We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Well isn't this a pleasant surprise, an email on a Wednesday from Sister Carter. Now I know it was unexpected but I'm glad I'm still full of surprises in my mission. The short version of it all is that my Mission President encouraged us to reach out to our friends and family today, Christmas Day, and share our testimony of Jesus Christ, which means my weekly email will be sent today.

SO

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

This week was a difficult week for me, but full of amazing moments. The most touching was that I had an opportunity to sing in church. My companion and I had a special duet and we sang in front of everyone. I was shaking the entire time but by the end I looked across the congregation and saw many eyes filled with tears. So many people stopped us and talked about how touching it was. I know that in that moment, God made up the difference in my lack of musical skill and amplified it by a million. It's incredible how that works sometimes. Now I'm not saying I dont have musical talent but I learned that this week, as long as we are willing to share the little light be have, God can take that little light, and light a thousand candles.

Later in the week I lost my water bottle. Now those of you from my mission know that I have been attached to my water bottle for centuries, but those of you from home will realize that this was a recent development, either way you now both know that I TREASURE my water bottle. So when it was gone, I was devastated. I left it with a member and when I went to go get it, she couldn't find it... it was a long 3 weeks. Now this is important for later but I'm going to switch gears and hopefully it all makes sense in the end.

Also the next day I completely ran out of peanut butter which I put on my bananas every morning for breakfast. I had, almost jokingly, but admittedly really honestly, asked Heavenly Father to somehow make a way for me to get a jar of Peanut Butter that day. Now bear with me this will all connect, I promise.

So I went about my day, with and empty peanut butter jar, and no water bottle, knowing that the Lord would provide if it was part if the plan. Well as dinner approaches, I had my lack of water bottle heavily on my mind, and my hopes of peanut butter in my heart. I walked into a dinner appointment with a family in the ward. Half way through the topic of water bottle came up. I relayed my story of my lost water bottle to them and immediately they wanted to help. So the gave my an incredible black, tall, 40 oz water bottle, which in all honesty was better than me original water bottle. I was so grateful, like BEYOND grateful. I cried..... just a little, and really only when I was home. I immediately filled my new bottle up and I was content with my entire life. THEN later that night there was a knock at the door and a man delivered a package from Twin Falls Idaho, and you will never guess what my mom had sent up, another Water bottle. So to recap in a matter of 24 hours, I have received 2 water bottles. I know that this seems silly but to me, I knew that God was watching out for me in the small things that matter. He saw the quiet need I had and filled it. Then He provided a way for me to get my original water bottle back the next day. He was taking care of me.

I think that's sometimes how God works though. He takes away something we love because He has something better planned for us. Take me for example. I am on a mission which means He has taken away a lot of the things I love. He took away my music. He took away my movies, TV, Youtube and all that good stuff. He took me away from my family. He took away my solitude. He took away everything that made me... me. And He took it away because He has something better planned for me. He's waiting to give me a 40oz water bottle to replace my dented 32oz. Eventually He will give me all the old stuff, that 32 oz bottle, back again, I'll get my music, I'll get my Movies, I'll get my alone time. But after all of it, I'll still get both. I'll get the new me, the old me, and maybe a little piece of me my mom wants me to be too. I just have to wait for it, because it will come.

Now you might all be wondering, but what about the peanut butter? Well, to recap, I started off the day asking for a new jar of Peanut Butter, and instead I got a water bottle. God didnt just give me what I wanted simply because I asked for it, He gave me what I really truly needed. He knew me soo perfectly that instead of just respecting and granting my request. He knew what I wanted but couldnt ask for, without me having to mutter a single word.

So that's my testimony of Jesus Christ, and ultimately the testimony of my Heavenly Father. I've been struggling. Ive missed home, I miss my freedom, and I miss who I used to be, more than anything, but it's time now to trust that I will get the old me back, but God wants to give me a new me to work with as well, so He has to take the old stuff away for another 11 months until I get what I really wanted, even if I didn't ask for it. God will take care of me. He will take care of you. No matter how many dents, bumps, or bruises you might think you have, He will heal. He gave His literal Son, Jesus Christ, so that you could be saved. That you could become a new person. So that you could get your water bottle, even though you asked for a jar of peanut butter.

I will be eternally grateful for the sacrifice that Jesus made for me thousands of years ago. To quote President Hinkley, "There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection."

Christmas is more than just celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, while it certainly is that, Christmas is celebrating the beginning of OUR beginning. Jesus Christ saved us from ourselves and made the end of our life the "beginning" of our eternal life.

He lived, suffered and died for me, on a very personal basis. He knew that around my 8 month mark in my mission I will feel so discouraged, sad, and distraught about my 10 month future ahead so He provide a way for me to learn through Peanut Butter and Water bottles because He also knew I was too closed hearted to get that answer any other way.

He did all of those things for me, but He also did them for you. He might not speak to you through quite so unique circumstances, but He will provide you with those ways to learn, even if you seem to be unteachable, love, even if you seem full of so much hate, and live, even if you are in the gall of bitterness because He is the best teacher, friend, and Savior this world will ever comprehend. He is my Brother, and loves me more than I can comprehend. Not only because He is my brother, but because He has taken upon Himself my life, so He could know how to walk with me and I endure it.

I cannot express the relief that comes through Christ. It's more than just a good day. It's an incredible eternity.8z

I leave learned more this week than other previous weeks, that we need to Remember God is in the details.

Sister Carter

Sing Sing Sing

Good day, good morning and goodnight all my faithful weekly email readers!! I'm so glad you tuned in to my once a week broadcast to those in the Sister Carter general area! Now I know you all were thinking, at this point Sister Carter has been in Casper Wyoming for a long time, isn't it about time for her to hit the road and peace out to a new and exciting adventure that awaits her in other areas in the mission. Well you are in absolute luck because *drumroll* I'M STAYING IN CASPER

Yes yes you heard that right, Sister Carter will be spending all of her mission in Casper Wyoming. I'm a legend if I've ever heard one. But with that said... spending half of my mission in the best ward in the Mission isn't too bad.  We will celebrate this momentous occasion with Christmas and candy canes, everyone enjoy.

But other than that, my week has been pretty relaxed. I had exchanges with the one and only Sister Lloyd. Let me just tell you... it was epic. We spent a lot of the time just laughing and making all sorts of jokes about our less than exciting life, all while teaching people the gospel. I got to share experiences about how I came to know why I needed to be on a mission and why I stay out on my mission. I also started to realize how much I could learn from people who have been out longer than I have. I need to soak up as much information from them as possible because before I know it I will be one of the people who have been out the longest and I'm already stressed.

Also here's the funniest story of the week. So it was a casual Thursday afternoon when Sister Morford and I were outside of the church building poaching their wifi so we could do some missionary work. While we were outside Sister Morford starts coughing. At first, I thought absolutely nothing of it. Then all of a sudden I hear a strange noise echo out of her throat. I then lean towards her and what do I see. She lifts her head to look up at me and she says, "I just threw up" in horror I ask, "did you get it in the car?" She just giggles to herself and says, "Nope! Just in my sleeve" then with a concern in her voice says, "So I'm going to have to go inside" I immediately just die laughing because it's just the funniest situation I've ever encountered in my entire life. So we walked inside and I let her go clean off her coat because I don't think I can handle throw up.... it's just not my vibe.

Christmas is coming right around the corner and your girl is singing a musical number in Sacrament meeting.... yea... for all of you that are friends with me on Facebook you know I just posted a signing video. Well a little background, just a few days before that someone made fun of me for posting on Facebook for light the world... so I was already terrified of posting it because well... if one person was making fun of me, what's to stop more people from doing the same right? Plus I'm the most vulnerable when singing because I have just an average voice and I know so many other people who are incredible!! But despite my best judgment, and my constant second guessing... I posted it anyway. I overcame my fear, at least a little and now... I'm singing in Church... a lot is to be said about doing what you fear most.

Anyway I hope you all are enjoying Light the World and soon Christmas!! Thank you all for being in my life and I can't believe I was blessed with so many amazing friends and family!!

Remember God is in the Details!!
Sister Carter

Also... sorry there's only one picture, if you want more just go stalk my Facebook!

Favorite Things

Hello everyone this has been jammed packed with some of my "favorite things". See my pictures to take part in the inside joke I just made. If you get it... you get it ;)

This week I had the best day of every transfer.... Zone Conference. Now for all of you that are just casual readers of the Sister Carter, you probably don't know that I am a super extrovert... and by extrovert I mean I'm an EXTROVERT. The more people the more energy I gain... so if you can imagine me in a crowd of 35 missionaries.... I THRIVE. And it was the Christmas Zone Conference so there were presents which means gift exchange which means.... I got the best gift out of everyone.... a superman robe... and if you were wondering... yes I did wear it the entire time... and yes.... everyone thought I was the coolest... 

Also at Zone Conference I gave the best gift and it went WAY under-appreciated but it's fine I understand Elders don't care as much as Sisters. 

I also had an incredible experience this week with the Bishop and his wife where we sat down and tried to play a video from light the world and after several seconds of the video I realized it was the wrong one but I let the video play out. By the end the Spirit was so strong and I knew this was the video we were supposed to show. We started talking about how light the world is something we can do in order to become and do as Christ did. Christ isn't here physically to help all of these people so we are His hands. He needs us to be there because He can't. It was powerful to see them realize that all these small things we do everyday, werent so small to Christ. He love these people the Light the World is the best way for us to help the people He loves. So remember, these dumb daily tasks are more than just dumb silly tasks, they are everything.

I love you all sorry this is a shorter email, but I have LOTS of pictures!! 

Keep Christ in your heart because He always keeps you in His :)

God is in the details!!

Sister Carter 

I Won't Say I'm in Love

So my dudes, it's been another miraculous week in the Tundra of Casper and I'm ready to dive on in and tell you about it, but before I do... everyone go right now and do the light the world activity for the day, if you can't donate blood, like me because someone somewhere thought it "wasn't a good idea" for missionaries to donate blood (don't worry I'm sad about it too), do something else just as creative! Maybe write someone aka your significant other a love letter, or donate clothes instead of blood, lots of ideas! Just GO light the world and stuff!!

SO this week was jammed packed with all sorts of goodies. Thanksgiving happened!! Honestly I will not lie to any of you, I think I had the best Thanksgiving in the world. It started off with the Sisters in Casper getting together to play and old fashioned game of football... senior companions versus junior companions. After a few good plays the Senior Comps, which we called ourselves the President, pulled out a W. What can I say, we are SeCos for a reason  don't worry it was all in good fun. We hardly knew the rules and instead of a Field Goal we just decided to shoot a free throw with my all time favorite Pink and Purple basket ball my dad sent me... it was a legendary game full of torn shoes and epic touchdown dances. 

After I won the football game for everyone we did the dreaded weekly planning before heading out to Lunch/Dinner with one of my favorite members homes. They made THE BEST stuffing in the entire world AND I even ate the pumpkin pie! (For those of you who don't know, I'm not a big pie person unless there is chocolate and caramel involved, but on Thanksgiving I make and exception) we even got to contact some nonmembers who were at the dinner and they said they were going to come to church either this coming Sunday or the next!! Shoot, it was a good moment. 

THEN comes my literal dream come true. We got to go to the Allen's house to watch a Disney movie. Yes yes, you heard that right, I, Sister Carter, watch a movie. It was all approved though, so don't go thinking I'm apostate! So we show up at their house, and they said they were out of town but they would leave the house open for us to watch the movie and they would tell their house sitter, their nephew, to leave for the day so we could watch it. Well we show up at their house and they had left a FULL SPREAD of stuff for us, including and not limited to, Martinellis, Ice Cream, Oreos, Popcorn, Waters, AND *DRUMROLL* these massive blanket hoodies. You might be asking yourself right about now what in the world a blanket hoodie is, well let me let you in on the secret. We have all heard of snuggies if you haven't, Google it or something. Well image a Sherpa Blanket inside of a hoodie.... just imagine it... if your aren't crying tears of joy yet, think harder. 

Backstory

About 2 months ago I screenshotted this picture of a girl in a giant blanket hoodie because I was determined to buy myself one when I got home from my mission but, for obvious reasons, I am not home yet so I was just patiently waiting for the day in November 2020 when I could get myself a Blanket Hoodie

End Backstory

Fast forward 2 months and BOOM the Allen's bought one for me without even knowing I had been wanting one for 2 months. It was truly a testimony to me that God works in mysterious ways. I'm currently lounging around in it and.... it's just the best thing in my entire life. I am so so SO appreciative of everything they gave us, just to make sure we had a great Thanksgiving.

Then we watched the movie.... it was incredible, I never knew how much I missed movies until I watch one and CRAVED watching another. It's alright though there will always be movies, but I won't always get to wear a missionary name tag.

Then just as we were packing up to leave the Allen's nephew pulled up, which was awkward in and of itself because well it just was. So he helped us carry our stuff to the car, remember I'm still wearing the Blanket Hoodie I affectionately named Jordon, and just as he was closing the door he said, and I quote, "Okay, bye, drive safe, love you" and that accidental phrase said by a 27 year old guy, was as close to a relationship as I get for the next year, my friends. 

We also had a Zone meeting this week where they said Elders and Sisters are now allowed to hang out every P-Day... which means.... I CAN ACTUALLY HAVE FRIENDS!! It's been a weird 6 months full of boring Tuesdays without any people because our distrust is all Elders and apparently the thought was that if we socialized with the opposite gender in missionary form we would fall in love with each other but now they trust us to not be stupid and we can see other people on P-days! It was a terrific moment in the history of the Colorado, Fort Collins mission. 

I also got to decorate for Christmas and I'm not going to lie... it's adorable and I'm obsessed with the decorations my mom sent me, Thanks mom!!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Turkey Day but now I hope everyone is starting to light the world with the light of Christ through the daily prompts I'm putting on Facebook! Sorry if you get sick of my cute face but hopefully you will just enjoy the view while you have it and do what you can to help those around you!! 

Love love LOVE you all!!

Remember God is in the Details!

Love Sister Carter

Let it Snow

Hello Peeps, this is your friendly neighborhood missionary bringing you another episode of "What's up with Sister Carter!"

I used my super powers today to bring in a large snow storm that allowed us to stay in our apartment and lounge around all day....I mean, study the scriptures all day. Activities for the day today include, watch the snow fall, measure the snow accumulation, eat some healthy food, watch more snow fall, shovel people's walks, take a nap, eat snow, make a snow man, help people make snow men, make a snow missionary, make a snow sister missionary man, don't worry though the Elder and the Sister Missionary snow men will be 30 feet away from each other featuring the Colorado Fort Collins rules about Elders and Sisters. So, overall our day will be a whole lot of measuring, sleeping, and walking. 

Our week has been dotted with lots of success, and mini miracles. The man the myth, the legend, Roady, spoke in Stake Conference on Sunday and then got the Melchizedek priesthood!! He did so so so well even though we knew he was absolutely terrified. It was easily the best moment of the week. After he was ordained he said, "Since I'm an Elder now, I think I need a name tag." So, if anyone has an in with the people who make the missionary tags, I have a request, PM me for more details. 

Stake Conference was legendary. They literally spent the entire conference talking about missionary work. That's it. I was crying tears of joy by the end. They spent half of the time chastising the members for not doing enough and the other half telling them they should be doing more. It was a day to be reckoned with. A direct quote from someone I forgot the name of said, "There is a trend happening where there are going to be more members in Africa than in the United States because the members in Africa are doing more missionary work than the members in the United States. There is absolutely no reason for that." I swear I almost stood up and gave that man a hug. Although if I did that I'm pretty sure there would be a collective gasp from all the other missionaries, worth it?

Yesterday I spent 3 hours outside running carts around trying to get the secret high score of collecting carts in Wyoming. All I had to do was walk with people to their car, make lots and lots of small talk, unload their food they got from the community to help them feed their family on Thanksgiving, and then run them back to the front entrance all before time ran out. Let's just say I'm pretty sure my pants were frozen for 4 hours straight, but don't worry about my upper body though, I wore my Grandpa's coat which meant I was protected from the cold every place it touched because, as my Grandma and Grandpa told me in their email this week, whenever I wear it it's like Grandpa wraps his arms around me the whole time. He must be pretty worn out because I was running pretty fast. Check out the pic below to see my snow coated hat, it was a nice touch, Thank you Mother Nature!

Earlier this week we had a mini adventure down to Cheyanne for trainers meeting. Whole there I was treated like the princess I am when we got to stay with some members. No joke we arrived and they had a whole speed of Ice cream laid out for us and popcorn. They honestly treated us so well and I was so grateful that I wasn't sleeping on the floor of a dingy missionary apartment in Cheyanne. It was like we got to stay in a hotel and I was loving it. Then at trainers meeting I got to have my interview with President where I told him how much I really wanted to stay in Casper for Christmas and *fingers crossed* he will listen to my constant pleading! 

We then got Chick Fil A..... heaven I'm telling you

After eating Chick Fil A we started driving back to Casper which us typically at 2.5 hour drive but ended up take 4.5 hours instead because we decided to leave in the middle of a storm. I know the Lord was protecting us for sure because we saw 4 different accidents along the way, but I never once felt uneasy about driving it.

Spiritual Thought:  God is in the details.  What are the details?  My dad encouraging his perfect, favorite, gorgeous, smiley, angelic daughter on a mission to write an email to the masses even though she doesn't feel like it.  Even giving her a funny start to her letter and maybe even writing a good chunk of the whole thing. (Not a big deal but I'm pretty sure I have the best dad in the whole world.)

Love you all!

God IS in the details

Sister Carter

Beauty and the Beast

Well yet another week has past in the land of Sister Carter... weird I know but don't worry it will only last for about 60-80 more years.

To start everything off, I got my new missionary on Wednesday!! Her name is Sister Morford!!! *everyone say Hi Sister Morford* She's from Genola Utah (30 minutes south of Provo) and she's the sweetest little thing I've ever met. Also her family breeds Pomskies and Huskies so she LITERALLY has 73 dogs... we were destined to be companions. She even said that when I get back from my mission I could work for her dad who runs a SLED DOG COMPANY, my dreams are coming true. I'm already tearing up!

This week we also got in contact with a lot of people who hadn't been reaching out to us for a while. It was insanely cool because most of it happened only a day or so after Sister Morford got here so I think God needed her to be able to be here to touch their hearts in a unique way, only time will tell though! We saw one of them today and she was able to connect with her in a way I won't able to because they had very similar situations and she spoke to her heart with much more ease because of that. So I'm sure that's part of the reason as well.

This week I also spent a morning with a member in our ward and helped with their basement and while we were there he had me try on his MASSIVE buffalo coat and it's honestly my favorite thing in the entire world, no joke it touched the floor when I wore it and it was a dream come true. I was LITERALLY encased in a massive animal fur, it was incredible. I'll include a picture just so you all can bask in its glory with me too.

I have been showing a lot of members during dinner messages this video called "He Lives", if you haven't watched it, I would recommend you watch it right now and then come back and finish my email.... I'll wait no worries 

*pause for those watching the video*
https://youtu.be/BZqTRSVA1YA
*2 minutes and 27 seconds later*

Welcome back, if you were touched by that video, you are not alone. I watched that video for the first time a few weeks ago and I was caught of guard by how absolutely incredible it is. I started to think about all my own "Because He lives" and I'd like to share them with you guys too. Because He lives, I am on a mission. Because He lives I get to live. Because He lives, my Dad lives. Because He lives, I can focus on the light in the world instead of the dark. Because He lives I can find relief when relief seems impossible. And most importantly because He lives, I get to live, forever, with my family who I love more than anything else in the world. Christ had the option to die instead of take upon Him the sins of the world but He didn't. He choose to live, so in return, I need to choose to live too. He is everything to me, but I'm starting to realize that I am also everything to Him, which is why He decided to feel every pain in my life, because He knew He couldn't lose His everything either. I am privileged to get to walk with Him every day as He tells me His love for me and you and I hope you all can learn to walk with Him too, it's much brighter with the Son next to you.

I will close with a 10 word spiritual thought I gave to a 14 year old who had to run to Basketball practice and his Dad wanted us to give him a spiritual message only using 10 words before he left. So this is what I said, and I quote, "Remember God Loves You and Less Wifi, More Nephi, Amen"

I love you all!!
Always remember, God is in the Details!!
Sister Carter

Never Grow Up

First of all, I know you all are sitting on the edge of your seats to see where I'm going to be transferred... well you'll have to wait a while because I'm staying in Good Ole Capser for another transfer AND I'm training another new missionary!! Its crazy, I will be here in Casper for 7 and 1/2 months and hopefully, if my dream comes true, I will staying the transfer following so I can be with the people I love so much here in Casper. If not, it will be the hardest goodbye of a lifetime I think.

I also had to say a hard goodbye to Sister Johnson on Sunday. She had become one of my very best friends and having to tell her goodbye and not be able to see her for an entire year is hard. One thing they don't tell you in the MTC is that you will make some of your closest friends and then you won't be able to really even see them until you complete your mission, and in the case of Sister Johnson, there is REALLY no chance of seeing her in the mission until I'm released in 2020...it's hard but I know she will do amazing.

After I said my hard goodbyes to Sister Johnson I went with 8th ward to spend the next few days without her. While I was with them we had a chapel tour with someone they are teaching. During the chapel tour I felt so close to her and at the end during the review of the tour I shared a powerful message about how Christ has felt every single thing that we have felt, from the pain of Labor, all the way to the gas chambers during WW2. I talked about how I'm not sure how He did it, I don't know how he knew what it was like when my dad was diagnosed with cancer, I cant comprehend how He felt was it was like when they told me I wouldn't be able to go on a mission, I honestly wonder how He knows how much physical pain I'm in sometimes but He does, He gets it. He's felt it. He's walked it. It's an understatement to say that He did it because He loves me, which He did. He did it because He wanted to know what it felt like to be me so that He could best know what I needed at anytime of my life. God doesn't want me to feel that pain but He knew I had to so He gave me a way to find relief and joy in my sorrows, through His son Jesus Christ. I could feel so strongly the Spirit guiding my thoughts and many tears were shed both mine, hers, and my companions. It was tender to watch God touch her heart.

Sorry this email is on the shorter end but I'm wayyyy busy splitting two areas! Next week will be longer I promise!!

I love you all so so much, pray for me and my new "baby"!! Also I'm sick today so also pray that I'm feeling better by the time I get to meet her tomorrow!!

Remember God is in the Details!
Love,
Sister Carter

If I Were a Boy

Ahhhhh so refreshing, another email from Sister Carter, you must feel so blessed.... you're welcome.

This week was full of so pretty gnarly twists and turns so make sure you keep your hands, feet, and heads inside the ride at all time.

It started off as a pretty basic week, we had a few lessons, did some service, saw some members but on Wednesday we had exchanges!!! I was able to go with the woman, the myth, the legend, Sister Lloyd. During our exchanges we did a little of everything ranging from Service, to finding a new person. We met with a guy named Jim who they had tried to teach but weren't able to get him as a technically new person. We went into his home with a member from 2nd ward and he has some mental and physical challenges that make it nearly impossible for him to leave his home expect for doctors appointments, and even then, they have to have 5 firemen carry him down the stairs. He currently has cancer in his eye and I was able to connect with him about my dad having cancer. I told him how my Dad at one point was getting 15-20 shots in his legs every other week and the only way he got through it was turning towards Christ and building upon that relationship. The spirit was so strong as I testified of how Christ is in our lives, has lived our life, and has felt our life. He knows exactly every moment we have lived. I could tell he felt the spirit and wanted to build that relationship with Christ.  It was cool to see how even though I wasn't in my assigned area, I could still receive revelation for it.

Later that day we got to go to their Halloween party where.... if you could guess by the title... Sister Lloyd and I dressed up as Missionary Elders. It was epic. Everyone thought it was absolutely hilarious. The funniest part of it all was that all of the Elders kept asking us if we knew how to tie a tie, to which I responded, of course my Dad taught me well. Like NO JOKE every single Elder we told we dress up as Elders asked us that, pssh I bet I could tie a tie before they could!! One of the Elders even said that he didn't even learn until a few days before going into the Missionary Training Center..... so I for sure knew how to tie a tie wayyyy before him. Honestly, being Elders was the absolute highlight of the week.

Then comes the saddest part of it all.... Jonnetta dropped us this week. She invited us over for a sit down dinner and after it was all said and done, in tears, she said that she tried her very hardest to believe but she just couldn't. So we said our goodbyes and they gave us a ton of food and promise to keep in touch. Sister Johnson and I talked about it and we knew that right now just isn't the right time for her to be baptized. She is living with someone who is very against the church, and he being baptized would cause a huge rift in the family. We both agreed that after he passes away she will move in with her daughter who was recently baptized, and we are sure she will be baptized as well. I'm already making plans to be there when she is. Now is just not the right timing for her, but we are glad that we could play a small part in her eventual conversion, even if it didn't lead to baptism right now.

Also I found out something really sad but also extremely exciting news this week.... Sister Johnson got her visa!! Which means, next week she will be flying halfway across the Earth to Australia.... yea I'm extremely excited for her but also sad, she's going to do so so so amazing in Australia I know it but I can't help but wish I could keep her forever. I started comparing it to being an actual mom and when she got her Visa it was like she was graduating from High School and the next week or so I'm with her is the summer before I take her to college and let her blossom... what a tender moment it will be... ahhhh sad but exciting times.

I hit my 6 months in the mission this week!! That means I only have 1 year left! It's so strange because I feel like a baby missionary but I'm a 3rd of the way done!! I feel like if I blink too hard I will be home trying to navigate dating, Netflix, and college all over again. I'm so blessed to be able to learn and grow in ways that are only possible on a mission. God has blessed me in so many ways that I have been able to notice on my mission.  I have learned to be grateful for my trials, excited about the future, and strengthened in my testimony. 6 months has honestly flown by and I can't imagine what the next year will hold but I do know one thing, God has my back 1000%.

Love you all!! Transfers are next week so stay tuned to find out where I'm headed for the next 6 weeks (or if I'm staying but that's less exciting)!! Keep living life the best way you can with God in your heart always!!

Love,
Sister Carter

Rock a Bye Baby

You will absolutely never guess who's emailing you on Tuesday.... oh yea it's still me, Casper life is treating me oh so good.

In addition to this weeks email I would like to update you all on my last P-Day. So if you've been reading these for a while you would know I've been trying to convince the Elders to get pedicures with me for several transfers, probably since the beginning of time, and last week it was finally accomplished. We all went and got pedicures 6 Elders and 4 Sisters, it was a time to be remembered. One of the Elders even got bright red nail polish, it was an event. Just so everyone is fully aware, I think they might have like it more than I did. One of then even said, "Dang now I need to date a girl who "forces" me to get pedicures so I have a reason to go again." Just in case you are all wondering, pedicures I would 12/10  recommend as a date because apparently guys need an excuse to get one, so give it to them, it's for their own good. Really you could count it as service hours!

Other than that we were teaching a lesson to Jonnetta this week and she literally fell asleep, yes yes you heard that right. And no it wasn't because I am boring, maybe that's part of it.... but she was literally mid sentence and BOOM her eyes closed and she started snoring. NO JOKE she was actually telling a story and yep, her eyes just fell closed right then and there. At first it was funny and Sister Johnson and I just kind of giggled to ourselves then we really had no idea what to do so we just kinda sat there trying to make subtle movements that would wake her up... it was actually the best moment ever lol.

This week we had Zone Conference and let me tell you, it was the best one I've ever had. First of all I got to sing, which was pretty epic, and I think it went well, from what I could tell everyone else except me (because I was properly trained) looked like they were in pain while singing. So much for having stage presence. Come on people we are trying to save people's souls not let them know ours are dead!! Sing with a smile or joy or something!! Its alright though, not everyone was trained by the Twin Falls High School show choir, Jive, on how to not look like you want to die. President came and taught us all about how we can become not only better missionaries but better people. He talked about how God doesn't need us here, but He wants us here so He can shape us into a tool He can use. He also showed us a sneak peak at the Light the World Campaign that will be release at the end of November and HOLY COW it's incredible. We got an exclusive viewing of the newest video they are releasing and let me just say... it brought me, and most everyone else to tears. I simply cannot express how incredible this Christmas season is going to be. So buckle up for a lot of me being really excited about Light the World... it's coming in just 4 more weekly emails.

I just wanted to share a quick thought before closing out and sending this to the masses. I have thought a lot about who I am, and who I was before I came to earth and I realized two incredible things. The first is that I have seeds of divinity within me, just as you do, and just as everyone around me does. These seeds of divinity are trying their very hardest to grow. They already know what plant I am, who I will be, and what I come from but they still need to grow into that plant. It's my job to give those seeds of divinity a chance to really grow. I need to give it access to the light of Christ. I have to draw closer to that light Christ has given to the Earth so that I will become the divine person I know I can be. The second thing I realized is that I was prepared for this mission long before even my grandparents were born. I was taught about what it would be like, what I needed to do, and how to do it. While I was studying this recent General Conference there was a quote by the Prophet Russell M Nelson referenced and it says, "You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days. That teaching endures within you!" I know that is so true. I was taught exactly what I needed to do in order to survive this life and I know that deep inside of me I already know all of the answers. It's my job now to reach inside myself and find that divine guidance I received millennia ago.

So that's my thought, you already know exactly who you are, you are a daughter or son of a divine King and you are entitled to an inheritance beyond comprehension, you just have to let that divine prince or princess come out and you'll feel more comfortable and at home than you could ever imagine. You will start to realize that the temple isn't just a pretty place where you like to visit, it was meant to emulate your mansion above.

See mom, I always knew I was a princess ;)

I absolutely love you all and I'm always insanely overjoyed when anyone emails me and updates me on their life. It makes me more happy than you might even realize. Even to see a super short email which maybe took 5 minutes to write will literally make my entire week if not longer so thank you all who do email, it's the best.

Remember God is in the Details!!
Sister Carter

Also at the ward Halloween party I bashed with a Catholic Priest and Nun check out the pictures below to see me in action.

Old McDonald Had a Farm

Hey y'all, what's poppin'?

Just a quick shout out to my cousin Tara who is getting married this weekend, have so much fun and enjoy every minute, I'm so excited for you, if anyone sees her give her the absolute biggest hug tell her, her cousin Savanna loves her and that the hug was from her. I love you Tara!

The biggest event this week happened in the form of service.... let me just set the scene. Two female missionaries, one 19, one 20, are teaching a very nice lady who came to church on Sunday. During the Sunday meeting we discussed with said person how we would love to help her clean out her house on Wednesday. These same two missionaries show up on Wednesday, right on time, to start cleaning, expecting a mess, but nothing they couldn't handle. As soon as they stepped into the door, they realized they had a lot more to do than expect. They immediate see a sea of items piled everywhere and they ranged from old radios to brand new board games to tons and tons of book. Those bright eyed missionaries were not ready for what was to come. Those missionaries were Sister Johnson and I just last Wednesday. We walked into her house and.... holy cow *reference to later in the email*... it was bad. She had kept everything she could for over 3 years since her fiance past away and she was finally ready to go through it all, which was quite admirable. By the end we had a full car load of things to take away and she looked excited about the future but it was incredibly bad. There was dog/cat poo everywhere and everything had a layer of dust but she was ready to face it all and she really unloaded so much, it was incredible... but also the grossest thing I've ever done... so Mom, just so everything is clear... I've learned my lesson, I will always clean my room.

This week a couple Elders reached out to me and my companion and asked if we would be willing to sing in a musical number with them for Zone Conference this week! We've had 2 practices and I'm hoping everything will go well but it's only a couple of us so I'm just praying a lot. I'm extremely excited though, I've wanted to sing at Zone Conference for a while now but I dont have a soloist voice so I'm glad I'm in a small group at least! I finally get to use my years of choir/jive, now if only I could find a way to use my clogging in missionary work my life would be set!! If anyone has any suggestions... let me know!

Yesterday we had a really good lesson with my recent convert Tiff, who was baptized my very first week here. She started talking about how she was having a hard time with the idea of being Baptized for the Dead in the temple because she didn't know those people and she felt weird about doing something so personal for people she knows nothing about and that she was struggling with knowing who she was. It was a pure moment where I got to testify to her that while she might not know them, they know her. They have been waiting for her to do their work for her and that when she sees them in the eternities they will run up to her and thank her personally for the work she did for them. I asked her to say a simple prayer right there with us and ask God to help her feel peace about going to the temple. Her prayer was so pure and innocent, I felt the power of her desire to know what to do. I also told her that while she might not know everything about herself, I knew who she was, she is a daughter of God and she has Divinity within her and all she has to do is search for that divine strength and access it and it will help her with all of her struggles. It was an incredibly touching moment to see her start to recognize that she needed to pray and study the scriptures and turn to God for these questions instead of turning away. I loved it.

I also taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a field full of cows... Hank the COW(dog) was there, Oliver COWdry was there, COWlvin was there, and the quadruplets: Enie, Menie, Minie, and Moo. Holy COW, It was fantastic. A few of them had a little BEEF with us, but we worked through it. By the end of the lesson all the Cow Family had surrounded us and were UTTERly enthused, we MILKed everything we could from that lesson, probably the most Wyoming thing to ever happen to me. I was impressed.

We were teaching Jonnetta this week and we mentioned that many of our leaders emphasized to us that we are Apostles with a little a, and that apostles are tasked with being Christlike in every way and being the Lord's representative wherever we go, nametag or no nametag. Being an apostle is the ultimate goal, and becoming a diciple of Christ is key to all of it, and when we are a diciple of Christ, we do as He would do, teach as He would teach, love as He would love and follow His teachings with exactness. She loved it so much that when she called her daughter to have us talk with her about her conversion story she said, "These girls are amazing they are Apostles with a baby a" and its true, I will spend my entire life trying to live up to being an apostle with a baby a. While most people my age are spending time drinking, partying, or experimenting, missionaries dedicate themselves to Christ and live with more rules instead of less. Maybe one day I'll be able to live up to the "baby a" but for now I'm just working on the disciple part.

On the real though this was anything but rainbows and butterflies but I am on the Lords errand and the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save He shall prepare a way for them to accomplish it. That includes when God told me to be on a mission and I heeded that commandment, and I know the Lord will provide a way for me to accomplish that which He has commanded. He is there. He does love me. He does love you. And He has re-established His church upon the Earth. There is not a doubt in my mind that this is His church. Christ is at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I will follow after Christ, no matter how long the days are ahead, how many weddings, graduations, parties, or cruises I miss, or how hard every moment is. I will do what the Lord commands, and I hope you do too.

I love each and every one of you, in a very personal and real way. I pray for all of you all the time. Ask me anything and I'd love to answer it!

Remember God is in the Details!
Sister Carter

Once There Was a Snowman

Hello hello everyone, it's your favorite missionary named Sister Carter that's serving in Casper Wyoming. Don't worry I know you were all thinking hopelessly about what adventures I've gotten myself into this past week, well I'm here to lay it all out for you.

This week, while it's been good has.... to say the least... been kinda uneventful. On Wednesday it SNOWED, yea you read that correct... it was OCTOBER 9TH AND IT SNOWED so to all those missionaries who are serving in Hawaii, the Canary Islands, or Australia.... enjoy the heat because I'm already jealous. Originally they said it would be a winter storm and everyone was FREAKING out about it and saying how we should stay at home and not drive all sorts of stuff and it ended up being just a little snowfall... hardly a couple inches. Still there was snow and it was decently cold. No worries though, I have all the warm stuff I need!

This Sunday was a pretty eventful day!! Jonnetta came to church! It was so adorable, she called us the night before and talked about how excited she was and then the next morning she said she couldn't hardly sleep that night because she was anxious for church! IT WAS THE CUTEST THING EVER!!! Literally, everyone was so excited to see her and she kept saying how nice everyone was and how she never felt that welcomed at any other church and she just went on and on about it. So precious, I almost died. She also asked us to bring her a Come Follow Me book so she could start doing it! We brought it by the next day and she just RAVED about church. She even talked about the people who put out a lot of hate about the church and said, "I just don't get why people hate US so much," Yes ladies and gentlemen, she said US, she's already thinking that shes a part of our family, it was exciting. I just laughed a little when she said that. She's going to be baptized before we know it.

We also met with a women named Laura who met with missionaries in the past and talked with her about why she stopped meeting with them and all of that fun jazz. She mentioned that a lot of it had to do with the commitment and she wasn't ready for it so she stopped having them stop by but after talking with us for a while she was excited about having us come back and meet all of her kids next week!! Hopefully it will go really well and we will have a whole family to teach. I haven't had a chance to teach a family before so I'm excited about that idea, a little nervous, but still extremely excited.

ALSO, for the past couple of weeks I've been really trying to help keep Nala, Gage's daughter who is 5 almost 6 quiet during sacrament meeting. So I started by bringing a colorful pen and some lined paper for her to just draw on and then I went and copied some coloring pages from the friend for her, and then I bought fruit snacks to bring to church just stuff like that I learned over the years of you know... observing children. I apparently thought that kind of idea was just common knowledge but during sacrament meeting Jonnetta leaned over and asked, "Where did you learn how to do that?" I was super confused and asked, "Be a missionary?" and she said, "Well yea but where did you learn how to handle children?" and at that point I was super confused and I said, "I guess I'm not sure, I think it must just be the way I was raised. I always knew that it's hard to keep children quiet so I try to bring stuff to help keep her quiet." She was so impressed that I started to think about it and apparently... I'm good with kids. I don't know how, maybe call it a God given talent or something, but I'm really good at just helping children and how to handle them.... you're welcome Dad... I've discovered my skills with children, I hope you are proud.

Last week I challenged you all to go to Chick-Fil-A and watch a movie and I'm happy to report that at least one of you decided to fill your heart with the joy of Chick-Fil-A... the rest of you... try harder. jk I love you all no matter your food choices, just look at my dad, he's vegan now and I still love him!  Also everyone go subscribe to his YouTube channel Dumb Old Dad aka Clint Carter. I can't watch it but I already know that it's the best.

I just wanted to add how incandescently happy I am to have the knowledge that I do. I get to walk around everyday with the security that I am sealed to my family for not only this life, but the life to come. We had a dinner appointment with a family in the ward and they invited one of their friends to come eat with us. We shared a message about how much comfort the gospel has brought me and that its been a blessing to know that I will get to see my family in heaven. This friend of theirs lost his wife a few years ago and has struggled with being lonely and missing her. While I was bearing testimony about eternal families he started to tear up. Nothing has come from it yet, but I know that in the moment his heart was softened, even slightly, to the gospel. I get to teach the powerful message that families are bonds that should last more than, "Till death do you part" it is a bond that can only be continued by making those covenants in the temple. Its a really touching message and I know that it has brought a lot of joy to a lot of people's lives. During one of the conference talks they references a dear friend who's husband passed away and she asked, "Is it okay to not feel bad about him passing?" She knew that they are sealed together and that their relationship will continue even past death so the sting of death.... really didn't sting as bad.

I love you all!

Remember God is in the Details!
Sister Carter

Speak Now

This week has been more than a joy to say the very least. Mostly because GENERAL CONFERENCE but also because Sister Johnson is the coolest but mostly General Conference...

Well to start off the week we had Transfers where, if you read last weeks invigorating weekly update, I didn't get transferred!! Yep you are correct, I will have spent 1/3 of my entire mission in one area. Which surprisingly is pretty typical. I'm hoping I born, live, die (missionary lingo for start, serve, and end) my entire mission in Casper because eh it's the best, but we will see! Casper is where the Elect are so I wouldn't complain if I am here forever.

Transfer day was actually kind of sad though, I said goodbye to the hypest Zone Leader and dopest STL in the whole mission and they finish their missions in February so the chances of seeing them again are slim. Don't worry though, he had me sign his shirt so we gonna be friends foreva (see attached picture). It was a weird feeling to see them all go but I was already hyped about the upcoming transfer!!

On Wednesday day we also got to visit the sweetest person we are teaching Johnetta. Literally, I can't explain how incredible she is. We have only met her a couple of times and she told us that she wanted to feed us dinner so we show up at her house and she has this cute little set up downstairs with lemonade and pizza and my heart just felt all sorts of warm and fuzzy. We taught her more about the Plan of Salvation and she said, "Well I want to do everything I can to go to the Celestial Kingdom, the highest one is where I want to be." It was just so pure and she's so excited about Church next week. She is absolutely going to love it, I'm sure of it.

As many of you know this past weekend was GENERAL CONFERENCE. Which is lowkey like the superbowl for Missionaries. We look forward to it literally for months and then it's like we blink and it's over, which is about like what it was this week. I felt like there was too much for me to learn that I'm going to need to study them for the next 6 months and then by the time I get them all... a whole new set of talks will drop. Every single talk was beautiful and so elegantly given, I couldn't help but be on the edge of my seat the entire time. I felt intensely that God was talking directly to me through His servants and I knew that those messages were for me. Every message centered on the joy we feel with the knowledge of the restored gospel that we have and I couldn't agree more. I have felt more unending joy as a missionary than I thought possible. There have been many setbacks and heartbreaks but I can now look at them with an eternal perspective in knowing the end from the beginning. This Gospel will bring more than temporary satisfaction, it will bring everlasting joy and I am the first testament of that divine truth. I love this Church and I know, without a doubt in my mind, that it holds the truths of the eternities.

A couple days ago was also a rough day for Sister Johnson. We felt impressed to go to a specific house and when we stopped by the first time no one was there but we went back again and they were sitting in their garage. I looked over at Sister Johnson and she looked like she was going to pee her pants so I said, "Alright, you've got this!" At that point I'm pretty sure she hated me. So we walk up and she stumbles over her words and then we got to the very end and... she literally just stopped talking. Like no words were coming out of her mouth, and I had made it a point to not jump in and save her because she needs to know how to contact people. So we sat in their driveway for easily 30 seconds with her just not making any sound and silently begging me to help. Ultimately I did and set up a time for us to come back and then we got in the car and she was devastated. She felt so destroyed and kept saying how bad she was, and how much she failed and all sorts of stuff like that so I knew this needed to be a teaching opportunity so I just drove out to my favorite overlook in Casper without saying anything. When we got there I just looked at her and said, "Well that didn't go well did it?" She just kind laughed and said, "Yea, I know" I asked her what happened and she made up some excuses as to why it went wrong and I finally said, while those might be excuses they really aren't reasons, what can we learn from this? She just was silent for a minute and said well I realized that I suck at missionary work, and again I stopped her and said, oh come on you know you don't suck at missionary work, you are a great missionary, you just have your weakness like everyone else. We talked a long time about the best way she could improve and I talked about how, while I was disappointed in that whole event I was more upset with myself. I knew I hadn't taught her well enough to prepare her for it so in a way I felt like I failed. It was a good moment for both of us to recognize the need for growth. As a missionary, a lot of times you get stuck being the same missionary you always have been and you stop improving, so having this moment with her where we both talked about how we could improve is going to ultimately make us better, not only as missionaries, but also as people. It was a much needed heart to heart to *Christ's* heart.

Also a guy we passed off this week to 5th ward named Mikey literally brought his Book of Mormon to work, and I just thought that was the sweetest thing in the world. He looks so excited about it too. He's one of the friends Roady and Paco brought to church and he even watched conference with us!! He's probably going to get baptized we are so excited for him!!!

Also, during one session of conference we didn't have another female with us so we couldn't go in Roady's house so he LITERALLY set up a mirror so we could see the TV from his porch, it was genius and I loved it, I would 12/10 recommend doing it in the future!!

I hope everyone is living their best life at home! Go watch some Movies and eat Chick-Fil-A for me! (Man I miss Chick-Fil-A)

This next week it's supposed to be 25 degrees on Thursday.... and it's supposed to snow.... I'm so excited..... yay....

Also just for future reference, Sister Johnson and I solved a very scientific and mathematical problem and discovered that by "pillow measurements" it would cost at least 500 bucks using Amazon Pillow Standards to ship a car... I know you all were on the edge of your seat waiting for the results ;)

I love you all!!
Remember God is in the Details!
Sister Carter