Some pictures for you.....

December 27, 2010

I'm always drinking water - staying hydrated.

They had guitars because of the Talent show, so we rented out some and got to jam on P-DAY!

Semana Seis...

Monday, December 27, 2010

Feliz Navidad!

This past week has been beyond eventful, and there would be no way to fit in everything, so I decided to focus purely on the Christmas weekend instead, and I'll inform you about the earlier part of the week next email.

So, Christmas Eve/Day/Weekend was incredible. It was sad to not be at home with the family for Christmas, but it was fun here as well. Christmas Eve Devotional was with the MTC Presidency. They are great people. We did a 12 days of Christmas, MTC style which was the highlight of the night for me. Our district had a sleep over and opened our presants from home, and participated in our gift exchange.

Christmas morning we had a talent show, and got to here a lot of awesome music, skits, stories, etc. It was a great change of scenery, and I really enjoyed it. Then, after lunch, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorom of the Twelve Apostles spoke to us. It was absolutely incredible. He talked about teaching simply and quickly, looking for bright young people to teach, etc. He had a funny response to polygamy: "Well if you want to get excommunicated quickly, then do it! The other sins take longer." What a perfect response that gave me a good laugh. We went through Matthew 1, Luke 1 and 2, and analysed the birth of Christ. He disected many words, which was cool to see what everything meant in other languages, and roots of the words. He ended reading the testimony of the Quorom of the Twelve, from The Living Christ. What a powerful document.

After some down time during the afternoon, we heard a 2 man rendition of A Christmas Carol, acted out by 2 long time MTC employees. Following that, Elder Nelson shared a few thoughts, and his testimony.

At this time of Christmas, I feel inspired to share briefly my testimony that Jesus is the Christ. That He was born in Bethlehem, and that He is the Son of God. I know that He came to earth and established His true Church, and is at the helm of ours today. I know that He performed many miracles, and lived a perfect life, setting a flawless example for me to follow in every aspect of live. I know that He paid the price for our sins in Gethsemane, and that He suffered beyond measure there, and died on the cross so that we can return to His presence, with our families side by side. I know that He is my Savior, Redeemer, and that He lives! He wants us to be happy, and we can be happy through faith and repentance. Through His atonement, we can feel clean, and being clean truly is being happy. I'm so thankful for Jesus Christ and all that He has done, and continues to do for me in my life today. I am honored to be a representative of Him as His missionary. I know that through the power of God I can change lives, and invite them to come unto Christ as well. I'm excited to get to Paraguay and to help others feel Christ's love for them, just like I feel every day!

Last night, I was able to finish reading the Book of Mormon. I want to talk about that, but first talk about yesterday's events.

In the morning, Elder Nelson was able to attend again and spoke. Once again, it was fabulous (i'm running out of adjectives to describe him). It was a solid hour of open scripture study with an Apostle of God. He cited numerous scriptures, analyzed Hebrew and Greek origins, and expounded on the Abrahamic Covenant, and the gathering of Israel today. He blessed the missionaries here, and their families that they will be blessed because of our service. I love my family and I hope that they can be blessed from my service as a missionary. He ended by saying a quote that was spot on: "We will always be a minority, but we have God on our side, and that's the kid of majority I want." I love Elder Nelson and I appreciate the love and support that I felt, "on behalf of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve".

On the topic of the Book of Mormon, I was able to finish reading it while here in the MTC. I took Moroni's Challenge, to ask God "with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ." I know without a doubt in my being that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have never felt so calm, peaceful, relaxed, and sure that this book is truly another testament of Jesus Christ. It perfectly compliments the Bible. I know that the Church that espouses it is the true Church of God, which is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and that through him, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Church of God, and the Priesthood keys associated with it were restored. I am thankful for this opportunity to share that knowledge with others, and to help others feel Christ's love for them. I know that missionary work is real, and that I took that leap of faith to serve a mission, because the knowledge I've gained here has changed my life. I am honored to be a representative of Jesus Christ.

Thanks for the Christmas letters, notes, packages, presents, EVERYTHING!!! I love you guys at home and I hope that the holiday season has been splendid!

Please keep writing me, every letter means so much!

Pray for me and the people of Paraguay

Con Amor-
Elder Babcock

Buenos Dias

So the MTC is getting just a bit more normal lately, things have started to set in. Because of the Christmas season, we have had six substitutes and only have seen our real teachers once. Things are hectic as the Christmas schedule is really confusing but we just feel it out. We haven't had the opportunity to go to the temple as it was closed last week, this week its closed for Christmas and next week it will be closed for cleaning. Thank you for the packages I'm exited to open them tomorrow, i only wish i had a Christmas book to read on Christmas morning like the polar express or somethin sweet. We are having a Christmas morning in one of our dorms where our district will meet and open presents that our family gave us... i guess Santa doesn't come to the mtc... Weird. I feel like i am learning slowly, especially because since we have had so many teachers, they all want to review over the same things cause they all think we haven't heard it, so i really know how to do companion study, a language study plan, and how to teach the first lesson kinda. On Sundays we can listen to music and the spoken word and its fun to see some of the ward members in the choir.
its funny to think that a couple months ago, i would consider conference addresses a time to go shooting, skiing, or sleeping, and now on my free time, when i have personal study, sometimes i like to go onto lds.org and listen to conference addresses and talks. funny how fun changes.
I'm really liking our gym time every day, i get to play volleyball, a nice break from constagospel. There are a lot of really good players and servers, its real fun to just play. I'm definitely missing the snow and skiing, and the opportunity to do whatever i want, whenever i want. haha i haven't really gained much weight, like maybe two pounds but i figured something out. Missionaries don't gain weight because of the mtc food, they gain weight because of the goodies their grandparents send them... Thanks Grandma and grandpa, it was delicious (notice we finished it and only got the package yesterday). So i really like my district and zone we have a lot of really fun people and a lot that i can easily get along with.
MTC is great, you get the opportunity to feel the spirit almost every day.
Not really much else to say, merry Christmas happy new year and keep sending me stuff, its nice to hear from everyone.

El Missionaro

So MTC is pretty good, foods pretty good, and so is the experience. My first day in the MTC i did something that reminded me of the movie (500) Days of Summer. Reality vs. Expectations. Expectaciones: walk in, get my badge and stuff, walk to my room, and unpack. Get comfortable in my dorm possibly take a nap, and meet my companion. Not at all. Instead, Reality: Run the bags inside, follow a frantic line of people getting badges, snapping our pictures and given sooooo much stuff. Got to my building, packed the two pieces of luggage up the three flights of stairs, (fourth floor) and tried the key.... didn't work... wrong building... oh the MTC. :) so packed the luggage back downstairs, to the correct building, and right back up another three flights of stairs. threw my bags in the door (and because i was late, i was the last one in the dorm which means i got the crappy bed next to the door with the smaller desk. Pero esta bien) and rushed straight to my class to learn espanol. I met mi companero Elder Hansen. I was most worried about my companion when i came to the MTC so i had a constant prayer up the three flights of stairs...twice... He is not bad. There is a little problem with desire, and so a big problem with tardiness but hopefully well work through it. After what felt like another twenty hours i went to sleep, slept like a bug. I recommend anyone going into the MTC to sleep on the floor for 6 months before. No one else slept well. We had a few meetings, a welcome meeting and then watched some missionaries teach fake investigators about the gospel. It was surprisingly cool to me.

After i got my ipod all loaded up with Christmas music and the vision of studying in the morning with some Christmas music playing in the background my branch president Elder Shumway said, "the rules about music..... there is none..." I found myself like a little Cindy Lou Ho on the Grinch say, standing with crossed legs and arms in my head softly with a stutter "bu bu but but president.... its Christmas?" i guess well have to wait till next year for the Christmas music.

My P days are usually on Fridays but this week is crazy. I really enjoy our gym time that they allow, it gives me a nice break in between 24/7 church. It was a little hard of a transition for me as i went from church 3 hours (really only two) to the gospel every second, that is unless i am trying to learn Spanish. Spanish is coming along well, sometimes a review but definitely a well needed one. Really overwhelming for the first few days but overall, i like it.

Mom i don't know your e-mail so hopefully i got dads right, but let me know yours, also anyone that sends me a Dear Elder or E-mail, should include their home address so i can write back. Thanks for those.

Hola a todos...

Monday, December 20, 2010

hola a todos-
This week I passed the hump date of the MTC, so I guess you could say it's all downhill from here! I can't describe how fast time really flies by here, which is good because I am beyond excited to get to Paraguay, but it's also bad because I enjoy it here as well and the knowledge of the gospel and language I have obtained. But overall, I'm definitely more excited to leave.
Tuesday Night Devotional was with Elder Paul B. Pieper of the Seventy. It was excellent he talked all about our agency and our ability we have, as well as our investigators have, which is to make a choice. It was good to hear, because we received a new investigator to teach, who is Edwin's dad, Julio. He is really difficult because he has no desire really to know for himself anything we say is true. It's a great challenge because I know that many of the people I teach will have a hard time obtaining a desire to know more. But I do love the practice.
Yesterday, Sunday the 19th, was my favorite day so far in the MTC. A man named Ted Gibbons did the devotional, where he did a 1 hour monologue to everyone, in first person, about the life and testimony of Willard Richards, and his relationship with the Prophet Joseph Smith and his testimony of him. The Spirit was so strong. After that, we watched the Joseph Smith movie. As a missionary, its a daily battle for your testimony, and this week was particularly difficult. Satan tries to do everything he can to make you feel like missionary work is too hard and that the knowledge and gospel we bring isn't true. Last night was a solid testimony builder for me and helped me more that I can say. I am so thankful for the Prophet Joseph Smith, and all that he went through in this life to establish the work, and to spread the gospel to the world. I don't know if any mortal man has been through what he has, and I respect him so much. Praise to the Man.
I had an excellent study session in the morning, reading in 3 Nephi, where Christ visits the Americas. That whole section is powerful. In the spirit of Christmas, it was fun to read about Christ's birth, in the eyes of Nephi (the 3rd). In the first chapter of 3rd Nephi, Nephi is getting down because some of the signs of Christ's birth had not yet been shown unto the world, like Samuel the Lamanite prophesied before. He prays to God, and the voice of the Lord comes unto him, and basically tells him that the time is near for the birth of Himself (Jesus Christ). This Christmas time, I would challenge you to read in 3 Nephi of the signs of Christ's birth in the Americas, as well as in the New Testament. They compliment each other, and both testify that Jesus is the Christ. It's awesome.
This Christmas, let us remember the Savior, more than ever before. The Savior suffered in Gethsemane and died for our trials, sins, problems, everything. He came to this world for YOU, so that you could return to His presence. I'm so thankful for our Savior, the Redeemer of the world, our brother, and friend. He really is my big brother, and I look up to Him for everything. He suffered for all of us, so that we can be made clean and be happy. Remember Him and keep His atoning sacrifice in your thoughts.
Thanks for all the messages, packages, letters, Christmas cards, and everything!!!
2 Nephi 1:30- Lehi is talking to Zoram and thanks him for being a "true friend" to his sons. I want to thank all my friends out there for their love, support, example, and most importantly friendship. I love them to death and can't say enough about how much you all mean to me. I would not be here without their kindness and loyalty to me, so I wanted to thank them for everything. I love you guys!
Have a Merry Christmas, and remember the Savior's birth, life, and death: all of which was for YOU! Pray for me and the people of Paraguay.
Con Amor-
- Elder Babcock

Some Pictures for You . . .

- The Tag (FOR YOU MOM)

- My Companion @ the MTC. He's a friend of my cousin Joseph.

- District 08-D

- 211 Backsack Crew (notice the 211 w/the hands)

- My friend from home. We both received our mission calls on the same day. We both received our mission call to the same mission. We both entered the MTC on the same day.

How Time Flies . . .

Monday, December 13, 2010

Hola!

Wow, comin up on 4 weeks here.... how times flies!

This week I have realized how blessed I have been here at the MTC with my teachers, branch presidency, and learning program. Like I've said before, I'm one of the first districts in the new Pilot Program where we teach, teach, and teach some more (en espanol, claro que si), and learn Spanish at a faster pace. It's awesome. I have easily the coolest teacher in the enitre MTC, Hermana Whitlock. She reminds me a lot of my amiga Alyssa back at home. She is great and I am learning so much from her in both Spanish, and the gospel. Hermano Hepworth is my other teacher, and he is a nice guy as well and I've learned a lot from him. And I can't say enough about my Branch President, Pres. Watkins. I look up to him in every way. He is my president, advisor, and friend. Man, I have been blessed beyond measure.

Elder Zwick of the Seventy spoke on Tues. at the fireside...Incredible speaker. He talked about his mission in Arg. and Bolivia and it made me really excited to get to S. America.

Spanish is coming along great, taught at TRC in 100% Spanish, and my companion is doing his best as well. Its cool because as missionaries we are supposed to give the investigators "milk" instead of "steak" when we first teach, and since we don't know much more than "milk" in spanish, its working out perfectly!

We lost Elder Barth (from Brighton) and his district to Mexico, another GREAT Hasta Ver. We also received a new district into the zone, going to Columbia this week. They are kinda shy and don't talk much, but that's how we were at first too. I was hoping we'd get a new district this Wednesday, so that Shaun could possibly be in our zone. However, I was informed that we will not be receiving a new district...too bad but I'll see my buddy around definitely!

Funny Story this week, teaching at the TRC (Teaching Resource Center), another companionship in my district was teaching, and was trying to have his investigator read Ephesians 4:3-5 (which is the One God, One Faith scripture), but instead, asked him to read Ephesians 5:3-5... Please find your Bible and read those scriptures... Up there with the best missionary mistakes ever! After asking him to read it he asked "Que piensa?" (what do you think) and the investigator basically told him that he thought he was a horrible person ha ha. It was great.

Our room is all Christmas decorated with snowflakes, and a tree we made out of hangers. If you want to send me a Christmas gift, I'd love some old fashioned, skinnier ties from the DI, really cheap ones that are smaller. They are way cooler that these fancy ties I brought here haha but you definitely don't need to send anything.

Thanks for the letters and everything I can't say enough about how much I appreciate hearing from everyone from home. If you send me an email, please remember to put your address so I can write you back. Keep the letters coming I love it.

Hno. Hepworth told us that that his mission president in Peru told him that if he would read in El Libro de Mormon for 10 minutes a day (en espanol, por supuesto) that he would have the gift of tongues. Pretty great promise. So, he has asked us to do the same. I've noticed that since I've been spending least 10 minutes a day in spanish in The Book of Mormon, I've been able to speak better spanish and remember/say what needs to be said in my lessons.

Estoy muy agradecido por la oportunidad a servir un mission por Dios, y la habilidad estar aqui en el CCM. Yo se que Dios nos ama y nos ayunda con nuestros pecados, problemas, y todas las cosas nosotros necisitamos. Yo testifico que Jesus es el Cristo, y tambien que El sufrio en Gethsemani, y murio por todos. Yo estoy animado a ir a Paraguay, y servir nuestro Dios. Yo se que Jose Smith fue un profeta de Dios, y El restauro la verdad a la tierra, y Presidente Thomas S. Monson es un profeta viviente. El Libro de Mormon es la palabra de Dios, y es otro testomonio de Jesucristo, para hoy y ahora.

Yo amo mi familia, mis amigos, mi district/zona, y mi companero. Yo tengo un testimonio que esta Iglesia es verdadera, y que yo puedo traer muchas personas a saber la verdad, y yo puedo ayudar las personas en Paraguay saber como volver y vivir con Dios y familias eterno.
Gracias por todo, Yo amo todos ustedes!

- Elder Babcock

"Hasta Ver"...

Monday, December 6, 2010

Dear Family and Friends-

This week in the MTC has been awesome. Since our daily schedule as missionaries is now going strong and nothing is new (study, eat, study, class, eat, study, class, eat, teach, study, plan, sleep) I decided to talk more about the other stuff going on and a little less about schedule stuff.

The big new this week for me was that I got pretty sick Monday night, really sick Tuesday night, and have slowly been recovering from this crazy sinus infection, sore throat, headache, couch, runny nose/sneezing thing I got going on. It's not pleasant, but I'm glad its finally slowed down.

Our zone has some awesome traditions that our district is keeping alive. Elder Juhasz, Richins, Colligan, Glad and I broke the zone record for Back Sack by shattering the previous record of 126 time of keeping the hacky sack in the air while sitting in a small, 5 man circle, by reaching 211 hits. Its pretty awesome and really fun. Our district all gets along great! Another tradition started by Elder Hammer, our zone leader who is leaving today, is napkin poetry every Sunday night. All participants from our zone assemble in his room and read the funniest, most random poems you'd ever hear. The robe was passed down to Elder Barth in our zone, who graduated from Brighton this past Spring as well. Long live napkin poetry!

But by far the coolest tradition our zone has here is singing the "Hasta Ver" (God Be With You Tell We Meet Again) the night before any district in our zone departs. We all cram into one room and sing the first 3 versus as loud as we can, and the 4th reverently. Its really sad to see them go, but I'm excited for them, and excited for me to leave. Hasta Ver is awesome.

Elder Miner and I are teaching well and got a new investigator names Susana. The 1st lesson went awesome, and I spoke in 95% espanol. I am loving spanish and its coming faster that I could have imagined.

Yesterday was my first Fast Sunday in the MTC........Fasted from 4:30 pm Saturday night until 5:30 pm Sunday night. It was actually very easy and a spiritual experience to share with my district. My stomach was howling during sacrament meeting, which was funny, but fast Sunday was awesome. We got to watch the First Presidency Christmas Fireside via satellite, which was incredible. The messages and music was awesome. One of the songs sounded like a Sufjan Stevens song (Jacksonville for those who know Sufjan) which reminded me of all the music I've not heard in a few weeks. I miss the music, but its been a blessing for me to be obedient and follow all the mission rules.

I'm loving reading from Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon more than anything. I've been watching Elder Jeffrey Holland's talk from the Oct. 2009 Sunday afternoon session titled "Safety For The Soul". It is his testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon. I have watched it here at least 5 times this week, because it is so inspirational for me. I'd challenge anyone who receives this email to go onto lds.org to watch and listen to his testimony, and to read the Book of Mormon. It has changed my life, and I know that you will enjoy doing both. The Book of Mormon is the word of God.

I love getting the letters, dear elder's, and emails!!! I appreciate the messages and would love to continue to keep hearing from everyone I love from home! Pray for me, and the people of Paraguay.

Love you guys.

- Elder Babcock

MTC life is pretty awesome...

Monday, November 29, 2010

Hello to all!

I first wanted to say thanks to everyone for the letter, dearelders, and emails, I love reading them, and hearing what is happening back in "the real world."

MTC life is pretty awesome, there are ups and downs, but I still love being here and learning.

This week things slowed down, we now have a regular week schedule which I love. Getting into a rhythm is really important and makes it a lot easier. The days feel like lifetimes, and the weeks feel like seconds, if that makes sense. I can't believe I've been here 2 weeks.

Spanish is coming along great, I've been studying hard and can figure out more than I've ever imagine this fast. Thank goodness for the gift of tongues.

Good news: rumor has it the Jazz beat the Lakers? Wow.

Bad news: rumor has it Utah beat BYU by 1? Wow.

It's hard to leave behind the sports and music but its so worth it.

My zone leaders, Elder Fuqua and Elder Hammer are awesome. Elder Hammer looks and talks exactly like David Putty (Elaine's boyfriend in the later seasons of Seinfeld), and Elder Fuqua looks and talks exactly like Jesse Curtis (Alyssa's Brother). They are hilarious and have a great spirit about them.

Elder Fuqua said something really awesome in our zone testimony meeting. He said that missionaries feel like they've sacrificed so much to go on a mission, such as school, work, girlfriend, car, etc...when we have really sacrificed nothing. Think for a second of what the Savior sacrificed for all of mankind on the cross and in Gethsemane. We haven't sacrificed a single thing.

I love that, its so true.

This week was Thanksgiving, great to hear that the family had fun in St. George and Jake did so well in the tournament.

Thanksgiving, no offense to the family and all the great times we've had on Thanksgiving, was easily the best one I've had. In the morning devotional, we were blessed to have Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (my favorite apostle if thats even possible to choose) speak to us. It honestly changed my life. He had some important things to say about being grateful, and to not let the people of the world down as missionaries, because we are literally representatives of Christ, and we are to act as He would act. I love that man. Later, we participated in a big service project and mad 33, 400 bags for people in need, which was awesome.

Elder Miner and I are great teachers and work well together, the Spirit is so strong when we teach. I love him, he is a great example. We figured out that he is great with doctrine, and I do well with spanish, and so together we help each other out with both. It's crazy to think how much I've grown in this short time here. Gotta love the MTC, right?

I've been reading the Book of Mormon as fast as I would a Harry Potter novel (ps don't tell me about Harry Potter 7 movie). It's been my rock and foundation so far here, and everytime I'm feeling down I feel the comfort it brings. It really is the word of God, and has the conversion power and spirit surrounding it.

I want to end with my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I have been reading in Mosiah (possibly my favorite book in the Book of Mormon) quite frequently recently, and always come around the story of Abinadai. I would challenge everyone to go back and read his words and testimony. Our district was talking about who they want to meet post death on Earth, and I think he would be near the top of my list.

En espanol, yo se que el Libro de Mormon es la palabra de Dios, y el Libro de Mormon es verdad.

Thanks for everything, I love you guys. Keep me updated about your lives, and I will do the same with mine.

Pray for me and the people of Paraguay!

- Elder Babcock

Hola Familia y amigos!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Hola Familia y amigos!

Things are great here at the MTC. I have been so busy doing so many different things that it would be impossible to share everything, but i'll try my best to talk about some events and feeling about them.

Mi companero es Elder Miner. He worked with my cousin Joseph before the mission so it was cool to be with someone I know. He ALWAYS has a great attitude which in contagious, has a deep desire to be early to everything (which is hard for me because I have been lazy in past, but its been good for me), and is very hard working with everything. We get along pretty well, and have be teaching well together.

Also Elder Colligan is in my district and lives next door, so we do practically everything together. His companero is Elder Fuentes.

On Wednesday, when I got here and dropped my stuff off at the room. Then we went to our classroom to meet our district and teacher Hermana Whitlock, she is a great teacher. We had a small devotional with all the new elders, and participated in a fake lesson with an investigator. I can't remember everything because I was so busy, next time I'll come to the computer prepared with my Missionary Schedule Book.

Thursday and Friday were the hardest days so far, I have never been so tired. It was really busy learning, teaching, orientation, etc. It was a great opportunity for me to pray more than I ever have before, which helped more than I can put into words. The spanish is review for me so far, but I'm not getting cocky yet because I know I will be humbled very very soon. We are in the new Spanish Pilot Program at the MTC where they throw the missionaries into discussions with investigators that only speak spanish, so we barely understand anything and are supposed to communicate our best with what we know. It has been described as "being put into the middle of a lake, and being asked to drive the boat back to shore that you don't have" which made me laugh and was very accurate.

Sundays in the MTC are just fantastic, best sunday of my life so far. We had priesthood session with our zone which I loved. All the elders and hermanas in the zone had to prepare a talk on the weekly Christlike attribute assigned that week, in spanish, and the president of our branch calls 2 elders and hermanas out of the audience to speak. He didn't call on me but I felt like I was prepared and would have done fine. Then we had a fireside with the whole MTC where I saw Elder Wertz, it was great. I run into so many people I know down here it's crazy.

The food is great, it's really cold and snowy here and I am under prepared for the weather haha but it's ok.

Monday is P-day, so that's when I can email the family.

There is a website called Dear Elder, which I guess is easiest for the missionaries because you email from that website, and the emails are converted to letters, so then we don't have to take time to read the emails here and can read them at the room and write you back. I'm sure Mom can figure it out haha- so try that out mom and everyone else reading.

I appreciate all the messages from everyone! Please keep writing me and I'll do my very best to respond to everything, I promise. If you could put your address at the bottom of your first couple emails, then I can write you back in a hand written letter, because I can only email my family.

I wanted to end with my testimony of Christ's example, and the love that God has for all of his children. But specifically on missionary work. I have only been in the MTC for 5 days, I think, but I already know with a perfect knowledge that missionary work is real, and that God loves His missionaries. It's a great comfort for me. If you are unsure about serving a mission, or have any doubts about missionary work, I want you to know that it is real, and vital for finding all of God's children, so they can hear the doctrine of Christ.

Sorry I gotta hurry- but I love you guys so much. Pray for me and the people of Paraguay.

- Elder Babcock

"It's Hard to Say Goodbye . . . To the Ones You Love"

Carter always wanted to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since he was very young. He has prepared himself his whole life so he would be worthy and ready to go when the call came. He is excited and so happy to be a missionary. He loves the Lord, he loves the Gospel; and he's excited to serve and love the people in Paraguay. Carter going on a mission was something that seemed so far in the distance. Then it seemed I turned around one day; and it was Carter's time. He was now old enough to be a representative of Jesus Christ.

On November 17, 2010, Carter entered the MTC. Before he left that morning, his sister Emily, sang a song she had written for him "Carter's Song." They echo the feelings we have as a family.

Carter's Song. . .

It's hard to say goodbye to the ones that you love.

The ones that you grew up with your whole life-
But there comes a time, where you have to say . . .

Goodbye, while they serve.

I know that you are needed to spread the word.

To spread His message all around the world.

You are strong, you are bright,

You are doing what's right to do.

But, I know it's not goodbye, we'll see you soon-

But until then just know that we'll be thinking of you.

Heavenly Father please protect him and bless him too.

Brother, I love you.

- written by Emily

November 2010

The Support of Family and Friends . . .

Family and friends gathered in the days leading up to Elder Babcock's departure for his mission to say hello and farewell. It made us all realize the importance of having the support of your family and good friends.

As a family . . . we are so grateful for the many friends Carter has in in his life. Thank for your example to him; and the influence you've had in his life. To our family . . . your love and support of Carter is overwhelming!

We love you.