Quincee Gets Schlapped

Helloooooo everyone!!

What a great week it's been! It was full of ups and downs, long bus rides, tons of appointments, lots of laughs, and the cherry on top- I had my first baptism in the mission!! 

My companions are Sister Training Leaders, which means they have to go to other zones and train other companionships. We've trained three companionships thus far. First were the hermanas from Moroni, the area in the capitol city. Next were the hermanas from San Jorge, the closest area to us. Last were the hermanas from Conception- a 7 hour bus ride away. Our first two trainings were within 30 minutes from our house, but for Conception- I experienced my first "red-eye" bus ride. We left our house at 11pm Monday night and arrived in Conception at 6am the next morning. 

Conception is super cool place. It reminds me of a town you would see in the movies. Motorcycles and Vespas rule the streets. There are people trying to sell you stuff around every corner. Tons of street food and random statues. We were in Conception from Tuesday to Thursday. It was a really cool experience but jeez I don't want to do that bus ride again!

When we got back to Loma Pyta we went straight to work. We had a bunch of appointments and preparation we needed to do for the baptism that weekend. Eugenia is awesome, and has been having lessons with the missionaries for about two months. She's 25 and dating a member... well she was dating a member. As of Saturday- she's married to a member. That's right, she was baptized and married on the same day! So on Saturday we arrived at the church early to set up the marriage in one room and the baptism in the other. Eugenia got married first, then changed her clothes, and her now husband, Ariel, baptized her. It was such an awesome happy day! 

And for the peeps that don't want to read everything- here's some other highlights:

 • After 3 weeks in Paraguay, I FINALLY had my first day without eating cow. What a joyous day it was... for me. My comps weren't too happy. 

• There was a crazy storm that started while we were walking to an appointment. The streets flooded. We basically walked two miles in a river. 

• Another storm. Never have I ever heard thunder so loud or lightning strike so close. Our power was out for 1.5 days

• I was one of the witnesses for Eugenia's baptism - woohoo! 

• They have Acai here and it schlaps 

• The 25th was my amazing mothers birthday and I got to call her for a little birthday song and chat. I sure do love my mom.

• I got some awesome emails from some awesome people. Thank you so much for that! It means more than you can know.

This week I've felt my Savior's love manifested in so many different things. He is so aware of my needs. The Lord is aware of you. He knows your pains. He is there for your highs and lows. And wow oh wow does he love you!!

Te Amo, 

Hermana Carter

Training the sisters in Moroni

A mask has many uses. This is my favorite way to use one.

We made it to Concepcion

The District!

Eugenia and Ariel after they were married

The happy bride and the happy hermanas

Quincee Writes Her First Letter From Paraguay

What’s Up My Family and Friends-

This past few weeks have been extremely busy. So to answer the big question… Yes! Yes I beat my dad in our NCAA March Madness bracket! And yes- I also made it to Paraguay!!!  Shortly after sending my email three weeks ago I received word I would be leaving the country on Saturday morning April 3rd. I left Loomis then flew from Sacramento to LAX to Panama to Asuncion Paraguay. I arrived in Asunción with 13 other missionaries from the United States on Easter Sunday at 11 PM. It was a long two days of travel, but I was just so grateful to be in Paraguay after months of uncertainty.

I spent two nights at the temple hostel. Monday was spent training and learning about the mission and half of Tuesday was spent doing immigration paperwork and such. After lunch we met our companions. I was “born” into a trio. I have two Paraguayan companions who don’t speak even the slightest bit of English. Introducing Hermana Soria and Hermana Gill. Our area is called Loma Pyta, which is about 30 minutes from the capital city Asunción.

Paraguay is awesome and I’m so happy to be here, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it – the first week was HARD. Really hard. Not being able to speak the language I couldn’t understand my comps and I was missing my family so it made for some hard adjustments. But I can confidently say it gets better. Every day I feel like I’m improving. This week has been so much better and, dare I say it, even awesome.

We’ve been teaching a ton, walking a whole bunch, and laughing a lot. There might be a bit of a language barrier but I sure do love my companions. We have so much fun together. The people here are awesome! They have so much love for everyone they meet. One of the ways they show their love is through food. These people can eat! 

The custom here is to have a large lunch and a late small dinner. We always have our lunches with members and holy cow (literally) the portions are huge and always they always serve meat- specifically beef. I am 100% confident that vegetarians wouldn’t survive here. The members want you to eat so much! I’ll be a quarter of the way through my portion and my Paraguayan comps will be on their third plate of food. Ha ha! Most days I only eat lunch. My comps have a fun time calling me a gringa and making fun of how little I eat. They have a good time making fun of me in general. 

Spanish has been hard but I am learning more every day. As well as learning Spanish, I’ve been learning Guarani. This is the native language here and everyone I’ve met thus far speaks it. A plus of having native comps is they speak to me in both Spanish and Guarani. They’ve taught me important things like “How are you”= Mbaieichapa , “Look out”= Hake , “What’s your name?”= Mbaiecha nde rera. And in return I’ve taught them some important words in English like whale, liar, and stoked.

I’m sorry I’ve been bad at writing letters- I’m going to do better! Really so much has happened and I would love to write all about it but to save you and me some time here are the highlights:

-I got to go to the temple in Paraguay.

- I saw a guy who looked exactly like Esqueleto from Nacho Libre.

-The buses here are insane! They start moving before you’re even on the bus fully. I love riding them, it’s like Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland.

- A little girl dream drew a picture of me and it was adorable.

- I set my first baptismal date with the sweetest little girl Abby. She’s 10 years old.

- My comps and I had a race around the church and I am the fastest.

-We found six new investigators this week alone.

- I finally found peanut butter at the store and I’m stoked. They sell it in a bag and it’s expensive. #worthit

-My companions are the sister training leaders so they teach other companionship‘s. Tonight we are taking a six hour bus ride to Conception to train some Hermana‘s.

-My mom hid letters throughout my luggage from friends and family and it seriously makes my week reading them. It’s been fun to keep finding them in different places.

I’m alive, I’m a missionary, and I am in Paraguay and loving life. I know this is exactly where I’m supposed to be!

So much love for all of you.

Keep in touch- Send an email- quincee.carter@missionary.org

Te Amo,

Hermana Carter

Quincee leading all her little lost chicks through LAX

Uno and Rubix Cube to pass time in long layovers

Double thumbs up to finally be in Paraguay

My travel group

Mis Hermanas ft. el templo

El templo ft. me

My little friend Abby

All this walking can make a girl tired ft. Hermana Soria

Quincee Arrives in Paraguay- for real!!

A Note from the Mom-

It was an Easter miracle- Hermana Carter arrived in Asunción, Paraguay on Easter Sunday at almost midnight. After an emotional goodbye, we were so anxious to hear anything from Q. Finally we got a quick email. All she had time to say “ Hi family!! I am in Paraguay, I am safe, no problems with entry. Love and miss you guys so much! Love love love you! Quincee”. I definitely slept better that night after hearing from her. But as the days went on and we searched Facebook for any updates from the mission office - nada.  Then her P-day came and went - nothing. So 3 days later I was THAT mom. I emailed the mission presidents wife and asked for any updates or photos about Quincee. She was happy to respond and sent the photos and message below:

Hi There!

Your daughter has 2 of the best trainers in the mission. Hermanas Soria y Gill.  Both are from Paraguay! They are sister training leaders with excellent experience.  They are very kind.  She could not be in better hands! 

Her P-day is Monday. I have plans to update Facebook soon.  I will send you a picture from today. She got to go to the temple today! 

Mucho Amorrr!

Hermana Millett

At the temple

With her trainers and Sister Millett - The President's Wife

Hermana Soria y Hermana Gill

Meeting her trainers for the first time! 

With President Millett and Sister Millett

The new group of missionaries who arrived together