Stormy Weather...With a Chance of Snow

Family and Friends,

Many of you are wondering what my companion is like. Let me just say that Sister Sheldon is now one of my best friends. Although our interests are polar opposites, we think on the same brain wave (we read each other's thoughts!) and we have so much in common! She is from Logandale Nevada and is about my height (half an inch taller). She was going to BYU for mechanical engineering and has been out on her mission for 6 months. Since day 1 we were instant friends. Many times she forgets that I am still a newbie and I get thrown into some situations that I really don't know what to do in....I give her a look and she remember and proceeds to take over. She's such a help and so amazing!

Sister Sheldon and I after our run this morning

Our branch, the Sealy 1st branch, keeps us going about 90 mph. As sisters are high in demand, we have lots of places to be but only 1 day a week to to dedicate to that place...and more than often multiple places. We also have Elder's in our branch too...but the are requested more often by more people. We cope with chocolate (both), singing (me), and cooking (Sis. Sheldon). In our spare time, we tend to tease the Elders. They are both on either the last transfer or 2nd to last transfer and need us to remind them of their purpose more often than not. I love the times we get to bond as a district (Spanish sisters included) and become more unified as a district whether it's playing basketball or our weekly district mtng.

Our branch goes out to Wiemer (in the Katy Stake).
I'm pointing at about where we live.

Our weeks are always busy. It takes anywhere from 20-30 minutes at minimum to get to anywhere. I am now settling into the groove of everything and I am learning to love it here!  I'm pretty positive that after I'm done with in field training I will be taking over the area (so plan on me being here till about May, but be flexible for change whenever). There are days that you feel like you get a lot done and others where you feel like you don't accomplish much, but we are beating some of our goals, this is the encouragement at the end of the week. This past week was power packed. We focus on inactive and part member families in the branch. We have about 80 members who come regularly to church and around 250 on our membership records.

Monday, my first p-day, as a district, we watched Ephraim's Rescue. I loved it!! Later that night, we went to the Wendt's family home. This is Michele's in-laws and they are inactive members. When we got there Michele Grant and their kids were there. We checked up on her and she said she had read part of Romans 8. This excited us so much! We then, after Michele and Grant left we talked to Grant's parents and challenged them to start coming back to church and to be an example to Michele. We are still working with them.

Other days blurred by and then Thanksgiving came! We drove into Sealy to the Grays. We love them so very much! Sister Gray got me gluten-free Bisquick and that was such a great blessing. Brother and Sister Gray then drove us out to Wiemer where we went to Brother Keller's. Brother Keller is in his 50's and from Utah. He served a mission back in the day and has a special place for the missionaries. We had about 11 people (including the Elder's and their recent convert) there. One of our investigators who lives out there came with his girlfriend (who is a member). He is in his 60's and has in past years served time in jail. It is awesome to see his change he is making. He first heard about the church in prison and studied with it for 8 years there. While there, we ate a feast!! We had the generic spread with Turkey and Ham, but with a few additions: brisket and venison. Bro. Keller makes THE BEST brisket. I didn't even have the turkey or ham. The deer was okay. It tasted like a firmer beef. but hey! I can say that it was pretty great. After that was all done, we went back to Sealy. We departed the Gray's and went out to Brookshire. We visited 2 families there and at 8 we made our way home.

Friday we had zone conference and stayed in Brookshire and surrounding areas for the day. Saturday we had a child's baptism in Sealy. That was a wonderful experience! Later that afternoon we headed up to Belville where Michele and Grant live. Michele wasn't home but Grant really wanted us to come back in an hour. We visited a couple other places and came back to the Wendts. Michele had to go to the grocery store and said she'd be back in 5 minutes. I promise you that she is a woman of her word. it took her 5 minutes at most. We then proceeded to ask here how things were going. She hadn't read more and she hasn't prayed yet. We then placed our 2nd Book of Mormon of the day and set a goal of her praying by Saturday December 7th. We will call and check up a few times this week. She is so ready to run. All she needs to do is stand to do it.

Yesterday, we had a 2nd Thanksgiving feast! After church, we came to the Turners, where we live, and helped them with the gathering of missionaries and their kids for dinner. Sister Sheldon and I were very full. We got to decorate the tree up stairs with their grand kids. We also got our little tree and nativity set. It's so cute and little! Christmas is coming and I am so excited to be able to share the good news of the gospel during this wonderful season. Tis' the reason for the season, right?!? Speaking of the season, Brother Kenneth Turner, who is an incredible artist AND the ward mission leader, informed us that by the end of the week we will be back to cold and rainy. EVEN A CHANCE OF SNOW. I freaked out a little...that is why it is the title of this email. I'm enjoying the beautiful weather while we have it today and tomorrow...but hey!! Maybe i'll give it 10 minutes and it'll be different.

Our Christmas tree and Nativity set!! 

Thank ya'll for all of the love and support. I truly feel it each and every day. I would like to bear my solemn testimony of the truth of this gospel. It is truly amazing. I find great joy in it each and every day that I am out here.

Remember to look at others with the same eye of God. See them as they can become, see them in white.

--Sister Carling