Milton-Freewater - Life in the Mission

Hello family, friends, and friends of friends that might be investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!

I am just finishing up my 2nd month in the Washington Kennewick Mission. Currently, I am in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. A very small town in north eastern part of the state. The work here is picking up well. Not a whole lot of lessons being taught yet, but I feel like our tracting is really helping find those who want to be taught about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just a thought to all the future missionaries out there, you will be learning just as much as the people you teach! It was a very humbling experience my first few weeks and still is. I learn something new everyday. Everything you know about the gospel so far in your life seems so small compared to the amount you learn as you serve the lord. I am not joking. It's a whole new perspective that you have when you are on a mission. It seems like I get by from day to day, just when I am able to find at least one person that day that seeking the truth. Feeling the spirit is all that matters, even when you get a few doors slammed in your face or if you get called a few questionable words haha but it is all worth it. I haven't been taking a bunch of pictures, but I am trying to get better at that to show yall how it looks out here. We have 2 investigators that are so close to being baptized! It gets pretty frustrating when they have been taught all the lessons, but have one or two doubts that they dwell on heavily. That's why praying and scripture study is so important! He listens to, and answers prayers. You just have to be willing to listen and act on the answer to receive. My first transfer (my first 6 weeks) is about over! Maybe I will get transferred back west where all the trees are ;)

And just to let yall know, my best friend Winston Daniels got his call to serve in the Guatemala, Guatemala City Mission! My other best friends, Andy Pehrson and Kevin Lee will be serving in Stockholm, Sweeden and Las Vegas, Nevada! Keep up the good work boys.

Love,
Elder Carroll

p.s. I welcome letters from EVERYONE I know. just saying :D

Milton-Freewater, Oregon

This post is by Rod for Brett.

Brett has been writing every week, but he has not written a letter to post so I will try and give the highlights. The area he is in now is poor. He says he realizes how blessed our family is. They have run into some opposition from a few people. "On Sunday while we were tracting, we were talking to this one guy (he looked like a stoner) around 26 or 27 years old, at 5:00 pm he was still in his AC/DC pajamas and was polite in declining our message. As soon as we were walking out of his driveway, he ran inside, turned up his hardcore metal music to the point that the house was going to start shaking, he came out on the porch and starting screaming "KILL THE CHRISTIANS!!" over and over again. I never looked back. If I had, I would've wanted to punch him in the mouth." He is learning patience and how to turn the other cheek.

His companion is very quiet/shy and this is very frustrating to Brett that he does not talk. He does feel lonely at times. He has enjoyed helping some less active families in his Ward which has been the highlight so far. "I am pressing forward with faith" he said.

If you have time, please write Brett. He would love to hear from his friends.