Ok everyone 10 minutes... I'm so busy! 03-26-08‏

Perhaps I ought to write this email first from now on. I think I will because that's the reason last week it didn't work. The server was down and we luckily got in breifly but it kicked me out as soon as I wanted to send! So last weeks email got erased.Elder Winn is my new companion. He's from Taylorsville Ut. The hood. ha ha I love the man he's teaching me rapidly and we're working very VERY hard. We always have a million things to do. I've yet to take a preparation day which I actually have time to play basketball. Maybe next week because today that won't happen.We cover two wards. Kingsway and Clareview. Now we cover 3. Elder Croft was in our district and will be going home tomorrow for medical leave. His companion is in CAstledowns and will now be converted to our companionship. For the rest of this transfer (about 3 1/2 weeks) we'll be covering three areas. Today we drive down into the heart of edmonton to pick up Elder Beer (our new companion) and swap our car. Today is going to be a very hard and busy one. Worst of all we may find it hard to get much missionary work done. Hopefully next wednesday we'll get to have some time for basketball and laundry and everything we should be doing.The work here is absolutely amazing. The members generally are not crazy about missionary work but we have been finding a lot of people through street contacting and tracting. I've given out at least 20 copies of the Book of Mormon in the short time I've been here. Our teaching pool is growing and we're likely to see some serious progress.Cyrille has got to be our most promising new investegator. He had a friend back in Zimbabwe that was a member and refused to play rugby on sundays. He admired that faith and it always stuck with him. Since then he's worked very hard to bring his family back to live with their mom in Canada. They're very humble and hard working. They love Jesus Christ and are not afraid to commit to any religion. Our first lesson with him will be this friday! He'll likely become a member.In my last area I've been told that Dan Jahraus is being baptised. They don't have a date but he has committed! Life is amazing. The weather is warm and I'm loving this work. I'm learning rapidly and am increasingly motivated. Time is flying very fast and we're accomplishing as much as possible. We're constantly exhausted but I wouldn't like it any other way!My new address is Elder McCartyC 208 14511 77th st.Edmonton AB T5C 1E7Canada I love you all and hope that you have the best experiences. I've got under 2 minutes left and I don't want this to erase so I'll wrap up.I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve and the love that I'm being shown. Continue to be examples of righteousness and God will bless you. Keep in mind what is really important.Love,Elder McCarty1:00 left! Love you all!

AH! Time is short! I'll hurry though 03-12-08‏

Ok family and friends we've got about 15 minutes so I'll try to make this good! Transfers have indeed come! I am serving in the big city of Edmonton! The area is called Kinsway and Clarview. We cover 2 wards (one is a young single adult the other is a regular ward.)My new companion is Elder Winn. He's an absolute stud muffin and I've really enjoyed the time we've been together (currently grand totalling less than 24 hours.) He's a very smart Elder and has told me he likes to work hard. I'm excited for that. I expect we will do very well together. We get along superbly.Saying goodbye in Rocky Mtn. House was difficult. We survived it but It was pretty heart wrenching. It's almost like leaving home again because I was starting to feel very much at home there. Nevertheless the Lord has called me here. 1 Nephi 17:9 is during the story of Nephi building the ship. He inquires of the Lord where he must go to make ORE for TOOLS. Now Often as missionaries we're referred to as tools in the Lords hands. This was the last scripture I read before getting the phone call from President Rhodes informing me of the transfer.Family and friends I want you to know that I'm now finding that ore. I'm being made into the tool that our Father in heaven would have me be. I'm excited, uplifted and very much eager to get out and do the Lords sacred work.I'm in the Edmonton North zone and about 20 minutes from the mission office. For now send things there. Next week I'll be sure to get our home address so that I'll be prepared to recieve some letters ;DI've had a lot of good first impressions up here and I think I'll really enjoy the time I'm going to spend here. I'm shorter on time now that we're at a different library but I'll be trying to alternate who I am replying to so I'm getting to each of you. Have the best day you can!Elder McCarty

Sweetly sings the brooklet by! Brighter Beams the azure sky. 03-05-08‏

Here I am once again writing the newsletter to let you all know that (as of yet) I've not been frozen. In fact even if I had been I would now be thawing! It's pretty warm outside and the sun is out and shining almost all the time! The occasional flurries of snow melt off usually before noon each day.This week has been, in majority, a calm one. We had our District meeting this monday. We traveled to Red Deer and met the Olds Elders along with our Zone Leaders.To my surprise (and joy) as we pulled into the parking lot Elder Sandstrom picked up two pretty large boxes and set them on the hood of the car. In sharpie was written "bless this missionary," "We love you so much," and many other very kind phrases. I want to right now thank my family very VERY much! My companion does too. I named my teddy bear Francios pronounced France-wah. I wanted to get a canadian name but somehow none seemed to fit him. So I gave him the first name that seemed to fit! Elder Frost and I engaged in a bubble war with the pack of bubbles. One of the bottles smells exactly like a candle that used to be in the living room of Dad and Patti's house. Floods of memories bombarded me with that smell.The great harvest bread was thoughtful and delicious of course! I appreciate all the thought and effort that was put into all the things in the package. I literally had to go to my knees in thanks since I couldn't at the moment thank any one of you individually! So here is my chance. THANK YOU! As a missionary few things get me as excited as a package from home.District meeting was amazing! There was an outpouring of the spirit mingled with the good humor of the Elders that was extremely tangible. I had the opportunity to give the doctrinal discussion and I learned a lot! Our Zone Leaders spoke and sent chills down my spine and throughout my scalp. I don't know that I've ever felt the spirit as concretely as I have on my mission. I hope you all get the opportunity to experience that sweet feeling (whether it be on or off a mission.)I am loving this work. I am adoring the weather (even if the whole city is now brown) the sky is clear most days and the sun casts warmth all around. The "brooklet" I mentioned in my subject line is more of a river. It's beginning to melt and it's a beautiful sight!I pray that each of you will be blessed in the best ways God has in mind for you! Love,Elder McCarty