January 22, 2018

Hello everyone!

What a week it's been. Sister Snow and I have seen a lot of trials this week, but also SO many tender mercies - one of those being the warmish weather! I think it's about to get cold again - it snowed a little this morning, but it has been in the 40's and 50's! Blessings :)

One thing that we've seen a lot this week is people who don't want to be contacted. But some of the silver linings there are that 1) they're usually pretty nice about it! 2) now we know for next time! 

We've been able to meet a lot of people this week. Non-members, less actives, and members who really want to help. This ward is amazing, I'm so grateful to be here!!

Upcoming are zone conference where we get smart phones and transfers two weeks from now. Everything on the horizon promises change, and I'm so excited that the Lord is giving us so many new opportunities.

I love this gospel and I love being a missionary. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father has put His trust in me to reach the people here in Idaho. I've been able to learn so much in such a short amount of time - Heavenly Father is so good to us!

Have a great week, everyone!

Sister Carlson

January 16, 2018

Hello everyone!

I have no time, but this week has been great! I will forever be grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission - what a privilege it is to serve the Lord full time! I'm also grateful for my trials - I've been taught this past week that Heavenly Father trusts us with the trials that we have been given; He trusts that we'll be able to grow from them and that we'll be an even stronger force for good when we come out the other side. Heavenly Father loves us SO much, I'm always astounded!

Love you all, have a fantastic week!

Sister Carlson

P.S. Things I need to ask/say:

Dad: How do you burn CD's? 

Mom: I got another phone case, and it didn't fit again :( The camera in my phone faces up and down, not side to side. The phone is a Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro, 2017 model. It's a duos if that helps :)

Also, could you send some cheap, healthy recipes? Sister Snow and I are on a health kick! 

Bless!

January 8, 2018

Hi, everyone!

I'll just start off with thank you for all of the emails this week. I adore all of you and hearing from you is one of my favorite parts of the week. I'm sorry that I'm unable to reply to all of you individually - if I had just one more half hour, I would!! But anyway, thank you for all of your kind and uplifting thoughts, and the details from everyday life. I love it love it love it!!

So this week has been good. I can't really remember much (mission brain), but one of the main things was that we did exchanges this week! Our Sister Training Leader, Sister Fanga'iuiha, came to the area with me and Sister Snow went to Kimberly with Sister Rapp (who came out with me!). Sister Fanga-iuiha is from Honolulu, Hawaii, and she is just an amazing sister missionary. She's hilarious and she's not scared of anything! It was awesome to be able to learn from her, and we had such an amazing day. We did a little service in the morning, visits in the afternoon, then we did an hour of tracting right before dinner. I was really nervous because 1) I haven't done a ton of tracting thus far, and 2) we don't usually tract here because the YSA1st ward is a) huge and b) across all other missionaries' areas. But we decided to do it anyway, and we found a family that was SO ready for the gospel, and a man that had previously been meeting with the missionaries. They both agreed to meet with the missionaries that are over their area. What a miracle! 

That's the main thing from this week, other than trying to sort out new move ins, outs, etc. with the new semester starting back up. It's so fun to work in the YSA - it's always changing!

Anyway, I love you all! I hope y'all have an amazing week!

Sister Carlson

January 2, 2018

Happy 2018, everyone!

It's crazy that all of 2017 has already gone! It doesn't even feel like it to me. But Sister Snow and I are excited for the new year and the fresh start that comes with it.

It's been interesting, since we're only in a YSA ward. Everyone is on vacation, moving out or in, and Sister Snow and I have been in a weird state of limbo this past week. The ward is going to be shaken up all over again!

With the new year, Sister Snow and I have been talking a lot about setting goals. Setting goals is a very important tool that we can use as members of the church (and as non-members too!) to become better people and come closer to Christ. I know that as we choose to focus on just one or two things, counsel with the Lord, tell someone else so you can be held accountable, and work hard on your goals, Heavenly Father will help you succeed. Our resolutions don't have to die after January! Let's make them last through all of 2018, that we may become better instruments in the hands of the Lord!

I also have an invitation I'd like to extend: in the Idaho Boise Mission, we are going to be doing a Book of Mormon read - 85 days, starting January 5th and going till March 30th, the day before conference. The last time we did this as a mission, I was able to get so much out of the scriptures, it was incredible! So I'd invite you all to read along with us and partake in the spirit that comes with reading the Book of Mormon. I'll link below an attachment to the reading schedule - please join with us and read!

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic, safe first week of 2018!

Sister Carlson​

<<will post the spreadsheet when we get access>>