My Mission Call

I am hereby called to serve in the Brazil Ribeirao Preto mission. It is anticipated that I will serve for a period of 24 months. I will report to the Brazil Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, August 17th, 2011. I Will prepare to preach the gospel in the Portuguese language. My assignment may be modified to the needs of the mission president. 

Wow. Brazil?! I can't believe it. Honestly, I knew that everyone I know from Washington has been called there so far this year, but I never saw myself going there. The more I think about it and read up on this little place near Sao Paolo (I don't know how to do the cool accent marks yet - Portuguese is not something I have an inkling about) the more I feel like this is perfect for me. According to Wikipedia, its the California of Brazil. I'll let you guys read up on it yourselves. 

But I had my call in my backpack all day, just pondering where I was going. This made it impossible for me to focus on things like schoolwork, but thats just a little side effect. I am so excited that I have my mission call. I am so excited to serve the lord. I took my mission call with my sister up to the Provo Temple and opened it up there, and it was perfect. The people who guessed correctly were my Nana, and Gemma. I can't remember if anyone else guessed Brazil.

This is when my call came...

Took it up to the temple around 7:30 PM my time. 

 You don't get a letter signed by good old Tom Monson every day. 

The Perfect Backdrop to a perfect day. 

Rebeirao Preto, Brazil

My mission president and his wife.

\

Overall, I am extremely excited. Unfortunately, schoolwork beckons!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHhh.

Whoopsie Daisy

Darn. Sometimes you look at your planner one day and say, "This is good...this week won't be too bad..."






Then you look at it again and realize...."Darn. What was I thinking? These things are going to take a lot more work than I originally thought..." and your week is devoured by school work.





Yeah. That just happened.

Happy Sunday

This morning was really stunning outside! The sun was shining again after two or three days of overcast gloomy weather. Unfortunately it didn't stay for too long, but I got  to make a nice phone call home in the sunshine before elders quorum choir and what not. And low and behold, I've been REALLY homesick today!! The sunny weather makes me think of the brief span that it is sunny in Washington. Because when it is, it is soo nice! I was looking through my cell phone pictures from the beginning of the year and was remembering how unbearable hot it was outside all the time here in Provo, and really missing that as well. The scenery and sky was unbeatable earlier in the year. It would be nice to have that little river/pond back again! Some good news though: The ducks are returning. 

This is this morning here outside my dorm. I went behind that building straight ahead called the "central building" and went on those benches to call my family. It was nice, Gemma answered and was just getting ready for church. Brigitta call me!

 In other news, I got some new scripture markers that I was so desperately needing. I got 5 colors and splurged, what the heck I'm gonna need them for the years to come haha. These look EXACTLY like highliters on paper, but feel like crayon so they don't bleed through my scriptures. I love how bright and vivid they are. They make the words pop off the page. 

I started going through the pictures I had taken on my cell phone again that I had recently uploaded on my computer. This is arguable the BEST one I have taken from the rooftop of the JFSB.

Lately we had a lot of rainy weather. I found this picture that made me smile because I was caught in shorts one day when a flash rain started up suddenly and everyone was bolting for shelter because of the intensity of it! I personally didn't exactly make it out safely. 

Once my sister and I went to Olive Garden after seeing Despicable Me. There was this Russian guy behind me with the perfect accent like Gru in the movie, and his hands were creeping on me. The hair on these things were amazing! See for yourself! 

Sometimes when I got to the Taco Bell in the student center I like to pretend I am somebody that I really am not. So far I have been "Hans Solo" (she didn't know it was just 'Han'), Chewbacca, Colonel Mustard, and Luke Skywalker. 

This is my friend Karsten. Pretty much the coolest kid ever. Too bad he is moving down to Utah right when I am moving back up to Vancouver!? What are the odds! Smiths! I urge you to reconsider your move until I leave on my mission, then conveniently move back in two-three years :)

Sometimes people do funny things to the statues around campus...

Once I found out that somebody had stolen my car from my garage. I soon found it later on and now my baby is back with me safe and sound. The guy had put it on display in Brigham Square! Of all places?!?! The audacity...of course I am going to find it there...

VENNE MY BAY BOOCHAY

So I'm sure that everyone has flashbulb memories sometimes when a song comes up of a time in your youth where the exact place and time of where you were and what you were doing will come into your mind. Well, that just happened to me when a song by Paul Simon came on called You Can Call Me Al. From nowhere suddenly the memory of me being upstairs in my bedroom of our old house in 105th Court, came into my mind. Downstairs the 2000 Athens Olympics are playing on our old TV and swimming is going on, and my parents are watching it. It is a glorious sunny day outside, the trees and grass in our backyard is green. Our trampoline above all that ivy is beckoning to me. I was 7 or 8 years old at this point in my life. And I just remember this song playing for no apparent reason, I think it must have been from a tape player, and loving the chorus where he says, "If you'd be my bodyguard, I can be your long lost pal. If I can call you Betty, and Betty when you call me you can calllll meeee Alllll." Except ever since I was little I thought - and this is literally a revelation I just had when I looked up the lyrics to this song - that he always said "If I can call you Daddy, Daddy when you call me you can calllll meeee Allll..." That is quite hilarious how just doing this post can reveal certain things that I would have never known.




A man walks down the street
He says why am I soft in the middle now
Why am I soft in the middle
The rest of my life is so hard
I need a photo-opportunity
I want a shot at redemption
Don't want to end up a cartoon
In a cartoon graveyard
Bonedigger Bonedigger
Dogs in the moonlight
Far away my well-lit door
Mr. Beerbelly Beerbelly
Get these mutts away from me
You know I don't find this stuff amusing anymore

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty  <---- I seriously always thought he was saying "Daddy" up until like 5 minutes ago
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al

A man walks down the street
He says why am I short of attention
Got a short little span of attention
And wo my nights are so long
Where's my wife and family
What if I die here
Who'll be my role-model
Now that my role-model is
Gone Gone
He ducked back down the alley
With some roly-poly little bat-faced girl
All along along
There were incidents and accidents
There were hints and allegations

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
Call me Al

A man walks down the street
It's a street in a strange world
Maybe it's the Third World
Maybe it's his first time around
He doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign man
He is surrounded by the sound
The sound
Cattle in the marketplace
Scatterlings and orphanages
He looks around, around
He sees angels in the architecture
Spinning in infinity
He says Amen and Hallelujah!

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al
Call me Al

Another song of such nature is the song "Medicine Man" by Bobby McFerrin. We had this CD that my sister and I would always pop into our living room CD player (man, so many memories of that living room in the old house), and as it would play we would just walk around in circles (I would follow her) and just bob up and down like a bunch of Indian tribals...actually a lot like how he looks on the cover in the video. Listen to the song, and you can probably understand how we being so young just thought it was a hilariously funny sounding song. Probably the part that sticks out in my mind is that we would always shout, "VENNE MY BAY BOOCHAY!!! UHH UHHH!!!" at the beginning because that is what he said. And to this day I can picture us perfectly walking around in circles singing "I am a medicine man....I am a medicine man..." Tiana can attest to this.




Listening to good music from childhood can bring back some great memories. That much I can say with certainty.

WHOA.

Step in front of this shot and the ball will most likely go straight through you. I was astounded when I saw this goal. So much swerve! Dani Alves is the man.

Now This Made Me Happy

My Uncle sent me a link to this video, and it was such a great one. It really cheered me up when I wasn't having the best day. I will always love soccer.

Nutella Brownies

My first time ever trying to make homemade brownies. I must say, they were DELICIOUS. Thanks for the recipe, Aunt Megan. You are the bomb. 

*Note: Laptops added for flavor. 

 Me? Helpless in the kitchen? Not anymore! 

Snarfed them down. 

What Matter Is The Long Run

So last night I had two things planned to do that I really wanted and needed to get done: a stake president interview and an intermural soccer game - the first one to kick off the tournament. The interviews were starting at 6:00 PM and the soccer game was at 7:00 PM on the opposite side of campus. Me, well being me, decided that I could make it to both. Obviously I needed to go get my stake president interview and that was the top priority, but I just really wanted to play in that soccer game. So, because the interviews were first come first serve, I went at 5:20, right after my astronomy class. I got up to the conference center and there were already 3 people there, so I thought, okay that's decent I will be 4th. If each interview is 10-15 minutes and there are 3 people doing interviews I will be through with a half hour to spare before 7:00, plenty of time! As it drew nearer and nearer to 6:00 more and more guys came. I thought how lucky I was to get there earlier. Finally, President Madsen came out with the clipboard and says, "first come, first serve", and everyone gets up at once and goes to the clipboard!  So, it didn't even matter when you got there in order because this kid who had got there 2 minutes earlier signed up for 3rd in line! I ended up 5th, still decent. President Crowley came shortly after and at 6 they took the first two guys who were signed up to get an interview...

...a half hour later, they were just getting out. The interviews were taking longer than expected. And, there were only 2 people doing the interviews. At 6:30, with the 3rd and 4th guys in there I was just counting minute by minute go by hoping that they would emerge and I would be next. I just wanted to be out by 6:50 so I could sprint back and then run to my field and only miss a short part of my game. This girl shows up and sits down, and then President Madsen comes out and goes, "I hope you gentleman don't mind, but we always take ladies first." I was okay with that, because I was happy to let her go in front of me. At that point I was so anxious that I kept getting the recurring thoughts to leave and come back on sunday when I wasn't so pressed for time. When 7:00 came I just thought to myself, "Why do I care so much? Who cares if I miss one soccer game! I am about to get interviewed by the stake presidency to consecrate 2 years of my time for a full time mission, what does this one time mean?" I knew that Satan works hard so that young men won't serve a mission, and him putting in the thoughts of the soccer game in my mind was his way of trying to get me to leave. Once I finally got into the interview room I had pushed the entire game from my mind, and everything at that moment seemed so much clearer to me. I knew I would much rather be there, taking to President Crowley at that point in time. It was one of the best interviews of my life, and I learned a lot. I also felt the spirit very strongly. I was still in there at 7:22, when he asked if I wanted to stick around for a few minutes so I could push the final "send" button to the first presidency. He knew I was missing my game, but I just said, "It will be over soon anyways, I would love to stay." I got to "touch the prophets finger" according to President Crowley.

This whole experience gave me perspective as to what is important in life and what isn't. One game in a soccer tournament isn't anywhere near as important as getting an interview to go on a mission. And, I am getting my call in 9-13 days now. It will probably come not this Wednesday but the Wednesday afterwards, and I am so excited. Just put things in perspective. What is important to you now? What will be important to you in the long run? Don't let Satan pull you away.

Also, I was blessed - we won our soccer game and I get to play in the next game. Good job team!!!

I was in the creamery today when I saw some frisbee discs. I promptly took a picture - Jimmermania. You could have a wind Jimmer of your very own! Only $3.39! "Engineered for maximum flight"....that is the best part.

Secret Creeper

Hunter made a timelapse of Brenton and I sleeping. The morning after I saw this I about died laughing. Just wait to the end...that happened around like 2 or 3 in the morning.

Also, I know it's disgusting that I have feet in my face all night but when I am asleep I don't even notice it.

Horrific Mid Term Ordeal

Political Science online mid-terms aren't cool at all. Just letting you guys know. I'm scarred for life from this ordeal, I just finished and its been weighing down on me all weekend. It feels like a burden has been lifted from by back.

I feel....like this....

Haha, all joking aside, I feel great. (Sunday was probably the most beautiful day of the entire year thus far, so I had to get some pictures in the sun.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIDEN!!! CHLOE, YOURS IS ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY!! HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!!!

Best picture I have with Chloe, too bad she has a way better smile than I do! You are such an awesome girl!

Also, my best friend Tripper got ordained an Elder on Sunday. I can't believe that you were converted less than a year ago and now people are gonna be calling you "Elder Frost". You are such a stud Trip. I can't wait to see you again when I come back home. Haha remember Thanksgiving when I jumped on you and snapped this little gem?

Also, I finished my mission papers. 

That Lasagna Was "To Die For"

Today I went over to my sisters to make the best lasagna in history. I have tried so many different types of lasagna, but amazingly enough this was the best I have ever had. I am not exaggerating anything at all but this was the best I have EVER had! Picture my Dad in his incredulous voice after he tastes something really good just saying..."ooooooh....that is to die for..." It was such a fun afternoon, I am just lucky I still have some leftovers because it was delectable.

Tiana and her roommate, Michelle. 

I didn't know what to do for my poses. So I just did whatever my heart desired...my sister got lots better pictures. 

This is the finished product. 

WOW! IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE PICTURE!!!

Mmmmmmmmm...

Cardboard Defense

Today, Lauren came over to say hi to all of us. What a pleasant surprise! Luckily I had my cardboard knife to defend myself..

Don't try anything...

Iron Will

When I was little I used to watch this movie called Iron Will with my sisters. I remember it being a Disney movie, and it was about this guy named Will who had a bunch of snow dogs in Alaska. But in one specific scene that I always remember, this guy is riding his sled on ice and falls into the depths of the freezing black ice cold water. As a child, seeing this guy die was really quite horrifying! I had nightmares about that scene so many times. But I did come to love Husky's from that movie.

Today on campus I was walking to my lab that I would later find out to be cancelled, and I saw the most BEAUTIFUL dog of my entire life, this solid white husky with blue eyes, just like the dog in this picture on the table in the middle;

From here

It was so gorgeous. I would like to own a husky when I am older. His/her name has yet to be determined.

Also, I have the second part of my physical at the health center today a little later. Then once they send all the papers to my bishop I could have my papers in by the end of the weekend. Now that is a really amazing prospect :)

Also, I overheard someone on campus today say, "so we were planning on seeing Enoch at family home evening on Monday...". I was baffled because I thought the entire city of Enoch was translated into heaven due to their righteousness. Maybe he was joking? Ah well.

Also, if anybody has any sweet movie ideas for our hall film festival on the 19th, we need some. We were brainstorming last night and came up with a pretty cool chase scene that Hunter is pretty adept at making (from past experience) that involves us doing some crazy stunts around campus. We will see how that goes!

Also, I am running out of things to say...when in doubt, always turn to the weather: It is a warm 43 degrees farenheit and sunny outside, perfect Provo shorts and T-shirt weather.

Also, uhhh.....once we had this cat named Charles. He liked to camp out under our computer in this little thingy. I was just looking through old pictures and reminiscing haha. He wasn't the best cat we ever had. I remember the first time I saw him as a kitten. I was like...what's wrong with his eyes! But he was a Persian so they protrude a little bit. But overall we had some good times with good old Charlie.

Here Comes The Sun

Today has been awesome! I got part 1 of my missionary physical completed at the BYU medical center, which means they did a Tuburculosis test, stole my blood, and inserted all manner of precarious sharp instruments under my skin! It was kinda odd, when I was sitting next to the immunization lady she felt obligated to show me a candid camera youtube video that her sister had sent her on her email. It was pretty funny, I guess. It was these people wheeling a coffin into an elevator when someone else was in there and the old man pretending to be dead falls out and the people in there scream. I mean it was funny, but not as funny as she was laughing! I got my shot, and luckily the immunizations lady only wrote down like 15 more shots that I need in the next 6 months haha. AWESHOME!!!! (Side note; hearing little babies get shots is physically painful. The poor things don't even know what is happening to them and as I was sitting in the waiting room I hear a shrill shriek - I know its neccessary and I went through the same thing, but it just made me think that being a baby shot giver is not my occupation)

On the walk back it was basically pouring down rain, which made me feel right at home. It was a homage to Vancouver, Washington, the land from which I hail. This car pulled up to the sidewalk as I was walking and 4 old ladies (I'm guessing 85+) asked me where the Museum of Art was. I obliged, and told them where, and said I hope they all enjoyed the Carl Bloch exhibit. I really like old people, they are so funny. This is a weird blog post, I have addressed both babies and old folks. What an assortment of demographics I have seen today!!

Well, its Monday anywho...Brigitta, Gemma, Mom, Dad if you are reading this I hope you are having a fantastic day. Brigitta call me sometime! Gemma, you too! Or just take Dad's phone and text me on it Gemma, the last time you did that I about died laughing, I even saved the text; "Hey Carson its gemma what do you like i like cheese pie so im gonna send now". <-- Best. Text. Ever.

Ummm...anything else to write about today? I don't think so! I had a great weekend filled with Gymnastics at University of Utah, Ice Skating, a soccer game, watching the BYU basketball game, and a great fireside from L. Tom Perry! It was glorious weather on Saturday during our soccer game! I even saw this...random!

I've been singing this song in my head all day;

Things I Believe In

Yesterday in church we were having fast and testimony meeting. My ward is ridiculous; the second the second counselor says, "the time is now yours for the bearing of testimonies," about 25 people just dart up to the front. It's insane because we went about a half hour over, and I'm sure we could have gone another half hour if we needed to. Fast and testimony meetings are always so spiritual, I just randomly thought at one point during the meeting that I am so lucky to be in this church. I know so many things to be true - and I started writing them down in my notebook:

1. Thomas S. Monson is the one true prophet that can communicate with the Lord on the Earth today.
2. Through the atonement, Christ took the responsibility of all the pains, sins, and sorrows that we can, and will go though, or even imagine in this mortal life. He did this because he loved us so dearly.
3. Joseph Smith was the first prophet of this dispensation and was a tool in the Lord's hand to restore the gospel.
4. The Priesthood is the strongest power on this Earth, it can heal, bless, and allow's those who are righteous to act in God's name if they are faithful.
5. Families can be together forever.
6. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ and is the truest book on the face of the Earth today.
7. You are sealed to your eternal companion for time and all eternity.
8. The temple is the house of the Lord where work is done for those who are unable, where we are able to bring others to the gospel if they so choose.
9. With fervent prayer and supplication to the Lord he can and will reveal personal revelation that we need to get through life's burdens.
10. Testimonies are recorded in Heaven for time and all eternity every time they are bore.
11. Leaders are spiritually guided to help those around them.
12. Knowledge is an amazing gift of God. It is the only thing that we can retain for ourselves on this earthly ministry and can take with us to heaven.
13. Death is not the end, we can achieve our place in the celestial kingdom and live and walk with God if we do our part here.
14. By consecration of our time, resources, and energy to the work of the Lord, we can achieve our full potential in Christ.
15. The spirit manifests itself to us when we are righteous.
16. A patriarchal blessing is a guide to us if we choose to keep the commandments and can show us what we can be blessed with and achieve in this life if we want to do so.
17. In heaven, we chose to follow Gods plan as the 2/3 hosts of heaven.
18. People can change through the process of repentance. People can always make themselves better if they repent and commit to change.
19. Through grace we can strive to achieve perfection, but only with the help of the Lords omnipotent hand.
20. Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father have bodies like we do. We are created in their likeness.
21. The bible is a true book and is meant to go hand in hand with the Book of Mormon.
22. Every young man should serve an honorable full time mission, nobody is above it and it should be a top priority.
23. Mom's really do possess intuition and are always there for you.
24. Stand if you must for what you believe in, but stand.
25. The Lord created all that is around us, he created planets without end and the atonement is as real on those planets and exists as strongly as it does here.
26. The quorum of the twelve apostles are ordained of God and lead and guide us in the latter days.
27. The Lord loves children, they exude joy and happiness.
28. If we pay our tithing we are blessed more then the sacrifice of paying 10% of our income may seem at the time.
29. Music can enrich and entice the spirit within us, conversely it can be a detriment and can destroy the spirit in a person or a room.
30. Satan works hard on those he knows are succeeding and who he knows have a big role to play in the time to come.
31. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins is vital for our eternal salvation.

Those were all I managed to write down in Sacrament meeting yesterday, but there are so many other things I believe in too. I am blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The Big Green Jalapeno

BYU is such a random place sometimes. You can be up late one night, look out your window, and find a giant green jalapeno wearing a sombrero dancing for you. I was in shock...I didn't even know what to think. Lucky I had the forethought to open my window, say "Stay there!" and go out and get some pictures. Turns out I know the person under the suit too haha.