11/16/14

This week was pretty fast. It rained every day this week. Felt like it was never going to end. When it rains here it pours. I came back to the apartment every day soaking wet. Made me really appreciate cars and transportation that doesn't get you soaked. This week we made a goal to find new investigators and so we did. We now have 15 new investigators and are working with them to be able to teach them the gospel! It’s really neat! Most of them are part of a family but 2 of them are individuals and they are amazing. One of the girls is studying to become a teacher so she speaks a little English. She is so anxious to learn and doing really well at understanding. We are working at setting up a time with one of the other investigators. We didn’t have time this week to do any laundry so we took it to the laundry place and had them do it. hahaha. Funniest thing ever, but I had clean clothes.

So I have made it a goal of mine to become a consecrated missionary so I’m doing my best to become that. It’s been hard this week to work and focus because of stupid side things that happen but I can feel the difference when I put all my energy into making people come unto Christ. I gave my 4th talk since I’ve been here. Crazy! I don’t think anybody understands but it’s great. We only had 48 in sacrament meeting, sad day. My companion got a little frustrated about it so we tried to talk about it a little. It was just a rough day. Appointments didn’t work out and we had to walk for ever. Got my first blisters but they aren’t even bad.

I am loving cooking. My companion says I’m the best ever. haha yeah right. We met an Australian, soo good to speak English to him. and best of all I decided to start a workout plan. My abs are hurting so bad. hopefully I will lose some weight while I’m here. 

I know this is short only had a little time, but these were the highlights of the week. Hope all is well for all of you. Love you all.

Love, 

Elder Carlton

Homesick :(

So this week has been pretty great. We got to teach lessons. I am doing slightly better at the language but I’m still lost with everything everyone says. It’s really bad. So this week we had the AP's stop by our apartment. It was really neat. One of the elders I look up to was an AP so my goal is to be better than him. I don’t know how it’s going to work though. It’s hard work here. So as most of you know, I have to do all my wash by hand. So mom teaching me how to use the washer and dryer was kind of time wasted for now anyways. I was glad I knew how to use it in the mtc though.

This week I got really homesick. I really wanted to go home but as I read the scriptures and did my best to be the best I could be I was strengthened and comforted by the Lord. It’s amazing what the scriptures can do. I was really happy to experience that. I have a special gift. I am able to talk to anybody and they seem to listen or it feels like it anyways or it’s because I’m white. It’s fun. I’m getting stuff made here so when I come back in a little more than 650 days I’ll be able to show everyone. It’s a long time away. It’s going to be forever. Well I have 2 weeks down now, only 10 more to go till I’m done with training. I’ll be spending Christmas and New Years here. yay me. Seems like it’s such a long time away. 

So this week was pretty special, all our plans fell through on Saturday so we didn’t know what to do so we said a prayer and it’s amazing how the Lord works. We both felt the same impression to go a certain way and sure enough we found someone to teach. 

I’m struggling with the language like no other. I cried myself to sleep because it’s so hard to learn. 

I really love the people here. They are so loving and invite you in every time you come. 

I’ve dropped 2 belt loop sizes since I’ve been here, so my nickname of chubby is starting to fade. It’s a struggle because my companion is really skinny so I look like I’m 3 times his size. 

My feet have never hurt so bad in my life from walking. My shoes I’ve had for a year now are starting to wear down so hopefully I’ll be able to make them last a while longer. 

I really miss American food, rice gets old after the first few days. lol.

The city here shuts down when it gets dark and most people are in bed by 8 or 9 so we have a hard time teaching at that time of night.

Well I know this is the Lord’s work and that he is watching over us and wants us to be the best we can, all we have to do is trust in the Lord. 

love you all

Elder Carlton

Spider in the shower

Dry clothes - took four days to dry

We Had a Baptism

Sorry this is late and it’s going to be shorter than normal.  The internet is really slow and I don’t have a lot of time or money so I will have to make due. 

Life has gotten better as the week went on. We didn’t have any water for 3 days. Showering after 3 days feels so good, even if it is with a bucket. We are in the process of trying to recover the area from a tragic drop in numbers. It went from 87 to 50 so we are working with a lot of less actives. I’m starting to get the language. Joke, not really. I can pick up on words and use my super brain to figure out what is going on. It’s hard. I come home every night and I am dead because it’s hard work. I’m going to have such a nice tan when I get back. It is so sunny here. The houses on the water are super cheap compared to the inland houses. Totally opposite of America. There are not many beaches here. We got to go to one yesterday and it was so pretty.

 So I got to perform my first baptism. His name was Rodel. My companion didn’t want to take his stuff so I did it. It was so cool. Nobody really understood me and the water was ice cold, but you could totally feel the spirit. Amazing. So he was part of some mob that killed people so yeah...... but he has changed. He has a glow in his eyes. It’s so cool! 

So Friday was Halloween. When people party here, they party. Our apartment was right next to it so we didn’t sleep much. It started at like 5 and went till 3 in the morning. THEY HAD LIKE 50 SPEAKERS. It was so loud, but I didn’t have any desire to go to it at all. My companion on the other hand was longing for the moment I would say we could go, but it didn’t happen. I didn’t get home sick at all this week. There’s no time for it really. I think I’ve seen a Filipino version of every person I know back home. It’s so creepy sometimes, but at those times I think of all the support they give me to do better. So story time. Do you know the big oil tankers? Well we got to ride on the back of one. It was pouring rain so I got drenched but none of my stuff did. Love my bag. Then my companion decided to jump off and go on another truck, well I didn’t know what was going on and by the time someone explained it to me it was too late. So we were separated for like 15 min. Coolest experience, but I broke a big rule. It stinks because I didn’t know what was going on. It’s difficult to understand when you don’t know the language. Well that’s all I really have. Pictures hopefully will follow. I’m doing great right now and am excited for the new week. Love you all. Jordan