Hello From the Land of Potatoes!!

First off.....You'll never guess what I had for my first meal here in Idaho.....

Yep. You probably guessed right.  A potato. I only had a potato because the sister that fed us never got a good heads up that I was gluten free... haha  I'm sure this will be a common occurrence!

Well I am here in Idaho now, and surprisingly enough, I'm not freezing cold! My jacket and layers of clothes are keeping me warm.  There is a bit of snow and ice on the roads.  Aaaaand right when I was assigned my companion, I was handed car keys.  They are trusting this Arizona girl to be driving??? Maybe not the smartest thing ever, but I am learning! Ha! My companion doesn't drive, so I am the designated driver!

Back track--Christmas in the MTC was......AWESOME!! We woke up to a wonderful white Christmas!!! That really started my day on a happy note. Elder Bednar spoke to us Christmas morning.  Love that man.  Then, there was a 2 person performance of the Christmas Carol. That was neat.  And that evening we had a surprise guest come sing for us....... David Archuleta!! Whoohoo! After his performance, we all watched Ephraim's Rescue.  Overall, Christmas really was fantastic and super special.

December 29th finally arrived and I am in Boise! I love my mission president and his wife.  We ate a lunch with all of the new missionaries and the trainers.  Then we were assigned our companions......My companion is Sister Eas from Hawaii!  We cover 3 wards--2 family wards and 1 YSA ward!!! I am WAY excited because the work is busy, there is so much to do, and so many people to meet! Like I said, I ate with a family that first evening and right after had our first appointment with an investigator. 

Today we had our district meeting, so I have been meeting lots of other missionaries.  We also had another appointment today and taught the lesson of the restoration.  It went amazing!! I LOVE teaching!

Well time is short, but I will be back on Monday, my regular P-Day!  I love you all!  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

xoxo

Sister Carling

Sister B and I on Christmas!

My companion, Sister Eas

Sis. Carling with Pres. & Sis. Winder

Sis. Eas, Sis. Carling, Sis. Winder & Pres. Winder

First Dinner appt in Boise!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.... Hopefully...

Family! Friends! Hi!!

Another long week has come and gone and so much has happened, yet not much has changed. Our district has come so much closer together and it will be hard saying goodbyes when we part ways next week.

Each day is filled with lessons on how o each the gospel and there is great spiritual growth. Sister Beauchamp and I are best friends and have gotten along in every way.  We literally have had zero problems with each other and it's kind of great.  I'm surprised she's not annoyed of me! ha  When came out of the gym the other day, there was still snow on the ground, and being the Arizona girl that I am, couldn't resist touching it.  I soon discovered that it rolled into a ball so easily and it was the perfect time to build a snowman!

*Cue song!* ;)

Me: Do you want to build a snowmaaaan?
Sister B: No.
Me: Come on let's go and playyy!
Sister B: No.

I continued to roll the snow and I made a pretty darn cute "Snow-Sister." ;)

Whenever it's snowing pretty good I can't help but open my mouth, stick out my tongue and try to catch the snowflakes.  Yes, I look like a dog while doing it.

At the MTC, there are devotionals every Sunday and Tuesday night.  Our district/zone has chosen to participate in the choir.  Even though it is a 700 person missionary choir, I know that my (not amazing) voice makes any impact, but I  am so grateful to participate in it because there is a great power and Spirit that comes from music!  The choir director is AWESOME and makes the words so much more meaningful and personal for everyone singing it.  I love the power that comes from music.  I also try to volunteer my piano skills as much as I can.  I am the branch music coordinator which only consists of organizing the music for sacrament meeting, but I love offering my (rusty) piano talent as much as I can.

I have been blessed with some great people in my life to send me Christmas gifts and cards! I have a cute little Christmas corner up by my bed.  Thank you to family, cousins, those who are practically family, and friends!! I thank Heavenly Father every day  for the wonderful people in my life!  Christmas is going to be good. :)

I love feeling the power of the Atonement and Christ's grace work! As it is Christmas Eve today, and Christmas Day tomorrow, I hope we can all recognized that we have been given the greatest gift of all!! The Atonement is the key to happiness.  Be happy and USE IT because it's already been given to us! #HeIsTheGift #ASaviorIsBorn

I have 4 more days left until I am in the field! It's a crazy thought, but I am so ready to go!!!

I love this gospel! I love you! Until next time, when I am in Idaho!!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

XoXo
Sister Carling

 

My "Snow-Sister!" Isn't she cute? ;)

 

Elder Durfee!!!! I love having a high school friend around.  

And I see him at least 5 times a day....I love it! haha

 Sis. Beauchamp, Sis. Carling, Elder Durfee & Elder Steenblik

What a week!

What a week! I survived the first week at the MTC. One week? Probably the longest week of my life! Well... at least the first half of the week was.  To properly express my feelings I wrote a poem on Sunday night titled, "LONG."

Sitting in the MTC

It already feels like year 3.

The days are long. I do not know

How long before I'm in Idaho.

I love it here, don't get me wrong,

But why are these days just so long?!

-Sister Carling to Bryn Johnson

December 13, 2015

But! Each day gets better and better and am really enjoying it.  So much has happened since I walked away from my family, I don't even know where to start!  First off, walking away felt...empowering. I was doing it! I felt so ready. 

The first day at the MTC:

It was great.  No tears were shed, and I was all full of smiles and joy!  I found out I will be here for 3 weeks instead of 2....so yes, I will be here for Christmas.  That news was saddening, but I am getting excited to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity for Christmas. My district is so fun.  There are 5 elders, and 6 sisters. 4 of us sisters are going to Boise, and the others are going to Canada or California.  My companion, Sister Beauchamp (Bo-shamp) is the BEST! I have been so blessed to have her.  We are so similar, sometimes it's unreal.  We laugh a lot, she knows all of my movie or song references, we both love taking pictures, and we just have lots of fun. :) We are best friends, and we teach and learn well together.  I seriously couldn't have been blessed with someone more compatible with me.  

I have had some incredible learning experiences here.  Most of the learning and teaching at the MTC is roll-playing and teaching investigators, but also learning how to find their needs.  if there is anything I have learned, it is the importance of listening and teaching by the Spirit, rather than by my own knowledge.  It has been such a humbling experience.  Yesterday was the BEST  day yet.  Sister B. and I had our first discussion with an investigator, Erika.  Most of the "investigators" at the MTC are roll-playing, and you can usually tell that they are Mormon.  It feels like a real experience, though, but at the same time, not quite 100% real.  Erika really really was a real, legit investigator though! Once I realized that she was the real deal, and it wasn't a roll-play situation, I felt the strongest desire to help her! She has been investigating the church for 2 and a half years now, and working at the MTC for 2 months.  She hears from so many missionaries every week, so I knew that if I wanted to help her, I would need to be different.  She has a genuine desire to try to get answers bu she never feels that God has answered any of her prayers.  I wish I could tell you her whole story, but time isn't on my side now...so anyways, I knew the "normal" thing that most missionaries (especially MTC missionaries) would say to her: "Pray. Have real intent. Listen carefully..." yada yada...It's all good and true, but she's gotten those answers dozens of times.  What would I say differently to her that will help her?

People.  Let me tell you--this was the coolest thing of my LIFE! For some random reason, the attribute of service came to my mind.  Erika needs to serve.  This was the most different, random challenge she has ever been told, but I challenged her to serve.  We all know Mosiah 2:17: "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." But we usually neglect the first line, (myself included, until I opened it to read with Erika) "I tell you these things that YE MAY LEARN WISDOM!" Erika needs to serve and turn her heart outward, and she will learn wisdom!! I knew that the Spirit told me that is what Erika needs.  It was the most random thought, but I felt it was right.  After walking out of that discussion I felt on top of the world! The Spirit spoke to me and I was able to recognize it.  I literally cried tears of happiness because I new how right that was.  I could not wipe that huge grin off my face.  That joy that I felt was incredible.  I am learning great things here and cannot wait to teach people in Idaho!

It snowed here and I love it! Well....Granted, I'm only outside for a total of 1 minute at a time walking from building to building, but it's so fun and pretty. haha I'm always admiring it and eating it. (Me, eating ice? What else is new;)  My companion from Detroit, Michigan finds it entertaining.  (I actually tend to entertain her all the time because I'm so weird. ha)  

I would LOVE to get mail from anyone! DearElder.com is awesome because it's free for you, and I get the letter on the same day you send it.  Snail mail is wonderful too. ;)

Thank you for your love! I love you all and I would love to hear from you!

I am so grateful to the Lord and how He has blessed me.  I am crazy blessed!!

From the MTC to you,

Sister Carling

XoXo

I can't figure out how to attach pictures....so hopefully next week I will be able to send some!

Only Temporary Goodbyes...

Open house 12/05/15

I am SO blessed to have so many supportive friends and family.  I feel so much love!!