MTC - Week 1

Welcome to the Antarctica north mission!! Also known as the provo missionary training center :) 

Or.....

Mom's Tonight Cry

Missionary Torture Center 

Mormon Tabernacle Choir 

Moving Towards Christ 

Make Time Count

Make The Change 

Meet The Christ 

I LOVE those last meanings of MTC. That's a huge reason why were are all here right? To Meet The Christ and to use that to Make The Change in ourselves. I can tell you right now that this missing so far has changed me. Yes it has been exhausting, exhilarating, strenuous, and non stop, but I love being so busy! 

and I LOVE HAVING THE NAME OF SISTER CARTER!! I cannot believe that I have this privilege of wearing a badge titled with that name and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on it. I love calling people by the names of Sister and Elder. It brings such a unique spirit. 

6 days!?!? 2 months?? Or 3 hours? I cannot tell time this week has been so crazy with so many ups and downs

A little about my life here at the MTC: 

First off my district is so awesome!!!! The Elders often act like 15 year old boys, making nasty food combinations and trying to get us Sisters to eat them. They all love to talk like Canadians even though no one is going to Canada? I can't even tell you the number of times I hear eh. haha 

THE SISTERS I AM WITH ARE  AMAZING 

Sister Haskins: (Tucson) My most adorable comp! She is from Las Vegas, the oldest of 5 girls and loves cats. Can't say we agree there:) but she has so many qualities about her that are really helping me to Make The Change. And she makes sure I am on time to everything- God knew I needed her as a companion! 

Sister Yabarra: (Dallas) Sassiest, sweetest, most genuine soul. She is from Washington and converted about 2 years ago. Her family really doesn't like the church and she told them that's too bad she is serving a mission any was. She is so strong and teaches me so much about confidence. Her investigators here have been really tough, yet she has stayed so strong. 

Sister Lowry: (Dallas) Tough biker, soccer, chick. She is so strong willed and has a way of speaking. Anyone who talks to her believes anything she says because she has such a burning testimony. She is also hilarious. 

Sister Denison: (Bakersfield)  giggles like no one I know. She makes us laugh basically all the time. The elders love to tease here just so they can hear here laugh. She loves to write notes and serves in little ways every day. 

Sister Hogge: (Bakersfield) Most loving, encouraging Sister here in the whole MTC. A year ago she got called to Bakersfield, CA and turned it down. This last year she decided again that a mission was something she really needed. Once again she was called to Bakersfield. There's no coincidence in that. She is having a tough time and I know she could use your prayers! 

My comp and 2 elders are to Arizona we are already such good friends. One of the elders that is coming to AZ with me is from Wisconsin. He plays sports and eats so freaking much and says his T like D'S. Imagine ever time he says let's read dis or we have so many dings to do... hahaaha, he is the best entertainment we get each day!! He reminds me a lot of Mckay:))) 

The elders had a 30 minute discussion on eyebrows yesterday? They are crazy. All. The . Time. 

None of the Sisters in my room snore, and we all are able to sleep so well:)))

I won't bore everyone with the little details but I have had so many learning experiences. Classes are so inspiring. The teacher here are truly being guided by the spirit. Our investigators are so ready for this gospel. 

One investigator in particular is named Peet. She is from Thailand and moved to Utah last year in hopes of perfecting her English. This week was her first week being a TRC investigator, and she came full of questions. My companion and I were blown away at here curiosity and tenacity to learn. She is really busy and overwhelmed as she tries to balance all of her studies and learning about a new religion. I think we kind of blew her mind with the restoration lesson:) One of my friends taught me a neat lesson before I left that we were able to share with Peet. He told me to have the investigator take 10 seconds to follow the directions you tell them to look (ie. up, down. left, right). At the end of the 10 seconds help the individual realize that they forgot to breathe during that time. This is similar to forgetting the essential things in life (like breathing), or God and happiness. Similar in life, if we forget to focus on God or take the time to do things that we can find peace in we will not be successful. Peet is so sweet and genuine and I know that she trusts us. I just hope that I can be the messenger she needs to invite here into the gospel. 

Sister missionaries are crazy and love to sing in the shower. Sister Lowry gets SO angry. Starting at about 6:30 we can hear an echo from the shower in our room. Once a sister reaches a part in her song that she doesn't know, she just repeats the same line over and over and over again. Most often Sister Lowry will tell people to save the hymns for the choir:) Of which we joined this week:) And I do not sing but its okay because everyone around me sounds like angels:))) 

Quote from my Branch President: "If sins had a smell, no one would go to Church." 

Beeze & Kari Ann tell your boys thank you so much for the video you sent me before I left!! My whole district knows it by heart! hahaha every tine we are felling overloaded or stressed someone will ask if we can watch the video. Tell your boys they are famous here at the MTC!! 

A little about the things i have learned: 

One of my favorite things that I have learned is to BE BOLD. Teach with power and love and find the balance to be bold. My teacher Sister Mitchell gave me and my companion a little lesson on how to help investigators by speaking with the power of the Spirit by being bold. I would rather make sure investigators are always comfortable and constantly reassured, but no learning occurs when you are in your comfort zone. She shared this quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard that i want to share with you, "True conversion comes through the power of the Spirit. When the Spirit touches the heart, hearts are changed. When individuals … feel the Spirit working with them, or when they see the evidence of the Lord’s love and mercy in their lives, they are edified and strengthened spiritually and their faith in Him increases. These experiences with the Spirit follow naturally when a person is willing to experiment upon the word. This is how we come to feel the gospel is true."

Often before I begin note taking in class I like to start off by writing the phrase Let God Teach Me. There is no way I can do any of this on my own. It is only through God and by the Holy Ghost that I will be able to meet any of my goals and share a message. The same thing goes for nearly every thing in our lives. This week I want you to think about how you can humble your selves for a minute and take the time to let God teach you. We have so much to learn and the ability to learn is at our finger tips, we just have to make room for it.

John 8:29 

1 Nephi 3:7 

Elder James J. Hamula said, :"While it may be expected that we achieve the "fulness of Christ," we simply cannot do so on our own." 

I truly have the best support system in the world! I am so grateful for the emails, letters, packages and prayers. 

Also sorry this email is all over I feel like a crazy person trying to accomplish so much in one little day:) 

With all my love, 

Sister Carter 

Be confident. Be powerful. Be bold. Be taught. 

Pictures include:

1. The sisters and I the temple for the first time in the MTC. 

2. Me and my cute comp!

Sister Missionaries at the temple.

Sister Carter and her cute comp!