October 30, 2017

Hi, everyone!

What a hard week it's been. 

This week, we worked at the Meridian temple open house on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! It was so fun. There were two protesters, one on Thursday and one on Friday. The one on Thursday was an older gentleman that had a sign saying "The highway to hell is the Mormon way!" and he was yelling about hellfire and the wrath of God. Sister Ellsworth and I were walking between the reception tent and the stake center when we saw him, so we waved and he yelled: "Don't you shake your hands at me!" It was really funny, but it was also sad to see someone who was so upset and hateful.

Our area has been pretty dead since we've been working up in Meridian. Our main investigators told us this week that they're moving in two weeks. Sister Ellsworth was sick this weekend. We've both been homesick. So it's been a really hard week. But, through these trials, I've come to understand what's most important. I've thought a lot about my purpose as a missionary, and whose name is over my heart constantly - who do I represent? I am an official representative of Jesus Christ. It's my job to reach out in love for those around me. It's my job to share this message of happiness that we have with everyone. Being a missionary really is the best - it's giving me the opportunity to always be changing and growing, to always be improving. I am thankful for my trials and for the opportunity I have to serve here in Idaho. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father puts his trust in us, his children, to reach out in love to those around us. What a precious opportunity and gift we have been given.

I love you all so much! Have a great week and a happy Halloween 

Sister Carlson

October 23, 2017

Hello, everyone!

It feels like it was four days since I last wrote you all! ;)

This has been a good week. We haven't had a ton of appointments, but since we've been in the area for more than 2 days we've been able to set up a lot of appointments with investigators and less active members. We're scheduled for a long hall in Meridian this week - that's why it'll be so vital for us to have as many appointments and contacts while in the area as we can!

When I think about it, it seems like I haven't done a ton or learned a lot this week. But when I look back at it, I realized that this week was a great learning experience for me.

I feel like I have been stagnant with my feeling of the spirit and my testimony. With everything that's been happening - going back and forth from Meridian, the announcement of the Christmas initiative, and the radio silence from our main investigators - I feel like I've been a robot going from one task to the next. I couldn't feel the spirit, and I started to doubt all the experiences I've had with feeling the spirit (I know it's silly, but that thought was in the back of my mind). We had a lesson in Relief Society yesterday about feeling the spirit, and the catchphrase "brick by brick" was used. A sister talked about how she had never had the big experience - there were little assurances and signs along the way that built her faith and trust in Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost. I realized that I hadn't been paying attention to the little things. There was an Elder in my district last transfer that said (and I'm paraphrasing): "As missionaries, we feel the spirit all the time! So when we feel like he's not there or we're not getting answers to our prayers, it's okay. We've grown so used to having Him with us that it's sometimes hard to feel him." We need to pay better attention and work on seeing and feeling the promptings of the Holy Ghost. As I've put my anxieties and doubts away, I have felt the quiet assurance that He is there. I have a testimony of this - and I would not have gained a testimony of this if I had not had this experience this week. I am thankful for a Heavenly Father that allows us to wade through trials and afflictions so we can grow. I say these things in the name of Jesus 

Christ, amen.

I love you all so much! Have a great week :)

Sister Carlson

P.S. - Is anyone getting letters from me?

October 19, 2017

Hello, everyone!

What a crazy week it's been! Between our area and the Meridian Temple open house, we've been moving non-stop.

On Thursday, Friday, Monday, and Tuesday, we had the opportunity to be up in Meridian. You may be thinking: "What? The open house starts on the 21st!" Right you are, but there are "vip tours" that started at the beginning of October. The people that have been visiting are the neighbors, government officials, religious leaders, and the people who worked on the temple. It hasn't been very busy, but that's about to change very quickly. We're expecting 30,050 - 40,000 to be attending, and that number is growing every day! The sister missionaries get to work in the welcome rooms and in the reception tent. It's been so fun to meet people from around the area and talk about their experience - I think it'll be even better once the open house is open to the public. I am so grateful for the opportunity we have to work at the open house - the Lord has been so generous with His people in giving them temples. What a blessing they are!

Because of the temple, we've needed to focus on just a handful of people in our areas that need our help the most. It's been slow (since we're not here), but it's been great to focus very specifically on these people.

That's about all I have time for! Sorry, this is so short, but I'll get to write on Monday this next week - whoo hoo!

I love you all so very much!!

Sister Carlson

October 10, 2017

Hi, everybody!

This has been a tough week. But it's been a good week!

The area is progressing slowly right now. Since I was in a trio, and now we're going to be in Meridian every week, it's going to stay that way for a little while. It just strengthens my resolve to work even harder while we're in Heyburn and teach, find, and talk to as many people as we can.

I just wanted to bear my testimony that I know this gospel is true. I know that the atonement of Jesus Christ is real, and I know that it works. I know that the adversary wants us to be confused and unhappy and ineffective - as we access the atonement and tell our Father in Heaven that we need His help, He will give it to us. He will make weak things become strong unto us. He will lift us up, and He will make us into the people we need to be. A talk that I read this week said "He doesn't expect immediate perfection, but he does expect immediate progress." I know that as we put in our effort and take steps forward, even if they are small, He will make up for the rest. As He sees us trying, He will bless us and help us along the way because he loves us so very much. I know these things to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sister Carlson

P.S. - We had the Meridian Temple Open House training this week! It was awesome to get ready and be with all the sisters in the mission! I'll attach a picture from it! <3​

October 2, 2017

Hello, everyone!

My has it been a topsie turvie week! I walked out the door this morning with a cardigan, a rain jacket, and a prayer into the freezing rain. It's only October, people!

I'm not in a trio anymore! Transfers were this Thursday, and my new companion's name is Sister Ellsworth!! She is so wonderful. She is brand new to the mission. She's originally from Chicago, now living in Texas (don't worry, her family wasn't effected by the hurricanes). She has the most beautiful singing voice, she loves art and is very good with calligraphy, and she wants to be a nurse! She did a year at BYU Idaho, so she's a bit more familiar with the Idaho area. I love her so much, and I'm excited to work with her! I am truly humbled for this opportunity to be her trainer - in the past three days, I have realized my own inadequacy and my complete need to rely on the Savior as I try to help this precious daughter of God adjust to the mission field. It's eye opening, really. I'm so so thankful for this opportunity and responsibility I have to be a trainer - I know that both Sister Ellsworth and I will grow tremendously from this experience. 

We've been getting referrals like crazy since we've been in our new companionship. I'm so thankful for the wonderful people here and for their willingness to do as the Savior has asked us and reach out. Reach out in love to those around them. I love Heyburn!

We will be attending a Meridian Temple Open House training on Wednesday, and I'm so excited! I think we'll be finding out when we work there, but I have decided not to say which week I'm working there.

Conference was such a blessing this weekend. I forgot my journal, so I can't say specifically what I wanted to, but I would like to bear my testimony that I know that we have a prophet on the earth today. I have a testimony that our Father in Heaven is mindful of us, and the messages given this weekend were completely inspired. I know that as we take those things our leaders have given to us and implement them into our lives, we will be blessed. We will feel the love of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that it is only through Him that we can be cleansed from our sins and be saved. We can, indeed, return to live with our Father in Heaven if we use the gift of the atonement in our lives. It truly is a gift. I know it is, as I have experienced the lightness and peace that comes with humbly accessing the matchless power of the atonement. I say these things in the name of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!
Sister Carlson