GABRIEL MONTANO got baptized!!!

So much happening this week!! 

First off HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST DAD IN THE WHOLE WORLD!! 

second.....CONGRATULATIONS to Blake and Jayme!! So excited to have another sister💛

Anddd congratulations to miss Hadyn for getting baptized this last weekend in Bear Lake. Im so excited for the choice you made! 

This weekend 2 of the people I got to teach got baptized! In my old area the miracle Holt family's oldest son, Matthew, got baptized and I got to skype in for part of it!
The greatest man in all of Gila Valley got baptized... GABRIEL MONTANO.
Saturday was the craziest most stressful day running around trying to plan everything. And then Gabriel almost didn't show up. He had been told satan would do everything to make himself doubt this decision and he had been good all week. Then about an hour before he was supposed to get to the church he was not going to come. He told us he  was thinking about just not showing up but he knew we would go through hell and back to get him here so he better get going or he would have to deal with us. haha theres the sister missionaries for you I guess?Anyways the baptism did happen!! It was amazing. There we nearly 90 people there. Last week we had taught a seminary class and during class Gabriel bore his testimony over the phone & invited the kids to come. So many people who had only heard his testimony one time came! He is going to be the best member missionary. In a lesson earlier in the week Gabriel looked at us and bore a sweet testimony. After he looked at me and just said thank you. I just feel the most overwhelming love for him and for my Heavenly Father letting me be here at this time to teach Gabriel. He has changed my life and made my whole mission so so worth it.

I was thinking about Ether 12:27 this last week 

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" 

I love that it does not say Christs grace is the same It says sufficient, meaning perfectly fitted for each person individually. If there is one thing a mission is good at, it is showing each weaknesses:) I am such an imperfect person but I am amazed at our Saviors ability to really and truly make up for all that I am lacking. I know that His grace is unique for everyone. I am so grateful for this wonderful time in my life filled with miracles and the love of our Savior and Heavenly Father!

Lots of Love, 

Sister Carter 

1. At the wedding in spirit💕

2/3. BAPTISM

Gabriel compared feeling the spirit to a monkey eating a banana after a long day or an elephant eating peanuts. So I am now Sister Monkey and sis Nichols is Sister Peanuts. His baptism gift seemed fitting 

4. Exchanges with my fav sis nuttall. Apparently we were in the same ward freshman year at BYU and had no idea...

5.I am missing being at Bear Lake this weekend with everyone but I did get to make up for it a little bit and catch some frogs with the Palmer kids out in the rain!

--

Sister Emily Carter

..............................

Arizona Tucson Mission

939 West Chapala Drive 

Tucson, AZ 85704

A Spiritual Lifetime

Hello! It has been such a happy, miracle filled week 

RAIN!! the thunder and lightning here is crazzyyy and it is so nice and muggy and there is moisture. trying to walk to our little yellow house in the back yard is like trying to cross the Nile river. A few weeks ago we would change so many times a day from sweat and now its from rain and I would say the difference in smell is a much needed change:) 

God is a God of miracles and I can't deny the miracles that are flooding Thatcher just like this rain:)

Each and every prayer was answered. 

We started trying this new thing where in the morning we ask God to help us find specific people in specific ways. Like talking to everyone who is wearing a red shirt, or anyone checking the mail box and if they are the ones prepared for us to please help them to be checking the mail or wearing red. 

Wednesday morning I was feeling a lot of stress because of the people to take care of/ worry about/ training Sis Nichols. I was feeling like there was no way we were going to hit standards. I know its not about the numbers but we are working hard towards hitting our goals. I knew if I asked God and had enough faith He would make this possible. 
 
Later in the day we had our district meeting and it was all about goal setting. For part of this we broke off into companionships and set goals for the day. We decided we were going to 1) have interaction with anyone we biked past 2) focus on strengthening a part member family. We were trying to set a transfer goal and were drawing a blank. After kneeling in prayer asking God who or what we should focus on the Juarigue family came to mind. We thought they were out of town but felt like we should text them and see when we could meet with them next week... here comes the miracles...
-They weren't leaving till tomorrow and could meet today
-Our meeting for tonight canceled
-Their kids were gone so we could meet with just them
-A member of the temple presidency was available to meet with us in the waiting room of the temple at the exact time we needed 
So we got the lesson all set up and started to work on our daily goals

While biking to a potentials house we saw this man and I had the prompting to say hi and thought 'no thats so awkward and he is out of the way and I am so sweaty and gross and hot and we dont have time lets just get to the potentials house' and again I felt like we should say Hi  (im still working on being a spiritual first responder😊), I thought okay God I will wave but if we are supposed to talk to him let something happen
Miracle number 2 of the day: He yells hi and says "hey dont I know you?" turns out Sisters taught him the restoration 2 years ago. We talked about the Book of Mormon. Then he asked us to come back and talk to him. WHAT A BLESSING

Miracle number 3 of the day: We had an FHE planned with a part member family the Irvings. Sister Irving was going to do the lesson and everything and we were supposed to contribute at the end. She forgot and left it to us. Earlier for some reason I felt like I should put this object lesson in my bag knowing we had no need for it? Turns out it was the perfect lesson for them and exactly what they needed AND another daughter came to live at the house and we were able to teach her... another new investigator!

Miracle 1 turning into miracle 4: LESSON WITH THE JUARIGUES AT THE TEMPLE. The spirit was surrounding us. President Briggs talked to the Juarigues and helped answer so many questions. Nicole feels this is right and is ready to move forward but Gabriel likes the cathloic church and isn't sure if he wants to know if this is true or if the priesthood was restored. At the end of the lesson we had the coolest opportunity to all kneel in prayer after and wait for the spirit to respond. 

Miracle 5: It was poring rain on our way home and just so beautiful.

Miracle 6: (not on Wednesday but still important) 

A few weeks ago my favorite family the Murphys dropped us. Many prayers have been said on their behalf. Saturday morning I specifically asked God to help us find a way to answer her questions. We needed to go to the church for some reason and happened to go to a different building than normal- which we never do. Then we were having problems with Sis Nichols bike- which is usually in perfect condition. Then it started raining. We were standing in the doorway of the church and up walks Felissa and Madison! They were walking to the pool to pick up the boys and we got to see all of them and she said she wants us to call and so we can talk. Such a blessing to be put in the exact place at the exact time we need to be there. 

I have gained a powerful testimony that God does answer prayers. He answers specific prayers. It may not be by the means we expect but he does answer each and every prayer! 

James E. Faust in a talk titled 'The Lifeline of Prayer' said: "... it is a privilege to ask Deity for specific blessings... we acknowledge our devotion and submission to the overriding purposes of the Lord in our lives. As He said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." What a glorious day it will be for each of us when we pray with confidence that 'if we ask anything according to his will he heareth us" 1 John 5:15" 

Love you each very much, 

Sister Emily Carter 

1. The Nile River 

2. Finish line of the pioneer day 5 

3. Pioneer day parade

4. Campus is the prettiest

5. My cute little peruvian 

6. Sunsets 

The Chicken Challenge

Wow what a week! We have been all over the place with transfers and investigators keeping us busy!

Monday night I got to road trip to Tucson with my favorite Sister Lund and Sister Packer. Sister Packer is going home and I am so sad to see her leave she has become one of my best friends. It started monsooning and we got to drive in the pooring rain and sing our hearts out to our missionary music and have lots of deep docterine talks:) I love my sister missionaries here! We had a big sleepover with some of the new sisters and I think they were so scared of us haha and also so tired from their long day of traveling.

My greenie!!! Sister Nichols is from Syracuse, Utah and is so sweet and has a huge testimony. Ive been wearing her out with our busy schedule and biking in this sunny weather:)) but shes just a champ and doing so great!

GABRIEL: We had an incredible lesson at the temple in the waiting room on Sister Nichols first day. Im not sure who was more terrified, her or Gabriel haha. He was stone face and wasnt saying a word for the first 25 minutes. Finally we figured out he felt the spirit so strong and didn't know what it was- he though he felt like that because he wasnt worthy to be there. Once we explained to him how the Spirit works he livened right up and was so happy and excited. He explained his feelings like coming home after being gone for a long time. How at first you arent sure of your bearings but then you ease right into things and its the most normal thing ever. We explained to him that that is exactly what our life here on earth is like. We are trying to go home to our Father in Heaven. We have to earn His respect and follow His commandments and by doing that we will feel comfortable and at ease being not only in His house but in his presence for eternity!

Mark, Adam, and Decon: Our 3 new miracle investigators! They just moved in with a part member family and we happened to call the mother of the house and invite her to come to the food bank we were working at for extra food. We got to know them, took them on a church tour, and they came to church this week! Mark showed up with a paper full of questions. We taught them the Restoration lesson in the chapel and it was one of the most powerful first lessons I have ever taught. They were each perfectly still and listening so intently. I have never felt the peace, power and truth of the first vision like I did this night. I know Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son. And we are the luckest people on earth to know this. I am the luckiest to get to share this with others  every day and see the light come into their lives when they understand the same truths I know!!

Other great things about this week
-We made fry bread with my favorite Sister Irving. Now I can successfully make Mexican food and Native American food:))
-I KILLED AND SKINNED A CHICKEN.

Our ward mission leader needed to get rid of a few old chickens so he had us come over and see who was brave enough to wring his chickens neck, then skin them... we passed!  

- RAIN. So many days this week it rained. One day we were biking through campus and  it started monsooning and it just feels so good to see/ feel/ smell water:)

This week was probably the first time I noticed that as missionaries and disciples of Christ we can love anybody. Each day I get to meet new people and most of them time when I meet them I just want to hug them and tell them how much God loves them and how much I love them! (the hugging part doesn't always work to great with the men hah) but it is the most exciting thing in the world to get to know these people!

"People are wonderful. Each one has a story, each something to give, each knows something interesting, something that can make your life richer." -Sister Hinckley

 Each of you are wonderful people and make my life a WHOLE LOT RICHER!! I hope you enjoy all the people you see this week:)

Lots and lots of love,
Sister Em Carter

1/2. Terrifying 

3. Love my Sister Lund amd Sister Packer 

4. Rainy day biking through campus 

5. Cute Sister Nichols in downtown Tucson 

6. June showers bring July flowers🌸 

Baptisms + Bird poop + Happy 4th!

HELLO!

This week has been a great one! And an odd one as we try and adjust back to normal missionary schedule with no temple open house. The sweet Passey's left on Saturday morning and the new mission President and his wife, the Brownings arrived in Tucson. Before the Passey's left the whole mission joined in for a conference call and had a final prayer together. I am forever grateful for the dedication, service, and love the Passey's have shown me the last 6 months I've been here, they will be missed so much!

About the Brownings:
They are from Idaho. They have 4 children coming to live here with them. President Browning is the CEO of a company that manufactures mermaid tails!!! We get to meet them this week and will find out more about them! 

I learned to BE CAUTIOUS OF STANDING IN THE SHADE... it made my head a perfect target for bird poop hah (Sister Gadd is the best, she sat there and pulled bird poop out of my hair with out one complaint) 

We lots a lizard somewhere in our apartment and have been on the look out for the little guy!

BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD WITH GEORGE!! The sweetest recent convert George did baptisms for the dead for the first time on Wednesday and we got to go with him to the Gila Valley temple. He was so nervous and scared but did such a great job! He really is an angel in our lives!

Gabriel our miracle investigator is doing so well! He came up to the bishop at the gas station and told him he wanted to get baptized then we met him at church one day now we are teaching him. He has lived here his whole life and met with missionaries 5 years ago but it wasn't the right time for him. He has a firm testimony of our Savior and is teaching me more than I could ever teach him!

The Juarigue family is also doing great! They are praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true and so many little miracles are happening and we are working on helping them recognize answers from God. The other night for a lesson we were in their back yard by their horses watching the sun set over the cotton fields and it was beautiful

The cute Murphy family is doing great as well! Last night we were able to set a baptism date for Felissa the mom, the spirit was so strong and she kept telling us how right everything felt! Satan really doesn't want them to progress in the gospel so we are working extra hard with them. Their boys remind me of some of the Roberts boys and I just love being able to be around them and all the funny things they do to us sisters. One of them ordered these tiny water jell balls off amazon- 38000 of them. And filled up a giant bucket with them and had dunk contests and we are the next in line haha

Sister Passeys left us with one last thought before they left the mission,
Jacob 5: 71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

I can say its a relief to know that we do not do this work alone., because I know there is no way I possibly could. This week I have seen the Lords hand time and time again. I couldn't ask to be anything more than a servant in the Lords vineyard.

I love each of you and hope you have a great 4th of July tomorrow!!🇺🇸
Love,
Sister Carter

Pictures:
1/2 Baptisms with George!
3. The cutest Sister Beach
4. Summer fun

5. fire still burning strong 

Slipping to the Tune of June Monsoon

My dearest family and friends HELLO

It has been the best/ craziest/ exhausting/ happiest/ spirit filled/ exciting week with about one million and a half things going on I will try to keep this from being a novel, but the Lords work is just amazing and I have so many things to share!
 

-it reached.... ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN DEGREES THIS WEEK. ahhha hahah what is going on!?-Started off the week in 117 degree weather and ended it in a torrential down pour in a monsoons. The most opposites for biking weather! 

-David Archuletta was here on Saturday.. so close yet so far:)  

-The fire here has gotten so big and most of the whole mountain is on fire it is so sad, over 30,00 acres has burned. We have been hearing it will take over 150 years for everything to grow back. There are so many fire crews from all over helping and we get to talk to and thank so many of them each day- I am grateful for these hero's  willing to sacrifice so much. 

-over 125,000 people visited the Tucson Temple Open House while it was open

 - temple miracle #1

Working a the temple is just the best. I love it so SO much. We talked to the cutest girl who had so many questions. We were walking with her to the bus and i was thinking "ah this lady in my old area would be the perfect person to have this girl talk to they would be such good friends and this lady is a convert". They seemed so similar. Not 5 seconds after i turned and saw a one of the members of the bishopric from my old area and he was able to give me the phone number for the member to give to this girl- miracles! We got to talk to Sister Passey and eat ice cream tonight and i love her more and more each time we visit. 

-temple miracle #2

While working at the reception tent at the temple open house I had a lady start a pretty heated conversation with me and I was absolutely terrified. I said a quick prayer in my heart that I would know what to say. Earlier in the week I got an Ensign from Aunt Rose in the mail and had read an article from it, the exact words came into my mind and I was able to share something Elder Oaks had said. I wasn't able to completely change this woman's perspective on our church but I know those words were able to help her understand who we are and how we know we have a Prophet of God here on the earth today with disciples who can receive revelation. 

-temple miracle #3

SISTER GADD CLOGGED THE BRIDES ROOM TOILET. (And she gave me permission to share this story😊)

Before going to the reception tent Sister Gadd and I went down to us the restroom. I was sitting in the brides room waiting for her to use the restroom and a small group of people walked into the room. One of the ladies had helped with the VIP tours and wanted to show her friends that were volunteering to help with the shoe covers. So they were waiting to see the brides room restroom and sister Gadd was in there but they were just waiting outside the door. After a few seconds sister Gadd popped her head out the door and looked at me in shock and said, "uh the bathroom cant be toured right now" and closed the door. After they left she opened door and looked at me frantically and said "THE TOILET IS CLOGGED" hahah. We were running around the basement looking in all the closets and could not find a plunger anywhere! We came back to the bathroom and were laughing so hard we didn't know what to do with our selves. We decided to say a prayer. Then went back to the same janitorial closet we had tried before and in a random drawer found a broken stick and the rubber part of a plunger!! Sister Gadd snatched it and ran back to the bathroom. After a while the toilet was unclogged! Haha we lived the miracle of the plunger! I don't think i have ever laughed so hard either 

- many many many miracles are happening each and every day. The families we are working with are doing AMAZING. We have been working so hard to continue building our teaching pool and doors and hardened hearts are opening up to us each and every day! 

BEST PART OF MY WEEK: most of the Murphy family came to church for the first time and they LOVED IT. We went to pick up the 3 boys from primary and they had THE BIGGEST SMILES on their faces, they loveeed it! 💛💛I am so lucky to be a missionary at this exciting time in their lives:))

AND this man named Gabriel came up to us and bishop after church and said that he wasn't a member but wants to be baptized.... so we will start teaching him the lessons this next week!! ANOTHER MIRACLE

I was reading about Alma earlier this week and I noticed a pattern.  Alma prayed, exercised faith in God, and then took action to overcome each of the problems he faced. Sister Gadd and I made a goal this week to pray more often and specifically... and it works!! 

“It is not the usual purpose of prayer to serve us like Aladdin’s lamp, to bring us ease without effort,” Elder Richard L. Evans wrote. “Prayer is not a matter of asking only. It should not be always as the beggar’s upturned hand. Often the purpose of prayer is to give us strength to do what needs to be done, wisdom to see the way to solve our own problems, and ability to do our best in our tasks."

Just like Alma's prayers were answered I know our prayers here are being answered, to ind new investigators, and even to find a plunger! 

LOVE ALWAYS, 

Sister Carter 

Pictures

1. Our Temple

2. Sleepovers at the mission home

3. Our cute rope swing 

4. Last night it started PORING rain on our way to a lesson. When we got there we ended up having our lesson outside in the rain, sliding in the mud for a while hah.. let the monsoons begin!! 

5. My favorite family and best investiagtors ever

6. They made a home for their new turtle 

7. Yes thats says 117

Biking through a blowdryer

Happy Monday!!! I love you all and am so proud of Jackson and Jayme and the choices they have made to allow them to go through the temple this week, I hope it was a wonderful experience for both of you. We were working at the temple here and I was thinking about you all day! 

I learned some valuable biking lessons this week: 

1)when its 113 outside cover up your *black* bike seat when not ridding!! ill be sure not to make that mistake again! haha ahhh

and 2) always close your mouth while ridding (bugs are great protein but also nasty) 

We felt like traveling business women living out of a suitcase a few days of the week running all over. I love our road trips to the temple and am so grateful for the opportunity we have to serve with the temple department! 

Thursday morning we had our last zone conference with the Passeys😔 Sister Passey gave an incredible training on desire to serve. After we had a question and answer session. We found our President and Sister Passeys most embarrassing stories then our whole zone gathered at the mission office to tour the temple together!

I also got to see my sweet sister Spencer and talk to her about seeing the family. I love her so so much and am forever grateful for all she has done to help me as a missionary. Before getting on the bus I saw this lady standing by herself and I walked over to talk to her. Her name is Liz and she is an artist that moved to Tucson a few months ago. I got to to sit with her on the bus ride and walk through the temple with her and answer all her questions. She LOVED the temple and was so touched by the peace and beauty there. I am grateful for the experience to watch someone else experience the spirit of the temple. This is such an amazing time to be a missionary here in Tucson!! 

Sister Gadd and I got to go on our personal tour of the temple and the brides room. Each day it gets prettier and prettier. 

After a long day working at the open house we came to the mission home with a meal all ready for us!  I will always cherish these nights with all my Sisters and the Passeys so tired but laughing so hard! 

There are two locations for working the open house. One set of sisters is in the reception area answering questions after tours and the rest of the sisters are at the stake center showing the temple video and explaining the tours. The second half of the day we ran up to the temple and were in the reception area. This was the BEST! We answered so many questions and talked to so many people my voice was practically gone by the end of the night. I talked with the sweetest mom who was interested in how converts to the church can be sealed to their children and an older woman who asked many questions about the Celestial room. She was so touched and felt the spirit so strongly. I love being able to answer questions and share our beliefs constantly. Working at the temple is THE BEST!! During a bathroom break Sister Gadd and I had the chance to sit in the Brides room again. It is stunning. I could have sat there all day. 

EDGARS BAPTISM.

Edgar is amazing. He is one of the most prepared people. And he has the most genuine pure testimony. I remember a few months ago being so scared to ask him if we could teach him but I am grateful for following the prompting and getting out of my comfort zone. His sweet spirit has blessed my life! 

Edgar has been waiting so long to get baptized and knows that he is ready for baptism but more importantly he is looking towards the temple!!! Sister Gadd and I had the opportunity to share our testimonies and miracles we have seen while working at the temple!!

I was sitting next to Sister Freeman and she says we need to sing a hymn... haha oh no. So she interrupts the brother conducting and let him know the 10 sister missionaries there were going to sing the closing hymn. Directed by Sister Freeman we all stood up and sang 'I am trying to be like Jesus'. As we sang this hymn I felt all of our Saviors love for Edgar flood into the room and I felt as if angels were helping us sing. I know those in heaven are so proud of Edgars choice to be baptized! Looking at Edgar while singing I know he truly understands that his Savior loves him and by striving each day to be like Christ Edgar will find himself at the temple one day with his family! 

This week has been full of so many good things and I absolutely LOVE being a missionary!!

All my love, 

Sister Emily Carter 

Pictures: 

1. Favorite time of day

2. Zone conference

3. Sisters at the temple open house 

4.my cute companion 

5. Dinner in down town tucson

6. EDGARS BAPTISM 

106 fire and sticks!!

Hello family!!

We ran out of time to email today because we went on the most beautiful hike with our investigators! I felt like we were in utah it was so pretty and there was actual ASPEN TREES & a LAKE!!! Theres also a huge fire on the mountain and helicopters were getting water from the lake and water and tree branches were flying everywhere while we were there 

Our week was crazy busy trying to meet with everyone and spending 2 days in Tucson at the temple open house. We were playing personal investigators as our one investigator with a baptism date all of a sudden had to move and the place he moved doesnt have addresses and someone stole his phone... ahh weve been finding lots of clues though:) 

Our first shift at the temple was in the reception area where displays of Christ, families and temples are set up for people to look at after they exit the temple. Along with Sister Gadd and I there were several tour guides waiting to answer questions. My knowledge of the gospel and our church was put to the test. We got asked some pretty crazy questions!! 

How can you embalm bodies if youre going to baptize them? 

Where do you do the knocking? (??)

What are you hiding up in the dome? 

Whats down stairs thats not allowed to the public? (The janitorial closets and lockers)

What percentage of people leave the church? (President Passeys response: well seeing as no one lives at the church 100% of people leave the church)

Do you store the dead bodies down by the oxen? 

It was really cool to try and answer everyones questions and help them have a better understanding of our church and temples! The people really protested there being a temple at first but many have complimemted its beauty! 

Felissa and Madisom came to church this week and everything was perfect! All the talks were about Joseph Smith and the Restoration. I gained a testimony that Heavenly Father puts us right where we need to be when we need to be there. In this case for Felissa and Madison to be a church this day. And I know I am here to help bring them everlasting happiness. This is the happiest work in the world and I am SO lucky to be here in Thatcher for the summer with Sister Gadd on bikes😊😊😊

And HAPPY FATHERS DAY THIS WEEK TO THE MOST AMAZING DAD IN THE WORLD!!!! love you so so much and can never tell you how grateful I am for you! 

Love, 

Sister Carter 

-- 

Sister Emily Carter