Keep On Truckin'

Hello everybody!

 

Hope everyone had a good week! Looks like you guys are getting hit crazy hard by all the snow! Thats crazy! I think it is just about as cold here! I have been freezing this past week! The cold is so different here! I dont like it! haha

 

I am glad you guys got my package with everything in it! So you didnt like the candies... I didnt like them at first either, but now I think they are pretty good! Interesting how that happens! Hopefully the photos work and you are able to see them all! Please let me know if you were able to see them all. I will be super disappointed if the virus kills them all! Im praying! haha Honestly I wish I could explain them all to you, but I guess we will just have to sit down for a couple of hours when I get home and I can explain everything! ENJOY!

 

Congrats to J. Mansell! That is so awesome! I think my dad already told you, but I have a really good friend serving there right now! I havent heard from him in awhile... It could mean 2 things... 1. He is absolutely loving life! or 2. He is dead from eating too much dog! haha No I am sure he is loving it! The mission is the greatest! One thing of advice, PREPARE!!!!! I remember my buddy started studying the language the day after he got his call. Dont wait until the MTC to start learning! I wish I would have studied Spanish before I entered! It will help A TON!

 

Well, as for this week... It was a tough week for us, I cant lie! being away in Hospitalet last week was a lot of fun, but it threw us off big time! We didnt have the opportunity to plan very well and it totally killed our area. So this week was filled with a lot of searching and finding new investigators in the cold! It was A LOT of fun! NOT! haha It was a long week, but we finally feel like we are on top of things again. We have found some future investigators and we are hoping they will be solid. Future investigators that we contact in the street are always scetching because they usually turn out to be the the ones who never answer the phone or who cancel on you in the very last minute... This week we are going to focus on working with the members and some less actives members, hopefully we will be able to recieve some references! Member references are always ten times better! Missionary work only is as good as the members! Without the members, the work goes no where! So we are trying to figure out some ideas on how to motivate the members here in Tarragona.

 

As far as my favorite thing that happened this week... Well... Like I said, we were contacting A LOT this week looking for people to teach. So OF COURSE I contacted some of my Nigerian Brothas!!! haha I try to talk to as many spanish people as I can, and then after recieving about 15 NOs from all of them, I contact a brotha to get my spirits up! haha Well anyway, I contacted this Nigerian man in the bus stop the other day, and we got talking about God and the purpose of life and all the good stuff. I asked him if we could come and and share a message with him, and he said of course! So then I asked him for his number and his name and he told me his name was Pastor John! haha Turns out he is a Pastor of a church here, so we started talking about that, and I told him he should come to our church one day, He said he would. Then he invited me to his church, I said well of course I will come and listen! Then he said, No, I want you to come and share your message with all the members of my congragation! haha So I am pumped! So this next Sunday I will be sharing the message of The Resturation of the Gospel to an entire congragation of Nigerians! And of course I am going to invite them all to be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood Authority of God! Im stoked! The other week when I wrote home about making an English Branch here, I was joking, but hey... I guess anything is possible right?? Haha

 

So anyway, that sabout it for the week... Nothing too special, just lots of searching and talking to everyone! it is actually pretty interesting to meet people from all over the world! Its sad to say, but Dad, you were right in your email to me this week... Our generation today is socially awkward. Never before did I like talking to people I didnt know, and it is definately something that needs to change in the world! Talking to people is lots of fun! :)

 

Well I love you guys tons and I hope you guys have a great week! You guys are the greatest family in the world! Love you all! :)

 

Love

Elder Carrigan

Best Week in the Mission!

Good Morning Family!

 

First of let me just throw out a HUGE congradulations to the Knowltons! That is super awesome! Hong Kong will be so epic! please send photos! :) Also congrats on the baby!!!! I cant wait to have an Asian cousin!!!!! Holy, I cant believe I will have two new cousin when I come home! That is so crazy to me! Please keep me posted! :)

 

So honestly, the title of my email isnt lying! This past week was one of the funnest/most spiritual/best weeks in the mission! On Monday night we had another visit with Milady, and she told us that she had made the choice to get baptized on Saturday! So yes she was baptized on Saturday! More on that to come!

 

So on Tuesday, a Zone Leader, Elder Rios, had to come to Tarragona to do the interview for her. He was here all Tuesday and Wednesday! It was so much fun to work with Elder Rios again! He taught me a ton of new things that he has learned within the past 6 months and most of all reminded me what it was like to have so much fun on the mission! I honestly think that is why I loved Vitoria so much! We had so much fun and also worked really hard. So it is definately something I am focusing on again! I still have a lot of fun, but Elder Rios just takes it to another level! For example, We were contacting a ton of people in the street and he started running after this family and like yelling at them! haha We get to them and he starts contacting them, meanwhile I am trying so hard not to laugh... The dad didnt really want much so Elder Rios just started to give him a little pass along card and says, "Well, as missionaries we are always here to serve, so if you ever need anything, or, I dont know, you dream about something, give us a call! haha I almost died of laughter and so did the whole family! It was awesome!

 

So then on Wednesday night we went to Barcelona to have a conference with The Hospitalet Zone, Barcelona Zone, and President. We were there rfor 2 full days! Such a spiritual high! It just pumped me up again! AND I had the opportunity to see Elder Wilkinson for the first time in the mission! It was so awesome to talk to him and get caught up with everything! We talked for ever about everything and everyone! Good times!

 

So after day one of the conference, we stayed in Barcelona and slept in the Zone Leaders piso. We did splits and I got to go work with Elder Rios again! We made a bet with some other Elders that we could contact more people and recieve more numbers than them so once again we contacted a ton of people in the metro! But I have a super cool story from this! So soem other Elders contacted a man named Santos. They taught him the lesson of the resturation on a park bench and he loved it. The Elders tried to get his number, but he lost his phone... Then they tried to get his address, but he is living with someone or something.... So he told the Elders that if God really wanted this for him, he knew he would run into the Elders again... Well, meanwhile like I said Elder Rios and I were contacting in the metro when we say this man! Elder Rios started to talk to him and asked him if he had ever seen missionaries like us before. Well, right as Elder Rios said that, he pulled out from under his arm a Book of Mormon! haha! It was Santos! I think God wanted him to talk to the missionaries! haha Hopefully the missionaries there will be able to set a visit with him this week!

 

We then returned to Tarragona Friday night, just in time for Mileidy´s baptism! Her conversion story is probably my favorite so far in the mission! It is a perfect example of how when we do our part, the Lord will always do his! She was always an investigator who had lots of questions! We would always come to visits and just get hit with questions, questions, questions! When finally I told her that she can ask us all the questions she wants, but most importantly, she needed to ask God! So she began to pray! Pray! AND PRAY! She began telling us that she had never before prayed like this in her life, with so much faith that God would answer it was amazing! Then on the Saturday night before her baptism, she had a dream she was in her baptism. She was dressed in white and she remembers that Elder Garcia and I were there with here. Then just like Ana, she said she saw Jesus, smiling, She said he was really happy with what she was doing, then she woke up! She told us that she tried to go back to bed to dream more and see the ending, but she couldnt. After explaining this, she still had doubts about being baptized! I honestly couldnt believe it! She told us it was going to be impossible to get work of on a Saturday night because she works in a busy restraunt here in Tarragona, and this and that. I told her to just keep praying! Well, on Monday morning she recieved her work schedule... And what do you know... Saturday in the evening... NO WORK! Honestly, a miracle! She came to the conclusion that Saturday was the day that God wanted her to be baptized! She had recieved her answer and new in her heart it was what she needed to do! And so, she was baptized on Saturday! It was awesome! I love this work! Honestly, you cant deny it! The miracles and changes I see in people everyday are absolutely amazing!

 

I know this work is true and divinely inspired by God himself, I know the Book of Mormon is true, I know this Gospel is true!

 

I love you all so much and thank you all for the support you give me everyday! You truly are the best family in the world! Talk to you guys next week!

 

Elder Carrigan

 

Photos

0884 In the mission right now we are focusing on talking to EVERYONE! I think he talked more than most Spaniards! haha

0868 Me and My boy, Elder Wilkinson!

0870 Elder Rios with his two sons, and Me with one of my two sons! Love this man! haha

0880 BAPTISM!!!!!!

BANGKOK!!!!!!!

Hey Hey Hey!

 

I am stoked for Justin W. right now!!! Justin that is so sweet! haha I cant even believe it! So hook me up with the details. What do they speak there? Is that bad I am asking? Who is the Mission President? Do you wear normal missionary clothes or do you get to wear a skirt type thing... I dont know! Hook me up with some info! haha Well anyway, Congrats! Start preparing now! There is so much you can start doing that I wish I would have done! O man... Im just pumped! haha As soon as I read it, that 80s song came into my head. "One night in Bangkok, duh duh duh duh duh duh" Thats all I know haha! Thats awesome!

 

Also congrats to Justin Mansell for putting his Papers in! Thats sweet! Please keep me posted on that! Im going to throw out my guesses... In the states... Missouri (Is that how its spelled haha) Out of States... The Phillipines! Yeah Buddy! Im feeling good about those guesses! Keep me posted!

 

So this week was actually a little frustrating... Fifi lost her baptismal date because I guess she is sick or something and wasnt able to come to the lessons we had scheduled with her... Her friend told us this week that she is just feeling a little overwhelmed with all the church activities that are going on right now. Which we understand. She is going to seminary, church, and all the other activities, plus with school and tests, she is just a little stressed out and doesnt have too much time to talk to us right now. it is frustrating because I feel like our lessons should probably be first priority, but hey... thats life! haha So she wont be getting baptized this week, but I am possitive she will the the future. We are still looking for a way to find some time...

 

Milday... Is iffy as well. She told us on Saturday that she had a dream about her baptism and that she was dressed in white and Jesus was there and was very happy with what she was doing! I dont know what it is with my investigators and dreams... haha She has some dounts though, she is scared she wont be able to keep some of the commandments after baptism and for this has doubts about being baptized now... We told her to keep praying and that Heavenly Father had blessed her with an amazing answer. She now just needed to make the choice. Everything is in her hands now. We have a visit with her tonight, and when I last talked to her it sounded like she was going to be baptized! Im excited! Please keep praying!

 

So on Saturday we went with the ward and did a huge service project that was super fun! We went to a downsindrom home and painted the whole thing! It took us all day and we still have to go back next saturday to finish it, but it was a ton of fun! In the morning, the missionaries painted and worked and we did a ton of stuff, and then in the afternoon the young women and us put on a talent show for the residents of the home! We danced and did fun little skits! We had a blast doing it. The residents there were trying to hug us and kiss us. haha

 

Yesterday I gave my first talk in sacrament meeting. In spanish! Yeah Buddy! I was super nervious, but everyone said I did a good job. they could be lying... haha I gave it on a talk from General Conference about how to share the gospel in a normal and natural way. I thought it went pretty well... I get so nervious when I speak! haha Luckily this time I didnt call anyone a girl! haha Love you Nick!

 

And thats pretty much it for this past week... This week should be an awesome week! Elder Rios is my new Zone Leader, and we are going to have an intercambio this week! I am stoked! haha It will be a lot of fun! After that, we will be in Hospitalet for two days for a conference with President. We will be sleeping with the ZL. With Elder Rios! haha I am stoked! It should be a good spiritual recharge as well which I am excited for! Conferences just seem to pump you up!

 

So I am finally sending that package I have been talking about! I sent it off today so keep an eye out for it! Mom, I dont think I need the Wardells to bring me anything... Just if you have the small Preach My Gospel in spanish and the things I asked dad for...

 

Well, thats about it for this week! I love you guys tons! Hope you have a great week! Talk to you later!

 

Elder Carrigan

Transfers!

Good Morning Everybody!

 

Sounds like it was a pretty good week at home! Mom I am glad everything with your knee went well! Those pics are crazy! Your knee is huge! haha I hope Dad and the kids are taking good care of you! Congrats to Kenney! Rome! That is epic! We will definately have to do a little searching when we make our stop in Rome after my mission haha! Justin W. sorry about the call... That stinks! I am sure you are dying to know! haha Keep me posted! I still think I will be right! If I am, what do I win?

 

This week I pick up some birthday packages in the Office! Thank you Grandpa and Cindy for all the wonderful goodies! Even though we arent allowed to chew gum in the steet, for some reason I love it! :) Also thank you Weavers, The cookies were great as well as the popcorn!

 

So this week went by pretty well. It was a good full week of good work ending with transfers! I will be staying here in Tarragona for another transferand I couldnt be happier! The members just keep slamming us with references and I love it! We will see how many begin to progress, but they alll have great potential! Member references really is how missionary work should function! It makes everything so much better!

 

We are still teaching Francisco, Fifi, and Milady. Everything is going well with all of them. Unfortunately, there is a ward activity on the 9th so we had to move Milady's and Fifi's baptism to the 16th, but it is what they both need. We sat down with both of them this week and set the date with them, and basically told them both. "You WILL be getting baptized the 16th" haha They both agreed! They are both so prepared, it is amazing! I say this about all of my investigators, but Milady honestly is the most Golden investigator I have taught. She has some doubts but she always reads, prays, and studies what we are going to teach her before every lesson! It is so awesome to see the understanding change within them as we teach them in the lesson! The Holy Ghost is so powerful it is incredible! I love it! We still havent had the chance to sit down with Fancisco and talk to him, but we have it planned for this weekend, he is still progressing but little by little, it is baby steps with him!

 

Elder Garcia and I have really found out how to teach with each other and I am loving our lessons! His knowledge of the scriptures is incredible! If there is one thing I wish I would have done before leaving on my mission, it would be really STUDY the scriptures. I always read the scriptures, but I never really studied them. I finished Jesus The Christ this week, and it was the most incredible book I have ever read! The life of Christ is so amazing and interesting! If I could give any advice to future missionaries, it would be to study the scriptures! There church as some awesome manuals/guides for the scriptures! USE THEM! You will learn SO much!

 

Well thats all I got for this week! I love you guys tons! Please keep praying for me! The power of prayer works, the miracles I see everyday come from you guys! Love you tons!

 

Elder Carrigan