Week 4 - August 28, 2017

Hey guys! Well to start off, I'm in Philadelphia now! It's called Philadelphia south, so I guess that means it's south of Philadelphia. But it is SO ghetto down here, I've seem maybe two white people total, everyone is just standing around smoking weed, and blasting music and whatnot. It's super cool.  I also got my new companion, his name is Elder Makakãne.  He's from Hawaii, and he's super great. He's a rugby player, so that's what the whole zone plays every p-day. I got to meet the other guys in my district who are also super awesome, everyone just has super chill vibes, and they're super funny, and great. I had my first Philly cheesesteak, which was flipping amazing! And my first full day out here, we had a referral, and Elder Makakane told me to ask him to be baptized, so I did and he said yes! We have some other investigators, that we haven't had the chance to meet with but I've heard a bunch about. Also I should let y'all know that I have a Facebook on this mission! So hmu, I'm Elder Spencer Carlson. Also I finally am learning how to cook!! We eat and work out a ton in my apartment, I make myself 6 eggs every morning, usually a cheesesteak or burger for lunch, and then some fried chicken and rice for dinner.  And then if we have dinner at a members house then sweet that's just more food! Also since Elder Makakane is a rugby player, he needs to work out and eat that much, so I'm just kinda joining him on that  This church is so true y'all! It's honestly been kinda hard out here just since it's pretty sketchy and I'm kinda worried I might get shot, but also just a different lifestyle, but I know the reason I'm out here, and that's to show others the light of Christ. Love y'all, and for those of you still in high school I hope u had a dope first day!

-Elder Carlson 

Pics descriptions:

1. Street in my area

2. More streets

3. The inside of the haircuts place I go

4. My first Philly cheesesteak boyz!!!

5-9. Me doing the thing that only the true masters of life can do...making chicken and rice (dab emoji)

10. Elder White and I reunited

11. My awesome companion Elder Makakãne and I

Made it to Philly!

Elder Carlson made it to Philadelphia!  I actually haven't heard from him yet, but I got this picture from Elder White's mom.  (How great is this picture!?!)  It was evidently a very long day of traveling, starting at 3am, and they arrived hours late.  But this picture is proof that he made it!  He was able to call home from the airport, but the call was only a couple minutes long.  Just long enough to hear that he has a cold!  So I'll be anxious for his next P-day, which is Monday, to hear how he's doing and where his first area will be.  Exciting stuff! 

A total L

This is such a disgrace!  I've failed!! 
- Spencer's Mom

Week 3 - August 18, 2017

Well it was the last full week at the MTC today. It's been another awesome week! To start off I got to see Kastle my HEFY counselor at the MTC tour and that was awesome! Along with that we have been teaching some more investigators here. Me and my companion teach four right now, and have two committed to baptism! So I leave on Wednesday to go to Philadelphia at 3:30am...yeet. Some other awesome stuff that has been happening is we've had TWO other apostles come to the MTC to talk to us! We had M. Russell Ballard, and Neil L Anderson come! So awesome!! Also my district has been able to go to the teaching center and teach people all over the world either on the phone or though online chatting. Dang there was some FUNNY stuff that happened in there! We had one person who said we were a false religion because Mormons believe that you need to follow the example of Jesus Christ by serving people and doing what he would do. This person said that you don't have to do anything, but you can just do whatever you want in this life, and be saved in the next life...I mean that is probably the worst argument I've ever heard. Then this other person came online and said the devil was coming into his dreams and trying to beat him in a game of chess, I told him that I could pray for him over the chat, and he said that if I did that I would be possessed to. Then I had to explain the evil can't be in the presence of Christ, and he still wouldn't believe us, and eventually just left. There are so many other awesome ones like that! These weeks at the MTC have made my testimony of this gospel so much stronger. I know Christ died for our sins, and that all we have to do is follow his example and repent through his atonement so we can live with God again. This gospel is true, and I'll say that 'till the day I die, I see the change it brings to people I've taught, and the way it affects my life. No amount of convincing people try to do against this church can change that because I already KNOW it's true, and I want everyone to know that. That's why I'm on this mission!! Also, me and Ethan White (Elder White) get to Philly the same day! Can't wait to see that dude, we gots lots to catch up on! I miss y'all.
Elder Carlson

Week 2 - August 12, 2017

Today is p-day, and it's going pretty great. We've been teaching a couple of investigators that come to the MTC to learn more, so we've been teaching a guy named will and a girl named Candice, and it's been super great, but the best thing ever happened yesterday, we asked Will to be baptized and he said it was something he could work towards and that we could do in a few weeks!! So that's awesome, other cool things that have happened are basically everything that happened on Sunday. It was fast Sunday so that was fun, but after we had dinner we went to Sunday devotional and first thing that happened was we had Jenny Oaks Baker (Elder Oaks daughter) who is evidently a world famous violinist who travels all over the world and is about to release her 14th studio album. After that we watched a video called "The Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar which was the best video I've ever seen. Then after the video ended someone got up and said that Elder Bednar was in the building! Then he came and talked and answered questions for 2 hours! Coolest experience ever. This week has gone by so fast, it's just so awesome especially cuz we have actual investigators to teach, my district is super awesome and we do everything together. We've been playing volleyball every evening which was been super awesome, everyday is super busy like it we go to class and then teach a lesson, then prepare a lesson, go to class, repeat. It's so awesome. Something else that was funny is I was waiting in a waiting room, and they were playing a bunch of "I'm a Mormon" videos and Bishop Livingstone's videos came up!

Bonus Picture

A missionary who served in San Antonio is now working at the MTC, and she ran into this awesome missionary!  She went to great lengths to get this picture to me, and I love it.  He looks awesome and happy.  :)

Donut Delivery!

We have some amazing friends!!  Donut delivery for Elder Carlson from some of his San Antonio friends.  <3

Week 1 - August 5, 2017

Today is my first P day and I'm loving it here, everyday is filled with learning how to be a good missionary, and feeling the spirit. I've never felt the spirit more constant than here. The spirit is an amazing thing, it is able to change some people's hearts that you never would've expected. My district is super awesome, and we all get along super well, my companion's name is Elder Nuzman and he is super awesome, and we get along super well. We all got to go to the temple today as a district and it was one of the best experiences ever. So you guys can email me whenever you want, but i can only email on Saturday. I miss all u guys and I know I'm doing what the Lord would want me to do, and I can't wait to keep getting out and serving the Lord.