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

Quincee Gets Travel Plans- kinda!

Hello Family and Friends:

What a rollercoaster the past few weeks have been! A lot has happened so I'm just gonna dive in with what I've been up to-

I chopped my hair off, and for those of you that don’t know, that’s extremely crazy for me. I love my long hair-but I also don’t love the heat, and my “hair vest” (as my mom calls it) would only add to the heat. So goodbye to those beautiful 6 inches of hair, you will be missed. 

I gave my farewell talk on this past Sunday (3/14) and boy oh boy was I nervous. I am used to giving 3-5 minute talks with a very clear topic. But because I'm a big girl now I didn't have an assigned topic… and I had to talk for 13-16 minutes. Thanks to all of you who tuned in online. I felt the love!  I also had the opportunity to go through the temple a few days later (3/16) which was such a beautiful and spiritual experience. The love I felt while there was awesome, it was also pretty awesome to be surrounded by people I love so much.

A week prior to finishing online MTC, I still had not received any information on whether or not I was going to Paraguay and I’m not gonna lie- I was freaking out!! Everyone in my district had already received travel information and flight plans; as for me and the two others going to Paraguay, we hadn't even had confirmation that we were going to Paraguay. But then it happened, we got that blessed email! Flight plans- leaving Saturday the 27th Sacramento to Dallas to Buenos Aires to Paraguay. (Stay tuned cause a fast one was pulled on us)

I finished my six week long HMTC on Tuesday (3/23)!!! I'm going to miss my district and my teachers a ton, but I'm so happy for all of them; I know they are going to be amazing missionaries.

So the past week has been crazy: packing, getting last minute things, getting my travel visa ready, saying goodbyes, and still trying to have enough time to play pickleball and beat my dad in my NCAA bracket. It's been a madhouse over here, so to add to the chaos, Thursday I received word that my flight (yes the one I was planning on getting on Saturday) is CANCELED! Apparently Covid is on the rise in Paraguay so the country went into lockdown for the Holy Week to prevent further spread through Easter activities and gatherings. The airline cancelled our flights there. They really pulled a fast one on me and the 17 other missionaries set to fly to Paraguay. 

So once again I am in the unknown. We were told that we should expect more news later today as to what we will be doing. The missionary travel department is hoping to get us to Paraguay by next week. All I know for sure is that I am not leaving tomorrow. I guess I’ll get to play some more pickleball!

Sometimes I get a little scared about all this uncertainty and my big journey awaiting me, but then I remember that I've got someone in my corner. I remember that I should “fear not, little flock; do good;...for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.” I love the reassurance I feel when I read “fear not, little flock” for God is with me. It brings me so much comfort knowing that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and is looking out for us.

Te Amo,

Hermana Carter

Here is a link to watch Quincee's farewell talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrTw-WDDwco

Farewell talk on YouTube Live

 

 

 

 

My district 8-C

Jesucristo

Temple Day

Mis Padres

Last Bike Ride Around the Lake 

 

Quincee Goes on a Mission- kinda

What's up friends!

Sooo I started a mission! In the times of corona-it's quite different; instead of being in person at the Missionary Training Center in Mexico, I'm doing all of my learning virtually. My bedroom now doubles as my at home Missionary Training Center (HMTC) for the next six weeks. 

HMTC is kinda wild- definitely have a love hate relationship goin on right now. For example- I love that, despite the pandemic, I'm still able to learn a ton online! I absolutely hate being on screens all day.  These blue light glasses aren't cutting it.

The group of Elders and Hermanas in my district are awesome. I actually got to meet some of the Hermanas when my family traveled to Utah, so that was super cool!! My companion, Hermana Brown, is great. We are very different people; I’m a total extrovert, she is an introvert. She's brilliant, I'm well the opposite. Despite not being similar we get along great and work together well!

Adjusting to Mexico City time (+2 hours) and waking up for classes has been... difficult. If you know me, then you know I'm a total night owl- so it's been quite the adjustment going to bed at 9:00 and waking up at 5:00 California time. 

Besides the computer screen, and well, learning Spanish, things are going great! Today (3/1/2021) is my first day of week four (4/6), and we are ramping up the Spanish learning. Our teachers told us a few days ago we need to be memorizing 90 words a day! Yeah I'm a little asustada. Woohoo only 89 more words to go!

As for those asking about my reassignment, well, I don't have one yet. Paraguay has actually opened up their borders and are letting missionaries come in. SO for right now I am hopeful that I will make it to Paraguay on March 23rd! We shall see. Wherever I end up, I am just excited to get out there and serve!

Online MTC has definitely been hard, but I have felt strengthened. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 

Te amo, 

Hermana Carter 

My District- 8C!!

Home MTC setup

Lava Tube exploring with my cousins

Congrats Justin!! Welcome to the family Emma!!

My comp plus special guest Hermana Paulsen

For liability purposes this is not me and my
friends roller skating

Pickleball with my Hermanas;)
 Teeples, Brown, and Frischknecht

Letter from President and Hermana Millett

February 18, 2021 

Dear Hermana Quincee Carter,

Congratulations on your mission call and assignment to the Paraguay Asunción North Mission!  We eagerly await your arrival to join our mission family.   We invite you to dedicate yourself as a disciple of Jesus Christ to help gather scattered Israel.

The First Presidency message in Preach My Gospel promises, “The Lord will reward and richly bless you as you humbly and prayerfully serve Him.  More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children.”  Your mission will be a time of great happiness, coupled with spiritual and personal growth.  We promise you as you are obedient and as you thrust in your sickle with your might you will be blessed and will enrich the lives of others during your missionary service.  You will have the opportunity to create friendships and memories that will last a lifetime and into eternity.

Attached to this letter is our statement of mission culture that our mission leadership council developed.  We encourage you to familiarize yourself with this statement.  Also attached is important supplementary information.  Please share this information with your parents. 

The best mission preparation is to prayerfully read the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel.  If you have not completely read the Book of Mormon, we strongly recommend that you do so before arriving.  I will likely ask you about this in our initial interview.  If you have read it previously, we encourage you to read it again. Also please study the doctrines contained in the missionary lessons in Chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel.  Pay particular attention to the doctrine of repentance.  Please ensure that you fully repent of any transgressions that would make you unworthy to have the Spirit.  This may include confession to your local priesthood leader.

We appreciate the sacrifices that you and your family will make for your missionary service.  We pray that these days before your departure might be filled with love and joy

Mucho Amor!

President and Hermana Millett