What a beautiful week! 3-25-09

Last week we joined Fort Mcmurray for a time and I was able to see Ashley Oneil who is doing fabulous! I'm so pleased with her strength and determination to live the gospel. She is the one recent convert from the days I served in Fort Mac.

Saturday at 4 oclock we had the baptism for the three amigos. My soul loves them! I can feel such a strong bond that transcends the language barrier. Elizabeth Hernandez asked me to baptize her. It was touching for me because the only real communication we've been able to have were smiles. She has such light in her eyes. As I pronounced the baptismal prayer in spanish I felt the peaceful assurance and rememberance the spirit brings. Upon Confirming her husband a member of the church I felt once again the words come to my mind even with the difficulty of having a translator.

We taught a woman named linda for the first time last night. She needs a change. Elder Kilifi and I each testified to her and at the same time felt prompted that she needs to know she is a daughter of God. Her current living situation is with an older man who makes it difficult for her to read the book of mormon or do what is right. He abuses her verbally from what she told us.To be able to testify to her of her importance and the specific and perfect plan God has for her was an experience upon which no price can be placed. We helped her last night to understand how much God desires her happiness and that she will be able to see her loved brother who committed suicide three years ago.

This work is amazing. I feel near tears as I reflect on what has happened in the short time I've been serving. I anticipate that much will yet happen that will fill my soul with joy!

Thank you all for everything you do. Please pardon the lack of pictures again. I will do my best to send some next week! I saw evidence of Gods hand every where I turned. I'll praise His name forever.
God bless you all!
Love, Eldre McCarty

Sheesh! Life is good 18 March 2009‏

Last night we met with our three amigos Sergio Elizabeth and Omar. They are converted! The spirit has such great power.When we met the showed us an article in the news that had the horoscopes on it. They informed us that both Sergio and Elizabeth are Virgo. It just so happens that this papers horoscope read thusly, "An Elder will comfort you, a compassionate man will calm your fears." Or something similar.ELDERS we are! They were so excited. I took a picture of the horoscope and then a picture with them. Unfortunately my camera card reader is not here! I forgot it. MY apologies.

Then in the course of last night they also informed us that they were not married by anyone with authority. According to the Laws of Mexico however and according to their hearts and thoughts they are married. We explained marriage and that they may need to be married before baptism. We thought the day was going to be postponed.Calling president Rhodes we discovered that if they are lawfully wed according to mexicos laws we ought not force them to be married just to have it on paper.The baptism is on! I love Heavenly Father and His wisdom.Johan is on track for the week to come and seems solid and committed. A missionary nearly was sent home last week. His situation was serious. The First Presidency had to make the final decision.I have a great love and respect for this Elder. I knew he didn't want what happened to happen.I knelt down and pleaded with God that our dear prophet and his beloved counsellors would feel the earnest prayer of insignificant little Elder McCarty. I prayed that Gods will be done and that if possible my dear friend would be allowed to complete his mission in dedicated service.Later that day we recieved a phone call that says my prayer was answered and in a quite direct way. The prophet instructed that God wants this Elder to stay.I feel deep and powerful love for those I am serving and serving with. The people and land of Canada has become beatiful to me in the same way the people of Alma found the land and waters of mormon to be beautiful in mosiah 18:30.I know Gods hand is in our lives. We ought to and can trust in His almighty arm. Our paths He prepares and when we choose to be happy by our actions, the blessings of heaven and eternity are ours.My prayer for EVERY soul reading my words from afar is that happiness will be yours.

I love you. Thank you and may God continue to bless you.

Eldre McCarty

Yee haw! 11 March 2009‏

Picture Description!

I don't know which number is which but here are the descriptions for the photos.

Elder Kilifi and I with Elder Richards and Elder Marble eat good! See all the fruits. It's actually a fruit store not even just the section in superstore! YEAH Pretty sweet. It's not too shabby the way we eat I promise. That lady started asking me questions about the church because I told her I needed to take a picture because I'm far away from my family and they need to know I'm eating well!

Another one is of me trying out brother Laubmans crazy back fixing machine. I don't think it worked. It went up and down and moved my legs but I wasn't sure what it accomplished! ha ha











Lastly is a picture of our district minus the sisters and plus the Elders serving in whitecourt. This was the last time I have seen Elder Wright. He's an amazing man and has been through a lot to be here.




This week we had marvelous miracles.You may remember our good friend Johan Fernando! He bailed a little while back to Sri Lanka and some of his last words to me were that he had lost faith and couldn't understand why God would keep his family away from him. I bore my testimony to him to no avail that night. I feel a love for Johan that is strong. After hanging up the phone with him a prayed for around 30 minutes in tears pleading for a second chance with him and that his fail would be restored.Last week, Elder Kilifi answered the phone. The voice on it sounded familiar though I couldn't decipher and words. When Elder Kilifi asked "Who's joan?" I sprung from my chair to the phone.I will share with you that the joy I then felt is amazing! I feel strongly that Johan will be baptized and that his love for God is going to carry him. Heavenly Father is so merciful to his little Elder McCarty.In other news The three amigos (Sergio, Elizabeth, and Omar) are on for baptism in a week and one half. Elder Kyler McCarty wrote me this week telling me how to testify for him to them that they will feel many things and one word he used, Tranquility. Last night when asked how she felt when she prayed about the book of mormon and joseph smith she replied "tranquilo." The spirit knows no country lines and apparently is fearless towards the extreme weathers of paraguay and canada. The promise came after the fulfillment but it is no less a testimony to me that all things are done in the capable hands of our merciful creator.I am doing better at writing in my journal these days. I hope I can create a record that will be a testament to my family of the beauty and simplicity of the gospel and the way in which it blesses our lives.I love and miss you all. Thank you for your letters this week they were all marvelous and have helped me to feel full of love.I am grateful for your support and prayers!

Love,Eldre McCarty
P.S. Things at bullies barber didn't end up happening but Elder Kilifi gave me an african man hair cut. He calls it a fade! Unfortunately dad it's too short for corn rows. And Elder Kilifi said he doesn't know how to do a lightning bolt.:D Life is good.I love you

Weeks roll on! 2009-04-03 (march 4)‏

Canadians write their date strangely! I think that's right but I may have gotten confused so I clarified. This week has been a good week. Elder Kilifi and I are getting along. The biggest differences we find are that he is Tongan and brown and that I am pasty and something else. Today we're going down into the slums on 118th avenue (where many of our investigators live) to get our hairs cut in an all african barber shop. I honestly think I may be the first white guy to darken their doorway! ha ha It should be interesting to see what happens. Hopefully they don't pull some joke and buzz a lightning bolt into the back of my head. I could see it happening. President Rhodes would have a word or two I'm sure. On the other hand were I a super hero I think such a haircut may be manditory.Throughout our efforts we have seen miracles left and right. The disappointments seem nearly par in frequency of occurrance. I am learning a new level of love for the people. Elder Kilifi is teaching me how I must know the investigators very deeply and God is showing me that I can Love them with or without that! Our mexican investigators are amazing! I feel a strong love toward them and the desire to share what I know to be true with them. They speak very little english so our communication runs far more shallow than our respect and adoration. I'm thankful for your prayers! Thank you for your support and encouragement by your words and deeds!
Love,Eldre McCarty