Here I am again typing out another weekly email trying to hold back the bundle of emotions I've felt this past week. Don't worry I'll hold back the tears for this email ;) *already crying*
This weeks episode on the Sister Carter Show will focus primarily on my love of the Savior, as this week I've been specifically inspired about my connection to Him. So cue the theme music
*insert Havana Ooo Nah Nah music changed to say Savanna Ooo Nah Nah*
All jokes aside I was touched multiple times this week as I realized how close I have grown to my Savior Jesus Christ over these past 18 months (yea I hit my 18 month mark this coming Sunday... wild right?) During my last Zone Meeting this week my Zone Leader asked us all what the Savior means to us. I raised my hand and said, "He is everything to me" Now I know that may seem super generic but then I continued, "There is a song that is supposed to be a love song but it perfectly explains what I mean when I say He is everything to me" The song goes something like this but I am going to change the words slightly to fit Christ.
He is the air I breathe
He is the song I sing
He is the war that I can't win,
this is my white flag in the wind
Every word He speaks
is the air I breathe
I didn't and I still don't know how to express my thoughts more purely than that. Christ has given me everything I have. In my past apartments I had a picture wall filled with pictures from my life, my baptism, clogging pictures, vacations with friends, lots and lots of mission pictures, basically my whole life was shown on that wall. One day I was sitting in bed looking at all of these pictures and I realized that every single good thing, every single picture was because Christ gave them to me. They were all because of His church on this earth. I would have never gotten into clogging if my mom hadn't been looking for a studio that had modest costumes. I would have never met my roommates if I didn't decide to go to BYU. I would have never met some of my closest friends if I didn't go to YSA. Christ was the reason behind every single one of my pictures. He was there for it all, how could I not be forever indebted to Him.
The next thing I wanted to talk about is the healing that comes through the Savior. Just a few days ago I woke up and my brain was foggy. This happens every so often, usually when I am under a lot of stress (who would have thought going home would be so stressful ) So I spent most of the day, very silent, trying to just wait out the fog. Well I went to a lesson with an older couple who I love so so dearly. They have been members all their lives and even served a couple's mission in the early 2000s. After chatting with them for a bit we started talking about what the Atonement has meant to us. Brother Hardy said, "There is a quote from last conference about the Atonement that has changed the way that I have viewed it. It is something along the lines of, while the Atonement is infinite in nature, it says, 'although infinite and universal in its reach, the Lord’s Atonement is a remarkably personal and intimate gift, suited to each of us individually'" Then he looked up at us, with tears in his eyes, and in the sweetest, most angelic voice, says, "I've always thought of the Atonement as something that covers everyone, but after hearing that I realized that Christ paid a personal Atonement for me."
After hearing that I about lost control of my tear ducts but I held on as I replied, "I am eternally grateful for what Christ did for me and for my family. There are things that I know can only truly be healed after the resurrection and knowing that Christ made it possible for those to end, for me, that is indescribable." We finished talking and left and that heaviness I had felt that entire rest of the day was lifted. I know it was because I was able to connect to someone who had a special ability to heal and calm. Whether it was Brother Hardy, or Christ, it is the same.
If you are a missionary PLEASE go listen to the devotional by Bishop Waddell, it was SO amazing and definitely made me learn so much more about Christ and my dedication to my mission, I promise, it will change your life.
If you aren't a missionary, I've decided his devotional will be the topic of my homecoming talk in a few weeks so you will have to come and listen to me talk about it then!
I love you all lots and loads
Remember God is in the details
Sister Carter
Not too many pictures this week, but I'll take more soon!
