Tick tock goes the missionary clock

  
Another week has come and gone.  AJ has been a missionary for 33 weeks (8 months) and Sarah has counted down 3 months. 
They are loving their missions and continue to be amazed at how quickly time passes. Their days are busy, but filled with great experiences that make memories that will last a lifetime.

It's fun to receive our girls letters each week. As they learn and become more fluent in the languages of their countries we find that they throw words in that we can't understand.  When we spoke to AJ at Christmas time she said that she has forgotten quite a few words in English and just uses Tagalog.  Sarah hasn't quite gotten to that point in her letters, but we're sure she will also.


FROM THE PINES


First of all... HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!!!!!! I hope you have a Great Birthday!!!!!!! Party like the Rockstar you are!!!!! (: Gosh I miss you so much mom and love you!!! Next year when I'm home we will celebrate Pines style!!! Have a great birthday mommy!!! I am sending you all my love!!!!! 

Well this week was a fast on. I woke up yesterday morning and both Sister S. and I  were like banal baka (holy cow) it is Sunday again !!! Dang this week was fast!!! 

 

 It was a good week though. We are very very busy. We are doing a lot of less active lessons this up coming week because once again...there are so many less actives. 

The investigators that we have are Sister J. and Sister Jinky. The are 19 and 21 years old. They are progressing well however they said that church was really long and parang culture shock. They are both very receptive, so we are just helping them prepare for baptism on the 22 of February.

Another investigator that we have is Sister LA. She came to church yesterday and Sister S. and I were so excited, She LOVES the gospel!!! Her brother and his family just got baptized on the 11th of this month. Now there is a family who was ready to receive the gospel!!! They are amazing and we currently right now are teaching them the recent convert lessons. They have 5 children. 4 girls and 1 boy. We are teaching their second oldest daughter right now too. She said her testimony wasn't where it needed to be upang for her maging baptized with her family. PERO now her dad can baptize her!!!! 

Everything is going really well with me! I am safe, happy and I am healthy...we workout everyday and every Saturday morning Sis. S. and I go on a bukid walk!! However it makes me miss my runs on the beach. Are you still doing that dad?? Are you still doing/training marathons???

 Anyway ,I love Sister S.! She is awesome...we laugh a lot haha which is good dahil our area is rough...(we are very close to the temple site) pero last night we held a fireside for our ward about member missionary work. We really have our work cut out for us here in terms of helping establish the church. But we can do it!!!!!! 

Dad before I forget...I love the beard!!!! love the trim but I liked it before (:

Well family, that is it for this week. I am sending you all my love always and pray everyday that the Lord continues to keep you safe...I know that he will. I love the mission and I am so glad that I made this decision to be here. My testimony has grown and so has my love for my Heavenly Father and my Savior.

Continue to help in the missionary efforts by small and simple things. Be obedient to the commandments and please be safe in ALL that you do.

I love you all so much and will write again next week!!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

Mahal

 Sister Carr

 

 

FROM MEXICO

Can you believe it´s been another week? Crazy! I have officially completely 2 months in Mexico, that´s awesome! And 3 months as a missionary! AH! 

Mother! I hope you have a WONDERFUL FANTASTIC TRULY AMAZING birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) You´ll get to party hard with AJ next year, but January 2016 is gonna be NUTS! Haha! I send you all my love mama! 

I send all of you my love ALWAYS! 

This week was good. Nothing too exciting. We continue to work hard and try our best. That´s all we can do right? We have a few investigators progressing which is great! We hope to have a baptism on Feb 8! I hope so! We are going to baptize a brother who is about 60 years old and speaks both Spanish and Mayan! He is hilarious and so kind! He likes reading the Book of Mormon better in Mayan and when we are in lessons and he reads it out loud, it´s awesome! It´s such a cool language! And quite a few people speak it here!

Speaking of language, Spanish is coming more and more. I am starting to notice a difference and boy am I happy! I´ve also noticed it´s WAY easier when I don´t really think about it. When I just have the desire to talk, I can. When I focus too much on speaking perfectly, that´s when the Lord humbles me and ties my tongue up. I can´t speak. He needs me to focus more on the gospel and less on being perfect! It´s a hard lesson to learn, but I´m learning! One thing I´ve started doing is reading the Liahona in Spanish when we walk. I read out loud and Hermana N. and Hermana C. help me with my understanding and pronunciation. It´s helping a lot! There are times when Hermana N. will be talking to someone and Hermana C. and I are walking and talking and it´s fun to stop and think: I am a 19 yr old girl, walking the streets of Mexico and being able to communicate with this other person. I think about the fact that I am able to have a conversation in Spanish! It´s moments like this that I don´t care what I sound like or if I´m perfect. All I care about is the fact that I am learning. I am growing and gaining knowledge and I absolutely love it!

The process of learning is extremely difficult, but I realize how much I love it. Even though it´s tough and I don´t love the process when I´m going through it, but afterwards, when I can see what I´ve learned, I praise my Heavenly Father for allowing me to have an opportunity like this. I need to be more grateful because He has truly blessed me! One blessing that has come from being a missionary is just being able to see more and more blessings. Big and small. There are times when I send a prayer to Him just thanking Him for the 10 seconds of shade we had, or a light breeze, or things like that. He blesses me everyday and I love being able to see more and more of His hand in this work and in my life! 

This gospel is true! Without any doubt in me, I know this church is The Church of Jesus Christ! He is our Savior! Remember Him in every moment, because He always remembers us! 

OH! Guess what wicked sweet fact I found out this week! The first missionaries to come to Hunucma were an American and a native of Mexico.Ya know where the American was from?? CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the first American sister to come to Hunucma is from CALIFORNIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ME!!  How incredible is that! I feel even more connected to Hunucma and my mission now! I know this is where I´m meant to be! 

I love you all so much! Please be safe and happy and faithful! And Dad, I loved the Duck Dynasty action you had going on! You´ll have to regrow it when I get back! :) 

Con mi amor siempre, 

Sarahbeara :) 

 

Ahhh....fresh Coconut!

Fresh Coconut water!!!

Lots and lots of seashells

A neighborhood in town

My lovely daughter wished me a Happy Birthday!! I miss her so much, but her smiling face lets me know she is happy and doing well.

 

Hola and Kamusta !!!

Updates from the Philippines and Mexico

We finally received some pictures from our missionary in the "Pines".  It had been awhile since she sent us some pictures and her sister in Mexico has been great about sending us pictures every week.  We love to see their smiling faces and look forward to each weekly email.
Their missions continue to provide them with many  learning opportunities and challenges as well. It's all part of the experience and they both continue to tell us how much they love the countries they are in and the people whom they serve.  Here's some of their most recent emails and pictures.

From the "Pines"

Week 31.....Well this week was a fast and good week!! You are so right mom, time is flying by! Already another transfer has come and gone! We find out Wednesday who is transferring, President said Sister Bono and I might be companions for another transfer...so we shall see!!!
Since today is our last pday for this transfer we had our zone activity! For our zone activity I taught my zone how to play soccer!! haha it was so much fun but it made me so so so so homesick. I miss watching and playing soccer. AND with the World Cup coming up..it kills me that I won't be home. Uggghhh. The last world cup was so much fun!!!! Anyway...keep me posted with everything!!!! VIVA ESPANIA!!!!!!

 Anyway, this week was good, Brother M. and his whole family came to church yesterday and he is progressing really well with his W.O.W situation. He hasn't smoked once.  And yesterday Brother N. came to church again, He is progressing very well too and we are excited. Brother Moi and Sister C. didn't come to church yesterday): they went to another area...so we will have to see what is going on there.
Let see what else...well on Saturday we had a pretty sad event happen.  As we were eating lunch our neighbors house caught fire. I was sitting at my desk and Sis. B comes running in yelling " may sunog! may sunog!" ( there is a fire!). I ran outside and there was just this huge black cloud of smoke.  It had been pretty windy here and as the family was cooking something caught fire and it just grew and grew. Like no kidding it was huge...it burned down 2 houses. Don't worry we are fine and were in no danger. I just got stressed out because about an hour before the fire there were about 5 kids playing outside in front of the house. Good thing that nobody was harmed. The families that lived there are safe but they are left with nothing. It is so sad. 

I am going to get sappy for a second...I miss you guys so so so much!!! Hermana Carr...you look so beautiful in all your pictures!!!!! I miss you.

I miss all of you guys!! Sometimes I get stressed out about how much time I have left. It will be another 11 months before I get to see you all again and I just pray everyday that we are all kept safe so that ALL of us can be reunited when Hermana Carr and I come home. Pero, I am LOVING my mission. I love being a missionary!!  It is hard work...really hard pero there is no substitute for the experience and knowledge that I am gaining.

Mom and Dad that you for your testimonies and thank you my beautiful family for your endless and unconditional love and support!!! It means the world to me!!! 

I miss you guys everyday, but this is where I am needed and this is where I will stay until my 18 months are complete. 

My family, I love you. I love you more and more everyday and I need all of you to be safe and happy everyday. 

Have a good and SAFE trip to Arizona!!! Send all my love to everyone!! Mom tell the Keel couple I say hello & that I love them! and Kate tell Conner Parks I say Hi too and that I am doing well, I love the mission and the church is true!

Please have a good and safe week family. I love you all with all my heart!

Continue to be obedient and look for opportunities to serve and share the gospel. 

I am proud of all of you for helping the missionaries in the Ocean View Ward! Patuloy!!!

Mahal ko kayo to the moon and back countless times (:

Mahal,

 Sister Carr

Week 32...............Well first things first...I got transferred...again! haha. I'm about 45 minutes south of my last area. I am actually right next to Urdaneta. My new companion is Sister S.  from Utah. I am tied 2 for 2 now. Two Filipina companions two Americana companions. She is awesome! I already love her!!!!

Well to be honest not much to say except that I got transferred and I am just adjusting to the new area. I love it here! We have a Mall in our area and it is just like America! PLUS I have been reunited with Sister M. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are in the same zone woo hoo!!! She is too funny! Sister M. and her comp Sister Br.  waited for me at the church with a sign to welcome me to the zone haha It is going to be a fun transfer!!! 

Sige, I am going to send PICTURES!!!! So short email.

Pero, my beautiful family I love you all so so so much. Please be safe this week and have a good week.

Kate! I am so happy and proud of you for all your hard work. Keep working hard and keep me posted about school!!! 

Again, I love you all so so so so so so much!!!!!!! Please be safe and continue to be obedient!!!! Blessings are waiting!!!!!

Mahal kita!

Mahal,

 Sister Carr

A true DP lover will always find a way to get their drink on.  She said there was a military base near by and she was able to get one from a vending machine!!

A tiny tree and a scented candle makes this missionary happy !

She's wearing the Christmas jammies and slippers we sent her in her care package.

Ewww.....chicken foot on a stick!! 

From Mexico

Hello my darling family! 

How are all of you? Mommy, I´m so sorry to hear that you got sick :( But very glad to hear you are doing better! And Katie, I´m very proud of you for going out with the Sistinaries. I know it´s hard and not always fun, but we need you! The members are so important to missionary work and I can tell you honestly that the sisters appreciate it!!!!!!! So thank you for your willingness to help. You will be blessed :) 

My week was good, but hard. The language is still frustrating me bit. I´m just not learning as fast as I want to and it´s REALLY hard to be patient. Every American missionary here tells me it takes time, but I just want to know it already! Haha, I know with time I will understand. It´s been a little hard with Hermana N. and Hermana C. because they can understand each other and I´m left just sitting there... Sometimes I feel a bit lonely, but I know that the Lord has blessed me with two amazing companions! I seriously love both of them! Hermana N.  knows the scriptures like no one I´ve ever seen and Hermana C. is HILARIOUS! They both have such strong testimonies and I want to be like them! 

So yes, the language is still hard, but I´m learning. I had some investigators tell me this past week that I´ve gotten better, and that I´ve lost weight! I was like ¨YEAH!!!!!!¨ hahaha. I was excited! It is wonderful having one companion that speaks only Spanish and then having a companion that can speak English because I can ask how to say something and then practice it. It´s a huge blessing! 

Oh, Daddy, I thought of you this week because we went to a member´s house to eat and the father was reading "How to win friends and influence people". But in Spanish of course. But, I understand the title and told him that we have that book! And then today I thought of Matt because a store was playing the song What Does the Fox Say! Haha I laughed so hard! 

I think of you all constantly and keep you in my prayers! Please continue to stay safe and faithful! I truly know with all my heart that this is the Lord´s church. We are doing His work. I cannot express how grateful I am for all I have learned in my short time as a missionary! I´m excited that I get to continue to learn more and more! Yes, the learning process is HARD, but worth it! And I can see  the Lord´s tender mercies everday! He blesses me constantly! I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives! 

I love the Lord and I love you all! Thank you for everything!!!!!!! 

Con amor siempre,

Hermana Carr 

Look!!  I finished all my pumpkin!!

Traditional Mexican dress

Hermana Carr and some lovely ladies.

Yumm!! They found some Magnum bars Ice Cream bars!! Her sister was able to find some in the Philippines too. Our family loves Magnum Bars!!

Shopping.....not sure if all the carts are this small or if these Hermana's just decided to be silly. I'm thinking they were just being silly.

Even hard working missionaries need to take an Ice Cream break!

Hermana's in the gospel

While our missionaries are out teaching and sharing the gospel we took a little road trip to Arizona this past weekend to attend the open house for the new Gilbert Arizona Temple. 

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temples are a very important part of our faith.  This is a beautiful building and we had the blessing of going with some wonderful friends of ours. 

Gilbert Arizona Temple

We believe families can be together forever

The Carr's and the Lambrigger's at the Gilbert Arizona Temple

Happy New Year 2014!!!

How does a missionary spend New Year's Eve?

We hope that everyone had a wonderful New Year's.  Our family spent it relaxing with each other and watching movies. Our daughter went out to a YSA (young single adult) dance with some friends, but was home shortly after midnight.  In our weekly emails to our missionaries we asked how they celebrated the new year in the Philippines and Mexico.   It was a low key celebration for them as well, but with some humorous moments. 


From the "Pines"

Happy New Year Family!!!! 

I am glad that all of you had a SAFE and FUN new year!!

 We didn't do anything because we had a curfew. We had to be in doors by 6pm.  So we just hung out and watched the Joseph Smith Movie and some other church movies.

It was loco here on New Year's Eve!!! The firecrackers were so loud! As I was attempting to go to sleep it honestly sounded like a war was going on outside.  The fireworks here sound like gun shots and bombs, don't worry I am safe. However, Sister B. did say that a lot of people lose fingers or hands because of the fireworks here, they are very poorly made and it is mostly little kids who buy and play with them ): All in all it was good and I am excited to be home next year and ring in 2015 with my family!!!! Grabe yesterday I hit 7 months...time is flying!!

 

Well this week was really good for me and Sister B.!! Yesterday we had 4 investigators at church. Brother T. and family, and Brother M. with his whole family!!!!! 

 

We had a really great lesson with Brother M.and Sister J.   Last week we committed them to closing their store on Sundays and come to church as a family and they did!!!! Last nights lesson was led and guided by the spirit as Brother M. bore his testimony about how the gospel has changed him. He finally gave up smoking as his new years resolution which means Sis B. and I can finally extend another baptism date for him!!

So these are our success stories for the week!!!! Our area is still tough but the elect are there and are being prepared!!!

Now it is time for my own personal success story. I received today...A CAN OF DR PEPPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! people said it couldn't be done but you can never stop a true DP addict from finding one. (: I guess a couple miles away there is a military base with a Costco actually and a member from the branch in Sis. T's area goes there quit a bit and Sis. T. surprised me with one today at zone studies!!!!!! 

The last time I had DP was the night before I left the MTC.  It is going to be a spiritual moment when I have my first sip of DP. It has been 5 months!!! 

Anyway this week we have interviews with President M. Last time we had interviews, President told me in my interview and Sis. M. in hers that I make him laugh...well his exact words to me were " you tickle me" and Sis. M. said he told her that too...about me hahaha so interviews should be fun! and then next week...transfers again. Oh my goodness time is flying!!!

 

Well family, I love you all so so so so so so so much please BE SAFE this week and have a good one too. I love you I love you I love you. The church is true!!!

 

Mahal Ko Kayo,

 

Mahal,

 Sister Carr 

From Mexico

 

 

 Hola Familia! 

This week was really good! I am happy to hear you had a great trip to Arizona. I would definitely consider living there! The weather is a concern though. That´s what´s so great about California! But your right, the laws are crazy. 

I have a request, please send me pictures of the Gilbert temple! I would love to see it! And I want to see you guys! 

So this week we had changes! I am staying in my town with Hermana N.! I´m thrilled! But that´s not all. We have a third companion! Her name is Hermana C. ! She is standing next me in the group picture of all those sisters. Hermana C. is so sweet and she´s from Columbia! She can´t speak English so Hermana N. and I are going to be speaking a lot more Spanish. Daddy, I know that makes you happy! Haha, I promise.

I´m learning! Don´t worry! But yes, I have very excited to have Hermana C. with us! 

As far as investigators go, we have a lot. But not a lot progressing. We have like 20 people we are teaching, but the hard part is getting them to come to church. Everyone here believes in God, so it´s not hard finding people interested in the gospel. It´s hard to get them to keep commitments. President G. gave us some advice about activities we can do with the ward and with investigators to help them progress. So we´re going to try that. 

By the way, my new year was great. Very calm. We were in the house early and ordered a pizza! It was great. However, our neighbors decided to have a party so there was music all night! Fun, but hard to sleep. It was funny because our neighbors had another party and all they played was 80´s music from America! Haha I laughed so hard. We were in the middle of a prayer and all of a sudden "Sweet Child Of Mine" comes on and I had to fight so hard not to sing along! I thought it was hilarious! 

But yes, I am doing well and happy you had a wonderful New Years! I love you all so much and thank you for your testimonies Mommy and Daddy! Please give my best to everyone and stay safe! I´ll talk to you soon! LOVE YOU! 

 

con amor siempre, 

Sarahbeara :)

Here are some new pictures!!

Caught in a rainstorm

Hermanas!!