Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Hello friends and family! Today is our Temple P-day, so that is why I am emailing today... I am so excited to go to the temple!!!! 

Last Tuesday we met with Peggy and taught her "The Gospel of Jesus Christ."  It was amazing because we met in the waiting room of the temple.  It was very peaceful and the Spirit was strong.  Yesterday we taught her the Word of Wisdom, the Law of Chastity, and Tithing and Fast offerings.  She already pretty much knew what all of them were and committed to live them all...better yet, she already quit drinking tea and coffee a couple of weeks ago because she felt gross when she did!  Peggy goes so far above and beyond what's expected.  She's already in the book of Alma in her BOM reading!

Wednesday was the new missionary training in Mountain Home so Sister Cluff and I got to take a lil' road trip for the day. :)  It's fun to be there with all the other new missionaries, trainers, APs, and President and Sister Bartlett.  I just love meeting new people!

Thursday was.....my brother's 17th birthday!!!!! Happy Birthday to my favorite brother and teenager in the world!!!  Seriously, I love my brother so much and look up to him in many ways.  I just have to give him a big shout out for being so dang awesome. :)  I miss him.

Friday, the BSU institute had a sort of Luau at Julia Davis Park (goooorgeous) downtown.  Our investigator CJ came as well as several other less-active people that we invited.  Rosselyn and her mom showed up too.  I turned around one moment and saw Rosselyn with NO MORE NECK AND BACK BRACE!!!!!!! Eeeeeep! :D  She looks so so GOOD!  Exactly 3 months after she almost died, she has made a full recovery.  Guys, Rosselyn is a living miracle. <3  Ah-mazing.  It just makes me soooo happy and privileged to be her friend.. Also on Friday, shout out to Sheryl Hineman--HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of my favoritest people in the world whom I look up to very much. <3

Saturday evening we were trying to contact a referral given to us by our Zone Leaders.  We started talking to this guy who was smoking on the porch and learned that 12 mentally unstable males live there.  This girl came out and started preaching anti to us and pretty much said our church is of the devil.  She said a bunch of crazy stuff.  Of course we can't win any argument with people who are so against the church but we can bear testimony and be kind.  We coulda said a lot back to defend ourselves and argue, but it ended out staying a very peaceable conversation.  In the middle of our conversation one of the guys on the porch told us he can make stars move...and also make stars appear.......So he showed us. He sang Tinkle Twinkle Little Star super fast and said, "Do you see that?" pointing to the sky.  He was so high!! haha  That was quite an experience.

After dinner on Sunday, we played a game with the family we were with. Brother Mendenhall told us a story about him and his son playing Pokemon Go. They didn't have enough stuff (idk what stuff you need cuz I don't play the game...haha!) to catch the Pokemon. So, out loud his son, Noah, started praying that they would be able to catch it.  Brother Mendehall prayed that even though Pokemon Go is a very unimportant game he wanted Noah's testimony of prayer strengthened so he wanted Noah's prayer answered. Haha! Somehow they caught the Pokemon!  Then meanwhile, we were playing a kid game.  I don't feel like explaining what it is but it involves drawing colors and there are two wild rainbow cards in the whole deck.  It was still the beginning of the game and one wild was already drawn. On Noah's turn his said, "Wait!!!" Then he bowed his head, folded his hands and we knew he was praying to draw a specific card.  Then as he draws he said, "I really hope I get the rainbow card." He draws and IT WAS THE RAINBOW CARD! Hahahaha .....The faith of a 6 year old.... We could not believe it.  Anyways, just wanted to share that Heavenly Father answers prayers.

Ponderize: D&C 64:3

Just kidding, it's D&C 64:33, but I accidentally wrote down 3.  That one would be a funny scripture to share. haha

Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

Missionary work can be tiring and sometimes it doesn't feel like we are making the biggest difference, but it's okay! Small things add up to great things.  I have seen it.  And it's the most rewarding thing.

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

The Mendenhall family

 Happy Birthday Ben! (A member texted this to him on Thursday :)

We went to BSU campus last P-day

ROSSELYN WITH NO BRACE!!!!!! Also, Sister Cluff and I have matching dresses. :)  We didn't buy them together though.  I got mine for 4 bucks at a thrift store here and she brought hers from AZ!

All's Well in the Boise West Stake!

Hi y'all!  Sister Cluff and I are doing better than ever here in the Boise West stake.  We're having fun while workin' hard!

We taught Elijah about tithing and fasting while we were outside on the porch, sitting on coolers and an old camp chair.  In the middle of the lesson he smacked a wasp next that was above the garage and he got stung twice, but acted like nothing happened. haha  The wasps were flyin' around everywhere so we relocated to the yard.  Elijah is funny.  Yesterday we read 1 Nephi 4 with him... He read the word "spake" as "spank" the first time it was in the chapter. I never realized how often Nephi says the word "spake" until then.  Haha Hearing "spank" made it a bit comical.  We reset a baptism date for September 31!

We taught Peggy the Plan of Salvation.  She said it made logical sense and she agreed with it all.  You cannot get more golden that Peggy!! When she comes to church, you can hardly tell she is an investigator because she has made friends with lots of people and blends in so well!

Zone Conference was on Wednesday.  Sister Cluff and I wore new cute dresses that we bought.  They are adorable and sooo comfortable.  But besides that, we learned all about repentance.  There is always many things we can each repent of!

This weekend was stake conference for the Boise West stake.  Elder Alder of the 70 spoke to us.  This is my second stake conference here.  I have one thought about one of many reasons why I love my wards and this stake:  They are focused on the temple, more than I have ever seen.  I feel like I can't go to a meeting without someone bearing testimony or emphasizing the importance of temple attendance.  It is amazing how much time people here put in to attending the temple so often.  I love love LOVE the temple and the ordinances and covenants we make there.  We got word that one of the semi/less active sisters that I have been working with since the beginning of my mission got her temple recommend back yesterday! :D  I cannot wait to go with her, and also, next week we will be going as a zone!! :)

That's all I've got for this week....

Ponderize: Mosiah 3:19

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child,submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Yesterday the stake president shared this scripture with some insight.  To entice is to lead someone on to do something...or bribe. or convince. There are enticings of the Holy Ghost and enticings of Satan.  They are very different.  We are here to develop God-like qualities and bridal our natural man passions.  Yield! Slow down! Pay attention to the Holy Ghost. :)

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

Oh hey, it's me.

Lesson with Elijah! *Notice the pack of cigarettes. Haha

Idaho Boise Mission! #IBM

 Our cute matching dresses!! <3

Are you sure you want crab?

Well hello!

First off, sharing the gospel is the greatest blessing to do for 24/7.  It's crazy that I've been gone for 8 months now!

We got a new investigator, Peggie!  She is the definition of a golden investigator.  A while back a friend of hers gave her a Book of Mormon and she never read it.  Recently, she picked it up to see if it would make her feel better because she couldn't find her Bible to read....and it did!  She's already read the whole book of Alma and through 1 and 2 Nephi!  At church she told us she wants to get baptized on October 10th...Wahoo!!

We had a lesson with Jezrael on Wednesday.  He requested we talk about repentance.  Little did we know, he did that to prepare for his lesson on Sunday on repentance! Cleaver Jez...Very sneaky. haha  The topic of the temple was brought up and by the end of the lesson he had an appointment with Bishop for his temple recommend interview.  So on Friday Jezrael did baptisms for the dead for his first time! :D  Seeing how far Jezrael has come in the past 8 months brings me to tears sometimes...literally!  When we walked in the temple for his first time, I wanted to burst with excitement!

Oh....our toilet overflowed all over our bathroom.  That's not a first for me on the mission 'cept this time it didn't leak all downstairs cuz we live in the basement. Haha

Fun fact: The first thing I said one morning while I was still half-asleep after the alarm had gone off, "Are you sure you want crab?"  Sister Cluff: "What'd you say?"  Me, becoming more aware and realizing what I just said while I was dreaming and half asleep: "I said what you think I said." hahaha Funny things happen while sleep talking!!  She just told me that I was sleep talking last night too. Wonder what I said! Haha

Crazy Dave bought me fresh Huckleberries and Huckleberry jam because I've never had them before. He's great. They are definitely an Idaho thing. Haha

The rest of the week we spent contacting.  It was a very productive, well worked week! I feel wonderful and happier than I have ever been!  Being a full-time missionary is the best calling available.  I continue to learn immensely daily and grow closer to my Savior Jesus Christ and His gospel.  I love being a missionary!!!

Ponderize:  Alma 34: 9-16

9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made;for according to the great plan of the

Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish...

13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice...

16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of

justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and

eternal plan of redemption.

Without an Atonement, we would perish--it is an infinite and eternal sacrifice.  It is a great and last sacrifice.  It brings justice AND mercy.  We can receive the Atonement through FAITH and REPENTANCE.

My testimony is centered on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Without it, there would be no point to anything else and the Plan would not be made possible.  When I study the Atonement, I am changed.  Life makes more sense and I have more gratitude.  I know I can "be perfected" and strengthened and clean through the Atonement. 

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

We fed baby cows! Mooooo

Crazy Dave and the Huckleberries :)

 You're supposed to be able to see mountains there but there has been so much smoke because of the forest fires! :(  It's crazy.  It looks like fog in the mornings!

 Lunch at the Osuna's! BEST food EVER.

Car selfie!

 #ToiletProbs

Jezrael's first time doing baptisms at the temple!!

 

I Love my Greenie!!

First off, I just want to say that I feel the best that I have ever been on my mission so far!  This week was incredible!  

On Tuesday, Sister Davis and I spent lots of the day packing getting ready for transfers and to move houses, while still trying to comprehend that I am STAYING.

Wednesday....Transfer day.  I got my daughter!!!  Her name is Sister Cluff, from MESA, ARIZONA! She grew up in Gilbert, then moved to Show Low for Junior high and High school but spent the last year in Mesa going to ASU.  2 Arizona girls!! :)  I love it.   She is so cute and sweet.  I couldn't be more happy and privileged that I am her first companion.  I have love training so much.  It's the best thing.  We have been blessed with some great miracles this past week! 

On her very first day in the mission field, we met with Jezrael and Elliott, which is funny because Jezzy was my VERY first lesson in the mission field! It was funny because the first thing Jezrael said to Sister Cluff was, "Hey, can you do me a favor? Can you cut my hair? It's just this one little piece that's bugging me..." So she did! haha  What a good time.

That same day we met with other people and found a new investigator! Wahoo!

The next few days have been busy and productive.  In a nut shell, we have 4 baptismal dates set for the next month, one of those being our new investigator!  We had some very spiritual lessons.

The coolest was when we taught our new investigator Scott.  2 other people in the house he lives in were planning on coming to church and I asked him if he wanted to come to church and he said no because he's not interested in religion right now.  A little while later he expressed how he misses his mom, sister and dog more than anything and just wants to be with them.  We were planning on teaching the Restoration but felt that the Plan of Salvation would be much more appropriate for his needs....So we switched our lesson! I felt bad for Sister Cluff because we never practiced that lesson together but it ended out working great!  At the end of the lesson I said, "What do you think Scott?" He replied, "I'm all for it." So then we committed him to baptism on September 10th! The Spirit there was so beautiful.

At church on Sunday everyone was just as surprised to see me as I was! haha I seriously feel so much love for the people in my wards. <3  My favorite thing someone said was by Hunter Chapman: "Sister Carling, you didn't get called to serve in Boise.  You're called to serve in the Brookhollow ward." It's true! haha I just love the Summerset, Brookhollow, and YSA wards!!!

Well, I'm just about out of email time so I'll wrap it up.

Ponderize: 3 Nephi 27:27

Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.

This week we started reading Preach My Gospel ch. 6, which is Christlike attributes. It says, "Just as important of what you do is who you are." We need to BE like Christ and make him part of our countenance.  I love how my mission is changing me and helping me grow.  Being a missionary is the best. :)

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

First picture together!

 Sister Cluff cutting Jezrael's hair!

 Shaved ice! Yum. :)

 Bathroom selfie. haha

 Carol Johnson from Mesa!

Thanks for taking boxes home for me!!