Howdy! or Kam na bane ni mauri rather!

 

   First off I hope yous all had an amazingly stellar Christmas this last week, I know mine was pretty spectacular! Hopefully New Year's is great and we got some good resolutions rolling! This week was pretty sweet teaching about the spirit of Christmas and having the spirit testify so strongly is one of the best feelings in the world! We had a Christmas Choir from the schools here come around and sing carols at the chapels Christmas eve and it reminded me of high school days.

  On top of Christmas this week I was able to see just how real the gift of tongues is. I am definitely not bwati raoi or the best at speaking the language yet but I can look back to the MTC and see for myself how i have improved and the other day I met a man from another church who had been out here for over 2 years we were with the other elders and he talked about how he didn't speak very good at the language and he just teaches in English at his meetings and such but when he heard the elders speak, he was pretty amazed and asked how long we'd been here and some were 10 months, over a year, 3 months for me and he was amazed how much we got the language and how we sounded and just kept wondering how. It testified to me that because we have been promised the gift of tongues as long as we kept our part we would receive the Lord's end of the deal. I know that so long as we keep our promises we will receive the blessings of the Lord in His own due time and sometimes we have or are receiving His gifts and we just cant see them yet. Our Father in Heaven loves us and would never leave us to be alone. I know that He is always there and we need only knock, He is waiting to open the door. I love this gospel and know it is true with my heart, search and you will find it. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

  Love, Elder Scot Carrington :)

          

                The weather outside is... Well delightful!

    

I am sorry i just see all these messages about cold weather and snow and freezing temperatures and so i just wanted to say it is a constant 84 degrees here with a cool island breeze all week long with the chance of a downpour Tuesday but with the temperature not dropping below 80. 

Haha other than the weather being constant and nice this week has gone pretty good, a little slow but good. We did quite a bit of work this week and did a lot of walking. And apparently to everyone here they think that i am a navy boy with the way i dress and carry myself at least that is what everyone tells me haha so maybe i will look into that afterwards. We visited quite a few people and met a little girl who had us come inside her house and teach her father who i believe was from the KPC or now KUC Kiribati United Church and we ended up talking with the man for over an hour or so about the church. It was interesting because he seemed to get it, it was funny though because there was an empty space of about 2 hours in our schedule and we didnt know what we were going to do so we started walking to tract a little and that is when the girl came to us. I know that everything happens for a reason and for the gain of experience.
       I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ restored through the prophet Joseph Smith in our day. I know that without a shadow of a doubt in my mind and even though it is tough sometimes i am never alone, we are never alone. The welcoming hand of the savior is always waiting just above our heads to pick us up when we fall and although He may not always carry us through our times of trouble He will never forsake us. This is the true church. I love it with all my heart. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and Thomas S Monson is a prophet of God in these the latter days. I know that in their words we can find guidance and comfort because their words come from our father in heaven. You can always pray to your father He will always listen. In the name of my savior Jesus Christ amen. I love you all and hope that your week goes great! :)

Love, Elder Scot Carrington

                                               Preparing makes a difference

This week was teutana imwiin teutana or little after little, but it has been a good learning week for sure! Out here I have learned the importance of obedience even moreso. I know that missionaries have a few more rules to follow than others, but whatever they are they are important to follow. They do more than just keep us safe or going on the right path, they prepare us for the bigger picture. Abiding by the standards set for us prepares us to make a difference. If we are only kind of obedient then can we truly feel the full capacity of the spirit can we fulfill everything that we need to? I have found that sure a missionary can still teach with being only mostly obedient but in the end what if it isn't quite enough for the one person that needed to feel that spirit that you would have had that you could have given. I know that when we live by the standards set by the Lord we will be blessed and not only that, but we will bless the lives of others. I think that is a good thing to focus on with the christmas season here is others, because truly that is what our savior did. He gave the ultimate gift for us and His love surrounds us. We can help pass along this gift to others, what greater a gift could we give to others? I know that my Savior lives, He gave His life for the sins of the world. In Him we can find peace and comfort. For this Christmas remember the Christ in "Christ"mas, surely that is what it is all about. I know through my own search and finding that this church is true the Book of Mormon is true and was translated by the true prophet Joseph Smith. We have a living prophet today who guides us and will not lead us astray. I know these things with my heart to be true. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
Love Elder Scot Carrington
P.S. My bro had a great idea and I would like to borrow it, Check out and pass it along see and feel what it is all about. :) Christmas.Mormon.org