Year 3, Week 1

I realized today that I’m an oldie - they wouldn’t give me the Mexican discount in Chichen-Itza because my green card expired on the 10th of October.... oops. 

LECCIÓN DE LA SEMANA: I was reflecting a little on the adjustments made in General Conference, and out of curiosity I searched out the formal "purpose of the church" as described in the administrative Manual 2: The Church provides the organization and means for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to all of God’s children. It provides the priesthood authority to administer the ordinances of salvation and exaltation to all who are worthy and willing to accept them. 

With this definition, we can easily see that the "meat" of our worship takes place OUTSIDE the church building. What is that meat? Ministering. Teaching the Gospel. Sharing our talents and gifts. Inspiring. Lifting the poor. Blessing. The church simply organizes us. We do the work. The work is a fundamental part of all aspects of our life. I love this quote from Gérald Caussé: "Sometimes we talk about going to church. But the Church is more than a building or a particular place. It is just as real and alive in the humblest of dwellings in the most remote areas of the world as it is here at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City."

I invite all you to take the "church" out of the buildings we have and into the world. YOU are a representative of the church. I promise that as you strive to become like the Savior, the Lord will use you as means to bring His children into the fold.

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We had a GREAT week!! The first half, we were working in our area, finding for November. We already have several investigators who will be getting baptized next month.

On Thursday, we headed out to Valladolid to help out the missionaries. I got to work all evening with Elder Astrada (the Argentine elder that accompanied me a few weeks ago). Then we stayed the night with the zone leaders, who were very hospitable and challenged us to arm-wrestling. Elder Mendieta (from Bolivia) ALMOST beat me - we tied with the left arm, but I beat him with the right. 

On Friday, on a special assignment from President, we surprised Elder Jensen by bringing him to the Ek Balam ruins!! He had never been, and President wanted him to have the chance. The funniest part is that he thought we were going to work in a close-by village. When we passed the village, I saw the confused look on his face and almost laughed out loud.

Today, we toured Chichen-Itza (also for Elder Jensen), and had a great time together. I practiced some business skills talking down the local artesan-salesmen. Turns out, one can get a lot lower prices by speaking to them in Maya!!

That’s all for this week, folks. I love hearing from you - your excitement is contagious!! I hope you have an excelent week.

Love,

Elder Carson

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Summitting Ek Balan with the bros!

X´chanché cenote!!!

This is an ancient Mayan "basket-ball" court.

Basket? Basilisk? Who knows where the TP goes...

Two Years!

WOAH. I know I’m breaking the rules, but I like being out for more than two years!! Like in the old days!! Why not go for three?? ;) 

LECCIÓN DE LA SEMANA: UNITE ALL THINGS IN CHRIST!!

Remember last week, when I invited you all to consider how to study and apply the General Conference talks?? One that has repeatedly impressed me is that given by Elder David A. Bednar. He talks of how all aspects of our church worship are united in Christ. He promised that as we connect all our practices to the Savior, we will receive perspective, purpose, and power.

I echo the testimony of elder Bednar. I know that the Savior is central to God’s plan of happiness. I have felt the promised blessings this week as I draw connections between my study themes and Christ. This week, I invite you to "always remember Him" in all that you do. Remember that we are only living our stressful, complicated life for one small, simple reason, and do not let the little struggles get in your way of achieving all you are meant to achieve.

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We had an excellent lesson with an investigator family following the adjournment of the last session of General Conference. Sister Dolores was able to receive an answer to her prayers as she listened to the prophet’s voice. Together with her boyfriend, they decided to be married on the 9th of November. I told them to send me photos! :)

I was able to do exchanges with an elder-buddy of mine who I met last year in Playa del Carmen. I was profoundly impressed by the way the Lord has shaped him into a successful and powerful missionary since his training. We were also able to talk on a more personal note, and I discovered that, like me, he is a writing nerd. Just imagine when we started talking about Harry Potter and Ender’s Game!

I’ve been trying to apply my own council from last week. As part of my plan to "digest" better the messages from General Conference, I downloaded all the talks in audio, and one-by-one I have listened to and scrutinized them in the mornings at 6:00am. The small sacrifice of sleep fills me with joy! How cool is it that we have living prophets??

I hope that you are all doing well! To all the many who have asked if I’m trunky, I say, "if you mean I’m ready to go to Valladolid next week in the trunk of President’s minivan to work my shoes off, YES!!"

Love you!

Elder Carson

Year 2, Week 50

LECCIÓN DE LA SEMANA: I don’t have a lot to say that the living prophets can’t tell you right now. I invite all of you who have not seen today’s sessions of General Conference to watch them here: https://www.lds.org. I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord’s only true church on the face of the Earth, and that Russell M. Nelson is a prophet of God.

To those who did participate in today’s spiritual banquet, I invite you to join me in recording your thoughts and impressions. Tomorrow, at the conclusion of the last session of General Conference, I will also draft a six-month plan of how to implement these vital teachings in my life until next April’s conference. Consider doing the same. Performance is improved when measured, and it is exponentially improved when measured AND reported.

I love you all, and hope we can take advantage of the privilege of hearing a prophets voice!!

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Elder Vega and I went to Chetumal with President and Sister Reynoso this week. It was the first time I have made the six-hour journey with President. We enjoyed checking in with the new missionaries, interviewing, doing exchanges, attending a Zone Conference, and going to a parrillada to eat local tacos. In the car, we joked around with President and talked about the needs of the mission. It’s incredible to learn from such a spiritual man chosen by God to preside over this part of the world in its convert baptisms.

After two years of faithful service, a robbery, a miraculous recovery, and a fracturing, my watch stopped working. RIP watch tan-line.

..... I would love to continue, but... there’s no time!! Have a wonderful week!!

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I LOVE THESE GUYS!!! #twinningplaid

Year 2, Week 49

Saludos cordiales a todos mis amados del distrito 9D que ya están de regreso. Espero que la vida en casa les trate bien. Recuerden que no son J.A.S. - son misioneros RETORNADOS! Compórtense como tal!

LECCIÓN DE LA SEMANA: I had a cool experience that I forgot to tell you guys about last week. When I was returning to Valladolid from Cancun, Elder Astrada and I missed the bus.... yeah. They said "last call" over the intercom, and we went straight to the gate, but the ticket-man informed us that our ride had already departed. Sigh. I may have complained silently in my head, but I had yet to see what the Lord had in store.

As we passed by the sales window to buy new tickets, Elder Jensen called my phone. "Hey, Elder Carson," he said. "I think you stole our house keys!!!" I reached in my pocket, and to my surprise, I had indeed been guilty of accidental theft. Missing the bus gave us enough time to meet up with the elders and give them the keys before travelling to Valladolid and causing a bigger problem. The best part: when we went to buy new tickets, the kind salesman transferred our old tickets for free!! Turns out, he is a member of the church!!! MIRACLES!!!

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This week has been exciting. We finalized transfer details, welcomed new missionaries (including two from Brazil who arrived speaking Portugués), and said goodbye to our old friends in the Last Supper with President Reynoso. Of all the "last suppers" I’ve attended, it was definitely the strangest to witness (for obvious reasons that I need not name).

Now, I’m working hard in Nichupté - AGAIN! It’s so great to see all my friends from this great ward. There are truly faithful and generous members here who fight to build the kingdom of God. I’m humbled by the faith I have observed in them.

The best part is that I’m working with TWO stellar missionaries!! Elder Jensen AND Elder Vega!! Both have been great friends to me during my two years as a missionary, and we are ready to give EVERY LAST DROP of soul-power in us to teach, baptize, and train these next five weeks!

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Prepare yourselves with good questions to listen and DISCERN the Spirit of the Lord during General Conference next Saturday. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts regarding the talks, so if you’d shoot me a mail between sessions, I would greatly appreciate it!!

Love,

Elder Carson

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Dynamic Trio!!!

Year 2, Week 48

Okay, okay, it IS a little awkward thinking that this would’ve been the last e-mail I send to you all, BUT in the end, what does it really matter? I mean, the service continues for all my life!! THESE ARE THE FIRST TWO YEARS, NOT THE BEST ONES. 

LECCIÓN DE LA SEMANA: I obtained a renewed witness of the reality of Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling this week. I was reading 2 Peter chapter 2, and discovered what characteristics the false prophets have. As I read, I thought of thousands of times when I had heard accusations against the Prophet of the Restoration. Did Joseph Smith deny the Christ? No. Did Joseph Smith sow shadowy, destructive heresies amongst the believers? No. Did he speak evil of the greater powers? No. What behavior, then, inspires his accusers? It can only be disbelief. Unfounded disbelief.

I invite ALL of you to search the scriptures, earnestly pray, and fast for a spiritual witness that we are, indeed, living in the Latter-Days - that Christ, indeed, has restored His church, and that we do, in fact, have priesthood authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. If you do, revelation will rain from heaven, and you will reach a well-founded surety of this great truth.

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I moved around a lot this week!! Elder Chamberlain and I went to Cancun on Wednesday, where we ate some pizza with the elders of Nichupté and started working on the plans for transfers.

TURNS OUT, I’LL BE GOING BACK!!!! President received the revelation that I should be in Nichupté again. That means that I’ll be finishing my mission with Elder Jensen, a great buddy o’ mine, and Elder Vega, an elder that worked together with me and Elder Coello in Palmas (wooo! a long time ago!) Though I would have loved to finish with my MTC companion, dear Elder Chamberlain, I know that the Lord would have me stay six more weeks, and who am I to say otherwise??

Right now, I’m in Valladolid teaching the area to a new trainer, Elder Astrada. He’s from Argentina (cool accent, bro!) and when I leave on Sunday, he’ll receive a NEWBIE to train and prepare for these next two transfers. HOW EXCITING!! Fun fact - he was companions with my chan.hijo, Elder Coello, this last transfer.

That will be all, folks! I love hearing from you with all your love and support!! Keep making good, destiny-shaping decisions!!!

Love,

Elder Carson

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My rocker companion from Argentina!!! I love this elder!!!!