Mountains and Molehills

Howdy Ya'll.

Imagine a mountain. Up hill being good and down hill being bad. That was my week. It was a bit like the top of Caleb's head...rocky...I mean I guess that I could expound...I'll give you some of the highlights!

Monday afternoon we got together as a zone. YAY for talking with other missionaries!! That night we had dinner with the Hoff's and shared Alma 42:22-24. It talks all about justice and mercy. We had a wonderful discussion about trials and hardships. It was so wonderful to remember all that the Savior has done for us because of His love for us: The Atonement. After that we went over to the Sanford's and challenged each of them to share a copy of The Book of Mormon with someone they would pray about. I am so excited to hear of the experiences they get to have. That night Bishop and his wife took us home and then I got to leave for exchanges. Sister Schellhous, my companion for the next 24 hrs, served in Parkway as her first area. 

 Sister Carling and Sister Schellhous

Tuesday was Sister Wahlen's Birthday!! We had a little party that night. During the day we did service at a food bank. That afternoon we had an appt to go to with the YSA sisters. It was Meridan Morgan, the same sister I got to visit the LAST TIME of exchanges!!! Sister King and I both agreed that it was not at all coincidence. The spirit needed me to convey the message. Talk about an awesome experience. In the evening, We visited one of Magnolia's investigators who was baptized this past Saturday. He was so prepared. When we got back to Sis. Canfield's, she had a cake awaiting for Sis Wahlen. :) It was Super Fun!!

Wednesday we got to visit Rena. She loves the Book of Mormon. It's so wonderful to watch her grow. We extended a baptismal date, June 7, and she accepted!! We cannot wait to see her enter the waters of baptism. It will be wonderful.

Thursday we had interviews with President. Interviews are the best days (along with temple days). It's a day where you get to just talk to president about anything for 5 or so precious minutes. We got to write our new mission president who will come in late June/early July. It was great. That night we gave the Oakcrest Hermana's the Magarin family. It's been difficult with with things, but it's all for the progress and work of salvation. We also met with our new Relief Society president, Sister Blackhurst. I am so excited to work with her.

 Interview Day!

Friday was great. Michael and Sara Shelly and their girls were in town and they took Sis Wahlen and I out to lunch at Red Robin. Talk about awesome!! It was so great getting to know him and his family better! We came back and finished up weekly planning (moved to Friday because of interviews). On our way home from our appts that night, we ended out taking a different way home. We ended out meeting Crystal. She is 17 and has had a pretty rough life, but she's ready for the gospel. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she accepted it! We hope to be able to see her soon!

 Michael & Sarah Shelly & daughter with Sister Carling

Sister Carling & Sister Wahlen

Sister Wahlen, Sister Carling & The Michael Shelly Family

Sister Carling at Red Robin w/ the Shelly Family

Saturday we went over to Sugarberry/Cottage Gardens to visit our investigators and less active's. After many turns of events, we visited a few less actives that Sis Wahlen and I have come to love and see grow and change.That night we had dinner with Sis Canfield. She took us to Los Cucos, GOOD Mexican food. I miss Arizona-Mexican food...Tex-Mex is way different. That night we went over our lesson in Relief Society. We teach the "Teachings for Our Times" lesson. I have TRULY come to love teaching that. We taught from Elder Scott's talk in October 2013. I would invite all of you to read or listen to it here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/personal-strength-through-the-atonement-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

Sundays. The day we get to partake of the Sacrament and renew our covenants we made at baptism. It's always wonderful. In PEC, we learned of 3 characteristics of a priesthood holder: Prayer, Service, and Rock Hard Honesty. I hope that each of us can apply these principles into our lives. We were able to visit a sister that evening who is working on coming back to church. She has such a desire and is taking the steps in the right direction. As she has began this endeavor, she has also shared the gospel with her son. Such a wonderful thing to watch!!

This morning I cried. I cried because Satan is working hard. I cried because I feel the hurt the Savior feels when dealing with rejection. I cried at some of my mistakes.

But I also rejoiced.

I have the gospel. I can share it every day...and so can YOU. The Lord will lead and direct each of us to those who are ready and if they aren't...then we're just helping them for future missionaries. I rejoice in the fact that God loves each of us and watches over all of our worries.

Right now I am reading in Helaman. So much war and heartache is going on in the prior chapters. We have each been given the opportunity to fight a war no one will ever fight: our individual lives. No one will ever live your life. It is yours. No one will ever serve your mission. It is yours. No one can stop the Lord's work. It is His. 

The Lord truly is hastening His work...can you keep up with the wave?? We each will have to join at some point or another. Come join the ranks. The time is soon at hand.

Y'all have a blessed day.

Much love,

--Sister Carling

Welcome Warmer Weather

Warmer weather is on its way unfortunately. Last night was an amazing night for bike riding. It was well enjoyed.

This week was eventful. I know it was. I just need to remember all that happened. Lots of things happen in missionary work.

I failed to mention last week that Monday morning we got a referral texted to our cellular device. It was a man who wanted a priesthood blessing for his wife. She was in the CCU in Tomball regional. We arranged for that to happen and we went down there with the Farnsworth's (Dad we are related to them down in the colonies through Moses something or other) and Brother Jones. What a wonderful experience!! He gave us 2 pieces of advice concerning marriage:

1. Never day the "D" word.(Divorce)

2. you will fall in and out of love every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every month of every year. The commitment is still there, so if you can stand to e around them 80% of the time...you're a lot better off than most folks.

I truly enjoyed getting to meet him and I look forward to (hopefully) meeting with him again.

Tuesday I learned that "Gratitude Determines Attitude". We were at Maggie's when I thought this. So I am trying to be more grateful. That afternoon we went to the Burn's and helped them to unpack. They just moved, but they stayed in the ward. After, we stopped by Sis. McQuay's and gave her flowers for her birthday. Our dinner that night ended out not being home so we were able to have dinner with our ride: Annie Olsen. She is so great!! She is less active but always willing to serve! That night we got to go to mission prep!! I love mission prep!! We were able to teach them about the importance of the area book...Keep it updated!! Future missionaries will love you for it!!

 "That ring costs about 12 grand.  I got to try it on!!"

Wednesday was interesting. I re-learned that "cleanliness is next to Godliness". You are able to feel the Spirit stronger when things are clean. That evening we were able to have dinner with the Hammer's. It is always a treat. The Hammer's personalities can leave you rolling on the floor if you are looking at the situation just right. That evening we were able to visit another less active and share a message with her about God's love. We answered her prayers in essence. After that we visited the Eric and Angela Bell. Kaylee, their Daughter, saw my temple recommend and asked me, "Are you married because my mom is and she has one of those" Here proceeds Sister Carling's laughter as she explains about the temple.

Thursday is planning day as most of you may recall.We ended out planning for a long time. We found more potentials that we didn't realize we still had and made a new list for that. We had dinner at the Kunz, did some tracting, and stopped by the Roger's to give them a challenge. Lately we've been giving families opportunities to share a pass-along card or a copy of The Book of Mormon. It's been fun to get the members more involved. I also got packages!! What a wonderful treat!! Mail and packages are like mini Christmas' for a missionary. I must say they are my favorite!!

Good Friday was a mission changing day. I really mean it!! I love the Karen and Michael Bell family. (If you are reading this Sister Bell...Just know that I do!!) We were able to have dinner with them and Sis Bell came out with us that evening for a couple of hours. We were able to talk to so many people!! It was great!! She also observed and told us to ask, "Would you like to hear a scripture" instead of "are you interested". We were able to talk to a couple of people and the last man was very interested in hearing a scripture. It was wonderful to be able to share a part of my testimony with him.

Saturday morning, we made cookies with Sister Canfield for our investigators and decorated them. In the afternoon, I was able to cut some hair! I really enjoyed it!! People are starting to hear that I cut hair and are casually starting to ask. It's kinda funny to watch. That evening after dinner with Sister Canfield, She came out with us and we were able to deliver some cookies with her. It was wonderful!

Sunday morning...Easter morning...The Easter bunny came to our place. It was so cute! I love living with Sister Canfield. She is so kind and considerate. We had church and I was able to see Richard and Lindsay Ure! It was way cool! After we were able to talk to Bishop a little more about getting the ward more missionary minded. We are working out a plan for a Sunday in June to talk about that and have Diana Hoelshier come and speak. She is an amazing speaker and spoke at a Time out for Women out here. I am SUPER excited!! We had dinner at the Baker's. I LOVE the Baker family too! They have caught the wave and are more than happy to help us and are always trying to seek people for us to teach. We had raclette for dinner. Pretty much the coolest. It is like a griddle and you melt cheese under it and you cook whatever on the top and dump the cheese on it. Pretty awesome!!

 Richard & Lindsay Ure with Sister Carling
(mom’s note:  Richard Ure taught history at Heritage for a year or two and 

Lindsay is sisters with one of Tosha’s high school friends Joseph Gallacher)

It's Monday. I got my hair trimmed....I'm growing it out....we will see how long this lasts with summer coming....

God bless from Texas!!

--Sister Carling

Atonement Came Up Lot's...The Reason Being An Important Invitation (Read More to Find Out!!!)

Hello all.

This past week it has started to get really warm. Logically I packed up most of my winter gear...put it in the VERY back of the closet. It was so illogical of me to do that...who am I kidding. I'm in Texas. We walked out of my chiropractor appointment this morning and it had dropped AT LEAST 30 degrees...and it was raining...all within an hour. What a treat.

SO my week this week was pretty uneventful...I think.

Monday evening after dinner, we left a few challenges with some members...some of them consisted of giving a copy of The Book of Mormon out, others were Pass-along cards. Members and missionaries must work together in order to bring to pass the gathering of Israel. What can YOU do to further the work of salvation??

Tuesday we got to go to the family history center with Sister Burkhardt. I found 2 names to take to the temple!!! How exciting!!!!! SO Lexi and Ben...be looking for those in the mail in a couple weeks. I'll go to the temple in like 2 weeks and get them there. It'll be just like last time. That afternoon we visited the Magarin's and a few other potentials. Michelle is growing SO very much!! It is so wonderful to see her grow.

Wednesday we got words of wisdom from Maggie. she said "Don't become a taker" and that "The smallest choice can make the biggest difference." There were also some first's: I saw my first stucco house in Texas (everything is brick or vinyl covered) and I saw some Christmas lights...in April of all months. Might as well celebrate the life of the savior year round. That night we went over to Pastor Michael's house and gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon. We had taken and marked scriptures for him to read. He is such a wonderful man and he accepted the book. I cannot wait to meet with him again and hear how it is going! (He has a prayer room too!!)

Thursday during planning we got a text from Michael. It said, "Thursday's blessing be with you..sis Carling and Sis Wahlen..May you continue on the foundation God has built for you a foundation wherein if men build they cannot fall..Amen!" It was the sweetest thing to hear Heleman 5:12 being quoted to us. He read at least one of the scriptures!! It was such a tiny, tender mercy! We opened our mouths in the park as we finished up planning and a 15-ish age girl said she would be interested in learning more. She knew a couple members in the ward. I pray that we can be able to get in with her. Later that night we went to a play for a part member family. It was great to be able to talk with them and to get to know the family. Plantin' seeds!

Friday we had district meeting. I got to play an investigator and needless to say...I was overwhelmed by the spirit I started crying. The Savior and His Atonement are endless. He is so loving to fill the demands of justice with His mercy. I cannot thank Him enough. That afternoon we spent time in Cottage gardens. Henry is back so we stopped by and said hi to him. We stopped by a few other potentials before we stopped by Sister Karen Bell's and we were able to do some service for her. On our way to dinner at Sister Rushing's, we were waiting to cross Bourdeaux. Sister Wahlen nearly climbed off her bike when she saw one of the cars stopped next to us. as her bike tipped over, another girl ran out of her truck and they hugged. One of Sister Wahlen's former investigators, Rena (pronounced like Ren-ay), now lives in our area. I found this out after quite a bit of commotion. It was all a blur for the 3 of us.

Saturday morning I cut hair for the first time in like 9 weeks. Kinda crazy!! I kinda miss it. Later that afternoon, we went back to Cottage Gardens again. Let me tell y'all this: People here drive aggressively. They don't like pedestrians and they don't like people on bikes. I mean the day before someone even flipped us off...get my point?? The main roads are pretty dangerous, so we take neighborhood roads. So we're just biking along and this car pulls up behind us and we pull to the side and he turns up his music. The song playing is "Your Love" by Brandon Heath. Some kind soul was patient with us!! We looked back (because we turned) and he threw out a peace sign!! That just set the day right. We smiled and laughed all the ride. We got to go and see Rena. She has a thick Texas accent and boy did mine come back. Sealy left that impression on me. The rest of the day it was pretty hard to get rid of. That night after dinner with the Macie's we went over to the Loredo's. They were making fresh mexican food. It was SO very good!!!

Sunday we had meetings and church. The Relief Society and Young Women's presidencies got re-arranged. I also learned that the Atonement fills your soul. I mean I already knew this but I found this certain phrase intriguing. Yesterday was a blur...that's about all I can remember.

Monday, Today. About the title of the email. President sent our a challenge to the mission. He asked us to read The Book of Mormon by June 30 asking ourselves and highlighting any passage that helps us to answer the following: "How can I use the enabling and strengthening power of the Atonement?". Elder Bednar issued this challenge to them this past week and he in turn asked each of us to do this. Later, I had a Chiropractic appt. This is why my email is going out a little later than usual. The weather has been bi-polar yet again. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I didn't have a sweater. It was SO COLD!! I feel as if this winter won't end...BUT i will enjoy the cool weather while I got it. I already have an awkward tan...but hey!! I have received such wonderful witnesses from the Lord. 

I guess this week was eventful. Life just get's so crazy out here.

God Bless from Texas!!

--Sister Carling

I am wearing a sweater and it is April 7th.

Hello Everyone.

I am wearing a sweater. A cold front came in...again. Winter just doesn't want to go away. I could really just tell ya'll "go listen to General Conference" and leave it at that...but I guess I should also tell you a bit about what went on during the week...Not much.

Monday night after dinner with the Ure's, we had Family Home Evening with the Heckers. We watched a video that was shown on KSL about words and the way we use them. A young men's group used different words used to describe the young women in the ward. In return, a smile from each girl. These words played in the background:

Words can build us up,

Words can break us down

Start a fire in our hearts

or put it out.

Words - Hawk Neilson

How are we using our words? Are we using them to be uplifting and edifying??

Tuesday I accidentally ate wheat and didn't have enough water in my system. Not a cool combination. Twizzlers apparently have wheat in them. figured that out when I ate the last one. Not a happy Sister Carling. BUT I now know and will not eat Twizzlers and I will also drink lots of water! The Baker's were kind enough to give me a water bottle and to feed us dinner.

Wednesday we had dinner at Eric and Angela Bell's home. They just had a new baby about 5 weeks ago. Their oldest girl ,who is maybe 5, told us about when her mom found out when she was pregnant. She told it like a kid history skit. Quite humorously. Later on, we were at the Mediros family's home and Jacob, 6, Told us a joke. "Why did the chicken cross the playground.........To get to the other slide!" Kids are the best. I can't tell you how much i have come to love teaching them. It makes you think and stretch and learn simply. Sometimes you just gotta laugh at them and try not to make them mad at the same time.

Thursday was planning, planning, planning. We are trying to figure ways to better "Hasten the Lord's Work". I cannot stress enough the importance of members and missionaries working together. We visited Michelle and Jennifer Magarin that night. Michelle really opened up to us! It was exciting to see her turning more fully to Christ. Sister Karen Bell gave us a ride home that evening and it was great to talk more about the Lord's work. It truly is hastening.

Zone meeting was on Friday. 

Saturday and Sunday. General Conference weekend. How wonderfully beautiful to be edified and enlightened by our leaders of the church. I feel like alot of what they were telling us was that we MUST know where we stand. We CANNOT shrink. Elder Holland's talk really hit hard. I encourage all of you to invest a few dollars in to "Preach My Gospel" just like Elder Ballard asked all of us to do. Members and missionaries must work together...so...why not know the What Why and how of what we teach so that you can learn and teach along side of us?? The What is the Restoration, Why is the Plan of Salvation, and How is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Write those at the top of each section. What happened?? Why do we do it?? How can it be done?? It's all answered in those sections and it's all very simple. All it requires is faith and actions.

Sorry to keep this somewhat short but we got places to go and people to see!!

Have a blessed day y'all!!

--Sister Carling

 Sister Carling w/ Ellis' bunny

  Sister Carling's average study session=semi-circle

  Sister Wahlen & Sister Carling biking along the Bayou

 Sister Ro Canfield with her dogs Bear and Martin

(Sister Carling & Wahlen live in Sister Canfield's home)