Ultralight Beam

What's up friends and family!

This week was incredibly difficult because this week I have been trying to stop popping my knuckles and wow it's hard. But hey, I'm getting better! 

Okay but for real now, the work is great, the time is flying, and it's because we are working super hard. 

Once again, we had some friends come to church! Fer came again, and still loves it. Santiago and Nai also came! And then we also had three less active families in the chapel! One of which hasn't come in over 20 years but after lots of lessons, love, and service, well we saw miracles in the chapel yesterday!

• We had exchanges with the hermana leaders again
• ^Hermana Bunderson (she's from SoCal) came to my area and we had a grand ole time
• ^Talked about how Paraguay legit doesn't have any mountains what the heck
• ^She trained Ashlynn McCleod (Loomis Homie) on her intermission in Missouri.
• I decided that one of the first things I'm gonna do when I get home is climb a mountain.. Timp anyone? Half Dome? Whitney?
• Some dude came up to me in the street and was like "do you speak English, do you know where ..." in English and my brain literally broke. How do you say- forgot English?
• Had some really amazing lessons this week
• Also had one of my worst lessons where a dude just yelled at us and attacked us for our beliefs, but oh well
• "Shine for Jesus" -Taitum
• Had a district activity and played dodgeball that was cool

Conference is this coming weekend (6/02 + 6/03) and I just want to encourage everyone to watch it!  

For those of you who are like "what is general conference"

"Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide gather in Salt Lake City twice a year for general conference. Five sessions are held every spring and fall for members to receive instruction from Church leaders. The sessions are also broadcast throughout the world in multiple languages. During the conference, Church leaders speak on a variety of spiritual topics. Talks usually cover gospel principles or address significant issues of the day, with speakers encouraging individuals and families in their efforts to follow Jesus Christ."

We have the opportunity to listen to a prophet of God as he shares a message of peace and hope! Trust me, you don't want to miss this opportunity!

There is a dedicated You Tube channel now for conference where you can watch on demand at anytime. Here is the link: 

https://www.youtube.com/user/LDSGeneralConference

Te amo

Hermana Carter 

South America traffic does not mess

We got some new hats and now we feel like Indian Jones

Mirror selfies with Hermana Rejala

I hate to admit it but I think elder Griffiths pulls off my glasses better than I do

Dodgeball with the District

Hat game strong

Woot Woot!

All that is missing is some killer 80's music

Sweet reuniones

Batman?

Trashin' the Camp

Howdy! 

I'm gonna start this email off with a weather update: Monday it was 106 and felt like 276 and the next day it was 60 and raining so that's fun!

This week, we had three of our friends in the chapel! I think the best part of them coming was probably seeing the members, before and after, welcoming them, saying hi, making them feel comfortable! It was awesome!

• My sister sent me a bday present and I have a new baby (hydroflask) WOOHOO gracias Camden
• Some dude stopped and gave us roses for the first day of spring
• The son of our elders quorum president got baptized and it was super cute
• Had interviews with our mission president. That man is so cool.
• We have been teaching these girls named Liper and Nancy and they are awesome
• We had a young women's/relief society activity to welcome spring

Just a reminder that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. So go do something nice for someone this week! Gosh dang, go do something nice today!

 Te amo,

 Hermana Carter

Iker's baptism

Getting shaggy on the bus

Happy First Day of Spring!

Bring on the rain!

Liper and Nancy

Thank you Camden!!!! HBD to me

Do You Believe in Miracles??

 Hola!!!

Do you believe in miracles, I do! Cause I heard that BYU beat the Utes #miriclesarereal #gocougs. No but actually I have seen so many miracles in my mission. I am so grateful to have been in this amazing country these past few months and see the hand of God in this great work.

 

I also am sooo grateful for all the birthday wishes this week. I read every single email and I am so blessed to have such great friends. I love each and everyone of you!

 

We have been teaching this one man named Rasta for a little over a month. We've had lots of lessons and given him lots of opportunities to pray in front of us but it's always the same answer. Tengo vergüenza. Tengo miedo. We had a lesson with him last night and it was the same answer. I'm scared, but then we really dug in and he said maybe I'm not just scared, maybe I don't feel worthy to pray.

 

We were able to talk about the atonement and other really important things. We were completely guided by the spirit. We finished the lesson, and pushing my doubts aside, I asked him again. I asked him to close with a prayer and he said okay I'll try. It was so amazing. It was a simple but beautiful prayer. You could feel the spirit so strongly.

• We did a few chapel tours
• Had a huge breakthrough with Raquel. Please keep her in your prayers
• It was real rainy this week
• then it was real hot
• its 104 today, and apparently that's not even bad
• 20 years on this planet #cool #grandma
• Cougs beat the Utes -  just want to say that again
• Made and delivered lots of brownies
• I tried some soda for the first time in a whilleeee. Still sucks:(
• Somebody tried to pickpocket Hermana Roman in the bus but she's too fast
• We have this area called the red zone aka the Compton of Paraguay. We are not allowed to go there
• ^^We went this week with our district leader to teach a lesson in person #scary

It's thanks to the atonement of our Savior I was able to have one of the most tender moments in my mission. I was able to promise Rasta that it's thanks to Jesus Christ and His suffering and pain that we don't have to suffer with holding on to our past sins. It's thanks to Him we can be forgiven. Not only was this so significant to Rasta, but this is something very special to me. I am not a perfect person, I am actually quite far from it. But through the atonement I can repent, I can get better, I can strive to be more like Christ.

 

Te amo

 

Hermana Carter

Rain! Not in California any more

7/10 but hey they liked them

Sis Roman is my homie

Chillin in the church

 

Paraguay Weather Really Has Major Mood Swings

Hola!

We had zone conference this week and it was awesome! I am feeling super stoked and motivated to apply all the lessons we learned in our area!  As for the area, we are doing great, teaching some really cool people, and I'm feeling really blessed to be here in this area!

• The members in this ward are super awesome
• Had some great food
• Lots of waking and dang it was hot
• Had intercambios with the hermana leaders. I left my area for the first time- headed over to Campo Grande
• I'm starting to feel pretty good in my teaching abilities
• We were eating in a restaurant and I saw that the US open is going on #cool #letsgoMedvedev
• Big week for Ricardo! He went to the temple and received the Melchizedek Priesthood

So yeah the cats out of the bag, I got robbed! My companion and I are completely fine and I appreciate all the well wishes! I didn't want any pity, but if you are feeling real bad, feel free to send some cool stickers my way. I especially miss my hydroflask in this hot weather. It kept my water nice and cold! #riphydro

I just wanted to remind everyone that God never sends you into a situation alone, God goes before you, He stands beside you, He walks behind you. Whatever situation you have right now, be confident. God is with you.

Te amo, 

Hermana Carter

Elder Suárez (from Loma Pyta) started his mission

Yup- more yummy food

Walking home at night

We love to see the temple

Ice Cream with our friend

Lunch after Zone Conference

One of the homies ended his mission #riprecalde

Lessons in Campo Grande

I love our Campo Grande families

Ending intercambios

Our Zone at Zone Conference

P-day calls with my family in Las Vegas. Love the Vances!