Its Monday once again! Wow these times fly! It is incredible!
This week went by super fast. Probably because we were SUPER busy!
So yes, Transfers came a little early to the city of Vitoria! My new companion arrived on Wednesday! His name is Elder Tyler and he is from Ogden Utah. FINALLY! Another American! hahaha It has been good to have him here! Elder Rios is still here as well for another week. Elder Tyler has been working in the office for 9 months! Crazy right! Nearly half of his mission! But President Pace wanted to get him out the office as soon as he could so he put him here with us two weeks before transfers! Like I said it has been super nice to have him here to speak some english, but at the same time I dont really like it because I feel like in just 3 days my spanish isnt as good... Kinda weird! I dont know too much more about him... He seems like a pretty cool guy, but I dont want to make any judgements too early! haha I say he is a cool guy one day and then the next day he is going to be super weird. So I think I will just hold my tongue for today! haha But because he came we have been trying to visit as many people as we can with in the Branch. (Members, Recent Converts, Menos Activos, Investigators) Just everyone! We have been on the run everywhere! I am dying! This week was the first week where it has been hard to lift my head from my pillow in the morning! Not good! haha It has also been a lot of fun working in a trio! I love it! I am sad to see Elder Rios go, but I am excited to get working with Elder Tyler! Elder Rios was a stud and a pretty good trainer, I am glad I had the opportunity to work with him! So Elder Tyler is in one of the pictures I am sending! The one we are all sitting at the table eating.
So some sad news as well... Juliet stopped progressing and decided she "wanted soem time to figure some things out" Kinda sucks, but it is what it is! She had a ton of faith and a lot of potential, but in the end she wasnt reading the Book of Mormon, and if your not going to read the Book of Mormon there is no way your going to know if its true or not... So in the end we wrote our number in her Book of Mormon... She tried to give it back to us but we just told her we had plenty and she could keep it! haha We fasted for her and hopefully she will show back up in the future. We are going to keep in touch with her and keep praying for her. Please do the same.
Mom I will get on the favor you asked me! I will get it to you next week. I cant really remember one of the top of my head so I will think about it and then let you know next week! Thanks!
Dad about pictures... Ya, I should probably take more! I will work on it! I am sending 3 today! I will explain them really quick to you guys!
One of the pictures is all of us sitting at a table eating Lunch. From left to right. Rosalva (Member) Helps us out a ton with the work and has an amazing family. It was her birthday and she fed us like crazy! So good! Francis (Member) from Hondurus! Super strong member, She doesnt live in our area so she works with the other missionaries all the time. Elder Castillo, from the Dominican Republic. Has crazy swag! He walks like he is a gangster! Hillarious! Love the kid! ME! Elder Tyler! You already read about him. Elder Olaya, Not sure if I have told you much about him... He is from Columbia, Super Femy and really annoying! I hope he is tranfered this transfer haha BUT he is a child of God so I am nice to him! haha (As long as he doesnt touch me!) 2 investigators! Rosalvas friends who just started taking the lessons from the other missionaries last week. The lady talks like you wouldnt believe. We tried to have a 5 minute lesson... We talked for five minutes and she talked for 25...
Next... The photo with the 2 little black boys! Maswell y Mice! Craziest kids in the world. Take Johnny times 5! And then there are 2 haha The mom is also pregnant with a 3rd... She wanted a girl... She is having another boy! Good Luck!
And last... The one with the little girl, Atanie. The cutest little girl in the country of Spain! She is I think 2! I die everytime she comes to talk to me!
Well family! Love you lots! Hope everything is going well at home! I miss you guys tons and love hearing from all of you! Thanks for everything you do for me!
Lots of Love!
Elder Carrigan
Familia!
Mom! Thank you for the Package! I loved every second of it! The beef jerkey was gone REAL fast! haha Elders Rios, Castillo, and Olya were amazed that in the United States we sell meet in bags! haha I was dying. Trying to explain exactly what it was and how that little freshness packet you cant eat keeps the meet fresh! It was a great moment! haha The CD is exactly what I wanted thank you and the lyric book was a great suprise! I hadnt gotten the Ensign yet. It is a great read. Thank you tons! Love you lots!
So the BYU... Ya that sucks, but I guess we will live! How are they looking this year? Is there any chance of them doing anything good or is it just going to be another average year?
Bilbao was fun! We didnt do much site seeing but almost all the elders from the zone were there so it was really fun just to do something together! We all went to the park and played basketball, football, alll kinds of good things! The best part was speaking english with the American missionaries! haha Dont get me wrong, I have learned a ton of spanish this transfer and it is a lot better, but I always love a break! haha It was a really fun day. Mom to answer your questions. All the cities are pretty close. We take the bus and everything is within 1 or 2 hours of Vitoria. Vitoria is in the center of everything.
So it sounds like the week was pretty average at home. It was a pretty average week here as well. Juliet is somewhat progressing. I can tell the teachers at her church are influencing her a ton! Or at least trying, they are doing everything they can to make it so we cant talk to her... It is frustrating. In almost every lesson we have with her, she brings just a list full of scriptures that her teachers have given her and tons of questions. We always take the time to answer them, she understands and then she comes back with a brand new list the next time... Its tough but I kind of like it! haha Ty sent me a quote last week from Elder Holland that said, "We dont always try to Bible Bash, but when we do, we ALWAYS win!" haha Its so true! Sometimes it is hard to find the scripture, but there is ALWAYS a scripture! Always an answer! It has strengthened my testimony a lot! When you have and know the truth, it is easy to disprove (Is this a word haha) wrong doctrine! Please continue to pray for her!
So Saturday we had another baptism with a man named Victor! I think I have talked about him... I cant remember! haha sorry! It has been an interesting story with him because he doesnt live in my area so I "cant" teach him, but I am the only one that speaks english so I taught him everything! We had to do intercambios everytime. Really stupid, but whatever... So he was baptized on Saturday. I had the opportunity to baptize and confirm him! It has been great teaching him. Before we started teaching him he told us he was never interested in church before he met us. He believed in God but wanted nothing to do with a church. He had problems Drinking, Smoking, and the law of chastity, but he has changed a lot! It has been great!
I attached photos of both the baptism of Katy and of Victor! Enjoy.
One Question... A lady from the Branch here in Vitoria is going to conference in October. She offered to bring anything I need or take anything to you guys. I couldnt think of anything. Do you have any ideas?
Thanks for everything. Love you all lots
Talk to you next week
Elder ¨Carrigan
Hey everyone!
This week has been crazy! The Lord has helped us in so many ways this week! I have experienced Miracles!
First, Juliet! Remember her? She is the girl from Nigeria! The daughter of the family of 7. Well we went to her house for our second lesson and before we even said the pray she sat us down and said, I want to get baptized! My companion and I just looked at eachother and didnt even know what to do! haha so we were stoked! More on this later!
Next, Katy, was Baptized on Friday! It was great! The service went really well, and lots of people from the ward came to support her! Elder Rios baptized her and then Katy asked me if I would confirm her. I was scared out of my mind! haha I had no Idea what i was going to say or anything! But the thought just kept coming into my that the blessing comes from the spirit so you dont even need to know what to say... Right now I have no idea what I said, but it either went well or really bad because when she shook my hand she had a huge smile on her face! I like to think it was because I did a good job, but it could have been that my spanish was just really bad haha! Who knows! :) So that started off the weekend on a high!
On Saturday, and Sunday we had Stake Conference with all of Basque country! I love when there are conferences becuase everyone comes from everywhere and it is an awesome sight! So we invited our investigators and Juliet came! At first she wasnt going to come but she changed her mind last second becasue she said she wanted to talk to us. Elder Rios and I were a little nervous about this. Turns out that during the week she went to her bible class with the testigos. She told them she was gettign baptized and her teacher ripped into her with all this stuff and so she was pretty hesitant about talking with us on the bus ride up. She was writing all these things in her note book on the bus to the conference like "I am sorry God, I dont know what I am doing" or "Soy Testigo" and all these things... I was super nervous! So I began to pray in the bus! And I prayed hard! Just asking God that something said in the conference would touch her heart and she would feel the Holy Ghost with her in the meeting! I had a feeling to promise her that if she wrote a question down on a piece of paper and put it in her pocket. By the end of the meeting, she would have an answer to that question. Well... Every speaker in the conference talked about Temples and the importance of Temples... And I am not going to lie, durign the conference I was really nervous thinking of all the questions she was going to have, this and that. I was scared haha. Well, we experienced miracle number 2 with Juliet in the same week! At the end of the conference she had the biggest smile on her face and loved the conference. She didnt have a single question about what was talked about. She said that when the lady talked about how our families can be eternal and forever, she knew this is where she was supposed to be. On the way home she called just about everyone she could and told them about her baptism on the 22nd! It was the greatest thing! The Lord works Miracles here! It is amazing to be able to see them every day!
So P day is today because we had Zone Conference yesterday. Unfortunately I dont have time to write about it because we decided to go up to Bilbao for P Day! we are going to go hit the town and experience the North today I am stoked! Because of this I dont have my camera with me so I cant send Pictures of the Baptism today. I will next week! But, I do have a couple of questions.
1. Did Trevor Montgomery recieve his call yet?
2. Did Brady Homer decide to join the Army?
Please update me on these! Thanks
I love you guys lots and I am excited for the package from Mom this week! I am sure it will be great! You guys are the greatest family in the world and I am so greatfull for everything you have done for me and the support you continue to give me! Love you all
Love
Elder Carrigan
Good Morning Family!!!
First off, A huge shout out to my boy Ry Guy! Turning 14 this week! That is crazy! I saw the picture dad sent me and you are taller than nick now! From the looks of the picture you might even be taller than me! That is absolutely crazy! I was just thinking by the time I will be getting back, you will be learning how to drive! haha DONT DRIVE MY CAR! haha no es una broma! Crazy! Well anyway, I hope it is a good one! Go buy something nice for yourself from me with Mom and Dads money! haha Love ya bud!
So this week as been really good! Lots of work and then again not alot of work! Katy continues to progess towards her baptismal date for this Saturday! She is great and really prepared! Unfortunately, her mom has been busy working and hasnt been able to come to our lessons for the past week. Despite this, Katy still has a strong desire to be baptised and we are hoping that with her baptism, her mom will also see the importance of baptism as well! Please keep them in your prayers!
The other elders have been teachign Victor and as far as I know he is doing well... I dont know how much he understands or if he knows what is going on, but he came to church yesterday so I think he is progressing haha!
Ernest, is the man! haha Honestly he was a blessing placed in my hands! he started reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning the other week and has read quite a bit! He also asked me how he can get a copy of Preach My Gospel and other books of the church! Amazing! O! haha and he also accepted his first calling as a nursery teacher! haha I have no Idea why the President of the Rama decided to assign the biggest guy in the branch to the nursery, but we will see how it goes! haha
Elder Rios and I decided to focus a lot on contacting this week. A lot of our visits have fallen through this past week due to just flaky investigators... So we went on our search. The Lord blessed us. Yesterday we had our first lesson with a family of 7. It was great. the whole family are all part of different religions and the mom really wants to go to a church with the entire family. We explained what we do as missionaries and presented the Book of Mormon and they seemed pretty interested. The funny part is we called the house before we came and the dad found out we were coming so he left in a hurry. In the visit we asked when we could come again and the mom set a date with us and said dont call before you come. I dont want my husband runnign off again. You need to be sneaky. haha She is a HOOT. It is great. I am excited to start teaching them. We have our second lesson with them tomorrow. Please keep them in your prayers as well.
Mom, I dont think I need anything else. Just the CDs and maybe some more Peanut Butter haha. I will work on what you asked for this week and then send it off to you next Monday! What kind of picture are you looking for though? Please give me a little more info on this... In a Suit? Just of me? Companions? Members? Please tell!
Well thats it from Spain this week... I love you all! I will talk to you guys next week!
Love
Elder Carrigan
Hey everybody once again!
So I think this week is my first week in the mission where everyday just went by SUPER slow! ha ha. Things have been a little frustrating since Elder Keyes left. With me being the only english speaker here, we have been trying to figure out who is going to teach all the Africans in the other elder´s area... They desided that a member who speaks english can go and translate with them... I dont really like the idea just because I think it would be harder to feel the spirit if someone is teaching and one has to translate... I dont know we will see, I dont like it but I have no say so if it what the Lord wants then it will stay the same, if its not then I am sure he will find a way to change it...
Also with Elder Keyes leaving, I had to finish teaching one of his investigators from Ghana... He had a baptismal date for this past Saturday, but when I started teaching him I knew there was something sketchy about him... I dont know it was weird. He kept saying I have no food to eat, I am going to Malaga in 2 weeks and my brother is going to help me there but I dont have food for 2 weeks! And other wierd stuff, but he is 18 years old so I was like alright we can help you out. All the elders in the Piso pitched in 1 euro and we bought him like pasta and rice, things that will last awhile. (This was Friday) He passed his baptismal interview and I was like alright I guess he really wants to be baptized. His baptism was scheduled for Saturday at 6. So anyway, I recieved a call from him Friday night while we were planning and he says, He my brother from Malaga called and he baught me a ticket for a train tomorrow at 4 so can we do the baptism next week? I told him that we would change his baptism to the morning and he agreed... Im back to a little sketched at this point. Saturday mornign I called him to remind him to bring some things... Phone is off! Ya alright, he isnt coming! SO we went all the way to his house to see if we could find him. The adress he gave us isnt his house... Ya I felt really dumb, but what are you going to do! We teach a lot of people who I feel like they only listen to us because they need help from the church... Its sad! But at the same time I cant judge them and not teach them the gospel... They need the gospel just as much as everyone else, but its frustrating!
Other than that, we are teaching 3 new investigators...
Katy and her mom from Peru. They are great, we gave them both Books of Mormon and a chapter to read and Katy came back, had read the chapter wqe assigned and then 1 Nephi 1-10. Katy has accepted a baptismal date and I am sure her mom will soon follow... He mom is a little behind because she cant come to all the lessons, she has to work! But if Katy gets baptized, I think her mom will as well!
Also Victor! He is from Nigeria and is a friend of Ernests... He doesnt know much about God or anything about the gospel and has problems with Smoking, Drinking, and Womanizing (As he calls it) BUT he knows he needs to change and is willing to keep comitments! Its amazing! Today we are also having two lessons with a refference and a street contact so pray for us that they go well!
Other than that, all is well... Sorry its short! I wrote a lot of small emails today! And a long one to president! Love you all and I hope everything is amazign at home! I cant believe school started this week! The summer went by way two fast!
O and last week you asked me about my favorite food I have eaten so far... I attached a photo! The best in the Spain Barcelona Mission! The picture doesnt do justice, but depending on the day, sometimes the onlything you swallow is pure chocolate!
Love you all!
Elder Carrigan
Dear Fam,
So first off, I will just throw a shout out to my cousin Doug! I dont know... haha Congratulations on coming home?? Can I say that? Im not going to lie, on that Wednesday I kept thinking to myself, Doug is going to be home in 8 hours 4 hours, 1 hour, wow Doug is getting home right now! haha Then after I was like wow I wonder what Doug is doing right now on his first day home haha. So Doug you are going to have to write and tell me about it! I have only been here a couple of months and I think it would be so wierd to be doing something else!
Second, Transfers were this week. Mixed feelings... I found out that I will be staying in Vitoria, as I expected, and so will my companion. BUT Elder Keyes, will be leaving... He is the other english speaking missionary here. He will be replaces by a missionary who doesnt know spanish... Of course there are upsides and downsides... One good thing is I will be surrounded by 3 native spanish speakers for at least 6 weeks which should help me a ton with my spanish so I am excited, but the downside is I will be surrounded by 3 native spanish speakers!!!! haha There are times when I just get sick of talking spanish I need to talk to someone in English, so we will see... I still dont know what to think! Also, being the only english speaking missionary here in Vitoria I will need to teach all of the Africans who prefer to hear the lessons in English... Hey, at least I will be busy! haha I dont know, we will see how it goes! O also, Elder Knudson goes home this week... Kind of a bummer, but he said he wanted to go and visit my family, so you can expect a visit from him sometime this week or next week! He is a funny kid and can tell you about all the things we did in San Sebatian that I didnt have time to tell! Make sure you ask him about the story about the bridge! Its a good one! :) haha
And now the moment you have all been waitign for! ERNEST WAS BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY! It was the most amazing experience so far in my life! Never before have I felt the spirit like I did at his baptism! It was truly amazing! It was funny though because we had to do it twice... The first time his arm didnt go under the water. I told him we had to do it again and he kept trying to just dunk himself. Finally I was like Ernest just relax and let me handle it. You could tell he was super nervous! It was great! Also, President Pace, and two 70s were there for the conference they talked at later that day! It was a great day! I was a little scared though because on Sunday he was scheduled to be confirmed, but he didnt show up to church on time, in fact, he showed up 50 minutes late! haha I was kind of freaking out but it turned out well. President Pace was in the meeting and confirmed him! It was an all around great weekend! And Yes mom, the service and the pray was in english! :) He understands a lot of Spanish but cant speak it so he prefers english.
Now for your questions Dad...
Have you used all your ambien?
No, I saved 2 just in case I have a week where I am not sleeping or just in case!
Do you use your earplugs and eyeshades?
I use the earplugs every night, but not the eyeshades! The ear plugs are great. One pair usually lasts me about 2 to 3 weeks..
Do you drink tap water or do you need bottled water
Here in Vitoria (Or in the North) You can drink the tap water. It tastes really good. Anywhere else, Bottled water...
Does Vitoria have Mcdonalds, fast food, starbucks, other restaurants etc?
I have been in Vitoria for 6 weeks and I have not seen anything American... The closest thing we have to fast food is the Columbian Hamburger shop 2 streets over... The only difference is they put Ham on it and like eggs and other stuff, Pretty good! They eat ham with almost anything here!
Do you ever have dinner appointments?
We do have dinner appointments every once in awhile. Usually the missionaries here eat with members during mediodia but I cant for another 6 weeks because I am in this stupid trainning program for another 6 weeks, but we usually do eat during mediodia on Sundays.
Have you eaten any spanish food/drinks that you like? Paella???
I have tried some stuff! I cant remember names. Paella yes! Its pretty good! I enjoy it! Soem members here own a restraunt and invite us to eat every once and awhile. But most of the time when I eat with members it isnt Spanish food. Most the members are from South America so I eat more South American food!" Lots of empenadas... Hey, Im not complaining! :)
Well everyone! I love you all and hope you have a great week! School starts soon! Good luck! :) I am sending someletters home to Annie, Ryan, and Kate Dana today! If not today soemtime this week! Thanks for your letters guys! :) I love you all and will talk to you next week!
Love
Elder Carrigan
Hey everyone! So this week was an interesting week for sure!
Monday we had a conference with President, It was great!
Tuesday P-Day, I went to San Sebastan with some other Elders! It was an absolute blast and the city is absolutely beautiful! It is right on the coast, so although I didnt get to go to the beach, we hiked up this mountain that gives you an awesome view of the whole city and of the coast! It was amazing! There is a huge statue of Christ at the very top, kind of like in Brazil, and the smell of the ocean! O man! That killed me! It was all around just amazing! I attached some photos of the trip!
Then Wednesday my companion and I went to Madrid to pick up my residence card! Our train left early in the morning and it is a 5 1/2 hour train ride! When we arrived in Madrid we got on the Metro and spent an hour on the Metro. We then proceeded to walk to the government building to pick up my card. Ya we got lost... So we walked and walked and walked some more and finally found the place, but we were 10 minutes late! The place closed at 2 for Siesta, we got there at 210. So stupid! I hate siesta! haha it is the most poitless thing in the world! So we had to wait until 4 to pick up my card... By the time I got it there was no possible way we could make our train back to Vitoria so we had to stay the night in the CCM. It was kind of annoying because we had to change some of our important visits for the week but at the same time it was kind of fun to go back and see everyone there and see the new Elders that are coming to Barcelona next week! It is amazing to see how much spanish and how much more about the gospel I have learned since leaving the MTC! ha ha They are in for a big suprise :)
So Thursday we were able to attend the temple with all the Elders in the CCM. It was nice to be back in the temple. I feel like it has been the first time in 6 weeks where I could just take a minute and relax and not have to worry about anything... Only for just a minute though! :) Then we hopped back on a train and got right back to work!
From here I cant remember what day is what, but we had another visit with Ernest. He is incredible! I havent had to teach him anything! He puts words in my mouth! I start talking about one thing and he finishes it! He attended church on Sunday so he will be getting baptized this Saturday! Im stoked! My first baptizm! Its pretty crazy and I dont really know how to explain it! I will make sure to send photos next week of the baptism! O I forgot to mention, We are pretty sure that Presidente Pace, The Area President, and one of the 70 will be at our baptism... Ya, I dont baptize a lot, but when I do. ITS KINDA A BIG DEAL! haha no I am kidding! It just so happens that they are goign to be here! Kind of exciting though!
So Dad´s package came today... It also came with a note from the US Postal Service that basically said, Sorry, its sucks to suck, but your package was damaged on the way.. It obviously got really wet because when I opened it up, everything was moldy and it smelt REALLY bad! I couldnt read any of the letters! I tried to look through some of them and all I could make out was what I think was a picture of Selena Gomez... I couldnt tell ha ha. I cleaned everything off. It should be fine! I put on of the Milks in the fridge, We will see if it is any better! It is really similar to what they drink here! We will see!
Well thats it from this week! It was great hearing from everybody! I love you all and I will talk to you guys next week!
Love
Elder Carrigan
