November 25 2013

 

Hola Family

 

So this week has been CRAZY (when isn't it a crazy week?). We had training in Baranca on Tuesday. What that means is P-day we traveled to Huaraz, and then straight on to Baranca---6 hours in a combi (minivan) is NOT fun. Especially when you're on windy mountain roads and you end up sitting on a row with two elders...you can't even play Jell-O and you have to try really hard to stay in your seat, seriously it was like a four hour rollercoaster ride ha-ha. But we finally got into Baranca at 1am Tues morning and Hermana Brown and Hermana Mendoza took us in. They were so sweet and let us sleep in too. Then we got ready and went to training with President Archibald. It was really cool, and I was the only new North American there---but I was able to understand most of what he was saying. It was a little embarrassing because I struggle to think in Spanish and English at the same time, so when he directed a question at me in English I was totally caught off guard...still trying to translate what we had just been talking about, and gave a really simple answer. I'm sure he thinks I'm such a ditzy sister missionary ha-ha. That's okay though. I learned a lot about the importance of our purpose and how important it is that we BAPTIZE here. After that meeting Hermana Cueva wanted to meet with him and talk to him about some of our concerns. He basically just told us to keep on trucking, love the ward, and remember our purpose. Things are pretty hands-off here, which are good in some ways but in others I struggle because I'm still trying to figure out what the expectations of me are and what all the little rules and traditions are. We rode a combi back to Huaraz, stayed the night, had a Zone meeting and didn't get back to Caraz until late on Wednesday. So we only had Thursday, Friday, and Saturday really to work--more about Sunday in a minute.

 

But Saturday was really rough. We went to a reference from the Elders. They had given a blessing of health to a really sick little boy and the family said they wanted to learn more. When we got there though the mom was super exhausted and the little boy was in a terrible state. Moaning in his sleep, high fever, and there were flies everywhere. It was really hard to stomach. We taught a short lesson and did what we could to help. We taught her to use a cold wet rag to help with the fever, she didn't even know about that. The poor boy was boiling. I just kept thinking about the Lord's timing and the faith that's involved in blessings. I don't know what the Lord has in store for the family but I pray for a miracle for him. Also, there's an elder here that I think has typhoid fever, Elder Olsen. Please keep him in your prayers.

 

Yesterday I had to give a TALK. My third Sunday. I was so nervous, because I never know how the people here are going to take what I say. But I fasted and prayed and I can testify to you that those two things are so powerful. I was nervous and we were sitting in Sacrament meeting when I suddenly remembered Dad's joke/story about the Sister missionary that accidently said embarasada instead of embarasoso, so she said "I'm pregnant and it's all his fault" pointing to the bishop ha-ha, I smiled thinking about doing it...of course I didn’t  ha-ha but it instantly took away all of my nerves. I was so grateful. I got up, spoke about charity, and everyone understood it, people kept mentioning it in other lessons and I was so grateful the Lord helped people to UNDERSTAND ME! After church we had to go to Huaraz AGAIN for regional training. Things are a little unorganized sometimes, and the elders told us last minute we were coming here and staying the night for Zone Pday. What they didn't do was tell the Sisters we were coming...so that was an adventure, and we had to give up some good appointments because we had to be here. It's hard when we have a goal and want to reach it but don't have a lot of opportunity to actually work. It was good though, we went on splits last night and Hermana McCleud and I were able to have some really good conversations, IN ENGLISH. I love that. She's had a really tough life but she's such a light and she's a total inspiration to me.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING. I love you all and I hope you know how grateful I am for you. I have more and more gratitude every day for the way I was raised and the love that I feel from all of you. I've been so blessed to be born in the covenant and ALWAYS know who I am. I'm so grateful for loving parents that have taught me the truth and have strived to keep their covenants and followed Christ all of their lives. I'm grateful for younger siblings that have taught me so much and have strengthened my testimony. I'm so grateful for great bishops and leaders in the church all my life-- I never realized how perfect our ward has been for me, and how blessed I have been to grow up in the area I have. Thank you to everyone that has impacted me in this way. Please don't take your Sundays for granted, don't take our ward for granted, and Kacey, Brett, TJ, Jake- don't you dare take your parents for granted. They love you so much and they work so hard to help you to know the truth and to become good Disciples of Christ.

 

This church is true. I am so grateful for the Lord and the blessings he has given me. This work is HARD, I'm not going to lie to you ever, I will be very straight forward when I say this is the hardest thing I've ever done. I often feel like it would be so easy if the Lord would have called me state-side, because at least I could speak my own language, but even then I know every missionary faces challenges in their areas. I'm just going to keep trusting and keep praying that the work moves forward and I can be a good instrument in the hands of my Savior.

 

Thank you for everything. I hope you have a fun, crazy, busy thanksgiving with all of our family coming to town. I hope that you eat some cranberry salad (A LOT OF CRANBERRY SALAD) and pumpkin pie for me...dang I miss that good stuff ha-ha.

 

Love you with all my heart.

 

Hermana Carr

 

November 17, 2013

Hola Fambam! 

I LOVE YOU ALL. 

So here's some of the stuff with my crazy week. I feel like we left a part of the spiritual battle and went into the physical for a while. In all honesty this week was not very productive in the work, which bugs both of us...because believe me when I say Hermana Cueva and I WANT TO WORK. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty productive days, we were able to teach lessons and help strengthen some of the members with their understanding of the scriptures. The understanding of the Gospel here is a little bit limited and so we're trying to focus on working from the inside out. I've had all the weird foods this week too, I don't know WHAT happened there...but yes I ate guinea pig, I'm trying to send a pic haha, and I also had cow heart, pig intestine soup, and a little bit of tokkush----rotten potato mash....yumyum. It's been a food adventure and it's been a dog adventure.

Thursday was awful. We spent the majority of the day planning and trying to work through some things with our area (Hermana Cueva and I are TOTALLY fine, we get along really well and even with the language barrier we're learning to understand each other). So we spent most of the day creating plans and goals, then we went out to teach. Well a few of our appts. fell through so we decided to go visit an investigator we hadn't been able to get a hold of lately. It was getting dark, and his street isn't the most well lit, but we know it pretty well and felt fine. We were walking and talking when all of the sudden Hermana cueva screamed out....I turned around just in time to see a dog attacking her ankle and running away. It was a really deep bite, and I felt TERRIBLE. We had to go to the Huaraz clinic the next day and she is still having trouble walking. I've been her living crutch all week. To make things worse there is this EVIL dog named Rocky that lives right by our pensionista (maid). He is this giant doberman thing that hates us, and he tried to attack us too. We don't know where he came from because he wasn't there the first week....but yeah it was scary when we couldn't run or fight because of her wound. luckily little Javier saw us and chased him away with rocks.  Scary haha. 

Yeah...so the rest of the week has been a bit of a struggle because Hermana Cueva can't walk and this is a walking mission. We've done a lot of studying and visiting people that live close to us, but our numbers tanked this week...not cool. She's healing up though and things will get better.

Yesterday was a really frustrating day. We had Ward Council and I felt the strongest need to speak, and not about something easy to swallow...and all in Spanish. I was scared out of my mind but it was one of those moments when the Spirit was pressing me so much that my heart was pounding and I couldn't stay silent. When it was our turn to get up and speak, Hermana Cueva asked if I wanted to add anything and I said yes. I talked to these leaders about keep their baptismal covenants in Mosiah 18, and the importance they are to the retainment of the people in their ward. I spoke with all the love I could and through the Spirit. Hermana Cueva said I made perfect sense, but it wasn't well received. It's a little difficult and frustrating but we're trying to figure out what we need to do. 

Yeah, so that's my week. I love you all VERY VERY MUCH and I'm so grateful for your examples, prayers, and fasting. Last Monday was perfect because my sister trainer, Hermana Brown...the same girl I blog stalked before the mission, was at our zone activity and she and I just talked for an hour, I swear she's my twin, she's awesome and it helped me so much.

I love you all. This Gospel is true. The enabling power of the Atonement is REAL and I am so grateful for the Savior in my life. This really is His work and I can feel His help when I ask for it. Use the ENABLING and REDEEMING power of the Atonement in your lives every day. The Lord loves each of us and is waiting for us to come unto Him.

I love you

Hermana Carr 

Me and My companion H. Cueva, enjoying some grilled Guinea Pig.  If you look close you can see their little legs....yummmmm

 November. 10, 2013

Dear Familia- 

So I'm actually in an area called Caraz. Apparently it's a sister city of Mesa, Arizona. I'm in the sticks. Like really, these are the MOUNTAINS of Peru. I don't think I have time to try and send pictures, but I'll give you a little update on my week. 

We left Huaraz and got to our EMPTY apartment monday night. We live with the Castillo family and they have two kids, Daysi- my new best friend 15, and Jean Paul 4. We couldn't have been put with a better family, they are fantastic and Mama Flor takes great care of us. We didn't get mattresses until tuesday, and we didn't get much furniture until Saturday, but it's all good. Our Pensionista is Hermana Juana. She has a two kids at home and one on a mission. Her son Javier is a great example of serving his mom. He's Tj's age, always willing to help us, and he kind of looks like and acts like the Peruvian version of TJ. He's a blessing for sure. H. Juana is a great cook but man...I don't know how long I'm going to be able to eat everything people feed me. She gives us mountains of food and I constantly feel sick to my stomach, my body can't handle all this stress :P. It's all good though. It's Hermana Cueva's birthday today and we're going to have Guinea Pig for dinner! I'll take a pic! 

The ward here is struggling, but we're going to figure out how to help. We've met some really kind people. I've never been called "gringa" more in my life than I have this last week haha. We've found some miracle investigators, and we're still trying to figure out the area. We've been focusing a lot on menos activos as well. This place is crazy. Mototaxis are INSANE, but they're kind of fun haha, I've seen sheep tied to the trunks of those things, and just crazy stuff like that. And since I'm in the mountains, this is cuye (guinea pig) central. I see women carrying home...not so living guinea pigs haha, it's quite the sight. 

Hermana Cueva is seriously a miracle herself. She doesn't speak English but she is EXTREMELY patient with me and is a great missionary. I feel bad that I'm not able to help her very much, but I'm trying the best that I can. 

We went to a baptism on Saturday. In this area, I think it's the only area in the mission, people are baptized in a river about 30min from where I preach. The river is overlooked by the ANDES! Yeah, giant snowcapped gorgeous mountains. It was breathtaking. I didn't have my camera, so next time we'll go and take a picture :) 

Study the ENABLING power of the Atonement. ...I don't remember who wrote it, but it was an article in an ensign from this Spring. You have no idea how much I needed to read that and it was a miracle that I was given an English ensign with that very article. I'm trying hard to give my burden to the Lord. When I pray for it, I do feel a little more strength, a little more resilliance to see the good in the world and the people I serve with, to see the miracles and to work harder with my Spanish. 

Also. If you are posting...thank you EVERYONE that emailed me this week. I can't even tell you how much it meant to me to open a full inbox. I need those testimonies, those kind words, because this is tough. 

I love you all so much. I'm grateful for your examples and your prayers. Thank you for everything. I hope you have a wonderful week. Work hard, pray hard, follow the principles of the Gospel. This is the most important thing in the world, because it's not of the world. 

<3 Hermana Carr 

PS: TJ great job with math! Jake great job during your game! BRETT, WIN IT ALL! That's so awesome! Kace, I'm glad you had so much fun! Keep working hard in school. I love you all a TON. 

Stephanie Carr Nov. 4, 2013	7:53 AM (2 hours ago)

Hey family!

 yes EMAIL me! I go to an internet cafe on MONDAYS and the internet speed is great and everything. I get packages and letters every six weeks, so i would definitely prefer email. MONDAY is my pday 

Thanks for emailing me! Tell Dad I love him and that I missed hearing from him this week. Im so glad you got to go to the temple with Caleb, and i am so excited that youre having all of those cousins come over, thats going to be so much fun! Thanksgiving doesnt exist here but thats okay, I am definitely feeling blessed and Im trying really hard to focus on the daily miracles in my life. 

Keep stalking haha, I met Hrmna Brown on Saturday and it was hilarious, the first thing I told her was that I stalked her blog and we were laughing about it. All of the sisters are way cool.

OK. I hope the Christmas package gets here too, in our welcome packet we got some important package info. I dont know how you sent anything, but Im praying it gets here too so that my comp and i can have a little something for Navidad haha. ONLY SEND PACKAGES THROUGH THE US POSTAL SERVICE. Also do NOT send= money, cameras, electronics, used clothes (need to have tags on them), jerky, or action figures haha. Make sure that the address is=

Peru Lima West Mission

Carlos Salaverry # 3664-Los Olivos

Casilla de Correo 39-054

Lima 39

Peru

YES I FOUND THE ENGLISH KEYBOARD. This is awesome. Okay, anyway...thats that on packages. Pray that it gets here :)

Okay...I guess I'll try to tell you all about this crazy week haha, hopefully I can pull it off! 

Last week I was pretty sickly. It was bad. But the elders offered me a blessing and it helped so much, nothing short of a miracle. Elder Allen and Elder Kaelin were the ones that administered and offered and they were so nervous, I forgot that for most of these boys it would be the first time. The power of the priesthood was apparent though, even through their shaking hands and voices and within a day I was feeling functional. So, Friday and SaturdayFLEW by. Saturday was a full day of field preparation, learning the ropes and sitting in the same chair ALL DAY LONG. It was awful...but really helpful haha. After that, my amazing district decided to do blessings for the field. That was an experience we all needed, and it was great because each of the elders had an opportunity to give blessings. The spirit was so strong there. My blessing said that I would pick up Spanish quickly and that it would be a talent that would bless others, I'm trying to have faith in that because right now it just seems like an impossible task. Elder Smith also said that I would have companions that needed my understanding and my help with their problems, that I would be able to help them stay motivated and feel comforted. It's amazing how much the Lord loves us and knows us, and how He is constantly connecting blessings- this week he has connected my patriarchal blessing and setting apart to every prayer and every other blessing I recieved. After those blessings we sang God Be with you and it was SO sad. I was doing fine until we were all looking at eachother during the chorus and one of the elders I had become really good friends with was crying. I lost it, and then I had to offer the prayer...I was a blubbering baby...it's hard when you've become like a family and everyone is going to a different mission than you are! Goodbyes were hard, I think mostly because we were all so nervous. But it's okay, a lot of them will be in Utah when they get back and It will be a blast to catch up with all of them!

Okay...now to the juicy, in-field info :)

 Saturday I met the Archibalds. GREAT family. My president is a really spiritual, really funny, and really focused man. You can tell he loves the missionaries and though he's only been doing this for a few months, he has a routine down and this mission is functioning really well. Sister Archibald made us all a delcious breakfast, we had a little orientation and then the other missinaries came for cambios (transfers). I have been called to OPEN A NEW AREA in Huaraz with Hermana Cueva from ...dun dun dun....Trujillo! I am SCARED. OUT. OF. MY. MIND. Hermana Cueva doesn't know English, and I don't know Spanish...so it's been interesting. But she is a DOLL. So nice and so patient. After we found out who our companions are, we said goodbyes, I tried not to cry saying bye to Hermana Stirling, and then I had an interview with President Archibald.

My interview went really well. He got to know me a little better and then he told me a little more about what my purpose is as a missionary and gave me some fantastic advice about learning the language and serving the people. He helped me to know just what I need to do. He told me that Hermana Cueva is one of the best he has, and that she has the top baptisms out of the sisters most of the time. He said that she fits the scriptural definition of meek...quiet courage. He said I would learn a lot from her if I opened up my mind and worked really hard. Then he told me about the area that we are working in. There haven't been sisters in this area for a VERY LONG TIME. The elders found us a place with some recently less active members. He said they are a fantastic family, the wife has been RS pres, the husband a counselor, they are just going through a rough patch and need to be reminded of their testimonies and the reasons for going to church. .. It's going to be a challenge. Especially when it's my first area, a new area, and I don't know Spanish.

So Huaraz. The furthest area from the mission home. My area is 10 hours away. I didn't get any sleep the last night at the CCM for a lot of reasons...and then we didn't get on a bus for Huaraz until 11:30pm on Saturday night. We arrived at 6am in the area of some other Sisters, Hrmna Bark and Mccleud. They are so great! We stayed with them yesterday and will stay with them for most of Pday before going to our area because our house isn't quite ready for us. The sisters were SO kind though. We were able to go to church with them and their investigators, one was a fifteen yr. old that told me I looked just like Barbie...that made me feel good haha. In the afternoon, their pensionista made us a delicious meal...but our mission is SO high up that I've got a great amount of altitude sickness...so that's been fun. The sisters let us nap at 3...but we didn't wake until 8. I got up and studied and chatted with the american sisters while Hrmna Cueva kept sleeping, she isn't feeling very well. It was so fun to talk to them and to hear their experiences right now in the mission, I'm so glad they're in my zone and can help me with the language barrier. I went to bed just a few hours later and I feel better today, I desperately needed that sleep.

Huaraz is BEAUTIFUL. The Elders from Trujillo were jealous because this is the place people think of when they think peru. Mountains, incas, all of that. There are a lot of people in traditional clothing, and the place is breathtaking. All of the elders in my mission say that THIS AREA is exactly like Emperor's new groove...so go watch that and you'll see my life.

I'm scared. I'm nervous. But I'm ready. The Lord has constantly showed me little blessings and miracles in the last 72 hours to help me know I can do this. I just don't see how he trusts me, a brand new gringa...to open an area when I can barely communicate with my companion. What I do know though, is with God NOTHING is impossible, and I have his special blessing right now. Read DC 84. We talked about it during our meeting on Saturdayand so many things were important. section 106...I read it while we were learning and immediately thought of Hermana Cueva. She is going to make me strong. She is going to help me learn. 

This gospel is TRUE. I know that my Savior lives because I have felt his presense in my life, especially during this week of constant change, struggle, and goodbyes. God loves his children, he has a particular love for his children in Peru. President Archibald reminded me that these are the children of those blessed in 3 Nephi 17. He told me to look at the picture of Christ in the Americas and notice the ANDES in the background. I'm IN the ANDES right now. These are his children and they need to hear his message. I will put all my trust and confidence in the Lord. This is a time when I have to rely on his merits COMPLETELY and it is so humbling to me. 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your support and for your prayers. I feel them and I love you so much. I'm grateful to have grown up in the church with such a beautiful, loving family. You're all the best.

 Con amor,

Hermana Carr