Big News Again 6-1-09

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

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

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

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

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

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

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