Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Devil is a Jerk!

Dear Family and Friends, 1-30-12

To start off on the good notes, I realized some really cool things this week, I´m reaching my potential. I was reading my journal of the first 2 transfers of my mission and I realized I kept writing something like, ¨I´m teaching but I feel I´m missing something." or "I feel a can teach at whole different level and I just can´t reach it." I think I´ve reached it: taking every lesson and making it into a reflection time for the person to really understand that spiritual things. I have the confidence to say I´m reaching my potential! I know I never would have gotten here either if I didn`t work every day. From the very first day I was in the field I´ve worked my tail off, and that really is the trick!

Ok with the bad news, the investigator that was so awesome, Luis B, didn´t gets baptized this weekend. He went to his interview Friday and then he needed another interview sat before his baptism just for the baptism to authorize. He never showed up and since Friday night I haven´t seen him. So be looking for a Luis, and if you find him tell him we love him and are looking for him! lol But really I am very worried, it’s very strange we haven´t found him at his house and hasn´t answered his phone, so I´m praying that he is ok.

Other notes no one came to church yesterday! :-( We had a ton of people that said they would come, we passed by their house and they weren´t there. We had a relative of someone that came and isn´t a member but he´s listened to the missionaries and the problem is his parents.

Ok and the saddest of all, after that wonderful story last week we are having a problem with this family. So the house in which the mom lives isn´t hers it’s her moms. So we have been teaching them there and we saw no problem but Sat. the grandma, as we were walking over there, pulled us off to the side and pretty much tried to bash the church, and say why are you guys coming over to her house and our religion is a lie and a bunch of crap. And every time we tried to say something she wouldn´t listen and cut us off, The saddest part is that she is friends of our recent convert and she was sitting right there too. It was like stabbing a knife in the back of her friend. We said sorry and we won´t visit her home, tried to share our testimonies but we said, we may not be able to use your home but you can´t keep the truth from your family. This family as I said last week, is prepared to here the gospel, I hope they don`t get discouraged because of this and we can teach them in the church by all means.

I did learn something very valuable from this though, I have one super strong convert who after we left there started attacking her, saying we don´t use the bible, we pray to Joseph smith and we don´t believe in God and a bunch of stuff. She told them straight up, "look, you are sinning because you really don´t know what these boys teach, and if I join a church it’s not because of the church it’s because I know that it’s true." She defended her beliefs; I think sometimes we need more members like that, who in a moment of attack defend what they truly know!! Be a defender of Truth.

I had a conversation in a lesson with an investigator who said, I´m doubting my beliefs of my other church and told him, doubt is a good thing, it makes us look for the truth but we must do our part to look and then we can be sure because God lets us know! Be sure of your beliefs! If you’re not sure look for the surety! I know without a doubt in my mind that this church is the true church of God, the only one that teaches the fullness of the Gospel. And oh how I wish everyone could listen to this message and know for themselves that it is true. It’s like the scripture, Oh if I were an angel with the voice of a trumpet. (don´t remember very well the scripture but I´ll find it later!) Alma 29:1

Love you all and I thank you all for your support and blessing that you pour out upon my head! Stay strong and find that testimony within you!

Love you all,

Elder Corbett

Saturday, January 28, 2012

We can be angels of God

Dear family, 1-22-12

This has been a wonderful week for me. I love weeks like this one, me and my companion worked hard. We had a bunch of success during the week and taught a lot of new investigators but I always get a little frustrated when we have a list of 10 or 12 people that promise to come to church and only 5 come. I know 5 came but I want the rest to feel the power of going to church. I´m getting along well with my companion and we are getting things done well.

I had a really wonderful experience this week with a family we got to know. The family´s name is L, a member showed us her house and the mom is living there with her 2 children and her ex-husband lives in another part of lima. but just about a month ago she was walking with her newborn (now in only 1 1/2 months) in a stroller and a car hit the stroller. The baby is doing better but they have been going through a hard time right now in their lives. When we went to their home I felt a very special spirit within those walls. We talked to them of faith and prayer and how this gospel can change there lives. Her only son David who is 11 listened very attentively. We asked the mom how the baby was and she explained everything thing and then I felt and needed to ask the mom how she was doing, and then I asked little David. With tears in his eyes he expressed his concern and love that he has for his little brother and as well his whole family. He brought tears to my eyes and all I knew I could tell this family is that God loves them. We then gave the little baby a blessing of health and the mom and David a blessing of comfort. At the end we asked if David could give the last prayer and he gave a beautiful prayer and in his pray he said, "thank you for these 2 men that have come to our home, in my eyes they are angels sent from thee." My eyes once again filled with tears. I have reflected on that visit since Saturday and his prayer. We can be angels of God, answers to prayers, and blessings from heaven to other people as we follow and live the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. Keep pressing forward with a firm faith and a firm conviction of Jesus Christ that there is a better future for all men, share it for it is why we are here. We are not here for the temporal things we are here for all the spiritual things!

Love you all and god bless those that help the people around them, I as well had a wonderful experience about helping someone that needed help last Monday. But we really are in the service of our god!

Love,

Elder Corbett

This blog is current now, yeah!!! Next Monday will be letter sent that day. Yeah I hope to never get that far behind again, so cheers to hoping it will continue to happen. I cried through this letter. He is such a sensitive guy. We love our Missionary!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Some more success!

Not sure what this picture is all about but Carson looks good.
His face has filled out a bit and he looks happy enough!
Loving his letters, he has turned that corner where he given in to mission life!

Dear Family and Friends, 1-16-12

So this week has been a good week of success and challenges. We don´t have a lot of people that are attending regularly to church (I´m talking about investigators.). so I´m a little concerned if we will meet our goal for this month which is 4 baptisms but we had a baptism and confirmation yesterday and Sat. and we have one for this Sat. So we are looking there and seeing what other people can progress and receive a baptism this month.

OH! so I´m the ET Elder, whenever there is a problem with an Elder just send him with Elder Corbett because I know they will do what they are supposed to do. It’s actually something really cool that the president trusts me a lot that he knows he can stick someone with me and know everything will be ok! Sometimes I get frustrated with my companion especially this week but we are working hard and things are getting better and we are trying to help these people that will really progress in the Gospel. I´m so happy for Gabriel, who just got baptized. His grandpa baptized him so that was special for all of them. I feel like it’s the same old same old for this week, nothing too special has happened except this baptism.

I´m become more and more confident in my conviction of the Truth and Right. It’s fun to be a missionary! But the countdown begins! LOL 10 months left. That’s just ridiculous! I can´t believe I have 14 months in the mission I still feel like I´m a newbie and there are times when I don´t know what to say. The mission is a special experience.

It’s been super hot though, I just sweat all day long! I can´t wait to winter, it’s so nice in winter here! Well I hope everything is going well for you all I´m doing good and working hard and praying for you! I love all the support that you give me during this wonderful time in my life, I don´t know if I want to come home. ;-)

Love,

Elder Corbett

Stop, Don't do it!!!!

This was before he was transferred away from the beach.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

It's hot here!

Dear Fans and Fanatics, 1-9-12

This week has been actually really good! I like the nickname mom for my companion. ET Elder, But Elder Tejeda is really cool, I really don´t know why he had so many emergency transfers but I guess he didn´t get along with his other companions. His last companion, Elder Us, is like my best friend and he said they didn`t get along. I don`t know what happened but that ok. He came here and I haven´t seen any problem in fact we are working super hard. This week we almost meet all the normas de excelencia(normals of Excelence). We had 14 lessons with member and 10 others. We as well are challenging everyone to baptism first lesson first moment we have to invite them to be baptized. So the work here is progressing, we have 2 people that came to church that I was just so happy! I haven´t been this happy in a long time for someone to come to church, since my first weeks in the mission. They are wonderful and I think next week we can help them take a little swim in the font! I love missionary work, but it’s SO FREAKING HOT! I just sweat where ever I go.
We had stake conference this week and it was really really good. Pres. Dorius came (my pres.) and as well a member for the presidency of the temple, and then the stake president spoke. It was super good, Pres. Dorius talked about being a disciple of Jesus Christ and what that means and then the stake president talked about why the home needs to be the place of learning the Gospel principles. It was really good! We are missionaries as well got to sing as a choir and I had a solo, can you believe that, only in Peru huh? Elder Banks and I had a solo and then we did a little harmony part together. It was really cool and special for me. When the president got up to speak he said he never hears the missionaries sing that good for mission meetings. My president is so funny and awesome.
Well that’s what’s happened this week, we´ll keep in touch and hope everything is going good for all of you!
love,
Elder Corbett

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Freaking New Years!

Dear Family and Friends, 1-2-11

So this was a week just like all the rest, working hard, actually really hard and having success. Then New Years came and everything went crazy! lol well my companion has an emergency transfer! We were told about it yesterday, and today I`m going to get another companion. Why do I never transfer during normal transfers? The last 3 times I changed companions was during an emergency transfer. Is not super fun but that’s the mission for yah! I just wonder what my companion that I`m going to have did to get put with me. lol If it’s not your fault that they had an emergency transfer its theirs. Anyway so today I`ll go get my new companion, I heard his name is Elder Tejeda from Guatemala, Yes another Guatemalan! It will be interesting, let’s see how this week goes and I’ll let you all know next week if I`ve killed him or not. lol actually I’ve never had a fight with a companion....yet. lol
But anyway back to the area, We are having some success, we have a baptism this weekend of a young boy whose in the records of the church but his 9th birthday is this Friday so after Friday he`s ours! Also we had 4 investigators attend church and I think that’s pretty good for right after new year’s eve. But yesterday I saw something really nasty, because everyone was drunk there was a fight in the street and we saw everything, it was really nasty so after the mission I`ll give you details on that one unless you want to know. We were contacting too and it started just a couple houses from where we were. Something that I had never seen before so it was a first for me and it made me think of the kind of life I’ve had, very innocent and calm. I love my Life and living the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s really is a protection. no kidding! I do miss relaxing for the Holidays, I feel like they went by so fast I don`t even understand what happened.
Well I think this year I`m going to really be working on the Christ like Attributes this year, I think in 2011 I worked on how to be a useful and productive missionary but I think now I’m lacking in a couple areas that I could work on!
Well Happy New Years a Todos! I hope 2012 is a good one, it might be the last! ;-)

con mucho amor,
Elder Carson Corbett

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

No changes!

12-26-11

Dear Family and friends, I only going to write you that I didn`t change, same companion and same area! Maybe the next one I`ll get out of here lol. It was so awesome to talk to you guys and love you all!!! I`ll write a ton more next week, don`t worry!!! LOVE YOU!!!

love,

Elder Corbett

Monday, January 23, 2012

Feliz Navidad, Prospero año y felicidad

Dear Family and Friends, 12-19-11

I guess family you didn`t want to talk to me because we will talk tonight and sunday huh? no just kidding I think your out of town right? well I`ll be calling moms cell phone a little later, I don`t what time but don`t hang up on me.

So this week was a little bit of a down week but fun week. Like our numbers were pretty low and we aren`t having the success I want to have, but I guess because it doesn`t look like i`m going to reach my goal of 4 baptisms this month I feel bad. LOL crazy huh? The mission life is a stressful life. Also my companion was sick again with a big fever and the flu but he´s doing better. But we did have something this week that I will remember forever. We did a skit for a stake talent show with all the Elders. We did a skit called "Super Elderes" I don`t know if you`ve ever heard of it but I have a really good video of it and you`ll all have to see it after my mission or when I send my card home. But I was Harry Potter! It was a blast and SO funny! I also have a christmas gift for the family but haven`t sent it yet so it will be a little late. :-( sorry! I`ll try to send it today if I find time in all the things I need to do to prepare my district for a christmas multi-zone meeting. We as well are going to do a real funny video! I`m going to take some more time this week to write some spritual experiences to the Bishoprick this week that they asked for a couple weeks ago, or maybe month, time goes by so fast I don`t remember. But I`ll talk to you guys soon! love ya and take luck!

Love your elder,

Elder Corbett

Sunday, January 22, 2012

I owe double this year!

Dear Family and Friends, 12-12-11

Well this week was pretty interesting. We almost had a baptism out of nowhere. We have been working hard with one young man for the last 2 months I would say and he finally was progressing and had a baptismal date for Saturday and he was really excited, we didn`t think he would be baptized this Saturday but was really had the desire and will to continue with everything. We talked to him Friday in the morning and he was excited and was ready had almost all the lessons and he wanted to be baptized and so we finished the lessons right there and called the Zone Leaders to come at night and do his interview. He passed the interview and we really excited. But the next day he came looking for us in the morning and said he didn`t feel ready! we talked to him for a good hour and a half and talked about his desires in life and how he was feeling and I felt that really to be baptized only could help him, he`s had a hard life and with lots of worries and stresses and we told him what baptism does for people but he never came to his baptism. I realized something, when people have a baptismal date and are really excited and feel what that its right and except it they feel good. Its like waiting in line for a roller coaster. You never see someone sad getting off if its a good coaster, they are always happy. but as you get closer and are right there to buckle up it gets a little nerve racking and that’s when you have to decide if you`ll do it or not. For the investigator they always have that battle the day before or the day of. Will I really do this? And its a hard decision, but that is right where the people show their faith. They trust in the promises of God! The people that go through with it feel the blessing and it doesn`t matter how they enter the water with a face of worry or doubt but they always leave with a smile! And those that don`t choose to get baptized in the final hour, its like they stopped their eternal progress. I`m not kidding about that, Its so hard to get them to come to church again and have them keep the commitments we set. Its an interesting trend for those that have faith and those that get choked in the doubt in the last min.

This Christmas I realized I owe double to our Lord. Last year I think I didn`t really want to celebrate Christmas, first time away from family and in the sun and just didn`t do much to remember why we really celebrate Christmas. I re-read this week the Birth of Jesus Christ and its made me realize a lot of things I didn`t realize before. How humble Jesus was, why do I need to have special things during this time when he had nothing! It’s a wonderful thing that I have a second chance for my grinchiness of the year before. Me and my companion are now singing Christmas hymns to all the people we can. To members, to investigators’, and to contacts we just met. We want people to REMEMBER why this time is here and now just try and have a pretty tree or lights. "you can`t ruin Christmas with fire"! I love you all and wish you a happy and merry Christmas time! Love you all,

Elder Corbett!

p.s. What present are you going to give Christ this year?

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Me encanta "Canta"

Dear Family and Friends, 12-5-11

I`m pretty tired right now but this week was a good week. We have
had 3 weeks back to back with Baptisms and all three are doing great.
We are working hard but the near future we have a lot of work to do.
But I just want to let you know today was a wonderful day. You are all
so LUCKY! I have a new appreciation for nature. We went to a place up
in the mountains called “Canta” Its green, fresh, and there are rivers
and waterfalls. We had a wonderful time and I enjoyed the fresh air.
I didn`t realize how contaminated this air is right now lol. You are
all so lucky that you can see this beautiful view when you leave your
house everyday. My entire mission, where we can serve (because canta
is part of the mission), is all sand, rocks, and dust. Its going to be
very interesting coming home. But I have a rejuvenated spirit,
sometime I think if we are doing the same thing, the same routine for
so long and don`t get out it wears on you. Now I feel rejuvenated and
ready! Appreciate the Nature God has given you, not everyone has that
opportunity, and it was raining a little. I got some little souvenirs
and things to remember it.
I hope you are all doing great, I don`t have a lot of time to
write because its late in the day and I got to get to work but I want to
thank you all for you support. Even if it’s just remember me for moment
in your week. Give great big thanks to the Mia maids for the
letters, I really loved them. And thanks a Bishop Goodfellow for his
letter. I didn`t get to see all the translated Christmas Fireside but
I did love what Pres. Uchtdorf said “You can`t destroy Christmas with
fire” We destroy Christmas with our thoughts. Remember when you want
to remember this season of Christmas, Sing a song, Read a Scripture,
and show people you love them.
I love you all,
Elder Corbett

Friday, January 20, 2012

Thanksgiving!

Dear Family and Friends, 11-28-11

To be honest Thursday not until like 10 o´clock in the morning did I remember it was Thanksgiving. But that day was a lot of fun! I got really excited to work when I remembered that and just energized. That’s crazy that time goes so quick. But as well I don`t feel time is flying by just yet. Maybe wait till its 2012 and I`ll start filling how quick this is all really going. So We had a baptism this week again, we are happy, this boy has been waiting to be baptized for about a 1 and finally his parents understood how the church was helping their son. He was happy and content on Sunday and even came to church with a white shirt and tie. (I had never seen him in that before) but he was happy! I love blessing lives. For Thanksgiving Day we didn`t do anything we just worked hard but for this Thanksgiving week I did do a couple videos I`ll send you.

To let you know I don`t know what else I need or want, you know I`m happy with whatever I get for Christmas mom or if I get anything at all. I still haven’t seen that little package you sent I don`t know what happened to it but we will keep watching for it. For my one year I did burn something I burned a shirt that was pretty dirty and wrote on it some the information of my mission: 1 year, 2 areas, 4 companions, 20 baptisms and then it went up into smoke. It’s a fun experience to be here in Peru. You know the other day I was looking around at the houses and just realizing that it’s going to so crazy when I come back. If I saw a house in the USA that looked like one of these houses I would think, what a bad house, but here it’s normal. I think I’m going to have a culture shock when I get back for how different it is. I have only seen one room in my entire time here with carpets and that is in the nursery in the stake center. It’s just amazing but I love it and love the people.

We are looking at a couple baptisms for this sat. I hope everything goes well and they keep their commitments, but we will see how it goes.

To be honest with you guys I always come to internet and after like an hour I have to go to the bathroom so I can`t think at all but I think I told you all everything I wanted to. I hope you all have a great week and really remember the wonderful things your thankful for!

Love,

Elder Corbett

p.s. I`ll send you a letter the following week about some really cool experiences that I`ve been having Bishop Padilla! I know God answers prayers!

I`ll be on at like 5 o`clock next week so a little later!!

Just as a little side note I going to start doing some short videos and tell you guys how I`m doing. I did some yesterday but because I didn`t start unloading them at the beginning of my time they weren`t done uploading for today. So next week it will be the first thing i do!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

We broke the Curse

Dear Family and Friends, 11-21-11

Well this week went by super fast!! We had a crazy week and wonderful with some hard times. But it ended pretty well. We finally had a baptism!!!! We are so happy and we are looking at a few for this weekend hopefully as well. A youth that is 14 years old but his is a little mentally retarded, his mind is about a 10 or 11 but he understood everything and after the baptism I asked him how he felt and he said, "it’s the start of a new life" and felt very relieved. He`s excited and loves all the activities. I got to baptize him and after the baptism I was so happy and sent him out to change and took a little swim myself, I laid back in the water and just soaked myself as well, it felt wonderful!!! I Can`t wait to swim again. We broke the curse from April, now we are going baptize like crazy! lol

Other things this week we had 7 people at church Sunday and so we are happy about that as well, a lot of them can really progress and I think in the next couple weeks be baptized. We have two youth boys who live just about on the limit of our area, farthest part away and just love what we are teaching, José and Manuel. José is 11 and Manuel 8 and really love the church, José read all about Joseph Smith and understood it all and we think this week we are going to try and get permission from their parents if they can be baptized. We also are working with some parents of a couple members who aren`t members, we still haven`t been able to sit down and teach them but they live right in front of our house. The mom has come to church 3 times as well, but we have a FHE planned tonight with them and as well another family. Its wonderful!

I also have had a couple training sessions this week and has goon well. All the leaders of the mission came and got a cool training. It was Thursday on my one year mark and our entire group of Americans was there for the meeting. There is a group of 6 of us from the MTC that left together that are in this mission and some of them I hadn`t seen since the start of the mission in the field. But we were all there and took some pictures. It was a blast! Also we got to eat Papa John’s Pizza! SO GOOD!! I miss pizza. But anyway transfers were fun I have a new district now, I think I`m going to be un eternal district leader for my whole mission but I like it but right now my district needs to step it up and get working. We all had a baptism this week, all 3 companionships but the other numbers of my district were pretty bad so I`m working on some plans to really help them out. It’s interesting there is a part in my Patriarchal Blessing that talks about my having responsibility in my mission and I`ll have the strength to not only support myself during the mission but also those who I`m in charge of. I know Heavenly Father is helping me I`m really trying my best and sometimes times get hard. Those who the Lord calls he qualifies but only if they are willing to mold their lives into what the Lord wants of them!

That’s just about all I have a funny story to tell you all and I was so frustrated yesterday for a long part of the day, it wasn`t how I should have been but I don`t think I`ve ever been frustrated in my mission like I was yesterday. so right after lunch we went up to our rooms and I don`t if I`ve told you guys they of this 3 story house all are members, a family with to boys live above us and our pension lives beneath but it was about 12:50 and so we had about 10 mins. to just relax before we went and picked all our investigators’ for church which started at 2. well usually we try to do splits to help us out and the two boys that live above us usually do that. So we were talking to the youngest who’s name is Piero and he said yea just a min and when he came down his mom said he needed to eat lunch real quick before and he didn`t want to but we said he needed to and he left our room frustrated and closed the door and the key was in the door and he locked us in our room! I thought oh yea when he`s done he`ll come and open it again well he never came back and he had the keys! WE WERE LOCKED IN OUR ROOM!! He left to go prepare the Sacrament and didn`t open the door. I was so mad for a little bit and we didn`t get out till like 1:40 or 1:45. And we had investigators’ to pick up. We were pretty frustrated with this kid. But we have since tried to let it pass. Now thinking about it, it is funny, but at the same time it’s not at all. LOL but maybe it will give you all a laugh that I was stuck in my room like Cinderella because of a freaking member.

Well that’s pretty much all my week; I love you all and thank you for your support and love! I pray for all you guys as well!

Love,

Elder Corbett

p.s. Mom what ever happened to the results of this FHE of Love (lol) when everyone received something they loved about the other? or am I just not loved jk. and also if you could sent more of these pens it would be the best! Love you all! Have a wonderful
Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

No changes

No changes

Dear family and friends, 11-14-11

I took a little too much time doing some things with pictures because this computer has photoshop so I`ll just send you a quick run down.

Friday we didn`t do anything my companion was sick,

Thursday we have a fun activity with our ward about the mission work and they got to practice being missionaries.(everyone was late though it was suppose to start at 7:30 and the first person to come in entered at 8)

Tuesday we went to the temple.

Sunday we had 6 investigators at church, That felt good

I don`t have a transfer so I`ll be in this area till CHRISTMAS!!! yay!!

OH yeah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEIDI!!! I love you!!! And as well I forgot to say to Austin, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I love you as well! wow its 11-11-11

I complete 1 year Thursday!!! I`m so excited I`m going to burn something I think to celebrate! I`ll get some good pictures if I do.

Love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week,

Elder Carson Corbett

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Still no one wants to come to church

Dear Family and friends, 11-7-11

Well I´m getting a little late to this email but this week has been good, we`ve been teaching like monsters but it’s just we haven`t been seeing any fruits of our labors. It’s kind of annoying. I am super happy we are (hopefully) going to have a baptism this week with that mom of a missionary who is out in the field from the ward. We got to go to the temple last Tuesday but because it was a holiday here a bunch of people from all over Peru came and we couldn`t get into any session. That's ok we bought some stuff and we are going to go back super early tomorrow to do a session, I`m excited I can`t wait to just feel the spirit of the temple again. We only had one person attend church yesterday and we had like 8 that said they would. We even pasted by many of their houses in the morning and just couldn`t go for weird reasons. We`ll keep going with faith and hope to see some success soon.

My thought for the week is this. Yesterday in Elder Quorum class we were learning about death and the spirit world. And it was really interesting some of the things I learned. We all learned that the people who didn`t have the gospel in this life will have the chance to hear it in the life to come but I didn`t understand how hard it might be for someone to really change in that life. Elder Benson, I think it was, said we can progress more with our physical bodies in 75 years then we can in 1000 years in the life to come. I made me think of really what great importance it is to do things right now than after because after we just can`t progress the same. Then the thought came to my mind. In these 2 years that I have to serve I can change more people’s lives and help them now then I probably could serve 100 years in the spirit world. It’s just crazy to think about how important this life is! Something to think about! I`ve been learning a ton and working a TON with my ward members, we are doing a training this Thursday for the members and how they can better help in the missionary work.

Love you all,

Elder Corbett

Monday, January 16, 2012

Getting back on our feet!

Dear Family and friends(that don`t love me enough to write me), 10-31-11

No just kidding I know you are all busy and probably have more important things to do and it just slipped your mind. But I`m sure you all love me, right?! RIGHT?! lol well this week was a lot better than the last, we are still having some challenges with some people but of course it wouldn`t be missionary work if it wasn`t challenging. I think the mental part of this work is probably the hardest part. being able to first endure doing the same things for so long with such a great determination. Second, trying to figure out how to solution problems that I have never faced before or heard of in my life with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know ever problem can be helped by living the gospel of Jesus Christ but sometimes it’s hard for the people to understand the blessing and even for us as missionaries to help them see the blessings of the Gospel.

Anyways we struck back after a hard week with 2 new people that accepted a baptismal date for the 12th of November. One is brand new in learning about the church and a cousin to some members and the other is a eternal investigator who finally prayed and decided its time to be baptized. We also found a HUGE family this last week and taught them for the second time, we know only 8 of the many members that live in this house but this next week they said they want to come to church. so we are making progress with them, the funny thing is when we were contacting them, we asked if they knew anything about the Mormons and they said that we are atheist and so we laughed and explained and testified of Jesus Christ. They are really cool. so that’s a little of the progress we are having right now but its hard in this little area, is pretty small. For example if you want to think of the size it’s about 3 or 4 times bigger than our ward in Arizona. It’s small to contact and try to look for new people when almost every house has been talked to several times but we have a great ward, leaders, and bishop!

Well I wrote down a couple of things so I didn`t forget to tell you guys like this week you can look on the news there was a earthquake in a part of Peru called, "Ica". Look it up and I think it was like a 6.7 or something well I felt that here where I am in Lima. It went on for about 30 mins. and me and my companion were in our room getting ready to leave after lunch and the decks in our study started moving. its was pretty cool but for us it wasn`t that strong. As well this week I decided I really miss rain. SO SO MUCH!! The first thing I`m going to do when I come home and there is a rain storm is go play in it and get SOAKED. Did you have rain in your mission Logan? We get nothing here. It’s so sad. :-( and the sky is always ugly after the earthquake the sky for a little time was actually pretty but because of the earthquake it changed a little. Send me rain if you can! Oh as well I did my first water painting for years. I haven`t painted for a long long time but my companion likes to paint so one morning during language study lol we painted. I painted the sea and some mountains, the beach and the sky(which is horrible.) the sky is horrible because its where I started and didn`t have the hang of painted just yet. but I also did a picture of the D.C. Temple. it looks pretty cool I`ll send you pictures next week. I don`t have any right now because I forgot my USB but that was a little fun and relieved some stress that I had. I didn`t know I had a cool desire or talent to paint. I know my painting were bad but I like doing it.

Well for this week I think that’s just about it. The President visited our district meeting and we had interviews with him and that was cool. As well tomorrow we get to go to the temple which I`m so dang excited for! Maybe we`ll get to eat something real for lunch. LOL we ate guinea pig again this week and it was pretty good, it was my third time now. Well that’s about all, I hope everything is going well for you all and I love you all and take care.

Love from Perù,

Elder Corbett!!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Refiners Fire!

Dear Family and Friends, 10-24-11

First don`t feel bad for me, feels like that come and go. To let you all know I`m ok I hardly thought about you this week, LOL. No I love you all and thank you for your concern! This week has been one that has made me grow greatly. I know I`m in my mission and I think I`m understanding more of the spirit of the mission. I`ve become more dedicated, more willing to except the plan of God, and more sensitive to the spirit. Let you tell you all a little about my week. It started off very promising, 2 baptisms Saturday and another that accepted a baptismal date for Nov. and by the end of the week and the numbers I just gave to pres. we have had no baptisms and no baptism dates. You may ask, what happened? I want to state what Elder Holland has stated, we are at war and Satan is real. on the day of the interviews we went looking for these two youth and one left to go visit his family because he had to do some papers and didn`t come back until sun. and he was a little worried about his family and less about baptism. The other didn`t come to his interview and we could find him anywhere. we looked for him and called him and didn`t find him, we did go to his house at 8 at night and found him and he said he wasn`t ready and wanted to fill more ready, he said he would continue to come to church and we haven`t seen him sense, Friday. We had another family that after many weeks working with them they finally decided they would come to church because they wanted to know more about the church and when we went there house to take them to church they said they had talked to a friend and there friend said that because they had gone to their church they now can`t investigate more church or it would be like you were lying to god or something like and losing your faith. They don`t want us to come back.

This may sound like bad story after bad story but now you get to hear my testimony! I know that this church is true, my faith has grown and I will stand alone testifying of this church as long as I live if needed. This week I have learned another level of dedication to the Lord, not just in action but in thoughts and more importantly in Heart! The commandments are so amazing to have, WHAT A BLESSING!! Everyone asks, how can I live a happy and healthy life? Well God has right in front of us the answer and people don`t understand, but I do now. This month in my district we have been focusing on how to help people attend church. "The revelation, thought attending church." and it made me think why did I attend church? and why do my investigators want to attend church? How my testimony has grown from that question. Ask yourself Why am I part of this Church, is it for my parents, my family, or is it because you love too? Think about it! I feel this week I was past through a refiners fire and it changed my dedication to the Lord. Sometime I feel, man I really need a P-day or a break or something to pull me out of this. But the secret to missionary work is WORK. And for almost the last year I have dedicated my life to him. I have 0 worries about myself, I cook, I don`t do laundry, and I don`t even make my own bed....haha just kidding I thought that make moms eyebrows raise a little. I make my own bed and everyday ;-). But I have every day to wake up and worry about one thing, studying, learning, and preaching the gospel so that people can really be saved in the kingdom of God. It may sound simple and it is, we complicate it! I want to follow the example of Jacob and his brother in Jacob 1:19. I can`t change the choices of the people I teach but I can testify without doubt that there is no other way to reach the purity except through his blood, our eternal savior.

I love you all and thank you for your support and love, know that your son, brother, uncle, grandson, and friend is doing well. All is well, all is well, Harra for Israel.

Love,

Elder Corbett

Saturday, January 14, 2012

11 Months!

Dear Family and Friends, 10-17-11

Well this week has been a little harder than other weeks, we are working hard and had the baptism of the little girl and that went well. But we didn`t have to many lessons this week. Just a ton won`t home or had a problem and we had 2 that came to church with us but its just been a harder week. I am excited for 2 youth that are going to get baptized this sat. One named Omar and the other Fernando, 18 and 17 years old. They are two really good candidates for missionaries and they are wonderful. I`m so excited for them and I hope the ward gets excited and comes the baptism as well. We found a couple more new people to teach and this week we will see what happens with them. Everything is going well with me and my companion and just doing the work happy and obedient.

I can`t believe I have 11 months now and next month I`ll have a year and Scott will be getting ready to go to Italy! I miss you guys a lot right now. It’s not that I’m dying to come home or don`t want to be here in my mission, I`m loving the time I have to serve the Lord. But I miss the people that you are, the things you guys did to make me laugh and brighten up my day. I love you all so very much and all I think I really want right now is a Hug. I think those are the things I miss the most. Its something so simple but yet very important. 2 years is 2 years and its going by but during this time I love each and every one of you. I love my mission with all my heart and I know I`m doing what the Lord would have me do and for being obedient sometimes you do have to stand alone! My old companion wants to get back at me somehow for something that happened and as soon as I learned what happened I told pres. But if we are obedient we need not fear. I love him so very much and want the best for him, but Elder Holland is 100% right. You can`t call people down the straight and narrow path is you are going down forbidden ones. If you try it I hope you choke on your words. I think I`m learning a little bit more about loving all and especially my enemies. To love your Enemy you first need to not have any! maybe they hate you but you can`t want or have the same desire they have. Í love the people here in Perù and maybe you don`t know any of them but they are people just like you, they don`t live or eat the same way but the things they think and doubt are the same that you think and doubt. Remember that! God loves all his children and each and every one of them is important!

I finished the Book of Mormon and I was reading the end and all the wickedness that there was almost made me cry because I thought these times will be worse. And sometimes just as things that god does goes one house and family at a time so does the devil almost unseen. He knows how God works and because he has thousands of years of experience but he cannot deny the truth and laws of God, Which are real! The Book of Mormon is true, I don`t have a 100% knowledge about all the things but I believe with all my heart and that’s enough for the Lord. I love him and trust in his hand! Read those pages and there are your answers!

I love you all send a great big hug from Peru to you guys and hope you received my letter I sent!

Love,

Elder Corbett!

p.s. In the picture wear I`m wearing Glasses, It made me realize that me and Logan do look a lot alike.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

We are at war!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 10-3-11

:-( I feel like Christmas just ended! Its like all the talks at conference are presents from God and just like Christmas you never want to stop unwrapping them. but now that they are unwrapped I need to play with my toys. I need to read the instructions ponder and put together the plan of how to use the talks in my mission right now. But wow that spirit from those talks was SO strong. I don`t think there has ever been a greater conference. Some of the themes I pulled out were Worthiness, Missionary work, and Charity/Service. I absolutely loved the talk from Elder Holland, We are at a true war, I left the conference with a new spirit yesterday and not just wanting to talk to everyone but testify of our lord and savoir Jesus Christ and His restoration in these latter-days. I learned a lot of Person Revelation this week, I want to share my thoughts on one scripture that last night came to my mind and understood it more fully. "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, Knock and it shall be opened." (something like that) before I understood this scripture as they all seemed the same things just said in different ways and I pulled it a part a little more. Ask-Prayer we first must pray in humility knowing we can`t do it ourselves and we will receive. But sometimes we ask and where the answer, we must seek for it! Search and ponder and study the things we are looking for and at the end, knock. after we have made or found an answer we must follow it knowing it is from God! I never understood that scripture in that way but I wanted to share that spiritual thought with you all.

As for the area, its wonderful we contacted a new 18 year old this week and he is awesome, He listened to us 3 days in a row because he wanted to and then came to one session of the conference sat. He also is already preparing for a baptism for this 22 of Oct. He is someone that is prepared and I think we can also teach his family. We also have another young man that is living with his aunt and cousin but started come to church with them and wants this to be a greater part of his life. He accepted to be baptized this sat. Last week we went to 3 sessions of conference. My companion said he saw tears in his eyes when the Prophet spoke Sunday morning and wanted to come back in the afternoon. I love the progress we are making. The man that was supposed to get baptized yesterday had some problems with his family sat. he`s is a very sensitive situation and so we know baptism will help him and he wants it but he is in the middle of a situation right now that we really need to help him with and I think if someone like the bishop or someone that has more experience could really help him out.

It’s wonderful to be part of the Army of God and I`m proud to a be worthy missionary! I will strive to always have the spirit with me, I feel like as you go through your mission you keep giving a high level of dedication and my dedication continues to grow. I love you all and I like you so much Grandma and Grandpa for serving a mission, "In this family we serve Missions!" I love you all and have a wonderful week in NYC.

Love you all,

Elder Corbett

p.s. I don`t want to come home is that ok?

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Love you all!!

Dear Family and Friends, 9-26-11

I want to tell you all that this week went well I`m working hard and staying busy. Before I forget to do it again this week I want to tell you all the reasons I love you all:

Grandpa-I love you because you have always been a hard worker you never stopped working and doing things around your house to always help grandma.

Grandma- I love you because you have always been there to play card games with to put puzzles together, whenever we`re together we always have something to do.

Dad- I love you your great example, you`ve always been my hero in a way, I feel like, if I could be a man like you I know I`ll be happy with my family forever and will always have success. And you taught me there is a balance to work, school, family, friends, and church responsibilities.

Mom-First I love you because you`ve given me everything I have, and you always knew me, you knew when I wasn`t happy when I had a problem and you always did everything to can to make it better to give me the best advice.

Logan- I love you because you always showed me how to do things when I didn`t know how, even though you always had to prove you could do it better you should me how to did it. and you showed how great it is to serve a mission.

Heidi- I love you because first when we are together we have a wild time and always laughing. Also you have a great testimony of Jesus Christ I know you might not share it much you do have a great testimony deep down that holds you fast to the rod.

Kate- I love you because you`re always watching my back I know if I ever do anything bad you`ll be the first to know and make sure I was doing the right. As well you would always play games with me.

Mariah- I love you because you know how to whittle and I can`t!! lol I love you because you`re super creative you love to draw and doing things in a different way that I wouldn`t have been able to do.

Austin- I love you because before my mission you were my friend when I had none. All my friends had left and you were always there to play football, or play on the tramp but you were there when no one else was.

Abby- I love you because you’re from Thailand, and I have to because you married my brother! No I love you Abby because no matter what’s going on you have a good time and make everyone feel welcome.

Hudson- I don`t know you very well but I love you because you’re so dang cute and you have an Uncle that ROCKS!!!

I do love you all and I`m happy to know that we will be together forever, I know families are forever and that the power of the priesthood to do sealing is on the earth again. What a blessing we have to learn and grow from one another and know that whoever goes first or last we will see each other again after. I love you all and know these things are true!!

Love,

Elder Corbett!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Well the day came!

Dear Family and Friends, 9-19-11

Well as soon as you gave me a nickname, OAE(one area elder), I left. We had an emergency transfer this week and I left my sweet paradise of a area to the complete opposite. The area is small we have a huge stake center in front of my house, we have wonderful leaders, but they haven`t had a baptism since April. But don`t worry we will flip that around and if we don`t have success in the numbers our diligence will be success we have been working hard this last couple days. We had the change Friday but I also had a baptism in my other area so we got to go back sat., and I got to baptism him. It was a wonderful experience and wonderful for him and his mom that I could say goodbye. It was pretty fun Andres, who I baptized, is 19 but his mom as well is one of my converts and we had wonderful experiences together with both of them so when I had to leave I gave Andres a big hug and she also came run up for a hug and it was just so sad I had to stop her and say, "I’m sorry! I can`t hug you but you are the best" and it was a little funny as well but I had to stop her. But as for now I`m loving this new area! its called ALBORADA!

Oh and yesterday we had a great experience we had a stake conference it was for satellite and we thought some general authority would come down to Peru and be in one of the churches and we would see them in our church through cameras. Well it was direct from salt lake, and guess who talked!?! Well Pres. Gonzales from the presidency of the 70 but it gets better, after Sister Beck Talked and that was just great! but don`t worry it gets even better, then President Christofferson talked and that was just WONDERFUL: But that’s not even the best, President Monson himself talked to us yesterday. just to us in Peru!!! it was WONDERFUL!! I do have all the things that I love about everyone ready but I now just ran out of time to write because I had a lot of things to write the pres. sorry first responsibility is him. Oh and it’s wonderful for a couple weeks I have a break from District leader. But they told me again at the beginning of the next I would b district leader again, I told them if they wanted to choose someone else that would be just perfectly fine. :-)

Love you and I thank you for all your support and thoughts, I have a lot of thoughts I`ve been writing down that I would just love to share with you all! But have a great week!

Elder Corbett,

p.s. May the spirit be with you!