Wishing You a Merry Christmas

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

¡¡¡Feliz Navidad!!!

We've had another hot, sunny, great week here in Palma Loma.

This week I was a little nervous as to how people would receive us during the holidays because a lot of our investigators went traveling, however my worrying was for nothing because lots of people received us this week and we were able to find even more people that want to come unto Christ! We did some service and got to help out with a Capilla Abierta in Yberá.

On Saturday, Nochebuena, we talked with our families and spent the evening with Hermana Jorgelina.

On Sunday we had church and then visited various members and investigators to wish them a Merry Christmas. Pasamos la Navidad super tranqi. Today I had my final interview and, in a few days, I'm finishing my time here as a full-time missionary.

I love my Heavenly Father. I know my savior, Jesus Christ lives. I know that living the restored gospel is the way to have true happiness. I know Joseph Smith was a profet, called of God to restore what Jesus Christ had established before. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I know it by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that through making and keeping covenants our families can be forever and I know that birth and death is not the beginning and end, but just a part of the plan of happiness. I know that with the Lord, we can do hard things. I know the Lord loves me and that he loves all of us.

Estoy aquí por que amo el Señor y amo la gente de Paraguay.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr

The Widow’s Gift

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

This week has been super hot and full of service.

Last Monday we found a good home for the blanket we made in the Zone Conference - we found a lady who had her baby pre-mature and it has just reached 9 months... or in other words, he should've been born now, but he came 2 months early and is still growing strong!

My companion has been doing some follow up on some previous health problems she's had, so we were in and out of the hospital all week doing tests to see how she's doing and today the doctor said she's doing great! I'm hoping to never see the hospital in Paraguay again.

We've been working hard, helping people come unto Christ and preparing a few for baptism - Palma Loma should be seeing some baptisms in the upcoming months!

On Thursday we had divisions and I got to spend the day with Hermana Santos in Laurelty again - always a great time. We even found three new investigators that day!

Throughout the week we've been doing our best to give service and we've been receiving a lot of kindness in return. During the super hot/humid days people have been offering us cold water and various people have offered us food to eat on random occasions.

Funny/cool story of the week: On Friday after our plans had fallen through we set off to go find a new investigator. We started walking when we soon noticed an old lady scooting her way on a half-broken, wooden chair down the dirt/empedrada street. We caught up to her and asked her if we could help her get somewhere. Accepting our offer, we took her arm in arm and basically ended up starting to carry her and her chair down the street. We asked her where she was heading and told us, "Me voy a misa. Mi hermana es una bruja por que dio mis moletas a alguien." (I'm going to mass. My sister is not cool because she gave my crutches away) A 10 year old boy by-stander offered to help by carrying her chair and told us she goes to mass almost every day. At first it was a somewhat comical situation for us - I can't say I've ever thought to help someone get to mass before - and the grandma was really heavy and smelly, however afterwards I thought and I realized how inspiring this lady is. She doesn't have kids and lives with her sister, can't walk very well and yet still manages to worship God in the best way she knows how.

Yesterday I was reading in Jesus the Christ and the spirit made one part stand out to me. There's a section called "The Widow's Gift" that analyzes when Christ points out to the apostles the two mite offering of a poor widow. It says "...figured out in the arithmetic of heaven, entries are made in terms of quality rather than quantity, and values are determined on the basis of capability and intent... the widow's gift was her all... It was not the smallness of her offering that made it especially acceptable, but the spirit of sacrifice and devout intent with which she gave." (p.561-562) We haven't been able to get to this Señora with the restored gospel yet, but she is already making sacrifices to be able to come closer to God. We too have the opportunity to give gifts not just to friends and family but, even more importantly, to our Heavenly Father through our sacrifice in service and offerings of "broken hearts and contrite spirits". It doesn't matter the quantity of our gift - if we give our all in all sincerity it will be everything for our Heavenly Father.

Estoy aquí por que amo él Señor y amo la gente de Paraguay.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr

El Fin Se Acerca

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

So there's a song in the Spanish hymn book called "el fin se acerca"... when I look at today's date it starts running through my head. I can't believe we're already almost half-way through December!

This last Tuesday we had a great multi-Zone Conference for Christmas. We learned a lot, ate a yummy lunch and made blankets for newborn babies as a service project. Hermana Santos and I also got to do one of the musical numbers and it turned out well. Music is one of my favorite ways of sharing my testimony. (DyC 25:12)

It was a rainy week and we had a hard time finding new investigators - however throughout the week we were able to find and help our current and old investigators progress. We are working with various people and it's becoming easier to tell who are those who are progressing with "real intent" and who are those who aren't ready to make changes in their lives. When we have real intent, we believe with our whole heart that we are going to change based on the truths we learn and the revelation we receive - our investigators with real intent are super cool and easy to teach.

We've been following the "Light the World" calendar and it's been fun to see how every day we keep finding ways to apply it in our work. Yesterday, for example, was about how "Jesus Ministered to Children and So Can You". We had lunch with an Hermana that is pregnant and due the 22nd/23rd of December. During lunch her 3-year old son was bringing us his toys one by one until he decided to dump out ALL of his toys onto the floor and use the containers to make a building. After lunch we played Mom's favorite game - who can put the toys in the boxes the fastest! and for the first time in a year and a half I cleaned up after a kid to help out his mom. It's really just the little things we do every day that make the world a little brighter.

Estoy aquí por que amo él Señor y amo a la gente de Paraguay.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr

Ilumina el Mundo

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

We have had a great week in Palma Loma.

First, we have been greatly enjoying the new initiative from the church, "Ilumina el Mundo", or "Light the World". People have really been responding to the video and the calendar - it's been a great way to help people understand how latter-day prophets and leaders help us to follow the example of the Savior today in modern times. We've also been enjoying following the suggestions given for each of the 25 days before Christmas. I hope each of you are finding your own ways to "Light the World"! The initiative has also formed a companionship goal we have for this month - they've given us 500 tarjetas to pass out and our goals is to pass out all the cards and have a good, religious conversation with each card given out. So far it's been great and we're on our way to completing our goal - we've even found some new investigators from these conversations!

This last week we've been embracing the heat and enjoying many chupa-chus (otter pops). We've been working hard and we've been seeing results! This last Sunday we saw many of the people that we visit in the capilla and we have been able to schedule a few baptismal dates that we're hopeful to see come through. I have been feeling/seeing the spirit work with us even more than usual and I am enjoying every second of serving the Lord full-time.

Fun moments: Saturday Hermana Diaz completed 13 months of being a missionary and we celebrated with the obvious: Lomipizza. I also figured out that I still don't like mushrooms - they put on a TON.

Yesterday, upon arriving at the capilla, Hermana Diaz spotted a GIANT caterpillar that seems like it came straight out of Wonderland - and it matched my dress! Tomorrow we have a Zone Conference and the assistants asked Hermana Santos and me to do a special musical number - today we were practicing.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr

Happy Thanksgiving!

¡Hola familia y amigos!

We've had a normal week with a crazy weekend!

During the week we found a ton of new investigators and have been following up with various people- it's always fun to have new people to teach. This week, after daily planning, I've been brushing up on my pastry skills. On Tuesday I made cookies (for the first time in Paraguay) for some recent converts that completed a year of being members. For Thanksgiving on Thursday I made a square apple pie using tarta shells from the dispensa- it turned out a little different looking, but tasty nonetheless. We had a fun Noche de Hogar and I got to share a little bit of our traditions with some members and my companion.
This week we've been really focusing on doing our very best and working by the spirit. Even just the thought of focusing more on the spirit is helping me be more attentive and see the spirit working through/with us. It's really just the small things that make a big difference when taking the effort to hear and follow the "still small voice".

So crazy weekend part: We entered into the Paraguay Spring pre-Summer storms where it gets SUPER humid-hot, then clouds roll in, the wind gets cold and it rains buckets for about an hour. All day Saturday and Sunday morning it was SUPER hot, then, right after leaving our lunch appointment yesterday it started POOOOUURING rain. We. got. soaked. After cleaning up and getting dry we had to start water-proofing our house because the rain was so hard it started dripping from the roof. The rain lightened up, we went back out and when we got home later all was well. This morning, however, we got up, set out our exercise mats and while we started stretching/exercising my comp pointed out some gusanitos that were on the floor. Upon further inspection our whole apartment floor was being transversed by various worms. We cleaned out the trash, mopped up the floor and we still kept finding some-- we're thinking that maybe they were in the roof and came down with the rain. We permitrina-ed our entire apartment and are hoping that not a living bicho will be found when we get back. Wakala. (ew)

Every day is still an adventure.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr

The Work is Hastening

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

So changes happened, Hermana Douglas se fue and Hermana Diaz came to stay. Hermana Diaz is from Buenos Aires, Argentina and speaks English well- so we are helping each other mutually with our second languages. Since Wednesday we've been working hard to find more people to teach, follow up on those who are progressing and invite even more people to come unto Christ.

Saturday we had one of the coolest experiences of my mission: Elder Rasband, of the 12 Apóstoles, came and talked to the two missions of Asunción and Asunción Norte. He spoke of the potential here in Paraguay and how the work is hastening in the Lord's time and through His servants. I was inspired by a story he shared about when he participated in a reunion with President Hinckley and other general Authorities. He said that during the reunion President Hinckley told them, "I've often said to do our best, but we must do our very best." I feel truth in this statement- we must do our best, but it must be our very best- that way we feel satisfied and may have the Lord's promise that He'll make up the difference. (2 Nefi 25:23)

It's getting hotter, however we have been having random, chilly days brought in by strong winds- not complaining. Every day we come home pretty tired, but seriously- it's the most satisfying type of tired I think I'll ever feel. I love missionary work.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr

Paranormal Palma Loma

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

We've had a fairly normal week this week, full of Spring tormentas and Summer sun. We've been working with the references from the Capilla Abierta and getting new, upcoming activities planned with the members.

Ok, funny story: So there is a family in our ward that we eat with on Saturdays and they have a dog. Every time we pass by their house, be it in the middle of the week or Saturday, the dog follows us for a good few blocks. This last Saturday, Sam decided to break free and have a day with the missionaries- it was horrible. We felt so bad, but weren't sure what to do because she just followed us and wouldn't stay at her house. We thought she'd go home after  few blocks, but ended up following us clear to the other side of our area where things are a little more sketch. She ran through mud, got attacked by other dogs, was shooed away with rocks by our investigators, and almost got hit by various motos-- it was a rough day for Sam. All day we were thinking she'd be killed, but somehow survived the day and, after some lessons fell through, we walked her home. She's now the inspiration behind my new Deseret Book kids book- "Sam Goes Out with The Sisters" (dibs on the copyright).

In other news, Hermana Douglas will be going home this week and we will have changes. Next Saturday we are also awaiting a conference with Elder Rasband and the all missionaries here in Paraguay- I am excited.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr

Sam's big adventure

our Tuesday street-river

Paraguay

"Ghost" sightings 

Astonishingly Fluent

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

It's been a great, HOT week here in Palma Loma.

This week we've been working a lot on extending the baptismal invitation to the people we've been following up with and prepping for the Capilla Abierta. Through the references of members and a few of our past contacts we have found new people to teach! It's always fun to meet people with questions who are ready to come unto Christ and act.

Highlight reel of the week:

So on Friday all of our lesson plans had fallen through and we thought we'd go visit Dora again to follow up on her and how her neighbors are doing. After sharing a thought with her she brought up an hermana named Amalia that someone had mentioned last Sunday in class. She told us that she wanted to go visit her with us. We told her we'd be busy until the following week with the Capilla Abierta and a few appointments we had, so she agreed to going right then and there. Hermana Dora IS THE COOLEST. Even though she's about 75-80 years old, she, again, left her house and walked with us 10 blocks to show us where Amalia lives and to visit for a little bit. They say that a sign of conversion is your desires to share the gospel. Hermana Dora is truly converted.

Earlier in the week a youth in the ward, Henrique, told us of three houses he wanted us to pass by of his neighbors. After visiting two of the houses, we contacted the third reference and found a 12 year old kid that, after teaching a brief message about the importance of baptism, accepted the baptismal invitation and came to church and all of this weekend's church activities. His nick-name is Kiki and we're super excited to see how he progresses.

After a long, hot day, we passed by Jorgelina's house to get our laundry and she made us cold parsley juice. I was hesitant at first- but it is delicious. Parsley, sugar and cold water. Who knew? Later we experimented by mixing it with some under-ripe mango juice- even more delicious.

The Capilla Abierta was awesome. I remember last year when we did it in Juan de Salazar it was mas o menos. This time around we had a lot more success! The members got really into it and we had a few people show up and even got a new investigator from the chapel tours and we got a solid 18 new references. Woo!

Saturday morning, before the Capilla Abierta, we also had divisions and I got to go work with Hermana Santos in Laurelty again! It was fun to work with her again and we celebrated her hitting her year mark with getting a quick ice-cream after lunch :)

This email is a little long winded with lots of events- we are going to Capiata to let Hermana Douglas say goodbye and I don't have as much time to organize my thoughts.

Final funny story: While passing by a members house they had a visita with one of their nieces. She looked at us and kind of ignored us, until my companion started talking in Spanish and there is only one word to describe her face. She was ASTONISHED. She could not believe that we spoke Spanish- she said, "¿Hablan español? Yo no sabia luego" (You guys speak Spanish?! I had no idea.) It made our day.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr

Elderas

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

It's official: we wear pants.

Last Monday the dress pants came in and ever since receiving them Tuesday we've been walking in pants in the streets. It's been weird for everyone- only our plaques have been identifying us as Hermana Misioneras. However, I have not had a new mosquito bite on my legs since! They've just started attacking the tops of my feet and arms instead.

At the beginning of the week it was raining gatos y perros, but now we've just got clear skies and great sun-burns. Wearing pants has proven very practical hopping over puddles, getting on and off collectivos and just everyday tasks, no matter the weather. Everyone comments and says they're glad we wear pants, even though it's strange to see.

This week has been a slower one, but full of great moments: Last Monday we went to the dentist to see about some tooth pains Hermana Douglas was having. We did a follow up today and they just replaced a filling she'd lost- these have been the first and last experiences I hope to have at the dentist here in Paraguay. Thankfully I wasn't the one in the chair.

Tuesday, due to the rain, our street turned into a river. While walking on our way to lunch we saw a fist-sized fish on the side of the road so my companion just tossed it back into the rolling road waters- we did some good in the world that day. On Wednesday, we had a conference with President and Hermana Evans and Elder and Hermana Braggs in preparation for when Elder Rasband will come next month. It was enlightening, I learned a lot and overall I just felt the importance of the work we do when we work for the Lord.

Thursday night we enjoyed eating deliciously prepared liver with Jorgelina and got to play with their new-born baby cats.

By Friday it was getting hot again and we decided to invest 3 mil guarani's in ice cream cones on our way home. The ice-cream vendor didn't have change and, after seeing us struggling to dig change out of back-packs for a good five minutes, ended up just giving us the ice-cream for free. After walking a block a lady approached us, asking us for 3 mil for her bus fare, telling us a sad story and saying she and her little son had not eaten all day. We gave her our ice-creams and then, 30 seconds later, a man came up and picked them up on moto. We're pretty sure she just swindled us out of our ice-cream- but, it was all good, cuz it was given to us for free. Sometimes we get things, sometimes things are taken away, but in the end just the important things stay. (Alma 41:14).

Saturday we helped out with the Primary Presentation practice and on Sunday we had a great turn out and even one of our investigators got to participate! -the hymns are great, but it was a fun change to play the Primary songs.

After the dentist follow up today we went to Bellavista so Hermana Douglas could say goodbye to some of her friends there. Later, we called in our "connection" (Hermano Villasboa from our ward) and got to walk through the Beehive factory here in Luque and then went to La Casa de Azucar to celebrate the birthday of Hermana Sanchez.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr

I Hope They Call Me On a Mission

¡Hola Familia y Amigos!

It has been a fun, HOT week here in Paraguay!

So- to follow up on last week's email- right after we left the Ciber the AC guys called us and came Tuesday morning to replace our air-conditioning! Prayers are answered. We missed our District Meeting, but we have slept very well ever since.

Stake Conference went well. It was really cool to be able to share my testimony through piano. I didn't even mess up badly! Just minor errors and no one noticed.

It was an uplifting conference and it was cool seeing faithful members from all over the Stake.
Even though it's been caloroso and we're still working to find those ready to come unto Christ and progress, we've been meeting a lot of cool people and serving in the ways we can. Yesterday was probably one of the coolest days in my mission. In the morning I was able to use my talents to accompany the music. Later that day we went to the house of an investigator who lives with his sick, very old, bed-ridden mother called Ña Manu and in the middle of our lesson Ña Manu reached out her hand and said, to me, "Señorita, te voy a hablar ahorra" (Miss, I'm going to talk to you now), and upon taking her hand she just talked to me about everything and anything in Jopara- I didn't understand everything she said but I just felt so much love for her. Later, we went to our recent convert's house and I got to play with Sergio (their little brother) with his makeshift slingshot and almost pegged my comp on accident. At the end of the day we went to Jorgelina's house- one of the most amazing people I have ever met - and she shared her sopa Paraguaya with us. After planning my comp and I just talked laughed and, at the end of the day I didn't want it to end. Not all the days are like that- even yesterday it wasn't a perfect day- but some days are just worth it. Being a missionary is awesome. (Alma 34:38)

Funny story: Earlier this week we were talking with a girl outside of her house and she told us that she had school-off because of exams. Upon leaving said girl my comp told her, "Disfruta su libertad" (enjoy your liberty). I just about spat out my chupa-chu (otter pop) I was laughing so hard.

With love sent from Paraguay,

Hermana Carr