Another week has come and gone in the mission of Elder Carruth. Some good
things happened. Some bad things happened. And that pretty much sums it up!!
Have a great week! Just kidding. I have like a ton of time so I am going to tell
you stuff. Sooooo.... Well the big news is that my companion is getting
transferred! That makes me sad. We only had 6 weeks together and I feel like we
had more to accomplish. But the Lord knows what He is doing. He is going to Rio
Rancho!! My old area!! We literally just traded places it is pretty cool. I am
telling him all the people to say hi to. For all of the people who read my
emails from Rio Rancho look for Elder Larkin!! He is coming!! We were able to
put someone on baptismal date this week. Daniel accepted a date of September
3rd. We are pretty excited! It was a good lesson and he has already read the
first book in the Book of Mormon. Pretty cool. Hopefully he continues on the
path he is on! It leads to life eternal and happiness! We were able to go on
exchanges this week. I stayed in my area to see if I could take it over after 6
weeks. It went pretty well actually and I think I will be able to handle the
area. I am slightly stressed but I know that the Lord has a plan for me and for
this area. Me and my new companion, Elder Campbell, will do great things and
will see success! I know it will be good. We found a new family to teach this
week! Their names are Jennifer and Domonic. They have a 2 year old son and one
more soon to be here. They were both raised Catholic and have good Christian
values. We talked to them about the Book of Mormon and they said they would read
it. I don't know how interested they are in converting but I know that the Book
of Mormon is true and will lead all people to baptism if we read it with an open
heart. They have a great family and one that would be greatly blessed by the
gospel of Jesus Christ. So I am going to end on a really cool story to me. So we
went and visited this member who works at a couple different hospitals. He
started talking about his friend. She is going through a lot and he found out
that she started taking the missionary lessons. She lives up in Rio Rancho. Her
name is MaryJo. When I heard that I got really excited. She is the first
investigator I ever found in Rio Rancho and taught her till she moved out of the
ward. She is an amazing mom and has 3 wonderful kids. I think about her often
and wonder how she it. It was an amazing miracle to me to hear about her from a
member of my ward here. I truly am grateful. The world is so small. I love you
all!!! Thank you!!!
Elder Carruth Monday, July 25, 2016
Week 62
Ok so first warning this email will be pretty short. So the 69 of you that
didn't send me a smiley face from last week wont have much to read this week.
Today has been crazy and stressful. We went and hiked the volcano this morning.
That is where the pictures come from. This week was pretty good! Every week as a
missionary is really good. We got a new investigator! Her name is Rene. She is
pretty cool and loves meeting with us. She has never been baptized in any church
but is open to the idea of being baptized here. We just need to get her to read
and to come to church. We are struggling a little with finding people to
progress now. We have a few people to teach but no one that is really moving
toward baptism. It is ok though because I know that the Lord is preparing people
and that we will be blessed by our diligence. Just gotta keep up the good
fight!! That is what we do!! Next week is transfers. Pday is on Monday again
next week for some reason. I probably wont get transferred but I won't know till
Saturday. These last 5 weeks have gone crazy fast! Time just doesn't want to
slow down. Being a missionary is the best thing that could ever happen to
anyone. Best decision I have made ever. The Lord is everywhere in this great
work. I fear the day I am asked to take off my name tag and return to the
society I left behind. Good thing it is a year away!! Love you all!!
Elder Carruth Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Week 61
Soooooooo its has been another week. Crazy to think. I say that every week
I feel like. Wanna know why? Cause it is crazy... Like wow.... Anyway this week
was good! Slightly slower than last week but still wonderful! Any week as a
missionary is wonderful. The gospel is great. God is perfect. The Savior loves
us. I could probably just end right there but let me tell you about my week. If
you have made it this far into my email I am impressed. Send me a smiley face
and I will be double impressed. Wanna see who actually reads these things...
Anyway we are still doing awesome. Elder Larkin is like dead set on getting
transferred in two weeks. I think he is going too. But the Lord likes to play
jokes sometimes so you never know!! We will know sometime I guess. Transfers are
on the 26th this month. Tuesday. Which means Monday Pday that week. Not a huge
fan. We taught a few people this week but unfortunately none of them are really
progressing very well. We are on the hunt for new people that we can teach and
testify to. So pray for us. Our companionship is doing really well! We get along
really well and work hard together. It has been a lot of fun over the last
month. Crazy to think I have been here for a month already. So one thing that
did happen this week is we had MLC. All of the leaders in the mission get
together and council on what the mission needs. A 7 hour meeting in the end but
full of spiritual insight and revelation from President. We then get to train
the missionaries in our zone the next day for a couple hours. We had a great
meeting with the zone. The spirit was there and was inspiring. Nothing else that
was super exciting happened last week but we are still going forward! The work
of the Lord never stops!! I love it!!
Elder Carruth Thursday, July 7, 2016
Week 60
What a long and busy week! So much happened! So much to talk about! So
little time... We will try to fit it all in! So last week we finally got to meet
our new mission President. President and Sister Guffey are awesome people. I
received my own witness that President Guffey is called of God to be here and to
lead this mission. I know it without a doubt. I am excited to move forward with
him and to do the work of the Lord. Right after that we went on exchanges! I got
to head out to Laguna/To'hajiilee reservations. Got to spend the day out in the
middle of no where! It was awesome! I loved it even though it was a super long
and exhausting day. We found a scorpion while we were out and about and we
caught it. Good times. Waking up on July 1st was a weird feeling. The year is
already half over but it does not feel like that at all. Crazy to me to think
about it. But still good! The work continues! So last Friday we got to go to
Pete and Mandy's wedding! It was so amazing. We were there for a long time but
the spirit was so strong. The place they had it at was so GREEN! I miss green.
It was like a little corner of Washington! It even rained a little for me!
Beautiful. What a wonderful day for them and for all of us that got to be a part
of it. One of the pictures us a selfie of us and Pete literally 2 minutes before
the wedding started. The following day we got to participate in Pete's baptism.
We had a huge support show up from the ward and from Mandy's family who are
mostly active members. I love her family. They made me feel right at home and I
truly enjoyed it. The spirit was powerful and Pete bore his testimony of how his
life led him to where he is today. He inspires me. So before I forget there was
a crazy cool miracle at the baptism. We thought that Mandy's dad would bring
baptismal clothing for himself since he has been a temple worker before. We
assumed wrongly. We didn't have anything for him to wear. We tried to get into
the closet with the clothes before he came just to see and we didn't have a key
for it. We decided to go back and try the closet again and it opened! There were
2 suits in there and one of them fit him perfectly! And if that isn't enough we
went back after the baptism to try again and NONE OF OUR KEYS WORKED! We
couldn't get back into the closet! The hand of God opened the closet for us. No
other way. True miracle. It was a great week! Besides all of that happening
Elder Larkin and I saw a ton of success! We found 6 new investigators! The ones
that I am most excited about are Victoria and Erica. We knocked into Victoria, a
16 year old girl, and she told us to come back. When we did she brought her 15
year old sister Erica along. Victoria didn't seem too interested but Erica is.
She wants to learn more and if this is the truth. It was such a cool miracle!
The reason I am really excited about them is because my whole mission I have
taught and baptized 16 year old girls. Kendall in Belen and Angie in Rio Rancho.
I call it the Carruth Curse but it isn't a curse. It is a blessing. There are
only two reasons why I can think of that the Lord continues to have me teach 16
year old girls:
1) My maturity is that of a 16 year old girl and I
connect well with them.Saturday, July 2, 2016
Week 59
Hello from the desert! It is a solid 99 degrees right now and has broke
triple digits a ton over the last week or so. It is crazy hot but at the same
time I am pretty used to it. I can feel the difference between 99 and 103. About
the time it becomes normal I will head home and have to start the adjustment
over again. So the biggest change that happened this week was we got a new
mission president. His name is President Guffey. He is from Ohio. We get to meet
him tomorrow so that will be super cool! I am excited to meet him and work with
him. I will also miss President and Sister Miller a ton. They have done so much
for me. I have felt so much love from them and they are beyond inspired. They
will be missed but I am sure that I will love President Guffey the same and be
just as sad to leave when my turn comes around. Lots of changes are sure to be
coming these next few weeks. So we have a baptism this week! Pete is going to
get married on Friday, we get to go, and then baptized the following day!! We
are super excited! I wish I could have been here for the actual teaching of Pete
and not just his baptism. But I am excited for this weekend. It will be an
amazing couple of days for them and their families. He is the only person who is
really progressing right now. We found a new investigator this week though! It
was a cool miracle. We took Bishop's son out with us since he is leaving for his
mission in August. We tried by this person who told us to come back and he let
us inside! His name is Robert. He loves Jesus Christ and has a ton of faith. He
knows a lot about the bible as well. It is really cool. We are excited to
continue to teach him. We also taught Rosalie yesterday. She is a Jewish lady
that I don't know if I have talked about yet. We committed her to read and pray
about the Book of Mormon everyday for a week. We will see how it goes! I had a
couple really awesome spiritual experiences this week. One of them was when I
gave my talk on Sunday. I was asked just to speak for 5 minutes and introduce
myself and talk on service. Normally I would write down a couple bullet points
and scriptures to share. But my companion has been reading a book that says we
should study the topic and scriptures and pray with all our heart to be guided
by the spirit, but not to write down you talk. So I tried it out. It was scary
walking up in front of a new ward with only my scriptures and no notes. But it
went fairly well. The spirit prompted me to use a couple scriptures and I did
and I don't really remember what I said. Must not have been from me. The other
experience was giving a blessing to a sister. We were prompted to ask her is she
needed on and she declined. The next day however she called and accepted the
offer. When we got there she asked if I would do it and I felt the peace and
approval of the Savior. I said things that I don't really remember but they were
a lot different than a normal blessing. So I know that the Lord was there. It
was great. Overall the week went really well. Elder Larkin is a wonderful
companion and we get along great. We council together and work together well. I
have learned a lot from him already and it has only been 2 weeks. Hopefully we
will be able to find more people to teach!
On a side note I was
able to finish the Book or Mormon for the 4th time as well as the Doctrine and
Covenants this week. I knelt in prayer and asked if they were true, as I do
every time, and I received another spiritual witness that these things are true.
The Book of Mormon is truly the word of God and is here to help us learn more
about our Savior. I love it. I love the gospel. I love my Savior. In the name of
Jesus Christ, Amen. Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Week 58
Well another week has come and gone here in the great city of Albuquerque.
The weather has been nice and consistent. Anywhere from 95-102. Not complaining!
Just informing you all that live or work where there is AC all day. This week
was awesome. We didn't teach a ton but we found a lot of people to teach which
means this coming up week is going to be even better! Keep us in your prayers
please as we continue to find those who are prepared for the gospel. Anyway on
to the week. So most of the week has been us knocking doors and me meeting
members of the ward. It is a great ward and I am pumped to get to know them all
and work with them. Last week we got to meet the Maile family. Brother Maile is
our Ward Mission Leader and they are from Tonga. They are amazing people. As
soon as I said I was from Washington Sister Maile started laughing and throwing
down on Washington. It was hilarious. Then Brother Maile looked at me and told
me I better not miss any meals in this area. They are funny people and we get
along really well for some reason haha. I love them already. So we got a new
investigator last week! Her name is Rosalee and I know I probably spelled it
wrong. She is Jewish and wants to learn more about the Book or Mormon. She loves
meeting with us and the first lesson went pretty well. We went back yesterday
and she was waiting for us! In a good way of course. Her gate was open chairs
were ready and she dressed up even. She was prepared to talk to us and had been
reading the Book of Mormon. It was super cool to see and as we taught the Plan
of Salvation she agreed with it! She said that it made more sense to her than
what she had been taught growing up. We have a weekly appointment with her and
now it is just getting her to come to church! We had an awesome miracle this
week. Like super cool. We were knocking on doors in the heat of the afternoon.
The first 8 houses didn't answer. I looked at my companion and told him is we
made it to the next side street without talking to anyone we would leave and
find somewhere else to go. The last house before the side street answered the
door and quickly told us he wasn't interested and closed the door. It was a sign
though that we needed to continue the street. So we did. More of the same
happened until the very last door on the whole street. We knocked it and talked
for about 10 minutes to a really awesome woman named Rebecca. She told us she
was interested in learning more about the Book of Mormon and how it could help
her. She told us to come back this week and to talk to her more. It was a super
cool miracle because the Lord kept us on that street and though obedience and
persistence we were able to find His daughter who needed the gospel. It was a
good day. We had Stake Conference this weekend. That was good because we got to
see President Miller one more time before he leaves next Monday. Can you believe
that? New mission President in less than a week. It is going to be crazy for
sure. We shall see though. Should be good. Elder Karl Tilleman from the Area 70
was there and he is an awesome guy! He talked to us after the adult session for
a while and gave us a ton of advice about making the new president feel
welcomed. The only bad part about conference is I didn't get to go to my ward
and meet everyone. So I will have to wait a week for that. The only other thing
that we did was teach Pete. He is getting married on the 1st and baptized on the
2nd. He is an incredible example to me of conversion and is doing great. We get
to go to his wedding too which is even better! I am excited for that!!!! Anyway
things are going great here. I love the work to death and can't wait to have
more experiences that will grow my testimony and faith. I love the Lord and all
He does for me and I know he loves you too no matter the challenges you face.
Keep up the faith. Keep being awesome and know that I love
you!
Elder Carruth Week 57
Hello from Albuquerque! I got transferred to the zone that touches Rio
Rancho. So I moved a solid 10 miles away haha but it is very different down here
for sure. I am excited to be here though! My last week in Rio Rancho was really
good and I am going to miss that place a ton. I spent over 7 months there and
learned a lot. I changed a lot. I am going to miss those that I was able to help
into the gospel and those who helped me deepen my conversion. We were going to
have a baptism last Saturday but Renee ended up in the hospital. Shes ok though
so don't worry. Baptism is rescheduled for this coming Saturday and I am sad
that I will miss it. I will also miss Angie's baptism on the 25th. She is the 16
year old that we have been teaching. She went to girls camp and had a blast with
it. She is going to make a wonderful member of the church and future leader. It
was hard to say goodbye but I am excited to be where I am. Elder Larking is my
new companion and we get along really well so far. We have a lot in common and
are excited to work together. It should be a good 6 weeks here in Albuquerque
and probably longer than that. Funny story of the week happened at Zone lunch on
Friday. We went to Taco Cabana. Hermana Peyson and I were talking in line and we
challenged each other to get a Lengua Taco. So we did. It was actually really
good once you got over the fact it was lengua. Anyway thats about all for this
week!! Not much to report on sorry!! Love you all!!
Elder Carruth
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