Deaf Dude, Christ & Happiness

So on request from my mother, this is gonna be a looooong email. Let me start at last week, the Wednesday before Christmas, we were tracking in an area and trying to find out where a Former Investigator lived. While we were walking and knocking, a pit bull and a bulldog came up and started licking us to death. We were kinda nervous because of the pit bull but he turned out to be a friendly dog. They followed and jumped on us for a few hundred yards at least. While they were with us, we stopped to talk to a nice man named D. He was deaf, I forgot how much sign language I actually knew. The words were just flowing through my hands, I thought of the sign and they did it. I was so very excited after our conversation. He kept asking if they were our dogs, but we ended up talking about the gospel and I figured out that he is actually from Utah. He is a baptist, he is only a baptist because the pastor signs while he talks. He wasn't too interested in the gospel but he wanted me to come back just because he was really excited to see that someone else could sign. I was really happy to because it is exhilarating to speak in another language. I really want to be transferred to an ASL missionary, I heard that there is a deaf ward in Palmdale but we dont have signing missionaries over there.

Christmas day was the coolest experience EVER! We went to see some investigators who had actually made me German Potatoes, they got the recipe off the internet. I almost cried I was so happy, German Potatoes are my trunky food haha. They made them for us and we just talked about life, we heard lots of gang stories from them. They are both from the bay area so they have some sketchy stories to tell!

 We then went over to the Leroy's house to visit them because she was having a very bad day, we went over there to cheer her up and found that she had tricked us into coming over. She wanted us to come over because she had Christmas gifts for us. She made me chocolate chip cookies, and bought me a coat. A NICE COAT!!!!! I flipped out cause it was awesome, it helps so much because it gets really really cold at night and in the mornings. During the day is has gotten around 50 or 60 but it gets down into the teens at night. So this whole month I have just been running everywhere because Im freezing and wanna keep moving, but now I have a coat so I can actually enjoy night time. The winter stars are my favorite, I can pick out a lot more constellations and cool stuff in the sky!

 I may have told everyone this already but our main investigators B and Z, asked me last week if I would baptize them. I of course said yes but I was so thrilled and excited! I also learned that day, that Zac wanted to serve a mission. He is 21 right now and wouldnt be able to go for another year, but still! I was so excited to hear that, he would have to be sent somewhere cold because he has tattoos everywhere, but Im still excited for him.

 I went on exchanges last friday, we went with the Spanish Elders. Elder C went with Elder A (the DL) and I stayed in Rosamond with Elder G (DLB) Honestly me and Elder G talked about girls the entire day. Nothing else, just girls, it was kind of nice to take a break! We met this guy named shawn who literally just wanted to bible bash with us. I dont like bashing, because it doesnt build faith, it only tears it down. However, bashing is a big temptation sometimes because people can be so stupid! I have started using the Book of Mormon for that though. (which in turn frustrates people more, but it doesnt tear down thier faith in christ) Every concern anyone could have with our church can be resolved in the Book of Mormon. every single one!

 Last week on monday we went gold mining. We actually found a few gold flakes! We also went into this huge tunnel that this little midget dude made. It is a half mile long, but it is not meant for tall people! It was super sketchy because there were all these lead off tunnels that people would go smoke weed in.They all smelled like weed, it isnt a great smell.

 So that is all the significant things that happened in the last two weeks. The other events are just tracting and trying to find more people to teach. I hope yall had a Merry Christmas, and hope yall have a Happy New Year! Love you guys!

 Elder Taylor Carper

Following Promptings

My main goal of writing a group letter is to let all of you know about some of my cool experiences.  One in particular was super awesome.  One of our investigators, B, is a super lady who is on a 60 foot oxygencord in her house.  Her grandsom, Z, is messed up.  He is a super good 21 year old dude who had a horrible childhood and doesn't really trust us very much.  Last Thursday, we had a rainstorm and the power went out in the whole city.  We had a prompting to go check on B because when the power goes out, so does her  oxygen.  We drove over at like 9:45 and realized quickly that it was Z who needed us.  He was really stressed, and once he realized how much we truly loved him and B, he opened up to us like never before.  We gave him a blessing and left.  Eveer since, he has kept all his commitments and desires to be baptized.  I just think it's super cool to see how The Lord works!  I wanted to share that with all of you.:)  Being able to recognize and follow promptings of the Spirit is probably my favorite part of being a missionary.  Good things ALWAYS happen when you follow a prompting form the Spirit!

Love,
Elder Carper

Best Week Ever!

This past week has easily been the best week of my mission so far. It started out super solid last monday, I got a package from my parents for Elder H's birthday. I got chocolate chip cookies! I was really happy about that! We went to do our laundry at a members house and she gave us both a bunch of rolls, candy, and pie! The next day was our temple day, we drove an hour and a half down to the LA temple. I honestly have never been so scared while in a car in my life! I also have never seen so many nice cars... Anyways, we finally got to the temple and it was HUGE!! We went into the visitors center and talked to the sisters in there. One is from Syracuse, I didnt know her but we knew the same people. In the temple, instead of staying in one room, we actually moved from room to room as we were in the different stages. It was really cool. We went to the distribution center and it was the size of my closet back home. So we just ordered everything we needed! We stopped at Denny's on the way home in LA and the Server guy had a rolex on, we were a little confused but its LA so whatever! Thursday was thanksgiving day, we started the day out well! At 1130 am we had a ward Turkey Bowl game, it was super lame that I had to play with the Old dudes in the Elders Quorum. I realized today why Elder H was only a linemen...that kid cannot run to save his life. After the football game, we had 4 dinners planned. We tried to budget what we ate in the first three so that we didn't die in the 4th dinner. Ya it did not go as planned...our 4th dinner canceled on us and I almost cried because I was so happy! I was soo ridiculously full! Good food though! The members gave Elder H and I 2 pumpkin pies, an apple pie, 2 cans of cool whip, and a tub of Vanilla Ice cream. We are pretty well taken care of! Here are some of the pictures from the temple! I love you guys and hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Elder Carper

There are a lot of pictures but ya its all awesome!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things I am thankful for:  Taco Bell, mt dew, toilet paper, sports, news, members, FEBREEZE, being in a car, having a bike, short sleeve shirts, dry weather, trees....basically anything green.  I'm grateful for clouds, especially rain.  I am extremely thankful for email, computers, phones and skype.  I am grateful for the Spirit and the opportunity I have to see Him work inside of people and allow them to change through the atonement.  I am thankful for spiritual experiences and for promptings.  I am grateful to be able to ear a nametag and serve His mission.  I am especially grateful for family, it's hard being away from home especially during TG and Christmas.  The members are doing a lot to help us out though so that is nice.  I would go into more detail, but you know I hate cheesiness so I'm leave it at family.  Thank you specifically Mom for taking such good care of me while I'm out here.  You honestly have no idea how nice it is to have a Mom like you.  Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

-Elder Carper