A week in England

Hello!!

This week was most wonderful because it rained for 3 days straight. I had never heard of such a thing in Arizona until now! It felt like we were living in England. We also met many people from England this week. About 30 minutes away from our area is an army base, which brings in lots of foreigners. The often have choice things to say to us:)

Speaking of the army base... The elders who cover that area have an investigator who wants to be taught by sisters, since we are the only sisters anywhere near by we get to teach her!!! Her name is Erin and she is absoutley incredible. She is spiritually seeking and could not be more ready to accept the gospel. She asks the best questions, has the deepest thoughts, and is super funny. On Sundays we get to go on base to teach her and then eat lunch with all the members who are in training. These lunches are some of the funniest things I have experienced! Most people there are recently returned missionaries and they just bash eachother back and forth about missions/ areas of the military they are serving, and we just sit in the middle of it all trying to keep the peace! 

On Valentines day we decided to make a bunch of cards with scriptures to give out to as many people as we could through out the day. It was so neat to see some people light up as we gave them a little heart and testified of God's love! At the end of the night we were at Walmart contacting and giving away cards. We are normally home at exactly 9. The clock hit 9 and we though 'oh we will just try and give a few more cards out'. Well right after this Sister Kennach and I both had some of the worst conversations we have had our entire missions! A favorite scripture of mine reminds us that to obey is better than to sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22). The evidence of the importance of exact obedience this night was quite clear! We decided never again will we be late for curfew!! 

A missionary from my mission and MTC district is an incredibly talented artist and has been using his gift to spread the gospel, you should all watch this video! 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/youth-media?cid=HP_TH_15-2-2018_dPFD_fMLIB_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng

I love you each very much and hope you are enjoying the snow back home!

Love, 

Sister Carter 

  

1. when the people wont accept a copy of the Book of Mormon there is always the neighborhood duck?

2. just 2 sisters

3/4. A neat little Catholic monastery 

your not Ghana believe what happened this week?

Hello!! 

I can't remember if I ever said anything about this or not, but my companion was a dancer at the Polynesian Cultural Center before her mission. I have learned lots of really great Tongan/ Samoan things from her. She loves to dance and as a result has dragged me at 5:45 to do zumba with her in the mornings... all of my limbs are falling off I am so sore!

We had an experience this week that was quite shaking. After a conversation contacting we had been told some really terrible things and that we were going to hell we were left with our hearts feeling depressed. And over an hour late to our dinner appointment. The sweet family we were eating with waited for us, filled us full with their African couscous and brought smiles to our faces of stories of their life growing up in Africa. Following dinner the Brother gave us each a blessing. It was one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission. This night we said a prayer asking Heavenly Father for a miracle in our area... Sunday a lady came to church with her friend and told us she wants to be baptized! This is the first investigator this area has had in about 3 months. Miracles!!! 

The gas stations are practically our miracle hubs. Every time we go there we find more people to talk to then anywhere else in our area. On Thursday Sister Kennach felt like we need to go to this one Circle K. After a few minutes of being there we found ourselves talking to people left and right. A man suddenly burst into the room, he was just full of so much life. After talking to him we found out he is from Ghana, knew we were LDS right off the bat, and loves Christ! He is here selling hand woven baskets. So excited he said "SISTERS COME COME!!" As he lead us to his car to see all of his baskets. THEN HE GAVE ME A BASKET. I am the proudest owner of an African basket. In return, he is the proudest owner of a copy of the Book of Mormon!!

I love the example both of these men set. Completley filled with love and life. They have a firm knowledge that thier Father in Heaven loves them and is constantly blessing them.  I love this thought from Elder Oaks,

 "The eternal truth that our Heavenly Father loves all his children is an immensely powerful idea. It is especially powerful when children can visualize it through the love and sacrifice of their earthly parents. Love is the most powerful force in the world. Arthur Henry King has said, “Love is not just an ecstasy, not just an intense feeling. It is a driving force. It is something that carries us through our life of joyful duty”

I hope this same feeling can carry you through this week. Happy Valentines Day! I love you each very much!! 

Love, 

Sister Carter

1. Our friend at the gas station & my new basket!

2. We got our truck switched out for a little car a while ago. The poor guy doesnt do too well on all the dirt roads in our area. We have enjoyed walking around in the nice warm sun this week 

21

Hello!

Thank you for all the birthday wishes!! I am so grateful for each of you and love you so very much!! Of all my 21 birthdays this was the best yet! (Not just because it was 85 degrees) We took an hour and a half road trip to do splits with some of our sisters in our zone, then took another two hour road trip into Tucson to attend the temple!! I hadnt been back inside the Tucson temple since we helped at the open house last summer, it was even more beautiful than I remeber! Truly the best birthday!!

We attended Mission Leader Council in Tucson this weekend as well, got to see all my mission besties, and we got SMART PHONES. Except now I feel anything but smart.. We have no idea how to work thsse things. 

About 2 months ago our ward mission leader asked us to pray for a friend of his and to base our prayer off of the scripture in Ether 3:4 where the Brother of Jared prays for God to touch the stones that they may shine forth and light the vessels. For the past 2 months in our prayers we have said "Touch (the mans name) heart, O Lord, with thy finger and prepare it that it may shine forth with a testimony of the Book of Mormon". This week our ward mission leader was talking to his friend and told him he was praying for him. The friend responded to our ward mission leader by telling him he could feel his prayers. The power of prayer is incredible!! 

President Monson once said that a man never stands taller than when he is on his knees. I know there is a mighty power in prayer. As we communicate with Father in Heaven in sincere, faithful, humble prayer he will build us up, bless us, and send angles to surround us. Do not ever be afraid to get on your knees and talk to the very being who created you, He loves you!

Love you each, make this week a great one:)

Love, 

Sister Carter 

temple & mlc

Birthday!!

Hello!! 

First and foremost.... 

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY ON THURSDAY TO THE GREATEST SISTER IN THE WORLD!!!!!! I hope it is the best day Madison:)

Not too much happened this week. We did meet Tony Stark's doppleganger. And the best part is that he is less active and has been thinking about coming to church because he wants to raise his kids in a good religion. He also taught us 9 million and 1 ways to prank other missionaries. Aparently he terrorized all the missionaries in his stake growing up... He is plotting to have us get copies of the Elders apartment keys...

In my personal study this week I found an incredible thought I wanted to share, 

 "The Lord instructs His servants to be humble because the process of being made whole spiritually begins with a broken heart. Think of the good that comes from broken things: Soil is broken to plant wheat. Wheat is broken to make bread. Bread is broken to become the emblems of the sacrament. When one who is repentant partakes of the sacrament with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, he or she becomes whole. As we repent and become whole through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we have much more to offer the Savior as we serve Him. “Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him.”(Omni 1:26)"

-Elder Randy D Funk

A few weeks ago we sat with our investigator who finally came to church. Eagerly we waited to hear her thoughts as she attend sacrament meeting. As the sacrament prayers were said and the sacred emblems were passed she sat in shock. She could not believe the sacrament is passed each week, the respectful demeanour of the deacons, nor the reverence which takes place. It is incredible to think that the very ordinance that can heal those who are broken is available each week to those who humbly come. I can't believe how dependant I have become on taking the bread and water each week. I depend on the promise at the end of the sacrament prayers that we may have His spirit to be with us. I am dependent on being made whole through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that partaking of the sacrament is one of the most important things we do each week. As we are made whole we really do have more to offer as we serve our Savior. I know the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite. I know He lives. I know he loves each of us. And I know with out a shadow of a doubt this is His work. 

I love you each and hope you all have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Carter 

Picture, we went on a fun little hike today 

Packets of Light

Hello everyone! 

I hope you are all doing well! Things here in Hereford are going slowly but surely. Each day that is the hardest I meet someone that has ties to my last area, Thatcher, and it just lifts my spirits so much! This has been such a testament to me that Heavenly Father loves us and wants to bless us.

We had the most intriguing debate this week about yard crossing etiquette in Arizona. Everyone has rocks in their front yard which is the common choice of landscape. At home we wouldn't just walk across someones lawn, but at what point to you cross the rocks? We are still trying to decide. 

I went on exchanges with Sister Lewis to her area in St. David/ Tombstone. They are these tiny little towns. St. Dave (as it is affectionately known) is the cutest farm town with SO many trees!! I hear its the greenest place in our mission (though its not so green this time of year). Tombstone is the wild wild west. It was such a fun exchange! 

Our mission has a new standard to have 50 quality gospel conversations a week. This means having a conversation, teaching a point of the gospel, and inviting them to do so. It has been quite a struggle in our respective area but we are trying to hard to have as many as we can. Because Sister Lewis's areas is so small they had a goal to get 12 quality gospel conversations this week. And we were able to have 4 just on our exchange!! It was incredible to see the Lord place people in out path throughout the day! 

some other things

-And elder got his brand new bike stolen. It was involved in a cop chase, left in a ditch and he now has it back! 

-I shattered a members glass pitcher while doing an object lesson

-It rained!! 

Something I have really relied on lately is my personal study and taking the time to really ponder during my scripture reading. I have felt such a strength and power through out the day because of this. This precious hour is really what has kept me going each day these past weeks. 

I love what Elder Scott said,

 "Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ."

I promise that as each of you strive to spend time in your scriptures this week you will feel guidance and inspiration. God loves you and he wants to communicate with you! 

Love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Love always, 

Sister Carter

1. Exchanges with Sister Lewis

2. Scripture Power 

hello hello!!

Another week has breezed by. We met a woman who hand makes dolls. She introduced us to her doll collection...incredible! She does everything from sculpting, painting features, to sewing clothing. We went on some exchanges with our sisters. It rained! Just as we got to the horse ranch for service the dark sky began to drizzle. It was a wonderful few hours spent outside scooping manure! Watching President Monson's funeral on Friday was such a sweet experience I wish to never forget nor the things he has taught us. One goal I have set it to come home each day and be able to say "I believe I have done some good in the world today". Never stop looking for opportunities to do good! 

So I never said much about this but at the beginning of the transfer an investigator fell in love with my companion. Its been the craziest messiest mess as we have sorted through everything with President and the Zone Leaders. Yet it has all been so spirit inspired and this man is somone who is spiritually seeking and has been lead to the Gospel at this time. 

Fast forward to last week... 

We were driving and saw a woman standing on the side of the road. We kept driving and I felt the spirit so strongly tell me over and over again that we needed to talk to her. 5 minutes down the road I got the courage to say something, after we turned around to go find her. Well our area is 90% dirt roads and she had gone off the main road down this bumpy dirt road. Now it's Sister Kennach and I chasing this lady down on a bumpy dusty road. Once we got to her we rolled down the window and began talking about the church which lead to giving her a Book of Mormon! hah it has got to be one of the more awkward situations I been in this past year!! 

Fast forward a few days... 

We find out this woman in the mans daughter!!! Heavenly Father has the most wonderful plan for this family! 

A quote I love by Elder Ballard says, "Our beloved Heavenly Father’s plan includes giving us a growing, stretching, learning, physical mortality through which we can become more like Him. Clothing our eternal spirits in physical bodies; living by the teachings and commandments of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; and forming eternal families allows us, through the Savior’s Atonement, to fulfill God’s goal of immortality and eternal life for His children with Him in His celestial kingdom."

A variety of situations this week have caused me to turn my thoughts and heart to the great Plan of our God. Oh how thankful I am that this life is not the end. Merely a begining. I keep realizing over and over again how loving our Heavenly Father is. He gave us this perfect plan, his perfect Son so we can one day be perfected thorugh him and live a perfect life for eternity. I love being able to share this perfect message each and every day! 

I hope you each have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Carter  

We Thank Thee O God!

Happy Monday!

I have officially past my YEAR mark!! I can't even begin to sum up the pure joy I have felt these last 370 days of serving our Lord. It has been the happiest, hardest, hottest, most stretching experience of my life, and I am grateful for every minute of it. 

This week was a busy one. We had Zone Conference, trainings to give, splits with some sisters and exchanges with another set of sisters. Half of the week I was spanish speaking because of aforementioned splits and exchanges. I can't say my spanish vocabulary has necessarily grown too much.... but I can say my appreiciation for the food sure has:) (Though I am still a firm believer that the Gila Valley has the best mexican food) 

Wednesday morning we got a text informing us President Monson had passed away. Sister Kennach and I went to the church to sing some hymns with the accompaniment of the piano. This brought such a peaceful spirit I will remember forever. I am so grateful for President Monson who has lead and guided us these last 10 years! I realized that A line that really hit me as we sang from Praise to the Man proclaims:

Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.

Ever and ever the keys he will hold.

Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom,

Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old. 

Though this song is talking about Joseph Smith, I can picture the heavens rejoicing as President Monson returned to our heavenly home to greet his sweet wife and those awaiting. I am forever grateful for our beloved Prophet. Because of him and the inspiration he received I am where I am today. The day he announced the lowering of the mission age he also announced the building of the Tucson Temple. Never would I have thought that these announcements could effect me so directly and so uniquely. I know I am where I need to be and I hope I can serve as diligently as a disciple of Jesus Christ just as President Monson did. 

"Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives." President Monson 

To honor our Prophet I hope you can each find a way to serve and lift someone this week!

Thank you for all your love and support this last year, I am forever grateful for each of you!

Love, 

Sister Carter 

one year celebratory fried ice cream, zone conference