So last week was... to say the least.... stressful. We had a mission tour with Elder Wong and he really came at us hard. He told us that we all needed to be better missionaries and that we needed to stop wasting time because this is the Lords time. It was brutal on everyone. During the entirety of the lunch break we maybe said like 5 words. We all needed to hear it because we could always be better missionaries but the problem was that some of us weren't ready to hear it. He was simply trying to help our mission become the best it could be so everything he said I took to heart. He, of course, told us that he knew how amazing our mission already was but that he wanted us to be better. The good news is that I spent years learning to take correction well, so it didn't bother me as much as it bothered other people... yikes let's just say many people cried.... but it was needed and extremely necessary so I appreciated him being willing to come and teach us.
This week Sister Johnson and I also had a lesson with some of the people we are teaching that went incredibly well. Their names are Carolyn and Johnetta and they are both older. Johnettas daughter was baptized a few weeks ago so Johnetta wanted to learn more about why, which is why we started getting involved. We got into their house and taught a lot about faith and the restoration and then towards the end they both said they wanted Priesthood blessings. I nearly jumped out of my skin and started dancing because I know how powerful those blessings can be. We quickly texted our Zone Leaders and they came over and delivered the most powerful blessings I had ever witnessed. It was a testament to me that God was truly speaking through them to Carolyn and Johnetta. During the blessings they mentioned specific struggles each of then were facing that even Sister Johnson and I didn't know. I could literally feel the divine power emanating from the elders and when the blessings concluded Johnetta was crying and she said that she knew that had to be from God, there's no other way. It was beautiful. It was truly one of the reasons I became a missionary, and the biggest reason I am still on a mission, because I get to witness miracles more abundantly than I ever could before.
On Saturday we had another little miracle where Roady and Paco invited two if their friends to come to dinner with us and by the end of dinner we got them hyped about going to church. They all came to church and were so excited about coming back that Roady says they have been talking about it everyday. It's so touching. I have come to realize how truly incredible this church is. Forget all of the doctrine, forget all of the restored truth, forget the priesthood, we have some of the happiest people in the entire world in every congregation. People come to church and they immediately feel connected to something much bigger than them and they recognize how inherently happy we all are. Don't get me wrong, we all struggle just the same but we are blessed with and eternal perspective that alters the way we view life. Life becomes more than just something to finish, it becomes a time for us to grow and become the people God wants us to be so we can one day have, along with everyone else, eternal life with the extra blessings that accompany exhalation. In essence, we are all preparing to meet God, so why wouldn't we be happy? If we are all trying to be like Jesus, don't you think He was happy? I think so and I know that all members, no matter the trial, have a peace that can only be given through the Gospel, and people we bring to church notice it, and start to crave it too. I mean, who wouldn't want to replace their temporary happiness with and internal everlasting joy that emanates through our pores? Roady made a comment about it and it think it's absolutely hilarious *preface he calls us his Angle Sisters which just warms my little heart* he said, "Dear Angel Sisters I don't know how you guys sleep at night when you are glowing so bright" *if that's not the most precious thing you've ever heard, you're off the team*
Anyway this week was pretty stressful with the unknown about transfers but we made it through the the other side ready for the next 6 weeks!!
Y'all are the best and keep doing missionary work, it's the best way for missionaries like me to help give people that joy they are searching for!
Remember, God is in the details!
Sister Carter
Also here's some more pictures from Martins Cove and Independence Rock and of me and my district, if you zoom in and just look at me and the Elder next to me in the District Pic it looks like we are in a fight lol don't worry though, we good.
