5/3/10

'ello mates!

Well this week has been pretty good. Better than the last few! Especially today! We just happened to watch Tiger Woods play at The Players Championship at Sawgrass in the PGA Tour! Well it was only a practice round. The actual tournament starts on thursday but the players are practicing all week and we got free tickets to watch today! Golf isnt too exciting but i got some good pictures of Tiger Woods and the course is absolutely amazing! Its rated the worlds #2 best and nicest golf course. Its in Ponte Vedra by the beach. I felt like i was a millionaire walking around there cause im pretty sure everyone else there was. We had a Benefactor pass and got to go in the clubhouse and get special seating. At every door there are people in suits who open up the door for you and greet you as you walk in. It was ridiculous! The member that gave us the tickets met us there and bought us each a photo. There was also a small hole that you could shoot at to win an ipod touch. You had to chip it over about 80 feet of water to a small island and the person with the closest shot at the end of the day wins. Elder Danielson got 6 inches away from the hole and got second place! The first place winner was like 11! I only tried twice cause i couldnt chip the ball more than 3 feet off the ground. lol. Then we went to Cici's pizza buffet and then to the library. i got some major sun today! I dont really burn very much in Florida and if i do it only lasts a couple hours and it turns into a tan. I think its cause its such low elevation here.

We went down to St. Augustine 2 days this week to visit members and see if we could find some hispanics down there. We had some really good lessons with the members there and they are getting excited about missionary work. We also met 2 cool guys from Mexico and actually set baptismal dates with them and they have read a lot and prayed but they had to work last min on sunday. They dont have a ride to church and the members down there already have a 40 min drive to church and these guys would add an extra half hour just to pick them up. We arent sure if we will be able to see them again or not cause its so far away and i dont know how they would get to church. We may see if there is someone in the St Aug ward that can translate for them. I finally ran into the last two guys i baptized who havent been to church for a while and they are mad at us for some reason and have fallen into old habits and dont want to come back to church. I honestly feel like they just went for a while to see if they could get money or soemthing. I know they had a small testimony but its completely gone now and i doubt they'll ever come back. That really stinks. Im tired of teaching all these single hispanic guys who only care about work and drinking. Thats literally all they do with most of their life here which is really sad. I want to find a family to teach who actually has something to live for and wants to do something with their life. On saturday we were challenged to get 100 lessons that day. I didnt think it was possible but starting at 10:00 at the flea market and contacting there for 4 hours. Then tracting a lot and contacting at a hispanic store 3 different times and driving through complexes and jumping out at every sign of a hispanic. But we finally reached it at 9:30 that night! My legs were aching really bad that night from so much walking and running all day. It was fun though and we felt the Spirit really strong that day.

Things are much better in the district here. Everything was resolved and compromised at district meeting this week cause it was me and several others that were having conflicts with the district leader or others. As far as my back goes i had trouble setting up an appointment last week so i have to call tomorrow to set it up. im going to go to an orthopedic doctor. Its been bothering still, especially each morning but its not extremely bad. I feel like ive gained some weight in the last couple weeks which is not good! lol. The Elder i went to the gym with didnt want to go anymore which stinks. Im already losing muscle! I was eating a lot before because i was working out hard at the gym but now that i stopped and didnt eat less i started gaining weight. This heat here is killing me! It has been ridiculously hot and humid! I think that also may be part of why its so hard to stay focused and motivated cause the heat just drains everything out of you and youre miserable and sweaty and sticky all the time. Just stand outside for 5 min and youll be dripping in sweat! Everything else seems to be going well. I could always use the extra cash but i dont like asking for it. Someone bought us a new washer from the english ward so we can do laundry again!

I cant believe Mothers Day is this week! And i get to call home! It really doesnt feel like its been very long since i talked to you guys last. Im not sure exactly when or where i will call yet but it will probably be around mid afternoon your time. Hopefully ill have a while cause theres a lot i want to talk about like school and options when i get back home. Im really excited to here from everyone! i sent grandma and grandpa cards last week so hopefull they got them. I looked at the Silver Mountain resort website and it looks pretty good! I cant wait to ski when i get back! The first weekend i am going!!! Thats awesome that Daniel Johanson is doing great at BYU! i hope it works out with his girlfriend. The last girl he liked a lot went on a mission too! Oh did you guys ever get those comics i sent a while back about missionaries? Just wondering if you thought they were as funny as i did.

Well time to get going! Happy early Mother's Day mom!

Love,

Elder Carty