So to start off this email let me just say that Manish, the indian guy that messaged me from last week, well, he left the chat so if he was a scammer, he didn't get anything from us, but we did get to teach him about the first vision so at least he was slightly enlightened right?
On Friday we got to do probably the best thing in the entire mission... we got to work at a DOG SHOW. How amazing is that. I am pretty sure that in that moment my entire dreams came true, literally every single one, fulfilled. I could die right now and feel as though I had seen enough. It was something for the record books. I was working as what they call an inside steward which means that I called in all of the dogs that were to be shown during that event and had them line up, then I handed out the ribbons to the winners an kept track of what the judge awarded. It was.... to sum up.... the best. PLUS I GOT TO SEE CORGIS!!!! (Not up close but from a far, it was still just as satisfying)
Then after the dog show we were all WORN OUT but we had to do studies and weekly planning. For those of you who know how completely boring weekly planning is, you know how little we wanted to do it. We had just spent all day in the greatest place on earth and to jump into planning... yikes. It was kind of like going to Disneyland and then being forced to go to class after... it was a bummer and a half.
To try and spice up the weekly planning we actually went out to our favorite restaurant in Casper, Johnny J's and did the planning on the back of the place mat. It was actually really successful and it made it so much less horrible... still bad mind you, just a little less because we were supplied food throughout it.
After weekly planning is when the miracles really started to roll in. (besides the dog show, that was the pre miracle miracle) We left the restaurant and went straight to Shawna's to read the Book of Mormon with her. We read the chapter and went into a lesson about God and how incredible God knows that she is and that the reason she is feeling so much pressure to give in or give up was because she had greatness inside of her. During the entire time we were talking with her I felt distinctly that there were people filling the room. It felt as though every square inch was covered with people. In that moment I knew that both her ancestors, my ancestors and the ancestors of my companions were there with us. There presence was so really I could almost hear what they wanted me to say. I opened my mouth and just started talking, I don't entire remember what I said but I know that it was exactly what she needed to hear. As we were about to leave I felt a hand on my shoulder telling me there was something else that I needed to do. So I looked up at Shawna and said, "Shawna, I don't know why, but I'm supposed to leave my scriptures with you, would that be alright?" She of course hesitantly agreed and I just told her maybe take some time and look at my notes or at the handouts in my scriptures, I don't know what it is but I can pick them up from you when we see you tomorrow. So I left them with her.
Fast forward to the next night and I was freaking out about whether or not she got anything from them. I prayed extra hard that morning that she would have read them and that she would have heard God speaking through them. When we walked into her house and I set up my chair she handed me my scriptures. That's when I really freaked. My heart was pounding and I was already sweating wayyyy too much when I asked, "Well, how was it?" She paused and started scrolling through her phone and I swear on my life I was having a HEART ATTACK thinking, maybe she didn't get anything, maybe she didn't even read, maybe it didn't work. She looked up at me and handed me her phone and told me to scroll through the pictures. She had taken pictures of some of the verses I had highlighted in my Book of Mormon and I read them all and looked up to her smiling face. I told her, "See Shawna, God knows how incredible you are." It was a miracle. She had taken the time to go through several different pages and read most of them and God had spoken to her to let her know that she was not alone and that He was proud of what she was doing and that the reason she feels kicked down is because Satan just wants to keep her from reaching the greatness inside of her. I couldn't help but smile as I realized that the people on the other side of the veil are really really helping her and I get to the point where she is ready for Baptism and man oh man oh man is she SO CLOSE!!!
I also had the chance to speak on Sunday!! I was incredibly excited!! Many of you know how much I truly love speaking and how much joy it brings me so having the chance to speak on my mission amplified it by 100 because I am closer to God than I could have ever imagined so it made writing the talk with the Spirit so much easier! PLUS throughout the week we had the chance to invite everyone to come to church because we were speaking!! While we were on the stand we saw so many people that we had been wanting to come to church for weeks show up and I much have been glowing I was so excited!
Paco, who is one of Roady's coworkers that he invited to church a few weeks ago (trust me I know, I know, Roady is the best), INVITED HIS DAD. Literally I couldn't believe it either. Here is this guy who had just been invited a few weeks ago to church bringing someone else.... I was impressed. It just goes to show that all it takes is one invite and they can feel the light that the Gospel brings right away.
We have been seeing Paco and Roady all the time. They are just a blast to be around and I feel inspired every single time I am with them and get to teach more about this Church that I love so much! We had a huge family dinner on Sunday with Paco, Roady, Paco's Daughter, our trio, and the YSA trio. It was a blast, I honestly wish that we could do that every week!
Other than that, I learned some very important things, one: I have a dress with pockets that can hold and entire Book of Mormon in each pocket which means it is now my tracting dress and I could be like Oprah, "You get a Book of Mormon, You get a Book of Mormon, You get a Book of Mormon!" *see picture below* I'm very excited about it. Two: I have literal angels lifting me up every single day and they are doing everything they can to lead me to say, do and be in the right places at the right time. Three: There's a restaurant here called Sanfords and if you order off the kids menu you get a half rack of ribs... which is A LOT of food for a kids menu. Four: I'm already dreading going home and leaving this closeness I have to the Savior after my mission
I love you all, there was so so so much more that happened this week but I hope I hit all the important parts! Thank you so much for taking the time to hear about how God is blessing my life and the lives of the people around me and always know that God is with you!
In my talk I really emphasized the idea that God is with each and every one of us. At the very end I gave everyone and incredible counsel that I will now give all of you that read this far. Do not doubt that God is speaking to you, I know that He is, Do not doubt it.
I love you all!!
God is in the details!
Sister Carter
