So it's been a wild 2 weeks let me just tell you, I'm in a trio, which is lowkey the BEST. I literally am obsessed with Sister Harris, y'all have NO idea how much I needed her. She literally is making my entire life a party. I CANNOT express how much I love her. I'm laughing almost all day everyday, she just GETS my humor and language, it's almost like a breath of fresh air.
So starting 2 weeks back we had transfers!! It was such a weird day because I got to see a TON of missionaries, which was definitely illegal, like I'm pretty sure we broke the law.... don't tell anyone. While I was there I got to see all my homies! Elder Smith, Sister Jenkins, Elder Williams, Sister Brown, and a bunch of other names your probably don't know at all, but Elder Smith even gave me a dog mask, which I consistently use all the time. It was honestly a weird feeling because we all were there but we were very aware that we shouldn't all be there but we couldn't not be there... ya know?
After transfers we started back on the missionary grind. The next day the Zone Leaders asked us to help/be in the weekly live video for Facebook, which we accepted. It was actually insanely frustrating because there was always interruptions, whether its from boats or people or water. There was always something that went wrong. By the end one of the Elders, Elder Ufland, who is the Zone Leader, was UPSET. Like visible annoyed, needless to say I was mega uncomfy. But my trusted companion got a picture of his red anger face, you'll have to check out the pictures to fully get the vibe.
Then after that week we had lots of random miracles. Since we are now covering 2 wards we had someone from the other ward who was looking to get baptized but we hadn't been able to contact her for a week and we were starting to get worried that she just dropped off the face of the earth. We knew she was staying at a motel on the other side of town so we did just decided to drive over there in hope that she would be outside walking around? It was a far stretch but we all felt like it was a good idea. The entire time, I just knew that we would catch her outside, i don't know why, or how but I was completely sure that she would be there. So we drive across town and then we drive around the motel and.... there was nothing. She wasn't there. So Sister Robinson says, "We should pray" we all nod our heads and Sister Harris says a simple prayer asking to be able to find her. We finish the prayer and I look up to see a Corgi walking out from one of the rooms. Now if you are familiar with me, you'll know that I'm obsessed with Corgis. Immediately I say, "That's a sign from God" almost joking but also acknowledging that the odds of seeing someone who could afford a 4,000 dollar corgi staying a a motel 6 were extremely low so it had to be from God *I'm actually serious about it being a sign from God* Both of my companions just look at me sideways thinking, "Mmmm seems fake" but they suggest we drive around the building one more time. So we do.... and immediately after we turn the corner, SHE WAS WALKING AROUND THE CORNER. Not even 30 seconds later, we found her. God is literally SO real. Who honestly would have thought we would happen to see her outside walking around. Also the fact that I saw a Corgi, that was God just having fun, what a guy.
Also sorry this email might be long.... you can just skip to the end and look at the pictures if necessary.
THEN just yesterday we had another MAJOR hurdle. So we have been working with someone named Brandon for a few months now and he is going to be baptized on the 25th. We are so excited but yesterday he sent us a text saying that he wasn't sure he wanted to go through with it *big stress* so we immediately call him to try and talk him through whatever was going on. We got on the phone and he started listing all of the reason he didn't want to be baptized and holy cow.... I was so sure this was the end, so I did what and good missionary would do... I prayed like I was about to die and I needed forgiveness. I ask God to do 2 things, soften Brandon's heart, and help me to say the things God needed me to say. At first he was unresponsive, and just ranted for 20 minutes, and I was stressing out. Then finally I said, Brandon, can I tell you a story? He says, sure. I say, it's from my life if that's okay, he agreed and I started to tell him about an experience I had in my life. While I was telling the story I noticed that my words were flowing much easier than I thought, and I felt such genuine strong love for him. All I wanted was to help him see that being baptized is the best thing for him. I wanted him to feel how much I loved him and how MUCH God loved him. We spent over an hour with him on the phone just slowly talking him down from the ledge. He had a lot of concerns and I can honestly say that if this wasn't Christs church, there would have been no way I could have said or done anything to change his mind, but because Christ is in charge. He guided me and my companions on exactly what to say to calm his troubled heart. We decided to also start calling him for 15 minutes every day and read the scriptures with him, so he knows that we love him and want the best for him. It was the most humbling experience to get to feel of such Godly patience and love for one of Gods children, I hope I live worthy enough to keep that going.
This week we also had a lot of speed bumps concerning the Facebook live video. *deep breaths* so basically we asked a member to do a musical number for the live video on Sunday but by Saturday we still didn't have it. And the Zone Leaders were yet again UPSET, except this time... he was so upset he was silent... I was MEGA uncomfortable. I don't like it when people are upset. I remembered reading somewhere they when something is stressing someone out putting a physical barrier between it and them helps to calm their brain. So I stood behind a tree. No I'm not exaggerating, or pretending, I literally stood behind a tree. At first it was just slightly but when that wasn't enough I stood like 7 feet away from them behind a tree. Even though I'm very emotionally secure sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do so a tree was it for me.
I also just wanted to quickly say something I've come to terms with this past week. I have realized that the gospel means more to me than I originally intended. I came on my mission as a passive learner, who never took the time to dedicate my concentrated effort to the gospel, but now a year into my mission, I realize that my heart has changed. Everything in me wants to be better, not because I want it for my own good, but because God wants it for me and I want to be with God again. I realize that the stupid things that didn't bother me before, like having people swear around me, now makes my heart hurt whenever I hear it. It was a change I honestly didn't expect. I did not think that serving a mission would 100 percent change the way that I felt about the world. This past week I have been out on my mission for a whole year. And entire year just dedicated to learning, teaching and growing in the gospel. Looking back, I realize that my progress in the gospel was slow, but between you and me.... I have a completely different testimony now than when I walked into the MTC. I know with more strength and conviction that God does and will lead me. He does and will love me. And He does and will push me to be better, and it can only happen in His Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.
I am so grateful I chose to be on a mission. This year has absolutely changed my life.
I love you all lots and loads!
Remember God is in the details!
Sister Carter
