All is well

There has been quite a bit this week but I am not sure where to start haha. The language is getting better and I can hear a little better now, but it is still hard sometimes. Our investigators are going strong and progressing greatly! This week should be a busy one! I love it here and even though it is very different from home it is absolutely great because I am not alone so for now this is my temporary home for me to help others get back to their eternal ones. The sunsets and water look more and more beautiful everyday, but sometimes the food doesn't haha. that is ok though because I get through it even though they never seem to think you are full. Sitting cross legged on the floor everyday can get to your legs sometimes but my left foot goes numb now so I guess you could consider that an upside! The work is ever progressing onward and the veil that covers eyes is being lifted to see the truth. God is here and he is everywhere. Forever families is an awesome thing and when you are bringing families together and strengthening that bond and seeing it happen it is beautiful and you can feel the love from heaven with them. this work is true and with every day it becomes more and more apparent. I can see divine influences in my every day life. not just when a special occurance calls the need for it, I see it everyday. it is literally all around us. I love the gospel and the fruits it bears. Forever families are real and possible and I keep thinking for a best word but one doesn't come to mind because perhaps one doesn't exist, but it is a perfect plan and incredibly beautiful. I know this to be true. ask and it shall be given knock and it will be opened unto you.

  Love, Elder Scot Carrington

                                                       Welcome to the Jungle

 The work has begun and it is simply marvelous! Last week I had a baptism i believe in buota and it was a very good day and the boy was excited and happy for it. It is beautiful everywhere here and the people are nice everywhere you go. I had a companion transfer again Sat. and now work in Bikenibeu and the work there is absolutely great, we have a lot of investigators and they are going strong! We have at least usually 6 lessons a day and never have to tract we get them all from refferals. The work is definitely hastening and the field is white. The language is getting a bit easier to hear and comprehend but there is still a bit that I dont understand, it will come though. Speaking is going good and I am learning more and more. Even though my speech is broken and sometimes I know I am not saying things right I can feel a greater power taking over I can feel the spirit testifying of my testimony out here and though it is small at times it is heard. I am just one voice, but one voice can change the world.
    On a different note I wake up once every morning at 4:30 or so to chickens crowing loudly outside my window and all over outside. They never fail to sound and make sure I am awake haha. We also went to an investigating family's house this week and had some fish called milk fish. The family that prepared it didnt take out the bones of the fish but they were so small I thought it was one of the fish that you just eat them. I took out the bigger bones and started eating it and looked over at my companions plate and he hardly had any bones on his plate so I guess he was eating them too so I was eating it right but it was terrible because the bones stabbed my throat and made it hard to eat without gagging. He said I was lucky to have that fish on Tarawa because it was milk fish and it is only found on Christmas island and I remember thinking good it can stay on christmas because I dont feel lucky at all, but I was talking to him afterwards the next day and talked about the bones and He said no you dont eat those, you eat the meat and spit the bones out i just put mine on the ground... Oh awesome. I told him how i thought it wasnt that great of a dish and that now i know why it was not so great haha.We told the family this and they thought it was hilarious haha so i guess the moral of this story dont eat the bones!
      The culture is different out here and they speak a different language and eat different food. It looks different, it feels different, and even smells different but I know that God is here. He is with all his children on all ends of the earth. He loves each and every one and will never leave them alone even when it feels like we are so very lost. "It is better to look up" when we are in the midst of our trials and hardships it is so easy to trudge forward eyes on the mud infront of us, when we are actually not seeing the heavenly help that is coming from above. Always look up because although it may be hard at times there is always good things we can look to good times before, blessings happening now, and Great and marvelous times to come. Keep you head up. Awake and arise from the dust, let your light so shine and be blessed. I know that we can all feel the love God has for us and that He is always there sometimes He may be just waiting for us to ask. He will give you peace and joyous feelings. Count your blessings, angels will attend.    I love you all, stay strong, do good things.
          Love, Elder Scot Carrington

                                                The Day Dawn is Breaking

This week ended up flying past. Today we got up at 5 am to do laundry and get a head start hence the title of the day dawn is breaking. I am one of the Online coordinators starting last Sunday so i basically tell the new missionaries about online rules, the MTC programs to go through on the website and the missionary portal. The language is getting much better, I bwati n taetae ni kiribati! I kewe. haha
           You have no idea how much I am dying to eat any other food but the MTC cafe, but you know some days aren't too bad I am starting to learn the phrase "eat to live and not live to eat." So I have learned some information about the culture and environment of Kiribati and despite all of it I am still so excited to leave I want to get on that plane!  So by the sounds of it from my teacher the conditions in kiribati are pretty dirty. The water has worms and there are no running showers or sometimes electricity on outer islands and every missionary gets at least one transfer to an outer island I'm so excited! haha! The rain sounds great, I hear the fish is amazing since it is so fresh and the coconut milk and sap is amazing. I am jumping out of my seat here everytime we talk about it. The Tongans just got there travel plans today and they leave October 4th so it is probably safe to say I will have mine relatively soon as well probably by next week. :)

                   My companions are great! They are hilarious and fun to be around. We have been growing pretty close in brotherly love and have been talking about how cool it would be if by chance 2 of us got paired up at the end of the mission. The times can be tough but it always works out. 

               I feel like I wont feel as prepared as i think i should be when we go to leave but I keep trying to take it one step at a time. If i am not the most prepared when I leave I am sure that i will be when i get there because i am going to have to be haha.

               It's been a great week and I am holding the next one to high standards! It is finally time to forget myself and get to work I have found out. The more I keep my mind here and on the work the more I know I will be prepared! I am so excited for what lies ahead, but I am remembering to watch my step and make sure i have good footing. I look forward to hearing from everyone again and I will end in testimony. 

                I know that God is there. He is always looking after us even when we feel like nothing is there. If you ever feel this way remember he has not set you up to fail and He will be there. The teacher is always quiet during the test. Just bear with patience thine afflictions and everything will work out wait for the light at the end of the tunnel, it may seem dark now but it is assure that the dawn is coming. He will be there. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

                I love you all! Love, Elder Scot Wayne Carrington