Advising Bishop Miller, of the Damascus Ward, that a missionary from his ward was companion to a missionary who died in the South Africa MTC

27 November 2018

Bishop Miller,

I don’t know if you heard, but a young missionary from Nevada in the South Africa Missionary Training Center collapsed yesterday while he and five other missionaries were jogging. https://universe.byu.edu/2018/11/27/nevada-missionary-dies-after-collapsing-at-johannesburg-mtc/

As it turns out, his companion was Elder Carter Newell from our stake. In fact, Carter cradled his companion, Elder Lamping, in his lap when he passed away.

Understandably the Newells, especially Beth, are quite shaken. They’re heartbroken for the Lamping family and at the same time concerned for the emotional state of their own son, Carter, who apparently has never experienced death close up like this. 

It’s in the middle of the night right now in South Africa so I sent an email to the MTC president there asking him to consider having Elder Newell call home to give his parents an assurance of his emotional state.

In the meantime, I’ve connected with the Lampings' stake president in Nevada and we’ve shared contact information of both the Lampings and Newells so they can connect. Elder Lamping hadn’t even had time to write home so his parents had no idea as to what kind of experience their son  was having in the MTC. So the Newells will be able to share Carter’s first letter and photos showing Elder Lamping with the Lamping family. It will be great blessing to them!

In the meantime, you may want to call on the Newells this evening. Please advise if there is anything we can do. If you’re not in town or unavailable  so I can follow up.

Thanks to all receiving this email for remembering the Newells in our prayers.

President Lewis