Tiny Bubbles

Hello everyone, I'm happy to report I'm still having a ball in Casper Wyoming and I'm even starting to get used  to the crazy cold and insane wind so life is going well!!

In other, more exciting news, WE FOUND A NEW PERSON TO TEACH THIS WEEK. Honestly I cannot even Express how truly truly pumped I was. So here's the low down. A few weeks ago we got a text from the Elders with a referral of someone in our ward who wants to come back to church... which.... doesn't happen. So immediately we texted the number and set up a time to go over fast forward a week and we drive 30 minutes into the heart of nowhere Wyoming and BOOM homeboy cancels on us which... isn't abnormal if you know anything about missionary work. So we take the drive back and reschedule for the following week which (for those who are lost) was last Tuesday! So after our lovely P-Day with the Elders we took the trek out again to his house and knock on his door... a young guy answers and we introduce ourselves and we walk in. He's about our age and he was baptized when he was 17 and has really been active since but his now fiance and him want to start raising their kids with some church and he's wanting to come back (mega score) So we keep talking to him and his fiance and she starts asking a few questions and then towards the end he says, "So if I'm going to come back to church I want the lessons," then he looks at his Fiance and says, "Do you want to take them too?" THIS MAN JUST DID MY JOB FOR ME. It was the most baller moment of my mission. She said sure and yea it was incredible, 10/10 would recommend. God blessed me for sure with that one.

In the following days lots went down. On Wednesday the young men asked us to come teach about indexing and when we showed up there were like a bazillion adults there but we were *obviously* the favorite so we just spent the time slightly helping but mostly just talking with the young men. It was lowkey super fun. I forgot how much I love doing family history work. On the mission we sent allowed to do something like family history except on P-Days. Add that to the long list of things to do when I get home.

Also this week was one of the coolest finding activities I've done on my mission: Scrabooking day. So before I get into it I would just like you all to be aware that when people get together for a day and scrapbook it is called a Scrabooking Crop (I learned that recently) So Saturday was the big day, we had found a bunch of random scrapbooking stuff in the closet in our apartment a few weeks earlier (God really does take care of his missionaries) and we took all of our stuff to the church where one of the members hosted a scrapbooking crop (look at me using the lingo and stuff) We show up and start our project while casually talking with the women there. At the end we had some adorable scrapbooking papers done and we got to know them all pretty well. Most of them weren't members and we found out later they were impressed with how we can just use the building whenever we need for free, and that some of them go to the Family History Library every week too. It was amazing, we didn't get any insane results from it but the positive experience they had, and getting to see the pictures of the Savior, and also just being inside a dedicated building just amplified their good experiences. It was a blast and a half if you ask me.

So I've realized that I've picked up quiet a few random hobbies while I'm on my mission. I've started painting, scrapbooking, knitting, soap carving (see the picture below), cake decorating, and playing the piano.... I decided that I'm going to HAVE to be a stay at home mom in order to have time for all of my hobbies I acquired on my mission... now I just have to learn how to cook and clean and I'll be the full on Housewife package.... anyone got any good recipes?

This week there was also a missionary homecoming in the ward! Elder Henman *cough cough* Matt gave his report on his mission. It was hilarious we were walking out to the car when he was walking in and he came up to shake our hands and said, "Hello I'm Elder..... I mean Matthew" if that isn't the definition of a newly returned missionary I don't know what is. His talk was excellent then he found us after church and talked with us for a while about some missionary stuff everyone experienced a week ago and Sister Morford and I both just looked at each other like, "How do you know the missionary things but you aren't a missionary??" It was a moment for both of us where we realized that despite our current situation missions do eventually end and I'll be home talking to the missionaries in my ward about being a missionary before I know it. The Elders messaged us and said he picked then up and drove them home and he was just chilling in the car listening to country music and they too realized that there is an end! It's crazy how seeing an RM gets everyone hyped.

I'm happy to report I am in good spirits going into this weeks Transfer Doc. With each passing transfer the chances of me being transfer keep increasing so I'm not very hopeful about my chances of staying in the Casper 1st Ward for much longer so I'm trying to soak up every last minute I can. I feel the members in the ward start to worry about getting a different Sister and telling me I should stay, but the Lord wants what He wants so we will see what happens on Sunday night!

Thanks for tuning in for this weeks broadcast, I'm your host, Sister Carter, here to tell you to Remember God is in the Details! Love you!

Just for reference, every week we plan out ideas on how to find new people, write them down, and then take a picture, this week I decided I wanted my face in the plans as well.

Getcha Head in the Game

Breaking news everyone, buckle up for the crazy ride ahead that I call my weekly email. Its full of sharp twists and turns I'm SURE you wouldn't expect.

So a few days ago we had Zone Conference, and for those of you who aren't familiar with the life of being a missionary, Zone Conference is where every 6 weeks our leaders come and give a training on how we can improve not only our missionary efforts, but also improve our lives.

Well during this Zone Conference we had a guest speaker who is the designated counselor over the missionaries. He spent his time talking about bad habits and things we find ourselves doing no matter how hard we tried to stop ourselves. It was honestly one of the best trainings I've had on my mission. In this training he quoted President Packer, " Largely because of [technology], instead of looking over into that spacious building, we are, in effect, living inside of it. That is your fate in this generation. You are living in that great and spacious building"

He said that to me and over the next few days I thought about why that would be allowed to happen? Why would a God who wants us to stay strong, allow the iron rod to lead directly through that great and spacious building? It honestly made no sense, and I'm sure it makes no sense to you either. After a lot of studying and doing my come follow me study with my wonderful companion, Sister Morford, I realized an important truth.

Maybe the reason why the iron rod is leading directly through the great and spacious building is because there are people in that building who need to see the iron rod in order to know they have to cling to it.

To prove my point I want to reference a story from the Book of Mormon. Many of you know of the story of Abinadi but I'll sum it up very quickly. In the Book of Mosiah, there is a story about a Prophet who was called to do a very difficult work. He was told he had to deliver a message of repentance to the most wicked man in the kingdom, King Noah. King Noah wasn't just a bad guy, he was described as someone who caused many people, including himself to "commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness and abominations." and Abinadi was commanded to go preach to him..... Yikes. I'm sure that in the moment that he realized what he was called to do, he knew his ultimate fate, but he went and taught the people, including the wicked King Noah. He was arrested and brought before the King. He was quiet literally, brought into a "great and spacious palace,"  as referenced in chapter 11 to testify to the King. He was taken into the great and spacious building, right where I'm sure he didn't want to be. He spent the rest of his life preaching and witnessing to people who laughed, pointed fingers at, and humiliated him. He must have questioned, just like me, why did God take the Iron rod right into the great and spacious building.

After Abinadi finished speaking to the King, he was immediately put to death. He finshed his life in the great and spacious building, all without seeing the reason for it. In his view, he saw no success, he saw no change in King Noah, and ultimately he didn't know why he had to suffer inside of it. But, without his knowledge, inside of the great and spacious building, there was someone who needed to see that iron rod in order to know that's what he needed to cling to. Alma was one of the men sitting with King Noah as Abinadi preached to him. He heard his words and realized that he needed to repent, and cling to that iron rod.

Abinadi had to walk through that great and spacious building so that Alma could see the iron rod, and grab onto it to.

So that's why we are forced to live in the great and spacious building. That is why we have to walk through the halls full of laughter, scorn, and humiliation. That is why you and me have to hold onto that iron rod so tightly because the walls surrounding us are full of wickedness. It is because all of the people who are around us are our brothers and sisters. They might be making fun of us, but they are still our family and we have to do everything we can to give them the chance to see the iron rod too

In other news this week Sister Morford and I finished our activity for our ward members called Ship. The basics of the game include them making almost of people who have certain tools and attributes that would help them build a ship. At the end we have them all look at their list and circle one person and then in the next week they have to do one nice thing for that person. It has been SO much fun!! Literally we just go into their homes, help them do this activity and then invite them to help the people who helped them in this game. It's been a blast plus I get to see people appreciate something I made and oh man it's honestly  been the HIGHLIGHT of my day when we go into their homes and open up the board and their eyes just open super wide. Yup, it's a good feeling, probably similar to how moms feel when they get told their child is cute, like yea.... I made that.

Well everyone, that's about it for the weekly demonstration of Sister Carters missionary work. I'm still grindin, I'm still killin it, and best of all, I'm still in Casper.

Keep loving life and appreciating the little things!!
Remember God is in the Details!!
Sister Carter

Last First Kiss

Ok everyone so last week I was a major slacker and I didn't really dazzle y'all with my amazing weekly email so I'm back at it with an EPIC email to spice up your week to try and make up for the slacker last week. (Who even was she?)

This week started off with a bang. So I didn't mention this BUT a few weeks ago they changed the standards AGAIN for P-day saying the Sisters weren't allowed to participate with the Elders for P-day which was a major bummer. So for two whole weeks we literally sat in a different room from the Elders and couldn't socialize with them because... we are obedient but on the 8 month anniversary of me going into the MTC, my mission President changed the rule back!! So we are back in it boys!! I'm going to be sitting in the same room as Elders again!! Absolutely wild ride, thanks for joining me on it

Literally though.... I was so hyped.

Then the following day, the anniversary of Sister Morfords first kiss, we had exchanges!! To celebrate for Sister Morford I just threw Hershey kisses at her, which I'm sure she REALLY enjoyed. But exchanges went super well. The day started off with a packed schedule but before we had even hit lunch, all of them had cancelled, which, is pretty typical for missionary work so we tried to fill it with as much as possible. We had a training during exchanges on how to weekly plan which, for future reference, is the worst to do with 4 people. The elders in my district did exchanges the same day and they said they spent half the time just playing basketball lol. But you just gotta love them for trying.

Also this week we transitioned the game of dog pictures to not only just us and my district leader, but the entire district, and if what I heard was correct, the entire Zone did it too. It was epic beyond proportions. Everyone just had a fantastic time finding dogs and taking pictures with them. Life got real good out here in Casper Wyoming.

In other news the entire Casper Zone has winter depression so our district leader during district council got up and wrote out, one word at a time.

Why Do We All Feel Like We Suck?

Then we all proceeded to list the reasons why we think we are the worst, and they listed all the reasons we actually aren't the worst. It ended up being a pretty motivational moment. I started to think about all the success I have seen in Casper first over these winter months and I realized that sometimes we don't see the progress, but God sees the progress and we need to stop criticizing ourselves, because God wouldn't criticize ourselves.

I love you all SO much!!
Remember God is in the details!!
Sister Carter

Let it Go

This will be a super short email so I'M SORRY!!

This week went by without a hitch! We actually found a new person this week! She was formally taught by missionaries and I was actually the one to drop her which was at least a little awkward but it didn't matter too much because she is really wanting to be baptized which is a HUGE success and push for us!! It was the best!!

It's also incredibly cold here... like getting colder and colder every single day it feels like so there isn't a day I'm not wearing a huge coat and leggings and even beanies but "The Cold Doesn't Bother Me Anyway"

Also this week was zone meeting where I was picked to do a demonstration where I got to complete destroy a fish pinata named Roy G Biv. And Sister Morford and I got matching rings!!

I'm so sorry this isn't longer but life has been crazy so next week will be better!!

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

Who Let the Dogs Out

Well everyone, this will be the last time you hear from me in 2019. I'll save you from all the corny New Years jokes and references but I'm excited for the year ahead of me. Many of you know that this next year, 2020, will be the year I return from my mission. While I still have quite a few months until that happens its still very strange to think about or even say out loud, just try it with me, "Sister Carter comes home this year" weird right? I don't have to think too much about it though because it won't be until the end of the year. Plenty of time for you to get your weekly Sister Carter email fill.

This week I had a really amazing experience when we were out trying to find new people to teach. Whenever I go out to find people we always pray about where we need to go, we go to that street, and then ask which house it is that we need to knock. In a lot of ways it saves a ton of time because we don't have to knock all of the houses on the street. God already knows where the people who are ready for the gospel are so we know that He can tell us which house they are at. SO we went and did that. I felt something tell me I needed to go to the trailer park and after driving the park I felt something different than I usually felt about a specific trailer. It just felt slightly different so I thought it must mean that I'm not actually feeling that I should go there. So Sister Morford and I went along trying to contact a few other people and I felt it again so I decided that we needed to go back. After getting up to the door and knocking I knew there was a reason I needed to be there. We talked to the man that answered and it turns out that he was a member but left the church a long time ago. We exchanged numbers and we will be going back to help him learn English (don't worry though, our secret goal is to bring him Jesus, he just doesn't know it yet). In that moment I realized why it had felt different. He was already a member, he already had the gospel, but God sent us to find him anyway and I am so grateful I got to experience that for myself.

Looking back on 2019 has been interesting. I spent most of January not planning on serving a mission until I recieved an extremely clear sign that I should serve. I then spent the next two weeks turning in my papers, 6 weeks anxiously waiting for my call, and the next 6 weeks going to the temple, buying a years worth of dresses, and finally arriving at the missionary training center where I started this crazy journey they call missions. I would not change a single moment of it for anything. I love being a missionary, I love the people I meet and I love that I get to become a better person every single day. I have witnessed miracles, I have been a part of miracles, I have helped people recognize God, and I even helped someone who means the world to me to realize that God loves her. All of these things could not and have not been possible without God. He made me, guided me, and blessed me over and over.

I am extremely excited for what it ahead. Sometime during 2020 I will leave Casper 1st ward. Now now it might not be until November of next year but it will happen, and that moment, I can guarantee will be a hard moment for me and many of the people that I love here in Casper. Also during 2020 I will get to hug my parents, siblings, and even my dog. I will turn 21, and I will see my sister graduate high school (via video chat) and most importantly I will get to spend Christmas with my family. I cannot wait to see where this year takes me.

I hope all of you enjoy this new year and do everything you can to draw closer to God. Trust me, it makes the entire year so much more filled with love, joy, happiness, and hope.

Love you!!
Remember God is in the Details!
Sister Carter

Also this week my DL and us had a competition of who could get more pictures with dogs in them and we got bonus points for being in the picture with them.... I have no shame and literally pulled the car over and asked people if I could take a picture with their dog... just for future reference... it's a great door approach too! Their names are Ranger, Harley, Henry, and Betsy. I love them.