2nd Week!!!

August 24, 2015

2nd week!!! Wow, it is insane here. This work is harder than I ever could have imagined but it´s worth it. The kind of person I know I’ll be at the end of all this is the person I´ve always wanted to be. I know through my Savior Jesus Christ, I can do all things.

Okay, so my week. So starting with last Monday, because we went into the "big city" and didn´t have a lunch appointment with a member like we have every other day besides p-day, what did we have for lunch? Subway. Ha! So funny. Oh by the way, I don´t know if I mentioned it in my last e-mail but the name of my area is Sao Jose da Mata. It´s small but full of great people.
We had zone conference on Tuesday, so that was cool. I met Elder Talbot from the Heritage Ward, so it was cool to see a face from my stake in Texas, even though we´d never met before. After meeting and lunch for zone conference, we watched Meet the Mormons, so that was kinda funny.
Wednesday I found out that our plunger was a hanger, so that was fun.
Okay Thursday, craziness. Contacting and tracting, talking to person after person, door after door, nobody wanted to talk to us, not a single one. Then we had an appointment at night and it was the best thing that´s happened here. We had taught the mom and son before, but not the dad, so we re-taught the Restoration. I could feel the Spirit so strong, I was able to say more things, and I really felt they understood what I was saying even though I was making a lot of mistakes. The joy after that lesson was so real, it was awesome. A mission really is all about loving and serving other people. Then that night, something funny happened. So earlier in the day, my comp and house mates were telling me about this thing called a chakka (I have no idea how to spell it) which they said was a super deadly animal. So Thursday night I’m just about asleep and Elder Hodges is like, Elder, something just crawled under your bed! (Cause I’m on the bottom bunk) He ran over, turned the lights on and was like, oh freak, it´s a chakka! He got the other Elder´s and they were all freaking out trying to figure out what to do, and I totally didn´t believe them. Then Elder Markham got a giant kitchen knife and ran in and tackled the chakka and started stabbing it. The chakka? It was a fruit. So that was fun.
Elder Hodges has officially decided to NEVER speak to me in English, even if I don´t understand something, he just tries to explain a different way or use hand motions or I look it up in the dictionary. It makes it difficult, but I will only learn if I stop speaking English and I know this will help me.
More teaching and knocking doors, I understand Elder Hodges better but not much more of the native Brazilians. I can say a little bit more. It´s a very slow process, but it comes from patience, a heck of a lot of hard work, and trusting the Lord.
Ether 12:27 – “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” and Ether 12:6  - “And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”are more applicable now than ever before.
The work is tough but it´s worth it.
I love you all!
Until next time!
Elder Carroll

 

Elder Carroll’s E-mail address:     Jeffrey.carroll@myldsmail.net

Snail mail address: (6 lines)  Elder Jeffrey Benjamin Carroll

                                                 Brazil Joao Pessoa Mission

                                                 Rua Deputado Jose Mariz, 515

                                                Tambauzinho

                                                58042-020 Joao Pessoa – PB 

                                                Brazil

 

 

HEY EVERYONE, GUESS WHAT??? I'M IN BRAZIL!

August, 17, 2015

HEY EVERYONE, GUESS WHAT????? IM IN BRAZIL!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!! Okay so this is gonna be a long e-mail because I’m including the stuff that happened my last week in the MTC and what's happened since I’ve been in Brazil.

 First, my last week in the MTC. I went to the Provo Temple for the last time for two years, which is sad because it is so important to me, but I know I’ll be back in no time. The temple truly is a beautiful place and I am so grateful for it. President Nelson of the quorum of the Twelve spoke to us tonight for the devotional and it was awesome. He didn´t say anything we couldn´t say, it was very simple. But he spoke with authority and power, and I know everyone in the room was feeling it. I got to do some teaching/spend more time with Elder Bradshaw in my district. This last week and he´s really helped me to be optimistic. He´s really good at the language, is a hard worker, and is a good friend, and I´ve really enjoyed working more closely with him this week. I had my last lessons with my investigators Jose and Manuela and it´s so amazing to see how they´ve progressed from the first time we taught them. Along with that, I said my goodbyes to my teachers, Sister Sandholtz and Brother Belchior. I´m really gonna miss them ,they both taught me so much about how to be the best missionary and best person I ca. It´s awesome how much I know I’ll use what they taught me in the field.
I´m not gonna go into details cause I don´t have time, but the Lord worked another miracle on Sunday. It´s amazing to see what he can do for us. Sunday was a day of goodbyes, and that was really, really difficult. I’ve made so many amazing friends here at the MTC and I´m gonna miss them a lot. But most people I’ll see again at BYU, so it´s okay. It didn´t hit me that I was leaving until I got on the plane for Brazil. I was glad to be travelling with two people I knew, Elder Summers and Sister Stowell, and then we were joined by another missionary, Sister Rammell.
When I got to Brazil, holy cow. Everything is Portuguese and I have no idea what is going on. They had a church person there for me to make sure I knew where to go, then I said my goodbyes to my American friends and I was on my own.  A Group of Elders also going to my mission talked to me a little at the gate and I didn´t understand anything. The accents combined with the speed of natives prove to be very difficult. But I saw one Sister I knew from the Provo MTC, Sister Wheatley, who helped me out a bit.
Then was my flight to Joao Pessoa and the beginning. I met my mission president, and he´s nice. Brazil is a lot different from the US, obviously. Basically there was dinner and orientation and driving around the city and I had no idea what anyone was saying or anything that was going on. This first week has honestly been difficult beyond description. It´s gonna take a lot of faith, patience, trust in the Lord, and hard work until I become the missionary I want to be. My trainer, Elder Hodges, is an American, but he speaks like a native, and he makes me speak Portuguese all the time, which is good but also extremely frustrating. This area is very poor, and I’m actually glad to be living in a different lifestyle then I’m used to, it´s very humbling. The people are great, very nice. So I did the usual, tracting, appointments with investigators and members, street contacting, the whole bit. I can barely contribute, but I give input when I can. We had a baptism on Sunday, the person had already committed before I got here but I’m glad to have been a part of it. Food is good, although my stomach needs to adjust. I’m sorry I am short on details right now, I don’t have much time. But ya, think that´s about it. Very difficult, but I know I’ll be blessed.
Until next week!
Love you all!
Elder Carroll

final week at the MTC with our teacher Sister Sandholtz

 

final week at the MTC with Brother Belchoir

 

with Brother Belchoir

 

2 Carroll boys at the MTC - with my cousin (1st cousin once removed actually) Austin

 

Elder Carroll made it to Brazil & into his mission's monthly newsletter

I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS, I'M GOING TO BRAZIL!!!

August 4, 2015

I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS, I'M GOING TO BRAZIL!!!!!!!! I was so thinking that I was gonna go stateside, but it turns out the Lord has different plans. Yes, I am nervous, but if I've learned one thing since being at the MTC, it's that there is a reason for everything and the Lord always knows more than I do. I feel incredibly blessed to have been at the Provo MTC for the past 5 weeks (plus one more week this upcoming week), being able to be in a familiar area with friends and being close to BYU and being able to speak English and such, but now it's my time to go and serve the people of Brazil. It's an incredible honor and I know with the Lord on my side, I'll be alright.

Okay, my week. I entered the MTC on July 1st and it is now August 4th, which means I've been here over a month! Crazy! The time really does go by fast and you have to make the most of it. I had a couple of rough days in the week where I just wasn't in the best mood and it seemed like everyone was better at Portuguese than me. But it's all about confidence and not comparing yourself to other people, in the mission field and in life. We all learn at a different pace and I'm exactly where the Lord needs me to be with my Portuguese. I have had an incredible amount of support, kindness, and respect from the people in my zone and I am so grateful for that and will use it to motivate me to not be too hard on myself and just work to do my best.

I got a little bit of the “real world” this week, I went with another Elder to the hospital because his companions stitches from his tonsil surgery opened up and he had to have them looked at. It was a little worrisome, but he had a great attitude about it, and he was sitting and studying Portuguese while he was waiting around. If that's not dedication, I don't know what is.

I lost my scriptures case which had not only my quad but also my PMG and a Portuguese vocab book in it, so I was really distraught and unfocused, but I prayed really hard and I was able to find it again, thank goodness! Heavenly Father really does answer prayers if we are humble and sincere, I promise you all that.

Sunday sacrament meeting was great because it was testimony meeting and I always love hearing people's testimonies and bearing my own. A couple of people from the zone did a beautiful acapella rendition of "Nearer My God to Thee" that brought me to tears, and it was just a really good day, much in contrast to earlier that week.

Another group of missionaries left this morning and yesterday, which is sad as always, but they are all gonna do great out in the field.

Well, next time you all hear from me, I'll be in Brazil, so wish me luck! I know I'm doing what I'm supposed to and that Jesus Christ is my Savior.

I'm so grateful for all of my many blessings.

Thank you all for your support, until next time! - Elder Carroll

 

NH boys reunite - Elders Nimmo (Mozambique) & Carroll (Brazil)

Always look up

Temple time with the new crew

the new crew

more temple time

 

Another Week!

                                                                                                              July 28. 2015

Hello Everyone!

So I had another couple of friends come into the MTC! Elder Bates, Elder Sabey, Sister Froisland, Sister Farrer, Sister Frisch, Elder Nelson, and Elder Nimmo who is in my zone. Always awesome seeing familiar faces here at the MTC.

I know I forgot some stuff from last week, so I apologize if any of the is stuff I've already said, but last week when we went to the temple, we got breakfast and temple breakfast is AMAZING. We got it when we went again today, soooo goood.

A bunch of people left are zone last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and I was sad to see them go, but then we got a whole bunch of new people which was great. I got to work traffic on Wednesday for all the missionaries getting dropped off and it was pretty fun. It was a little sad because seeing all the emotional family members made me a little homesick, but I know I'm here to serve the Lord and I'm right where I should be!

Because one of my teacher's, Sister Sandholtz, was out of town all week, we had Sister De Campos and she was fantastic. Incredibly spiritual, incredibly insightful, just what I needed.

Two of the new Elders moved into our room, Elder Bott and Elder Stewart, they're cool. Although room situation is changing up again. So this morning, two Elders left that were part of a trio so the one Elder left, Elder Ebert, has become another companion of mine! I've had four comps in 4 weeks, craziness! But he's a great guy and I'm happy to have him. To keep it simple, I'm comps with Elder Kunz and Elder summers still during class time, but every other time of the day I'm comps with Elder Ebert. I'm just glad I've liked all the comps I've had so far.

Last night I was able to participate in some blessings for some missionaries leaving, and it was definitely nice and spiritually enriching to be involved in that again. More Portuguese learning, more soccer and volleyball, ya know, the usual.

But something big happened a few days ago. To keep it simple, let me all tell you that we need to be selfless and constantly working to help, care for, and serve others. Life isn't about you; it's about blessing other people’s lives and making the world a better place. This is especially true as a missionary. Time is precious, don't waste it, make every moment worth something, don't hold grudges, and make sure you always let your friends and family know how much you love them. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love all of us and will never give us anything that we can't handle. You are never alone. I hope you all are doing well, keep on pressing forward.

Sincerely,

Elder Carroll

Attending the temple on P-Day - Priceless!

with Elder Joseph Nelson

so great to help out The Nelson Family on arrival day

 

3 weeks down , 3 weeks to go!

July 21, 2015

3 weeks down, 3 weeks to go! I'm half-way done my time at the MTC!

That first week was definitely the hardest and things dragged for sure, but since then it has been going a lot quicker and things have been a lot better. My branch is great, Portuguese is starting to come along, I'm starting to get the hang of things.

Okay my week. Like I said before, half our district left for Brazil and I do miss them a lot, but it is easier to focus and get work done with only three. We've made a lot of progress this week, we've had a few lessons with our investigators Manuela and Jose, and one with Claudia and they've all gone pretty well. I'm able to go in and not look at notes and do a pretty good job explaining doctrinal points and how I feel. It's a very satisfying feeling, but I know for sure it's all because of my Heavenly Father, Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Without their guidance, I could do nothing. I became a District Leader which is exciting, it doesn't give me a ton to do in the MTC but I definitely need to set the example. Oh and I forgot to bring my journal to the computer and that has all the stuff that happens in the week, so I may forget some stuff and will have to add more next week. Sorry!

Almost all of the people from our branch going to Africa left yesterday, today, or tomorrow which is sad, but they were great and I know they'll be amazing missionaries. On Sunday at church, a few of us Elders sang Come Thou Fount and it is one of the best experiences I've had here so far. The song brought me to tears and I'm so grateful I have a Savior Jesus Christ who died for my sins that I could be clean again and return to him and my Heavenly Father.

On a less spiritual but still singing note, before everyone left yesterday, we all gathered in a circle and sang Bohemian Rhapsody in a very out of tune and off key manner at the top of our lungs and it was amazingly fun. We did it a little bit in the cafeteria earlier but that was just a warm up. Some people took videos; hopefully we can fit it into an e-mail. You'll all get it if we can.

Well, that's all my brain is remembering for now.

Love you all!  I love it when you write me letters and send me e-mails!
Sincerely, Elder Carroll

 

Here is his communication information at least for the next 3 weeks

Jeffrey.carroll@myldsmail.net
Dearelder.com
Unit 97 Mission code BRA-JP Departure date AUG 11

 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – lyrics

Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
I'll praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thy help I come
And I hope by thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wondering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above

outside the Provo Temple

 

Week 2!

Week 2!                                                                                   July 14, 2015

2 weeks down! This second week went by so much faster, so that was nice, and honestly, I'd say it was a better week than last! Okay, so starting with last Tuesday after I got off e-mail, Spencer J. Condie of the Seventy spoke to us for devotional and it was great! I'd heard him speak before and it was high quality. We had a mini testimony meeting in our district after that and it was really powerful. Next day was a little rough cause we had to be up at 5:45 for a 6:15 service project, I was exhausted the rest of the day. Sister Sandholtz (our teacher) came back from Colorado, so that's nice. I participated in my first zone tie draft! It pretty much is exactly what it sounds like. Everyone who wants to plays a tie out on the floor and writes their name on a small piece of paper that gets put in to a box. Shake that box up, draw names, and pick ties. This one was a "low quality" tie draft, but I feel pretty happy with the one I got. Thursday we had our last lesson with Abraao and I was finally able to do a large chunk of the lesson without looking at my notes! It seriously felt so good, even though I made a lot of mistakes. We got a new batch of people for our district and they're all nice, so woohoo for that! Now Friday, Friday is a day I'll remember.

So our investigator, Abraao, was just a member posing as an investigator, and Friday he became one of our daily teachers along with Sis. Sandholtz. We all knew that was going to happen, but we didn't know his story. I won't go into details, but he completely changed his life and his attitude from when he was in the MTC to the time he got out into the field and became such an incredible and hardworking missionary. The Lord can work miracles my friends. He has been through so much and grown so much and it is so inspiring. Friday also had another strong experience, we were able to watch the broadcast of President Boyd K. Packer's funeral and it was very strong. It was so focused on hope and happiness, that death is simply another step in our existence, and that families can be together forever. I'm so glad to have that knowledge.

Okay so Saturday, funniest thing happened. An Elder and a Sister were getting way too close in the cafeteria, they were standing up and everyone could see them, and after about 10 minutes, someone pulled out the Missionary Handbook and opened to the page that talked about appropriate actions between Elders and Sisters and the whole caf started clapping and cheering, so so funny.

Sunday I blessed the Sacrament in Portuguese, so that was definitely cool. We said goodbye to 6 of our missionaries today who got their reassignments,, I'm going to miss them. Also, this morning, Tuesday, Elder's Schmidt, Bourgeous, and St. Gelais of our district left for Brazil. We've had some great times in these two weeks and I'm going to miss them a lot, but they're on to bigger and better things.

Write me and send me Dear Elders guys! I'd love to hear from all of you!

Thanks for all your support! Till next week

 - Elder Carroll

District with Sister Sandholtz (?)

At the temple

our awesome district

with Bruce Nilsson

 

 

my address

Elder Jeffrey Benjamin Carroll
AUG 11 BRA-JP
2007N 900E unit 97
Provo, UT 84602