December 26, 2017

Good morning, everyone!

Merry day-after-Christmas! What a wonderful week it has been. I feel so blessed to be a missionary at this time. What a privilege it is to be a full time servant of the Lord!

I can't remember much from this week, but I'll try my best to at least cover a few things.

So on Saturday, we had our "Kimberly day." Because our YSA ward covers Twin Falls, Kimberly, Hansen, and Murtaugh, we have to be very conscious of our miles (if you don't know Idaho - it's a hugantic area!). So we have a few days a month that we visit the places that are farther away, hence out Kimberly day. There are parts of Kimberly that are more city like, but for the most part it's spread out and it's in the boonies :) Saturday was also the first day we got real snow :) Needless to say, we did a lot of slipping, sliding, and almost getting stuck in the snow with our tiny Corolla! But that day was full of miracles. We were able to find a handful of people who we and the ward didn't know. One in particular was down in the boonies. The snow was covering everything, so it was near impossible to see tiny turn off road or house numbers. Sister Snow and I drove down a road piled high with snow and it was a dead end at someone's house. There was a UPS truck there, so it was an awkward squeeze to get out, and I had to back Sister Snow. When I got out of the car, I waved at the guy in the truck, and he came out and I asked him if he knew where the address we were looking for was. He offered to lead us there, and we quickly agreed! He lead us directly to the right house AND gave us some information that he knew about the family. Sometimes, angels wear UPS uniforms!

I have loved the snow and, ironically, Sister Snow has not (lol!). Christmas was wonderful. Talking to my family left me happy and content, and we got to visit with members in the ward for the day. We shared messages about Jesus Christ, and I would like to bear my testimony to you now that I know he lives. I know that he loves us, and that's why he lived a perfect lie and was an innocent sacrifice - he allows us the possibility and promise that we can like with our heavenly family again. What a glorious promise that gives our lives meaning and purpose. I am so thankful for his sacrifice for us, his brothers and sisters. He is the reason for this season, and the reason that we can be saved and live with out Father in Heaven again. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sister Carlson

P.S. - Thank you so much to everyone who sent me gifts and cards! I loved all of the thought that came with them - y'all are so sweet to me! 

Sister Snow and I on Christmas Eve!

Thank you for the Christmas Eve jammies! :)

December 18, 2017

Hello, everyone! 

This is going to be short, sorry about that! :)

This week has been incredible!! There have been so many miracles. All of our numbers have been 0 since I got here, but now we have 3 investigators, 3 potential investigators, and there were 3 non-members at church yesterday! There are a lot of factors as to why this is all happening now, but two main things: 1) Heavenly Father's timing and 2) #LightTheWorld. It's such a blessing to be a missionary during this Christmas season - I feel so blessed that I get a whole TWO Christmas' in the field. 

Also, transfers are on Wednesday (dun dun DUN). But.......Sister Snow and I are staying together!!!! I am so excited, and everyone in the area is excited (this is Sister Snow's 4th transfer in the area, so it was really 50/50). The Lord certainly blesses his missionaries!!

Have a very merry CHRISTmas, everyone!!

Sister Carlson

P.S. - Please tell the Madison ward that I love and miss them and thank you SO much for the package. We got stuff on Saturday and I cried when I saw stuff from the Rountrees 

P.P.S. - So. I accidentally opened one of my packages :) IN MY DEFENSE I thought it was a flat iron and I wanted to use it, and it was a CD player!! And Pentatonix CD's!! If I was a good missionary, I would have waited to use it, but alas..... :D I'm sure Sister Snow is almost sick of it, but I love it so much. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

December 11, 2017

Good morning, All!

What an exciting week it's been! There's so much to cover, I hope I can do this week justice (but let's be real, I probably won't haha).

So! Tuesday, Sister Snow and I made some sugar cookie deliveries to less actives in our YSA ward. At the end of the night, we still had a couple plates and we'd been asked to visit this one young man by President Hatch, so we visited him! He definitely didn't want to talk to us (you can just tell when they're uncomfortable, especially because you're missionaries :D), but he had to because we'd brought him cookies! Haha!

On Wednesday we had zone conference, which was amazing as usual!! The Twin Falls North zone was paired with the Burley Zone, so I got to see all of the people I'd previously served with, including Sister Ellsworth and Sister Holland and Gainer! It was so exciting - I kept running away from Sister Snow to go hug everyone oops! Something very exciting was announced in zone conference: we're getting smartphones! This is such an amazing opportunity to reach out to those of God's children who aren't reachable by the normal way. We're so excited to be able to use this additional tool to help us more fully fulfill our missionary purpose - to bring others unto Christ. What an exciting time to be a missionary!

This weekend, Sister Snow and I helped one of our (favorite) members move. She's still close, but she's barely outside of our area (now she's in the second ward). Though it was really really sad to see her go, we are so excited that she's taken this next step in her life and bought a house!

Yesterday, we saw the miracles that come through prayer and diligence. I am so thankful to know that the Lord is mindful of His children, and that He wants us so desperately to succeed!

Last night when we came home, Sister Snow and I were chatting and snacking to wind down before bed. Something has been stinking up the fridge - and I found that it was broccoli that Sister Somppi had made 6 weeks ago, yuck! In our defense, it was hiding in the back of the fridge. I disposed of it, ew. The day before, Sister Snow had put a glass of milk in the fridge because she forgot to drink it. I wanted to get rid of it, so I was going to drink it, but it was BROCCOLI MILK! Because it had been uncovered, it had taken on the yucky broccoli flavor - EW! Sister Snow was laughing so hard, and I trying to rid myself of the horror that was broccoli milk. It was definitely a companion bonding moment, but at what expense? :)

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week! Remember to #LightTheWorld - the greatest effect comes when we all band together and participate!

Love and miss you all!
Sister Carlson

 Sister Snow and I outside the church building waiting for emailing today right before
Sister Snow dropped her camera- oops!

Sister Snow and I with Tahjeri, an amazing YSA in our ward

Sister Snow and I with Jessilee right after helping her move. :(

December 4, 2017

Hi everybody!

This week has been full of ups and downs! And it's completely flown by!

#LightTheWorld has been going very well with Sister Snow and I. We passed out 179 cards this week, it's truly been a miracle! Our members in the YSA 1st ward are literally incredible, and they've all been champs about being member missionaries and handing out #LtW cards. It has been such a blessing to serve along side these wonderful members.

Friday was actually crazy. We tried to visit a less active, and when the person opened the door, the person we were looking for ran past the door and down some stairs. We asked the young woman at the door if she was who we were looking for, and she said she was "DEFINITELY NOT" her. Then we had another person who told us the girl we were looking for had been dead for 6 years? Crazy! But the day got better after an appointment and interviews with President Bartlett. :)

Another very important thing: thank you for all the love this week!! I got a package from mom and dad, two letters from grandma Joanie, a letter from Inin and a letter from Eme! Thank you all so much for the loves!!

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Don't forget to #LightTheWorld!!
Sister Carlson

A selfie Sister Snow and I took this morning

At Snake River

Sister Snow's mom sent a Christmas package with a tree :)

Making cookies (I hate the oven)

Setting up the tree