Things are going to get more challenging now!

Dear Family,                                                                                                 5-7-12

     Well this week was a little hectic and doesn´t look like it’s going to get any less hectic this week. We had transfers getting money from the bank, Zone Leader Council. And so just stress, stress, and stress. Yesterday I was just worn out! I was so tired at church that I almost just wanted to sleep right there, but we kept working on. On the other side we did have some success we have one baptismal date for this Saturday, a young adult who is from another part of Peru but is living here with his family who are super strong in the gospel. We are still working with this family but its been a little hard to get them to have an answer about the restoration. This week we have a bunch of Training for the leaders of the mission. It will be fun but as well just stressful, and my companion is going to the dentist every week. 

      This area is really awesome though, we are finding a lot of people to teach. 10 people came to church this week so we are still doing well with the assistance and a married couple came yesterday, finally for the first time. Beni and Mario, They are awesome and the missionary before taught them but they never attended to they left them to grow a little more and then we came back after a month of not visiting them and this time they are feeling the spirit big time! It’s so wonderful how the spirit just opened the hearts of these people. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I love teaching it, I love the joy and hope it gives people. It’s a wonderful life as a missionary.

But this week as well I´ve missed you guys. I´m excited to skype next week. I´ve gotten over my fear and the president said we could skype and there is a member who does our laundry and she has a fast computer with internet and a camera and so we talked to her and made quickly an account. So I’ll call you guys quickly tonight to coordinate it and then we will talk next week on skype! So I can talk to Logan and Heidi easier and not just one phone to the next and have that difficulty! It’s going to be cool! I want to see my nephew too!!! Well I’ll call you guys tonight maybe during FHE so answer. I love you guys a lot and I’ll be working hard this week! 

    Love,

            Elder Corbett

I love my mission!

Dear Family and friends,                                                                            4-30-12
      We had 3 baptisms and Confirmacion this week, a week of great success and we are trying so hard to help this family (Davan) to pray and know if the restoration is true so that they can feel that god is telling them this is right. They attended again this week and just loved it! 
      Well I´m just out of time so I just want to bear my testimony that the Savior lives. He is the very son of God. God does exist and loves us so very much. The mission I´m serving is blessing one life and that is my own, the Godhead blesses the rest, i´m happy everyday I wake up and can put on my nametag as a representative of Jesus Christ. I love the people in Peru and just enjoy this life here and I my joy is full in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know he loves me and everyday he is happy if I stay on the right path. Don´t loose your hope! If you lose hope you loose alot of other things as well. love you all and thank you for your support and joy. May God bless you and guide you!

Con Amor,
    Elder Corbett

p.s.No changes in my area!

Proselytizing with the President

Dear family,                                                                                      4-23-12

     I love you guys! This week has gone by so fast and I feel I had so many things I wanted to tell you guys but now I don`t remember much. Well I´ll just say this is the last week of this transfer, I´m sure I´m not going anywhere like usual and I’ll probably be with the same companion for a while. We actually had a bunch of success in the Zone and that’s only because the missionaries themselves are putting their part to find, teach, and baptize. Every area except 1 has had a baptism and every area except 1 has baptismal dates. The 1 that doesn`t have baptismal dates this week had 3 baptisms at the first of the month. Its going good right now, as well in the zone we have 10 baptisms, so I hope they all go through.

    In our area we baptized 2 this week, and that was just wonderful and so fun. We sang at the baptism "I like to look for rainbows" my companion played the guitar and I sang the first verse in English and then we both sang it in Spanish together. It was really pretty and then my companion baptized R.  She is part of the wonderful D family that I´ve been talking about.  Then I baptized B, who is the last one of his family. Both youth of 16 so now they have wonderful futures. This week we have 3 baptisms as well and had a couple for the next week but they didn`t come to church yesterday. :-( next week! 

     Well the big thing this week was that we got to work with the president! We were super excited and I think if it was at the first of my mission I would be super nervous but I was just excited for this. As well our zone is doing very well and so he´s seeing that. We had interviews with him Wednesday and then us as zone leaders ate lunch with him and then he left with us in our area until 9 at night. It was really powerful, he teaches like a normal missionary, contacts like a normal missionary but just loves to joke with the people and make them laugh but teach the principles very clear and simple. It was a wonderful experience for me and my companion and our investigators. I´m loving the mission I can´t believe just a couple weeks and I´ll call home again and it’s just interesting in your mission how you are just walking down the street and see something that happens and learn a great gospel truth in a whole new way. Look for them, they’re out there just need to have the spirit with you and it will talk to you. Those are blessing from the word of wisdom, You´ll find hidden treasures. (D&C 89:19) 

       Love you all and until next week with cards from Carson, haha

                 Elder Corbett

Mistake vs. Sin

Dear Family,                                                                                     4-16-12

     Well this week went well investigators are progressing and some will be baptized this weekend and are very good. The Davan family didn`t come to church this week because they left to visit other family that was far away but we are going to have some good lessons with them in this coming week. We have a lot of their confidence which is really good. The two baptisms that we had this weekend froze up a little for a couple things that happened in their home and a couple things that they saw on the internet about the church that they didn`t like, but we went to their house yesterday and we really didn`t know what we were going to teach but we followed the spirit and I know she felt the spirit and my companion did a really good inspired question where the mom started to cry giving the answer, the spirit was so strong, they are now preparing to be baptized the 28 of April. We will see how it goes. We have 2 youth being baptized this following Saturday which is going to be very special, one was a reference that we contacted the first day I was here in the area and she is just wonderful. I asked her how do you know these things are true? She said because I prayed and felt what you guys told me I´d feel. That was so powerful for me. I´m excited for her baptism and I hope her whole family comes(Davan Family).

      Now I just want to share a thought about something I learned this week. Saturday night my companion was playing his violin and it was out of tune and so I told him like I did in the past that I would tune it. It was all easy except for the last string, that G just didn`t want to be tuned or I just couldn`t find it. so I kept trying until SNAP...I broke the string. I had never broken a string before I didn`t want to do this to his beautiful violin and i just sat there not knowing what to do. He was sitting there next to me so I said sorry but really didn`t know how to express my sorrow for breaking his string. (and I don`t know where I´m going to find another string in Peru) But I realized something that the spirit taught me. Even though I might have made a mistake by breaking the string, I still did not sin. That mistake doesn´t make me farther from my father in heaven. I´m looking for a way to find a string for the violin to fix what I did but being human is part of this world. But you must recognize it as that and not let it lead to sin such as lying or anger. Now that doesn`t mean that sinful mistake you can just shrug off, repentance is required where needed. But don`t let imperfectness be mixed up with unrighteousness. We make mistakes every day, maybe you missed the bus to go to class/work on time, maybe you didn`t get a 100% on that math test, or maybe you even broke your brothers key in his car while on a date. The grace of God will make up for that, and if someone makes that mistake to you, forgive them and help them understand that everything is ok. I testify that we are not perfect but we are truly Divine children of God, he created us and he loves us. And if you can´t see it just close your eyes and feel it. Its true and I do so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

      Love you all,

            Elder Corbett

Do you believe in miracles?

Dear Family,                                                                                                           4-9-12

      Well this week was a very good week. We worked hard and not just us the entire zone! Me and my companion are very pleased with the work that everyone has been doing, we are working as a team and very united, I feel very privileged to be able to see the hand of the lord working to push his work along. Well to give a little update of the story last week, this family we taught and had that wonderful experience, Davan Family, they all came to church yesterday. Their daughter ,Rocio, is going to be baptised this weekend and she is just wonderful and excited. As well there are 2 others who will join her, Ana, and her son, Geraldo. Its been a good week, we did loose some time with my companion going to the clinic for his tooth but besides that pretty much some good work. We had a miracle amount of people in sacrament meeting, 18 investigators and just about all who loved it. I was talking to my companion why so much success, its like the doors are just opening and the heart listening, we talked about it a little and remembered when Elder Nash(area authority a year ago) who came a talked to all the mission and with the missionaries personally. he said God puts prepared people where prepared missionaries are, God won´t put someone prepared in the path of missionaries who aren`t prepared. We don`t feel we have really done anything big or great but we are finding people prepared and we are prepared to do the work. I also feel that these are blessing from only my work right now as a missionary but because of all the work and diligence I´ve had during the mission and even before. The blessings don`t always come right when we want them, blessings are being pored out above our heads right now until there really is no more room to receive them. I know that this isn´t my work and He is at the head. I love the Lord with all my heart and will serve him to the end. I love being a missionary and wouldn´t be anywhere else. Its a life changing experience.
     Love you all and hope easter was very special. Take care and remember if your prepared God will put prepared people who need help in your way,

           Elder Corbett

Council-Conference-Conversion

Well Hi again everyone,                                                                                     4-2-12

    This was a crazy week we worked hard with all the time we could we didn`t have a whole lot of time. My companion got a huge pain in his tooth at the beginning of the week so Wednesday and Friday went to the dentist. I worked with other missionaries a little in their area and a little in mine. It was fun but I just want to work normal. Then with the conferences we didn`t get a lot of work done. But I did have some cool experiences this week so I will share three things this week about the Zone leader council we had, my thought on the conference and a super spiritual experience we had yesterday night. 

     So the Zone Leader Council was way cool got to see my "son" (the missionary I trained) and a bunch of people I hadn`t seen for a super long time. I loved being there, the mission president told us thanks for being righteous to lead the mission and it is so spiritual to be there, the spirit was super strong as we talk about concerns about the mission and what things we can do. It makes me see how revelation really comes like said someone in conference. Then Sis. Dorius shared a story that was a story from my life that I just started bawling because I don`t it’s a story that I have shared with many but she talked about two sisters running a marathon but I want to tell my story! Because I remember when I ran that marathon I trained hard but when I left for the race I might have been with thousands of people but after a while I was alone. After 23 miles I didn`t want to do more and I had given up hope, I don`t know if you know but for a couple steps I started walking and not wanting to do more. But I remember when I did that I saw Dad. I knew he couldn´t see me walking so I mustered all I could to get my legs moving again. I remember he started asking me how I was doing and what I was feeling. I think may might have given me a couple words of inspiration to keep me going and see me at the finish line but dad wasn´t that kind of person. He not one that says "tell me when you need help", he just helps. I remember very clearly the next 3 miles of that race and how Dad ran beside so that I could finish. He kept me going, I was behind everyone I knew but because of him I wanted to finish. We did not come to quit! I´ve reflected from this experience I had with Dad many times and every time it bring tears to my eyes (like right now) how much my Parents love me, and if they love me like that I can´t even imagine how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me. (That’s a story very special to me and so keep it that way please.) I love you mom and Dad!

      Ok now about conference. So I did what you said dad and I asked a question. I put "how to I know I´m doing all I can?" Wow Elder Eyring hit it right on the dot when he talked about faith. Then because I felt I had gotten my answer I asked another question but this question right as we were going to the second session. I´ll explain my question but first why I asked this question. When we came quickly to eat in our area our pension, I don`t know why, took a bunch of time to give us food and they have a restaurant and so they gave food to others who were there but it’s like they forgot about us and so we were freaking out we are going to be late and we were with a little group of missionaries from the zone and so we were all getting a little angry and I´ll be honest I got a little frustrated and my thought was "If I miss the talk of Elder Holland I´m going to die" and so we go running on a bus to the conference at like 3:15 (it started at 3) and got there right at 3:30 and it was in the middle of Elder Holland’s talk. On the way to the conference I thought of the question what should I do if I get frustrated about something when I`m doing all I can to do what’s right and someone out of my control hinders me or slows me down. Well Elder Holland humbled me pretty fast with his words!!! I still need to listen to that whole talk but my question was answer quickly! My companion said the same thing after because he felt the same way. I had more questions answered but its just amazing how quickly the Lord answers your questions through his prophets and apostles! They really are called of God! The Book of Mormon really is a good book!

    Ok now for the experience(but quick because I have no more almost no more time) so last night after the conference we visit an investigator who wants to get baptized we´ve been teaching since my first day in this area and she received her answer through prayer that these things are true but her parents wanted her to study more before she gets baptized. Well yesterday we went to her house she loved conference and so decided to talk to her entire family. they all came in the living room to listen and talk to us. 2 parents and the 2 children. It was the first time we talked to the rest and it was so spiritual, the spirit was so strong they shared their concerns with us which will help us teach them but they felt something special but more than anything at the end we asked the dad to give the closing prayer and he said no, he will do it the next time but he wanted to hear his daughter and how she prays and what she has learned. we all knelt down and listen to the prayer of this daughter of God and she gave a wonderful prayer, praying for her parents and family and so many wonderful things. After we listened to the mom and she started crying because of how sweet her prayer was. The parents during that prayer got hit hard with the spirit and this will help them a ton to recognize it when they pray. 

     Well this was a long email and I hope you loved it and help you to be motivated and keep enduring to the End even when its hard. Don`t worry about me I´m changing lives every day and there are so many experiences I’m having that I can´t write them all! The mission is so amazing I love it and I´m a little worried it’s going to finish way to fast! Love you all and hope this is a great week for you all! 

     Love your missionary,

          Elder Corbett

From hard hearts to soft!

Dear Family,                                                                                                 3-26-12
     This week has been one of so much excitement for me. I feel so wonderful here in my new area, I`m loving it. I came for the last 6 months from a area very hard for Peru and with a lot of hard hearts that didn´t really want to listen so in my last area I learned the discipline to keep going and pushing harder and harder to help the children of God that this week was very easy! The people here in this area are just wonderful and listen really well. My Companion, Elder Zeas, from Nicaragua is so wonderful, we teach very simply and short but super understandable and I feel very strong the spirit as we teach. He has 13 months in the mission and so I have a little bit more time but not much. We get along super well and it was the weirdest thing, when I entered our apartment I saw there a violin and Guitar. The guitar is not his its a members and the violin he bought in the mission but he didn`t know how to tune it or anything, so with my cello skills I´m now playing the violin and teaching him more. He knows guitar very well so he´s teaching me that. Its going great we learned a song in like 5 mins, "come thou fount" and we actually had a baptism this week on Friday and played it, me on the Violin and him on the guitar. but we can change to so with the little tiny time we have at night or super early we practice a little and I don`t know if missionaries just have a gift on the mission and can learn things super fast or just me because I picked up the guitar and just started playing. It’s been fun!
       As well with being a Zone Leader it actually feels somewhat easier then District Leader first because I´m used to the leadership and doing all that with numbers and guiding and helping but now there are 2 of us that can talk and discuss what we want to do. I´m not beating myself up on what I should do, but we talk about what WE can do. Its super nice and still learning a lot. Our Zone is doing a ton better right now then how we ended the last transfer. Ever area has at least 1 baptismal date and we have 3 new missionaries from the CCM(MTC). They are doing well but we can do better. 
      I´m super excited for General Conference its better then Christmas in the mission. Its a gift and I remember the last two times I listened during the first talk I just start crying. I don`t know why and I´m super excited, been trying to follow what they said the last time and ready for more. I downloaded last time some of the talks that I love and listen to them every once in a while to motivate me and I still cry listening to Elder Holland’s talk about missionaries, that is just so powerful, I loved the talks in the Priesthood session the last conference they still speak to me and make me feel the spirit. I´ll listen with a little more faith, hope, and charity this time ;-). 
     Ok now for the trunky part. Well not trunky but I realized yesterday my English sucks, I can write and read and do everything normal but when it comes to taking on a normal conversation its hard to not say things in Spanish. The Elder that was in this area before finished his mission last week and his family came out to pick him up(parents and 2 brothers) they went to Machu Pichu and then yesterday came to the ward for the meeting and tell everyone bye. His parents don´t speak a word of Spanish and so they were confused the whole time but for lunch we were there eating together at our pensions house and I was just talking to them and everything and it was hard sometimes but really cool. It was super weird seeing white people again. I´m not used to it anymore either. When I saw his brothers they looked super familiar and I kept asking them question to see if I knew them and pretty much we just decided they looked so familiar because they were white and I´m just not used to that anymore. It made me a little worried about when I come back. lol but I still have a while; I´ve also been thinking I´m going to finish my mission here. It’s super possible on how my mission has been.
     Well I´ll let you all go and hope you have a wonderful week and love and pay close attention to what the lord is telling us to do. 

Love you all,
     Elder Carson Corbett

p.s. no haven´t received my package yet but the offices promised me this week to get it to me!