A First Prayer

This week was full of some awesome lessons.

 

First off, on Wednesday we went to the temple as a zone! I love being at the temple!  I admire President and Sister Bartlett because they go to every temple session for the every zone in the mission.  That's a lot of temple time!!  I also love being in the Boise temple because I always run into people I know, which definitely makes me feel at home.

 

We found a new investigator, Evelyn! She is an exchange student from Taiwan!! She has only been here a couple weeks (living with a member) but her English is really good.  She said she went to a Christian church at home, but I think their definition of Christian is different because she has a totally different understanding of God.  We had to start from the very very basics. I think this is the first time on my mission teaching someone without some sort of basic Christian background or knowledge.  She is very willing to learn and wants to feel the truth for herself.  After we taught who God and Jesus Christ are, we taught her about prayer and invited her to pray. She told us we need to teach her how, so of course we did.  She was so willing to say a prayer right then!  Let me tell you, it is one of the sweetest things to hear someone pray for the first time.  The Spirit was strong and her heart is ready! She is so cute and it's fun to learn about life in Taiwan!

 

We also taught Tyler, our 18 year-old investigator the Plan of Salvation.  He still needs to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it, but he is understanding and learning!

 

We ate dinner with the Mello's and Kenny...They made homemade ramen! (Rice noodles for me)  I haven't had ramen in over a decade!!!!! Oh, it was so good but I stuffed myself full.

 

This weekend was stake conference and we heard from the Boise Temple President and Matron, President and Sister Belliston as well as our mission president, President and Sister Bartlett.  A recently returned missionary and a soon-to-be missionary bore their testimonies too. I realized then--I mean it really hit me--that there are some amazing people here in Idaho whom I love, but I won't be here forever teaching the gospel with Christ's name on my chest.  I mean, of course I know I'm coming home soon, but it hit me more so then... I've got to do more than I ever have these last few weeks! --ONE month left today!!!! 😱

 

 

Ponderize: 1 Nephi 17:50-51

50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

51 And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?

This week I read this chapter in the Book of Mormon and in the margin I wrote a principle learned from this scripture: "With God, we can do things we've never done before."  Nephi had never built a ship. But he knew that he can do all things that God commands him, as he testifies throughout his whole account.  With God, we can accomplish the impossible!

 

 

From Idaho to you,

 

XoXo

 

Sister Carling

 

 

Our zone at the temple.

 

I forgot to attach this one last week.  Comp study at the park,

practicing #PRINCEofPEACE approaches.

 

Mission prep youth! I love teaching mission prep!

 

Just us.

 

Super bright rainbow yesterday! <3

Encountering Weeping Angels

It's the start of the new transfer--my LAST transfer!! Like, wut.  I can't believe it, but it has been a good start and I'm going to be sure to make it a great finish. :)

Last week I talked about our visit with Dorthy and Harvey Olsen. This week they fed us sloppy joe's for lunch (bought gluten free buns and everything:) and we taught the Plan of Salvation. Again, Harvey can't hardly hear nuthin' so sometimes he'll be 5 minutes behind in the conversation and bring something up that we finished talking about. Or he'll just bring something up that's completely random and has nothing to do with the doctrine we're teaching.  So, we were mostly focusing on Dorthy because she's more receptive anyways.  When we were teaching the Spirit World, Sue--their less-active daughter--bore her testimony and started crying because she knows this is the Plan and this is how Heavenly Father shows his love to us. He is giving us every chance we will take to make it back to Him because He wants us back so bad because He loves us! It was very powerful.  There were other parts in the discussion that Harvey kept arguing about something he thought is in Revelations, but it's actually in Genesis 1:2. He keeps saying the world will be "void and without form" after the Second Coming, but he's got his scriptures mixed up... haha So because of his old man stubbornness there was a time when Sue was speaking very loudly, practically yelling, 1) so he can hear what we're trying to say, and 2) out of frustration. It was quite comical for Sister Marshall and I. haha

When the weather is perfect we can't help but walk around and street contact in the neighborhoods.  We shared #PRINCEofPEACE with everyone we could, including kids walking home from school! We met some cool junior high age boys who had lots of questions about our message.  We've tried to contact them again but they haven't been home.  We're hoping that their parents will agree to us teaching them... I believe that so many more young people would be baptized if their parents didn't put a halt to it. They are so eager to learn and understand truth!!!

We taught Kenny a lesson on Grace.  We used Brad Wilcox's talk "His Grace is Sufficient." If you haven't read it, go read it. Awesome talk.  He gives an analogy about mom paying for piano lessons and in return asking the child to practice.  Practice doesn't repay mom, but to mom it is the way to satisfy the debt.  This is like Christ's gift to us--we can't repay the debt He paid, but in return we can do what He asks: follow Him and keep his commandments.  Anyways, after we read that story Kenny said it would be a lot cooler if it was karate so we should replace piano lessons for karate.  So for the rest of the talk that's what we did.  haha That's how Kenny related to it better, I guess!

We had an awesome lesson with our new investigator, Tyler! He is 18 years old. He has such a tender heart and is very open to the gospel! We invited him to be baptized and he said he'll think about it. Sooo, we committed him to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if the things we taught are true to know if he should be baptized! :)  We are excited to continue to teach him.

Okay, CRAZIEST VISIT OF MY WHOLE MISSION.

It was 8:45 at night and we were trying to figure out who to go see. So we picked a name from our list.  First off, her yard was filled with angel statues....Creeped me out due to Doctor Who episodes. (If you don't know what weeping angels are, that is okay!)  The lady invited us in--she was friendly!-- and we could tell she probably hasn't been active.... ever or in a really really really long time.  She then proceeded to tell us she does healings, holds the priesthood, speaks to spirits on the other side... Weird stuff. Then she was talking about my ora being very bright and she could tell I had been on a mission a long time.  Theeen she apparently summoned her father! Okay, yeah, weird, right? It was strange, but once we got in the car Sister Marshall said to me, "I am totally okay if we never go back there again." Yep!! haha! So weird!!!! Kinda creepy.

IT SNOWED AGAIN. Freakin' again.  Come to find out, in Fruitland, ID there is a little girl who has a terminal illness and won't make it to Christmas, so on Friday, the day it snowed, they were celebrating Christmas.  So the snow in April was actually a Christmas miracle!! I found that out and wasn't so mad about the snow... Almost a white Easter. :)

This Easter was truly wonderful as my testimony of the Resurrected Christ is stronger than it every has been! I have begun to more fully understand the meaning of His resurrection. 

Ponderize: John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

This peace is able to come through the resurrected Christ.  Without that final part of His Atonement, it wouldn't be complete!  The knowledge of what He has already done for us and the blessings that are ahead bring peace!!

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

Our last district picture!

It's Kenny!! (And the Mello's too. :)

 #PRINCEofPEACE to er'ryone!

 Creepy angels.... We'll call them weeping angels.

Could I tell you a blonde joke?

Easter is approaching and I am so happy about it!!  Have y'all watched #PRINCEofPEACE yet?? If not...shame on you. haha Just kidding! But seriously, go watch it right now! And if you have't watched the videos for the Principles of Peace, go watch them right now. Or you could watch it for Family Home Evening. It makes for a great lesson. :) 

 

>>>> Mormon.org <<<<

 

This week we went on exchanges!  I was with Sister Weaver who goes home this week!  We did a lot of walking and street contacting.  We were crossing a street in a neighborhood and a car driving by stops and the guy says, "Hey, I'm the mailman and I couldn't help but notice your blonde hair.  I used to have hair like that.  Could I tell you a blonde joke?" Sure! "Why are most blonde jokes 1-liners?  ...So men can understand them." Me: haha Good one! Could we share something with you?? "Nope, I'm the mailman, I'm working, gotta go!!" *Drives away.* Uuuuuhhh... Okay!!! haha Super random. I guess my blonde hair stands out when walking down the street??? ha  P:

 

We also visited the Olsens on exchanges.  They are what we call "eternigators" or investigators who meet with missionaries for forever.  They LOVE missionaries and the Mormon church. Harvey is 7th Day Adventist and loves his church.  Dorthy, on the other hand, is a little more open and I think she has potential of wanting to be baptized!  Anywho, they are in their mid-80s. Pretty old, and Harvey is pretty deaf.  He's always saying, "What?"  We showed them the #PRINCEofPEACE video, which thankfully has music playing with words showing, so Harvey has no problem not hearing the message. haha  After each phrase of words shown he would read it then agree by saying, "Yep." "Yep."  It was so funny.  He thinks the Mormon religion is the closest thing to the 7 Day Adventists. He says "The only difference between the 7 Day Adventist church and the Mormon church is 1) You eat pork and 2) The Sabbath day."  Iiiii'm pretty sure there's a bit more.... haha

 

Update on our investigator, Maddie.  Last week I had said we set a baptismal date, but this week Satan is working hard on stopping her.  First, her mom told her she has two wait 6 months before making that decision.  Then, her mom told her she's bringing Maddie with her to move to Vegas THIS WEEK, not even letting her finish the school year here.... UGH!!!!!!  Maddie is so ready and wants the gospel--NEEDS the gospel-- and the Holy Ghost in her life right now.  We're praying that everything will work out, and her mom's heart will soften.

 

Ponderize: Isaiah 5:20

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

 

We also had our zone training this week.  We talked a lot about paradigms...Satan uses paradigm shifts, or changes peoples' way of thinking, to make good appear bad and vice versa. That is exactly what this scripture is saying. It's a paradigm shift!!! Dumb Satan.  I don't like him. He is way too good at what he does.... But it's okay, because GOD IS BETTER!! Jesus Christ has already conquered all!!! And that's why we celebrate Easter. :)  

 

Oh, another random comment. I can't remember where I heard it (maybe our mission president) but someone recently said, "We celebrate Easter every week by taking the sacrament." How true!!! Next Sunday's worship is no different than any other Sunday worship because we are remembering the same thing that Jesus did for us.  He LIVED, DIED, and LIVED again so we can all live again.  How great of PEACE that brings! Because of this, Jesus Christ is the #PRINCEofPEACE.

 

 

From Idaho to you,

 

XoXo

 

Sister Carling

 

 

 Exchanges with Sister Weaver

 

 

 Elder Burns, Elder Jensen, Elder Tower, Elder Abney, 

and Sister Marshall and I after zone training.

 

 

 We're trying to be cute.

 

 

I put on this tag 16 months ago yesterday! <3

 

I'm Dreaming of a White Easter...

This week I have really been improving my skills on talking to everyone--not letting a person pass by without sharing Jesus Christ's restored gospel with them.  I have felt much growth in myself. 

I've been learning a lot from our zone leader, Elder Burns.  He was a convert at age 16 from Boston, MA. He really has the drive to talk to literally every single person about the gospel.  He truly wants salvation for every human, so he doesn't pass the opportunity to share it with them, and he does it out of love.  We were eating lunch as a district and he was devising a plan for us to share the gospel with out waitress.  He likes to satire laziness--for lack of a better word--in not giving people an opportunity to hear it.  For example, after making this plan he said something like, "It's okay if we don't talk to her about the gospel.  She seems really busy and we don't want to be rude.  We'll just be examples and it will probably touch her." Ha!  After that, it makes ya feel guilty for not saying something, right?!

Then he said something like, "Don't you hate when members say 'We'll just be a good example.'? Being an example isn't good enough.  If that's all Christ did, then he would be a mute, walking around waving to people.  That's not why or how people flocked to him and followed him." We need to open our mouth! 1 Timothy 4:12 says: "be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." WORD and CONVERSATION! Not just in your behavior!

He made a strong point and I loved it!  It has changed the way I am as a missionary!

So this week, #PRINCEofPEACE is officially on full throttle and we're sharing it with everyone! EVERYONE, just like how Elder Burns has taught be.

I feel it's appropriate to say, "The field is white already to harvest" because 1) People will feel the Spirit of the #PRINCEofPEACE this Easter, and will be ready to learn more. 2) IT SNOWED. I'mma be honest, I was kinda mad. I was like, WAT. WHY. The weather was almost to perfection!  Whatever.  It went away quick, but it sure was a surprise!  Sister Marshall sang, "I'm dreaming of a white Easter....Just like the ones I never knew." Haha! That's right.

Speaking of harvesting, our 15 year-old investigator, Maddie started the lessons again and wants to be baptized! We have a tentative date for April 15th! She's ready and it's because her friend Amanda opened her mouth and invited Maddie to learn more.

Conference was AWESOME, right?!  Powerful messages to apply.  I love watching General Conference as a missionary!

Ponderize:  Ether 12:27

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.

We met with a less-active lady who has gone through many trials in her life.  She said, "I know people say 'God won't give you anything you can't handle,' but sometimes I don't want to go through it."  After sharing Ether 12:27, I realized the phrase should be, "God won't give you anything you can't handle without Him. He will make us strong through the grace of Jesus Christ!

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

Random selfie because we hadn't taken any pictures yet. haha

Brother Gray (Jason Gray's dad!) taught us how to make perfect gravy! I love Delmar!! (Doesn't he look like an older Jason?) The Grays are so cute.

These are my "I DON'T LIKE THAT IT'S SNOWING" faces.