From: Braydon Carter <braydon.carter@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Aug 20, 2018 at 1:57 PM
Subject: Sit down, be humble 08/20/2018
Hello all! I hope you are all doing so well! I’ve been getting emails from some of you and it sounds like life back home is going well! I heard that Lehi isn’t off to the best start as far as football, but I know our StuCo and Sports Marketing are killing it, as usual. Once a Pioneer always a Pioneer. Go Lehi! And good luck for everyone starting school today. I know that so many of you are about to go into some of the best years of your life. As I have always said, you only have 3 years of high school. Make the best of it, stay out late, wake up early, join clubs, and go make the best memories of your life. 3 years.
This week was full of so many growing experiences that help my conversion more and more, as well as give me an opportunity to grow as a person. I think you’ll all be a little shocked when I come home, I’m like learning organization, I rarely forget things, and I’ve made my bed every day. Watch out world. Because I’m surrounded by so many examples of teaching methods, others growing, others failing, as well as being surrounded by many diverse people that I’ve been able to people watch. I have started a “book” of all my observations that I think may be able to help others in growing, leading and growing. I call it “The Growing Giant.” I may start putting all my thoughts on Google Drive and share them as they come. I’m hoping to use all these experience to help me as I strive to be a public speaker.
Here are some crazy things that happened through out this week. First, I want to start off with one of the most humbling stories I was able to hear just yesterday. As my companion and I were heading back to our room to drop off our stuff for choir, I noticed all the Chinese Filipinos all in one room just talking. (All of them have good English, but it’s very evident they have a special connection, and they love speaking to each other in Tagalog.) My companion told me he needed 5 minutes, so I peaked into their room to see what was up. The 空長老 ( Elder Cabaleao ) told me I needed to here this other Elder's story. So I sat down, and asked to hear it. He told me about his conversion, and how he is the only member in his family. Not only is he the only member but his family have leadership positions in different churches. To say the least they weren’t very supportive of his decision. As he turned 18, he started to fill out his papers and realized that he had no idea how it was going to be paid for. So he paused doing his papers and decided to get to work. HE WORKED FOR 2 YEARS SAVING FOR HIS MISSION! He told us it’s something that he needed to do so he went to work. Then he turned 20 years old and was ready to go, all he needed was parent consent. He took the papers to his mom, she signed them, then started to get frustrated at him, asking him what the point was, and then stopped talking to him for a week. FOR A WEEK. He said he tried and tried and his mom would just not talk to him. HIS MOM. At this point I was already emotional and felt super grateful for the support. Then he continued to say that after that point going home was awful. There was always contention, arguments, and he just didn’t want to remember his family that way. So he decided just not to spend time at home. He would either work or be doing things with the members. Then he would come home late at night and sleep. This went on for a while. He talked about when there were a couple times he slept at the bishop's house because he was scared of going home. Can you imagine how awful that would be. Then he got his call, and he was scared and unsure of how to tell his mom. He didn't want her to be mad. So, he opened his papers alone and told her later when the time was right. Here I was concerned people wouldn't want to come to my call opening and this Elder felt like he couldn't even tell his OWN MOM. Talk about being humbled. I am so blessed for all the support. Here comes the worst part... He said as time went on, he got the things he could afford, packed his bags and it was time to go. He told me that he returned to his house to say goodbye to his mom. As she was cooking, or doing dishes, or what ever it was, he went up and hugged her from behind. She didn't turn around, she just said, "You do what ever you want to do!" and then he walked out. THE LAST TIME HE WILL SEE HIS MOM FOR 2 YEARS AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN HUG HIM BACK. He then left. He has been here for almost 6 weeks and the only person in his family that has emailed him back is his sister. His Mom and Dad haven't. Then to end his story he said, I know I need to do this, and my family will be blessed. He continued and said, I don't think I'll be able to return home. I have no idea what will happen after I finish my mission, but I know God will help me. I know I can trust him. TALK ABOUT FAITH! I was immediately humbled and became so excited to serve. I from that point decided I needed to forget myself and go to work. This Elder gave up everything, including his family to be here. I think I can stop worrying about whether or not I will buy a home right when I get home. As he said, "I can trust God, he will take care of the rest". I challenge my self and all of you to have faith like this Elder. As we do so I know our lives will become so much happier and be blessed.
Keep in mind that I heard that just yesterday after a "hard" week of news and challenges. I'll explain:
First, myself and all the Singapore Elders were very lost and confused on when we were actually leaving for Singapore. Most of us were told the 27th of this month, but others told the 3rd of September. I asked a member of my branch presidency and he said he had down the 27th, but some of us were still in doubt. So, I being the impatient person I am thought, "Hey! I'll just email the Mission President" which I have now found out is not the correct way to handle things. XD It causes communication problems, as well as incorrectly follows the keys of authority throughout the mission here at the MTC. But anyways here was his response:
Dear Elder Carter,
It is good to hear from you. Barring any change of itinerary and flights, your scheduled departure from the US is September 3, arriving Singapore around noon September 5th. I will be there to greet you. I would love to Skype in with your class if your instructor will allow and I can answer all your questions. As to Mandarin, you will have an opportunity to speak and teach in mandarin but there are many dialects here and most Chinese use English. You will most likely serve in East and West Malaysia and Singapore.
We are excited to serve with you.
Love, President Rowley
When I first saw that, I was not excited. I was counting down the day's and getting stoked for the end of this part of my mission, when, in the matter of minutes, I had 6 days added and a whole bunch of motivation lost. But, as the day went on, I started to realize how much of a blessing this is, and no everything to missionaries doesn't have to be a blessing. But no legit it is. I am going to have a whole week that isn't very full of activity where I can just sit down, focus, and learn a ton! I'll be able to practice a whole lot, and really strengthen the relationship with the Elders going to Singapore. I'm actually looking forward to that time!
Oh man! I just have too many stories from this week. My dad keeps joking that as soon as I get sent out to my mission, I won't be adding this many things to my email. But I am honestly concerned I'll be writing more! I honestly love writing and letting you know all about my experiences. So thank you for those that diligently read. Let's get on with the stories.
On Tuesday night, we were able to have Elder Kearch from the 70 come and talk to us. Him and his wife gave amazing talks. They talked all about how comparisons and competition in the mission field is a very dangerous and can be a painful thing. It can either make you feel superior or inferior, both of which can lead to hard feelings. I love what his wife said though. She said to use comparisons in order to see the good in others, and learn from their good and turn it into your own. Not to feel bad or put your self higher than them, but to see how other people do things and then learn from yourself what you can do. I wrote all about that in my book.
Then, on Thursday night, we had a super awesome experience as well. We had our live TRC's which have been going so well, and seriously so full of the spirit. But that's not the cool part. So, we all went back to our class at around 7 and we asked our teacher what we were going to do the rest of the night. She replied saying something different. We then sat down and she said, "I'm really struggling with a lot of things" and she listed them off. She said, "I need your help. Use the Book of Mormon and see how you can help me." It was so cool! It felt so genuine, and the spirit was so strong. I had a wrestling match with myself to open my mouth. I finally did and some of the kids in class said what I said was amazing. That it really helped them. It just goes to show that God has a plan and he needs everyone's help in this work. All we need to do is open our mouths.
This week I also had some really great ups and downs with learning Chinese. There was days I learned 60+ words, and days I couldn't learn anything. I tried pushing myself too much at one point in the week, trying to memorize a bunch of characters, and it just ended up leaving me frustrated and not accomplishing anything. If there is one thing I love about the MTC it is how much you can grow through the Atonement. I have learned so much that daily goal setting, and following up at night can literally make the night and day difference for helping you grow. I actually love failing here because it just gives me the opportunity to get closer to success. I only have 2 weeks left, and every week I get better and better! Also, I was super concerned about whether or not I was actually going to speak any Chinese on my mission. I get worried about it almost daily. But as I was going through the week, I had many experiences where I had remembered I have been called to teach in Chinese. God will prepare and provide the opportunities for me to do it. Then, at the end of the week I ran into a missionary from Malaysia whose first language is Chinese. He told me they speak it quite often. I got so hyped. I know God put that Elder in my life at the right time to calm my storms. It was pretty cool.
As you can see this week was full of humbling experiences that all just go back to trusting God and his work. He will take care of the rest and He will use you in ways that he sees fit! I seriously love you all so much! Thank you for all the support and help over the last 2 months! I am so excited to share with you the next 22!
I love all of you so much,
Elder Carter
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