Meeting, they have solid testimonies and support each other through visits, encouragement, and magnifying their church callings. This is a great and a marvelous work. Love you all, especially my mom. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Elder McCarty

001 Anahí, Joel’s little girl, wearing my hat and name tag.

002 Me lookin chubby with a sweet old grandma. The great grandma of Hugo and Fernando that were baptized this week.

003 Hugo’s baptism, it was a cold day, so they were especially courageous to follow the answer they’d felt from God, despite the obstacles
004 Fernando’s baptism. Little Fernando threw himself into the current after his baptism, diving headfirst into the water, and everybody laughed. He was just so excited Lol.

006 Here I am in my old room. Those brown lines, we didn’t know what they were at first, but afterwards discovered that they were tunnels made by some strange bug that made holes in the wall and tunneled to the roof. Weird.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, May 03, 2010

2010-05-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

Friday morning the cell phone range and showed the ominous name: “Pte Wade.” In the history of my mission outside the office, this has usually meant some big change. Apparently it came down from the area Presidency that they don’t want missionaries living in the same building as the chapel any longer. So, we’ve been searching for a new house since the morning he called. There are a few options, though they are pretty far from the chapel. San Pedro is largely populated by students and since school is in session, most houses are being rented to them. Of course, I’m sure we’ll find something before this week ends and have commited to being in a different house by next Monday.

To be honest, this was a faith-trying week. It would have been easy to get discouraged as 2 excited and intelligent men we were working with (Jimmy and Edison) left town for what seemed like no good reason before their baptisms, and Raquel, who has been baptized but not confirmed, was basically grounded by her husband, deprived of her cell phone, and forbidden to talk to us. The hardest blow came when she herself told us that she wasn’t sure she wanted to continue, and felt that she had been confused, and that we should not try to contact her anymore. To top it all off, ALL of the 4 wonderful families we were blessed to find and begin teaching fell to some obstacle or set-back and weren’t able to make it to church (though the wife and 3 kids of one family came).

But the work must go on. Most of all, it was a lesson in “counting your blessings.” We were able to have 12 investigators for a total of 36 of Heavenly Father’s children in Sacrament Meeting, and will be praying and working our hearts out to have at least 1 of 3 possible baptisms this week. The members took charge of the meetings, once again, and it was another beautiful testimony meeting, followed by well-taught classes. Though perhaps not exactly the results we had hoped for, Elder Walker and I decided to kneel and return thanks at the end of the two meetings. We are cheerfully doing all that is our power and have the utmost assurance that His arm will be revealed.

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla, Monday, April 26, 2010

2010-04-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

The rain, persecution in San Pedro, discouragement, our own personal weakness, and so many other things had us gritting our teeth to carry on this week. Yet, we kept our hopes up and bore down in consecration in specific areas we had each chosen to stop holding back from the Lord. Though each day I felt that our work was unworthy and unfit of the lofty goal and specific miracle we were asking for, I strived to focus on my love of the people, believing that our loving Heavenly Father could concede us the miracle regardless.

As Elder Walker and I counted our Attendance in church, the people just kept coming. 10 minutes into the meeting, there weren’t enough chairs for everybody. As I counted and recounted the investigators, I could hardly believe it: 18. It was one of those tender mercies of God. Not 17, not 19, but 18 investigators in Sacrament Meeting, the exact number we had as a goal for several weeks but hadn’t until this week prayed consistently and fervently, and desired for exactly the right reasons: in order to help 18 of our brothers and sisters that we love and sincerely want to progress take the next, important step. They did and we were overjoyed. As we finished the 2 ordinations and the group filed out of our little chapel after 2 hours of meetings, Elder Walker and I just sat in awe. After some moments of silence, we decided to kneel and offer a prayer to return thanks.

Well, now we are striving to remain humble, re-calibrate and not leave ANY of what we had learned behind. The work progresses great. Elder Frutos from the office called me this week with some questions about the branch formation form, so we are excited, though willing to patiently wait for the members to have the blessing of an official branch here in San Pedro.

I have felt in these last two weeks a greater urgency to prepare the members here for the possibility of me leaving. Our little group is functioning well, and all members have, or will have by the end of the week, specific, written goal certificates (temple, mission, personal Progress, etc.) that they can display in their homes to keep them excited to progress, as well as callings or assignments, and finally, friends and nourishment by the good word of God through the visiting program we have been striving to set up. In our twice-weekly activities, we’ve been talking about important topics like pride, not taking offense, unity, and creating Zion. I honestly feel like they are ready and will be able to continue with Elder Walker’s able, consistent guidance if I am called to leave this place. Of course,

I am MORE than happy and willing to continue WHEREVER the Lord needs me most, and am confident that wherever I go, it will be where He needs me.

Elder McCarty

001 Did a division this week with Juan and it was GREAT. He speaks a lot of Guarani and little Spanish but was a great missionary and is even learning to SING!

005 The baptism of Juan's brother, Froilan Villalba, a great man and will be a great strength to the church.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, 19 of April, 2010

2010-04-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

Today we played 2 games of 2 on 2 soccer under the pounding Paraguayan sun. We were in Santa Rosa. It stuck me as I road in the 3 hour bus ride to give District Meeting the importance of love in this work. I realized that one of the reasons God hasn’t conceded me a specific miracle I’ve been praying for, is that my motives aren’t as centered in love as they ought to be. I invited my district to set a goal as a district for Attendance in church. We had set one for the conference in Concepciòn of 30 investigators between the two companionships, and saw miracles to be able to take 41, something I KNOW I could never have done on my own. We decided we would (1) Pray daily about our specific district goal, (2) Desire it out of LOVE for those people, and for that reason only, and (3) listening to the voice of the Spirit to find those that are chosen and prepared.

My awesome Mother wrote me this week and told me this story: “a sister in the ward told of her niece who was being baptized in a swimming pool and then confirmed right afterwards. When the Elder giving the blessing said "Receive the Holy Ghost" she piped up excitedly "OH, I Got it!!" during the blessing. I thought what a joy and simplicity children have in their testimony of the gospel and their communications and interactions with spiritual things.” It made me laugh, and feel the love towards little children that I have grown to cherish so much here on the mission. It reminded me of a story from a confirmation we had this week, though interestingly different. As we confirmed the man of a family that was baptized this week, with the door open to our little meeting house (since we don’t ever want anybody to be turned away), somebody passed by and yelled out “false prophets.” That’s just one of the many different attacks we get here in San Pedro where the persecution is almost, but not quite, as great as the many mighty miracles.

An indescribable outpouring of the Spirit this Sunday. We prepared Joel to conduct the meeting, which he did, along with very clear explanations of what the meeting is, the importance of the sacrament, and how to sing the hymns for all of the new members and investigators. Wow.

Our only 2 Deacons passed the sacrament, and our only 2 Priests blessed it. Then we listened to the testimonies of the family that was baptized and confirmed this week (an elderly couple with 10 children who will be an excellent adition to our growing family here in San Pedro). Elder Walker and I sang a special musical unmber of “I Stand All Amazed” in Guarani, and I gave the last talk. It was incredible the power of the spirit that we all felt, and the number of comments after the meeting from members and investigators alike about the special feeling of the meeting (especially an excellent family who was in church for the first time and is already excited about coming again next week).

We were then able to begin having the second hour of meetings, with the men in one class and the women and children in another. We are beginning to implement Home and Visiting Teaching and have already seen some incredible results. Truly “God has given the increase” as each individual and our small group continues to progress in miraculous ways. I love this work and look forward to a lifetime of it! With love,

Elder Kyler McCarty

Pics

003: The baptism this week with the members that went as well. WOW, it was beautiful, as always here at the edge of the Rio Jejui. 004 Elder Walker and the 3 that got baptized this week: Raquel (who had to go out of town and so wasn’t confirmed yet), then Victoria, and Concepciòn. 006 The family that was baptized this week always invites us for lunch and she is a GREAT cook. Then there is always fresh squeezed, seweetened grapefruit juice. Heterei (delish).
010 Tired of soccer pics, lol. These games I had to wear my classic, foldable sombrero to protect myself from the sun.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, April 12, 2010

2010-04-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

It’s cooling down a little in this half of the world. Even when the beating sun is out, a pleasant breeze keeps us cools as we sit under the thick shade of giant mango trees. “If I told you that this tree had the most delicious mangos in the whole world, how would you find out if it’s true?” The convenient example we use several times a day to invite people to just try it out and take one bite by sincerely reading, praying, and attending church to taste the sweetness of the truth.

Twenty-eight year old Jimi tasted it. And now, 4 days before his baptism he carries his Book of Mormon around on his old beat up motorcycle to share scriptures he’s found with his friends. His place is marked with a red pencil that we gave him as a gift and a tool to search for truth. He keeps finding more of it. However, many are called and few chose to be chosen. Even Jimi has some doubts and obstacles to overcome in these last few days before him baptism.

We watched conference one week after all of you. Though the recording skipped and the kids laughed and screamed as they played, we felt and knew that those men are called of God. The TV sat on a table made by one of our investigators, a carpenter, accompanied by a 2 liter soda bottle cut in half, full of beautiful Paraguayan flowers assembled by Blanca, who was called to be our flower coordinator.

The flowers were beautifully selected and arranged, but perhaps the most beautiful part was what they represented by simply BEING there. Immediately after her baptism, Blanca’s parents, brothers, and sisters began an unbelievable onslaught of insults, criticism, and what is often most painful – the cold shoulder. Deeply grieved by their rejection, yet sustained in her belief by a deeply seated testimony and continued nourishment and reassurance from the scriptures and the Holy Ghost, Blanca found herself torn between worlds.

She expressed to us that she wanted to stop attending church until the persecution came to an end and then she would then come back. We immediately felt that Blanca was at a cross roads and asked if we could stop by to visit her. As we talked, she bore solemn witness of God’s one true church, and that it was His will for her to continue on, but that she didn’t feel she could. We encouraged her, prayed with her, and invited her to pray for strength to do God’s will regardless of the consequences. She did, and she received. The flowers she brought will forever stand in my mind as a beautiful display of what it means to overcome opposition to humbly do God’s will.

For the first Sunday in our time here, the members took charge of preparing the chapel. Joel and Juan came early and opened the building, swept, set up the chairs, and prepared for the conference. Next week we hope to have Joel conduct and we can sit peacefully among the congregation. Progress like this is only possible with the help of a loving Heavenly Father whose work WILL be done. I feel humbled as I strive to do it in His way, and awestruck as I feel guidance from His sure and powerful hand. All my love,

Elder Kyler McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Monday, April 5, 2010

2010-04-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

From the beginning of the week we put our focus and faith in our goal of investigators in church, with a special emphasis on the men and families. We saw many mighty miracles from the Lord, including unexpected people we had invited from just the night before. I know it was done by a power greater than my own, and we were able to participate in seeing these valiant investigators form the determination and then overcome the obstactles to get to church. After all, we had 6 men, a complete family, and many others of our Heavenly Father’s children in church, and with the members and children, almost didn’t fit in our small chapel. I know it was only possible by His loving kindness and mercy.

Together with the members and investigators, we are also very excited to see the conference this week. We don’t have access to a satellite and so will watch in 1 week after all of you, on a DVD they will send us from the office of the mission. We have invited the members and investigators to become even MORE consistent in their personal and family prayer and scripture study, and to prepare a few questions that they would like to have answered by the Prophet, General Authorities, and above all, the Holy Ghost. I know that as they do that (something I should strive to do every Sunday, lol), they will feel the Spirit and receive the answers they need.

Some funny experiences? The other day we were in an investigators house: 85 year old Sebastiana and her 14 year old grandaughter Guadalupe. They have been incredible example of faith, walking the 15 blocks to church each week, the first week having only been invited the night before. As we taught in half Guarani half Spanish (my Guarani is getting a lot better, though still lacks a lot), a lady cam in and sat by us. We asked her her name but she didn’t want to tell us. We resumed teaching, and 3 minutes later, she got up and began screaming and pulling her own hair. She ran out of the house yelling that she was Catolico-Apostolico-Romano. It sure surprised us, and was the first time I’ve been rejected in exactly THAT way.

We’d been wanting to clean the yard up to make a volley ball court for the activies we have each Tuesday night with Members and Investigators (we usually share some lesson, play some game to demonstrate it and then eat jello or cake that I prepare). Well, we would go out with the machete and cut part of the grass every day. The problem was that the first part we cut was grown over again by the time we got to the last part. Well, one day as we passed by on the way to a lesson, we saw 5 little boys going at our lawn with kitchen knives, some with machetes, or whatever they had. WE were surprised and asked them why. They said they wanted to make a bicycle track. So we arranged for them to have their part and to clean up our part for our volleyball court as well….hahaha! Looks like somebody’s watching over us even in the small things!

I love being a missionary!

Elder McCarty
001 This dog is not hers (that’s Cristina, one of our 10 year old converts), but she nevertheless loves to swing it around by its legs. Hahah, it cracks me up. The funniest part is that the dog keeps coming back to their house regardless. 002 Here I am with the hardest working, most clothe washing grandma of 85 years that I know, Sebastiana. 003 Me and Juan, after his wife made a whole bunch of home made bread. Delish!
004 Elder Walker got the Famous Pee-Kay (as it’s pronounced), a bug that enters into your foot if you walk around barefoot (I’ve never got it yet, knock on wood). Here our convert Dionicia acts as nurse and she skilfully removed it, despite the odor of having walked around all day, haha. We’ll take a little more precaution in the future, who knows what the neighbors may have thought, lol. 006 EVERYBODY gave us Chipa, the Paraguayan cheese bread, and also the homemade bread they make on Easter week. WE have TONS, and won’t be able to eat it all. But it is delicious.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, March 29, 2010

2010-03-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

It was the first time outside of the office that I woke up at 3 am in the morning. As I finished showering I heard a knock at the door. I saw a missed call on my cell-phone from Edson, an investigator who had his baptismal date set for that day, though he was unsure he wanted to follow through. I let him into the chapel and went to continue preparing for the 5 hour trip to Concepción.
The conference was incredible. Even the day before, on Saturday, Pres. Wade stopped through San Pedro on his way to the conference to meet the new members and some investigators. It was AMAZING to teach with him and to learn from his complete comprehension of the purpose, mission, and best way to organize the Lord’s true church on the earth. He was also amazed at how the Lord has prepared leaders and pillars for the church here in San Pedro.
We had set the goal last week in District Meeting to take 30 investigators to conference between the 2 companionships. We prayed about it all week and worked like crazy, in the Lord’s way, and saw the miracles. Together we took 41 investigators. The bus we rented was packed full, with the total of 39 people that attended the conference from San Pedro. It was truly an experience never to be forgotten.
After the incredible spiritual experience of the conference, Edson was convinced that he wanted to wait and our other 2 baptisms were still uncertain. They had all received witnesses from the Spirit and knew the church was true, but had to overcome that end-of-the-road obstacle, fear. As the other 35 that came with us to the conference prepared the baptismal room, I talked with Blanca, accompanied by her stud of a husband, and member of one month Joel. He boar powerful testimony and invited her to take the step. He said, finally, “if you get baptized today, we get sealed in the temple in one year.” Wow. As I talked with them, and afterwards with Pabla, nothing I said to either of them seemed to be working. That is, until the Spirit touched their hearts in the right moment, and they made the decision. The baptismal service was beautiful and brought to an end one of the best days of my mission.
It was sure fun taking the long trip with all of my great friends and converts, but was also stressful trying to satisfy all of their needs. We took breakfast to eat on the way (yogurt and crackers) and ate lunch at the conference (ham and cheese sandwiches). I learned a lot about how to entertain and administer to such a large group and we had lots of fun and made great memories. Every week is full of those. I’m excited for another one!
Elder McCarty

PICS

11 Walker and I and Blanca and Pabla that got baptized.

010 Our whole group in front of the chapel

008 ½ if our little group on the way to the conference.

006 Before the conference, Juan wanted me to cut his hair. Hahah.

003 Me at the top of the Catholic Cathedral bell tower.

001 A breakfast at our convert families house.

The Rolla Holla, Monday, March 22, 2010-03-22

2010-03-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

I am amazed every week with the progress of our little group here in San Pedro. Joel, in whom I have absolute trust and who only lacks maybe a LITTLE training to be prepared as a branch President, gave a talk, along with Dionicia, an excellent convert and probable future Relief Society President. She accompanies to visit references from her or other people 4 or 5 times a week, bears powerful testimony, and loves every minute of it. Their talks were excellent and I learned a lot. It is incredible to watch them progress. Joel and Juan blessed the sacrament and Patricio and Elder Walker passed it. The group is functioning great and, while we are preparing for a District Conference next week (renting a charter bus, arranging for Breakfast and Lunch and other necessities for the 5 hour bus trip, on which we are hoping to take 40 people), we will be preparing Joel to conduct the meeting the following Sunday.
This week, the 11 investigators we had in church were mostly unexpected. Those that we thought were certain to come, didn’t, and people we thought wouldn’t come, did, including an 80 year old grandma, Sebastiana, and her 14 year old grand daughter. After the meeting Sebastiana asked for a blessing because here whole body hurt. Anyhow, after seeing my best efforts fail, to be replaced by miraculous and merciful results, I felt the gentle reminder that it’s not me, Elder McCarty, who does this work, but my Father in Heaven.
Some crazy experiences this week as well. After Joel’s wife who was sternly opposed to his baptism, set a goal herself to be baptized, she mentioned her greatest doubt: the same opposition in her family that she herself had been to Joel. Well, we couldn’t exactly use her OWN example to convince her, so we marked Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life and the Iron Rod to take her focus off the mocking crowds. As wer were about to mark and explain it, we heard a creeking sound and a large tree next door fell in Joel’s yard about 10 feet away from us. It seemed like it had been cle an cut with a giant axe. We all sat there amazed. Who knows if it was a miracle, but it sure was a crazy experience.
If I had more time I’d tell you about all the little kids that follow us around and ask us questions, or the drunk ex-husband of one of our converts that we had to kindly escort out of her yard, or a thousand other experiences. The mission is incredible! Love you all. Have a great week!
Elder McCarty

005 THe family of Juan the grizzly bear Villalba. I gave him and Patricio ties when they got baptized and they used them to bless and pass the sacrement. I also gave Juan a haircut with the little hair he has left (mostly in his ears, hahaha).

004 Patricio, my ompanion, and Juan, Patriio’s dad, the Grizzly Bear.

003 WE did a big birthday party for Patricio and I made him cake and led Happy Birthday in 3 languages, and then we went around and all said something we liked about him.

002 Gloria and I just after her Baptism.

001 The baptism of Gloria (15) and Sandra (10). They are awesome young women and their families will surely follow their example some day soon.

The Rolla Holla, Monday, 15.Mar.2010

2010-03-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

We sat in counsel with the future foundation of God’s church here in San Pedro. We were two young missionaries, two members we had found here both by miracles, and 5 other incredible converts. The 9 of us formed the 9 person adult population of what will one day be the San Pedro Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was the first weekly leadership training meeting.

We taught simply. The basic, yet perfect, organization of the church, with it’s loud and clear focus on the family was drawn on a large piece of card-stock, for lack of a white-board. As we taught and explained how leaders of the church EXIST to help out the families, memories flooded my mind of the people in this small town that I have come to love so much.

Last Saturday, in the rush to invite people for church and ensure a good attendence the following day, we took a moment to help the Villalba family learn about the habits of family prayer and scripture study. We had invited them to do it, given them a checklist to mark each day, and even helped them set up a rotation for who would say the prayer each night, but they hadn’t followed through...yet.

That night, Elder Walker and I played the part of Laman and Lemuel, and Patricio (age 12) and Cristina (age 10) played the part of Nephi and Sam, with Juan, their father, as Lehi. We read 1 Nephi chapter 3. We felt the spirit strongly as we each read a verse and paused so that each could read verse 7: “I will go and do.” The magic words. They felt the spirit as well, and were inspired to promise us that they would form and maintain these VITALLY important habits every day.

Sunday Elder Walker and I got a break. Joel blessed and Juan passed the sacrament. Victorina, one of the members we found here, who had not been to church in over 10 years, gave a great talk about Missionary Work. Next week Joel and Dionicia will be giving talks. Once again, this week we were blessed to have 30 people in the meeting and the spirit was felt strongly. We are striving to prepare them for that day when other missionaries come to fulfill the normal misisonary role and it will be THEIRS to lead, direct, and help this family of believers grow. The miracles from Heavenly Father are brought to pass in order to achieve HIS purposes. We are blessed to be along for the ride.

Elder McCarty

Rolla Holla, Monday, March 8, 2010

2010-03-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

By last Thursday morning with all of the preparation for our 4 planned baptisms this week, the fact that Sunday was Fast Sunday had, at that moment, completely slipped my mind. The night before had been a discouraging one, but we never lost faith. Elida, the wife of one of our converts, Juan Villalba, and their 2 children were set to be baptized. Elida had told us while sobbing that she didn’t think she could go through with it. Joel, another incredible man and future leader in the church had told us that he wouldn’t be baptized without the presence of his wife, and she was firmly set against it. 4 planned baptisms was starting to look like 4 of God’s children side-tracked by Satan’s tricks and tactics.
Well, Thursday morning I woke up with the distinct impression: “Fast until the Baptsism.” I told my companion about it and we began a fast, trusting in the great power of our Father in Heaven. Twenty minutes later the phone rang and I picked it up to hear Joel’s voice: “Estaremos ahí,” he told me, “we’ll be there.” As the day progressed, we made it to the house of the family Villalba to find them gathered together as a family, waiting for our visit. The wife told us, simply: “I’m going to be baptized,” in her half Spanish, half Guarani, and her kids smiled, since they’d wanted to be baptized all along but didn’t have the courage without their Mom. As if to add to the already miraculous nature of the day, we received a phone call from Dionicia, another recent convert, telling us that her daughter was back in town early (she always comes on the weekends and attends church with us) and wanted to be baptized along with the Villalba family, since one of the daughters is her age.
As we continued the fast and had one of the most spiritual baptismal services of my mission, I stood in wonder at the goodness and love of God. I know that He can and will work miracles, if we simply believe that he can, expect that He will, and listen to His voice!
This, and countless other experiences made this one of the most memorable weeks of my life. After the miraculous baptisms, we were went by to visit Elida to prepare her to receive the Holy Ghost. After chatting for a few minutes, she said something in Guarani, and Juan told us, she wants to offer a prayer. We listened as she said one of the most simple, child-like prayers, thanking God for showing her the way, and for giving her strength to enter into His true church. I felt the spirit deeply and powerfully, and KNEW that she did too: the universal human language.
After teaching the family, they invited us to a game of soccer, and we couldn’t refuse. In our big, awkward church shoes, we tried not to flatten the toes of the little kids. Turns out Elida is terrible at soccer but excellent at cheating and wouldn’t let us stop playing until we said that she won...haha. The family is united an happy. When we ordained his 12 year old son to the Priesthood, Juan pulled me in from the hand shake, and gave me a giant bear hug as he wept. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for giving me these experiences. I love you all and miss you!
Elder McCarty

PICS

005 Our soccer game with the Villalba family. Ok, maybe a little faked. I love Juan's pose...hahaha, cracks me up.

004 This week in Sacrament meeting: we reached the goal of a total of 30 souls in the meeting!

003 On Ronalds birthday. He'll be receiving the priesthood this week.

002 Elder Walker and I, Patricio, Elida, Joel, Sandi, and Cristina. 5 incredible people who will be the great pioneers of the church.

001 The whole group and the baptism this week! ANother beautiful day at the river!

The Rolla Holla! Monday, 1st of March, 2010

2010-03-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

A mist-like rain fell Sunday morning as we prepared to leave our apartment to invite investigators to church. The dirt roads in all directions had been transformed into pools of mud. Rainy Sunday mornings on the mission: something I will always remember.

As we invited people whose commitments were “unwavering” just a day before, we got a lot of the usual Paraguayan responses: “Yeah, we’ll go...if it stops raining.” We made a quick decision and after inviting one of our most commited investigators, Joel, we bought some plastic bags from his little store to the side of his house. “We don’t usually like to make purchases on Sunday,” we told him, “but this is a special situation.” We ripped holes in them, put them on and, looking pretty goofy ourselves, began handing them out to investigators as they laughed at how ridiculous the idea was. Meanwhile, we laughed and just promised them blessings. 8 of them came, for a total of 15 people in our little Sacrament Meeting room and it was one of the most spiritual meetings of my mission.

Joel, happened to be in Asunción this week on the same day that we were for Zone conference. President Wade invited him to come, but he couldn’t make it. Yesterday, in our lesson with Joel, he mentioned with a chuckle that people were telling him that we got paid for every baptism. We laughed with him and assured him that it wasn’t true. Just another one of the many lies he has seen in opposition to this important step he will take. One of the obstacles he has, with incredible grace and continually strengthening conviction, simply overcome.

On the flip side, in once sense, yesterday was one of the “pay days” of the mission that make it all worth it. He told us, after a moment of silence and with a tremble in his voice that he is ready and willing to be baptized this Thursday. He only wants to make sure that it won’t cause friction in his marriage, or between him and his parents. He seems to be thouroughly converted and is a capable, intelligent man, who is a professor in the local university of Agriculture. I am very excited for him and feel he will be a great leader for the church here in San Pedro.

San Pedro is progressing GREAT. Despite the rain and other discouraging obstacles this week, we are excited to keep moving forward. Our little group is growing both spiritually and in numbers. The spiritual growth is most exciting. Juan received the Priesthood this week and will be able to baptize his wife and 2 children this week. Though they are humble and simple, they understand the basics and desire to serve. Those are the kind of people the Lord uses to work miracles!

Elder McCarty

Pics
001 We brought a bunch of supplies and books back from Asunciòn. We also needed a shelf, so we decided it would be easier to carry them all by putting them in it and taping it shut. Worked pretty well, even though they charged us an extra bus fare to stow it beneath, haha.

The Rolla Holla, Monday, February 22, 2010

2010-02-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

I had the priviledge of seeing and participating in one of the most beautiful baptisms of my mission. The clouds parted, and the sun shown through as Juan said to me, “Brother, I’ve seen this place in a dream.” We were standing in the middle of the Jejui river, wading through water to our knees, trying to find a place deep enough to perform the ordinance of baptism. We reached the middle of the river before the sandy river-bottom gave way to firmer ground and deeper water. It seemed that God had sent the rain to clear the many recreational swimmers that congregate in the place called Little Port (Puerto’i), but held it back and sent the sun to warm the baptism.

My companion and Juan’s family, along with investigators and our small, tight-nit band of members stood on the beach enjoying the peaceful serenity and privacy of the place prepared specially for that moment. As he came out of the water and smiled wide, showing his remaining teeth, I asked him how he felt. “Arrrrrrpelete”, he told me, a Paraguayan Spanish slash Guarani phrase meaning something like “incredible”. A moment I’ll always remember, along with the many simple lessons we taugh him, full of examples to overcome the language barrier, and the miraculous change from receiving the Holy Ghost that thereafter made them unnecessary. He has been quickened, and now stands ready to strengthen his testimony, serve his God, and love his family.

Seeing him reach that point, in and of itself was a miracle. He overcame vices and sins of the past to make this life-changing covenant with God. Another small miracle led us to Javier’s house when, according to what he’d told us, he should have been at work. As we clapped outside his old, rickety wood fence, we saw a dark figure from inside the house get out of bed and come toward us. It was him. He told us he had been laid off and had fallen into old habits and vices and that he needed our help. We helped him form a plan to overcome and to gather strength. He nearly wept as he prayed to end the lesson and committed to do what was necessary.

This week was full of incredible experiences, some of them too sacred to record. BUt I bear my witness as a represantative of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, that He lives, and He continues His work today through tens of thousands of hands like mine, which are blessed to be a part of it. Another week of incredible experiences and miracles await me and each of you, if you look and keep moving foward with Faith.

Elder McCarty
002 My Companion, Elder Walker, and Juan and I at Little Port. 003 Looking for the right place. 008 Music classes, preparing for the San Pedro ward choir. 010 The activity last Thursday. We taught how to do family home evening and had a fun activity, laughed together, felt the spirit together, and came together as a big family. 011 Last Sunday in church. Looking from the pulpit out to the congregation. The group is growing and getting stronger each week.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, February 15, 2010

2010-02-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

My friend Russ Condie wrote me a letter in February of 2009 that I have reread many times since. He said, “The mission is a beautiful parable and deep foretast of life.” This week I caught a glimpse of what he was talking about.

I realized that I am learning to deal with and tolerate other people’s faults. 19 year old Rodrigo, an investigator who has gone 3 times to church but suffers from what seems to be some kind of obsessive compulsive disorder, sat explaining to us why his family members should put thebroom back where they found it or how he feels completely overwhelmed by the dirtyness in which he lives. We tried to stress the importance of prayer and asking for God’s help and guidance, but he feels unworthy even to pray, he tells us. We have seen many improvements in our little time with him, but are hoping and praying that he’ll take the SMALL steps to overcome. Despite all of his imperfections, I am amazed with the love I feel for him and how much God blesses me to truly desire his happiness.

I learned that the inspired music of the hymn book is a prayer unto God and a protection for each of us. We had our music class this week for the 2nd time now, and 2 investigators and DIonicia came. We enjoyed memorizing some of the hymns and singing together (with goofy drawings Elder Walker and I made up to teach them) and we have all felt more of the spirit by singing the hymns of our Lord both together and in those little moments of personal need.

The office Elders often call me with some random questions and I am glad to help them. This week, in one of those calls, they also mentioned to me that our new mission President will be...that father of my companion’s girlfriend. Wow, crazy. She may or may not come to Paraguay with him, and since my companion only has 3 months in the mission, he will spend the rest of it, after June, with his possible future father in law. I learned that for how much I miss my family and friends, a situation like that could make it a WHOLE lot worse, haha.

I learned again the power of true conversion. Dionicia payed her tithing this weak and has been blessed with strength to save money needed and follow a budget we helped her make, to get out of enslaving debt. She has also shared the gospel with her friend and brought him to church Sunday. He now also has a goal to be baptized the 4th of March. All because one day, in a simple, humble prayer, she felt something subtle, yet convincing in her heart.

Among many, another man, named Juan is experiencing that conversion. He set a plan to overcome his addiction to drinking, and has gone 2 weeks now without any problem. He is set to take the step of baptism, and thereby cleansing this Tuesday. I know that step will give him needed strength to overcome his addiction forever!

The work rolls on. We did a special fast last weekend, and did all in our power to achieve, specifically, our goal of investigators in Sacrament Meetign. We saw incredible miracles in making it happen, especially with 4, well-educated and established men an potential future priesthood holders that attended. The future looks bright for San Pedro and we are determined to do it right, in the Lord’s way.

I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder McCarty
Pics
007 Here’s where we ate lunch today. Good food, great prices, lol.

003 Here we are eating lunch. (haha, ok, didn’t take any cool pics this week, I repent) But at least you can see the cool glass bottles we drink soda of down here. I’ll miss that back home. 011 Here we are outside my favorite ice cream shop. We always make fun of how all of the flavors are spelled wrong on the sign behind where I’m standing

The Rolla Holla! Monday, 08 February 2010

2010-02-08T20:09:00.000-08:00

The lights are flickering and the heat almost suffocating in this little internet cafe, where the electricity seems to be working, but not working fully. Today my companion and I decided that it had been long enough without any physical recreation and took about an hour to play soccer in the old, run-down, but most importantly covered from the sun, soccer field here in the city center. Since Paraguayans aren’t too interested in playing soccer during the hottest part of the day, it was just the two of us and so we had to invent some games to keep ourselves interested. Turned out to be lots of fun.

This week was one for the books. The heat, the work, the people, the food (which WE are slowly but surely learning to cook successfully), and the blessings of God were all incredible! We saw two very simple, humble people, take the step of baptism and be made great in the hands of God. From fear and trembling at the thought of praying in front of us, to testifying spiritual giants on Sunday after their confirmations in Fast and Testimony meeting, we learned a new dimension to the word conversion.

I saw a single mother, 42 years old whose live had been torn by unfaithfulness, abuse, and un-just court cases that robbed her of her children, go from a weary, sad, depressive existence, to a hopeful faith in Jesus Christ through baptism. After her baptism and confirmation, she bore powerful testimony last Sunday in church, and by the miraculous help of God, received her 10 year old daughter back into her home, in a matter of 3 short weeks.

A 12 year old boy with twitching eyes and a hard time remembering things, was able to not only understand and apply the plan of salvation, but taught it back to us afterwards with surprising accuracy. He overcame his stage fright to bear testimony Sunday, and is excited to be one of the first members in San Pedro. Some day he will be a great leader and as he reads and prays daily, and sets goals to continue progressing, he feels happier and more confident every day. God knows each of us and our situations and has a plan for us.

The work continues on. We are happy and loving life and always looking for ways to improve. Thank you all for everything! I love you and miss you!

Elder McCarty

018 Here we are at the riverside in the baptism.

028 My companion baptized Ronal and I baptized Dionicia. Today is her birthday so we are going now to celebrate and eat cake!

012 Here we are singing. This is where we had our district meeting, sang, prayed, and talked about how we could more effectively find, teach, and baptize families to be the foundation of the church.

002 A cool canoe with a load of dirt being haulded accross the river. Beautiful Paraguay.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, February 1st, 2010

2010-02-01T19:50:00.000-08:00

God’s answers to ALL the right Questions

A new month! This week we’ll be seeing a few of the first baptisms here in San Pedro. We are so excited and feel confident that God is preparing these people to be strong members and future pillars of his church. Today is a very special pday...well, it just feels that way, I guess, because I got a package AS WELL as pictures in emails from you. Those of you that may not have been far from home would be AMAZED at how much happiness the little things bring.

It was incredible. Especially being out here in San Pedro for a while now, I forgot about the luxuries and joys of American candy (since one can find it in Asuncion if he’s willing to pay the price), new socks, souvenirs from your adventures (thanks for the sand from Hawaiis green beach, Mom :-). Thanks to those packages these last few weeks, I was just OVERCOME with gratitude and excited to eat Peanut M&Ms, American gum, and PB and J sandwiches and to see the pictures and read letters of the family. The pictures and letters more than anything else make me smile and rememeber why I am out here doing all of this.

I got letters this week from my nieces, Aspen and Brindley, as well as an account from Drew (to accompany many I’ve had from their Dad, Josiah) about what it is like to participate in a prayer from them where they pray for me by name as a missionary in Paraguay. Drew said, “I have knelt in family prayers several times and heard Aspen and Brindley pray for you while your far away! A child's prayer in it's simplicity and purity for you. Something about it just makes me take courage and faith.” I feel the same way and am amazed every time I think of all of you and how much I love you and miss you. If the time weren’t flying by so fast, it might be discouraging, but the most overwhelming feeling I have now is this: SPRINT to the finish. When I get there, as exhausted as I might be, I’ll be overcome with joy to see all of you!

Anyhow, in Aspen’s letter, she asked some questions that you all might also like to hear the answer to: “It is SO hot! I have to wear a goofy looking sombrero so the sun doesn’t burn me during the day. We have lots of fun and play games sometimes with my companion with the mangos that fall off of the trees. You have to kick it through the companions legs to score 1 point, as we are walking down the streets.”

“The food is pretty good. We have to cook for ourselves and eat LOTS of noodles and Mango or banana milk shakes. I learned this week how to make “tortilla”, which is just 2 cups of flower, 2 eggs, salt, and milk until its like cake batter, then deep fried in oil. It’s delicious. I’ll make you some with a milk shake when I get home!”

Anyhow, lots of incredible experiences this week in San Pedro. Last Friday as we were in a hurry to get to an appointment, I felt strongly to contact a family that was gathered outside on their porch. Like most people here in San Pedro, they received us warmly with lots of questions about who we are and why we’re here. We happily answered and got to know them, and shared a message about the family, prayed and left. The next visit, the father of the family hurriedely invited us in and said he had a question for us. He deeply wanted to know if a man REALLY could change himself. The question was music to our ears and we answered YES! He took confidence in us and told us of some difficulties he was having, asking if it were possible that God was humbling him and sent us in order to help him find a better way. WOW. This week we are going to have a family home evening with his family, and try to help them unite in their efforts as a family to find God and start a new life.

One of the questions we get a lot is, “Are you sure there are only 2 of you.” The people are amazed at how often they see us out walking and working among the people, and think there must be at least 10 different people. They always say, “no, we didn’t talk with you, we talked with other missionaries like you that were out working in my neighbors yard.” We always have to assure them that it was us and we are the only two. The other day I got a funny question from a 4 year old boy in a family we are teaching. He asked us, “Do you guys sleep in those clothes?”

Another day we were teaching a family with an 8 year old boy. While we were there, the Evangelical preacher showed up to ask why they hadn’t been going to church and to condemn our church and doctrine to them, in front of us. After he left, we quietly expressed our love for the family, reiterated our invitation that they could know for themselves by listening to God instead of man, and left with a prayer. The next visit, the boys mother told us that her son commented afterwards about us, “that’s how God’s servants should really be,” mentioning the way we dressed in shirt and tie, and even how we sang. Haha, so many incredible experiences and so little time to tell it all! Sorry this email is so long. I love you all and thank you for everything! Have a great week!

Elder McCarty

019 Me in front of cool yellow flower tree and paraguayan house.

018 Cool yellow flowers and blue sky.

011 After painting outside one afternoon, I got FRIED. My comp says I look like a white and read candy they have in Argentina.

5 Here we are with Liz, the single mom of 2 daughters in her cousins house. Her cousin Gladis, along with her husband Juan, and the whole family are preparing for baptism.

023 Another pic in front of a sweet Paragauyan house.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, 25th of January, 2010

2010-01-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

McWalker in the King’s Court

We were surprised to see a little set back this week in the results we’d been hoping for. Sunday we had 8 investigators and 8 members (including us), for a total of 16 people in the meeting. We have been striving to focus on the men and families that we are teaching but have been struggling to get them to church. Right now we have 3 families with baptismal dates and 2 of them have attended church. The future looks bright for San Pedro and we are doing all we can to establish the church upon a strong foundation.

I don’t know if I mentionmed this, but In my interview with President Wade last week, he told me that he KNEW it was time for San Pedro to be opened and that he wouldn’t be surprised if there were very established and influential people prepared to receive our message. So, we focused a lot on contacting and teaching people of influence this week, having faith that the Lord has prepared them to receive the gospel. For example, we had an appointment for Friday morning with the Governor and waited 3 hours to speak with him. At the end he sent out the General Secretary who directed us to the Head of the Department of Social Action. He was a really good guy and had worked with the church receiving donations of wheelchairs and medicines. We talked about our purpose and presented the message, inviting him to read and to pray to know that it is true. He said he would. The only difficulty is that he lives about 15 KM from San Pedro.

We spoke with leaders in the City Center House of Culture, and they will now be providing us the location and inscriptions for our weekly English Class. Last week we had 9 students and it keeps growing. Now we’ll have a class room with a chalk board and air conditioning, so that’ll help. We also were able to speak with leaders in the Agriculture department, in the Radio, and of various Soccer Clubs here. It has been interesting and has felt like a lot of seed planting, but we are sure we’ll see the results soon.

As we work with those people, we are also seeing the power and necessity of learning Guarani to win the hearts even of the most educated, well-established people. It’s been fun and we’ve been learning some jokes in Guarani that make the people roar. The people here in San Pedro are incredible and I love them! They are taking good care of me while I am here far away from all of you and from the rest of the world. We hardly see other missionaries, and so are learning to develop a good relationship between us two as companions.

Elder Walker is an excellent missionary. President Wade also told us he wanted us to have District Meetings just as if there were 10 of us in the meeting. So we have been having district meetings on Tuesday, and we kind of laugh at ourselves as we sing, pray, recite our purpose and the monthly scripture for the mission, and have a legit, formal class. It has been amazing, though, because we have felt clearly the inspiration from Heavenly Father regarding how we can improve. I am excited and loving the work! There is a lot of it here in San Pedro. I can’t wait to get back out there and have another go at it this week!

Elder McCarty

Pics

007 Teaching the English class. The idea was to get the smart, ambitious people that want to learn english, but lots of young girls just keep showing up. Not sure why...lol. But were hoping the change to a more neutral location will help. Without a chalk board I was writing on white paper and taping it up to teach basic english

004 We run everywhere to get all the work done that there is to do. Sunday morning we went out and woke some people up to get them to church and had to RUN back to prepare for Sacrament meeting and welcome the rest.

003 Being gangsters with good ol` Elder Vail on the bus. I miss the guy and he is STILL in the office. He should be getting out soon though.

002 Looking surprised and crazy for some reason, with a monkey in the background.

001 NOt sure if I’ve sent this before. Just chilling outside a house for sale. Maybe I’ll buy it for my summer vacation home (since summer there is winter here, lol).

The Rolla Holla! Monday, January 18, 2010

2010-01-19T06:43:00.000-08:00

On our Own

Don’t worry, the hand is healed and I am happily typing. We found an air conditioned cyber cafe with semi-new computers and they even bring you ice cream (if you ask for it). The only down side is the loud, somewhat distracting regatone music, but I’m over it :-).

Life is great in San Pedro. We worked our hearts out this week and had some great success. We set some goals and posted them on the wall along with the way we are going to achieve them. It was incredible to see the way Heavenly Father blessed us as we strived to do what we felt was his will. By the time Saturday came we had 4 different families committed to prepare for a baptismal date along with various other people. Of those people, 10 came to Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, where I conducted, my companion and I blessed the sacrement, played and directed the hymns, and the speakers? You guessed it, Elder McCarty and Elder Walker.

Doing things ourselves has sort of been a theme in our time here. There are no member to help with the work, to make us food, or to trust with our clothes, so we are housemakers, chefs, fully-responsable investigator finders and expert clothes washers in buckets with soap and clothes lines. Lots of fun in San Pedro. I’m also attaching the pictures of the house before and after we did all of our work on it. I should have taken some pictures inside but forgot to. Next week.

We had interviews and zone conference this week. In our interview, President invited me to read the missionary chapters of the book of mormon and take them as my work manual while I’m here in San Pedro, specifically to see “how those missionaries did things”. You should read them with me (I still have to find which they are, but lots in Alma, Mosiah, and I read this morning in Helaman 5). When you find the chapters, I’d love to hear which they are and your insights on how they did things to achieve such miraculous results!

I also felt the spirit deeply the day before we came out here as President knelt with us to pray and pleaded that we be blessed to establish the church, rapidly, here in San Pedro. He expressed to us that he KNEW this was the time for San Pedro to open and that we were the missionaries to do it. All we have to do is work hard and have faith that people have been prepared here for us! We set a plan this week to focus on the people of influence here in San Pedro (of course, never denying the gospel to anybody willing to accept it). President especially focused on the story of Ammon and his work with the king. I know that Heavenly Father has prepared people here that will become strong pillars of the church in San Pedro. Thank you all for everything! Love you!

Elder McCarty

Pics

IMG_0015 Here is our Apartment/Chapel before we did any work on it.

DSC05409 Here we are painting away the first few days we got there. You’ll see the final result. It actually didn’t turn out half bad.

011 In the plaza in downtown San Pedro. No idea who this guy is but he looks good in my hat.

013 Also in the Plaza, here is the sign for the city. It says, Capital of Cordiality under the name, and then, enjoy our hospitality. Turns out its true. Oh and if you look close, in the bottom right corner are the flyers we put up all over the town the first week we got here, and we even had one member who came the first Sunday because she saw one of them.

007 My companion and I outside of our newly painted chapel (on the left is the door to our apartment, which will be separated from the chapel).

The Rolla Holla! Monday, January 11, 2010

2010-01-09T06:41:00.000-08:00

I feel a certain inexplicable anger and frustration as I type. It might be because it literally hurt and this sticky, Paraguayan keyboard isn’t making it very esay. You see, last night I was sleeping right next to me best friend Tokyo (thats the brand of my fan, which saves my life every night by letting me get at least a little sleep), and I had put off installing the front cover because I didn’t have the right bolt. Well as I stretched out this morning, my hand went right into the blades and got horribly mangled. Now it is painful to type, and I’m having a hard time getting a lot of the buttons. I’ve got it well bandaged and hopefully it will be healed by next week.

Well, despite the pain and frustration, I am stoked out of my mind to be out here in my new area. I though I had told you all this, but maybe not. Changes came in and President assigned me to open San Pedro for the first time in history to missionary work. I’m here in a dusty old internet shop with my Argentine companion, enjoying a pday FAR far away from Asunción where I have spent my entire misson.

The people out here are incredible. I think I can count the number of times we’ve been rejected on one mangled hand. They all want to know what we are all about and what is the Book of Mormon and who was Joseph Smith. Of course, their curiosity is fuel for our excitement to teach and testify with convincing power.

Over New Years, President sent the Assistant and I out here to find a house and get everything ready. While we were here, we we taught the family that owns the building we are renting. We got here Thursday at midnight, but in church yesterday, we we were still blessed to have 7 investigators, including the faimly we had taught on the first trip out. The family is incredible. The man is general manager of a large cattle ranch and is incredibly humble and obedient to whatever we say. He recognized something in us and the family has set the goal to be baptized on January 21st.

Well, we almost killed ourselves working Friday and Saturday, painting and repairing the house in every spair moment. I forget my camera so pictures will have to come later. I know God has a great work prepared for San Pedro and I feel so lucky to be an instrument in His hands.
I love you all and thank you for your support!
Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, January 02, 2010

2010-01-03T15:33:00.001-08:00

The Great Adventure to San Pedro

The change is in. Drum roll…..dubah-dubah-dubah…ching: San Pedro! (in case you missed the title :-). About 3 hours away in a speeding vehicle from Asunción. A place where missionaries from God’s only complete and restored church have literally NEVER before been. Wow! I can’t explain how excited I am. Excited…and somehow anxiously nervous at the same time. The responsibility of being these people’s ONLY contact and experience with the church is humbling. A big part of the nervousness comes from knowing just HOW much is possible. From our 3 day preparatory visit this week, I have seen how humble these people are and how WHITE the field is, ready to be harvested.

Most have never seen Americans, let alone missionaries in their lives. Many think we are representatives from the bank or from the President of Paraguay. The message of the restoration and that Jesus Christ came to visit the people of the American continent is, to them, both incredible, and inspiring. A big change from the attitude I’ve seen so many times each and every day of my mission: “Oh no, it’s the mormons again.” I suppose now my task will be less of overcoming obstacles in people’s current, incorrect conception of who we are and what we do and more CREATING understanding and INVITING powerfully to come unto Christ. How exciting.

The interesting part is that the population is relatively well-established and well-educated. In fact, those that have been most receptive so far to the message have been those that are towards the top tiers of San Pedrano society. Apart from teaching and getting to know the people of this city of 36,000 inhabitants, we were able to find a building that will serve as both our apartment and our chapel (after a few slight modifications and repairs), to get to know some of the smaller satellite towns round about, and even enjoyed a little fishing early this morning (still my P-day, until it changes to Monday the 11th next week), all before coming back to Asunción at about 4 pm this afternoon. It was an incredible adventure!

More than anything, right now, my desire is to remain humble and recognize my dependance on God. My biggest task is to STEP out of the way so that He can do His work through my hands. I am thrilled to have the opportunity. Thank you for your prayers in my behalf. They have a greater affect than ANY of us know. Keep ‘em coming, I’ll be needing them. I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Elder McCarty

IMG_1005.JPG One night we set a goal (among other, more important ones) to take cool pics to remember Paraguay and our missions. Here was one of them…maybe we didn’t achieve the goal.

IMG_0990.JPG Another attempt at the goal, sitting on a wall, thinking we’re cool.

IMG_0074.JPG Here we are at a cool dock on the side of the river. There was a nice breeze and a beautiful view. We ate breakfast here and someday might do baptizms there as well
IMG_0061.JPG We fished all morning (spent too much time fiddling with the line and trying to find the “perfect place”) and this was all I ever caught :-)

IMG_0043.JPG Here we are at the side of a beautiful lake where we tried to fish (among like 3 other locations, since my companion was very impatient). He also fell in almost up to his waste

IMG_0038.JPG We got tons of food to eat in our hotel on New Year’s eve, but were so tired, we fell asleep before we could finish most of it. Of course, we woke up to all of the exploding fireworks at midnight, and then promptly fell back to sleep.

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, December 26, 2009

2009-12-26T16:26:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-19T10:29:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-11T21:25:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-29T18:31:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-23T17:05:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-14T17:52:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

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.

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, October 10, 2009

2009-10-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

"Mangy”
Funny story: we showed up at the Troche Family’s house to drop off their 15 year old son that had gone out teaching with us one night. My companion was almost attacked by their little, crazy looking dog with mis-match colored eyes. His mom told us the dog had gone crazy and was attacking and jumping up on everyone that passed by. The neighbors were all frightened. Then, with that introduction, she asked us that we put him in our big blue van and take him far away and leave him there.
Maybe not using our best judgement, we agreed to do it. We spent 15 minutes trying to get him in the back and finally, unexpectedly he jumped in FRONT! I hesitated to drive with him there, but my comp sat between me and the dog to hold him down. Half way to the far away place he jumped on my lap and I had to drive with a nervous, shaking, vicious dog all the way to our next appointment, where we glady dropped him off. Crazy things that happen in the mission
We’ve also got another youth in the ward that comes out with us (there are like 3 that are absolute studs for doing divisions). This one is named Felix and he is a machine for saying stupid things in our lessons. The other day after a profound testimony from my companion, Felix shot off saying, “You know, if you ever wanted, I’d be glad to come over here and clean your house up a bit for ya.” Last night, as we were about to invite 3 ladies to be baptized on the 24th, Felix explained, “yeah, Baptism is great, but you knowwhat ISN’T fun? Getting baptized for the dead. They just dunk you under, time after time.” My companion and I just looked at eachother, like, “no you just didn’t,” and then spent 15 minutes briefly explaining vicarious ordenances and trying to get back the spirit.
Life is great on the mission. I am really happy and the office is a great, if challenging experience. It is definitely humbling, since the rewards aren’t as vivid as one out in the field who SEES lots of people changing their lives as a direct result of our service. One finds out why he really IS in this work in the first place. I know I am here to serve my Lord in the best way he needs me. I have seen Him guide me and trust him with all my heart. Thank you family. I love you all.
Elder McCarty
001 This is me driving with that dog. You can see my scared face in the rear view mirror.

011 We went out today for empanadas and they had like 20 different kinds. One kind, the Chilena, had RAISINS in it, gross.

020 (Just for you Mom) We went to this cool hand-made store in Luque, a city just outside Asunción and I saw these little dresses (they stuck this sombrero on me just as we were taking the pic to send it home to you). Anyhow, they cost about $8 each, Mom. I could buy some to send home to Anika, Aspen, Brindley & Caedence if you wanted. I don’t know if they’d like them or not.

029 We found an open door to this soccer stadium on Pday and went in to explore. It felt pretty cool, like professionals down on the field. We even grabbed an old soccer ball and shot some goals.

31 Here we all are inside an old broken down train. It was pretty cool.

The Rolla Holla, Saturday, October 03, 2009

2009-10-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

Tears of Joy
Rejection. Here in downtown Asunción we get a lot of different kinds of rejection. Fancy, rich person rejection; opened and then slammed door rejection; through the speaker looking into the lens of a camera rejection; and just normal, Paraguayan, “another day” rejection. This week I experienced my first English rejection. We decided to contact the American family that lives in our area. We went to their house and I spoke through their speaker to a little American girl, a lot like my nieces back home. She called the Paraguayan maid and they told me the father wasn’t home. Several minutes later he pulled up, and we spoke through the window of his Landrover.
I explained to him our message and why I left my family to be here so far away. As I testified of the powerful affect of our message, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time. I was almost brought to tears and I realized that those scripts I memorized so long ago in the MTC to learn Spanish, are actually EXACTLY how I really feel. Somehow things just hit me on a deeper level in my own language. Truth be told, after feeling those truths so deeply, the cold rejection hit me on a deeper level than it ever had before as well. But since that moment, I have testified more powerfully and recognized once again, in a cycle of ever-deepening sincerity, that I KNOW what I know, and I want everyone else to know and be blessed by that knowledge.
Last Thursday we heard a knock here at the office door at 10 in the morning. We welcomed Cristian and his Brazilian girlfriend, Lisa, into the waiting room and sat them down on the couch. It was the day of the interview. Most baptismal candidates don’t come to you, but the mall in which Cristian is opening his restaurant is situated about 4 blocks from our office. Elder Vail, who speaks Spanish excellenty, but with a heavy American accent that makes him seem even MORE authoritative to the Paraguayans, greeted him and invited him up to President’s office to do the interview.
They were up there for a while, almost an hour, and I honestly started to get worried, even though we had taught and retaught and verified and re-verified all of the baptismal questions. When they came down, Cristian’s eyes were puffy from weeping. He went straight to Lisa who stood up with a somewhat worried look on her face and stretched his arms around her. They stood there in a tight embrace for several minutes, both of them crying. Elder Vail and I stood by, feeling the importance of the situation and the spirit touched our hearts: this man is converted.
This morning was his baptism. After the service and the talks, he himself stood to bear solemn testimony that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. Even more unexpectedly, his father who we had never before met stood to bear testimony, even though, in his own words, he is “not a member—At least not yet.” I felt the spirit deeply as I saw all of the moistened cheeks in the room, and testified of the deep spiritual importance and undeniable truth of what we were doing there. We wept together, and then laughed together as we ate the brownies that I attempted to prepare at 6 am this morning and the juice we had bought last night.
It was a great experience. I hope you SEARCH for moments like those in your own life. I love you with all my heart!
Elder McCarty

Pics
005: Elder Rodriguez and Cristian and I. The son was shining brightly in our eyes. A beautiful morning for a baptism, as one Hermana from our ward said in her testimony.

003: Here’s Elder Vail, our District Leader, the financiero, but more than anything, a great friend.
002: We had a huge ward activity and played soccer and ate Sausages (Chorizo). It was delicious. 2 investigators came and we even managed to have a spiritual experience as well!

001: We got to go to the temple 2 weeks ago. Here I am with Elder Vail and the old Financiero, also a great friend, Elder Guest. 004: Here is Cristian with Lisa, his girlfriend, far left, and both of their families. The man in the blue is Cristian’s dad who bore his testimony.

he Rolla Holla, Saturday, September 26, 2009

2009-09-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

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

The Rolla Holla, People Who Get It, Saturday, September 19, 2009

2009-09-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

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 Him for that.
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 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.

The Rolla Holla, Sunday, 9.13.09

2009-09-17T21:06:00.000-07:00

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

Philosopher Investigators and Troubled Youths

2009-09-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

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.

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

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.

Wedding Bells Changing Lives, The Rolla Holla, Saturday, 8.29.09

2009-08-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

Our ward came out in multitudes for the harvest season. The long hours weeding out corrupting doubts, overcoming halting obstacles (a barrage of friends criticizing the decision, a gravely sick mother, and financial difficulties), and sewing seeds of faith and happiness have finally paid off. Marcial and Saide were married last Thursday, at 7 pm, and baptized together, as they will remain for eternity.
The ceremony, the talks, and the celebration afterwards were beautiful and well prepared, thanks to a responsive and supporting ward—an essential part of keeping the fruits of all of our labors when we go and they don’t. Seeing the power of effective coordination for a wedding and baptismal service has lit the fire inside of me to coordinate more effectively throughout the conversion process. The work of building God’s kingdom is a great one indeed.
Meanwhile, I made important breakthroughs in my personal organization in the office (I know, exciting, huh?). Planning every day out thoroughly with the top 10 things I need to do to move the work forward planned into specific time slots and carrying forward those I don’t finish has alleviated the stress and doubled my productivity. Small and simple things, eh.
Today we played soccer at our chapel with the south mission again. The heat is back in full force and I got a healthy sun burn. When I came home I gave myself a haircut and sat down here to write you all. This week we do changes, so it will be a crazy one. I love you all! Carry on! Find out who the missionaries are visiting and make friends with them. Maybe even visit them. Even better, make a list of 100 people you know that aren’t members and start taking steps to invite them to develop a testimony (start small, gaining trust, then share your testimony or gift them a Book of Mormon…the possibilities are ENDLESS!). Onward family! I love you.
Elder McCarty

Pics
New Haircut: This is the haircut I gave myself minutes ago. I took this pic between typing letters. I have a sweet picture of the Paraguayan temple on my computer desktop.

Soccer Today: You are probably tired of soccer pics, but I like em. Here is one of me looking huge because I am way closer to the camera.

American BF: President took us out since we worked so hard on the leadership conference through the nights the previous weekend.

Elevator: All of us crammed into a little elevator going down the 15 floors of American Breakfast, the fanciest restaurant/hotel in all of Paraguay, in my opinion. So different from life 3 months ago.

Jump Start: A few weeks ago, the cars battery was having problems and so this was a common scene.

Popcorn Robbery: Elder Polatis’s birthday party and I was eatin some serious popcorn. That is one thing Paraguayans do better than Americans since they eat so much of it!
Vatata Azul: The blue potato (Vatata), is what we call the big blue van. Here we all are crammed in it one Pday going out to play.

Wade House: A going away dinner for Elder Polatis and Elder Davis (who left the office a while back). Hermana Wade always makes us breakfast for dinner with her famous cinnamon syrup!

Rolla Holla! The Eternal Transfer, Saturday, 8.22.09

2009-08-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why I’ve been called here. What does my Father in Heaven have in mind. What we do as Office Elders is essential, but nothing spectactular. We are kept so busy by the essentials that it feels like there is very little time to make a difference. We always talk about how much it just feels like going home: a job during the day and going out to visit our friends (investigators) at night. We have to fight for our studies and to feel the spirit.
Our family, Marciál and Saide, were almost baptized this week. They see so clearly the happiness and peace that animates their life when they go to church or keep commitments with God, and need to find the courage to make the decision and prepare for a specific day. We had hoped that day could be today. Monday we visited them and proposed the idea and got a mediocre response. So, the plans began. We got the Judge ready, informed all of the leaders in the ward, set plans in place for food, decoration, and the baptismal service. Friday evening they told us they weren´t ready…yet. They had decided, though, that they would in fact be baptized and get married. It seems like the effort and energy that it took to prepare for today was just another step in Heavenly Father’s plan to show them the way. Now we are excited to set an official date and prepare them rigorously for it. As an old, beloved companion of mine once told me: we are no longer solving baptismal doubts—we are now solving eternal family doubts.
Another 6 weeks have passed. In a week and 3 days, our beloved friend and assistant to the President, Elder Polatis along with several other great men of God, will board a plane and fly off into the unknown whisper of a memory that is home; that familiar happiness and love that we can almost feel through flickering computer screens and during brief, hour-long phone calls; the happiness that we preach, of which we testify, and in which we rejoice as we bring it to others—but that we don´t quite have ourselves, at least not in the same way.

Family, I love you and miss you, and I will see you again.

But not yet ;-)
Elder McCarty

one picture:

After the Paraguay classic. Turns out my new comp was a professional Uruguayan soccer player so now we dominate even more...lol.

The one Legged Baptism and an Office Revolution, The Rolla Holla, Monday, August 17, 2009

2009-08-17T18:12:00.001-07:00

This week began the revolution. A revolution to change the office and the stigma that surrounds it. A revolution to hunt down and kill false and faithless attitudes in our own minds and hearts, and most of all, a revolution to show our Father in Heaven that we believe his promise that he will “call upon the weak things of the world…to thrash the nations.”
Everybody in the office is now dedicated to flipping the image of an office Elder upside down. It’s funny that the week we all got so excited and fired up in District Meeting, some of the greatest obstacles to working out in my proselyting area would rear their ugly head. Monday we took 2 Elders to the airport to fly home early for school (a trunky-ifying experience in and of itself, not to mention the time that it takes). Then, Tuesday, the day after having that exciting District Meeting, President called us up to talk to us about organinzing our efforts for the upcoming leadership conference for all the leaders in the 6 Districts and 18 or so branches of our mission. It was quite an experience and challenge, but a rewarding and exciting one at the same time, since we did it!
Even though we were slammed here in the office with extra conference preparation duties (working all through the evening Thursday, until 3 am Friday night/Saturday morning, and the conference all day Saturday), we still did our best to work in the area and brought 7 investigators to church as an office and had 2 baptisms. We also achieved our goal of total asistencia in our ward of 100. Wow!
Talking in specifics: my example of faith and dedication despite obstacles, Javier, was baptized this week. The pictures are attached. Needless to say, he was and will be one of my great converts because he is, as my older brother once explained to me, looking forward an not backward. He was once on track to be a Priest in the Catholic church, and a commander in the Paraguayan army. That is…until he lost his leg. From that incident, he lost his military prospects, found himself disilusioned with his church, and even found himself abandoned by his girl. He fell into a cycle of alcoholism and lived for years under its influence. Just months before we clapped outside his door, he had pulled himself out of his addiction, destroyed his self-pity, obtained a prostetic leg and was learning to walk. He let us in out of courtesy, as he would later tell us, but was baptized because of his faith.
I am overcome with happiness this week. I see miles of improvement to be made but praise God for what he has given me. The mission is an unforgettable experience. I thank you all for making it happen. I miss you and would love to hear about your lives.

Have a great week!
Elder McCarty

Me at my desk, makin a goofy face with Elder Dennis, my old Zone Leader.

Montiel Family, once night after teaching them. They are so awesome and one of the most active families in the ward.

The Late Night, when we stayed up until 3 organizing materials and preparing presentations. President giving us some Instructions.

Javier Baptism, I stood in the water behind Javier while Elder Rodriguez said the prayer and we both helped him down into the water.

Stuffing my face by President at the big conference. Good food.

Rolla Holla: (1130) 8-8-09

2009-08-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

This week has been pretty good. The office life goes in cycles. Crazy, exhausting work, then I feel like you need to wind down, then I feel like I need to get caught up and just as I start to get on top of things, it’s change week, and it all starts over!
This week, in our apartment we have been enjoying a chess tournament in our down time (which includes 30 minutes in the morning before excercises and 30 minutes at night after area book and before bed). I was doing good, heading towards the championship round until I lost 2 in a row and got out. Oh well, I´m actually kind of glad not to have to spend valuable time playing such a dorky game (ha ha, do I sound a little bitter).
Wise man Elder Frutos has been continuing his mentorship with me. He keeps sending me 1 or 2 inspired Talks selections every couple of days. He also invited us today to go to a class he was teaching at a local university. It turns out it was out of our mission boundaries so we couldn´t go. Thanks to his awesome-ness he offered just to come give it directly to us, the office elders, next week, instead of grouped together with the other 120 students. I´m pretty excited and I´ll let you know how it goes!
I have been remembering a lot more often lately to ask myself, what would Jesus do if he were me in this situation. It is incredible how it changes even the littlest conversations and smallest interactions. Overall, I feel so much more love towards everyone and am a better man and missionary.Elder Frutos taught me last night a lesson that I had heard before, but never thought of in that way: ?If you treat somebody as they are, they will stay that way. If you treat somebody as they can be, they will become it. We need to remember that as we are teaching our investigators.? That truth applies with everything and everyone. I love you all and know you can be great instruments in God´s hands to help others. I pray that you do. I know that you will have more peace and happiness and feel more of the love of God in your own life! Have a great week!

Elder McCarty

023 We allways liked the Joseph Smith tie style, so we decided to take some pics with it.

Elder Polatis, Elder Davis and I right by my desk. Looks like he is showing me something important.

039 Sometimes you just need to take a brake and have a quick, low key office wrestling match.

044 And sometimes you get a phone call from President and he wonders why you are breathing so hard.

051 A pic from way back in Part Your Hair Down the Middle Day. We had to deliver this giant bookshelf and it wouldn´t quite fit in the van.

A few more pictures from Kyler

2009-08-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

048 We went to the Expo which is like a giant Paraguayan State fair and this was the section where all of the indians sold their art work. 047 Tie-over-the-shoulder and pondering all humanity pose with Elder Polatis.045 A long distance shot with Elder Haskell and I.

040 The whole gang at Tobatí.
032 All of us sitting atop the wall of the Basilica at Caacupe with the beautiful green Paraguayan hillside.
015 Again inside the Basilica where it tells the story of the magical virgen statue that saved a war-torn Indian people

Rolla Holla! Saturday, August 01, 2009

2009-08-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

"A Life Forever Changed, If I Don´t Forget"

How can it be that we so easily forget? Often in morning study, I find it hard to sit still at my desk because I am so anxious to got out and say kind things, do service, and be a charitable person. The hour long study ends, and determining to apply my notes on how I need to change, I practically jump out of my desk, fling open the door, and run out to meet those that surround me, my heart full of good intentions.
But all too often, I forget. That persistently complaining missionary or this draggingly tedious task mutes the desire to be like Christ, and I get angry or sarcastic or frustrated, even if for just a moment. I suppose Christ gave us his example under what might be called “stressing circumstances” for a reason. We too have to be like him, no matter the burden.
As I strive to let his example and atonement change me, I also have to stive not to take myself too seriously. Every once in a while I just have to wrestle my companion or jump on a teeter totter to remind myself of just how much fun life is meant to be; how much joy can be found in the journey. I have to let the little improvements fill my heart with joy, and the big mistakes make me smile.
Elder Davis, the Mission Records and Statistics Clerk, is a good example to me of that. He is a giantly man in stature with a heart to match. He knows his purpose here on the mission, and has a toolbelt full of million-dollar smiles and goofy magic tricks to win the hearts and commitments of the Paraguayan people. He´ll be leaving soon and we´ll miss him.
We continue fighting for our family and for Javier. They are still on for this week. Our focus now is in expanding our teaching pool – spreading out our net. So far we are doing pretty well and hope to have a solid set of investigators preparing for a baptismal date this Sunday. Things are GREAT in the mission and I am happy. There is nothing like watching other people change their lives and letting it change mine.

I love you all so much!
Elder McCarty

014 Me, Elder Vail and Elder Polatis again, I´m helping Polatis up with my shoe.

015 When I realized he could get up on his own I decided to take a sweet rock climbing pick: one among many lost on my camera.

008 Drinking Mate Dulce (a form of the typical Paraguayan drink without the Herb, which is the prohibited part) up on the roof of our office house. Great memories and beautiful sunsets.

005 The part-your-hair-down-the-middle-day that I told you all about. Wow, it was great.

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, 7.25.09

2009-08-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Let me take some time to tell you about the people that surround me. I´ve talked about President Wade and Elder Frutos. Hermana Wade is incredible. She has the gift of appreciation. Like my own indescribably awesome mother, she has a way of making you feel her love and appreciation for you. The sometimes demanding leadership style of President Wade is perfectly complimented by her concentrated love and consistent compliments and expressions of gratitude. The burning desire to serve President well, bordering on fear of dissapointing, is supplemented by the desire to deserve the Hermana´s praise, and pay back her love. The two do a great job of reminding eachother to be balanced, it seems, since the President will often stop himself in the very rare moments of frustration or criticism and remember to give praise or the Hermana to give assignments :-).
Some time last week the Hermana came into the office and sped past my desk before I could look up from what I was typing. I heard her yell from the office kitchen, ¨have you Elders eaten yet?¨ Whether we had or not, the question was music to our ears, and we all shouted no, almost in unison. Within minutes a sweet, familiar scent was floating out of the kitchen on waves of smoke…my mouth starting watering and my mind rang with memories of back porch cook offs and summer night gatherings: we were in for a BBQ! Though a few weeks late, it was time to celebrate the 4th of July. Hermana Wade popped in an audio presentation explaining the origin of the star spangled banner and opened Windows Media Player to the hippy looking waves and explosions view—the next best thing to a fireworks show. President, the Assistants, and us 4 Office Elders sat arround Elder Davis´s desk right outside the kitchen, eating hot dogs, smiling uncontrollably, and feeling patriotic.
With changes came my new companion: Elder Rodriguez. He is Urugayan and speaks excellent English. He is a great missionary. We did a division in my 3rd or 4th change and he taught me the importance of ensuring conversion before baptism. I´m excited to teach with him and we are both fired up to turn the office area into one like any other. We are convinced that our Heavenly Father is willing to bless us for the sacrifice we make to be in the office, especially after we were given it -as an Apostolic promise from our last Area Seventy visit.
Change week was once again crazy, but we let our investigators know (Javier and the Marcial and Saides family are the only ones really progressing right now) so our absence wasn´t TOO big a shock. We returned this weekend and they are all really well and ready for church. Marcial and Saide will be married August 8th and the 3 of them will be baptized August 9th.
We have seen the power of setting goals, as we set out the desires of our heart to a loving father in Heaven and see his help. The other day on a cold humid Paraguayan night, we needed 5 more contacts to complete our daily goals and thereby our weekly goal of doing 7/7 days completing our daily goals. We drove around and when we saw Marcos walking, we felt we should contact him. We flew around the next corner passing him and jumped out of the car so as not to appear awkward. We came around the corner just as he was, about 20 feet away from our truck and hollered a greeting in Guarani. Turns out he is a great guy and invited us over to share our message with him. I know without any doubt, from experience, that God is preparing people to receive his gospel, according to our faith and works. I love to see that happen and am so thankful for it. I am thankful for you, my friends and family, that love and support me. Thank you for everything! I love you all!
Elder McCarty

041 I thought it would be cool to have a goodbye breakfast the last basketball morning of changes. We made a delicious cinnamon syrup and all just dipped: shared syrup like everthing else in Paraguay.
039 This weird animal at the park that just walks around. We think it is a mix between a horse and a wooly mammoth.

036 Our office football team in the Paraguay Classic, jersey´s thanks to Elder Williamson´s excellent design skills. He now went off to Horqueta in the north desert!
029 Hacking our way through the Paraguayan Jungle

McCarty: Elder Williamson and Javier and I looking like tough guys. He is the investigator with one leg who climbed up onto a bus for the first time since his leg was cut off to make it to church! 027 Got to the top and these birds just happened to fly in for the picture. Turned out really cool. Me, Elder Vail and Elder Polatis.

Rolla Holla! Saturday, July 18, 2009

2009-07-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

Family! I miss you! Sorry for not writing last week. Turns out that during the week it´s even more impossible to find time to write than P-day. Well, here I am again. A whole 6 week transfer period has come to an end and now this week we have to go about the crazy, busy work of preparing for and picking up the new missionaries, and debriefing and taking the old ones to the airport.
The work in our area is still moving along. It is a big deal to baptize a family as office Elders and I´m excited to feel the joy that one only feels seeing others make important covenants with God and steps towards becoming an eternal family. Marcial and Saide are moving along. Their 1 year old son just started walking, Aldo, and he loves my companion and I. Marcial got sick last week and we gave him a blessing. A few nights later in a moment seriousness and powerful feelings of the spirit, he told us of how he felt something lifted from him. He expressed his desire to someday have that same power and bless his family with it. I love that family and am so excited for them.
Several weeks ago we contacted Javier, a one legged man who was fiercely catholic all his life. That is, until recently, when he found himself in disagreement with his church, searching for something, and in front of 2 young ¨Mormon missionaries¨ one chilly humid night. He too has a goal to be baptized, and every day finds himself more convinced of the simple truths that we teach.
One night, as we taught him, a youth from the ward was with us and decided to play with my camera while we taught. Without wanting to, he erased ALL of my pictures! Pictures of the beautiful Lord of The Rings-like views from last weeks trip to Caacupé and Tobatí, where we cut our way through Paraguayan jungles and took Captain Moroni pictures on windy mountain tops with a torn cloth tied to a stick (the Title of Liberty) that we conveniently found. Pictures of me preaching to a multitude of tourists, scriptures in hand, atop a mountain of Indian-carved faces overlooking the lush Paraguayan valley. Pictures that are now just memories. Unfortunately that happened 2 days ago and so now have nothing to show.
I am loving the opportunity to be around our President so much. He is a wise, loving, and hard-working man who expects excellence. At times, the pressure is great: pressure not only to achieve excellence, but to balance office work and field work excellently. It is a great opportunity for growth, and I am learning so much about how to organize and establish the church, as well as how to be a great missionary.
I did a division with Chief (Elder) Frutos last Sunday. The man speaks and teaches in his deep profound baritone but with clear, easy to understand examples. He too is a great mentor and has given me several talks to read or scriptures to study, always following up the next day here at my desk with some powerful, touching application that makes me want to be more like my Savior.
I love the mission! I am so happy to be here and to know each and every one of you! I miss you so much and love you. Thank you for your support and your prayers. They make miracles happen!
With Love,
Elder McCarty

No Rolla Holla - July 11th (too busy)

2009-07-11T21:51:00.000-07:00

Mom, a couple of urgent, surprise weekend office projects and I didn´t have time to write. I´m going to try to get permission to do so on Monday. Love,
Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, 7.4.09

2009-07-04T21:52:00.000-07:00

There are people who, when they speak, make you want to listen. Elder Justo Frutos is just such a person. Weighing in at 260 pounds, about a foot shorter than me and with a kingly English dressed in a slight Paraguayan accent, Elder Frutos has become a great friend and mentor in only a short time. Having come to know him only a little my first time in the office, and then having made the arrangements for his flight back into Paraguay for his 2nd or 3rd mission here with his wife and maybe 5th or 6th all together, I have thouroughly enjoyed the many little opportunites to associate with this wise Elder as I help him get settled in. Sometimes he will randomly call for a set of scriptures and teach a seemingly random principle that, when brought full circle, solves a problem or trouble that I didn´t even know I had. He is a man who speaks with the spirit and with love, and makes it hard to be discouraged and easy to smile and laugh.
Speaking of smiling and laughing, we are having a blast here in the office. We decided to assign an office photographer since we all realized we were slacking on taking pictures. We sponsored the first annual part-your-hair-down-the-middle-day. We´ve been playing some sweet basketball 2 or 3 times every morning. We have exciting conversations about going to the northern border of Paraguay and baptizing all of the Chamacoco Indians that paint themselves naked and dance on the mountains (aparently there are some members up there that are trying to get the church started but don´t have the authority to baptize everyone that wants to be baptized). I´ve been working on projects to help Paraguayan missionaries get out of Paraguay and into other parts of the world, tried to help solve the divorce problem (that marriages are cheap and divorces WAY more expensive, making it nearly impossible for many who want to be baptized), and worked with church head quarters to get missionaries their lines of authority and prove that they are connected in an un-broken chain to God the Father himself. The office work is amazing.
Out in the field, there is a lot to be done. We are working with 2 wonderful families. Benancio and Sulma haven´t been able to leave town yet, and so we continue to work with them. Another family, Marcial, who works in a water bottle factory (so we never leave without quenching our thirs) and Saide, his wife who always cooks us food, are progressing well and have promised us they´ll come to church this week. They are honest people and truly want to know. I believe they will progress if they can find the courage to follow the truth. Another young man, Darío plays guitar at the nearby catholic church to attract the youth (and it is working), but has also committed to coming to church and to pursuing the truth through sincere prayer. This gospel is so wonderful and perfect. Anybody who strives to apply its teaching WILL KNOW IT IS TRUE. That is my promise! I love you all!
Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Saturday 6.27.09. Zone Conference Scramble

2009-07-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

Zone conferences began this week. In the office, you never know what to expect. Towards the end of the office day last Thursday, 2 hermanas came into the office, one of them crying. I didn´t know what it was about, and didn´t ask. All I know is that the President´s wife, Hermana wade, hugged here for about half an hour, and then told Elder Davis (the paperwork guy) and I to take them to McDonalds to get some dinner, and then back to their areas. We talked about how often we eat there (averaging probably once a week), and said that it was only different during zone conference week…oh, and c hange week…oh, and the week before change week, and before zone conference week, and…well, when all is said and done, pretty much every week. Really funny considering I promised myself I´d enjoy Home Style Paraguayan food all throughout my mission and never give into the temptation of McDonalds. Luckily, we have an office cook during the work week, but sometimes we don´t even have time to stop by the office and have to grab something from a drive-up window. Life in the office. They call us the fancy Elders because we roll in nice trucks and vans and eat really well.
McGiver escaped (surprise, surprise) from our little back yard/storage area and we haven´t seen him since. Probably off to new and exciting adventures.
The family that we found was progressing excelently. Benancio and Sulma are their names and they have 3 cute little daughters 6, 4, and 2. Unfortunately, Benancio found work far away and is planning on moving as soon as the money comes for his travel. We are just waiting and teaching and hoping they make it to church this Sunday, then the next, and can learn enough to be pilars of the church out in a place where it practically doesn´t exist. Every time we teach them, I leave feeling a deeper happiness than can be described, and know that God is with us.
I love this work and know God wants me here in this place and at this time. I love you all and thank you so much for your support! With all my love,
Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, June 20, 2009

2009-06-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

I am FULL of excitement. The work rolls on like a gigantic bolder and my back is sore from pushing. At the same time, my heart is happy and I feel priviledged to be an instrument of the Lord. This week, through much prayer and hard work, we were able to find 15 new investigators (and the week isn´t even over) and 3 of them were families, 1 of which I would, again, describe as Golden. We did it applying principles from our leaders (such as never ask a reference without getting at least 100 names of ALL the people the person knows), and then following up with Faith that they will work (taking those lists, for example, and taking the person who helped make it to each of the famillies on it, to share a gospel message and invite them together to learn more). I know that I am turning into a missionary (not just for 2 years, but FOREVER) when my greatest joy comes from seeing a family that is united and prepared for the sweet fruit of Jesus Christ´s gospel.

I am also having tons of fun. This morning at 4, Elder Vail (the money guy) woke up at 4 to investigate a strange noise. He found a kitten outside our window. He put it outside the gate and went back to bed. 5 minutes later, the noise was back, and louder. So, he went back outside and put it high up in a tree across the street. By the time he left the house in the morning (even though it was P-day we had to get up early to go pick up a new Sister missionary that arrived on a special change), there was the cat, and it followed him and his companion to the office. We locked him outside and kept working. When the work was done, we were going to play Football against the Asunción South Mission Office Elders (the Paraguay classic as we like to call it) for our Pday activity. We drove 2 or 3 miles to the park, played, and when we got to the car, THERE HE WAS! How it got there, none of us know. Well, we put him in the back of the truck to take him back to his home (assuming he must have some how got in there to follow his special friend, Elder Vail all the way to the park). And that is how we got our new friend McGiver (because he´s so resourceful). Pretty dang cool cat, and we all had a good laugh over it. We are just trying to figure out who is going to ask President, ¨can we keep him?¨

Overall, I´m really happy with this week and look forward to another one in the office. I never feel like I get everything accomplished that I want to, but am learning to be more effective and to help President more and more, moving the work forward. I am learning skills and attributes that will bless me all my life!

I love you all!

Elder McCarty

Just 2 Pics this week and neither have me in them (sorry, I´ve gotta get better at this again).

Paulistas: We get to go here with President and all the missionaries that are going home every change. It´s just like Rodizio Grill and it rocks, plus it has a desert bar which is free. That’s why I´m getting fat (coincidence that there are no pics of me? I think not…lol)

Double Climb: I found this tree and wanted to climb it but kept sliding down due to weak shoes. Elder Vail and Elder Williamson successfully climbed it and I snapped this cool pick.

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, 6.13.09 The Office,the Zoo, and the Work of God

2009-06-18T19:52:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the zoo and it was awesome. I bought popcorn and ice cream and smiled all day long. We saw a monkey that throws bananas and spits water at the people. The elephants were supposedly closed off because one killed a kid…and then ate him (so much for Paraguayan news, since afterwards the security guard told us it was just because they were building a new wall). We saw a little monkey just like the one I sent you pictures of before that had escaped from its cage. Leopards, lions, exotic birds, we even saw some BYU students over there (seriously, we did…maybe they were fellow customers, I couldn´t really tell…hahaha) all for the price of 20 cents in American money. One more grain on the heap of reasons I LOVE PARAGUAY!
The first week in the office was GREAT! We did changes this week and so it was a little hectic. There were lots of nights until 2 or 3 finishing projects for President and then getting up to take missionaries that are going home to the airport or picking the new missionaries up. My companion and trainer, Elder Hansen moved out, so now there are 7 of us in the house. My companion now is Elder Williamson, which applies at all times, even though we split up into our separate offices when we arrive for the work day. Email is a lot easier since I just do it here on my computer, as well as sending pictures (of which there are fewer cool ones, since we´re in an office all day and only go out at night).
My official title is Executive Secretary. In some missions, all office Elders are considered APs or Assistents to the President, but here there are 2 APs and then 4 office Elders. It seems like a good organization, although I could also see the benefit of having more Assistents that could go out and do divisions or help struggling Elders in their own areas. My work is mostly in preparing all of the legal work for the 140 Elders to stay here in the country, keeping updated documents and information on them, producing media for the mission (DVDs, newsletters, etc), preparing mailing lists, communicating with parents that need help (don´t try to call the office just to talk with me…lol), organizing and assisting with President´s personal schedule, and whatever other task needs to be done. I am also responsible for helping and encouraging the other office Elders to finish their assigned tasks.
I have gotten completely over the disappointment and have begun to see the little miracles—finding the new investigators that we set out to find; being helped to teach them well and prepare them to take important first steps toward a lifetime of covenant-making. I know by experience, by faith, and by the spirit, that those little miracles will lead to the big ones we are promised as missionaries, and especially as office Elders. We are praying and striving to find 3 families and to prepare at least 1 of them for baptism by the end of this change.
I KNOW that Heavenly Father will make it happen through me, and feel overwhelmingly privileged to be that instrument in His hands.

I love you all!

Elder McCarty

Temple: Here is the Stake President from the desert. My 2 companions went through the temple with them to take out their endowments and be sealed for time and all eternity. I just arranged everything...lol.

Baptism: We baptized 8 year old Arami and 9 year old Ricardo last Sunday. We taught them both all of the lessons and it was fun to try to keep it interesting for them and be their friends.

Ostrich: Pretty close to a life-size ostrich. Pretty crazy. Long neck.

Double: Don´t know what this sign was all about, but it was at the zoo, upside down and said ¨Double Meaning,¨ so we took a picture of it.Thrower: We were amazed when he climbed to the top, made tons of noise and then threw bananas at us. We almost got wet when he grabbed some water in his mouth and spit it at us at a pretty amazing distance. When he started throwing poop, we decided to go…lol.

The Rolla Holla! 6-7-09

2009-06-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday night I packed my bags, cleaned up, and cooked a pound of bacon to celebrate the end of an excellent, enjoyable, and effective companionship. As we waited for the office Elders to come pick me up and take me back again, the familiar feeling of going back to somewhere I´d been before came over me. Elder Hansen, my ex-companion and now trainer and predecessor as secretary, took me to the large, though still Paraguayan, office-Elder house, where there are now living 7 Elders for various reasons—Life there is crazy. Ever since I have been enjoying, adjusting, learning and preparing to serve in the best way I know how.

This week was exciting. We started off the week preparing everything for the personal interviews President gives to all the Stake Presidents in Paraguay. Preparing and printing reports, confirming appointments, and arranging schedules so that the work can go on, coordinated between member and missionary, Ward and area, stake and zone.

On our Pday, Saturday, we went to the house of recent converts Derlis, Ceferina and their 5 kids. Remember the family we found and started teaching last time I was here? Well, all 7 of them got baptized and now they are one of the most solid families in the ward! We did a service activity and then they cooked up the pig head that we brought so that we could see for ourselves if it really was the delicacy they promised. It was actually pretty good. While I didn´t venture to eat the eyes or the ears, some of the other Elders here did. We laughed and had fun and took lots of pictures for you all to see.

President is supervising the opening of new branches and districts out in the desert of Paraguay and we arranged this week for a new District President to take the 8 hour bus ride here and back, participate in training meetings all day, and upon finding that he had never entered the temple, arranging for him to take out his endowments and be sealed for time and all eternity to his wife. Wow, what great experiences I am being blessed to have.
Thank you all for your love and support that makes it possible.

I love you!
Elder McCarty

Pictures (Hint: Click on them to open up big then click back on your browser to get back to this page)

3 Derlis and his family mentioned they liked Pig head (as a delicacy) and so we planned a service activity last Saturday and brought it along with us so they could teach us how to eat it. My 2nd companion, Elder Williamson about to kiss it.

4 Elder Hansen about to cut a huge tree that we cut down to make fire wood.

5 and 1 Here we are, before the blessing and the feast. It was actually pretty delicious.

8 Derlis wanted us to save all of these leaves from the tree we cut down to use them as medicine…the guy is as Indian as it gets.

9 Me cutting up firewood too, with a machete and an angry look on my face.

2 Elder Vail the financier putting the pig tongue in his mouth. Wow, yeah, gross. I ate some of the other head´s tongue.

6 The bones after we ate it all

7 Us four missionaries and the whole family!

928 Hangin out with my peeps. The Hermana Aurelia, Ana (who we baptized, 13 years old), and her little brother Fernando.

947 Luis and Jorgelina before their marriage. The best marriage and family baptized of my mission!

952 A jumping baptism. Edgar, 17 years old, and his best friend, Milka, a 3 month convert and one of the most solid youths in that ward.

953 Catalina, the miracle baptism, and her Mom, Blasida.

956 The first night of my second turn at the office.

Big News Again 6-1-09

2009-06-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Family and Friends,
I have found my way back into the office! Sunday morning as we were out picking up our investigators, I heard a distinct ring coming from my cell phone and pulled it out to see ¨President Wade.¨ Wondering what it could be, I answered, and after some small talk, was told, ¨Elder Mccarty, I´m calling you to be my secretary, you´ll be coming into the office tonight to begin training.¨ Dealing with the rush of emotions--the dissapointment mingled with the excitement to fulfill a new calling--I told him that I was willing and ready to serve along side him again in the office.

The best part was ending on such a great week. We were able to see Luis and Jorgelina baptized (the most amazing family I have taught in my mission...he even asked me to help him fill out his tithing envelope last week), as well as Edgar, and Catalina (an old investigator who, without knowing I was going, told me she wanted to be baptized that day), and Ana found the courage to pass in front of the congregation to be confirmed.

The goal of 5 baptisms for this month was met, even IF it was all in the last day. So many things came together to make it an unforgettable experience, and to only increase the pang of knowing I may not have such experiences in the near future. Then I realized that I can! Not only CAN I, but my Father In Heaven wants me to! And so, I am committing to FORGET about the downside and doing ALL in my power to serve with the same intensity here as I did out there! I love you all!

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla 5-25-09

2009-06-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is constant. I´ve seen it clothed in mockery by children with misguided parents or by adults who hope to dim its glow—draping it in the very same lies that can´t even hide their own emptiness. Yet the gospel shines through. Those who don´t cast it out, but recieve it, find themselves putting off power bills to pay for weddings so that they can be baptized, or overcoming chronic shyness to be confirmed in front of 120 near strangers. Though Luis and Jorgelina may find their lights turned off for a time and Ana may tremble, the gospel shines on—giving light and calming fears.

At the end of the day, the mission is so great because it gets us beyond the Fair-Weather Faith that says ¨I will go and do...as long as it isn´t too hard.¨ Nephi`s faith didn`t have any minor clauses and neither should ours. I learned that yesterday as the streets were full of water up to our knees from torentious rain the night before. We suited up and waded through to collect our investigators, some of whom needed this ONE last attendance in a Sacrement meeting to be eligible for baptism this week. Just as we prepared to cross the deepest section, where the ACTUAL river had overflowed its banks and the water may have reached our waists, my cell phone rang, and the Bishop informed us that there wouldn´t even be the usual bus to take us to the chapel (which is far away since our own chapel is under construction). At that point we returned home and waited for the Bishop to pick us up and take us to the church in his four wheel drive vehicle, without investigators in hand. Looking back, I realize that I didn´t do ALL in my power. The pioneers who crossed frozen rivers had far greater excuses, and never used them. Now I am committed to doing ALL in my power in every opportunity.

Luckily, Luis and Jorgelina who are sheduled to be married and baptized this week, have attended church enough to continue forward with those plans. They have saved a portion of what they need to pay for the wedding and Luis is hoping his boss will pay him for his work today and tomorrow immediately instead of at the end of the week. Lets pray that they can...and that there light doesn´t turn off...or that even if it does, they will have the faith to carry on, and the comfort of our loving Heavenly Father which we all know so well.

I love you family!

Elder McCarty

Rolla Holla! Monday 5.18.09

2009-05-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

Listening to lectures on Ipod about Joseph Smith in our apartment this week has inspired me and lit the fire that was burning within that man to build this only true church. It happens one soul at a time, and in moments of feeling the sweet spirit, followed by hours of sweat, tears, and soul-grinding work. But it happens. It continues after hundreds of years, millions of members, and repetition after repetition of the miracle known as conversion.

This week Ana was baptized. A sweet package arrived from an even sweeter friend and so I was able to sport the full white tie get-up. It was a great day. Ana went through much difficulty to get baptized -- being the only member in her family and only 13 years old. But, as with all the investigators that make it to the sacred waters, her desires were great enough to overcome the obstacles of the adversary, which there ALWAYS are.Luis and Jorgelina, the golden family, will be getting married and baptized on Saturday. Luis has been 4 days withuot smoking and in a good natured attempt to help him quit, I think we are getting his whole family addicted to lolli-pops! Luckily that one doesn´t pop up in the old Word of Wisdom. I hope and pray that they can remember how they´ve felt and what they´ve been shown (since they have received many VERY special answers) when those inevitable obstacles and barriers begin to appear.

Three other young people, Edgar (17), Yilda (13), and Clara (16), that had burning desires to be baptized but couldn´t get their parents to sign, have been given permission. Ana´s baptism and the giving of these 3 youth´s permission all happened last night: the last day of a very difficult, stressful week.

Isn´t it such a joy to overcome a trial by enduring it well and find that at the end there is a golden pot of happiness waiting for you? Heavenly Father is deeply aware of each and every one of His children.
I love you all and thank you for your support and help in this great cause. Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

I pray that you and I do...ALWAYS!

Your Friend, Brother, Son,

Elder McCarty

1198 The babtism of Ana. I didn´t explain to her that I would lead her into the water backwards and so even to this day (ok, like 2 days later) she hits me for having scared her so badly. Haha, she is hilarious.

1171 A stormy day in full rain attire on a beautiful palm-treed green hill.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, 5.11.09

2009-05-11T20:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we move about so swiftly, we forget where we´re going and where we´re from.

Sometimes the Spirit moves us to our very core, yet we choose not to move ourselves at all. In the balance of life, there is a great, gaping distance between the ideal (or what my mother thinks I am) and the truth. Joyfully, our Savior is patient with us, even when we may not be patient with ourselves, and he calls angels to bear us up -- to see something within us that we ourselves couldn´t see...to raise our vision by loving, sincere expectation.

I want to dedicate this week´s Holla to one such angel in my life.

An Angel to Bear Me Up

What do you get when you find a heart set on making others happy?

Hands willing to serve late nights and long hours, that never lose their gentle touch?

A sweet scent that sings of steaming bacon delivered to a young boy´s bed,

And Cinnamon at Christmas time?

Or the deep, soul-warming smell of pine, or of campfires that smell like deep conversation from deep within a Utah forest?

What do you get when the world falls apart (broken bones and hearts, or ripped jeans),

And is sewn back together with delicate hands and an expertly threaded needle:Patched up with a special kind of love.

Or a life at the point of tearing beyond repair,

When tears are choked back to give loving counsel disguised as irrelevant commentary

To keep from shattering a young man´s pride?

And yet, meeting with the wrecking ball of grim reality, it shatters anyway.

The irrelevent commentary becomes a treasure map for finding happiness.

What do you get when you die to the world?

When you are just a memory and a page full of words?

In whose hands will you leave what you left?

When that thing called home comes once a week in envelopes or a 10 by 10 by 10 inch package,

And floods the heart with the best thing you´ve got: Nostalgia.

When you have an example to look to --service, sacrifice, love -- and a person to trust?

The memory manager, the page processor, the property preotector, the map-maker?

A mountain of great mentors, and army of angels, or a battalion of best friends?

Or Just...Mom!

Happy Mothers Day Mom!

I LOVE YOU!

I called home this week and spoke with my beloved mother, father, and family. It`s always a recharging experience. I shared with them stories of eating alligator, holding monkey`s, and helping an old lady wire her house to escape the enveloping darkness of old age and an electricity-less house. The phone call gave purpose to all of my trying.

Trying to scale a muddy mountain side and falling to certain and entire muddiness. Trying to cross a street and running into a speeding truck, it`s side mirror running into me. Trying to do the work of God and finding golden families and future leaders by faith that frustrates lop-sided probability.

I wish there were time and means to share it all, but I will share with you the best part: Our Brother Jesus LIVES! He´s calling you as He has called me and those like my mother that stand by my side.

Rise up! Answer Him and He will answer you! Knock, seek...DO!

I love you beyond word.

Elder McCarty

905 Overlooking the port. I was going to climb that tree for a pic until I discovered it was COVERED in thorns!

899 The fancy chinese restaurant buffet we went to last PDAY and I ate until I was sick (even tried sushi, yuk :-).

902 Last week doing internet. Kind of boring but at least now I realize I need to take more COOL pics.

1003 My Comp snapped a surprise pic waiting for lunch. I look a little angry about something (I hope I don`t always look like that!).

1037 Me with the colt that I always try to befriend but it always turns it´s hind end to me as if it´s going to kick me. My comp, who grew up on a farm just laughs at my fearful sprinting away.

The Rolla Holla! Monday, 04 May 2009

2009-05-07T13:31:00.000-07:00

You know how it feels when something you`ve heard ALL your life becomes a reality? When the flimsy frame of words is fortified with the sturdy building material of ACTUAL life experience? This week has been a week of fortifying.Excuse all of the metaphors, but sometimes I feel like a blind fish trying to swim downstream who keeps bumping into the dam over and over and over, until he finds the outlet that rushes into freedom. I`m not sure why I always feel like planning or inventing little techniques or any other method for getting over my weaknesses will be the best way to do so, when every time, without fail, the answer is the same: The atonement of Jesus Christ.I`ve struggled this month with getting over the Key Indicators for success and focusing on the people. After many attempts, I realized the answer, again, was Him, the only one who can truly sanctify us.And with the change, have come the results! We were doing contacts one day, and even though we rarely clap houses (usually we just talk to the people who are already outside) I felt like we should clap this one. The man came out, with an unsure look on his face. We made small talk and spoke a little guarani to make him feel comfortable, and before we could even present and testify of our message, he invited us in. The rest is history. He and his family enjoyed and understood the first lesson and asked us when we could come back. They missed the Collectivo (bus) on Sunday, and to our surprise, showed up on their own to the chapel before the meeting started. Now they are excited to be married and baptized on the 20 of this month. There is still a lot of work to do and obstacles to overcome, but I know that the same loving Heavenly Father who made it possible, will help us show them the way.This story and many others, resulting in our finding investigators that couldn`t be described as anything other than golden, have been tender mercies of Heavenly Father to help me and show me that I CAN get over my own personal weaknesses. What a blessing.

I give praise and thanks to Him, as well as to you, my loving and supporting foundation, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Elder McCarty

A few pics:

889 Me and a monkey (and with my little Paraguay flag pin for the month of the Patriot: May).

899 We ate at the fancy chinese restaurant downtown today as a zone, it was great!

884 A huge Paraguayan fire, which pop up all over the place from people burning there trash. This is the biggest, or tallest one I`ve seen, about to burn the electricity cables above!

The Rolla Holla! Monday, April 27, 2009

2009-05-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

This morning, we got up and ran about 2 miles (judging by how long it takes us), to Hno Delosantos` house to haul buckets of dirts for the house he and the other members of Zion here in our little ward of San Jorge are building for him. He has a gimp leg and an unseemly likeness to Robin Williams if he were brown. His wife is missing one eye, and they are some of the happiest people I have met here in Paraguay. In their very humble hut which is being replaced by a slightly less humble brick and mud house, the Hna prepares fried eggs or ham sandwhiches for us when we arrive to work for the 1 or 2 hours we have before District Meeting on Monday morning. Hard work does the heart and body good, especially in the service of our fellow man and our Father in Heaven.My companion is an expert at using his fancy camera and has taken some strikingly beautiful pictures of Paraguayan sunsets and landscapes (I`m trying to attach some).
I love this country. I am convinced (like all of the other 60 thousand missionaries) that I am in the best mission in the world. The people here are so prepared by God and willing to listen.The other day we were doing contacts, trying to find new people to teach, and I told my companion that we needed a break because I had to see if I could climb a palm tree (that Tongan guy in Hawaii made it look so easy). While we were there, 2 women came over to us (ok, kind of an embarrasing 1st impression) but asked us who we are and what we believe and expressed interest in the church. Patricia and Maria are on hard times and have seen something in the members and the organization of our church that attracts them. We are excited to teach them and help them find a conviction beyond curiosity.Life in the mission is wonderful. I am very happy and the people we are working with are progressing, and a loving Heavenly Father is giving them, and me, the ability to change and grow through our Savior`s atonement.

Use it, please.

I love you all!

Elder McCarty

The face of determination

A sweet volleyball game with a stand-on-your shoulder net adjustment.

783 A guy with the most overworked wheelbarrel in the history of man!
779 Posing by a sweet Paraguayan Pond and tree in the middle of the road (instead of cutting down trees they just build the roads around them)

796 Looking serious in front of a Port and Sunset picture.

764 A nice park setting in the middle of our area
910 A sweet sunset over Poerto Fenix 862 Big Zone picture.989 This is how they mix cement here. They let me try my hand at it.

Mini Holla 4-20-09

2009-05-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

I`m alive and all is well and an hour of internet time wasted because of computer problems. Love you all...TRUST me! :-)

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla!! Monday, 13 April 2009

2009-04-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

.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

2009-04-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

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

The Rolla Holla 3-30-09

2009-03-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

Anudda week in the life of the Paraguay Asunción North Mision. Funny how with every change in this life we go through levels of adjustment and eventually arrive at the comfort and efficiency that we found before, with a whole new set of responsibilities. I`ve found that doing so in the service of my Savior Jesus Christ has given me an added ability to adapt and develop my talents according to the requirement of the situation. As has often been said in this great work, and as I`ve learned in the last 2 weeks, which have flown by: The Lord qualifies those that he calls!
This week we were able to help a Man named Ricardo enter the waters of baptism after marrying his Wife and beginning a new life as a family in the Church of Jesus Christ. It was wonderful to see him make the change from a very relaxed, less than focused victim of his circumstances, to an excited, dedicated father of his family. This week he will be able to recieve the priesthood and bless his family with that gift of God.
Natalia and Emilio were LOTS of fun to teach. They are both very smart and sweet children. Natalia speaks some English and so often spoke to my companion who doesn`t understand Spanish, making him feel more comfortable in the lessons.
As for me, it has been really fun getting to feel really comfortable in Spanish and now working on Guarani, which seems to be the langauge of the people`s hearts here in Paraguay. People will give you this skeptical look until you bust out 2 or 3 words in Guarani and then suddenly they are your best friends. It`s great!

Tidbit: when I was in the office we had weekly meetings with President to talk about our field and office work. One week he shared with us the story of Trojan soldiers that were being led to conquer an island. They disembarked, and the first thing they did upon reaching shore was to BURN THE BOATS. That way, it became win or die...the options were very few. I have really latched onto that idea and it has helped me to DESTROY any trace of the impulse to make excuses within me. When I set goals that I know are the will of the Lord, I set them, embark, and then I burn the boats, never looking back, only forging forward. If we ever fall short, which we are certain to sometimes do, we know where the responsibility lies. That has been a powerful principle for me!
Well, this week we have zone conference and I am looking forward to taking that step back and seeing how I can improve.
I love you all and thank you for your support and help. I hope you have a great week!

Elder McCarty

Yikes! Time! 3-23-09

2009-03-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

The Rolla Holla

Well everyone! Exciting news! At the end of this change Elder Agudelo was called to serve FAR away, in one of the furthest areas, and I was left here with an Elder that arrived from Canada 6 days ago and is now my companion. He is great. We are working harder than I have ever worked in my mission and due to his limited Spanish, I have lost my voice by the end of the last 3 days.But boy have we seen the results. Heavenly Father blessed us to meet ALL of our goals (which we set high to stretch us), and has prepared us for another week of stretching and working even smarter.Yesterday as we walked a TON to visit all of the investigators that we had attend church, a young woman of maybe 24 years called us and asked us to share our message with her. She told us to wait there and went and got her husband. They seem like a promising family and we have a return appointment this Tuesday. They are 1 or 2 great families that we are blessed to be teaching right now who are likely to arrive at the sacred waters of baptsim.I feel a certain unquenchable intensity in my soul to go out and do this work with all of my vigor in the way the Lord wants it done. That is something that excites me and inspires me and at times, usually late at night, brings tears of joy to my eyes as I lay in bed exausted from a day of giving it all I`ve got. Thank you for your prayers...THEY WORK! I love you ALL!Elder MCCarty

2.16.09 Holla and Pics‏

2009-03-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

Here I am. We were going to have the final word on our changes today. However, we`re told President spent the night in his office, and has been there all morning, surely pouring his heart out to a God that both he and I know guides this work.

The rock of this church is it`s revelation from heaven: the part that lets us know we`re here right now because God wanted us here and at this very moment.I am excited to see what lessons he is preparing for me. Excited to reach out and take advantage of them. To apply my faith by doing all in my power and then following the Paraguayan model of trust that everything will turn out ok.

Cultures, much like people, have their strengths and their weakness. And, like people, we can choose to love them and allow the weaknesses to become endearing, or we can react in some other way. The beauty of service is that it requires one to love. The beauty of the mission is that it requires one to serve. I don`t know if it`s a poem or what but I just wrote a bunch of stuff about how I feel towards the culture down here.

A tribute to the Paraguayan people

The enduring through the eternal day.

The stomach hardening grit to brave heat, distance, and feet battering roads of rock.

The overcoming hunger in order to try to aleviate it.

The total tranquility.

The offering everybody a cool drink and friendly hand.

The toothless smiles.

The endless good.

The windowless houses.

The mountains of fried food.

The bouncing bus salesmen and their monotone voices mimicking excitement.

The meat floating in water and grease: called soup.

The corn bread prepared, as they say, ¨indian-style¨, which must include the grit and dirt from not having washed your hands, and in place of non-stick spray, is coated with paraguayan leaves, or else...sorry, it`s just not as good.

The families that are doing what they have to do to be together...forever.

The reminding me that I left a world of cars and cell phones and seemingly endless wealth to teach a people who`s suffering ended up teaching me.

The promise it all inspires in me to NEVER take for granted what I had and will have, and above all, to NEVER stop giving all I`ve got.

Thank you Paraguay,

I love you

Elder McCarty

Pictures and Descriptions

Elder Agudelo kissing a giant frog. I told him to do it and I didn`t think he actually would!

Before our lunch appointment on Sunday, waiting for the food to be ready, and Elder Agudelo sleeping!

Sunset with me just a standin there.

There are lots of these horse drawn carts down here. I asked this guy if I could take a pic and he just said Ikatu (guarani for ok).

Standing on an old building foundation overlooking a cliff and a tree filled vally.

Outside a nunnery while I was still in the office, where you can buy all kinds of sweet handmade artifacts by Guarani ¨Indios¨ out in the chaco. Nativity sets, neclaces, wooden knives, etc., of Palo Santo, or holy wood, which smells really good and is famous in Paraguay.

BIG NEWS! 3-9-09

2009-03-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like my move to the office was a little more temporary than even I thought. To be honest, that makes me very happy. I just found out that tomorrow I will be moving. You´ll never guess where I´ll be packing my bags to go for this 3rd time in one change…drum roll…back to San Jorge!! I know, crazy isn´t it!?!? I´ll get to go see all of the tear-stained faces, and eyes full of goodbyes that I left in my place of birth as a missionary. Wow! I´ll be with Elder Agudelo again. President has told me that it will be just until the end of this change (next Wednesday) and then Elder Agudelo will be going to a different area and I will be staying there with a new companion. It´ll be back to the small living space with one room of air conditioning, and a broken old camping stove. I can´t even believe how excited I am. First of all, I LOVE Elder Agudelo, and second of all, I LOVE the area and the people we taught. Some of the very same people I was helping to teach are now very close to their baptismal dates. I can´t WAIT to help them get there! Well, not much time, I´ve got to pack my bags and get ready to go. I love you all! Preparation day will be back to Monday and I´ll be on the old schedule again. Thank you so much for all each and every one of you do for me! With Love, Elder McCarty

Pictures in the Office

2009-03-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

I have been terrible with taking pics but Elder Guest just got a SWEET new camera so here are some from his.

Giant sweet tie

Funny green picture, we decided it looks like an alien from some movie we can´t quite figure out.

Another green, this time either eating something or posing like a model.

A district meeting with my Comp and our district leader Elder Hansen (and random Hermanas that came to sit in on his class since it is so dang good!

Looking eager…a night after office and field work, chatting around the table.

Planning in our room after a day at the office. Elder Guest interrupts us by coming in and laying on my bed.

Another cool color function, jamming for the roommates.

He´s got the whole world in his hands. Cool color function!

The Rolla Holla! Saturday, March 7, 2009

2009-03-07T20:57:00.001-08:00

Well, this week, it´s time for a more in-depth description of…¨The office.¨ We wake up at 630 like everyone else in the mission, unless we happen to have been up to 2 or 3 the night before working on special projects for President in preparation for zone conference or special changes, or whatever the surprise of the day might be. We are basically his helping hands, his running feet, his delivering wheels, and his typing fingers. I eat, exercise, shower, practice the piano (yeah, cool, I almost have Called To Serve down and plan to keep learning, hopefully one day to be able to just site read music). Then, we do an abbreviated study, to get into the office by 8:30, and work according to a personal plan and a very independently motivated environment.

The Officinistas live in a house of 4, my companion, the secretary, me ¨The Clerk, ¨ Elder Davis, the Fichero (document guy), and Elder Guest, the Financiero. It has been great to learn from each of them and there examples. My companion is kind and loving and very willing to help with everything. He keeps the office running and reminds us of our deadlines for President. He knows how to do missionary work and speaks excellent Spanish. Elder Davis is tall and lanky and almost an exact replica of Napolean Dynamite. He dances and has a guteral goofy laugh. One day as he leaned over Elder Guest´s desk spinning scissors on his fingers, Elder Guest told him he was going to poke out his eye. His response was, ¨come on Elder, I spin Frisbees all the time,¨ which it turns out he does every night, and did in the high school talent show. The kid is hilarious. Elder Guest is loud and goofy and some think he is very obnoxious. I love him and, though occasionally frustrated, do a pretty good job of showing it.

As the Clerk my primary responsibilities are: taking care of ALL mail and packages for 140 missionaries, organizing their cell phones and keeping an updated list of who has which, organizing and executing marriages (with a Paraguayan judge), doing all cleaning, maintenance, and reparation on mission vehicles (or taking them to get done), creating the Going Home Video for missionaries who are going home, and making the layout and content of the monthly mission newsletter. Yup, keeps me pretty busy. Most of all, I love the creative jobs that I have. Designing and even writing some content for the newsletter has kept me excited and allowed me to do a little writing, which I love. Meanwhile I feel I am learning SO much to prepare me for what I hope won´t be a too-long-delayed jump back into the field. At the end of each day, I lay in bed, happy with the hard, mentally tiring office work, but overjoyed with the success that we are finding in our area, rich and more stubborn as it may be.

We found a man named Derlis. He has set a goal to be baptized the 11th, which will break a yearlong streak of no baptisms in this area. It turns out that past office Elders haven´t taken their out-of-the-office work as seriously. Derlis is excited and reads well and understands the principals that we teach him. His family of 7 is going to be coming from the Chaco (or the huge northern part of Paraguay where very few people live in a desert-jungle like terrain). He says they are excited to hear our message and would like to follow their father into the waters of baptism as well.

How exciting is this work! I love it so much. Thank you all for your love and support.
See ya in the blink of an eye!
Elder McCarty

The Holla 2-28-09

2009-02-28T16:27:00.001-08:00

The Rolla hollaIt seems to me that one of the greatest evils of our time isn´t so much hatred, or malice, but the nagging, destructive, all-to-common carelessness that weasels its way into all-too-many hearts. It says, ¨I don´t care, ¨ either because ¨my mission is almost over, ¨ or ¨it´s not my fault,¨ or ¨I´m just Jr. Companion,¨ or whatever the inadequate excuse may be. With all of them, the subtle subtitle, translates into mediocrity and less that a fullness of joy. I know, because I too am often guilty of it. But how great are those times when we leave the excuses behind, level with our shortcomings, and watch as a loving Heavenly Father empowers us to overcome them!The First week in the office! Even though my coming here was unexpected and unplanned by those of us that aren´t omnipotent, He that is was just watching the cards fall as he knew they would and wanted them to all along. Now I´m planning weddings, car inspections, cell phone swaps, preparations for apostolic visits, all on the phone, and whats more, in SPANISH! Haha, I think I´ve written that several times, but each new step surprises me with how capable my Father in Heaven makes me!Like a lighting bolt, the reality and love of my Father in Heaven struck my heart as I read in my journal and recognized one of his tender mercies. The morning before the big move, without knowing anything about the situation I recorded the following in my journal: ¨My dream last night: [My comp] was going home for having done something wrong and was crying or something.¨ As I stood in that very situation less than 24 hours later, I had forgotten about the dream, until I read those words in my journal. As I began writing this Holla I felt strongly prompted to share it, though I would generally guard it as deeply personal. There is NO reason whatsever that I can think of for my Father in Heaven to reveal that to me, except to remind me: ¨Kyler, my son, I really AM here and I love you.¨Well, we have wrapped up the work in Aratiri. The regular office schedule is to work in the office from 830 to 430 and then go out to the area (which is called Mburucuya, or Boo-Roo-Koo-Jaw) until 930. We strive to keep that schedule, but often find ourselves with urgent projects or unfinished tasks. The high pace, exciting nature of the work here in the office, gives me a change to refine even further my ability to plan and set goals. I am honestly loving the work and always striving to do a better job.I love you all so much! I haven´t taken any pictures yet here in the office, but am going to start making sure to do so. They won´t be in the jungles of Paraguay, but they will still be fun to remember! With all my love!Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! Sarambi Pa´ite! (Extreme Crazyness)

2009-02-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

A crazy week, a special change, days of uncertainty, and at the end of it all, I landed in the office. Yikes. As missionaries, we don´t always have the privilege of knowing what is going on around us. All I know is that now, for the rest of this change, I have been called to serve…as the Cartero. It will be my job to take care of the mail, the packages, the cell phones, the marriages, the cars…and the list continues to grow. To be honest, I never really imagined myself an office Elder, but here I am. I´m grateful for the confidence that assures me that a loving Father in Heaven knows what He is doing and has something important for me to learn and do here in this new calling.

The week, despite the unpredictability, has been a good one. Having to work out divisions and find Hermanos from the ward to work with me (and by Hermanos, I mean the ever-dedicated, always-smiling, Lucio), and I got to see a little bit of what it´s like to try to guide a companionship. When the news first arrived, I went from disappointment, to the recognition that it is God´s will, and finally, to a forced changed in my attitude to be happy and excited regardless of where I am called to do this wonderful work.

At any rate, it looks like it could be just for the rest of this change. And for now, in the nights, after 4 or 5 we´ll still be working in Aratiri. Once we finish with the people we´re working with there, we´ll move back to the office area here in Mburukuja (I think is how it´s spelled), where the office Elders have always worked in the evenings. So, I´m excited to make the best of these few weeks and to learn MANY important things that will help me for the rest of my life!

Anyhow, as for the week in Aratiri: The day after the special change we had to scramble a little to baptize thirteen year old, studious, Jessica. But, with prayer and blessings from our Father in Heaven, everything went according to plan. Jessica´s Mom, Sandra, also a recent convert, had terrible stomach pains, which let up just in time for her to act on the overwhelming feeling that she should go to the church and follow through with the baptism. Sandra is now in the hospital. We are praying that she will be able to recuperate quickly and trusting that God will bless his 2 daughters that have taken such an important and difficult step.

Heavenly Father also blessed us this week to find LOTS of young families that are willing and excited to listen to our message. This week we found 4 new families and are hoping that they will be able to make it to church tomorrow. Really, a lot depends on what happens tomorrow. If some of the people we are teaching make it to church, we´ll continue working with them. If not, we may be focusing our efforts on the area here near the office. My new companion is the mission Secretary, Elder Hansen. He is dedicated and excited to set goals to improve the work here in the office as well as in the field.

Well Family, thank you so much for the love and support. My Day of Preparation here in the office is Saturday, for the rest of this change. Today no pics, since I´m living out of just 1 suitcase and everything else is in Aratiri. I´ll be e-mailing and writing your letters on Saturday´s from now on. I hope that you all have a wonderful week and remember to enjoy this life; we only get one of them.

Elder McCarty

The Rolla Holla! 2.16.09

2009-02-16T16:27:00.001-08:00

Somebody once said, ¨faith can move mountains...just don´t be surprised when God hands you a shovel.¨ But how many of us are? I spoke this week with a less active member who told God he´d only come back when the pain in his ribs was miraculously healed and a misionary who blamed Satan and difficult circumstances for his lack of performance as he headed for his house to sleep when he should have been working. Again, it´s almost as funny as it is sad...almost.This week I have felt rejuvinated by an injection of the Spirit that comes from hard work: Speaking to everyone we meet and inviting them all to hear our message. It reminds me of a poem my MTC Companion wrote, that I love:As missionaries we go,Let by Spirit, protected by angels;The badge no longer upon the suit,but brazened upon the heart.As missionaries we serve,sharing a happiness,Inviting to christ all persons of the worldBrothers and sisters in Truth.As missionaries we return,Bold from experience, wisdom-filled.Not slaves to man but servants of our GodMissionaries now until Eternity!Elder Brandon Prettyman, Tues 8.19.08It´s a little ironic that we, as missionaries have to leave behind so much happiness in order to share it. Some times we feel alone or barely afloat in a vast, turbulant ocean. Separated by time and space from the one that we love. Yet, at the same time it´s very fitting that the little lifeboat of our testimony be proved by storms of sacrifice and winds of adversity. And, as the clouds part and the giant waves give way to a divine serenity, the lifeboat is still afloat--somehow strengthened by the experience, and better prepared for the even MORE violent storms and waves that are sure to come!In all of this, we have the choice. I have served with Elders who never had that love to begin with--uprooted from families that could neither understand nor accept their son´s decision to serve. Harsh words, broken relationships, and a heroic, simple determination to serve anyway, because at some point in time, not so long ago, they experienced that penetrated heart and those moistened eyes. They echoed a prophet´s simple, compelling words: ¨I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.¨ (JS-H 1:25).A review of the week: This week we spoke with an 80 year old member woman who brought her pistol to show it off to us, and after pointing it at us and joking around, she told us it was loaded...yeah, scary. We helped that same Hermana crack peanuts, which we found her doing with her old, arthritic hands. Service, it turns out, comes in many different forms, lol. Afterwards she invited us to try Peanuts with Syrup (Miel as it´s called, which I´m not sure exactly what it is, but it´s a deep brown and sweet, so I´m ok with it). She told us stories of being accosted and being saved by the threat of her pistol, and others of being saved by the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. I think the latter is a little more reliable...not to mention safe :-).We taught a young girl named Jessica who actually reads, outlines, and remembers every pamphlet we leave her after teaching the lessons. It is amazing and as she is learning a lot, more important than anything is the spirit she continues to feel in her heart. Faith, I am learning, is much more powerful than what we call ¨knowledge,¨ or what we THINK we percieve in the world with our eyes, ears, and other senses.I also enjoyed lunch today with other American Elders and was reminded of my dad when one said, ¨you´re cruizin for a bruizin,¨ and I laughed hysterically. I ate ice cream with a delicious pudding cake. I offended a whole family this week because I didn´t understand the defition of the word Tonto, which I thought meant goofy and turns out to mean stupid. They forgave me as I continued to try to love and serve them. We taughte a wife in a very abusive relationship, and saw the beginnings of change from hearing the gospel, and then saw it all thrown to the wind by the evil of Alcohol. I stood on a well to cut a tree so the leaves wouldn´t fall into the water supply (a little scary because it was a LONG way down!). And many other adventures that I don´t have time to write.More than anything, I´m seeing the benefit of using that shovel that God is handing me. The strain of hard work leaves me prostrate on my knees and then knocked out in my bed. But each day I am blessed to wake with a smile and an unmistakable happiness. I know that our Father in Heaven blesses those that do His will. I love you all so much,Elder McCarty

2.16.09 Kyler's pictures and captions

2009-02-16T16:21:00.000-08:00

18.10 One of the many divisions we´ve done with Lusio, the AWESOME ward Secretary I told you about. Just he and I all day while my comp goes with another member.

18.9 A bird got in the church and we had to help it out...lol

18.8 Old area, camping out in a storm. I have a sweet video, but don´t think I can send it. We´ll see next week.

18.6 Lucio, Elder Suasnaba, and I in a stormy day.

18.4 Me by a guy chopping wood. Interesting eh? I was amazed he was doing it BAREFOOT!

18.5 The peanut crackin, gun wieldin gramma. Good times. I didn´t get in the pic, doh!

18.3 A lesson next to a soccer game in a field in a member´s front yard.

18.2 Gun bearing Hermana

18.1 Giant snail found in an investigators garden.

Barb got the pictures to work!! Wahoooo

2009-02-09T17:18:00.001-08:00

Excerpts from a letter to mom 2-9-09

2009-02-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

Mom,
I wanted to try to send the pics in a zip file to see what happens. I don´t even know if I did it right, but if you can work with what is in this email, they´ll be of higher quality and save me LOTS of time not having to shrink them down!

--- The picture did not come through- it said it was corrupt.... :(

I know that, more than anything, as we strive to have the Spirit, Heavenly Father smooths out our rough edges, and opens the doors to the friendships, whether they be many and broad, or few and deep that both we and others need in our lives at any given moment. I love President Eyrings talk from Priesthood session about seeking help from the Angels god sends and learning to be that angel as well).

Elder Suasnaba is my companion from Argentina. Almost inevitably, missionaries feel the need to give commentary on a new companion when changes come out. I worked hard to start off with lots of communication and love, and he told me that other people in the mission had told him that I am strictly obedient (which made me feel good, and laugh at the same time, since nobody from his zone knew me--that kind of thing travels by cell phone, sadly, in the mission). Anyhow, I have been learning a lot about the importance of the spirit of the law over the letter of the law, and of how the work only moves with unity, which may have little or nothing to do with pharasaic-like obedience (although, I´m certain it would be a deeper, better founded unity if it was based on shared desires to obey, rather than on concession one end.) Sadly, the same elders that don´t want to obey, aren´t willing to concede to preserve unity. A difficult situation, but not impossible! At any rate, I´m learning a LOT!)

Elder McCarty

Not Sure if this Holla ever got through 2.9.09‏

2009-02-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

Since I last wrote, I´ve changed areas and companions. My first day here, as I studied in the morning, a man clapped outside and stood there, contently smiling. I went out to greet him and, in that way, I met Lucio—our ward´s secretary, a convert and returned missionary, and a man that just eminates goodness. He has accompanied us 2 or 3 full days of work already and is a GREAT boon to the missionary work here in this area, fellowshipping the members and providing them with a constant friend in the Ward. It was he who taught us the game ¨si o no,¨ wherein one person asks questions and the other one has to answer without saying si o no. If they do, they lose, and then they have to ask questions. It was fun, and we laughed a lot, and got to know eachother really well. I think it´ll be a great tool for the rest of my mission and in the future for those dates where she only wants to give one word answers (lol). As we passed the gate of another Paraguayan shack, with a shout of Peguaheke (Guarani for Can We Come In) after having clapped, the family scrambled to arrange chairs for another visit from the missionaries (usually under the shade of some tree). This was the house of a once faithful Brother who has only one leg, and so rarely leaves the house. We talked, and he laughed and enjoyed our presence. Near the end, at the point of tears, he expressed his gratitude for our visit and love for the missionaries, explaining that our visits made him feel important in his now helpless state. How great is this work? Even the simplest, uplifting visits to members are miracles in their lives. I feel so blessed to be here right now to get to know and come to love the people of this area. I also like moving areas because people always compliment my Spanish (whether it´s true or not, it sure feels good). I´m realizing the value of a little encouragement when somebody is working hard to learn something that can be difficult, and that is risky. Let us all give compliments and encouragement in place of criticism and mockery, even if we might think it a funny joke at the time. Well, I love you all so much. I thought today of the movie Robinhood where he kneels down and kisses the shores of the English beach after having been away for so many years. That´s how I feel about my country, my family, my friends. You are all so wonderful, and if it weren´t for the absolute truthfulness of what I´m doing, it would be difficult to be apart from you for so long. I love you all, and know that Jesus Christ LIVES and guides our church. Have a wonderful week...MAKE IT ONE :-). Elder McCarty

Kyler's pictures and commentary 2-2-09

2009-02-02T17:08:00.001-08:00

A cool tree swing made from a tire, with the heavy Paraguayan Jungle background.

There are a LOT of these pretty, yet thorny bushes. My companion calls them Mirame no me toques, or look at me but don´t touch me, lol.

Hanging out with our investigator and friend Ezekiel.

Mowing the lawn, Paraguayan Style (with a machete...yeah, I know, impressive).

Here we are with the Bishop and his family after a delicious lunch of chicken, green salad, and rolls.

Here we are in a recent Family Home Evening. He made some delicious Chorizo, and I ate like 8 of them, in the form of hotdogs with....yup, FRY SAUCE! They all thought it was pretty cool, and wierd.

The Rolla Holla 2-2-09

2009-02-02T17:06:00.001-08:00

The Rolla Holla

The news is in. I´m changing areas. Moving to Capiata Zone, an area called Aratidi with a new companion from Argentina! Exciting, but at the same time a little nerve wracking.

The tendancy to waste time in between the changes in life, caught hold of us this week. We slowed down a little, kept track less, and talked more and with increasing frequency about what would happen as the day of Transfers came upon us. Yet still we did a great deal of the work of our Lord. It is impossible not to grow when there are so many experiences, like refining fires or fertilizers of growth, that we come in contact with every day.

We did a division this week with some of the Priesthood from our ward. With me was a 17 year old young man named Jorge and he was a little timid so I did literally ALL the contacting, teaching, commitments, and every other phase of the missionary work. I was amazed at how much my Father in Heaven blessed me to do so, and to do it well, and effectively. He is always there for us if we are walking in His paths.

I´m feeling a little anxious to get out and DO more. To set and accomplish goals. To meet my new companion. To meet and get to know deeply another area full of this beautiful people. I feel like I´m closing Chapter One in the Epic that is my mission. I have the tools and the abilities, and the help of God that I need to start again, anew, and with strength and excitement. I love you all! Thank you for all you do.

Elder McCarty

Rolla Hola and Pictures 1-26-09

2009-01-26T20:54:00.000-08:00

Ok, 4 pics from my comps camera.

Here is a beautifual Paraguayan night.

Here are all of us missionaries eating at a pretty fancy restaurant (much nicer, but costs about the same as McDonalds, 20 Thousand Guarani, or like 4 dollars, which tastes WAY better down here...maybe just because it´s a rarity).

Fondo Verde: My Comp and I sitting in the shade

of some trees in a lesson.

The Baptism of Blasida and Alberto. Awesome!

The words to one of my favorite hymns always sink deeply into my heart: ¨Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here´s my heart o, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.¨ Nobody has ever said missionaries are perfect. Like each of you, there are temptations, and sometimes, also like you, we put our foot in a door that we know we shouldn´t enter as representatives of Jesus Christ. There is a simple, sweet reassurance in the humble recognition that I cannot avoid sin on my own. When we let down the misplaced pretense that we are somehow great or accomplished or powerful, we open the way for the help of the only One who really is.Because, after all, the missionaries that think they are ¨strong,¨ are the ones that end up falling. The parents who think they have mastered the ¨techniques¨ of raising children, are the ones that end up guiding them astray. The ¨noble and great one¨ who thought he KNEW how to save all of mankind and therefore deserved the glory, was the one who ended up being cast into the pit. However BRILLIANT the missionary or the parent or the ¨son of the morning¨ that Satan was, it´s amazing the mountain of difference that can be made by a grain of humility.The scriptures tell us that we can´t even develop good character, and ESPECIALLY the attributes of Christ, on our own. And so, as I write new goals every night for the following day, every monday for the coming week, and every 6 weeks for the new change (I´ll be completing my 3rd change here in a week and a half), I have to remember that through ALL I can do, I am NOTHING if I don´t have the help of a loving Father in Heaven.This last week, I put into action a plan for focusing on EVERY one of the 9 christ like attributes listed in Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel. Most days I focus on 1 and 2 of the days I focus on 2. But I´ve learned that when I give God clear goals, God gives me clear trials - raising the bar so I can learn to jump ever higher. Then, when I give God my focus - perfecting my form, strengthening my muscles, and improving my techniques - God gives me power - suddenly I can jump a bar that, before, and on my own, would have been impossible. How wonderful is the mission!Anyhow, I continued the illustrated journal this week. I drew the instructions to making Patacon Pisado, or squished and then fried Platano, a delicious Colombian treat. I enjoyed pouring out sincere compliments and watching how happy it made my companion that I enjoyed his cooking (not to mention the increased likelihood that he´ll cook for me again, lol).We did a division this week with my Zone Leader, another Colombian, Elder Perez. Rather than just passing the drunks with a thumbs up, he stopped and talked to several of them. They bought us sodas, and asked us ridiculous questions, and we laughed at them. At the end of the day, I don´t think it´s the MOST effective use of our time, but it sure was fun.I also love getting the different perspectives of other missionaries. Elder Perez inspired me by explaining how we are called to OPEN the hearts of the people of Paraguay. To do so, sometimes it´s necessary to show them that we, too, are just people. To laugh, and joke, and express our love. And THEN, to teach, as a humble teacher comparting a small bit of wisdom rather than some sort of accomplished Professor dictating to listening students. I love developing those abilities and seeing the Lord work miracles through me.One day this week, we also found 2 parrots in one day. They climbed onto my shoulders, and one of them spoke Guarani. Elder Agudelo scared me to death when he grabbed my already endangered ear and I yelled in fear that the bird´s deadly beak had latched onto my fragile ear. Luckily I didn´t swat at it.So many exciting and interesting and fun things happen every day. But, those things that strike me most deeply are the people that we help to change. This week we arranged a marriage (we´ll see if it goes down), and helped a nervous young man resolve tension with his mother so that he could come to church with us. We usually teach between 30 and 48 lessons in a week, contact between 100 and 135 people, do service, and various other inspiring and sometimes physically and emotionally tiring missionary activities. But, and the end of the day, we feel the soft, reassuring voice of our Savior that we are doing what is right. I hope to ALWAYS have that feeling in my life. Our mission at whichever point in our life, changes a LOT, but can ALWAYS be dependent on the will of our loving Father in Heaven. If we but learn to find and follow it, he will show us the way to greater and greater happiness. I love you all, and say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.Elder McCarty