A new way to save the day.

Is it just me or do the weeks seem like they don't really happen anymore.

So we had a sweet training by President Gardner instead of district meeting this last week. It was pretty similar to the one we had at MLC. I guess a group at BYU did a study about how the book of Mormon effects people as they read it. So they went to 5 cities around the world and did an experiment where they made a stand and had 531 people each read 1 page of the book of Mormon and mark reference's to Christ or God. The results were Pretty sweet. Tons of people were interested in the book or Mormon and had good experience's with it. The trick is to get people to read it. The book of Mormon will speak for Itself.

We had one of the best door slams of my mission on Saturday. It was so dang awesome. We knocked on the door and this old guy opened it up and just started yelling. He was like "get the ____ off my porch. you two shouldn't be here, you need to ____ leave. Get out of here. You aren't supposed to be here."

We started Walking away and he was still just screaming. We walked off his porch and walked back toward the road and he was just like "I'm calling the cops. Where are you parked at, I'm going to follow you and turn you in you sons of ______. Get away from my car. Ill shoot you."

It was crazy man I just started LAUGHING. we didn't even like say anything to him.

Good times

One of the sisters that entered the MTC with me came back to visit our ward today. It was weird... I've always know her as a missionary. Can't believe how long its been.

Yes you might be thinking I wouldn't mention my brother's b-day. I lived with that guy for 17+ years, he couldn't get away that easy. He's not old... he's just Chronologically Challenged. Happens to the best of us.

Happy birthday brother. :)

Thanks to my dad for livin my dream...

Love you all!

Elder Carter

The Experience of a lifetime.

I will never Forget this past week of my life. I have been so blessed by the Lord. 

As I Said last week, Elder Brinkerhoff and I, and a few other missionaries, we invited to sing the national Anthem for the Omaha Stormchasers baseball game. It was so much fun! We got to go out onto the field and we sang behind home plate. They put us up on the jumbotron for everyone to see! THen we got to stay and watch some of the baseball game. It was a so awesome.

Then on Saturday Morning, the whole mission came in to hear from President Nelson. As he walked in, we all quoted the Living Christ from memory. There was so much power. Many missionaries, including myself, were in tears. We prepared so much for President Nelson, and he could tell. Sister Carpenter (her husband is in the 70) Said she would remember that moment for the rest of her life. She was not alone in that statement. I don't think any of us will forget it. President Nelson spoke to us about the book of Mormon, and the incredible teaching that come from it. We all had the opportunity to shake his hand.

Then on Sunday we had a special Stake Conference with Elder Anderson of the Seventy. I was standing up at the front talking to President Gardner As he walked in, and I started walking away, but he waved at me and stuck his hand out, so I shook his hand haha. I'm pretty much famous now.

I'm so grateful for the experiences I have had. I cannot forget them and they have changed me.

This week we have Interviews with President Gardner. I'm very excited. President Nelson said some things that I want to ask him about.

I love you all!

Transfers

Hi!

This week was transfers again! I didn't get transferred... But i did get a new companion. His name is Elder Brinkerhoff. He's a good guy and i am super excited to be comps with him. He's super funny. A country boy from a small town of 160 in southern Utah. He's a real Cowboy. kinda.

We are teaching this young family. The Parents names are Nancy and Alfredo. They are super awesome. This last week we went over and they expressed that they have been having some rough times. And we had an amazing lesson with them about trials. I Know that the trials that i have had have allowed me to be able to testify about the purpose of trials and how we can over come them. Hopefully they will be able to progress and get baptized soon.

This upcoming week is going to be so wild. We have so much stuff going on... so tomorrow, we have been invited to sing the national anthem with a few other missionaries for a Triple A baseball game. It's going to be so sweet. 

Then we have Two District Meetings and we are doing service for a food bank here too. We will also be on exchanges this Wednesday too.

Then on Friday we have 2 companionships coming from out west to stay with us over night because President Nelson is coming to Omaha and is giving a special Missionary meeting on Saturday. I'm so excited for it. I'm sure it will be amazing. The president Of the quorum of the twelve apostles doesn't tour missions. He is too busy. We are so blessed.

My parents asked me a few questions that i will answer for everyone:

How many wards does your companionship cover? just one for now. We sort of covered two last transfer because one area closed but they reopened it.

Do you have anyone ready for baptism? Sortof? They haven't been coming to church so we are waiting a little longer.

How many people, on average, are on your list of investigators? anywhere for 1-8 or so.

Do you ever run into foreign languages? Like 40% of our area is Spanish haha. We also run into a lot of African people

I don't think you have told us too much about what your day/weeks are like as a zone leader and what you do, or what your responsibilities are, so let us know what it is that you do with your time now.

It's kinda crazy some weeks. Like this week we have a ton of meetings. We do get to do some pretty cool stuff sometimes... like sing the national anthem. We also are in charge of setting up interviews with the mission president. We conduct exchanges with the other missionaries. We give trainings at zone conferences too. But honestly we do more procelyting than everyone else thinks. We are legit like normal missionaries. We just have to do less missionary work. its nothing special.

How is the weight challenge going? (i'm trying to gain weight) It's not going super well. I'm stuck between 135-140ish. We haven't been going to the gym these last couple weeks so that's bad. But we are going to start going again. So maybe ill get the gains started back up.

Well i'm sure ill be writing in not too long!

Love you!

Elder Carter

Ma-widge

Yay! my Brother is Married! Go team!

This week has been crazy busy. 

On Tuesday we met this guy that is super into star wars. He has like 3 full storm trooper suits. He bought a 3D printer so he can make more props of Star Wars stuff. It was kinda interesting. I guess he travels around with some of his other Storm Trooper Buddies and does charity events and what not. Everyone has their own hobbies i guess!

We had two district meetings again this last week and we also volunteered to help with a School Supplies drive. We unloaded and unpackaged about a million crayons and rulers. I could see crayons when i closed my eyes...

Then on Thursday night, we had another meeting with the Stake President. We discussed the needs of the stake and the missionaries. He also taught us some really interesting things about the Sacrament. 

Then on Friday we had MLC again! Man it was so awesome. We watched some sweet new commercials that are coming out soon. They are cool. Also He showed us some new ways to share the Book of Mormon with people. And he wants us to start thinking and doing creative things to share it with others. I'm super excited for it! I have got some ideas... hopefully they will work out!

These upcoming weeks are going to be super awesome. Next Saturday President Nelson is coming to Omaha and is going to be speaking to all the missionaries. We will be getting a picture with him and everyone will get to shake his hand. It will be so great. I hope that We will all be prepared for what he has to say to us!

Love you all!

Elder Carter