Scatterbrained!

Right now I just can't think.  Crazy things are happening!

Today is transfer day.  I have a new companion--Sister Richards.  She is from Dallas, Texas area.  Along with getting a new companion, I am moving homes! I still cover the same area, but I live down the street in Meridian now!  It's kinda stressful trying to pack up and move everything.  I'm sad to leave Sister Eas and the Andres's home, but more adventures are ahead!

I'm so scatterbrained and I don't know what happened this week. 

On Tuesday, little to my knowledge, there must have been some gluten in my dinner....That night I was at a teaching appointment and I felt that I was going to throw up.  Because this was at a YSA's home, it was further away from home....When we got outside I didn't think that I would be able to make it to drive all the way home. But I did it anyways.  I prayed so hard that I would make it without too much nausea or distraction or problems.........I just did not want to pull over! haha I just had to make it  home.  I was about a mile away from home and I felt it coming and knew that I couldn't stop it.  I told Sister Eas I needed a bag or something, quickly.  Thankfully she had a bag of chips handy! haha Just in the nick of time I made it in the bag--I'm still driving 45 mph, mind you! But all was well. :)  I felt better right away.  I felt bad for Sister Eas though, being in the smelly car, holding my bag of barf mixed with sour cream and onion chips..... Too much info? haha Sorry...... Driving while throwing up was a first though!!!  #LAS-9

The day after that, I was kind of worried about my intestines and stuff because I've been eating gluten more often than normal (not on purpose of course).  I went to the clinic to get a blood test just to make sure my intestines aren't dying or anything. ha  I got the results, and all is well! :)

This week there was an AWESOME storm!!! It rained and hailed super hard and there was LIGHTNING!!!! I have an obsession with lightning.  I didn't get any pictures, but Sister Eas and I did play out in the rain for a little bit. :)

The Women's session for General Conference was so wonderful.  I loved that the theme was focused on loving and serving.  It applied to me so well!

After church, we spent our Easter at home, because there was A LOT of packing and cleaning to do. We had a nice dinner with the Andres's.  Church was great because it's all centered on the Atonement (MY FAVORITE).  Holly and her 2 kids came to church FINALLY!  From what I heard the kids loved it!! I was so happy. :)

I don't have a ponderize scripture this week, because I'm just going crazy with packing, moving, and transfers......  BUT I hope that everyone can apply the Atonement to their life everyday.  Also, I hope that everyone can prepare themselves for General Conference with a question in mind that they need answered.  I know that if we spiritually prepare ourselves and pray, we will receive answers that are directly for us.

I love this gospel and I love being a missionary!!

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

Sad that this was our last week together/picture after playing in the rain.

Rain! Arizona friends, it's still kinda cold here....Yes, I was pretty freezing.

Ice cream and a Boston milk shake from Big Bun.  People kept talking about this place, so we had to go.

The dreaded moment.....when I got poked by a needle...

Car selfie.

Exchange x 2 + Mini-missionary

It's March 20th?  Last I checked we just finished February....but at the same time, half of February felt like it was already March.  I don't even know what is happening.

This week was cra-Z...but exciting!  We have been able to meet with a lot of less-actives or recent converts.  Our message is centered around the Easter video #Hallelujah.  (Like I said last week, if you haven't seen it yet, go watch it!)  It's crazy to think that even though I watch it multiple occasions every day, I get goosebumps every time.  No joke!  The fact that Christ can "take away my sins, my sorrows, my pain, forget my past..." is the most hopeful thought--AND reality! that anyone can have.  This message is the center to the gospel and our life.  It shouldn't just be the center of our thoughts only during Easter time, but ALL the time! He is the center to our purpose.  #Hallelujah!

It's interesting to see different perspectives that everyone has as they watch it.  We are all from different walks of life, but the Spirit speaks to us all and it's so cool to see how ONE message can effect everyone in so many different ways.  #Perspective!

On Thursday I was on exchanges with Sister Stone.  She has only been out 1 transfer (6 weeks).  I love that girl!  We had tons of fun.  I learned a lot from her and we had a successful day.  The sad part is that every appointment I had scheduled cancelled on us....But! We were able to make contact with people that I have never met before, so it was nice.

Oh Friday, Sister Eas and I got a voicemail after dinner from Jordyn Tubbs. She is a laurel in a different stake.  Jordyn was going to by our "mini-missionary" for Friday evening and all day Saturday, NEXT weekend, but apparently it was THIS weekend, but no one informed us! We scrambled last minute to figure out what to do--things worked out though! ......even though we were going on exchanged AGAIN!  So on Saturday, I ended up leading the area again with another missionary AND a "mini-missionary." Overall the day went well, but I was so scatterbrained on what to do.  It was all a great/new experience and adventure--becuase new experiences are always adventures!

Exchanges (twice) were the most exciting things that happened this week.  Next week are transfers! I am planning on staying in the area and Sister Eas will more than likely be transferred...But the wards have to find me a new place to live by next week becuase the Andres's are preparing to move. Yay! More adventures!! Haha

Ponderize: 2 Nephi 2:26

And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

Sister Eas and I are doing Personal Progress (I LOVE it!).  For Choice and Accountability #3, we studied agency.  When I read 2 Nephi 2, I was brought to a brighter light on the Atonement and our agency.  We come to earth.  We sin.  We learn.  If we didn't sin we wouldn't learn.  If we didn't learn we wouldn't become like God. Opposition, right?  But because we sin (and learn from our mistakes), we cannot be with God.  So because of the Atonement we can still learn (or sin or be in a fallen state, which is necessary to learn) and know good from evil because the demands of justice are fulfilled.  Our purpose of life is not to be perfect, but to be PERFECTED through Christ.

That prolly doesn't sound like anything very new, but something about agency and the Atonement clicked in my head and was brought to a greater light in my head.....haha

Anyways, I love that there is always something each of us can do better and continue to learn!  Isn't it great???

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

Sister Stone and I on exchanges.

 Sister Anandan, Sister Tubbs, and I on exchanges.

It's spring time in Idaho!!

 Sibyl Spjute and Billy Jo Hess took us out to breakfast this morning!

#Hallelujah, What is this Feeling, the toilet's overflowing!

Happy Daylight Savings!  .....Oh wait....Y'all probably don't know what that is.  haha Just kidding.  But seriously, it's a little weird losing an hour of sleep....

Okay first thing.....last week I was poisoned by gluten again for the second time out here.  Coming home early to throw up is NO fun. Luckily I know when it's coming far enough in advanced so I'm prepared to hit the toilet.  TMI? Sorry....haha

One of our wards had an elders quorum  lip sink battle and they invited Sister Eas and I to do a performance! haha We did "What is This Feeling" or "Loathing" from Wicked.  We related it to being missionaries and sometimes hating your companion....Thankfully Sister Eas and I get along well. :)  I had a fun time doing that.

Yesterday, we spoke AND did a musical number in sacrament.  I played the piano while Sister Eas sang a medley of "Savior Redeemer"--a missionary medley combined with "Called to Serve."  I challenged the ward to pray for missionary opportunities. It is so important--it is ESSENTIAL--for each of us to participate in missionary work and to have faith that the Lord will provide opportunities if we ask.  I challenge everyone reading this to do the same!! Pray with faith for and expect these experiences. Act on opportunities when they come.

Funny story of the month:

The other night at midnight, Sister Eas used the toilet, then came into the room to tell me that the toilet overflowed--water was everywhere!!  I go to the bathroom to help her clean it up.  First off, she didn't know how to stop the water--she had jimmy-rigged the chain with the toilet scrubber to try to stop the water.  A minute later, I hear dripping downstairs.  Oh no.  That is not a good sound.  I went downstairs to check it out and discover the water had leaked through and was already all over the floor, ceiling, and even in the light cover/bowel!  The towels I used to clean it up were SOAKED and the water was STILL dripping from the ceiling.  There was no way we couldn't wake up the Andres's at this point.  (Again, this is at midnight.)  They gladly, cheerfully helped us clean up the mess.  But really though, it was a MESS!  The sister missionaries flooded the house at midnight.....What a great time.  haha Sister Eas was literally traumatized.  It took her a couple days to finally use that toilet again.  All in all, it made for a good laugh and funny memory. :) haha  #LAS:9.5

Yesterday the church started their Easter initiative, #HALLELUJAH. If you have not seen it yet, GO WATCH IT and SHARE it with someone specific!!! Along with praying for those missionary opportunities, use this video to share when those opportunities come.  It's beautiful and brings the Spirit.

Ponderize: Alma 38:9

...There is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. 

Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and 

righteousness.

Like I mentioned last week, I want to focus this whole month especially on the Atonement as it is Easter.  Jesus Christ is the greatest person ever, who lived the most perfect life, and performed the most important even in the world and the history of mankind.  I love Him.

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

The Flood

 Jezrael!!!  This kid is awesome!!

ALOHA!!

Alooooooha!!

It's great having a companion from Hawaii, because I feel like I'm getting some cultural experiences.  This week, one of our wards had a talent show--of course Sister Eas and I had to perform!  She taught me a Tahitian dance! We were decked out in matching costumes and everything.  I loved it!!  Along with the dance, we sang two songs.  Because of that, we were asked to do a musical number in sacrament meeting next week.  I guess that's what happens when you decide to sing for people!

 We spent all of last Monday in downtown Boise.  First we had lunch at Costa Vida with the Riggs. I love them!  After that, we still had 2 hours to spare before we met up with our zone at BSU (Boise State University), so we drove around town and ended up doing an impromptu hike to Table Rock--a great view of the whole Boise valley.  That was a great adventure. :)

We had some great lessons this week. My favorite would be our 2 hour meeting with Jezrael at Del Taco.  We taught him about family history and the temple.  Hopefully he will go to do baptisms at the temple soon!!  It's weird, but even at Del Taco you can feel the Spirit.  :)  

I've had a realization that it is March.  March is my favorite month for the youth "Come Follow Me" curriculum.  Why? Because it's a whole month allll about the Atonement.  Yesterday in Sunday school, I was able to speak to the youth about why this month is so special to me...It is because in March 2013, I truly gained my testimony--and specifically, my testimony on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I hope to focus this whole month myself on learning more about the Atonement, especially as it is Easter this month!

With that, my ponderize scripture this week will be Alma 34:15

 15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

The Atonement itself is SO complex, and SO incomprehensible, but the way for us to apply or receive His mercy is simple and requires much, much less than what was required of Christ. He only asks for our faith unto repentance. 

I get so passionate about this; it's hard to keep it short, but I have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I know that he suffered for me.  And you.  Oh it is wonderful...wonderful to me...

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling