Hello!! I have a new email! If you'd like to reach me, my new email is natoshacarling@gmail.com

I love you all!!

--Sister Carling

The Last Letter

The end is here at hand... and yesterday was completely normal. 

We had Stake Conference, all our appointments dropped, our investigator told us she was lesbian, and we were told things that kinda scared my ears....a recent convert was just frustrated so we got to hear all about it. So just a normal day for a missionary. 

Last night, I had the hardest time sleeping. It took me at LEAST an hour to fall asleep and I kept waking up during the night. It's here...I'm coming home. It's hard to believe how the time flew. I still see myself as who I was when I first came out...but I'm not. It's going to be interesting to see how everything will work out, but I know it will.  I start school in a week and life is just in the balance I feel like I've gotten to the peak of a teeter-totter just for me to be bounced back to the ground.

Also, It rained all week....Texas has been having a strangely wet and cooler spring. It was mostly 70 degrees this week.

On to the week:

Tuesday we had a bunch of lessons. In the morning, we volunteered at the food bank. in the afternoon, we had our lessons. It was a happy happy day!

Wednesday we volunteered at the Library and since it was raining we couldn't go up to campus...so instead we made follow-up calls. It was great! We had a couple lessons that afternoon and that evening we had correlation/institute.

Thursday we had the LAST weekly planning session. It's crazy. For lunch, we got to go to Fuego...my favorite restaurant and also a CS original. That afternoon, we had a number of appt's where we didn't even really have time for dinner but that's okay.

Friday we had district meeting and it was also Elder Clowards Birthday. It was great to be able to learn more about the Sabbath day. We had a few appointments that afternoon and that evening we went to Bishop Nixon's for the activity. Tim, his son, had just had surgery a couple days before and he was completely out of it. We talked to a few of the members and visited with the investigator we brought.

Saturday we had a lesson with Ben. It went as well as it could for a 11 year old boy...it was good. We confirmed his baptismal date with him. That afternoon we helped people to unpack and we visited Bob and Trudy. That night we were supposed to have a meeting with president and all the missionaries, but then we found John and Laura Lee. They were a family that was willing to meet with us so we couldn't just leave. It was SOOOO AWESOME!!

Sunday...I told you about Sunday earlier.

Monday...today...well I'm mostly packed...I pretty much did all my packing the past couple of weeks and just have a few more things to round up.

And that's my mission y'all

Keep moving forward.

--Sister Carling

​p.s.  This is Tosha's mom.  Her email never came through so I logged on to send it out of her draft folder.  Anyway, I am attaching two pictures that were JUST NOW sent to me!!  We sure appreciate Vanessa for sending them! THANK YOU VANESSA!!!

​Real time pics eating dinner one LAST time at Fuego with Vanessa and Sister Niedert where according to Vanessa, when the manager heard it was Sister Carling's last time before going home, he comped their meal as a thank you for being such a loyal customer.  How Awesome is that!!

 

When The End Draws Near:

Happy Mother's Day!!! It was so wonderful to be able to chat with my family :) It's always the best. 

Monday we had Fuego. I tell you it's like the best restaurant ever. Their taco's are my absolute favorite!! I am really going to miss it. That night we did some finding and went to a part members home to teach their son, Ben. He will turn 12 at the end of the month.

Tuesday we practiced my musical number for Bob and Trudy's baptism later that week. I sang Amazing Grace and Sis Shipley played the piano. Later, we had a few lessons and they were just wonderful! Nothing like teaching with the Spirit! The Spirit is seriously the best teacher. While we were driving around, I randomly saw this guy riding a bike. His handlebars were antlers...like legit deer antlers. If i remember correctly each of them had like 4 points. #texaslivin

Wednesday we volunteered at the library that morning. It's so fun to do mindless tasks like that. It's a good break in the day while giving service. After, we went up to campus to pass out scantrons and mormon.org cards to people for testing. Finals week up here is pretty intense. I've never seen so many people not have time to meet and study so hard. It's kinda crazy. That afternoon, we had our last lesson with Kelly Baker before she goes home for the semester. I was able to help teach her before her baptism last semester on exchanges. It's been fun to see all these people grow in the gospel!! After we went to Bob and Trudy's to walk them through the baptism program. They were both so anxious and excited! We had a few more lessons and then we had correlation and then the "Study Break" Party.

Thursday we woke up early to have Zone Conference!! YAY!! It was AWESOME!! We learned more about the commandments and why we have them. It was able to teach me a lot. At the end, the missionaries going home bore their testimony on their mission...that included me. I don't really remember exactly what I said, but i do remember talking about hearkening and looking. I've learned a lot about that the past couple days. It's been a good reminder. That night we had a few lessons with some part member families and those were great!

Friday we had district meeting and then we did our weekly planning. LONG DAY. After all that, we went over to Bob & Trudy's for one final run through the baptism and to give them their jumpsuits. They are the cutest!! Bob sang for us and we got to record it. It was super sweet!! that night we did some finding and we had another lesson. I LOVE IT!!!

Saturday we went to the Corp final review where we got to watch the A&M Corp of Cadets all march off the field. It was fun! After, we went to the stk center for Bob and Trudy's baptism!! :D Bob was beaming when he hobbled out. It was adorable!! Trudy told us that she was walking on air!! It was the best. that afternoon we had a few more appointments and ended the day with another baptismal date with Ben. YAY!!

Sunday we had church all day. It was my last sacrament meeting before i go home because we have stk conference next week. Bitter sweet!! That night we did a lot of finding and then went to skype our families :) YAY!!! It's my favorite. 

Today I packed a little more. Life is just dandy!!

Keep Moving Forward!!

--Sister Carling

 Sister Niedert, Trudy, Bob & Sister Carling

Trudy and Bob

Interviews and Coming Home.

I know it's an interesting title. I've pondered a bunch this week. At interviews, President asked me a lot about my goals and standards for when I come home. He then proceeded to tell me to write them down. He's a smart man and so I've been doing that the past few days. I'm so grateful for the insight and direction he is so willing to give and he only does it because he wants to see us succeed. His influence has blessed my life so very much!

Monday evening we had a lesson and reviewed the word of wisdom. A lot of it strictly relies on faith. We can see the effects of some substances but we can't clearly view what others do. we don't have a little window where we can look at our organs and say "hey! this doesn't look right?!" So we have to then rely on faith.

Tuesday Sister Niedert had MLC so she went to Houston and i stayed with the Bryan sisters and we handled each other's appointments. It was awesome. We got to do family history (and that's my favorite!!) with Alexis and Vanessa. We made progress!! YAY!!

Wednesday we had exchanges and I got to stay here and be Sis Sabin's companion for the day! It was a lot of fun. We got to go on campus and we had a table. The weather was perfect for it and the AmazonStudent table happened to be right next to us. I have this great habit of going around to all the tables and seeing what they are all about and then inviting them. So when i went to the amazon people and asked them about the amazon student accounts, they gave me a bunch of awesome information on it and also a bunch of free stuff. THEN the guy asked me if i did stuff with computers and i said yes because i knew i would be going home and starting school. So the guy got something out of his bag and gave it to me. It's a MyPassport terabyte of storage. That was awesome. Then we had a few lessons in the afternoon, then dinner, and then correlation and institute that evening. We finalized Susana's baptism and we learned all about Revelations in the New Testament.

  

Thursday we had interviews and we learned how to effectively weekly plan (i wish i knew it months ago!!). Bob and Trudy had their interviews with President and they cleared for baptism next week!! :D YAY!!! After, we had our first snow cone of the summer with Vanessa S!! Sis Niedert had never had Bahama Bucks so we had to go! After that and a quick dinner, we went back to the church to set up for the baptism. :D It happened!! Susana only had to be dunked 3 times but it happened!! 

  First Snow Cone of the Season!

 Susana's Baptism!!

Friday we had zone meeting. then lunch with some members in the CS2 ward. after, we had a lesson with Megan at the institute. We taught more about the BoM and ended out teaching the Word of Wisdom. It was so awesome to see the spirit direct the conversation!! We had dinner with Shelby and then had a few more lessons/activities that night. It was great!

Saturday we finished planning, had a few lessons and planned B&T's baptism. That night, I pulled out my suitcases and started to decide that I needed and what I didn't. It's creeping up on me faster that ever. AH!!

Sunday was a bit crazy. we had Susana's Confirmation and then we had a lesson with Peter at the other building and church there as well. that night we had dinner with Bob and Trudy. Bob was singing to her and it was just the CUTEST THING!!!! That night we went to the CES devotional and I was able to learn SO MUCH!!! It was so great!

Today we went to the mall and then I cut some hair. When I pulled up my inbox today, there sat my travel itinerary. It's really happening. I never thought this time would come...and here it is looking me right in the face. I'm really excited for this new adventure, but i must say: I'M GOING TO MISS TEXAS!!!!!!!!!

Keep moving forward y'all!!

--Sister Carling

More baptism pics!!

Busy Busy Busy...

Howdy!

This week has been a little crazy and a little exhausting. We set high goals and we worked hard to achieve them. This next week we have Susana's Baptism!! :) It will be on Thursday. YAY! Susana's excited. We are excited. Excitement all around.

Monday night we had Susana's Baptismal Interview!! It was so great!! After, Elder Cloward told us that she has an awesome testimony. It made us so excited!!

Tuesday also was a little crazy. We started off the day with a service project at the George Bush Memorial Museum and Library. It was fun to do it as a district!! That afternoon we had a few lessons and right before dinner, we had the opportunity to talk to the activity day girls in another ward. We got to tell them about missionary work and about what we do every day as missionaries. The girls were just too cute! That night we had dinner with the Palkki's. Sis Palkki is just so great! She's doing such a fabulous job with missionary work. That night we had another lesson.

Wednesday we had lessons back to back again. At the Library that morning we got to do crafts :) It was great! At Institute we got to read more of revelations.

Thursday we had weekly planning all morning after we got free Jamba Juice. YUM! That afternoon we did a 30 minute dash on campus. They are the coolest. We have a standard in our mission of inviting 15 people a day and we only had 30 minutes. We did it!! We did this a few times this week. They are pretty effective too! We had a lesson that evening after dinner at chipotle. YUM!

Friday we went to a different districts district meeting. We had a few good lessons that afternoon. One was with Susana. We read Enos and talked about prayer and about how the Book of Mormon is fulfilling prophecy. It was awesome. It was also followed by another powerful lesson with Rong. She's so great!! :) That night after dinner we had a gathering at Bishop's to watch meet the Mormons. It was Fantastic!

Saturday we got to help at the Women's Conference. It was fantastic. :) That afternoon we had a few more lessons and Bob and Trudy are moving up their date a week! YAY! We had a few more lessons and things were just great! :)

Sunday was a little crazy. We went to one of our investigators to her church service at Central Baptist. It was really different but I really enjoyed the experience. That night we had a few more lessons and we took some cookies to an investigator with one of our members.

Today I have to go. Hope ya'll keep on keeping on!!

Keep Moving Forward!

--Sister Carling

 P-Day at the institute!! Sis. Carling & Sis. Niedert!

Real-time photo sent to Mom!!

Vanessa & Sis. Carling

Thanks Vanessa for the pics!!!

I don't feel like writing...and there aren't any pictures.

Hey Y'all!

I know I'm boring. but this is what's going on.

This week we went over to Bob & Trudy's like 3 times. We taught them a new lesson like every time! :) They are doing great!! Trudy had surgery on Tuesday and we were glad that we were still able to come over. They even came to church!! It's so exciting! They are moving toward baptism! We have it planned for May 16.

We are still working with Susana. We got to go with her to dinner later on in the week and we are still working toward baptism! 

Rong is our little ray of sunshine :) She is progressing marvelously! Her baptismal date is set for July 11. She's ready to do it sooner, but she hesitates with moving it up. We're just excited for her.

This week was awesome because Elder Nixon was here (As of today, he's now in the Houston South mission until he gets clearance to go back to Taiwan). This is Bishop's son. He's currently serving in Taiwan but had to come back because he broke both of his wrists. So this week we took him to all of our Chinese lessons. He was so helpful to be able to help us teach and clarify doctrine in Chinese!

I got to see the Moore's on Friday! It was so great!! They came up for Ring Day (look up the tradition). It's bigger than graduation here. "The Aggie Ring" tradition is deep and the rings are gorgeous!! So they came up for her sister to get her ring. Campus was SUPER crazy.

This week we also had exchanges. It's always fun.

That about sums up the main events for this week!

Keep Moving Forward!!

--Sister Carling

 Sis. Carling & Sis. Niedert

(pic provided by Sis. Alder from Mesa who was visiting her daughter in Texas)

Meeting a Priest

It poured buckets of rain,

and it thundered all night.

Sister Niedert slept through all

While Sister Carling tossed and turned all night.

There's a little verse about my night last night. I loved the rain and all...but it's crazy how it can just keep you up because the weather is just insane here. 

Monday we didn't really have much. We did have dinner at an excellent place called "Grub" where they have fantastic burgers.

Tuesday We had lessons most of the day. During a couple of them we watched conference talks. They were so great to be able to review. We taught Bob and Trudy. They are just the CUTEST!! I can't get over how cute and in love they are.

Wednesday we got to volunteer at the library. that afternoon we had like 4 appointments. 2 of them we taught family history. I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! We had dinner with Bishop and Sister Nixon. That night we went to institute because we had a few people who were going to come. It was great! :)

Thursday we met a Catholic Priest and 2 Sisters and some catholic missionaries as we were contacting on campus with our A-frame. They invited us to come to a ceremony that night and we decided to go. They were all so sweet! Here they are: 

Some catholic missionaries, ​Father Benedict, Me, Sis Niedert, Amanda (a member who came to help us on campus), The Sisters, and another Catholic missionary.

After all that we weekly planned and had dinner with Amanda and her roommate. We had a lesson with Bob and Trudy and had Amanda come with us. After, She came with us to the "Mass" of sorts. It really gave me an opened eye to other religions. It was pretty cool to see the truth in it all.

Friday we got to go to Brenham!!! We went to the district meeting there and it was so much fun! That afternoon we had a lesson with Rong. She's so great! She said in her prayer at the end that "she was grateful to learn more about about baptism and that she is going to do it". She makes us melt every time we teach her.

Saturday morning we had breakfast with Payton. She's just awesome. We got to know her more and share more about ourselves. We went to this cute little diner called Hullabaloo Diner. We had a couple lessons in the afternoon and then we visited Trudy because it was her birthday. She turned 62. And Bob is 80. Didn't know if I told y'all that. She loved our card and the pictures we gave her. That night there was a baptism for Ke'Ara. She was so great!

Sunday we had 6 hours of church...that's brutal!! and it was all back to back!! We did have dinner with a FAMILY! of the CS2 ward. it was sweet! :) that night we met with the mission leader for the ward, Bro Bradford. and after we went to meet investigators in the ward, Peter and Lydia. They are from China and they are so sweet!!! I love them!!

Today we're going to run around like crazy. Love yall!! Peace!

Keep moving forward.

--Sister Carling

The Bluebonnets!!!

#genconf #6moreweeks

Hello everyone. :)

Howdy Y'all.

It's been quite the busy teaching week...and it's just flown right on by. Let me tell y'all. 

Monday night we had a few lessons and they went marvelously! We are so excited to continue to meet with them again.

Tuesday we briefly went on campus and then we had a lesson with someone who turned out to be a member. Surprise?! haha We had a couple of lessons that evening and a member made us Waffles for dinner. and they were gluten free. and I was a happy missionary. :)

Wednesday morning we had a table set up in the  MSC on A&M. We got to share the #BecauseHElives video with people and invite them to learn more. Later in the afternoon we had a lesson on campus and a lesson with a recent convert. We got to help her with family history. Let me just say that it is one of my most favorite-est things to do/help with :) That night we had a couple of investigators and people we are working with at institute, so we stuck around to talk to them before and after.

Thursday morning we had a couple of lessons and so that afternoon we did some weekly planning. After dinner we did some finding and then got to teach some investigators in the CS2 Ward. Their names are Bob & Trudy and they are just soaking it all up!!! It was so great to be able to teach them

Friday we had district meeting and a few lessons that afternoon. Rong is still progressing so well!! It's so cute to see her absorb information and take it to heart.

Saturday GENERAL CONFERENCEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy day!!! I loved it so much!! That night we got a member to take some bluebonnet pictures. I can't wait to show y'all!! THE BLUEBONNETS ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday morning we awoke to a cold snap...I think it was Sunday?? Maybe it was Saturday?? I don't know. I just know it was cold-ish and wet and that is not my favorite combination. That night we visited Bob and Trudy again. They LOVED conference. They are excited to keep on moving forward and learning in the gospel.

So conference. I went in with questions and as I reviewed my notes last night I really saw how much the Lord loves us. I was able to have my questions and concerns all directed in what I need to do. So I came up with a list and I am SO excited to put it into action. I love the testimonies that we were able to hear and if you wern't able to view it go click here. Let me just tell you. It was pretty awesome :)

Transfer calls were last night. We are the only companionship not changing in the Zone. We are also more than likely going to be taking over a family ward. the CS2 one.

Keep moving forward!!

Ps-sorry!! No time for pictures!! Gotta run!!

--Sister Carling

This Week Has Been STUNNING!! ...and Also a Little Crazy.

Let me just say...the weather has been gorgeous down here the past week! Life is great. I don't even know half of what to talk about.

Hmmm...here we go!

Monday I know we had Chick-fil-a with Maddie Becker. It was SUPER yummy!! That night for FHE they had Diana Hoelscher there and we got to stay with a couple of our investigators and learn more about the Atonement and it was just awesome. :)

Tuesday we had a couple lessons in the morning and we helped the institute with a couple things in the afternoon. that night we exchanged with the Bryan sisters and I went there with Sister Sabin.

Wednesday we had a lot of things planned...funny how that turns out. We were able to go to Blinn and do a little finding there. That afternoon we stopped by a few people's house and had dinner. We did some tracting and taught a lesson to a couple girls after mutual.

Thursday they had a special MLC so Hermana Larson joined Sis Goodrich and I up in Bryan. I didn't go home in between these exchanges. So by the time they were done I was happy to be in my own apartment. That day we scheduled 2 dinners. One in Traditions and one in Bryan hoping that Sis Sabin would get back in time! ...that didn't happen. So we got 2 big dinners that night.

Friday we had zone meeting and a bunch of lessons back to back. We taught 3 Chinese girls. It's the best to teach them. The Chinese are so prepared for the Gospel. It's the best. That night we had a lesson with Susana and it was great :) she's growing so much.

Saturday was "the big event" here in town. We did service at Peace Lutheran Church here in town. It was awesome!! There were 6 missionaries there to help them. After the ward had a crawfish boil.

Sunday we did a lot. I'm running out of time....but Sunday was great.

Today. So one of the girls in my ward, Sara O'dell, wanted to take us to lunch today. We had another lunch planned but she seemed like she really really wanted it. So we ended up canceling the other to have lunch with her. The other sisters were with us this morning and we invited them to come with us. Just a normal day. To my shocking surprise (it literally took like 15 seconds to register) there stood Aunt Pam and Jonathan with his wife and kids. OH MY GOODNESS!!! What a great surprise!! So Sara was room mates with 'Johnny's' wife and knew Jonathan when he lived down here. They went to the ward that I'm serving in!!! How crazy is this!!! Wow. What a day so far!

Aunt Pam, Sister Carling and Jonathan Wallace.

Nice Surprise for lunch!

Keep moving Forward y'all!!

--Sister Carling

Spring Break...Not So YIKES Even Though We Had Bikes And It Rained All Week.

Howdy yall!! I can't believe that we are in week 5/6 of this transfer. The time has just flown. Where has it gone?! To serving the Lord.

Fun fact: There's this family history app on familysearch.org and our mission has a little group in it and it turns out that Elder Barlow, one  of the zone leaders, is my 4th cousin. It was fun to see who all and how I am related to a lot of the missionaries out here. Elder Schinn, who's from Korea, wasn't related to anyone...BUT!! I found out today that Caleb was his zone leader in the MTC! Way cool :)

Monday wasn't too eventful.

Tuesday we seriously biked like 10 miles or more. Sis Niedert doesn't believe it but I think we did. We went to the Library to look up a bunch of names and then to go and visit people we didn't know. That night we went to Blythe's house for dinner. It was EXCELLENT!! Her grandma sent her with a bunch of food and i had the best apple-cobbler I've ever tasted (even if it was a tiny bit bad for me).

Wednesday we went to the library with the Elders to go through orientation so that we can volunteer here! It will be lots of fun!! We had lunch with Melane and then after Laci took us to go and to visit Bishop Park in the CS2 ward. Next transfer we will be covering both areas.

Thursday we FINALLY got to do a FULL weekly planning. It was SO great! That afternoon we got to practice teaching the plan of salvation to Sarah. Sis Niedert and I are finally starting to get into the groove of teaching together and how we each teach.

Friday we had district meeting and then it got moved from the institute to the stake center. At the stake center, it got interrupted. Some members asked us to help move boxes out of the bishops storehouse truck. It was great either way!. That afternoon we had a lesson with Rong! She's so great! We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she accepted it. She really saw how God is really merciful and how he provides a place for each of us. She also accepted a baptismal date for July. We are SO excited! 

Saturday we made a lot of phone calls. That night we went to a Vietnamese place with a couple members. It was REALLY yum!! We went finding that night and found a possible new investigator! I'm just super excited about this area. It's so great!!

Sunday we set up appointments to start teaching about 4 different Chinese girls. It is so great to be able to teach someone about God and Jesus Christ. I never knew that just teaching someone about them could bring so much change. Rong invited her friend to church. She told one of her fellow-shippers that "[She] just [wants] her to have the same experiences [she is] having"...HOW COOL IS THAT!!! THAT is true conversion!! 

Today we are going to do a million different things....at least we hope to. :).

Keep Moving Forward!!

--Sister Carling

Spring Break in a YSA Ward...YIKES!

Howdy!!

This week's been great. The past couple of days the weather has been marvelous...like perfect marvelous. And...we hit pretty much all of our goals. It was awesome. EXACT OBEDIENCE BRINGS BLESSINGS!! Spring break is all this week so lets hope things go marvelously!

So Monday we as a district have a tradition of going to Yogurtland to get frozen yogurt. We  were able to teach Susana that night and she's planning on getting baptized the end of this month. It's pretty great! She's awesome and has been able to progress so much!

Tuesday we did a lot. We had lunch on campus with Taylor Jones and did a lot of contacting and talking to people about the LDSSA and inviting them to institute and to meet with us. We did this quite a few days this week. That night Sis Niedert and I went on splits. Sis Niedert and MaryKatherine had and appt that night and we also wanted to go and visit a member in the hospital. So Haylee Young came with me and we got everything accomplished. It was pretty great (as usual)! 

Splits with Haylee Young!

Wednesday we had a lot planned. We went on campus again and talked to a lot of people...like we always do. We had lunch with Kelly Baker on campus. Funny story about Kelly: I was able to help teach her back in October-ish when we were on exchanges. There are so  many of these recent converts that i have taught at least one lesson in their conversion it's so great to be able to re connect with them and teach them more. That night we got to teach someone that we tracted into a couple weeks earlier. His name is Ike and he's from Nigeria. It wasn't untill i got here that i really realized that i'd be serving foreign!! I've met many people from many different places!!

Thursday for lunch we had it in the tower on campus. It had an amazing view of how flat it is. It's really flat. like a table flat. like this place could be called "mesa" in Spanish it's that flat. But i digress...the food there was amazing. Later on we were able to meet with someone who texted the elders. She had met with the elders in the past and decided she wanted to meet again. The elders asked if we wanted to teach her and we really couldn't pass up the offer. So we were able to talk with her, Cortney, and her friend, Mark. It was a really great discussion!! They both agreed to listen to us again. So we will get in contact with them after spring break. That night after a lesson with Kelly and then Susana, the ward missionaries had a dinner at Denny's adventure. So everyone invited someone and we were all able to just talk and get to know eachother. Susana came and was able to get to know a few more people.

Friday. So spring break pretty much started for everyone this week. Campus was dead. We were also on exchanges that day. Sis Powell came with me and Sis Niedert went with to CS2 ward. We had a lesson with Rong (she's from China). We were able to talk more about the Godhead and the scriptures. It was great! That night we did some tracting and life was just dandy.

Saturday Sis Niedert and I made companionship goals and finished our weekly planning. That afternoon, we went to try and visit people in the ward that we didn't know. I also got to meet Breeja Larson!! It was awesome to be able to hear her story and talk to her about her life. We did lots of finding but we were still a few people short of our goal. We got home a little late and decided to go check the mail. We were able to talk to 2 more people and invite them to learn more...therefore hitting our goal!! YAY!! The Lord works in mysterious ways :)

Sunday we had ward council and church. After Church, we had a lesson with someone who was wanting to meet with us. She pretty much was accepting of everything. It was so amazing!! She's going to be in town for spring break so we will get to meet with her this week :) That afternoon we went out to try and find members and to talk to others. It was such a great week over-all. 

Today we got lost coming to the library. We went to the George Bush memorial library and museum. Just got a little confused by that...oh well!!

Keep moving forward!!

--Sister Carling

Daylight Savings for the LAST TIME!!

We got a text from the Elders Saturday night...I totally forgot about this dumb thing. I still don't like it. Can't all states be cool like Arizona and not change their clocks??

The past couple weeks have been kinda crazy...Just so yall know time is blinking right on bye...and I don't have a lot of time. So this will be quick.

Monday we got the bikes and gave the car to the Elders...I feel like it rained like all week. It was humid and warm on Tuesday and we felt the cold front move in that afternoon. Kinda bazaar.

Tuesday Sis Niedert had MLC so I went with some other sisters for the day.  That night we had dinner with some of the sisters in the ward (not exactly sure what to call people here because everyone is just always on a first name basis haha) that night we made a number of calls to people because we have lists of people. We did this often this week.

Wednesday we went on campus and got to talk to a few people...when I say a few I mean more than a few. went back to the institute and taught a few lessons and tried to make a couple visits to people with Melane. She's pretty awesome!! Dinner was with MaryKatherine. She took us out to eat. She'll be going to BYUI in April (Sad!!). That night we had correlation and meeting people at institute. There are things going on every day of the week. It's pretty awesome to have so many activities and events going on!

Paper on campus

Thursday we had an event on campus with helping people make survival bracelets. It was awesome. then we did some weekly planning. After, We had dinner with one of the YSA's Family. It was so great!! I really forgot about how much I miss families. It was a special treat. That night the institute had an open house and we got to talk to a few non members and make some appointments with them.

Friday we had Zone meeting and I got to share a little about my study on the stripling warriors. It was pretty awesome!! that afternoon we helped with a table on campus and had a lesson with Susana, our investigator. that night we had dinner on campus with a member and had Laci teach us the plan of Salvation

Sis. Niedert, Laci & Sis. Carling​

Saturday lots happened.

Sis. Carling & Sis. Niedert at Yogurtland with Laci

Sunday was a big change in time

Today it is raining. Sorry yall. I ran out of time. Gotta run!! Hope everything is going well!! Write me with questions!! haha

​Happy Adventures!

Keep Moving Forward.

--Sister Carling

One Week With Not Enough Sleep

Howdy! (Texas A&M Greeting)

Learning an area with your companion together is pretty intense. It's exhausting.

Monday was crazy. Had a big goodbye party for the other sisters. I started to get to know/memorize the people in the ward. The other sisters were finishing packing and I cleaned stuff out. Altogether, we were up way too late.

Tuesday was transfer day. So we drove down to the mission office and I got my new companion!! :) Her name is Sis Niedert and she's from St George. She's pretty awesome! She's got red hair and is just super awesome all around. Since our zone lost so many sisters this past transfer, I'm not STL, Sis Niedert is. She's 23. If you have questions about her...just ask me later :) haha 

 Sister Niedert & Sister Carling

That day we just drove home and kinda went over the area book and what I knew. Just an information overload week for both of us. We had dinner with a member at an awesome place called Fuego and met the Bishop and the Ward Mission Leader that night.

Wednesday was crazy. We taught a number of lessons at the Institute and did some planning and met with recent converts and then had correlation that night and met more people after the big institute class (Got to see a few people from Brenham!! Whoop!).

Thursday was another crazy day. We met a few more recent converts.  We got to teach a girl named Rong from China. It's so cool to be able to teach someone who is in the beginning phases of believing in God. It's amazing. We will probably get to do a lot of that. We also went on campus and talked to people. Sis Niedert is so great at it!! We also decided that it feels like we restarted our missions. Working with YSA's is like a totally different culture of missionary work. There's like a super fine line between professional and casual. We are learning to find our balance but still keeping our fun personalities :)

Friday we had district meeting had a mini meeting with the Zone leaders about the meeting on Saturday and did a VERY speedy weekly planning. Fastest one I've ever done! We did it in like an hour! Friday night we tried to tract...haha YSA's go out on Friday night's. we were also on call for going and picking a sister's companion up from the hospital. Our phone was on loud and luckily nobody called haha. #SisterTrainingLeader

Saturday we went on campus that morning and then had a quick lunch before our mini zone ysa pow-wow meeting. I got to talk about president's vision for YSA's it's pretty awesome. I mean I still don't understand his whole vision, but I'm excited to be able to keep learning more. That afternoon we had an awesome lesson with A recent convert. Laci came with us. She is also a recent convert. She's really awesome and just has such a STRONG testimony of the church. I am really grateful to be able to work with her and with this ward!! After that lesson, she drove us to the Hafer building (The first time I ever got to go inside of it!) for a baptism. It was pretty great we got home a little late because it was so far.

Sunday was break the fast. That was weird! YSA Stuff is just weird because I've been in family branches/ward my whole mission. This whole adjusting stuff is going well and by the time I'm done, I'll just keep doping what I'm doing. That night we got a ward list and tried to visit a few people. We were successful once!! We also got their RS president to come with us! :) (The ward has 2 RS presidencies and 2 Elder's Quorum) We went to the hospital at like 11:15 last night to run an errand for Sis Hassel and Sis Sabin. (Sis Hassel came out from the MTC with me) She's had a few medical problems and the doctors and president decided that she's needing to go home. So she leaves tomorrow. We went to their apartment to switch laundry and went home.

Today we went to bed at like 1ish. We got up and started cleaning and the normal pday stuff. So yeah. We got frozen yogurt at yogurtland as a district before Sis Hassel leaves tomorrow (we get it free cuz the member owns it). now we are here. It's cold outside.

I also am out of time...

Keep moving forward!!!

--Sister Carling

President: Turning the World Upside Down One Missionary at a Time

Howdy Y'all!!

It's a shortie this week, but I've got some news: I've now been emergency transferred...again with the ET's. So here I am up in College Station (50 minutes from Brenham...sometimes referred to by other missionaries as Temptation Station) working on Texas A&M Campus with the Traditions YSA ward. I'm super excited to work here. There is so much potential to grow and move onward and upward!!

We got a call on Friday night telling me that I would be transferred up here (which I already knew because of the Spirit) but that there was no reason to wait until transfers (which I didn't know). So I got here Saturday night and after I got here I also found out after that I would be taking over the area on Tuesday and that I'd more than likely be made Sister Training Leader.

This has been the craziest 3 weeks of my life. Never did I ever think that I would have 5 companions in 3 weeks.

I guess God just trusts me. 

God really has a way to teach you certain lessons that I probably won't even realize for years to come. All that I can do is try to work my hardest.

Memo: Please don't talk about me coming home. :)

Thanks y'all!!

This week was pretty uneventful. We did a lot of packing and cleaning and telling our service places that we were moving. Nobody was too happy about that...let me tell you that!

so we cleaned and packed and cleaned and packed and I really wondered why I kept packing...until Friday night. then I was just grateful. I only had to really pack up my bedding.

A few cool things that happened this week was that:

1. I got to cut Sis Moore's hair. and that was awesome. I also found out that her sister is in the ward up here, and that was even moore awesome...haha! that was a little punny.

2. We finished cleaning out the Caldwell apartment!! YAY!! It Is nice and clean and beautiful!

3. My new address is:

401 Anderson St #1F

College Station  TX    77840

Keep moving Forward y'all!!

--Sister Carling

What a Week!

Random story: So this week I realized that there's gluten in my shampoo...which is a big deal especially when your skin is irritated by the stuff!! No wonder my skin had been irritated all winter!! 

Monday we exchanged with the STL's and I went up to CS. It was great!

Tuesday we spent a good time on campus proselyting. We had a couple lessons throughout the day and were able to do some follow up phone calls. Over all it was great! We exchanged back that night and yeah. I was really able to learn a lot more about YSA's. Let me say that there is an awesome spirit that comes with working with YSA's. It's pretty cool.

Kyle Field at Texas A&M!!

 Sis.Carling with Sis. Flanery & 

Sis. Andreason after exchanges!

 Wednesday we got to do some family history at the church with Alma. It was great to be able to help her set up her account and get her started. Then we had lunch and i pretty much died. I got sick again this past week and couldn't function properly for a couple days. That afternoon we went to Kruse Village and got to talk to a few of the residents after bingo and our singing. It's so great to see the spirit work! That afternoon we went to go see Kalisa who was in the hospital. She was getting better and we were glad that we got to visit with her. Dinner that night was with the Beggs. They are so sweet!! They have 3 boys and the youngest, Daniel, loves to flirt with us. He's almost 2?? Maybe?? haha. That night we had correlation and actually ended early!! Crazy! we got stuff done and prepped to be able to leave early the next morning to Houston.

Thursday we woke up at 5:30. We then drove the mileage into "town" for Zone conference picking up Sister O and her companion on the way! Zone conference was awesome!! I was able to grow so much!! We also got the dreaded "black boxes" installed in our car. We named ours Torchie. He yells at us when we speed too fast on accident or if we brake too hard (etc). We'll keep him. He also offers repentance if you remember to keep following all of the driving rules...your record will still stay green if you remember to just follow all the traffic rules even if you make a couple mistakes sometimes. :) haha Dinner that night was with the Carliles. It was great. We had stir-fry and life was awesome.

Friday we had a weird day. Weekly planning was in the morning and district meeting was in the afternoon and things were all flippy floppy. That night we went up to Caldwell for their branch party. Marsha, and investigator, came with her husband. It was sweet to see everyone.

Saturday was interesting. Sis Baxter and I were both not feeling up to par. I was having a lot of unknown skin reactions and I was still sick. That morning we had the Service project at the Cemetery. It was great!! We had a lot of people there and we were able to clear out a lot of the brush. After that, We went home and got ready for the day and did some family history at the church with a couple members. Later in the afternoon/early evening we visited Sis Tieman. After, we headed out to Fayettville to visit a couple people. That night we had dinner with the Knox. Ruth made us Korean Barbecue :) It was great!! I feel really special to have it made for me. She got back from her mission in Korea last May. 

Yesterday was also interesting. Sis Christensen and Baxter went up to Caldwell branch and Amanda Chapdelaine was my companion for the day. We got to do visit a couple people and she did an amazing job!! She's going to be a rock star of a missionary. That afternoon we went to the Jensen's to drop me off while we waited for my companions to get back. I showed her my hands and arms that were having some crazy problems and she said that it looks like an allergic reaction (That's what lead me to read every bottle I have to see if there was something I'm allergic to). After, We went out to the Beggs for dinner. We got to have snapper. It was pretty great! After, we came home and tried to send sis Baxter to bed. She was pretty sick all day. We had a conference call with all the missionaries dealing with YSA. It was awesome to hear of all the other success the other YSA areas are having!!

I'm finally coming back to my normal missionary self. Transfers are next week and we will be closing the Brenham area for sisters and the Caldwell area for the sisters as well.  Lots of change and cleaning going on the next week or so...

Keep Moving Forward!!!!

--Sister Carling