I Just Cant Wait to be King

Ok so this week has been a whirlwind of items to talk about so you better start mentally preparing right now. I'll give you a few moments if you need.....

*a few moments later*

Alright so now that you are prepped and ready for the email to come.... I'll dive in.

To start off the week we had the one and only ZONE CONFERENCE yes yes you heard that right, this is not a drill, we had Zone Conference this week on Wednesday. Now most of you might be wondering... wait don't you usually have Zone Conference on Fridays, well you would be correct but since I am no longer in my HomeLand of Casper, they are on Wednesdays. Zone conference was so hype. First of all I somehow got the Zone Leaders to match. Literally they wore the same color suit, shoes, tie, and shirt *the shirt was the easiest one to match* all because I said they should... I might be magical, check back with me next week when I try and change my companion into a dog *fingers crossed* Then after realizing they matched I had to give a training.... which... woah..  intimidating. Why they put me in charge, I have no idea. We trained about how to naturally transition into gospel topics from everyday conversation. We talked about how everything anyone said can be related to the gospel and how we can easily testify of simple truths without too much effort on our part.

Hopefully the training went well! But on the drive back we passed the temple and because I've been so outcasted in Casper that I wasn't able to go. And wow it's amazing. So pretty, so of course I took some dope pics see the attachments below for more information

Then on Monday we had the Ledgendary MLC... yup I somehow conned my way into an MLC I really must be a magician... the whole time I felt completely unqualified to be there but I did what I could to participate! Then comes the real magic of it all....THEY SOMEHOW GAVE US A NEW 2020 RAV4

So backstory, we were supposed to be losing our car because the Elders who had our car previously put a dent in the back so it needed to be fixed. Well because I'm an assigned friend (aka STL because I'm not actually a leader, u just work here) we have a lot of Sisters we have to care for so if there isn't a way for us to get to them it makes it a lot more difficult. So our Zone leaders (who are the freaking bomb diggity) came in clutch and fought HARD to get us a car and when I say fought I mean they FOUGHT to get us a car and we walked away with a freaking 2020 Rav4.... yes I had a photoshoot with it, yes it only had 24 miles on it, yea I realize I'm incredibly blessed beyond belief. History was just made ladies and gentlemen, I have acquired a 2020 car, life could NOT get better. Thanks Elder Williams and Elder Ufland, you the real MVPs

I also had a surprise visitor come stop by my ward on Sunday and to say the least it was a much needed push to get me through the next 9 months.

I am INSANELY low on time but this week was LITERALLY jammed full of stuff and now tomorrow I've got another meeting to worry about...  yikes.

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

Lovebug

You made it!! Welcome back to my written Youtube Channel!! Thank you so much for subscribing, if you like the post please smash that like button and leave a comment below on how God has changed your life. Without further ado, let's get into the written word.

SO I started off this week with a bang and Sister Robinson got a blessing from the Elders but the lead up to it was... epic to say the least. So earlier in the week we were invited to go to the Young Women's activity which was yoga, so if you don't know, as a missionary we are asked to wear dresses or slacks whenever possible. But many of you also know that yoga and dresses... aren't possible. So we just wore leggings and t-shirts to this activity. Originally we had planned on wearing dresses for the blessing and then changing into our yoga clothes after but at the last minute the Elders said they would be late so we went to the activity in our yoga clothes and told them we wouldn't be in dresses. Well the yoga starts and the Elders walk by and we hurry out of the room, barefoot, in leggings, and T-shirts, ready for a blessing. The Elders were lowkey shook by the whole ensemble because they kept looking at my bare feet all confused. Eventually I just said, listen, we aren't supposed to wear shoes for yoga, I'm sorry. They just awkwardly laughed. Ah man, Elders... they are a hoot and a half.

Shout out to my mom who had cookies delivered to me from Crumble for Valentines day *they were so good I'm still on cloud 9... 4 days later* literally that was one of the most thoughtful things in the entire world. I may or may not have cried after getting them *for those long time Sister Carter letter readers, you'll know the reality of the tears*

Later in the week I had my very first exchange where I was the one leading!! It was a learning experience to say the least. I was with the one and only Sister Hein, she's a baller missionary. Shes fresh out of the MTC and she's killing it. She was having a rough day because she felt sick but we did a lot of contacting, and ended it with going to Stake Conference where they had all the full time missionaries stand and they said, and I quote, "The missionaries appreciate all the meals you provide but what they would appreciate more is to teach your friends" I almost wet my pants I was so hyped. That was the best way of putting things I have ever heard and it really put things into perspective. Yes, we love the meals, yes we love the conversations, we love the love, but the biggest thing missionaries love is when members have us meet their friends. That is the biggest thing anyone could give us.

During the adult session, while still on exchanges, we all started feeling sick. Not just eh I'm not feeling good kind of sick, but full on cold sweat, uncomfortable stomach pain, I might pass out kind of sick. We still don't know from what but by the end of the meeting I was almost positive I would be seeing my dinner for the second time that night. We slowly made our way around and headed back toward the car when it hit us all at once. Massive headache and all we were so sick. We dropped the sisters off at their apartment and Sister Hein immediately threw up *what a way to end her first exchange* I laid in bed most of the Sunday just drained of all energy. I luckily didn't throw up, but when we had to sing in the choir for the big stake conference... I was mouthing most of the words. It was a brutal day.

By Monday though I was feeling about 75 percent better so we went to work. So much so that we actually found TWO new people. Yes you heard that right, the Lord guided us to two new people to teach and hopefully baptize!! It was a HUGE blessing. One of the greatest miracles! We knocked on their door and a guy peeked out a crack in the door before saying, one second and closing the door super quickly. After 2 minutes of awkwardly standing outside the door a woman answered and immediately invited us in. She seemed SO happy to see us. We walked in the door and asked her about how she had met with missionaries in the past. She talked about how they had come for a long time and taught her. Her son, who was the one who answered the door the first time, talked with us about how Christ had gotten him through a lot of his dark days. It was an amazing experience to see them be so receptive to hearing and learning more about the gospel!! It's incredible to see how God works on people until they are prepared for the missionaries.

After that AMAZING miracle we had another lesson with the incredibly sweet Jana. She was so excited for us to come back over and even bought us little pastries and sandwiches!! She told us all about how she needed a peaceful message because her day had been hectic. After sharing something I had studied in my personal study that morning I felt the spirit so strongly. She started to talk about how she still is mourning the loss of her parents. I was so ecstatic because I was finally able to say, "Jana, there is a way for us to be sealed to our family for all of eternity, in the temples we can be sealed to them forever." I could feel the relief in her body as she said, I want that so badly. I know that in that moment God used me to testify to her that family last much longer than our earth life, it's intended to be eternal. It was a touching moment.

Also this week I had a major breakthrough with my companion. I'm going to get a little personal with everyone so bear with me. I'm learning so much everyday of my mission, but this moment made me realize something so much greater. God has always intended for me to be a tool for Him to use, but He had to mold me first. Many of you know how much I struggled in high school. Everything in my life seemed to go wrong and to make matters worse, my Dad had cancer. It was like my life was crumbling around me, I never understood why, when I tried all my life to be good, why was this happening to me. Then when I was going to turn in my mission papers in 2018, my life started crumbling again. It felt like there were millions of reasons I shouldn't go on my mission, and everything falling apart was just the sign I needed to give up on that dream. But I didn't, and if I had given up, I would have never realized why I had the difficulties I had. After talking with my companion about my struggles in high school she helped me realized that I had those struggles because God needed me. He needed me in this mission, at this time, with these companions, because He needed someone to be able to help them. He can't be here physically with them, so these bad things had to happen to me because He knew I could use them to help other people. That moment for me was nothing short of life changing. It seems cheesy but trust me, it's how it felt. I finally recognized that God did truly "refine [me], [and] chose [me] in the furnace of affliction" - 1 Nephi 20:10. He put me in the furnace so He could shape me into the tool He needed to use in my companions lives. I will never know why I deserved such an honor, but I hope to one day be able to express that gratitude to Him.

So with that in mind, I want all of you to look on your lives and think about your trials. There is no coincidences when God is involved, which *spoiler* He is always involved. Think about those things that ripped your heart, spun you in circles, and made you feel small, is it possible that God was trying to refine you? Is it possible that you became a new force to be reckoned with? Could God have needed you to be ready to be in someone else's life? Because I know, now more than anything, God is in the trials, He is in the dark places, He is at the bottom, He is trying to make you who you are meant to become. What's the cheesy phrase everyone says? You can't make a diamond without a little pressure? Well I will one up you, you can't make a god without a massive trial *baby g intended*

I want to ask everyone reading this letter today who isn't a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or maybe who is a member and no-longer attends, or maybe even members who are consistently going to church. Call the missionaries, and ask them to come to your house and teach the Plan of Salvation and ask them to tell you what it means to them to have families last forever and life be more than just a lifetime of pain and work. Life is here to prepare us to meet God. My preparation, just life yours, has many furnaces of affliction, but there is ALWAYS and will ALWAYS be peace in Christ.

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

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Woah.... I'm not in Casper anymore.

Can I click my ruby red slippers and go back or no? Also, does anyone have ruby red slippers I could borrow? DM me if you do.

That's right, for everyone who didn't tune in last week your favorite Casper missionary isn't even in Casper anymore!! The world must be ending or something!

This week has been absolutely insane. No joke the craziest week so far on my mission *okay maybe second most crazy* so lets get through the intro and get to the good stuff.

So I have to take a moment to thank all the amazing people I left behind in Casper, all the fantastic members, non members, friends, and missionaries. Those were the hardest goodbyes I've had since I left home. They were my people, so it was like leaving my family all over again. Plus because of rules in the mission, I can't talk to Elders who became my best friends until they go home so it was just heartbreak all the way around. But as soon as I got on the bus and pulled away I knew it was something God needed me to do. Who knows why I stayed in Casper so long but I'm eternally grateful that I did.

So with the reminiscing behind us, I'm going to tell you how my week began.

Well my last P-Day (Preparation Day for you non missionaries) I had to say goodbye to my favorite missionaries (you know who you are) and finish packing before I got onto a charter bus the next morning. After getting on the charter bus I talked with some of the sisters for the entire ride (like 6 hours) before finally getting to Fort Collins where I met my new companion Sister Robinson!! After getting to Fort Collins I realized several things, first, I know almost none of the missionaries outside of the Casper people. Like in my entire Zone.... I knew one besides my companion..  yea that was a weird realization. I didn't realize how outdated I was until I roll into Fort Collins and realize everyone was someone I didn't know....it was strange.

The second realization I had was that holy cow.... I'm actually in civilization now. Guys, there's a Chick-Fil-A here AND the best part is... IT'S LITERALLY IN MY AREA. Fort Collins has everything, I went to Dutch Bros yesterday... I'm so hyped I don't know how to express how much I missed everything. There's a mall like a block away with all my OG stores, life is so good here in FoCo.

All that aside, after getting into the car and headed towards my new apartment Sister Robinson *who also just got to FoCo* tells me that apparently we are moving next week... which means we had to pack up our apartment we never lived in!! *So much Joy* so on top of not really knowing much about the area, we have to deal with moving, but no worries, we moved in yesterday, along with a lot of help from the Elders *thanks Zone Leaders*

Move in day was insane though because the payment hadn't been made so we weren't able to get the keys until 2 hours after we originally intended to move in, which pushed our whole day back. We had to take like 5 trips back and forth between both our old apartment and our new one and load and unload so much that I'm pretty sure my back is permanently out of place... I'm incredibly out of shape. But no worries our new place has a gym so I'll be frequenting there every 3rd month and I'll be in shape before I know it lol.

So because both Sister Robinson and I are new to this area, we have SO much catching up to do. We use every moment we aren't packing, transfer planning and all the other clerical stuff to try and get to know the area. We feel like there is so much to do but hopefully everything will slowly start to slow down in terms of moving and speed WAYYY up in terms of missionary work. We are cruisin though, don't worry about that.

I would like everyone to know that there is a Chick-fil-a in my area, now I realize I said that already but... it's a big deal it needed to be said twice

So despite all the craziness we actually were able to find a new person to teach!! Weirdly enough on the day that was supposed to be the most unproductive because we had to move, we found a new person. She actually seems super solid and even said that God had been nudging her towards our church for the past couple of years. *HUGE MIRACLE* We were so stocked about it that I kinda screamed in the car and did a little dance. *as per usual*

Well this week had been a whirlwind of ups and downs but I can safely say that the Church is still true in Fort Collins and that God watches out for His people.

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

How far I'll go

Attention everyone: this week is transfer week so stay tuned to find out where Sister Carter is being transferred, or is she even will be transferred. Trust me, you'll want to stay till the end for this one!

So this week was EXTREMELY slow. Especially because of transfers coming up but also because this transfer was a 7 week transfer so it felt like it dragged on forever. So as I am telling you all about my week, picture it all happening in slow motion. But in all reality, every single day Sister Morford and I looked at each other and said, why does today feel like 3 years. I am not complaining but *grumble grumble grumble* it took forever!!

On Wednesday we had the infamous Zone Meeting where we had some members of the high council come in and talk with us about the stake mission plan and what are something us as missionaries can do for the members. He told a story of how on his mission they were having 8-10 baptisms a month, then his mission president asked the missionaries to start asking our Heavenly Father for Baptisms and the next month they had 80 baptisms in the mission. It was inspiring, so guess what I'm doing every single time I pray (which is a lot, remember I'm a missionary). Yup, I'm praying to see baptisms in my area, who knows if anything will change but I'm trying to see the Lord's hand in everything.

Later that day I had mini exchanges with the STL's, which was AMAZING!! It was so good to switch things up. I was with Sister Jenkins and we had a blast and a half. We knocked on a few doors and met a couple people, but at one door we left a note saying how much we loved their dogs and left our phone number and they ACTUALLY texted us back *miracle* a few minutes earlier, I did a cartwheel in the snow nbd but I killed it.

Then we were trying to contact a few members and we saw these beautiful white dogs across the street so Sister Jenkins said we should go talk to the owners and find out what kind of dog they were. So we marched right over there and knocked a few times and a lady answered with the most GORGEOUS white dog in the world. We asked her what kind of dog it was and she launched into a huge shpeel about how she fosters Great Pyrenees dogs. We talked for a while and she said, you girls should come walking dogs with me (I almost started crying out of excitement) so long story short we decided on Saturday to walk the dogs *score*.

That started the best day ever. The morning of the dog walking, I was so excited about walking dogs I just started singing and kind of dancing around (those who have been around me know exactly what I'm talking about) we finally get all ready and we follow her to the dog park where I got to meet SO many dogs. Not even joking like 30 dogs were just roaming around being happy dogs and it was beautiful. I EVEN SAW A CORGI. Now for most of you a corgi seems like just another dog, but I don't think you understand, I cry when I see corgis because of how much I love them. So here I was minding my own business and a corgi walks around the corner, I almost died. I'm still shaking.

Later that day the Elders had a baptism for someone they were teaching and we tried to do everything in our power to get someone we were teaching to come to the baptism, but sadly it never seemed to work out, so we had to bite the bullet and not go support our Elders, and instead we contacted a house which was full of people literally watching us from the window, but didn't answer *ouch* but it worked our for our good because it turned out to be one of my favorite days, ok the mission, it just felt good.

So this is the moment you all have been waiting for. Sunday was Transfer Doc day which means we find out where we are getting transferred, if at all.

So backstory, on Transfer Doc days the AP's and our Mission President call all of the people who have special assignments such as being a trainer, District Leader, Zone Leader or Sister Training Leader. No one really knows when they make those calls or how that all works but the AP's call the trainers and District Leaders and President calls the STL's and Zone Leaders.

*end backstory*

So basically the entire day I was on edge because every single transfer except for two I had gotten a call from the AP's. Well sometime after dinner I still hadn't gotten a call and I had heard that a few other missionaries in my district had, so I assumed I wouldn't be getting an infamous call this transfer either. Well fast forward to 8 PM Sunday night, Sister Morford and I were at the church doing some studies when the phone starts ringing. I immediately go into shock and tell Sister Morford, who thinks I was joking. Then I show her the phone and we both just go silent.... it was our Mission President. So we answer the phone and soon enough he says, "Sister Carter, it's time" at this point I'm immediately in tears because I knew what was happening. He says, "You've been in your area for a long time, and you are being moved," more tears, "I also wanted to call because the Lord has asked you to be an STL," nervous sweating, "and you will be companions with Sister Robinson," anxious silence, "and you will be serving in Fort Collins."

So that's it ladies and gentleman, it actually happened, I'm being transferred for the first time in my entire mission. I talked with President for a little while longer before hanging up and crying with Sister Morford. I'm so sad to be leaving my home ward here in Casper but I know that it's time. It's a weird feeling to be in an area so long and then have to turn it over to someone else. I cared for this ward, I grew with this ward, I watched the ward struggled through deaths, and heartache, and I saw them come closer to Christ because of it. It's been a beautiful 9 months to be able to witness, and I have been so blessed to serve with the members of my ward as they took the challenge to invite others to come unto Christ. I'm going to miss my home.

I also have to be completely honest.... I don't know if I know how to be a missionary anywhere but Casper. Like, do the people in Colorado do missionary work the same? Do they even pray the same? Plus on top of having to learn how to be a missionary somewhere else, I also have to learn how to take care of the Sisters I'm now in charge of. A lot is happening all at once and I'm not sure I'm ready for it but I know that God is, so I'm going to have to lean on Him while I learn how to walk again.

So that's my week, it's been full of tears, love, and heartache. I'm having to say so many goodbyes to the people I love, plus pack up the life I created here for 9 months.

I'm excited for my new adventure!! Next time you hear from me I will be in Fort Collins, Colorado!

Sister Carter