Thanksgiving Dinner with Zone in Limpio Paraguay!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello my family,

Sounds like you are all doing well. I thought I'd start off by answering some questions.

1) It rains at least once a week and it rains hard. All the other days are burning hot... haha... so I love rainy days... even though it's only 10 degrees colder and I get all wet.

2) I pay this lady to do our laundry every week, so its nice except I dont see half of my clothes for a week haha.

3) Elder Hakes and I get along great so everything is goin fine with us. He is such a stud and really funny.

4) I have not pooped my pants yet. Elder Hakes had to take a jungle dump haha (which reminded me of the card you sent me, I just got it today) so we went down by this river so he could do work... haha. Elder Hakes was sick on Tuesday so we had to stay home all day he was throwing up and goin to the bathroom alot it stunk ... literally haha. Ill write Caden a seperate letter about that stuff though.

5) We live in our own apartment.

6) I drink the water ... I hate drinking it though... but the members don't understand their water is freakin nasty. haha. I feel bad every time I tell someone no thanks cuz they might get offended.

Alright... so Thanksgiving was on Thursday and we forgot and thought it was going to be on Sunday haha. But then we remembered TG is always on a Thursday. So we went to our lunch appt and the lady who fed us (sister orego) said "Happy Thanksgivings Days" haha. It was so funny cuz we told her it wasn't today but it was on Sunday and right after lunch we remembered we were wrong ... WELL WHOOPS.

But overall Thanksgiving was sweet we had some good food. Oh and on Sunday she said "Happy Thanksgivings Days" again I just said Gracias and walked away :)

So I wanted to tell you all simply what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for :

My family and all they do for me. For their prayers and time spent on me. I am thankful for your individual personalities. I have the best family in all the world...I really do. We really do. I am thankful that I was raised in the church by loving parents who keep the commandments, and keep their coventants by going to church every Sunday and going to the temple frequently. I am thankful for my siblings and every thing I have learned from them. In this life we are blessed with our families to have experiences that help us learn and grow together in such a wonderful gospel.

Which reminds me, last night I taught a really good family about prayer and we read D&C 19:29,39 or it might be 28,38...I cant remember, but then I challenged a really good family (them) to try to pray as a family every night this week before going to bed. It was so sad. They told me " Elder, that is too hard." I asked them if they could just try it one night and they said  "Elder, I'm sorry. It is just too hard. We will see." :(

I seriously was so sad and confused. I think about how hard it was at first with our family to do this, it still is, and then I thought about all the blessing we recieved from doing it. I am so thankful for our daily family prayer and scripture study and the effect it had and has on our family. Kids, I promise you you recieve blessings from praying every night as a family and on your own.

I am thankful for the gospel and my mission. This opportunity is once in a lifetime. Dad can testify of that. The church is true, I would not spend two years out here in this blasted place jk haha if it wasn't true. I mean that Brooke, Cameron, Caden, Zach , Mom and Dad... I know this church is true and I have a desire to share it with everyone. With everyone. So kids, find out for yourselves. Don't wait to know. You will be wasting your time if you choose to wait and find out later in life. Start studying the gospel now. Start building a testimony now. A testimony starts out small and it will stay small if you don't put in the time, if you don't share it, if you just sit there and just hope it might just come. Act now and find out cuz I promise you there is a special happiness that comes from knowing the gospel is true and is restored. This happiness is different than anything else. You can't find this happiness anywhere else.

I am thankful for a lot of other things, but I don't have time haha bummer...I guess we will have to wait till next year.

Ok shout outs...

 

I got some letters this week from Sister Koford, Gma and Gpa Hansen, Gma and Gpa Carpenter, and Mom.

Sister Koford... thank you so much it meant a lot to me. You crack me up cuz we didnt sit around doing nothing all the time at your house, I mean come on... watching Modern Family is very productive.

Gma and Gpa Hansen... I love you so much! Thanks for the letter. It really means alot. Thanks for the encouraging words. I will write you soon, I promise.

Gma and Gpa Carpenter...I will write you soon. Your letter was very touching thanks for the advice. I loved your testimonies. Love you so much.

Mom...I love you:)

We have to go now... but I love you all and pray for you daily. I am sending letters!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok... so I was going to send pictures but the computer doesnt have a card slot! I am sorry next week though I will figure it out:)

Chow,

Love,

Elder Carpenter

Hum Diddy Dum

Yellow,

haha...I love giving a title to the letter, they harldy ever relate.

Well what's up with Paraguay this last week? You're in luck cuz I'll tell you!

Its raining hardcore today. The street was a flippin river haha but we didn't have to go in it cuz.... IT'S P-DAY! 

So after it died down we went to McDonalds:) then to Burger King ... don't ask why... haha....but it was really good. We also cleaned our apartment today. It was so nasty... so it is nice having a nice clean home to have the Spirit dwell in.

So this week we got three fechas (bapt dates) Osmar, Alberto and Fatima. We invited them to church this Sunday... and what do you know... none of them show up! We even called them and everything. We even went by Alberto and Fatima's house. So we have to get knew fechas with them. I pray it all works out. I went on a division (24 hour change) this week with another elder. It was weird. He is a native and super lazy it really bugged me but its ok. Another elder went with Elder Hakes and taught Osmar. Hakes said it didn't go so well, and that the other elder said some things that may have upset Osmar. Thats what happens when you teach lessons and not people. He said it wasn't bad...a little ify. So we have 8 fundamentals a couple are teach people not lessons. We invite, they commit, we follow up, how to recieve revelation through church attendance etc. These 8 principles are part of the PMG church missionary plan , and they are super legit. If we teach by using these things we are going to see success. But besides that I think Osmar will be fine we just need to talk to him and hopefully he doesn't drop us. ( ex of teach people not lessons means, teach a lesson to person by relating it to them and what they need, rather than teaching just a lesson, it makes people feel like you really care about them it is awesome.)

I love Paraguay!!! I really do! The people are legit, the place is hot and stinky... but awesome hot and stinky. I don't care that my clothes stick to me... haha it's pretty dang fun. 

So we got a couple of menos activos to church that was good. We had 60 people at church so we were way happy too. 

So I have been praying that Elder Hakes and I might attract people to us that want to hear. And this week a joven (teen) about 18 years old came up to us and said we can stop by his house anytime to get some cold water if we want. He pointed out his house and we thanked him and we went on our way. He seemed legit he was super happy to see us in the street and he said he has never talked to missionaries before in his life but just thougt he should invite us to come over whenever.... So we stopped by on Saturday... it was prolly 100 degrees outside haha and he gave us some water, we then talked to him and found out he drinks and smokes and wants to quit cuz he knows its bad. So we taught him the 3rd lesson and really related it to him ( teach people not lessons) he really liked it so we are going to teach him again and invite him to be baptized. IT was really an answer to my prayers, it was so awesome. Also a bunch of people called us over to talk to them on Sunday, so we got to teach this guy that only speaks Guarani. Elder Hakes can understand enough Guarani to communicate but this man understood Spanish so we were in luck. He told us he wants to buy us some recuerdos(memory items, souvineers) pretty legit. I hear Guarani everyday and Ii know a couple things Mbai che pa means como esta which means how are you haha fun stuff.

I loved your emails everyone. I hope Brooke is having fun that sound so sweet! Caden you crack me up dude! I loved your letter... havn't pooped my pants yet and we both cook. 

Mom, I love you. I was praying about Candy and I just got this really good feeling. So I believe it will be a good experience. I dont know what the outcome will be,  but I know if she truly reads and asks she will know. Also mom take a look at the intro last two paragraghs we share this in every Bom lesson it has the challenge of Moroni and what we will know from reading and praying. 

Dad, I love your letters haha keep up the Spanish and the hard work, your the best dad don't forget it.

Cam, good job at the skating sound like a bunch of fun.

Zach,  I love you. I hope school is awesome.

I don't have much time left. We have to leave soon but I'll add some more stuff in.

I got the Xmas package! 8 bags. I dont know if there was sposed to be anything else though. The Mary sticker on the seal was ripped so it looked like it may have been opened so send me a email letting me know if there was anything not in the bags... cuz thats all that was in there.

I got a letter from the Pratts:) 

I need these addresses, pratts gmas and gpas, cousins, friends on missions, that's bout it oh and bishop.

This place is so legit i love it, you are all in my prayers. The work makes me tired but thats why its called work haha.

I love you all so so much, til next week,

Elder Carpenter

Hey Howdy Hey! Week 2 in Paraguay!

hey howdy hey!

So mom, I thought I told you last week I got the package with all the candy and stuff. I just havn´t gotten the Christmas one yet. It may be in the office by now, but I got the package the day I got here. Also I sent home my SD card in a letter. I hope you get it soon if you havn´t :/

Alright so this week in Limpio has been weird. We are visiting a lot of the menos activos less actives and trying to get them to church. So next sunday our numbers of people at church should increase by a lot. It rained hard core yesterday so nobody showed up:( I guess they are afraid of the rain or something. We only had 29 people including 4 missionaries. We are supposed to have 401 members...well whoops. We went to pick up our investigator torvivio (who we got to commit to baptism this week) to take to church .... after clapping at his house for about 7 min. ( after we had seen him see us in the window and calling his name a bunch of times haha) he came out and waved both pointer fingers at us and said " no no no ... no me gusta ... termino!" which means I don't like this. I'm done! He then walked inside. So we lost our investigator. We show up and our other investigator isn't there either. But then again nobody really came to church anyways sooo idk its kinda depressing. So that night we show up to another potentials house and taught him the first lesson ... extended the invitation to be baptized and he accepted!!!! So we are happy with that it was a great way to end our (mixed feelings) day.

Ok,  so I got four dear elders in the MTC that I replaced:( I'm pretty positive it was from your guys... so idk if its possible but could you maybe resend the last 8 dear elders you sent. If not, it's ok.  It's not the end of the world. haha

Ok so the streets are dirt, others are dirt with rocks and others are paved. Only the main streets though. So I usually have dirt all over my pants kinda stinks haha but I love it. I wear a sombrero on hot days its not like crazy huge or anything and its made out of straw but kinda cool. It is always humid but I got used to sweating haha. We played soccer today in the rain it was sweet and we played it on a cement court at the church. Sometimes when I'm out far tracting or visiting I feel like Indianna Jones haha just cuz its super hot and my shadow looks like him. I'll get a pic to send home. We aren't sposed to carry our cameras or take pics while we are working.. so I'll try to get a few. 

Also people light off firecrackers on an hourly basis here. It is so annoying. I feel like I am being bombed right now cuz the guy next door keeps lighting of flipping tnts or something the whole building shakes haha. which reminds me we had a thunder storm yesterday and our room shakes too haha the thunder will last for like 3 min there aren't mountains... so that might add to the duration.

The people here are nice. I get fed food all the time haha. This lady was feeding us lunch. It was rice and it looked room temp... so I took a huge bite. It was like 150 degrees my mouth was blistering and I didn't want to spit it out cuz she was watching me haha my eyes started watering and I finally got it down. Now the roof of my mouth is all ripped up and I have a fat sore on my tounge...so eating food isn't really fun right now haha. It's ok though. I just think its funny.

I wish I could tell you more about investigators, but we have only two. I hope they keep progressing so we can baptize them. Please pray for our investigators Osmar and Carlos. I am trying to every day.

The Spanish is coming well. I am getting a little better. I understand what everyone is saying now ( as in it doesn't sound like they are mumbling and I can pick out every sound correctly) I just dont know what everything means. 

Alot of people speak Guarani... so hopefully in 4 months or so I can start learing it. 

So...I started reading Jesus the Christ. It is so legit! I love it! I am reading it with the Book of Mormon as usual haha. Yesterday I testified to Osmar, our investigator, that the Book of Mormon is my favorite book. It was so cool.

Mom, I am happy you are going to talk to Candy. I am praying for her and you. Just don't worry and above all just be her friend the rest will come. The members are such an important part in conversion without them we can't do much. It is hard here cuz everyone is unpredictable... but we are going to change that. I miss our ward haha everyone is awesome tell bishop to write me. I don't have his address. oh and send me a copy of our ward directory that would help.

This week I learned in Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon, we need to pray very specifically. Our thoughts are not Gods thoughts. He knows what we are thinking but we need to specifically ask Him for things. We can't get lazy and expect he knows everything we want to say. Prayers are so special this way. The length of your prayer isn't whats important though. They can be short and strong or long and strong. Read about prayer in PMG you will learn alot. Our prayers will be lead by the spirit as they become sincere. Listening to the spirit is key in everything. Mom, try to listen to the spirit to know when Candy needs to talk to you. If you don't feel to good about it... wait and with time you will know. You are such a good example to me when it comes to listening to the spirit. Dad too! 

Mom and Dad you are so great. You are doing everything right. I have studied family a little this week and also the Family Proclamation and you are a perfect match. a cast mold. my friends all know that too and will follow your example. I know they will.

Well I gotta write the Mish Pres. I love you all so much. Thanks for those last minute emails haha I loved them.

Brooke you got a great smile... share it with everyone. You should study about the Light of Christ cause you got it! Take a look in PMG and see if you can find where it talked about it. I won't tell you where cause you gotta find it. I'll give you a hint" the spirit".

Cam you are an awesome priesthood holder. Congrats in your quorom. Take pride in being a priesthood holder. It is so special Cameron. I mean it. Be an "uncommon man."  I wish when I was younger, I understood the importance of the priesthood. Study it.

Caden you crack me up dude. I almost pooped my pants... but i made it to the toilet at the perfect time! So prolly next time! My companion has three times haha.

Zach you are a wild maniac:) i love hearing your funny stories with Eli. Make everyone laugh.

We got the perf family! And guess what you better believe it cuz we get to be together forever. Literally Forever and I don't have to wait... right now cuz our hearts are stiched together already. We have already started eternity together. We just have to make it to our Heavenly Father now. And guess what... going down the Lord's path is easier than we think... you just gotta study the doctine and you will undertstand what I mean. So lets do this! I love you all so much ... now let's do work PEACE! 

Bienvenidos a Paraguay!

Ok... get ready for a jam packed crazy email!

I arrived in Sau Paulo on Friday after we slept for 6 hours on an 8 hour flight. We had an hour to get to our next flight. We ran as fast as we could and the flight wasn´t comfirmed!!!!!! We were so mad we had to wait in SP for a good 7 hours, I think. I didn't call cuz we were told to only call once (exact obedience). Then... we got on our flight... FIRST CLASS BABY... hahaha!!. ( Except for three elders.. they got stuck in the back with the cold fish heads!)  We got some cheesy chicken (not as good as moms) but it was great. I talked to this Paraguayn man for the whole time ( he speaks English.)

OK... so we landed and we were waiting in line to get checked through. It was so hot. I spotted President Madariaga and his wife. I smiled big and waved.  They waved back extremely excited. After getting through, I hugged him and shook her hand. He welcomed us. He speaks broken English but has a pretty good vocabulary. Next we drove back with the AP's to the mission office. There pretty much are NO rules on the road. In a two lane road... there were about four cars across haha. The buses drive around corners like Brooke does and they also weave in and out of cars! Half the people drive motorcycles. It is crazy!!! It's like ants running rampant... but organized. I still don't get it!

The first night, we had our orientation and interviews. It was sweet. Pres Madariaga asked if he could count on me to be obedient and do my best. I told him he doesn't have to worry about me. I will be exactly obedient, and that he will be able to trust me to do the Lords work.

We slept at the AP's home that first night... fun stuff. I was tired as heck. The next day we stopped by the temple. It is tiny. We went inside but didn't do anything... just looked around. It was very cool though. It was raining...yet it was super hot. We had a testimony meeting in the church. The churches are so dirty here. Seriously, it is kinda gross. No carpets, all tile. Anyways I'll get to that later.

I met my companion that night. ELDER HAKES. He is cool. He´s from Mesa, Arizona. He  has a southern accent. He speaks Spanish like a boss though. He has been out for a little over a year. I'm his first kid. In the mish, they call the trainers dads and the trainees kids. haha...or hijos. Then there are uncles, grandpas and cousins and what not.... you can figure it out. Elder Haderly is my cousin... haha. We are in the same zone. I played soccer with him today.

Elder Hakes and I went home to our apartment. It is pretty nice ... NOT!!!!  haha...The toilet is plastic the shower head is plastic with an electric switch on the top to make the water hot or cold. If you touch underneath that where the water comes out you will get shocked and your hand will get thrown against the wall!! haha  SKETCH!!

We went to the streets to do work. We have to find alot of new people. We also have to reactivate the less actives.

So.... the streets are dirt with mud, trash, rocks, you name it... poop haha. My foot slipped in the mud. Fun stuff.  And no.....I have not pooped my pants ... yet.... but I'm sure its just around the corner. I won't get into details!! hahaha. 

So.. my first day I was fed food by a stranger... had some other good food and just walked everywhere trying to find people. It was a long day.  There is some  crazy stuff here in Paraguay.  We talked to a few drunks. haha when I say talked.. I mean I tried to listen. The people here don't say there S´s it is hard to understand example ( my firt language ii engleh) haha it is crazy hard. The people are nice though. I can't wait to get to know them. 

We went to church. It was fun. It was fast and testimony meeting. There are very few men that come to church... so priesthood was small. They introduced me and I think the bishop told them I dont understand anything cuz everyone started laughing and I just smiled back!  haha I laughed a little too! Fun stuff right! It's a ward,  by the way should be a stake but there are a lot of members they just aren't active. This kid was climbing all over me all during sacrament haha! Oh,  we share the ward with the zone leaders we get the bigger half of the area though. So they were there too. They are way cool.  

I am in the area called Limpio.  That means clean. Elder Hakes said they call it that cuz its a cleaner city in Paraguay...... let me tell you they have no idea what clean means here if they think Limpio is clean... keep dreamin hahahaha. 

I wish I had a spiritual story for you all.  Oh... actually we gave a pass along card to a man in Brazil. He spoke English and we talked to him about the Book of Mormon. We bore testimony about it and that our church is true. He acted pretty sincere while he asked us questions... so, it was pretty cool. The pass along card was to get a free BOM. I have no idea if he will ever go to the site or if he even cares... but Elder Brasher. Elder Hanks and I talked to him and who knows that could have been the reason why our fligh didn't go through in the first place. All i know is the Lord works in mysterious ways my friends.

I'll give you more updates next week and in my letters. You know my testimony. MOM, I gotta follow up with you... did you talk to Candy? 

I love you all. I loved talking to you and hearing you voices in the airport! So awesome!  YOU are all amazing. Stay classy.

LOVE, Elder Carpenter 

The Fab Five in Paraguay! 

This was the Fab Five in the MTC! They made it!!!

Little bits of the last letters from the MTC...

I just wanted to share a few excerpts from Brandon's last letters to his family from the MTC. Brandon has done such a great job sharing his testimony with each member of our family and teaching and challenging us individually. Some things he shared blew us away...wear a helmet??? Things we had said to Brandon for years are coming right back! We have loved getting these letters! Here is a little part from each letter this last week...

To Zachy Poo... "I am so glad you are excited to serve a mission. You are going to be such a good missionary too! I love you so much Zach!"

To Caden..."I want you to know, Caden. The Savior lives. He lives. He is real.He loves you. He died for you and me. He watches over you. He is with me. I feel His presence. Pray to know how He helps you in your life, because He is there. You just gotta listen and the Holy Ghost will help you know. I'm am thankful, Caden, for you in my life."

To Cam da Man... "How's skating? I want you to be careful. Cameron, don't do anything you don't think you should do. It is dangerous! Pray so the Spirit will warn you.Just because you are good, doesn't mean you are safe...so promise me you will always wear a helmet. OK? Read your scriptures. You will learn to love them. Apply what you read though. It can be hard at first, but it will become easier after practice."  "Don't listen to bad music...don't do it! I don't care if everyone does it...it is Satan's way to bring you down. I miss you and love you, bud!"

To Brooke..."I love you. there are so many things in America that are of the devil.  He decieves us...he makes things look good and appealing. The biggest lie he ever told is that he doesn't exist, and people believe it. Music can be one of the greatest things in the world and of God...but it can also be so bad and sex driven and drug pushin, etc. It can lead to negative thoughts and even be spiritual damning." "I am so proud of you. I'm proud that you got your Patriarchal Blessing. I love mine and I refer to it all the time and I know you will too."

To Mommy... "I got your letter about the specific time you felt you needed to pray for me. I looked back in my journal to that night...I had written... I miss my dad, my mom, Brooke, Cameron, Caden, and Zach. But then I was comforted and things were better. I know your prayer helped me right then. I love you mom. Thank you for being in tune with the Spirit. I know if you were here, I'd be making you proud. I try to think about that everyday. That's how I determine how I act...if you were here... what would I do. I remember all of our talks and I am applying all that you taught me I love you! Mom, you have done such an awesome job at raising our family. I know Jesus Christ and God are proud of you. I miss your cookies. You are my hero, mom. I love you!"

To Papa Smurf..."You are such an awesome father. I have learned so much from you. I think it is ironic that I now look back at everything you taught me and know you were right! i will be thanking you throughout my life for everything you taught me that I didn't agree with at the time...so go ahead and say it..."I told you so!"  But seriously, dad, I love you. I can't wait to be a father so I can follow your example. I am so thankful for my mission. I have learned so much and I am becoming the person that I aspire to be."  

He made it!!!

Hey everyone! I made it alright! We got stuck in Sao Paulo until 2:30 Brazil time!
Sorry I didn't call you again. I didn't think it would have been right.
Anyways... it smells funny here and I love my mish President. He is awesome.
I only got three min so I'll write you later, alright.
Love you all Peace!!! PAZ!!!

Off to Paraguay!!!

Elder Carpenter left for SLC Airport at 4:00 am and was surprised by his Aunt Tami and Aunt Amy!!

He is now on his way to Paraguay!! We were able to talk to him from SLC and Miami ( we are still hoping for a phone call from Brazil .) He was excited and happy! We know he is ready and prepared to serve the Lord. We are excited to support him and hear about all of the experiences he will have in Paraguay! We love you Brandon!!