March 24, 2014 Dear Familia:  I was just thinking about how in a year I'm coming home...weird...and that it's TJ's birthday this week. I don't know, it's just weird how time FLIES and yet goes by sooo slow. Sounds like the new sisters are awesome! And seriously, everyone here is from Utah too. Utah or Arizona. People are ALWAYS surprised when I tell them I'm from Washington, missionaries or members. I got my package and seriously it's PERFECT. Thank you so much, I'm feeling healthier already. We're also eating REALLY well with Hermana Flor. She is seriously the best. She makes me salad every day and we eat a lot of lean meats, it's perfect.  First off. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TJ! I LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOU HAVE THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! NEXT YEAR I'LL BE THERE TO CELEBRATE :)  Well....... I'm trying to think of something really profound to tell you guys, or of some exciting story that happened this week...uhhhhh.  We've had a week of unsuccessful contacting. I'm starting to understand what it means to be the senior companion and how much pressure that can be sometimes. I just want my companion to feel like we can be successful together. All the responsibility is on me and I'm feeling it. I'm not discouraged, we're just in a little bit of a rough patch. Luckily I have an amazing Zone and District to keep me going even when times get tough. I guess everyone's been going through a rough time lately. Last Tuesday we had the BEST Zone meeting we have ever. ever. had. Our new zone leaders are awesome together. We still have Elder C, and our new ZL is Elder Cr...from Texas I think. They both work really well together and for the first time we had what felt like a truly inspired, edifying meeting. I think we were all feeling a little down, and the spirit worked through us so strongly. We all read Alma 31 together. We talked about Alma, who was also going through a rough patch on his mission (amazing how the Book of Mormon is written for our day, isn't it?! I'm learning more and more that it was really written for ME. I love the Book of Mormon). We talked about the importance of having faith, and of sincere, heartfelt prayer. We talked about having goals and doing everything possible to trust in the Lord and have confidence in miracles. Then Elder Cr shared a story about him and Elder A (in my ward) from a few months ago. He was training Elder A and they hadn't had any luck for WEEKS. Finally, another day of contacting...they went to a street, E. Cr looked at E. A and said "We are going to knock every door on this street, and we are going to find a baptism." They started knocking. While they were working the street, a lady came up to them excited, telling them that she had been looking for the missionaries for MONTHS. Her family had received the discussions in the past and were trying to find the missionaries again. She lived BLOCKS away from where they were contacting. They showed up, taught and ended up baptizing a family of six. Sometimes, the Lord gives us a trial of our faith. Sometimes we just really need to rely on Him and be patient. We need to remember that this is HIS work. Yesterday in Relief Society, we were learning from a talk from the General Relief Society meeting....but I found myself reading the talk that President Monson gave (in Spanish). Tears filled my eyes as I saw the correlation of everything that had happened this week...the importance of prayer, faith, and trust in the Lord. President Monson said "As our prayers ascend heavenward, let us not forget the words taught to us by the Savior. When He faced the excruciating agony of Gethsemane and the cross, He prayed to the Father, “Not my will, but thine, be done.”5Difficult as it may at times be, it is for us, as well, to trust our Heavenly Father to know best how and when and in what manner to provide the help we seek."  I am so grateful for the love of the Lord and the power of the Atonement in our lives. My new companion is JUST what I need at this time. We're learning a lot of things together...and this new responsibility I've been given has also helped me to become more confident in my Spanish and move forward with things. I know the Lord will provide for us soon, because we're doing everything that we should be doing to find the people prepared for this Gospel. Well. I've officially hit the 6 month mark. I only have a year left to make the most of the time the Lord has given me. That's so crazy to me. It's a long time left, but I know I'm going to continue to grow and learn so much from these experiences and the experiences of other people I meet here.  I love you all so much. Thank you for your constant support <3  Love always, Hermana Carr  PS no pictures this week.  This dumb computer won't send them :( [Quoted text hidden]

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March 17, 2014

Happy St. Patrick´s Day Everyone!!!! Haha, I read that part of your letter outloud...realized it was St. Patricks Day... and that magically I´m wearing green... must be lucky! We all forgot that today is a ¨holiday¨...that´s what happens when you´re in a foreign country and it isn´t Ireland haha.

  

Yep things are slow here, but we´re working hard. Please pray that we find new investigators because we´re having a hard time finding anybody that can progress. 

As far as Dad's talk for the youth this week goes...I would tell them the same things that we tell our menos activos and investigators. There are three things that they need to always do individually... READ the Book of Mormon every single day. PRAY always, multiple times a day. GO TO CHURCH every week, don´t miss it for ANYTHING. And as a family, pray and read together every night and have family home evening. Really I can see the difference in the families that are doing these things and those that aren´t. Every person needs to develop a REAL relationship with the Savior. It starts with faith, and faith requires action. Through these simple things, their testimonies are going to grow and they´re going to realize that they wouldn´t give up the gospel for anything. I love in 2 Nefi 4 where Lehi talks about how he has trusted in the Lord and the blessing that has been to him...when we trust in the Lord more than ourselves, that is when our testimonies grow and we can avoid the struggles and temptations of the world. Good luck with your talk Daddy, it´s going to be great!

 

This week was a continuation of the crazy. My last Pday was really good with Hermana L. We had a lot of fun together, and her district was awesome. Her zone leader, Elder R, had cambios and the ward had a little get together for him. He is a really smiley guy from Chile who really has a light about him. When I met him I could just tell he genuinely loves his mission and loves people. The impact he has had on that ward was obviously drastic, and it really made me reflect on the kind of missionary I am. I could just tell E. R is the kind of missionary I want to be. Someone with the light of Christ that generally wants to give his all for the Gospel. I hope I can develop that kind of Christlike love for the people I serve....I want to be an Elder R.

 

Tuesday....CAMBIOS!!!!! Ahhhh! I was so sad because I knew I wasn´t going to be with Hermana L., and she´s so cool! Her dad was the mission president in the Lima East mission a few years ago...she´s awesome. But she got called as a trainer! I ran into my buddy Elder Garcia, and it was sooo much fun to catch up with him. He´s headed home after this transfer and I didn´t think I would see him again, it was blast to catch up with him. We sat next to each other during cambios and he kept teasing me that I was going to train...but finally there was ONE misionera left... and Hermana L. got called to train her. I made it safe this round haha, I wasso scared. But then my face popped up on the screen....with HERMANA CARDOZO from Argentina! She´s 20... and she has three months in the mission. She JUST finished her training...so we´re both newbies in the middle of nowhere haha. We finished up cambios, I got to say goodbye to a lot of my Lima friends, then we went on splits with some of the missionaries (after lunch) as we were waiting to go to our bus. I was on splits with Hermana H. from Australia, and she is HILARIOUS. We had a blast together! Then we went back to the offices and got to know the new kids in our Zone and I talked with the office elders for a while. I was the only alumni from Huaraz so that was fun. We went to the bus station and slept on the bus all night.

 

We had a good week, visiting conversos and menos activos. We are trying to find new investigators that will progress but so far we haven´t had any luck. Yesterday was Hermana Flor´s birthday so today all of us are going to cook with her and give her a birthday apron with notes from all the missionaries. Should be good!!!

 

Hermana Cardozo is really great. We´re both newbies but we both have the desire to share the gospel and help people develop faith in the Savior and in the truth. It will be great to get to know her and work with her this transfer!

 

I love you all sooooo much! Brett I´m still so stoked for your mission call! My planner this transfer has the picture we took before I left, and everyone keeps asking where you´re serving, so cool that we´ll be serving together.

 

Love you tons, Happy St. P day and have a wonderful week!

 

Hermana Carr

Me and Hermana H from Austrailia with her Vegemite

Me and Hermana L

My New companion Hermana Caradozo!

March 10, 2014

BBBBRRREEEETTTTT!!!! OH. MY. GOSH. I seriously can't believe YOU ARE GoinG TO GERMANY/AUSTRIA/SWITZERLAND/LICHTENSTEIN/ITALY. AND the England CCM?! You're practically gonna see all of Europe (all the cool parts at least!) What the heck, your mission is SO freaking cool! And it looks like your German isn't going to waste after all! Seriously, I freaked out when I read your letter and watched your video. I am so excited for you. You are going to be such an amazing missionary there and have so many experiences. I already know our missions are going to be sooo different from each other, but I know that you're also going to have a really amazing experience there. It's going to be a challenge, but at least you'll have pretty scenery and grocery stores! And congrats on DECA, 6th in state is awesome! Wow you don't have much time to prepare! How did you get so lucky? You already have your passport and everything, right? AHH I'm SO excited for you right now!!!! Love you, you're going to be an AWESOME missionary. 

Mom, look, you've got two kids leaving the country living in TOTALLY different places. I don't think that Brett's mission could be more opposite of mine, but that's so awesome. It's going to be so fun to compare experiences. Let's plan on Peru and the Alps then, I'm totally down for that. I can be our translator here, and Brett can be in Germany! Sweet, let's go! 

Wow you've got a TON going on, but all things are super exciting and I'm so happy for our home. We have a lot of amazing miracles happening for our family! Love you Momma!

Jake, glad you had an awesome week! What was your youth fireside about? Love you!!!

TJ! How cool you got to work on a bike, and I love the picture of your new glasses and your bedhead hair haha. It's awesome! Love you!

Kace, sorry it's been hectic but just keep trudging on. Before you know it, it's going to be Summer again!!! Love you babe! 

Dad! Seriously, I don't think the missions could be any different, but how cool!! Haha yeah, we're both in pretty sweet missions! Wow, it sounds like the fireside was awesome, and Sister Smith's talk sounds fantastic. Hermana Cueva told me a little bit about her final interview with president...yep all about marriage haha. I'm glad work is still going strong, that's fantastic to hear.Thanks Daddy, I'm so lucky to be your kid. Seriously. Love you.

OKAY. Once again. BRETT. AHHHHH! Seriously, I'm so excited for you! You are going to be such an amazing missionary and do a world of good in all of those little countries! I'm so amazed, so excited, so jealous, but yeah...you're mission is going to be awesome. You should call up Kyle to get an idea of what it's going to be like. Awesome. So excited.

This. week. was. nuts. Seriously. Monday we went to Huaraz as a district just to get some good lunch and go to the giant artisan market. It was really fun but we all wanted to go to the lake...pretty sure everyone is there right now and I'm mad haha. But it's all good. Tuesday we had a good day of hard work...until we got a phone call at 4 in the afternoon saying that BOTH OF US were headed to Lima, Wednesday at 12. WHATTT?! We had NO warning and Hermana Cueva was freaking out, and so was I, because we were BOTH coming to Lima. Either way, we kept on working until 8. We found a MARRIED couple with 5 kids, and I'm just praying that my new comp and I can find them again and teach them more. They are really great people and I think that they can progress. We came home, and H. Cueva said her goodbyes to Hermana Flor's family and Hermana Juana. Then we packed and talked and cleaned and blasted music until two in the morning.

We woke up the next day and headed to the combis with all of Cuevita's things and my duffel bag. We made it to Huaraz, then headed to Lima. Ew. To be stuck in a bus for 8 hours ALL. DAY. LONG. is a terrible thing. We made it that night and then Hermana Cueva and I talked with the President for a while in the offices. He showed us his board of pictures in his office and told us he has the same one in his house where he does cambios. My picture was solo in the Caraz part of the board. He kept teasing that there were five new sisters coming in and asking Hermana Cueva if I'm ready to train haha. Then Hermana Cueva had her interview and I talked to the office elders. Then Hermana D and Hermana J came to pick us up to take us back to their house. Hermana Cueva talked to President Archibald about me, and he told her that I probably won't be training this time because of where I'm at. He says that he doesn't want to send new kids to my zone anymore because it's just really rough, and that unless the Lord REALLY wants it, he isn't going to send me with a newbie back to the middle of nowhere. That took a lot of pressure off and now I'm pretty calm about cambios tomorrow (So yeah, I don't know who my new companion is still). 

Thursday Hermana Cueva left for her special 'goodbye day' with the President and the other Elders that are going home. I was in a trio with D and J and they are seriously the coolest girls. Hermana D is from South Jordan and Hermana J is from Mexico City. They are really hilarious and fun to work with. We had SHWARMA for lunch. It was divine and super cool, because the men that own the restaurant are from India. Some speak really good Spanish, others speak really good English, and it was really cool to talk to them and share a little about the gospel with them. I kept thinking about how Mom said I always used to pray that I would go on my mission to India...I guess that was my little taste of what that mission would be like. Lots of people that practice Islam and Hindu and don't know much about the Savior...that would be a hard mission, but really cool. It was an awesome experience.

Friday we went to a training with President Archibald which was really cool. He was talking about the same points from the training I had in Huaraz, but there were different things that I learned this time and it was really cool. We got PAPA JOHNS for Lunch! I'm talking about food a lot, but you have to understand how amazing that is, NO PAPAS, NO ARROZ! Then Hermana Cueva and I contacted in the evening for the Hermanas while they had their interview. 

Saturday we decided to have a contacting activity. A free lemonade stand! It was really fun to prep things and to go to the market and contact people that way. I don't know how successful we actually were, but it was really fun and I got to hold a baby monkey! Yay for cool days!

Yesterday was really great and really hard. We went to church and it was fantastic, I felt the spirit so strong in Sacrament meeting and then we went on splits in the sister's area. That night we packed up our bags and went back to the offices. There was another sister going home for medical reasons so I'm now her companion's companion---hermana leva, she's sooo cool. She's from Peru but she studied at BYU for three years! She's really sweet. Hermana Cueva and I said goodbye at the offices. She bought me an amazing Christmas ornament from incamarket...that fool, I gave her money to buy something for HERSELF. She's such a thoughtful person. I've learned so much from Hermana Cueva. I love her with all my heart and I can't tell you how sad I am to see her go. We've developed such an amazing friendship and I'm sad because we're finally at that point where we understand eachother and just get along so well. But I'm looking forward to finding out what my new companion is like, and for all of our new adventures together.

I love you familly! So excited for you Brett! Have an awesome week <3 Oh and congrats to Peter on his mission call!

Hermana Carr 

PS: SHOUT OUT TO SISTER SHERMAN AND LEO SOSA for their awesome letters, totally made my week. and MEGA SHOUTOUT to Aunt Liberty! Seriously, thank you so much for my package. You made my whole month with all of that good stuff. Everything I wanted was in that package and it made me so happy. You're the best! 

Baby Monkey--How cool is that!

Last picture together

Us with O

Our impromptu lemonade stand

March 3, 2014

Dear Familia:

WOW! I'm so glad that you had such an amazing week! Seriously, I'm freaking out right now....so many awesome things happening for our family, and proof that prayers are answered. Seriously...I don't know why, but I just felt so strongly to pray for three things a ton this week: 1) Mom, for you to get into nursing school. 2) Brett, for you to get into BYU  3) Dad, for work to pick up...I just felt like things weren't going as well as you wanted to at the clinic. And seriously, I'm near tears right now because this email is a testimony of prayer for me. Imagine me, opening up this email after an unsuccessful week wondering if the Lord is really listening. He is. He loves me and He knows how much I worry about you guys. Maybe He needed to take a little of my success this week to answer my prayers for the people I love back home.

BBRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTT!!!!! YOU GOT IN TO BYUUUU!!!!!!!!!! I am seriously so excited for you right now. We're going to go to school together!!!! Seriously, I know it's like...two years away, but you are going to love the Y. I am so excited for you right now!!! Who else got in out of your group of friends? How are you feeling about your mission call? I'm so excited for you. Make sure dad films it on the iphone and sends it to me, I want to see you open up your call to Lima Peru Oeste! (Ha, wouldn't that be crazy.) But I really hope you get called to a Peru mission, that would be awesome. Good luck with DECA this week and write me AS SOON as you know where you are going, I want to hear all your thoughts about it. You've got a lot of exciting news this month! Love you 

 I'm doing good, we've had kind of a downer week, but not a bad one. Hermana Cueva leaves this Friday...and then I find out who my new comp is the following Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm freaking out...everyone keeps teasing that I'm going to train....nnnooott ready. I don't think it will happen yet.

Okay...to be honest............I don't really have much to tell you this week.  We have been contacting all week without any success. We've been working hard but we just haven't had a ton of results. One gross story....we had a reference for this one man and we went to his house. A girl my age answered the door and said the man was her husband. He came to the door and he can't be younger than 50. EEEWWW. We taught him and his "father in law" who I'm pretty sure is younger than him. Sick. 

With the kind of week I've had, I should feel a little bit down...but I don't. I've been studying in Alma about all the success of Ammon...and this week I started reading about Aaron. I don't know why we don't ever talk about Aaron. He went through SO much. He was cast out, city to city, thrown in prison, suffered all sorts of terrible things...but when he wasn't in prison he went out and preached the gospel anyway. He suffered all of this hardship...he was unsuccessful for so long but he kept going forward with faith. Finally he found the father of King Lamoni...and man, if I go through all this and find a father of King Lamoni and convert all of his household, then all this is worth it. 

Hermana Cueva is leaving this Friday and I'm going to be spending the weekend in Huaraz with the Hermanas over there. I'm excited to work with them, but not to abandon my area for almost a week. Actually, I'm kind of freaking out about it...but it's all going to be okay. I'm so sad Hermana Cueva is leaving me...four months together. We've been through A LOT but she is the best and I have learned sooo much from her. I don't think I would have learned nearly as well with anybody else. Looking forward to new adventures and to keep in touch with my gorgeous comp for the rest of our lives. 

I love you all so much. I hope that you have a wonderful week. Keep my missionaries (Kelsie and Caleb) in Ukraine and Russia in your prayers...I'm worried sick about them. 

Love you tons 

Hermana Carr 

American sunflower seeds!  Thank You Elder Larsen

     

Canyon de Pato