The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up!

What a week! Idaho is flooding!  Rewind before that happened....

Last Tuesday we went on exchanges.  I was with Sister Merrell, from Snowflake, AZ! Go AZ! :)  Her and I had lots of fun.  We made some connections to people that we both know. Small world. :) #Mormons  That morning, we woke up to more snow!!  Remember last Monday when it was a "heat wave"? Yeah, well most of the snow melted, and it was completely a surprise to wake up to everything being white again!  When Sister Merrell and I tried to go out for the day... (in their 2 wheel-drive Chevy Cruize) and FAILED! haha There was too much snow and ice, the car wasn't moving.  We tried for an hour to push it out, but still failed.  Finally, when we gave up and were about to go inside, a member drove by and pushed us out. :) Yay!

On Wednesday we had district meeting.  I gave a 20 minute training on "Preparing Investigators for Baptism and Confirmation."  I started off by having our district leader do 100 push ups... He only made it to 57 then gave up.  I had another elder to it too, but he only made it to like, 12. haha  After this, I tied it in to preparing to do anything physically challenging, specifically running a marathon or an Iron Man.  Just like preparing to do that, we need to help investigators prepare to make the covenants made at baptism, otherwise it's going to be a lot harder for them, just like it would be harder to run a marathon if one was not properly prepared. 

Okay, so the rest of the week............................

THE FLOOD!!!!!

We started seeing the effects of the flood on Wednesday.  The water was rushing over the roads, flooding into people's basements, causing roads to collapse... CRAZY STUFF!  Wednesday night we went over the President Tateoka's house (currently serving as the mission president in Salem, Oregon) because the youth and many members of the ward were helping clean up.  His house got the worst hit.  The whole basement filled with water TO THE TOP. 8 FEET FULL OF WATER.  How sad! :(  They had to throw everything away and completely gut it out.  They were also hauling out buckets of mud.  Attached is a picture.

The next 2 days we went around offering service to people whose houses were flooded, but most people had it taken care of.  This has never happened here, so people weren't prepared... But man! It's been crazy!

Although this flooding has been happening, we have still seen success! We found 4 new investigators this week, and I am really excited to teach these people. I kinda just wanna stay here forever! haha

Yesterday, our afternoon ward was CANCELLED! Never in my life have I had church cancelled and this is the second time this year. haha  This was due to the country roads out north being so bad, it would be hard for people to make it to church... 

Ponderize: 2 Nephi 2:25

Men are, that they might have joy.

Yesterday at church (the ward that wasn't cancelled) all of the topics throughout the day focused on having JOY! Interesting, as everyone's houses are flooding...  It's so cool to see people come together in service and happy attitudes.  I've never experienced a "natural disaster" before, but I can say...Saints know how to do it right--JOYFULLY!  Even though it was a focus during church, I feel like it's been one of those topics or principles that I am learning to live right now.  When life is tough...it's okay.  Push along.  I also had the opportunity to ponder the blessings of living the Plan of Salvation to help my mom with her talk she gave yesterday... I came to the conclusion that the greatest blessing is JOY!  I have felt so much joy as I live it and as I see others start to live it. Yay for happiness!! :D

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

Holding a baby goat last Preparation day! IT'S SO CUTE!  (This picture is very candid.)

 

Our stuck car.  I love Sister Merrell!

 

See the broken road in the background? We saw a lot of "Closed Road" signs due to the water damage.   None of that water is supposed to be there.

 

This is President Tateoka's basement and us at work! :)

 

 This is the Paul highway....Yes, the highway. 

 

We were clearing the road from icebergs (okay, really just chunks of ice).

 

This is a dirt road we were going to drive down...

Nope, not happening! It is now the Mud Canyon.

Car selfie.  I BOUGHT CAMOUFLAGE SUNGLASSES! :D #HappySisterCarling 

It's a Heat Wave!!

Guys! It's like 47 degrees right now!! I can hardly believe it.  It feels so nice.  

 

Sister Fitt and I are having adventures everyday.  We are good at having fun while doing the work.  This week we got lost multiple times, as we've been trying to figure out our new area.

 

On Wednesday we went out to Hazelton and found 2 new investigators! #MIRACLES!  One is a 9 year old boy, Carson, whose mom is a member but has been less active her whole marriage.  The other is the wife of a member who was less-active for a long time but in the last year has been active.  She's tried meeting with missionaries before and her husband has wanted her to progress in the gospel but she didn't feel ready... NOW she feels ready! Wahoo!  We are very excited to work with this family.  I can tell that we are going to find a lot of work out in Hazelton because they haven't had good missionaries working out there for a while. 

 

While we were out there, we also had dinner at the Mortensen's.  Fun family!  After laughing a lot, we headed out.  I tried to turn around in their backyard--which was covered in snow but for all I knew it was a driveway--and got STUCK.  Major stuck... It took about 15 or so minutes to get out, but all of us strong women that were there pushed us out! Well, I wasn't pushing, I was having fun in the driver's seat shaking the wheel and pushing the gas peddle while everyone else was pushing. haha  

 

On Friday we drove around a lot getting to know the new ward area and trying to visit less-active people.  At one house in particular I got out of the car and closed the door just in time to realize that I left the keys in the car...the LOCKED car.  It was 32 degrees outside! Yay.  (Sister Fitt and I just laugh the whole time.  We never complain when any of these things happen.  We are very happy people.:)  We waited an hour for our extra set of keys to come from Twin Falls.  Thankfully, we called Sister Mortensen to come let us sit in her warm car for a while so we didn't freeze our toes off for too long.

 

We "found" another "investigator" in Emerson 1st ward! Cody. We've been going over to their house (he lives with his grandma) since I've been in the area and we tried to get his records transferred over.... No one could find his records.  We called Salt Lake to confirm that his records are lost.  This means we get to teach and baptize him! He's so excited to get re-baptized. haha  We set a baptismal date for February 25th. :)

 

To end the exciting adventures for the week, last night we were looking for a house that the ward wants us to visit. We drove and drove and because out there the coordinates changed because it's on a county line, so we just got LOST. Again. For like the 5th time this week. (The funnest adventures happen when we are lost. haha)  We decided to knock on the door of a realllly big, fancy house that was out there in the middle of no where to ask for help.  I prayed that they would be nice, possibly Mormon, and would let me use their potty. ha  The prayer was answered! :D haha Except, it wasn't no one in our ward!  It happened to be the Bishop of a ward in a completely different stake!!! I hadn't even heard of this stake before. Anywho, they were very friendly, I used their potty, and they helped us find the house we were looking for.  When we found it, the guy told us he doesn't speak English.  Great visit... ha  That was a lot of miles just for that.

 

Ponderize: Alma 26:16

Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

 

I really think the scripture says it all... Also, I'm out of time to do anymore expounding... Sorry! :P  Praise the Lord!!

 

From Idaho to you,

 

XoXo

 

Sister Carling

 

Hazelton.  This is supposed to be a picture of the 

population more than it is the speed limit. haha

 

We ran into some cows whilst we were lost on them country roads...

 

This made my whole week. haha  Some members bought us these Sister Missionary figures and another bought us the tractor because we were joking about taking pictures with one because that's how our life is as missionaries in Idaho! haha

Driving in Wide Open Spaces...

This week felt like it was full of improvement and progression--not in any big way, but in increments. As I mentioned last week, we are white washing 2 wards, so much of our time was spent meeting with ward leaders.  The Hazelton ward hasn't had missionaries designated over their ward for a while, so it's exciting how excited they are to help us out!  Because both of these wards are mostly "wide open spaces..." 🎵 there is lots of driving.  Last Monday we got a TON more snow.  Out here, the roads in the country take a longer time for the plow to clear them--our whole area is country, so by Tuesday afternoon, we were able to get out there and try to visit people.  It's so pretty to see fields of perfect snow for miles.

On Thursday we had Zone Conference where we watched the world-wide missionary broadcast where we had the opportunity to hear from the missionary council which included Elder Oaks, Elder Bednar, Elder Anderson, Sister Oscarson and 2 other General Authorities.  They are so inspired! The daily schedule for missionaries all over the world has been changed! Also, the key indicators that we report are different.  I think the changes are very inspired, and I love them.

Oh! I got to see Hermana Amberlee Cox from Heritage! So fun! :)

This weekend we got to see miracles and were told a couple of times that we were an answer to prayers.  Those are cool moments.  We visited the Tibbets family whose daughter, Kolbee, just got back from her mission! She is so so sweet and you can tell how much her mission means to her.  She is going to be a big blessing in helping her family make it to the temple.  She was able to go out with us on Saturday to see some people!

Yesterday we had a lesson with a family in one of our new wards whose kids are taking the lessons and want to be baptized.  They are way cute and I am excited to work with them more.  One of the daughters even reminds me of my best friend, Mary!! It's cool. :)

Ponderize: D&C 43:15-16

Again I say, hearken ye elders [and isters] of my church, whom I have appointed: Ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit; And ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken.

Our district made this scripture our motto.  "Sanctify yourselves!"  I can definitely feel a difference in the way the work goes when I really focus on being a more worthy servant to have the Spirit with me.  He directs the work!  The work is really awesome too.  Life as a missionary is great. :)

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

 Car selfie! 

Last P-day we fed some cows while it was snowing, blowing in our face!

 

Random pipes on the side of the road.

Hermana Cox!

Hazelton! <3 

 There are some big icicles here!

Goodbyes and Hellos!

Hello er'ryone!

Last week we got transfer calls and I said we found out that we're staying! Well....psych! Kinda... On Thursday we found out that we would be losing they Heyburn ward and the YSA branch.  I was first surprised and shocked but after a moment, started crying.  Last week I expressed how I love the people here.  I have built many friendships.  But one thing I have learned is that one of the only things constant in life is change.  It needs to happen, and although it may be sad or hard good things always come and growth comes with it, too.

We also found out that we will be gaining 2 new wards--Emerson 2nd and Hazelton.  We got to keep Emerson 1st. Yay!  Both of these wards have HUGE boundaries--more farm land, empty space and tiny towns! :)  So this leaves us with adventures to come!  I have never whitewashed an area, but I'm excited to take on this challenge/adventure.

Now let's back-track to last week before this all happened.

Last P-day we went ice-skating on someone's backyard.  Yes, it was cold outside!  Then we got to feed baby cows! It felt so good to put on my jeans and boots.  I feel like it's been forever since I've done that.

Fun fact update on weird Idaho weather: This week we had freezing rain.  It was strange.  It comes down as water but when it hits the ground/car/road/whatever it freezes--so there is ice er'rywhere! Weird!! But cool. :)

We met with Jackie and Brittnie--taught them about temples and family history.  Brittnie will be going to the temple to do baptisms for the dead this week! That was our last lesson with them because they are in Heyburn... :(

We said goodbye to lots of people.  One of the most special, satisfying feelings of my mission is when someone tells me that I have made a difference in their life.   could say the same things about them. <3

To end the week with a final hoorah in Heyburn, Jaycee was baptized!!  She is probably the cutest 9 year old in the world.  Her smile is adorable. She just glows.  I spoke on baptism using the "3 Bears" or covenants we make (taken from my Aunt Beth Carling's talk given at my cousin, Macy's baptism a few years ago:)  It really was the best way to end the week and our time in the Heyburn ward.

Ponderize: 2 Nephi 25:23

For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

I know I've done this one before.  A new Mormon message came out called, "Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet" by Elder Holland.  Go watch it!! Christ is always there for us no. matter. what. We just have to leap to Him!!

From Idaho to you,

XoXo

Sister Carling

PS.  DID YOU KNOW LUCKY CHARMS IS NOW GLUTEN FREE?!!!!!!! :D

Ice Skating!

 Baby cowwww.

 Mooooo.

 The Ashby Family! <3

Our new zone!

Jaycee at her baptism!!!!!

I love this adorable little girl! <3