This past week was super fun. Happy Birthday Grandpa!! I hope your 80th was fantastic!!
Monday we partied with the Memorial Springs sisters. It was Sister Bonner's Birthday. We watched the Joseph Smith movie. I cried (per usual). I just gotta say that I have a testimony of what Joseph Smith did. He truly was a prophet and he had SUCH a strong desire to bring to pass the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am willing, like him, to give my life as a sacrifice for the Lord and his Everlasting Gospel.
Sister Bonner, Sister Ririe, Sister Carling & Sister Wahlen
Tuesday...hmmm...OH!! Well first of Sister Wahlen got burnt and I got kinda burnt. Second, we got to go to mission prep!! I have learned so much in this short time. It amazes me. We got to play an investigator for some of those who are preparing to serve. I know enough. (Dad, in that letter I sent you could you or mom type it up and post it on the blog if I don't get to doing that today? I want to share it with everyone.) Anyways, I was able to view and see how much knowledge I DO have. It was such a confirmation that I have enough and I am learning and growing every day on how to be better.
Wednesday morning, I was looking for my watch that chimes on the hour. I couldn't find it and asked Sister Wahlen, "Where's my beeping watch...whoops." Thus ensued the continual laughter of the day. We've been really good at telling unintentional pun's lately. It keeps us ever laughing, something I enjoy doing in my spare time. That afternoon, we took Allison Macie out to go on visits with us. It was raining...but wonderful! That evening we had dinner with the cuties (Sister Garrison, 82 and Sister Pearson, 84). I love them so much. They always have us laughing. Sister Garrison has breast cancer and is ever so positive about it. We shared D&C 112:11,13. She bears her trials patiently. Oh how we admire them in their age!!
Thursday is planning day. We end out being inside like half the day and our brains are a little numb by the end of it, BUT we make due with what brain power we got. We went to Cottage Gardens and walked around in the rain again. It's always an adventure in the rain.
Friday we had district meeting and met the new Elder from the MTC. Elder Armacost is also from northern Utah. I am still alone in this aspect of where we are from. After, we went tracting in Cottage Gardens. I really dislike tracting, but it is a hoot! People say the darnest things I tell ya. It was WAY bright and sunny, so we got some more sun. I'm going to be REALLY dark by the end of the summer....lemme tell ya. We also got to contact a couple of teenagers who seemed interested. Super exciting!! Juan was unable to meet with us that evening. We are hoping to schedule a time to see him sometime soon!!
Saturday morning there was a community garage sale and we went to meet people. We handed out a few mormon.org cards with our number on it. Planting seeds for those of the future. In the afternoon, we got to do some service at a neighborhood Easter party! Needless to say, Sister Wahlen and I got LOTS of sun. Like I said, if I'm on a bike all summer, I am going to have a cute farmers tan. Dinner with the Roger's is a blast. We got to eat cereal again!! We then rode with them to the women's conference which started at 7. As many of you know, Saturday was the General Women's Conference and it was amazing!! I got to see Sister Shield's sister-in-law (the one who's son is in the Scottsdale mission)!! She walked past me as I was walking in. We got a picture so it should get emailed to you at some point!! (One of many who is looking for me I guess!) Mom...Like you, I cried because I knew you and Lex were watching it at the same time. It was something we did together...in different states.(Flood gates proceed to open here) I could SO feel the unity of women across the world in that room. It was such a beautiful experience. It was also Sister Sheldon's birthday. Happy day!
Sister Wahlen & Sister Carling w/ Lindsey, Karin, Natalie & Brooke Myers
(our friend Kim Sheilds sister-in-law)
Sunday. We had church, had an awesome meeting with Bishop afterwards, and then we went to go and try to visit a referral. He was not interested. Our hearts kinda got depressed just like in Alma 26. Sister Wahlen told me that she realized that that is a glimpse to how Christ feels every time someone denies his atonement. It was just heart breaking. So we decided we were going to collect our pennies we had laid down on the tracks the day before. I gotta tell you what I wrote my mission president because it was such an awesome lesson learned. Here it is: "This week, Sister Wahlen and I decided to press some pennies on the railroad tracks. I tell you this because there was some wonderful revelation given. We cross the tracks in order to get into one of our areas and as we went to the place to gather our 35 pennies, we came to realize that we only found 20. this was kinda heart breaking. So I decided to walk a little further down the tracks. we then found 8 more bringing our total to 28. These pennies represent people, lost sheep. We have been focusing in one area of our ward for quite some time now. It is the easiest to get to because we don't need transportation because we live in the area. We need to expand our search to those outlaying areas and rely on our members more. We will come to find those lost pennies. Pressed and ready to put on a new impression for the Lord. Those few pennies that are lost...well they had agency. They chose not to make themselves view-able or they hopped on that train and left. Such a wonderful lesson to learn!!" It was awesome how the Lord told me this. It just kinda hit me.
Today I realized my scriptures are getting really marked up. I'm really enjoying that. It means I'm learning!! Since it is a new set (October), I have loved starting fresh and being able to learn more things.
Remember to keep the Gospel in the front of your mind. How do you remember to do that every day? How do you share your testimony with your friends you have known for years or those strangers you have just barely met? Remember that all those around you are your brothers and sisters. You knew them before you came here. Remember that they love you so much and are waiting for you to open your mouth!!
God bless from Texas!!
--Sister Carling
Sister Carling and Sister Wahlen
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