They like, ate the fruit.

What a week!!! There were so many good things that happened this week.  Let's see if I can remember them all.

Last week we had an adventure on Preparation day!  We toured the Old State Penitentiary as a district then hiked Table Rock.  Good times. :)  And of course, PERFECT weather.

We did a little tracting this week and had some funny responses.  One guy said that religion is more destructive than nuclear weapons...Pretty intense.  Another guy answered the door in a bath robe and said, "I already know everything, thank you honey." haha! Okay!  There was another house that an old, sickly, anorexic, shirtless man with long greasy hair and missing teeth opened the door. He wasn't interested either. Oh well.

One of the funnier lessons we have every week is with Kenny.  He funny.  He's a 35 year old Chinese guy adopted when he was a kid and was less-active, but has been reactivating, working towards the temple. We taught him the Plan of Salvation with emphasis on the Atonement.  I asked him, "What's the story of Adam and Eve?" Kenny's response: "They like, ate the fruit......." That's it. haha! He uses words like yo, dope, sick, etc.... I also asked him what paradise would be for him. He said, "Eating a big bowl of ramen."  To each his own. haha 

This week at district meeting we only did role plays the entire time.  It was awesome!! I learned so many skills that we have already been applying and finding more success.  I wish I woulda learned all these skills a year ago!  Also, stay tuned for #PRINCEofPEACE and watch it with someone in mind who could benefit from it! (Really, everyone can. ;)

Yesterday we did a youth fireside along with Elder Abney and Towers in our district. IT WAS AWESOME.  We taught the youth about missions and mission life, then we taught them The Restoration.  It was POWERFUL.  At the end of our message we invited them to do the same thing we invite our investigators to do when we teach it--ask of God to know if the things we have taught are true.  It is so important to know for ourselves that the message of the Restoration is true!  The Spirit was definitely there, and we plan to do this fireside for our other wards because we feel it is so important for them to know!!  That leads me to my ponderize......

Ponderize: James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

This is what Joseph Smith read that lead him to act... I love that it is the youth theme for the year.  God will give us truth if we sincerely seek it!!!  Even if we 'already know' we should go to the Lord often to confirm truth, because it then our testimonies will burn brighter!!

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

Back in Boise. <3 I love it here.

Old State Penitentiary

Table Rock hike!

Tracting with a 7 year-old

There's nothing too new on my part! 

No new investigators...

This week was long. We spent lots and lots of time knocking on doors, trying to contact less-actives, part-member families, and unbaptized members.  No success, besides the knowledge that we worked hard... It was a hard week, only because I feel like we're not teaching like I was in my last area! That summarized the majority of what we did er'ry day.

Zone Conference was this week.  Awesome trainings...We got to see the Easter initiative that is going to come out in a few weeks! :)  #PRINCEofPEACE  We also had a volleyball tournament afterwards.  Our zone won!

Yesterday was probably my favorite day of this week.  It was buuuusssyyy. (Every Sunday pretty much is for a missionary who covers 3 wards!)  We were in charge of sharing time in one ward and in between the two sharing times, I gave a talk in sacrament in another ward. We were jumping around all over the place!!  That evening we had dinner with a young family.  We did a fun object lesson, then asked "Who do you know who would be interested in and benefit from our message?" The 7 year old referred a neighbor.  "Who else?" He referred another neighbor. "Who else?" Another neighbor!  Then, I asked the kid if he'd be willing to introduce us. He got a big smile on his face and said "Sure!"  So, we showed up to the first neighbor.  He didn't know what to say, so he asked me to whisper it in his ear.  He told them about our dinner message and added "You can have the missionaries over for dinner a time too if you want!"  The kid was awesome.  Then we did it to 3 more neighbors.  Although none of them were interested it sure made tracting a lot more fun! It made up for the rest of the week's rejection because the kid was so darn cute!

Ponderize: Jeremiah 16:16

Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

We are the fishers and the hunters.  At zone conference our mission president and his wife emphasized finding young people between the ages of 15-25.  The young people are more likely to be receptive to the gospel.  We need to fish and hunt those that are our same age!  Another thing said that I like, quoting an apostle, "We are the atonement's delivery system!" What a privilege!  

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

Zone conference. 

The winning zone!  Can you see my legs? haha #Camo4dayzzz  

We live with some ADORABLE doggies.  They actually make me really happy.
(They are the members dogs, not ours. Don't worry. haha) 

"Make a sassy face." Haha I love Sister Marshall.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Elder Tyler Carlsen's picture happens to be right next to mine at the mission office! 

More pics from Zone Conference!

Spring Weather!

Hola!

There's not too much to report this week.  I'm still lovin' Boise and having fun, but I feel like there's not as many crazy, exciting stories as there was in small town Idaho--and definitely not as many crazy pictures! 😜 haha

To sum up this week, we spent much of our proselyting time trying to contact part-member families and un-baptized members.  We made some contact, but not enough, so we will be continuing our work doing that!

There was a big miracle that happened though!

We contacted a referral that we received, first by calling her and then visiting her at her home. I don't think she realized who we were at first, she just knew we had offered to help her move. I guess when we called, only 15 minutes before, she just received notice that the apartment she was going to move to wasn't going to work, and now she doesn't know where she is going to live, but has to be out of her house by the 27th. She was praying to God for help. She was worried about being homeless. She knew that we were an answer to her prayers. When we showed up at her house, we offered the services of the ward ("We know people with pick-ups and trailers who can help you move!"), but she was worried about how she was going to pay for that. Then we assured her it was all for free because we love to serve. She could not help but cry and cry because she was so touched by our offer. Wow! Just when she was desperate for help from a higher power, it was given to her. We shared parts of the Restoration and gave her a Book of Mormon. She was very willing to have us back and when she gets things figured out with where she will live she would love to come to church. Her heart is so open! By the end of our visit she called us her angels. She is prepared! I am excited to continue to teach her, as her heart is so open right now. God prepared people for us!!

There's not too much else to report other than that.  Stake conference was this weekend which was AWESOME.  Wow, the Spirit was powerful!! Saturday night President and Sister Bartlett spoke and on Sunday, President and Sister Belliston, the temple president and matron, spoke.  The other speakers were inspired too.  Meridian South stake knows how to do it! Oh, by the way, we cover 3 wards: 2 in the Amity stake, and 1 in the Meridian South stake.  I've never been split between stakes before, but it's pretty exciting. And confusing. Haha

Ponderize: Alma 12:32

Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God.

I really loved what President Kiehl (stake president) taught at stake conference.  He emphasized knowing truth.  We never know what abnormal is unless we know what normal is.  We have to know the truth.  There are many priest crafts, secret combinations, false prophets, and anti-Christs.  We must know the doctrines and truth!

Learn the doctrine.

Live the doctrine.

Teach the doctrine.

As we teach true doctrine in context to the Plan of Redemption, we will understand the why. (See Alma 12:32.)

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

Dawww so cute. ;) haha

BLINDED BY THE LIIIGHT!  But the view though.  It's pertty.

City Life, Once Again...

Hello!  Well, if you want a quick summary of this week here it is:  Got transfer calls, started packing, said goodbye to people, finished packing, leave to Boise, meet new people! Life is good. :)

Can I tell you though, my area is BORDERING my ol' home of Summerset ward and part of Brookhollow.  Like, I could not get any closer to it if I wanted to! I'm driving through my old area daily.  I LOVE IT!!!

Back up a little to last week.  It's always sad to say goodbye to some people that I consider some of my best friends, but it's okay, because I know I'll be back to Idaho to too far in the future! :)  There are some very special people to me in Idaho.  One specifically is Kayla, my investigator in Hazelton.  I feel like if there was one reason I spent 6 weeks in that ward, it was so that I could meet her.  She wrote in my journal the sweetest note!  She said, "Sister Carling, you are absolutely AMAZING. You got me into the Book of Mormon more than anybody has! Thanks to you, I can finally feel the Spirit.  You have taught me so so much in only three visits.  I cannot thank you enough for everything you have brought to my attention...." That was so special!!! I LOVE HER! 

Thursday I made the trek to Boise!! <3  It's still kind of a dream that I'm back here, let alone almost in my old area! It feels like home... :) But I really miss small town Idaho!  I had to readjust my mind to city life though.  The first time I asked someone what they did for work I realized that I'm not in the land of farmers, factory workers, and truck drivers anymore. haha I've always had one of those answers for the last 6 months, now it's back to accountants, computer software people (or Micron), or other city people jobs! haha

My new companion is Sister Marshall from Hawaii! That would make the second companion from Hawaii!  She's actually from Oregon and Florida, but has lived with her family in Hawaii the year before he mission.  She has been out for 5 months and we are working great together!

GUYS.  I ATE DINNER AT JASON GRAY'S PARENTS' HOME.  Like, I tried really hard to keep my cool. haha They are good people! Jason was just here last weekend, darn it! He prolly won't be back very soon.... :/ haha  But yeah... HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK! ;P

The rest of the past few days have been filled with meeting people. There isn't as much work happening here as there was in my last area, but I feel like the Lord has blessed me with knowledge and experience from my previous areas to help the work of Salvation here progress.  That's my favorite kind of work! "Truth. Freedom. Saaaaaal-vation!!!" (*NAME THAT MOVIE*;)

Ponderize: Helaman 10:4-5

(This is where we currently are as a mission for our 100 day Book of Mormon challenge.)

Blessed art thou, [Sister Carling], for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

Now, I know that I am not always a perfect missionary. I'm not always perfectly "unwearying" or full of faith or always perfectly obedient or self-less... But I try to do my best.  I try to be the missionary the Lord wants me to be, and because I am serving a mission, I already feel blessing from the Lord that will bless my life forever!!

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

We made matching planners. :) #Camo4Life

Blue boxes in Hazelton

This is Hazelton.  You can pretty much see the whole thing. haha

Terrible picture, but this is Sister Marshall!

Dutch Bros on transfer day. #Tradition

BROTHER CONANT!!! One of my all time favorite people.

Baby pig.  It stinks bad.

Koby and Kirsten! Some of my best friends!!