Dear fam,
I cant tell you how excited i am for my new area! i am serving in Orange Park, FL which is right across the St. John's River and a bit south. Its connected to Jacksonville but is kind of a separate city. Here's my new address:
2020 Wells Rd. #25G
Orange Park, FL 32073
My new companion is awesome! His name is Elder Williams. Ive talked to him several times before but havent really served around him. This is actually his last transfer of his mission! He is from Buffalo, NY. He was switched spanish after 9 months into his mission and speaks the best spanish i have heard from any other missionary. He is really cool and we get along really well. He is probably the most Christ like companion i have had so i think i am going to learn a lot from him. He is also the district leader here. This area has been on fire for a while and theres a lot of potential here. We set a goal of 12 baptisms for the transfer. Neither of us have ever gotten it before and if we get twelve my comp will reach his mission goal of baptisms. We prayed about it and the spirit strongly confrimed that it was right. I have really been working on desire and the faith to believe that it is possible. I have no doubt that we can reach it if we truly desire it and work hard enough. And after yesterday we only need 11 more! Miracle!!! A member here met a Cuban guy fishing and starting a gospel conversation with him and then referred him to Elder Williams last monday. They taught him and set a baptism date with him for the 23rd, this next weekend, then we taught him the plan of salvation on friday and he was so prepared. He had a complete change of heart and has been reading the book of mormon like crazy. He is already in 2 Nephi! During the lesson and had a small impression that he is ready to be baptized now but didnt want to say anything cause i wasn't sure how my comp would feel. Then the next day we were talking and Elder Williams had the same thought and said how would you feel about baptizing him tomorrow instead. i told him that's what i felt during the lesson and we prayed about it and got a confirmation that it was the Lord's will. So when the guy came to church on sunday i pulled him to the side after sunday school and asked how he would feel about being baptized right after church and he said, "whenever you want is fine with me, im ready anytime!" We had an awesome service and he was baptized and confirmed right after. He is so awesome and has such a strong testimony already of the book of mormon and the church. He said that before he even met us he knew there had to be one true church. He talked to some friends that told him all churches were true and he went to several but just couldn't believe it. Then as soon as he met us he said he knew that he had found the truth. And then to add to the miracle, another miracle, the same member that referred us to this guy has a 13 or 14 yr old girl living with thier family. her parents moved to Puerto Rico but she needed to finish the school year here so she is staying with them for now. She hasnt been taught anything by missionaries but has gone to church a couple times with the family. We visited the family on sat. and shared our goals with them and told them and told them they should set a goal of how many people they want to bring into the church(they are recent converts of only 6 months!) So that night when the girl got home they started teaching her more and commited her to be baptized next sunday and she agreed! They told us about it the next day at church and i was amazed! If only all the members of the church had the faith and courage and boldness to simply teach and invite their friends and family into the gospel. Most of the spanish members here are recent converts of the past year and a half. It is actually an english ward as well and this last year they finally got enough spanish members to have a separate sacrament meeting, sunday school and priesthood/relief society in spanish. It is very close to being made into its own branch. There are 9 missionaries that serve in this ward! Thats incredible! Our entire district plus another spanish companionship serve in the same ward. The bishop is also awesome! He is one of the most spiritual men i have ever met and really knows how to inspire and uplift us. His name is Steve Ross. He is Puerto Rican but grew up in NY and only learned spanish about 5 years ago. He grew up in an orphanage and didnt learn how to read till he was 25 and now he speaks 2 languages. He converted when he was 27. He reminds me a lot of Pres. Newman and has a lot of trust in the missionaries. This sat. We get to hear Elder Nelson speak to us which i am really excited for. I have learned so much in the last few days here! I know this is where the Lord needs me right now and there are so many people prepared here.
My back has been doing much better. They still havent called to schedule the MRI. Im not sure i actually need it but i think i better be sure cause i dont want to mess around with my back. I actually didnt know you guys changed your cell phone numbers. Thats why they didnt work when i tried to call! Well thats about all thats new. Keep up the hard missionary work! You'll find someone there who will be receptive! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Carty
Elder Carty
Oh yeah,
Love,
Elder Carty
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