October 2, 2017

Ed's Email address: edward.carter@myldsmail.com
For questions/current mailing address, email me at: mommycarter@hotmail.com

Well I pretty much have two bikes. And to make a super long story short, both of them now have flat tires, one of those has been fixed once already, and I don't have the tools to fix it. Rip.

Yesterday I was walking down a street and I waved at a car, to my surprise what I got in return were two upright middle fingers pointed in my direction, so that's cool. Elder Kimball and I drove a half an hour to a different city in our area. The only place to park was a penocostal church. We went and taught some people at their homes when the pastor of the church invited us over. I tried not to Bible bash okay? I tried! He basically told us that since we weren't baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we didn't have the holy ghost. And I was like: "then what guides me like every day?" I didn't say that because he probably would have screamed at me or something. But he told us about the diocese of the Mormon church was jealous of their church and went to a penocostal reunion thing to see what was so good about their church. Long story short (again) this Mormon "diocese" was waving his arms in the air and crying. Being converted to this penocostal church. "what the heck is a diocese?"  It was pretty funny when this man was practically preaching to us, and out of no where elder Kimball says "can we use your restroom". I had to refrain from laughing because this was an obvious serious situation. Hahahahahahahaha. He let us use his restroom and then invited us to his chapel but we didn't go in because we had already wasted a half an hour listening to this guy talk.

I had one major thought as I left.

Nothing that man can say will shake my faith. Absolutely nothing. I have built this faith on the rock of Christ, and it WILL NOT BY ANY MEANS, be moved.

So that was cool. It was a good week. I managed to stay optimistic, and I'll tell yuh. Optimism works. Try it out and you'll see for yourself.

And when those dudes flipped me off I just remembered the one of the many totally BOMB scriptures in 3rd Nephi

10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

So yeah I'm good. This was definitely a hard week, but I'm hanging in there. 

We met with a man named Casey on Tuesday. We ended up testifying hardcore serious, sincere, and powerful testimonys of Jesus Christ. And Casey has exepted to Follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized on November third by someone holding the preisthood athouroty of God. 

So I'm stoked. That's going to be dang awesome. 

Life is hard. But I know for a living fact that it all works out in the end. So pull through. Keep going. Keep that chin up and power through those trials. Because once you get through them you will be exalted. 

Thrive in that as you go about this week. I will too. 

Love you all. 

Well I pretty much have two bikes. And to make a super long story short, both of them now have flat tires, one of those has been fixed once already, and I don't have the tools to fix it. Rip.

Yesterday I was walking down a street and I waved at a car, to my surprise what I got in return were two upright middle fingers pointed in my direction, so that's cool. Elder Kimball and I drove a half an hour to a different city in our area. The only place to park was a penocostal church. We went and taught some people at their homes when the pastor of the church invited us over. I tried not to Bible bash okay? I tried! He basically told us that since we weren't baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we didn't have the holy ghost. And I was like: "then what guides me like every day?" I didn't say that because he probably would have screamed at me or something. But he told us about the diocese of the Mormon church was jealous of their church and went to a penocostal reunion thing to see what was so good about their church. Long story short (again) this Mormon "diocese" was waving his arms in the air and crying. Being converted to this penocostal church. "what the heck is a diocese?"  It was pretty funny when this man was practically preaching to us, and out of no where elder Kimball says "can we use your restroom". I had to refrain from laughing because this was an obvious serious situation. Hahahahahahahaha. He let us use his restroom and then invited us to his chapel but we didn't go in because we had already wasted a half an hour listening to this guy talk.

I had one major thought as I left.

Nothing that man can say will shake my faith. Absolutely nothing. I have built this faith on the rock of Christ, and it WILL NOT BY ANY MEANS, be moved.

So that was cool. It was a good week. I managed to stay optimistic, and I'll tell yuh. Optimism works. Try it out and you'll see for yourself.

And when those dudes flipped me off I just remembered the one of the many totally BOMB scriptures in 3rd Nephi

10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

So yeah I'm good. This was definitely a hard week, but I'm hanging in there. 

We met with a man named Casey on Tuesday. We ended up testifying hardcore serious, sincere, and powerful testimonys of Jesus Christ. And Casey has exepted to Follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized on November third by someone holding the preisthood athouroty of God. 

So I'm stoked. That's going to be dang awesome. 

Life is hard. But I know for a living fact that it all works out in the end. So pull through. Keep going. Keep that chin up and power through those trials. Because once you get through them you will be exalted. 

Thrive in that as you go about this week. I will too. 

Love you all. 

9/25/2017 Week 3

Alright... Before I got my call, many of you asked me where I wanted to go. Well the answer about 99.9 percent of the time was London.

Well here I am in London Ohio in my first area, and no it ain't London England. But it's still pretty dang cool.

On transfer day (the day I was assigned to my Trainer) I sat down next to my new companion, and he leaned

So thursay night I had dinner at a members house. Eggs, bacon and pancakes. I almost gagged a couple of times because of the way too soft texture, but the food itself tasted alright.

Then we met with Justin and LeAnna that night. Justin is the one with the baptism date. Honestly the coolest people. The only reason Justin's mom (LeAnna) won't get baptized is because she smokes and she doesn't like the tithing idea. But the second I walked in the door she asked "what kind of music do you lkke" and from that moment on, I liked being at their house. We've made a goal to try and get LeAnna to commit to baptism this week.

Justin's Baptism was amazing. I gave a talk,, and so did another member in the ward. Elder Kimball (my new comp) gave the baptism, and the spirit was so strong.

Elder Kimball is awesome. I love him. He likes Disney movies. And Disney music. And Disney everything. His parents told him that Pokémon was too violent when he was a kid. I chuckled. But he's good at being a missionary. And he is a fantastic trainer. So thank you for your prayers. I have needed, and felt them.

> We contented a few people, but the most intense was this guy named Chip. We were riding our bikes and diced to stop and talk. Basically he didn't see why we didn't need a norther book of scripture, and if there I tried explaining it out to him he asked me if I still beat my mom. And I was like...

What?

Well I probably won't see chip again in the near future.

So there's this guy we teach named Brian. He is like Graham nakaya, but he smokes, and is inactive. Like honestly they talk and act exactly the same. Like same laugh and everything. It's weird stuff.

OH I also had dinner at the Matthew's house last night. And sister Matthew's reminds me of Great grandma B. But I have never heard great grandma swear.  It made me a little homesick, but it was nice being a round a teasy family inviormemt. Especially after a long hard Sunday :)

I serve in some places that are way more run down that rose park. People literally live in houses that are falling apart. I love it. I think it's pretty. It's almost ghost towny or something. Pretty clock towers and churches. I just love it.

Elder Kimball and I taught a man named Antonio Valles. We made a challenge to Invitr four different people to be baptized by the end of the week, and Antonio was one of them. We talked of the restoration, and of Jesus christ. And then I popped the question. And he promptly accepted that as he found that our church was true, he would become baptized. We asked him if there was anything he needed help with, and he said that after talking about jesus, all of his problems. Went away. It was powerful. I loved it. Hopefully he gets baptized, but sadly we won't be doing it. We had to refer him to Spanish missionaries.

This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life. I know it's not about to get easier. But I'm so stoked. It's going to be so awesome.

You may have seen me on Facebook. Yes, I am in a Facebook mission. I will be using face book to "preach and tech the gospel like missionaries do"

I am not excited for this. Everytime I get on, I see everyone. And it makes me all Trunky and home sick.


But guess what.

It ain't about me

So I'm going to use Facebook wilingly, and happily until it sticks.

I love you all. Have an amazing week. And I will do my best to do the same.

Be Strong Believe (week 2)

Subject: "be strong beleive" (weekly email)

Kinda a rough week this last one. Nothing really happened with Benjamin (Elijah). Our last lesson with him ended up with us going in circles about how the preisthood is needed. It was a wreck. Then we taught Jon in a PI. Also a wreck. And we started teaching our new TRCs and we didn't know how to help them feel the spirit, and follow through with commitments. I had no idea what I was doing wrong. And it was the worst. I'm homesick and real sick and that also stinks haha. But I'm staying optomtomistic, because this isn't about me. Hahahahahahahaahha yeah. Rip. But at the same time this is the best thing I've ever done. 

On 9/11 some elders in my residence hall decided to have a memorial service of the halocaust. I won't go too much into it, but it ended up being super disrespectful. I watched in anger from the back. I don't know how to explain it, but if I had to, I would say that it was a joke that they tried to Make serious. That's when I couldn't find my companion. Until I knocked on the door of some elders in my district. Elder Lomax, and elder Valdez were in there and they looked like they had been crying. I was like "my dudes... Elders... What's up" and they told me that they had their own moment of silence. Then everyone started to tell everyone what they had taken for granted at home. We were all a homesick mess for a second. All the elders in my district, sitting there in one residence. That's when things got happy though. I said something along the lines of "you didn't take anything for granted. Look where you are. You had to leave everything to be here'. Then it got all quiet. And elder Lomax broke the silence with " I have something to share with you guys" he left the room and came back with he tablet. He shared a story called the room. I will send it with this email. It really puts the atonement in perspective. I have never felt the spirit so strong in my entire life. And I'm not just saying that. I was sitting there, on the ground, bawling. Like a baby. And I wasn't the only one. It was what I needed to hear.

Elder Lomax shared the same story in our Tuesday devotional review. During that review my whole district shared and commented and we had a huge spiritual conversation about the speakers that had spoken just an hour before. And the spirit there was strong as well. I got a letter from the branch presidency that pretty much told us how awesome our district is... Heck yeah. I'm Essex to have this district. We are all so close. Uuuuggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh it's awesome.

OH yeah and Elder Lomax and I asked Darcie to be baptized and she said yes, so that's pretty dang cool.

I'm gonna miss Sister Knapp :(

BUT IT'S OKAY

OH yeah pics. Me and my district and other homies. Also the one with me sleeping. That's justified okay? Hahaha I got super sick this week, and my parents got me a new blanket. I payed down before excessive time and I was like. "just for a couple minutes" then I passed out from utter exhaustion and misery hahaha good times

Here is also the story elder Lomax shared. 

THE ROOM

by Joshua Harris

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found

myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features

save for the one wall covered with small index card files.

They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author

or subject in alphabetical order.

But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and

seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different

headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to

catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked".

I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I

quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the

names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.

This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog

system for my life. Here were written the actions of my

every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory

couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled

with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening

files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and

sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so

intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if

anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I

Have Betrayed". The titles ranged from the mundane to

the outright weird. "Books I Have Read", "Lies I Have

Told", "Comfort I Have Given", "Jokes I Have Laughed

At". Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things

I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at:

"Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have

muttered Under My Breath at My Parents". I never

ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were

many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I

hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had

lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 16

years to write each of these thousands or even millions of

cards? But each card confirmed this truth.

Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with

my signature. When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I

Have Listened To", I realized the files grew to contain

their contents. The cards were packed tightly,

and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of

the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of

music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file

represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts", I felt a

chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch,

not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I

shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that

such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought

dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards!

No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!"

In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't

matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I

took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I

could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and

pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I

tried to tear it.

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot.

Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-

pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I

Have Shared the Gospel With".

The handle was brighter than those around it, newer,

almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not

more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could

count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep

that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me.

I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from

the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves

swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever

know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No,

please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I

watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read

the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in

the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I

saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to

intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read

every one?

Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the

room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was

a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered

my face with my hands and began to cry again.

He walked over and put His arm around me. He could

have said so many things. But He didn't say a word.

He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files.

Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and,

one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each

card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could

find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him.

His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was,

written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus

covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently

took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began

to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He

did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard

Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He

placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I

stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was

no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written

September 7, 2017
FIRST WEEK

Honestly this is insane. I love the MTC the food is OK, but it's all the time so that freaking rocks. My companion is named elder Lomax. And we room with elder Valdez, and elder Matthews. We are all swishing the Columbus Ohio mission. I'm gong to dive right I to my experiences because they are crazy.

When I first showed up, everything got was a blur. I almost forgot to say goodbye to. To my family. Everything happened so fast. They gave me my name tag and everything seems that I would need, that I didn't already have. They took me to my residence and my key didn't work so we just left my suitcases in the middle of the hall and next thing g I knew I was sitting in the classroom. And then I felt better. All my worries, gone. Then my companion walked in. And I got even better. Elder Lomax is from Layton. He played baseball and basket ball in high school. Seriously a homie also.

We had a meeting to meet our branch president and next thing I know I'm called to be the district leader. At first I was like "rip me" but I love it. It's just more of the lords work I get to do, and it's awesome. And what makes it better is that I love my district. Everyone in it is a super homie.

We have what are called PPIs and that's just pretty much where your teacher goes into a room and becomes an investigator. And then you teach them. The first one was Aura. Everything was a jumbled mess with her haha she thought we were Bible study consolers haha. But Elder Lomax and I really hit it off with Darcie. Which is crazy, because no one else I  our district can  really get to her. She's stubborn, and to a lot of companionships she appeared scary and I timid aging.

When Darcie was sixteen, she struggled with an eating disorder. Her catholic parents told her to pray about it, and it would get better. Well with Darcie, it didn't get better until after she stopped praying. Therefore she doesn't believe in God. And she doesn't trust anyone. Not even us. Our first lesson with Darcie went well. We taught her and we related to her and we really truly loved her. So when we invited her to read the book of Mormon, and pray about it to see if it was true, she accepted. But she wouldn't pray. Definately WOULD NOT pray. I forgot to. Mention that she was getting ready to go to Yale and she is in her early mid twenties. Our second lesson with her, we followed up with her. She had only read a couple pages.

That's when it got powerful.

I bore testimony that I knew that she was a great person, striving to be better. And I told her that this gospel, and the Book of Mormon would help her with that. And I told her that I Knew she had faith, but I read the scripture in James that says faith without works is dead. And then I asked her so sincerely to be humble. So that we could get to her. So that we could tech her. So that we could help her. Because she was not doing alright. We invited her to read Moroni 10 and then sincerely pray about it. She said she would read, and consider praying. SHE WOULD CONSIDER ACTUALLY PRAYING. We figured that she was scared to, for the reason she would get back to rock bottom if she didn't feel anything. 

Our third lesson was the most powerful of all. She explained that she read Moroni 10 and tried to pray. But she couldn't be sincere. She said that she built up this wall between her and everyone else. Including God and herself. And I asked if it was because she was scared to fall back into her old habits, and she said yes. And again elder Lomax and I bore testimony. We shared personal experiences. Showing her how the gospel has helped us I  our lives, then we taught about Christ and his atonement. And the fact that he suffered and died for her personally. And he knows her by name. Then I leaned in (totally pulled a Ronald Regan) and said "tear down that wall."  and got the point across that it was restricting her more than it was helping her. The spirit was as thick as cottage cheese. Tears were in all of our eyes as she excepted the challenge to pray sincerely. So we will see what happens with her next time we meet :) 

Oh also we had our first TRC yesterday. And that could have been a real. Investigator. We taught him the restoration of the gospel, answered his questions and prayed with him. But here's the problem. I forgot his name for a sec, and thought that it was Elijah. But then I was like NO ITS BENJAMIN. so while I was praying I was repeating in my mind "don't say Elijah don't say Elijah. And then I unconsciously said" please bless the spirit to be with Elijah" and got up and said thanks Benjamin and left. I couldn't understsnd why my companion was laughing. Until I said, "I said Elijah didn't I?" and now I feel strait up done. 

I've seen so many missionaries that I already know here and I freaking love it. 

Love you all stay strong have an amazing week