Chalk the block

Hello hello! I hope everyone is doing great!

Its been a good and busy week this week. Full of exchanges, new schedules, and lots of miracles. 

One of the sweet sisters that I trained in Thatcher, Sister Church, has grandparents that are non members who live in Tucson in my area. About 2 months ago Sister Church gave me their address to stop by. On Tuesday we had back to back lessons all day. We had planned perfectly, then everything fell apart. Sounds like God had a better plan for the day! By night time we had time to go visit Sister Church's grandparents. When we knocked on the door they had just sat down to rest from a busy week. Her great grandma had just passed away. We were able to talk with them, share a scripture and pray with them. It was the neatest experience to see how perfectly God orchestrated everything. And how perfectly the Spirit guides. I am grateful for a Father in Heaven that knows what we need and has miracles in the making long before we are even aware of them. 

I was biking on exchanges with Sister Miller. She is such a powerhouse missionary! We had a great day talking to so many people. But let me tell you, biking in the city is VERY different from biking in Thatcher! I saw my life flash before my eyes multiple times haha. I miss being able to bike in the middle of the road. I also forgot how hot bike seats get here after being left outside during a lesson. ah.   

Because summer will be a toasty one our schedule changed. We now go proselyting at 8 in the morning. Since most YSA are either sleeping or going to work at that time we have been going to bus stops and drawing the Plan of Salvation! On Saturday some of the Elders joined with us and we drew this big calk 'masterpiece' (according to them hah). It was a great way to strike up lots of conversations. Someone who saw it after we left has been messaging us because they loved it so much! 

During studies this morning I read a quote from the talk "One More Day" it reads, "Regardless of the time the Lord, in His wisdom, determines to grant each of us, of one thing we can be sure: we all have a "today" to live, and the key to making our day successful is to be willing to sacrifice." I love this quote! Over the last year and a half I have truly learned that sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. I hope each of you can find something today that you can sacrifice to bless others in behalf of the Lord. Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made for me!! I really am the luckiest sister missionary in the world. 

I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week!!

Love, 

Sister Carter 

Its getting hot over here!

Hello!!

Happy Mothers Day yesterday to all the wonderful mothers I know!!! I am forever grateful for you!!

Skyping home yesterday was the best thing ever. I keep being reminded over and over again how lucky I am to have the most lovely family. I could never have asked for better!  

To shorten a really great long story.. last Monday we were all upset because the Elders didn't tell us we needed special cards to do our laundry at our new apartment. After putting soap all over our clothes in the washer a man in the laundry room of our complex informed us that we were out of luck. If you have ever served a mission or are on a mission you know how p-days go by and if anything gets behind it throws everything off. We had lots of grand plans for this day and were in a bad mood because we had no way to do our laundry. This nice man ended up talking with us for a while. We send him the Elders number that cover this area so he could come to church and left it at that. 

... Come Tuesday morning we get a text from Laundry Guy saying that he thought about some of the things we talked about and would like a copy of the Book of Mormon!!!! Some things got complicated with getting him the book but in the ended we started the lesson giving him the book and the Elders finished it when we had to leave. Turns out he investigated the church 5 years ago but wasn't ready. He recognized that he was ready to accept the teachings of Jesus Christ now and knew he could get over some of his little hang-ups. At that lesson, the Elders were able to set a baptism date with him!!! God really does have a beautiful plan for each of us! Even if it takes some humbling of some sister missionaries doing their laundry to help someone receive the gospel! 

Our cute Russian friends are doing better than ever! Crazy story... One of the sisters actually grew up in Virginia and went to girls camp. Her best friend that introduced her to the church knows and loves the Madsens! 

At our booth on campus this week it reached 113....😓 

Last week a member of another YSA ward was challenged to bring a friend to the devotional. The friend felt the spirit so strong and wanted to know more. We met with him this week and had an incredible lesson. He also came to church and LOVED it! Member missionary work is the best!! 

Words can't explain how grateful I am for the last almost year and a half. My mission has been the best thing of my life and the best thing for my life. I have grown and stretched in ways I didn't know I could. I am thankful for every hard day, and every good day that made them worth it:) Everything these past months have been possible because of my Savior and His love. It is the greatest privilege to share this message. I love my mission and I am so grateful for these experiences.

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

Love, 

Sister Carter 

knocking on doors of all shapes and sizes

hello!!

This has been a crazy week! It was the worst thing to have to say good bye to Sister Hammond on Tuesday. I picked up my new companion after dropping her off. My new companion is Sister Williamson from Huntington Beach California. She has been out a little over 7 months. She went to BYU-H before this and is part Polynesian! 

We taught our Russian friends a few times this week. One of the girls even came to our ward Cinco de Mayo Fiesta! It is so exciting to teach them. They are full of the greatest questions. 

On Friday we had mission leadership council and it was so fun to see mission friends. We had amazing trainings given on light and truth, ministering, testifying, purpose, and what it means to be anxiously engaged. I love when my spiritual bucket gets filled at meetings like these!

On Sunday we watched the YSA Broadcast at the U of A institute. We went with a recently reactivated convert and it was so amazing to hear her testimony as we drove in the car. Some of the things said during the broadcast she felt like were meant for her. Many moments of revelation and inspiration this week. One of my favorite things I heard this week was, "service is the highest, best, and most tangible way to follow our Savior". I am certain there is someone you can serve this week, I hope you can all find who that is! 

Love you all very much! 

Love, 

Sister Carter

6 Weeks

Hello family and friends I hope you are doing great!! 

On Saturday I recieved my last transfer call!! I will be staying in YSA 2nd and training a new STL. Her name is Sister Williamson and this will be her second area. I dont know much about her but I hope to know more by next week:) 

This week was a crazy one. It Sister Hammonds last week which made for lots of good byes. Because of everything that happened last weekend we now have to move apartments which has made everything that much crazier! We are moving to the Elders nasty nasty apartment, and they get our luxurious 2 bathroom apartment😓We have been furiously cleaning and packing and trying to get everything done. To welcome them to their new home we pranked the whole apartment and put odd little things up. We even had a bouquet of fake flowers and a welcome basket with face masks and nail stuff haha hopefully they enjoy it

We set up a booth on U of A campus with the other YSA missionaries. We were handing out otter pops and talking with lots of people. It was such a fun time! 

On Friday we met Natalie and Yelana. They are sisters who were adopted from Russia into different families here in America. They just met each other about a year ago and now live together. They are the greatest! Natalie actually went to girls camp in Virginia with one of her best friends. Because she knows a bit about the church she has a bunch of brilliant questions! I am so excited to be teaching them!! 

In district meeting we were told a really neat story about 1% improvement. A cycling team riding in the Tour de France started making 1% improvements to each area of their lives and equipment. All of these small improvements lead to the team winning the race. We talked about all the little improvements we can make in our lives. Even just telling the Lord one more thing you are grateful for. Over time this accumulation of things builds and helps us succeed. We talked about how success is a few simple disciplines practiced every day. Failure is errors in judgement repeated every day. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so perfect because it helps us to practice these simple disciplines every day. And living the Gospel of Jesus Christ every day is what brings us happiness. I hope each of you can find ways you can improve by 1% today! 

It feels very surreal to be beginning my very last transfer as a missionary.  I still feel like there are so many things I need to do/ learn/ become in the next 6 week. I know God still has a lot of growing and stretching prepared for me. I really love it here. I love the people we work with. The sisters we work with. I love the feeling I get every opportunity I have to testify of Christ. I know with all my heart the Gospel of Jesus Christ is good. And all good things come from God! Life is just so so good right now! 

Love you all!

Love, Sister Carter 

Snoop, SnUggle, WOofs

Snoople, snuggle, wuffs..... so this is the text our former investigators sent the elders... which pretty much describes our week. safe to say it was an odd week!

To start off on a good note... WE GOT TO EAT DINNER WITH THE ALDERS AND GEORGE! they drove from Thatcher to take Sister Hammond and I to dinner last Monday. It was the happiest night to see them again!

Earlier this week I was feeling so bad because I had an awful migraine that caused us to stay inside. This eventually caused us to go on splits with some of the other sisters that night. Sister Cooper and I were parking to do some finding when she parked in the wrong place. I jumped out to back her and a man was walking on sidewalk. After quickly saying Hi we started talking. He wanted to meet again to talk about our church and asked if we could meet the following day at the park next to the tennis courts. The next day we sat next to the tennis courts for about 20 minutes and no sight of this man....We sat on the table for a few minutes longer and watched the sunset. While sitting one of the tennis coaches came up to us. Wow wowo wow he is just an incredible man!!! He came from Africa to New York when he was a boy to go to a tennis academy. Now he teaches tennis here at the park. He is the most generous kind man. He bought us Ethiopian food and taught us some tennis. He asked us to 'convince him to be a Mormon' because he thinks it would be quite nice! While hitting the tennis ball back and forth a man came and sat down. The coach explained how he was homeless and worked for him sometimes. Turns out this man was the man who we were supposed to meet for a lesson. It was amazing to see how God is in the details!! 

Last night we had a really crazy and scary experience that shook Sister Hammond and I.  We ended up not being able to stay at our apartment and the zone leaders came to get us. Around 10 at night all 4 of us were sitting in the church building before they went home and we went to sleep at some other sisters apartment. We asked the Elders to give us blessings. I will never forget how specific the words were which came straight from God. I was promised that because of the prayers of those back home we were kept safe last night. I can't thank each of you enough for your constant support and prayers. I truly do have the greatest family in the world and I know our Father in Heaven hears every prayer. This week has been a great example to me that it really is the small and simple things that lead to great things. (Alma 37:6) This is a lesson I have learned on my mission that I can never forget! 

Know that I love you all very much!  

Love, 

Sister Carter 

oh and we get transfer calls this weekend, it will be exciting to see who my last companion will be! I am so sad for Sister Hammond to leave but we have lots of fun plans for her last week!!

Real Life Mormon Missionaries

Hello hello!!

This was a great last few weeks full of General Conference, Mission Leadership Council, AIDANS BAPTISM, climbing fences, trainings, catching lambs, ping pong at the institute, lots of contacting, mysterious phone calls, got invited to an Italian pool party, the Book of Mormon play and other really great great things!!

A Baptism 

Aidan was baptized on Saturday!!! It was the happiest day! Aidan's boss referred her to the missionaries. After a few months of teaching her the Sisters decided to drop her because she wasn't progressing. Right before I got here she realized what she wanted, who she wanted to become, and who she wanted to follow. When I got here we started teaching her again! Not only is she the funniest person I have ever met, but she also has the biggest heart. She has taught me so much about Faith in Christ and love towards everyone. Benny, our recent convert, baptized her which made the day even more special. 

A Play

The Book of Mormon Play- Right now on the U of A campus the Book of Mormon play is being performed. Several times this week we went with all the YSA Elders to contact. There we so many people to talk to, and so many people who had crazy ideas about our Church. It was funny to answer questions. One man could not believe it when we told him we were not actors, but real life Mormon Missionaries!!

These past few weeks have been full of lots of happy moments. One of the happiest was sitting on the floor of a recent converts with Aidan eating dino chicken nuggets from costco & laughing our heads off while vicariously having the most spiritual lesson. That pretty much sums up our life in YSA. I really love it here and am doing great! We are busy busy busy with a million things but I have the greatest companion who makes everything a million times funnier. I hope you are all doing great and know that I love you!

A quote i love from conference is by Elder Benar, "As we come unto and follow the Savior, we increasingly and incrementally are enabled to become more like Him. We are empowered by the Spirit with disciplined self-restraint and a settled and calm demeanor. Thus, meek is what we become as disciples of the Master and not just something we do." 

I am terrible for being so behind, but I wanted to wish a Happy Birthday to Bode, Tripp, Aunt JoAnne, Aunt Rose, and Benson!!

Sending much love, 

Sister Carter  

I am in Disneyland.

Hello!!

I am literally serving in Disneyland. The missionary version. We have had the funnest/ busiest/ wildest week of my mission. The city is just crazy. There are people everywhere. So many people to teach. I have the greatest companion in the world, Sister Hammond. She is from grantsville utah loves volleyball and basketball and keeps us laughing 93.5% of the time. We are both STL's and the sisters in our zone are really great as well.  YSA is just crazy. I feel like I am hanging out with my friends most of the time. I have my own bathroom. We get to teach lessons and other things on the U of A campus and see all our other YSA missionary friends. Life is just busy busy busy! 

The greatest part of our week was dinner last night with our investigator, Aiden who gets baptized in 2 weeks, and a soon to be missionary, Baylee. They were going to drive up to see the temple after church but were hungry and home was too far away. We were going home to eat but couldnt have them in our apartment, instead they ended up sitting on our back porch as we were making food. Some of the other sisters came over and we had a picnic outside with the sisters, Baylee and Aiden. We just had the happiest time laughing and talking about super spiritual things. I love it here and am so grateful to be serving here right now! 

I hope you all have a great week!!

Love, 

Sister Carter 

Headed to the motherland!!

Hello wonderful family and friends!!

Sorry its been a while since I emailed just wanted to give a quick update, 

TRANSFERS- I will be leaving Sierra Vista. I am headed up to Tucson YSA 2nd ward!!! It will be the first time I actually get to serve in Tucson! My companion is Sister Hammond, one of the greatest sisters in our mission. She served in Thatcher right before I did<3 She goes home next transfer so I will most likely finish off in YSA. I AM SO EXCITED.

A few weeks ago we had an incredible Mission Leader Council about repentance. We started off this month with a mission wide fast asking for forgivness and rededicating ourselves to this great work.  Since then we have been doing what we call a "More Holiness' study to prepare for this Easter. I am learning so much about our Savior and his Infinite Atonement. 

Several weeks ago the Zone Leaders and us went on a road trip to go on exchanges with everyone in our zone. Because all the missionaries are so spread out in this zone this saved us miles. And it was so fun! I got to be on a bike for one day with the most incredible Hermana, we had so much fun waving and talking and what not. I especially had fun smiling like crazy as she spoke in spanish:)) 

Greatest of all was our lesson with Erin. Last week was one of the hardest weeks for both Sister Kennach and I. Everything was going wrong. And the adversary was working so hard to pull us down as individuals and as a companionship. I have never wanted to give up so badly. Sunday came around and we had our lesson with the elders investigator, Erin, that we teach up on the military base. She is just incredible. So strong. So willing. And so ready to change her life because she knows this is true. She has been praying and decided that she wants to be baptized April 14th!!!! I feel like Erin has helped me more than I could ever help her. She will forever remind me of the blessings we have from understanding that this is Jesus Christ Church restored to the earth. God is SO good. 

The past months has been a time for much personal growth.I have never had to stretch and grow in such a sort time. I will forever be grateful for this area helping me to develop a stronger relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior.  In a talk Elder Holland said: In striving for some peace and understanding in these difficult matters, it is crucial to remember that we are living—and chose to live—in a fallen world where for divine purposes our pursuit of godliness will be tested and tried again and again. Of greatest assurance in God’s plan is that a Savior was promised, a Redeemer, who through our faith in Him would lift us triumphantly over those tests and trials, even though the cost to do so would be unfathomable for both the Father who sent Him and the Son who came. It is only an appreciation of this divine love that will make our own lesser suffering first bearable, then understandable, and finally redemptive.

After the last 3 months I can say that I now know that our own lesser sufferings are bearable, understandable, and redemptive though Christ. As a disciple of Jesus Christ I testify that He lives. He loves. And He will never leave us alone. I love being a missionary and helping others to feel of this same love. I hope these next 2 transfers I can be the disciple the Lord needs me to be. I love you all so much, thank you for every bit of encouragement you give me. Another testament that God is SO good.

I hope you each have the best week!

Love,

Sister Carter