What up fools! haha
FELIZ AÑO NUEVO and mom and dad HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Sounds like you all had a blast with the cousins. I saw your pics they just cracked me up. Really fast Mom to answer your question we get the Liahona here, so I don't know if there is a big difference. In the back though it mentioned the new in-field training program the all missionaries around the world are doing. It applies to me since I am getting trained... pretty cool to see that in the Liahona.
OK... New Years... well everyone here parties... so it was hard to get into everyone's houses on New Years Eve and Day. We spent New Years Eve with a member family the Oregos. We also visited a couple of our investigators to see if they were still planning to come to church. It was a super hot and hard day. We went to bed at 1030 like usual and then I woke up at twelve because all of paraguay was being bombed by there own people. It sounded like I was in the middle of a war. Just fire works everywhere. They went off all day on New Years Eve nonstop. I hear fireworks everyday but the 31st was insane and 12 ocock was unbelievably loud. Hakes had in earplugs haha so he slept fine. Fun stuff. Anyways New Years Day was fun too. 31 people at church non of our investigators showed but I dont blame them since no members came either. Ismael, a joven, was sposed to bring two of our members and he didnt come. The investigators are his neighbors and also best friends WHAT THE CRAP haha. Well whoops!
OK, so this last week was actually super sick. On Tuesday we found another new family Victor and Soñia and their kids, on Wed. we found a new old guys Antonio Gomez, on Thursday we found Marcos, on Friday we found Angel and his family and on Sat we found Raul. BOOM it was tight.
Man my mind is all over the place right now haha there is so much I want to say but so little time.
Mom and Dad, I was thing this week about prayer. Prayer has had such a huge impact on my life. I remember when you both taught me how to pray. It is so weird, I can remember sitting in our house in Virginia ( the small one) on that yellowish nasty couch we used to have. I remember you both trying to teach me a principle that would become one of the most important things in my life. Thank you. Thank you for caring enough to teach me, from my earliest years of my life how to pray, and who my Father in Heaven is. Now I am here in Paraguay teaching people daily how to pray to their Heavenly Father. Just like you said dad about the seeds of an apple, countable, and the apples of a seed, unknown. Your influence on me is influencing the masses. Prayer is literally the way we can communicate to our Father in Heaven. He loves us. He wants to hear from us. On our good days and our bad. Even in the darkest hours of our lives when you might feel he doesn't want to hear your cry. He is there, listening, ready to answer your call. God does answer our prayers. This week I wrote you a email saying I want to teach families so they can have the same joy my family has. I said those same things in my prayers all this week. I am telling you He has heard my prayer, there is no other explanation for finding a new investigator almost everyday this week. It is not normal for Elder Hakes and I to find that many people in one week or even two weeks. I challenge who ever reads this to look for the hand of God in your life. As you pray and show your gratitude to our Father in Heaven and ask for things that you stand in need of, I promise, if you look, you will find an answer. But you have to look, make it a habbit. That is my goal and a new years resolution of mine to look for the hand of God in my life, daily. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Shout outs
Amy, I got your package. Thank you so much. I was excited to hear about the kids and their excitement for missionary work. I love them so much and you too. Shanes alright :P haha I love Shane too. I already ate half the food you sent me yay.
Grandpa and Grandma Carpenter .... BACON yes thank you haha it is so good. Thanks for caring for me. There is no good holiday season with out bacon. haha. Love you guys.
This applies to everyone who has ever written me a letter or thought about writing me a letter and those who wrote me letters and may have forgot to send it. Expect letters. that is another NYR of mine to write everyone back who writes me or sends me a package asap.
Love you all
PEACE
Elder Carpenter
