Three Weeks and Loving It!

WELCOME TO ELDER NATE CARMEN'S BLOG!

Please bear with us as we learn the skills of blogging!
Thanks to Madi, this was created so we can all enjoy
the many adventures of Nate's mission.
We have already seen so much growth in Nate. He has absolutely loved his time so far in the MTC and has become so passionate about this gospel. We are so excited to be along for the ride!

Elder Williams and Elder Carmen at the Provo Temple

Email from Nate December 23, 2010

Mi familia!! Holy cow!! I did NOT know it was so busy here at the MTC. And by busy I mean, no time to do anything but eat, sleep, and study study study! I thought i was going to have time to write you guys letters and everything, but there is seriously NOW WAY!!! haha but I will make time though! Dad I got your letter! Thank you so much for that! Packages and letters are the GREATEST thing that keeps me going!!! Yes...we tried teaching the first lesson in espanol yesterday...it didnt go so well. But our teacher is pushing us SO hard it is insane!!! But its really good! Everyone around here is saying (including our teachers) that we are WAY ahead of normal missionaries in the 1st week. So that is SUPER good to hear. In my district I feel like I am understanding the language a lot better than others, so its good because I can help them out! The food here is not good, but not bad. Its never exciting to go to the cafeteria except for the break from studying so hard. I have gained 2 pounds in one week. And i found out I am here for ten weeks and leave the 21st of February. But I am running a mile everyday, so that is good! I think I am going to bump that up to 2 miles next week. But I enjoy playing volleyball so much, its a toss up! haha. But no they don't make us do anything like you, we just do whatever we want at gym.

But I sang in the MTC choir at a devotional this Tuesday! we had practice and everything! We were really good! Haha Elder Williams is really good at singing, so its awesome! I feel like all my abilities have been enhanced since I got here to the MTC haha! I sing A LOT better, I play volleyball AMAZINGLY for never playing before! Haha (maybe its a hidden talent) Haha just kiddin, but its been really good!

I can pray, bear my testimony, and simple conversation in Spanish already! It is crazy! I love it!

The spirit has been so strong here! I have never experienced anything like it! I am SO happy I am where I am right now! There isn't anything I would rather be doing than spreading the gospel and bringing others unto Christ. I am so blessed to have grown up in a family with the gospel! I can't wait to find others that are searching for the truth!

Oh real quick! We had our first TRC last night. Teaching the first lesson to an "investigator." It went SO well. He told me and Williams that we were in the top 10 of all people he has heard give him the 1st lesson!!!! Sorry... I know I need to work on my humility, but it just makes me so happy, and boosts my spirits when he told us that! It wants me to keep working hard and hearing that keeps me going! So I want to let you know it went will and that me and Williams work well together and have the spirit with us when we teach!

Thank you guys for everything! I love you all SO much! Have a fun Chri
stmas and know I will be thinking of you! We have like 3 devotionals between Friday and Saturday! So I'm looking forward to see who is coming to talk to us! Love you all!!!

Love, Elder Carmen

Excerpt from Christmas Letter :)

We had a devotional that Elder Russell M. Nelson addressed us at. I was on the fourth row! He actually spoke to us 3 times Christmas weekend. It was awesome! I'll tell you more about it on the email Thursday! But it's been fun here.

Email from Elder Carmen December 30, 2010

Family!

I am doing well! Time is FLYING! I can't believe its been over two weeks! I am running over 10 miles a week now! So that's good! But still averaging 2 more pounds a week! Haha I have to be brief, but this last week went well! We were introduced to new "investigators" this week that we will be working with till we leave. They are our teachers that are very challenging, so that we can be prepared out in the field. We have taught The first lesson (Restoration) twice now at the TRC. Now we are moving onto The Plan of Salvation. I feel like I have learned SO much, and that I've learned everything about a mission! BUT... I've only been studying the FIRST lesson!! Haha there is SO MUCH MORE to be taught and learned! I am excited to learn more and more! The learning will never ever stop! Especially out in the field! Spanish is coming along! It helps A LOT when we try to only speak spanish for the day! (All my lessons from teachers are in Spanish by the way). But we get frustrated and stop eventually. haha

As you know, I went to the Dentist! It was the best Dentist experience ever! No charge either! Anyway.. it was WEIRD going out into the "real world" We've been locked up in the MTC forever! Haha but me and Elder Williams felt a big difference, now being missionaries with our tags and what not! I felt much more protected and watched over!

Mom! good hearing from you! Thank you for the gifts! I mentioned all about that in my letter i sent home... but Elder Williams is from Midland Texas. In my district there are four of us going to Osorno. One going to Rancagua, Chile. Then one elder and three hermanas going to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Then the rest of my zone is going to Spain, Argentina, and El Salvador. My district and zone are WAY cool!! We are all way close and practically family!

Dad! Oh i answered your question in moms... but thanks for writing! Thank you for sharing those wonderful experiences in the MTC!! We sure do study study study! School seems like its going to be a breeze after this! Haha but ya we have gotten quite a bit of snow! They plow it off of the walkways though, so we don't have to walk in too much of it! It snowed for three days straight awhile ago!

Danny!! Yes i have gym everyday for 50 minutes! It is very nice! Good to hear about your christmas! Sounds like you had fun!! I have never thought about the second coming that way!! that is very good to hear, and giving me a good purpose to get out there and bring people unto him! Thank you for writing!

Lindsay! Sounds like you had a good Christmas! The firepit sounds cool! Thanks for passing on the word about Colton and Blake sorry the computer is being weird and i cant do periods or anything but good luck in school

Sorry i cant do periods or any punctuation anymore on the computer its weird but thanks for the email i hope my letters get to you guys i love you all and hope you have a wonderful week

Love Elder Carmen

Here are some fun pictures that we recently received.. enjoy :)

Nate & Elder McGuire.
They both have the same CTR Rings and all..
they were meant to be good buds in the MTC!

"Most of my district and some people from my zone waiting for our laundry! The room is filled with washers and dryers; this is only 1/4 of it! P.S. Today, I raced Elder Bailey on these metal pole things in the ceiling to the left that you see! Haha it was FUN!"



Nate with Pedro, an old buddy from East High School, in the MTC. Pedro left for California January 3, 2010. They said their goodbyes with a long lasting hug. "He is going to be AWESOME!" -Nate



We are all so proud of Elder Carmen.
He is absolutely loving his time in the MTC...

...and he's still the same ol' Nate!!! :)


Let the adventures begin!