he Rolla Holla, Saturday, September 26, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.