Merry Christmas (No subject)

  It is the week of Christmas and I hope it is super awesome for everyone! This week was definitely different but way sweet because two way stellar investigators got baptized, Veronica and Pressenta. (waiting to get the picture my camera was dead) They are so solid and glowing with the spirit! We have received a few leads for some new investigators this week and are excited to further contact them! It has been crazy for work with Christmas break and the week of Christmas being here everyone is gone a lot! But it has given us some good opportunities to find with different efforts. I hope your Christmas is as joyous and white as possible because let's be honest we're not getting any snow here.. 

   Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year because we remember the birth of our Savior. We contemplate how to further renew and best our lives through him and make commitments to be better people and better examples of the believers. Let us give our best gifts of service for Him this year and strive to be better children of our Heavenly Father in word, thought, and deed. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. :)

 Love Elder Scot Carrington

                                         Throwbacks

This week was awesome! I just got back to bikenibeu last week and we found out that there is a family that was just refound the week previous who i happened to teach when I was very first in the area one year ago! I am way stoked they are super solid! I have another new companion and am training again so i got another son!! Elder Hilliard is the man, i mean Elder and he is pretty great at the language. I cant' wait to see him progress this week they really do progress pretty fast. District stuff is going well it's pretty fun and interviews are so spiritual i love doing them! Just a throwback picture of RIbono in abaiang me and elder kitchens.

   I know the church is true i can feel Our savior's love everytime we prepare others for baptism or help them back to the straight and narrow. Christ's love stretches forth to all God's children and I testify of it. I know that only through Him we may feel and have everlasting peace and joy. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that Thomas S. Monson is God's prophet today. I love you all and know that there is a plan for each and everyone of you. I see evidence of it in the work and lives of others every day. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love, Elder Scot Carrington

                                                      


Teaching New Tricks

This past week I have started working with Elder Tonini who just came in from the Marshall Islands to learn Kiribati and was told that I am the Elder to do the job! It's really not too big of a deal being that Elder Tonini is way boss at learning languages and is pretty much fluent now in Kiribati. We've both been out about the same time and he knows some of my intake from the Marshalls so it's nice to catch up. We went finding and tracting a bit this week and while trying to find a new investigator's house we came to another lady's house and she invited us in before a rain storm came through so we sat and talked about the restoration and forever families and she accepted to listen to our message. She told us afterward she would hear from the rest of her house and we should come back and check this next week. It was such a cool experience. It is way fun to be back in my old ward around the same time of year, really is like coming home for Christmas. It is so fun and such a blessing in my life to help others Discover Why. Christmas.Mormon.org

   I know that there was born unto the world a Savior. He is the reason and I love the comforting feelings of peace that come from the knowledge of His birth and gift to us all. It is true that He lives. I testify of the reality and divinity of His love for us all and His merciful arms which are open unto us always. In His name Jesus Christ, amen.

 Love, Elder Scot Carrington

                                               

                                              I Came Home (No subject)

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Home as in Bikenibeu in Tarawa where i started that is. It is great the work is amazing and i am going to be District leader it is so weird being back in Tarawa after 6 months i miss Abaiang like crazy it was sad going to the different villages and members with investigators for the last time, but all a part of the plan. I am working with Elder Tonini and teaching him how to speak Kiribati he just came from the Marshalls. This week will be finding and getting settled because we white wash too! Ahhh! We are going to kill the work and do our best I am way excited to work here and to serve the people of Bikenibeu. Hope everyone else has a spectacular week!

     I know that there is a plan for each and everyone of us and that sometimes we don't see it until we have passed the bump in the road and we look back. But the truth is that the witness does come after the trial of our faith. I am grateful to receive spiritual witnesses of Christ's love for us I know He lives and i am thankful for Him and His church. I am thankful for forever families and the merciful great plan of my Father in Heaven. if we hold to it we cannot be lost. in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Love, Elder Scot Carrington

               Oh Gracious God of Israel (No subject)

This week was a wavy one. We had a lot of fall throughs and
investigators just not keep up on commitments, there were good moments
and things that happened but seemingly many more sad ones. Come time
for the Sabbath and we prepared for church on the small islet we have
started on, Ribono, to hold church for the members up there as they
await a unit or something to be made there and 20 people came to
church which is actually great progress. During the sacrament service
and church services I just felt so good, I felt the weight of the week
lifted and my Savior's love applied. Even though everything else that
day fell through It was a wonderful day and a very highlighted one. It
reminded me that all through our hardships and bad times, our times of
trial and the heaviness of heart and the struggles with the adversary
that there is One who knows and shines as a beacon in the darkness.
whose mighty hand hath raised me up and filled with sweet my bitter
cup. I heed Elder Holland when he said to take courage and hope for
better times to come.
  I testify He lives. As we again near that time of the year I would
love for everyone to know and remember that, not only this time of the
year but every minute after. Remember him and we have his spirit to be
with us. I love Him and know He loves us, I have felt it. This week
and many many other days before and know I will for many to come. Take
courage, choose the right, remember Him. He truly died for us and we
must live for Him. I love you all and say these things in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
Love, Elder Scot Carrington

                     I Just Met You and I Love You (No subject)

    We have seen some pogress this week with finding new people to
teach and are very excited to help them on their way in progressing
through the gospel. We actually had a really cool experience on Sunday
with finding. We came back from Tabontebike and our plans and backup
plans fell through and we didn:t know exactly what we should do. So we
decided to pray about it and that would decide the answer as to where
we should go. We prayed and counted to 3 then said what we thought we
felt inspired to do Elder Kitchens said find a refferal and i said go
to Beitaake, our branch president. We went to his house and talked for
a minute then asked if they had someone we could visit at that time
and branch president:s wife got up and led us to the house across the
street where a man had just returned home from overseas and was
willing to listen. It was amazing and wonderful to me about the
truthfulness of the scriptures when they say that the spirit will tell
you all things what we should do. We have also picked up some new
people in Ribono and Takarano up North, but there is still always
plenty more to be done.
     I have a firm testimony that God answers prayers. I have felt and
built upon that testimony for quite some time. It is very true what
Elder Scott said that if we pray for peace it will come. Our Father
will always answer our prayers if we learn how to pray and not just
say prayers. I know that our Lord:s church is restored now because a
young boy prayed from his heart. We have a prophet who is led by God,
and we can know of his teachings through prayer. The Holy Ghost will
testify to the hearts of men the truth of ALL things. I know that
Christ lives and loves us. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
Love, Elder Scot Carrington

Elder Scot Carrington,

well I am real short on time today and I cant write a group email but
thing are awesome here but thisss ss key doent work.... anyway I love
the work and you all. Elder kitchen doing great, I am trying to avoid
that key. learning the language and interesting news coming up for next
week but 2 more elder coming to abaiang and we are Building a house for
me and my comp to stay in up north it is wonderful here.



Dads letter

so more great cool news, found out I will be a district leader here on abaiang and will be
moving with kitchens up north which is sad because we just got  some
awesome investigators here. I talked to pres about it but they  are
Gods children not mine he will keep them now. we are building our
stick house this week should be fun. also there is an anniversary here
Saturday and the president of Kiribati is coming with Taiwan
ambassador we have to go by culture rules and it sounds fun. we have
baptism this week too, it Is such a fun time right now. love you take care

Oh Pioneer ‏

Kam na bane ni Mauri!

 This week has been a wonderful experience. We had the privilege to be
the first pioneers to an islet named Nuotaea here on Abaiang. It is
small and slower for now, but the journey of a pioneer was never easy
right? It will be better i am sure there is someone prepared up there!
The people we have come to this week are wonderful and I hope that we
may portray the spirit well to them so they may come closer to our
Father in Heaven.
 On a completely different note we hit the polar opposite of that this
week also and were chased out of an area by an upset minister. He
stopped us and yelled for quite some time and told us in the end to
basically never come back. I bore my testimony to him that we believe
in Christ and that this church is the truth. Even though he didn't
want to hear any of it I am grateful that i could use it to build my
own testimony and stand as a witness of the believers.
 This is the true church and although we may have problems that face
us I am positive that it was truly spoke that as we increase our faith
and the faith of others we will find answers and be enlightened with
more faith and truths. I know that Jesus Christ is our savior, because
I feel it everytime I testify of it. God loves us and He does answer
prayers. I am more than grateful to not only belong to the true
church, but to be able to serve my Heavenly Father. It is true.
"HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!"-The Other Side of Heaven. in the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.
 Love, Elder Scot Carrington

Wolves and Torches ‏

Elder Scot Carrington

9/27/15

Hey so this week has flown by like most other weeks. We made a good
trip out to the islet North, Ribono. The two YSA we sent to Tarawa got
their passports and are waiting for their calls now! I am stoked! The
work is big and great out here it is definitely picking up. But time
goes by fast.
Me and Elder Kitchens ride home a few miles in the dark of night after
the work day is finished most days. Which means bringing a torch( a
flashlight for Americans) is pretty important. You need a torch to see
where you're going and to avoid the many pot holes. There is however
one more thing, when you get to the forests in between villages,
because of the absence of people there can be an abundance of feral
dogs or  wolves as the people the language has it translated to. The
dogs will sound off in the distance when they hear bikers or sometimes
not even until they are right behind you. Your torch, your light then
becomes the tool that can save you. We've found that if you shine the
light on them they stop dead in their tracks blinded and scared and
then retreat back into the dark. I have learned that we must be
prepared with our flashlights charged and ready all the time or face
the possibility of getting bit and being lost in the dark. I Couldn't
help but  to compare this with our trails through life. It is
important that we never leave the house without our spiritual lights
as we travel through life. The Lord told Lehi, "And i will be your
light in the wilderness and I will prepare the way before you if it so
be that ye shall keep my commandments..."1N17:13 We must keep the
commandments and statutes the Lord has set for us. We must pray
always, feast upon the words of Christ, Regularly attend church, serve
and love one another and love doing it, or we are forgetting our
lights, we're leaving them behind. Jesus Taught, "Do men light a
candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick and it
giveth light to all that are in the house. Therefore let your light so
shine..."3N12:15-16/Matt 5:15-16
  I testify that this church is true. Jesus is our light. If we will
follow Him we can not be lost. He lives and guides this church and I
sustain everyone of the leaders of this church who are directed and
influenced by His hand. I pray that we may all listen to His teachings
and remember our Flashlights this week. In the name of Jesus Christ,
amen.
 Love, Elder Scot Carrington

It's a Boy! ‏

I am now training on Abaiang and it is going superb! My companion
elder Kitchens is a boss (he is also an Ogden man) and   he is picking
the language pretty smoothly! It has been a month so hello to all of
you i am still alive haha. It was a crazy week we are really looking
for new investigators through tracting and we got a few referrals!
Mine and Elder Kitchen's bikes went flat yesterday once each then mine
twice more and when we finally got 20 minutes north my tread on the
side ripped and my inner tube bubbled out until it blew up so it was a
very intense day haha. I have a good story to share but i am running
short on time this week so i will share it next week.
  I know that this is Christ's church restored to the earth in these
the latter days. I am grateful for my time to give my effort to gather
the Lord's sheep and prepare for the time we will all meet again at
the savior's feet. It gives me much comfort to think about that day.
It will be glorious and full of beauty truly it can't be fully
described but I know that it is true. Look to God and Live. In the
name of Jesus Christ, amen. Ilove you all have a stellar week!
Love, Elder Scot Carrington

Back to the Dusty Trail ‏

   It has been a hot and drier week, but it has been great! I have
grown to love tracting and think it is the bomb although it is a bit
different from door knocking. You just yell Mauri! Mauri! Kain te
auti? hello is there anyone home? and someone will answer and usually
give you a drink while you explain why you came and then they tell you
if they are happy to welcome lessons or not. I haven't been yelled at
or anything a whole lot, but people are funny sometimes haha. I found
a verse from D&C I liked this week during study and thought I'd share
it "And i give unto you a commandment that ye shall forsake all evil
and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which
proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God." D&C 98:11 I love this and
how it tells us to cleave unto all good. If we are always surrounded
by good, then we are surrounded always by light and there cannot be
dark. Because light will always expel the darkness it cannot stay.
I know that this church is true and that the light of Christ is
available to all of us if we will seek Him. I love you all and know
our Savior loves all of us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love, Elder Scot Carrington

Thats the Gospel Truth

‏ 

Mauri ngkami ni kabane! this week was spectacular! We have seen some
progress on our small islet on the north end of Abaiang, Ribono and
picked up a few new investigators! everyone seems to be well on the
road to progression. They keep giving us weird food though, this week
it was sea slugs they taste sort of like green olives but all in all
basically no taste. we barely missed sting ray! and i really want to
find some jelly fish one day to try that. This week was a little hot
because the wind stopped for now it usually always is going but this
wek it took a break. I love visiting our people and seeing them
progress, it is great to feel the spirit testify of the Lord's love
for them. (pass this email around it wont send to all my contacts)
    I love this church and testify that it is true. i am grateful for
a plan of salvation that has been created by a loving father in heaven
who desires to see each of us again and greet us with his everlasting
love. I know that He lives and watches over us as does Jesus Christ. I
know that Joseph Smith helped restore this church to the earth and
that his works are true. I know that God loves us and wants the best
for us, and will help us every step of the way we are never left. And
that's the Gospel Truth.
Love, Elder Scot Carrington

And I Was Led By The Spirit

So this week was awesome! We have asuper stellar investigator we have
been teaching and everything just flows and goes so well with him
everytime the spirit is so strong. This week we were riding by his
house and we had a lesson with him in the noon time or the evening
depending on when he was there but it was just kind of unpredictable.
We drove passed and didn't see him just his wife and so we kept going.
A strong but yet subtle feeling told me to go back and talk to his
wife, and i didn't throw it out but i thought about it for a few
seconds before i decided to say we should go back and check with her,
we went back and heard him call us over to a place in the yard we
didn't see. this week he has accepted the invitation to baptism and
although he still has a little ways to go it is wonderful to feel the
spirit with him.
   I have felt God's hand in my life this week and hope that you all
may be blessed to see it in your daily lives as you look for the
blessings because he is there. I testify of the reality and importance
of revelation that it is received today through God to guide his
children. I know the He loves us as does our Savior. I am grateful to
be a missionary and testify that this church is true, i have felt it.
"I am a Mormon, I know it, I live it, I love it." have a spectacular
week.
 Love, Elder Scot Carrington

Woo Kanoan te wiiki ‏

So this last week we saw a ton of airplanes flying over from Tarawa
and came to find out that it was because of the 36 WWII bodies found
in Betio. It sounds like it was pretty crazy there were tons of
soldiers and US planes coming and going.
   We went to our small islet here and ate sea worms and they put them
in a coconut milk that made them taste like fettuccine Alfredo noodles
which sounds weird but soo good. We also had battered shark which
tasted exactly like Arby's french fries, who knew the ocean did
restaurant and fast food? But as for cooking in the house for ourselves
our propane ran out so we improvised to cook our noodles and found out
that the clothes iron turned upside down with a pot on top works
pretty dang well, i was proud of it at least.
    Well this week went pretty awesome we got tons of rain and saw our
investigators, they're awesome! The work is fantastic and i love it
more every day. I am certain this work is true and I know that God
loves and watches over his children. I can see it and feel it when we
teach and see others so happy. I love sharing what has been given to
all of us and am learning more every day. I know this church is true.
In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
Love, Elder Scot Carrington
HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

This last week was independence for Kiribati and it was a week long
celebration it made it a little more challenging for work but we found
things to do and people to visit. It was very fun to see the
celebration and be a part of it! We went on P-day for a big part of
the day and we also became judges for a show they put on. On top of
all this we have seen huge progression in an area called Tabontebike.
People are coming back to the church after faith and lots of prayers.
I knew it could happen as we worked to help turn things around with
the Lord's help. We are picking up more people and it is amazing. Our
investigators are solid and I love them all.
    I love my savior and know He lives. His atonement is very real and
needed more than anyone may comprehend He atoned for all and it is
there for us infinitely to come closer to our Father. God is our
Father in Heaven. I testify of the truthfulness of the gospel and know
that through prayer and faith truth can be felt. Gospel literally
means Good News. I am grateful to be called to shared the good news to
these people and know that God loves each and every one of them and
has provided a way for all to return. With Christ we are made strong
and have the ability to change or hearts and paths to come to know who
we are and who our Father is. I love you all and say these things in
the name of Jesus Christ, amen.  D&C 6:36
Love, Elder Scot Carrington

                                    Rain Rain Come Back To Stay!


This week was crazy everywhere! after coming back from Tabontebike the
farthest village south we went all the way north and got a flat tire
on the way back so we ended up walking a lot but the weather was nice,
it didnt rain at all. but that turns out to be a problem because when
we came back we noticed that we needed the rain since the pipe in our
rain tank was pulled out and the tank was empty so now we are waiting
for the rain to come back so we dont have to use the well and buckets.
oh well it is all good here we have picked up loads of referrals and
we are excited for them! by the yard it is hard but by the inch its a
cinch! little by little we are helping to move things forward. we have
some very funny and awesome members and investigators some bare their
testimonies in the first few lessons to us. it is great to see them
progress.
I love this church and know for sure that it is true we have a loving
heavenly father who watches over and blesses us anytime we need Him if
we will ask and have faith. I love you all and bear my testimony that
our father in heaven and savior live. in the name of our savior Jesus
Christ amen.
Love Elder Scot Carrington

            First week on Abaiang

‏ 

Wow it's my second week in Abaiang now and it is pretty great! I have
a new comp named Elder Davis and we kill it out here! The Island is
huge which means a lot of biking. We also visited a small islet on the
north of this place called RIbono, we have to take a boat to get
there! The church has just been introduced up there since it is a
little remote... well a little bit more remote, but it was great we
held the first two baptisms up there to ever happen there! It is great
you can also walk to it if the tides are right but boating is faster
plus there is tons of bwabwai or arrowroot i think thats what it is in
english just like Marakei so it's all great to me! I love working here
and this next week or so i am going to be showing some locals how to
make rice crispie treats so it should be a pretty sweet experience!
  It has built my testimony to see and help the church grow out here
and to help and see others grow as well. I love spreading the gospel
and working hard. I feel our Father in HEaven's love and our Savior's
love each and everyday. I know that they love every one of us. We are
given strength enough to pass through anything that comes our way if
we will simply "look to God and live" keep pressing forward and just
like it was said in conference "Latter day saints keep on trying" but
that goes for everyone. I love all of you and hope you all remember
the perfect love that is always there for us.
Love Elder Scot Carrington

                              I Nangi Nako Ngai

  Kam na bane ni mauri! Life on Tarawa has been pretty sweet and man it has been fast I just caught word that i am moving to Abaiang on Wednesday haha. I love you all! I think they got email on Abaiang so we will find out but i am excited and sad at the same time Betio is a great area and there are a lot of investigators and members i will miss. I know that this church is true i have seen and felt miracles. The Lord has his hand in the work and is always beside us to uplift us. I know He lives and I hope all of you will always remember that as well. It is the most amazing thing to feel his love for his children. Ilove you all again sorry it is short this week.

   TIa bo ao tekeraoi ngkami!

 Love, Elder Scot Carrington

one of the WWII Bunkers

so i found out that kiribati really is sinking kind of fast the wells are getting salting and trees are dying and there are a lot of researchers here from all over the world checking stuff and theres actually a huge us ship that came in for a few weeks we call it the ark. Things are going prettys sweet here salgoods. Tell the Walls i say hello haha it is funny to kind of listen to people talk sometimes to my comp they will ask if i am good at the language or try to speak english and then i will finally start talking haha it gets them every time i love doing it. Love yous thanks for everything and take care this week sounds like things are crazy fun back home but its funner here. Love Elder Carrington

Photos

More Photos  Of Elder Carrington's adventure in the Mission field

These photos cover Tarawa, Beru and Marakei. Sorry I was late posting

some of these.

 

                                                             It has been awhile


 How is the rest of the world doing? man it is good and sad to be back i miss my little island with no phone signal, stamps or internet haha. It was definitely my favorite area so far it was a great time and i learned so much. I can't quite speak fluent yet but i can pretty much hear fluent and i have had my testimony on hard work and obedience built up so much! There is one experience i want to share when we met with an investigator on this island. Solid investigator started out not wanting to listen and now everything is so different but it is just a experience when we were talking with her after a lesson and she saw a picture of the mountains in Elder Buhler's Bible and she asked about them. She goes how tall are mountains? "Oh theyre huge soo tall cant even think of anything to explain well" and she goes "So theyre as tall as that maneaba (a big meeting hut probably about 25-30 feet tall. and we tell her no no no it is waaay bigger and she persists with so it's like 3 of those maneabas stacked on top of eachother? "haha no no no it is soo much bigger and she refused to believe us as we all kind of had a good time about it and laughed. but we realted that to our vision in this life and the life hereafter. yes we know that there are mountains in america, yes we know that there is eternal life and rich blessings in store in the life after but do we really know how big? We can feel so joyful right now for what we can see but there is so much more that we can't see. It's bigger that we think we know it's better than we think we know and it's been promised to us by our father in heaven. I know that the plan he has for each and everyone of us is bigger than we think it fits us perfectly and we cant fully comprehend how much we are loved. Our Father in Heaven loves us and He knows the joy and happiness that awaits us if we will follow His plan. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
 Love, Elder Scot Carrington

                                                                  Just Keep Swimming

So this week I had an experience that kind of reminded me
of Finding Nemo haha! I still dont understand the language awesome so
when people wpeak different or fast it makes it hard for me to get it.
Having said that this little girl at one of our member's houses this
week who I usually play a card game with or talk with when we visit
usualy Mondays keppt trying to say something to me and I just wasn't
getting it and then i remembered when marlin and dory were riding the
EAC and squirt was prepping them for the release and Marlin says
"listen kid you're really cute but I don't understand what you're
saying" it made me laugh and kind of brightened the whole language
barrier a bit. On the way back to our house while we were in Taboiiaki
which is almost an hour bike ride from our house we were riding
throught the forest and heard in the distance what was sort of like
rustling trees but to a more trained ear you can hear the slight
difference between wind rustling trees and a flash flood of rain and
we very quickly figured out that it was certainly the rain we got
drenched in a matter of seconds and couldnt see infront of us, it is
the most cold weather we have had here and it was still probably only
in the 70's haha it felt real nice though! We  are progressing with
our investigators we have and picked up an older lady as well through
tracting and it was one of my favorite lessons we spoke of the plan of
salvation and the spirit was felt and it brought tears to everyone's
eyes. She's a wonderful investigator and i enjoy seeing all of my
investigators progress it is an amazing feeling you dont get anywhere
else.
  I know that the gospel has gone and is going out among all lands and
nations and prophecies are being fulfilled as that beautiful day comes
ever so quickly forward. I love this gospel and the peace and
knowledge it offers and brings into the homes of all who accept it,
families can be together forever.  In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
love, Elder Scot Carrington