Time comes at a price! 12-17-08‏

Today I have returned to my previous method of writing. I'll today begin with my newsletter so I have more time to write all the miracles that are happening. The trouble is, as a result I may not be able to respond to as many personally as I would like. Let me know if this is a good exchange or not!Julius Tago is a new investegator this past week. He was referred to us by a man named Patrick Keys. He's not in our ward but is a member in southern edmonton. Julius was eager to meet with us and told us in the first 5 minutes "since speaking with Patrick I've begun to understand why some people change religion." Now I know it took some superhuman perception but for me that was a small hint to how ready and prepared Julius tago is.As we began with prayer and started into the lesson Julius looked intensely at the Book of Mormon we presented him with. The look in his eyes was full with gratitude and praise and he was clearly listening to every word we spoke. After teaching him about the Godhead and that God is his loving Heavenly Father, Julius stopped us. He said " my brothers, I want to learn about the basic principles but I have only five minutes left tonight. I want to know what I need to DO."Here once again my superhuman radar went off saying, Julius has been prepared by God. We showed him Moroni 10:3-5, a scripture based on how "by the power of the Holy Ghost [we] may know the truth of all things." He drank in the concept and loved it.Next we told him that in order to show real intent which is one of the requirements in verse 4 of Moroni chapter 10 we wanted him to set a baptismal date! He was eager and willing. December 27, 2008 is the day he has set. Julius said he would not be able to come to church the following day because he wanted to bid farewell to the baptist congregation he had been attending. We explained that he must be to church 2 times before baptism so he would either have to come for sacrament meeting or postpone his baptism. "I will be there" was his simple and dedicated reply. Sure enough he was at church.I am SO excited about the miracles that God has and is blessing us with.Johan Fernando is from Sri Lanka. I've mentioned him in the past. His family has applied for visas and are waiting a reply from the Canadian embassy. We've fasted with Johan for his family and we are excited to meet them. We're keeping as much faith as we can that they will be here for Christmas. Johan still plans for baptism on December 27th also.Zephaniah and Tapiwa with their daughter Sharon have postponed their baptism. They're not yet prepared to come to church and experience those blessings. We'll be meeting with them on Sunday.Marina is a 17 year old young woman. She came to the missionaries two weeks before I was in Edmonton again and said "I'm ready to be baptized." Elder Kipp and Elder smith said "ok." ha ha (That's usually our response to remarks like this one.) She is eating up all she can of the pamphlets her friend in the church has given her. Finally her father (who opposes the church) gave her permission to be taught and baptized.There is the run down on the 7 baptismal dates that are set in Londonderry. MIRACLES I tell you.I love the Lord. I am learning more fully how I can submit myself to Christ. In submission we are empowered. The only way to understand this concept is to experience it. Do you have the faith? It only takes a mustard seed. Pray mightily, work mightily, live by the spirit, have faith, and give the glory to Him who deserves it. THIS is the formula we've been given to submit to Christ. I promise you in the spirit of my calling as a humble servant of Jesus Christ, submission to Him is where happiness eternally lies."Prove me now herewith." (Malachi 3:10)I love you all! Smile and feel the spirit of Christ in this season.Elder McCarty(Canadian one)

WOW 12-10-08‏

I don't know where time flies but it seems to come and go again and again with each blink of my eyes and each breath I take. Impossible must be the task to catch up to time and to subdue it so that we can accomplish all we wish to.Today has been good. We went to west edmonton mall as a district. It's a big mall. I think it's second largest in the world. I'm not a big shopper or anything and didn't buy anything but it was a good time building friendships.We've seen so many miracles!Our Mission President has challenged us to get one extra new investigator each week. This week we had 9 new investegators! That's more than I ever imagined. I'm so excited to see the way the Lord will make possible the 12 that we'll be required to get shortly. This Sunday my companion and I had a goal of 5 total baptismal dates for the week. Early in the week we had already gotten two. Sunday came and that is the end of the Key indicator week. Church came and went. We met with Johan (who is still set for baptism on Dec 27) and a few of our appointments fell through. The Cardinals were one that we hoped to set a date with. No luck. They all were sick and could not have us.We met with Zeph and Tapiwa with their two small children. The spirit was strong and I felt the spirit prompting me to be bold. We committed this seventh day adventist family to baptism after the first time we met with them! They declined. He said "When I know THEN I will set the goal to be baptized. We shared Ether 12:6 and told him "Zeph you must show fait if you truly want to know." He then accepted!Oh how the Lord blesses us. I love this work and I love all of you! Thank you for your support and love.
I look forward to seeing you all again!
Love,Elder McCarty

Not enough time in the day... or emails! 12-03-08‏

Wow! I'm so sorry I can't give everything I want to give but time is super short.This last saturday morning Ashley Oneil in Fort Mcmurray was baptized! I was able to be there and it was a powerful spiritual experience. Also while visiting on exchanges miracles happened and we were able to contact an investegator who had disappeared but recognized me and came to say hello! Also we caught the Keyworths who are an amazing family on their way back to church. I am filled with hope. I now have a better view upon what that means. Reading Hope in Preach my Gospel chapter six I learned that the major lessons I'm developing tie in perfectly with this christlike attribute.In life setting goals is extremely important. President Rhodes asked "could it be that becoming like Christ starts on Preach My Gospel page 146?" That is a page on setting goals. Lately I've come to understand that prayerfully setting goals means that we set the goals God wants us to set rather than what we thing we're capable of. When we do this we can "believe and expect" (PMG Ch6 headline HOPE) the miracles that enable those goals to be accomplished!I have a firm and ever strengthening testimony. Jesus is the Christ. He and our Eternal Father invite ALL men, women, and children, to come unto them! Moroni 10 talks about the covenant of the father. The basis of that covenant is to make us holy! Jesus shall make us holy if we do as He has pled us. The spirit will guide. My question and invitation this day is "How might you more fully come unto Christ? Will you prayerfully set goals and expect and believe the shall be accomplished?"
I love you. I miss you all.
Thank you for EVERYTHING.
Love,Elder McCarty