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
Monday, February 9, 2015
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Awakening
Mauri! How ya'll doing? this week has been crazy and there was no internet last monday so i get to send some quick ones this monday! first off i have been transferred off of Beru and am going to work on Marakei with elder Buhler from my intake! There is no internet on Marakei so this will be my last email for a little bit. I am greatly looking forward to working on Marakei and cant wait! I have the chance to be in Tarawa for a couple days before i go and it is crazy how much things can change in 1 1/2 months! But it looks good!
I am just sending a quick one this week before i go so i will close in testimony that I know this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ and that He is with us every step of the way on our pilgrim journeys. 1 Nephi 20:10 we need adversity to become strong. All things are for our benefit. I tangiringkami ni kabane! Love, Elder Scot Carrington
Mauri! How ya'll doing? this week has been crazy and there was no internet last monday so i get to send some quick ones this monday! first off i have been transferred off of Beru and am going to work on Marakei with elder Buhler from my intake! There is no internet on Marakei so this will be my last email for a little bit. I am greatly looking forward to working on Marakei and cant wait! I have the chance to be in Tarawa for a couple days before i go and it is crazy how much things can change in 1 1/2 months! But it looks good!
I am just sending a quick one this week before i go so i will close in testimony that I know this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ and that He is with us every step of the way on our pilgrim journeys. 1 Nephi 20:10 we need adversity to become strong. All things are for our benefit. I tangiringkami ni kabane! Love, Elder Scot Carrington
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Soggy Sandals
Well this week has been an adventure to say the least but I made it
so far! The internet here is weird and way slow so for this mass email
i will have to ask that yo spread it around as much as possible
because i can only send it to like 6 people for some reason. We got to
our house on monday in Beru after meeting with one of the wards and we
have one light hanging from the ceiling powered by a solar battery
which lasts a few hours it's nice. We have a kerosine stove top and we
use bucket showers from a well quite different from tarawa living bt
for now it is fun. The island ran out of flour some months ago and
barely got more today from the ship so that is how long it takes to
get shipments of food in out here there is so little haha. The week
went alright but my packets of oatmeal are gone so now there is just
what I can invent and then there is kiribati food too (rice and fish
and the occasional tou dish) oh also they eat mud here like i was
saying about slow shipments of food one time a while back they ran out
of food so they started making food out of mud which i dont know how
one makes mud edible or to taste remotely good but they did it and i
have eaten it it is almost like a kiribati milkshake. There are sort
of few members out here so on sunday we talked at four different
sacrament meetings on the island and gave lessons at them as well it
was a journey preparing 4 different talks in 30 minutes since the
first was at 8 am and abot an hour bike ride away when youre petal to
the metal even. When the day finally came to an end we were resting at
the last chapel and when i say chapel it is really just a leaf roof
resting on four big sticks in the gravel haha but we were talking with
members and I saw a kid put on my shoes since we leave them at the
door and he started walking arond in these huge sandals pretending to
be a missionary saying mauri mauri to pretend people and i though oh
cute haha and turned my attention back to the conversation. Then out
of curiosity as to where my sandals had gone off to i looked back over
to where the kid was and saw him with his pants down peeing on my
shoes... Yes a big facepalm for me haha uh so I had to clean my
sandals off. What can i say though it was actually pretty funny even
though it was not desirable in any way. Beru is hopefully going to
look up here soon I am working hard and we are going to try and
involve more members to church. I know that Our heavenly father and
Savior live and that they journey with us every step of the way. It is
a big testimony to me to see even as few people that are out here make
it to church regularly and progress with their knowledge of the
gospel. I know that every hour we need our Savior and regardless of if
we are thinking about that or not He is thinking about us. I know I
definitely need Him out here with only one other person on the whole
island that can understand english it is very comforting to know that
They are always with me and strengthening me. We are never abandoned
and there is a light that shines for and in each of us if we are
willing to look and accept it. The church is true and was restored
through Joseph Smith a prophet of God in these the Latter Days. In the
name of Jesus Christ amen.
Love, Elder Scot Carrington
Well this week has been an adventure to say the least but I made it
so far! The internet here is weird and way slow so for this mass email
i will have to ask that yo spread it around as much as possible
because i can only send it to like 6 people for some reason. We got to
our house on monday in Beru after meeting with one of the wards and we
have one light hanging from the ceiling powered by a solar battery
which lasts a few hours it's nice. We have a kerosine stove top and we
use bucket showers from a well quite different from tarawa living bt
for now it is fun. The island ran out of flour some months ago and
barely got more today from the ship so that is how long it takes to
get shipments of food in out here there is so little haha. The week
went alright but my packets of oatmeal are gone so now there is just
what I can invent and then there is kiribati food too (rice and fish
and the occasional tou dish) oh also they eat mud here like i was
saying about slow shipments of food one time a while back they ran out
of food so they started making food out of mud which i dont know how
one makes mud edible or to taste remotely good but they did it and i
have eaten it it is almost like a kiribati milkshake. There are sort
of few members out here so on sunday we talked at four different
sacrament meetings on the island and gave lessons at them as well it
was a journey preparing 4 different talks in 30 minutes since the
first was at 8 am and abot an hour bike ride away when youre petal to
the metal even. When the day finally came to an end we were resting at
the last chapel and when i say chapel it is really just a leaf roof
resting on four big sticks in the gravel haha but we were talking with
members and I saw a kid put on my shoes since we leave them at the
door and he started walking arond in these huge sandals pretending to
be a missionary saying mauri mauri to pretend people and i though oh
cute haha and turned my attention back to the conversation. Then out
of curiosity as to where my sandals had gone off to i looked back over
to where the kid was and saw him with his pants down peeing on my
shoes... Yes a big facepalm for me haha uh so I had to clean my
sandals off. What can i say though it was actually pretty funny even
though it was not desirable in any way. Beru is hopefully going to
look up here soon I am working hard and we are going to try and
involve more members to church. I know that Our heavenly father and
Savior live and that they journey with us every step of the way. It is
a big testimony to me to see even as few people that are out here make
it to church regularly and progress with their knowledge of the
gospel. I know that every hour we need our Savior and regardless of if
we are thinking about that or not He is thinking about us. I know I
definitely need Him out here with only one other person on the whole
island that can understand english it is very comforting to know that
They are always with me and strengthening me. We are never abandoned
and there is a light that shines for and in each of us if we are
willing to look and accept it. The church is true and was restored
through Joseph Smith a prophet of God in these the Latter Days. In the
name of Jesus Christ amen.
Love, Elder Scot Carrington
Sunday, December 28, 2014
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.Monday, December 8, 2014
The weather outside is... Well delightful!
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! :)
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
Sunday, December 7, 2014
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
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
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
She just Smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich
Well i guess i will start off with the title. We went to an investigators house to teach and finished the lesson and it is culture to always feed the missionaries or at least give them a drink most of the time. They are very generous and sometimes I feel bad because they feel like they have to bbecause of the culture out here and they have so little sometimes. So anyway you have to eat what they give to you and be as nice about it as possible even if it is pretty bad. So after our lesson our investigator brought out bread with a jar of peanut butter and a jar of vegemite/ marmite. I think i would be completely fine with it if i never saw another jar of vegemite in my life. My companion Elder Fa'oliu said that he likes marmite becasue it was an energy food for rugby and the taste is good to him but not for me oh man i very much so dislike Vegemite and it gives whole new thoughts to the song "Land down under" by men at work.
We also did some service this week and i had the chance to help dig a well for a family with some of our zone. It was pretty fun actually, I did cut up my feet a little bit since we do it bare foot and when you get 6 feet down or so you start to hit coral but that is alright because my feet will toughen up haha. The work out here is great and the people are very nice. I am starting to hear more and more of the language and being able to speak more of it. It is amazing to see the influence of heaven on the members and missionaries out here!
I know that God hears and answers prayers I have seen it time and time again before my mission and so many times out in the mission even on a daily basis. I know that He is waiting for us to ask seek and knock so that He can upon unto us the answers that we so desire. Our Father in Heaven acts in mysterious ways because we can not always see the end of the road ahead from out perspective but He can. He will never leave us and I have felt His presence and help everyday out here. I love it here and I have noticed the thing that made it easier was the church, it is so very different out here but the Church is the same the Gospel and it's teachings are the same everywhere and the members who truly live by the teachings are likewise with purpose. The love and welcome that i have felt out here is amazing and as i progress I love to see everyone else progress as well. This is the church of Jesus Christ it was restored through Joseph Smith because he prayed with a sincere heart and desire to know the truth. He lived and died for the church to be restored because it was the will of our Heavenly Father and now because of it and the sacrifices of so many others we have this light today to share and progress with. I know the my redeemer lives and He died for us to be saved, for our sins to be paid for. There is always a way to turn and His love is there for us infinitely it will never be taken away and He will never leave us John 8:29 I bear my testimony to you all that i know these things are true, in the name of our savior Jesus Christ, amen.
Love, Elder Scot Carrington
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