July 16, 2018

Hi everyone!

Transfers are this week! With this transfer winding down and my trainer going home in 2 days (I am so excited for her but also so sad!!), I've been reflecting a lot on my mission and how I've served so far (and how I want to serve for these last 6 months). I've come to learn a few different things, through experiences and through the Spirit. I am grateful for the invitations I've been given - to act and become better. Our Father in Heaven wants us to succeed in this life ("succeed" meaning returning to live with Him again) and He wants us to always be improving. This process of improvement and change takes a LOT of humility (speaking from experience hehe). But humility is a sign of spiritual strength, so what can we do to be more humble so we can become the people He needs us to be? We need to feed ourselves spiritually!! I love what Sister Brazil Carlson said in her weekly email last week about focusing on Christ and what He's done for us, and singing hymns when our minds wander. We also need to be consistently and sincerely feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon (and other resources that we've been given) and praying for that gift of humility. In Sunday school yesterday, we were reading from the old testament about King Solomon, after he's built the temple and is giving the dedicatory prayer. In 1 Kings 8:61 he says "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statues, and to keep his commandments, as at this day." What does it mean to "let our hearts be perfect" before God? This week I've pondered a lot about the Savior's atonement and how it enables us. Obviously, it's because of Him that we are cleansed from our sins, but He's done so much more for us. Through Him we can make our weaknesses strengths, we can have our hearts and souls mended from any pain or damage, and we can be sanctified. When we are meek and humble, when we are repentant and ready to change and obey His will for us, then we are being perfect in heart. He already knows our thoughts and intentions, but when we are honest with Him in prayer, and we seek His help and guidance, we are being perfect in heart before Him. How can you be more perfect in heart? What goals have you been invited by the Spirit to make? What plans will you create to meet these goals? I know that I have a lot of things to work on this next week (and for the rest of my life!), and I know that He will help us along as we consistently strive to meet our goals that have been prayerfully made. 

I love this gospel. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and what He's doing for me - doing TO me. I love the tender mercies that Sister Johnson and I receive each day. I love my family. I will always grateful for this stretching, hard, and wonderful experience of being a missionary. I know that He lives and He loves us.

Have a great week everyone!

Sister Idaho Carlson

I forgot to include some little miracles that happened this week, so here they are :)

Sister Johnson pulled out our part member family list and we decided to try this one family, but they had moved just a couple weeks prior. Through them, though, we found a family of 5 who is ready and prepared to receive the gospel! Sister Johnson and I are very eager to start working with them!

Another miracle was yesterday, we met a woman while walking around trying to visit part member families. She's otherwise religious and has had a lot of experience with the church. Her family is going through a really rough patch right now, so it was very good timing for us to offer a message of love and comfort to her (re-enforcing what she already knows to be true). We set up a time to meet with her again too, and we are excited for that.

That's just 2, but I thought I'd put them in :)

Love you all! 

There was this one lady we tried and she had this little piggy bench outside her door, so I decided to sit on it and have my companion take a picture :) (Sister Brazil Carlson, this reminded me so much of Madam Wheaton haha!) 

July 9, 2018

Hi everyone!

This week I spent 35 hours away from my companion! :O Don't worry, it wasn't anything bad haha :) We got to do exchanges with Sister Peterman and Enkhbold from Friday to Saturday, and on Tuesday Sister Johnson has a missionary leadership meeting to go to, so I was in a trio with Sister Irish and Manuia! What a fun time, I love all these sisters! (and sorry, I don't have any pictures :'( I know, I'm the worst!) Also this week was the 4th of July and my one year in field mark! So many crazy things happening, life is exciting :D

We had some really good, rewarding lessons this week. In both of them, we taught the Restoration and more importantly talked about people's needs. I learned a lot about Christ-like love, charity, forgiveness, and leadership (I think all of those could probably just be under the umbrella of charity). All of us would like to become better people, and the only way we can truly do that is through Jesus Christ's atonement. It's because of Him that we can do anything - He saves us from physical AND spiritual death, enabling us to return to live with our Heavenly Family again. When we pray for help in certain areas (with Christ-like attributes) and give everything over to Him, then we can really improve. But it does require work on our end, of course! We need to always seek to be forgiving, charitable, service oriented (the Savior ministered and served one by one, and we have the amazing opportunity to do the same with this improved ministering program), etc! As we consecrate our time, efforts, and everything else, we will be able to become the instruments that He needs us to be. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission - with all the joys and trials included - to be able to learn these important lessons. He always want to teach us more, we just need to be ready and willing to receive what He will give!

Have a great week everyone! Don't forget to hang onto the iron rod (read the Book of Mormon!) and stay on that straight and narrow path (to eternal life)! Love you all <3

Sister Carlson

July 2, 2018

Good morning family and friends I love!

This has been a really awesome week! It was a really long week, but we had so many miracles given to us that it made up for anything negative that happened :)
One of the most exciting things is that last night, Sister Johnson and I had the opportunity to use family history as an contacting approach!! We were trying to visit a part member family and they didn't seem thrilled to talk to us at first, but I asked if I could pet the wife's puppy and we struck up a conversation! (If possible, I will always ask about the dog and pet it and then talk to them :D) After talking for a few minutes, I asked her where their last name comes from and she explained, then she talked about her own last name and her Scottish and Irish heritage. I pulled out my own fan chart and showed her my grandma's last name, McDougal, and she got so excited and was talking all about Scottish and Irish culture and her family. We told her that we could help her make a fan chart of her own and she got so excited. She is actually very good friends with one of the members in our ward and we're going to set up a time where we can all meet together and help her with her fan chart! We are so excited to work with her in this new avenue, and lead into the gospel through this!
Another exciting and amazing miracle is that Tim Miller is back in our area!!! He went through a rough patch for the past few weeks, but he's back and rearing to go!! He wants to start the lessons back up immediately and he just looks to happy. Sister Johnson and I are so so happy!!
So if you haven't heard, Preach my Gospel had been edited and updated after 14 years!! All the missionaries are raving about it ;) Sister Johnson and I have been teaching the Plan of Salvation a lot this week, and the new points of doctrine that we are sharing is absolutely amazing!! In the section about the three kingdoms, we used to only talk about celestial, terrestrial, and telestial, but now we talk about the three degrees of glory within the celestial kingdom!!! WOW!! That leads to more focus on the family - "salvation is a PERSONAL matter, exaltation is a FAMILY matter!" I am just so blown away and excited!! This is the dispensation of the fullness of times, and we need to keep up with all the changing and moving parts! The work is hastening!!
In teaching and studying the Plan of Salvation this week, I've been pondering a lot on God's love for us and the importance of families. With the recent political turmoil, this has been a topic of conversation this week. But I know that God loves ALL of His children. Every single one of us. He loves us enough to give us prophets, scriptures, and families. The family is the most important social unit that existed in the life before this and the world today. We have the greatest opportunities to grow and learn in families. God wants us to be united together forever in families. But there are people who have never come to know of God's love, they haven't gotten the chance to accept Christ as our Savior and make the critical covenants to return to God, and they haven't had good families. I know with all my heart that God still cares. He gives all those people an opportunity to do those things, to participate and taste of those blessings in the spirit world and the millennium. All that is wrong on this earth will be made right. It is because of Jesus Christ that our Heavenly Father can offer us this mercy. Christ saves us from both physical and spiritual death. I know that as we follow Christ, as we accept Him as our Savior and live His gospel and His commandments (which includes making covenants and receiving ordinances such as baptism and other saving ordinances), and we endure to the end, we will be able to return to live with God again in our families. God loves us. He loves YOU!

Have a great week!

Sister Carlson

June 25, 2018

Good afternoon, everyone!

This was kind of a rough week for Sister Johnson and I, but we definitely saw miracles, and I was able to see the love that God has for these children in this area.

Brooke dropped us last Monday evening. She expressed some of her concerns and was very firm in her decision this time. I know that her time will come, but I can't lie and say I wasn't crushed. But I know that she'll be ready at some point, and that will be an amazing and sweet day! I love her so much, and I know that she's being prepared for all the blessings that God has in store for her! God is so good to us!

Sunday evening, Sister Johnson and I were able to connect with one of our potential investigators (Lynette) and have the most amazing lesson. She had really amazing questions and the spirit was there. The flow of our discussion was just amazing! It was a miracle that we reconnected with her, every time we've gone for the past little while, she hasn't been home. And at the end of a pretty discouraging week, we could have easily turned in for companion study. But we didn't! We followed the promptings of the spirit and were lead to her! I am so grateful for the gift of the spirit.

That's one of my biggest take-aways from the week, is that of personal revelation. God wants to help guide us through the turmoils of life, and that's exactly why He gives us the gift of the Holy Ghost. It truly is a gift. When we pray of direction and study His word and ponder in our hearts, we will come to know His will for us. It way not be in the way and the time that we want, But He will always answer. He is always there. Trust in Him!

Have a great week!

Sister Carlson

June 18, 2018

Hello all!

It has been a great week! Of course we have our challenges and hiccups along the way, but those things are easily swallowed up by joy, especially when you are in the service or the Lord!

Okay, so I'll start off with this: I'm literally the worst and forgot to mention (because I have a goldfish cracker brain!) That Zach's baptism was in the 6th!! It was such an incredible experience - we filled up the whole chapel PLUS the overflow!! There are so many people who love and support him, it was just amazing to see and feel that at his baptism. I think I've mentioned this, but he had been taught in Meridian for the last 8 months, but he was supposed to be over here, so when it was time for him to be baptized he hopped on over to the Hidden Springs ward! We had a lot of representation from both the Meridian ward and the Hidden Springs ward - a lot of his family came too (they're mostly non-members)! Such a cool experience. He was confirmed yesterday in sacrament meeting and it was so sweet. He's such an amazing kid! We're just over the moon for him!!

There were a lot of amazing people we were able to come into contact with this week. We have two new investigators, Brooke and a potential investigator came to church, and there were a couple people that were a little frustrating, but it's a good growing experience for me haha. I'm grateful to be here at this time during my mission and my life. I feel so blessed to be here and I'll always be grateful for all the help that our Father in Heaven gives Sister Johnson and me!

I've learned a lot from my studies this week (the key to rewarding and effective personal study is taking notes!! Have your notebook out and ready when you study!). Something in particular was about worldliness. I was reading in the end of Helaman and the beginning of 3 Nephi, when Samuel the Lamanite is prophesying of Christ's birth and ministry on the Earth and the people mock, scorn, disbelieve those things until the sign is given - a day, a night, and a day that looks like one day. But even AFTER they receive this sign and MANY others, they reason their way out of it again and argue that the time is passed for Christ to come. When reading this, I at first thought that it was just ridiculous! You'd think that after the people had received such an amazing and obvious sign that they would be converted. But they were not. From this, I thought a lot about faith and where your center is. The sign that was given sparked their faith (many of them repented and were baptized), but they did not keep that flame alive. They let it die. Their center was not on Jesus Christ. When we "make our God" or our center something else - fashion, celebrities, social media, etc. - we are more easily lead away. This is not a safe place to be in! When we are converted to Christ, when He is our center, He protects us. "When the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have NO POWER to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built (Christ)" Helaman 5:12. There is a really great talk by Hank Smith - he speaks to the youth (he's a seminary teacher) and is literally so hilarious - and it's called "Break Up With the World". I think that it floats around on the internet, but I know that a CD of it is sold in Desert Book. I'd encourage you all to listen to it! This is exactly what he's talking about, and you'll have some good laughs too :) (sorry, I didn't mean for this to be a sales pitch, I just really like this talk).

I love you all so much!! You're all in my prayers and I am so grateful for all the support that you give me - I can feel it!! (and sorry that this email doesn't really talk about this week very much! I will say though that Sis J and I got a lil choco cake for my one year and it made weekly planning a lot happier haha!)

<3

Sister Carlson

June 11, 2018

Hey everyone!

It was a good week! It was transfer week, but Sister Johnson and I both survived! Woo-hoo! We're both so happy to stay here and stay together - we think we'll both be here for a long time.

Sister Johnson and I have mostly been running around trying to take care of our investigators, potentials, and part member families! It's hard trying to balance finding and teaching the people we already have - but Heavenly Father is always helping us!

On Friday, we found a man named Richard. He was sitting on the curb (I didn't even see him) and we rolled down the window and asked if we could talk with him. We ended up sitting on the curb with him for a half hour and we talked a lot about his struggles and taught the Restoration and parts of the Plan of Salvation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we mentioned the Word of Wisdom. We even committed him to baptism in August! It was a crazy miracle, and now we're just trying to set up another (more formal) appointment with him! God definitely leads us to the people that need the gospel in their lives - He knows when they'll be ready.

A sad thing that happened this week was that Tim, who was on date for this upcoming Saturday, moved out of our area and is in a crazy situation. We're doing all we can to help from this end, but it's just so hard! But it's okay - sometimes you just need to put them back into the Lord's hands. He knows and has a testimony of the gospel, and he'll progress in whatever place he ends up at. I am so grateful for the opportunity Sister Johnson and I had to teach him.

Those are the most exciting things from the week (and all I have time for haha!)

I love you all so much! Have an amazing week and don't forget to put your trust in the Lord - you will never be in safer hands!

Sister Carlson

June 4, 2018

Good morning beautiful family of mine!

This week has been a crazy good one! Sister Johnson and I have been going non-stop, it's exhausting and rewarding!

So I think I said this last week, but on Monday we had exchanges which was SO FUN because I got to be with Sister Snow! We had a great, successful day together!

On Tuesday we went to the temple! What an amazing experience and a great opportunity to spiritually recharge! I love love LOVE the temple!

On Wednesday, our day was planned to be packed, but a lot of things ended up falling through. Sad, but the Lord put us at the right places at exactly the right times! We had a lesson with Brooke, she's doing really well and is working hard towards baptism. Every time we meet, she expresses her desire to follow Christ and to do what God would have her do. She is such a gem! Later in the day, we had a great opportunity to do service for a family in Hidden Springs - the mom is a member, her oldest son is a convert, her husband is not a member, and their two little daughters are not members either. We've really wanted to meet with them since we got here, but they're all really busy so it's been hard to schedule something solid. But we were able to go over and help them with weeding! It was so fun, and we were able to start to build a great relationship!! The husband told us some really nice things and it was just an all around great experience! They're so lovely, and we're hopefully going to do dinner with them soon! They're such a sweet family! That evening we also met a potential investigator who we've been trying to meet for a while, and she was super nice. She said that we could come back too! It was just a great day!

On Thursday, we had our mission tour!! What an amazing experience. Elder Brian K Taylor (he gave the talk "Am I a Child of God?" at this past conference!) came and he is so awesome!! He just finished his mission as a mission president 11 months ago, so he was really confident and comfortable with a big group off missionaries! He taught us so much (I forgot my journal, so I can't say all of it), one of the main things was the "Yes List", or we're calling it the "I.B.M. (I Believe in Miracles) List". It's a list of 11 things we can do as missionaries to double (or even triple) the investigators in our teaching pool! That is quite the lofty promise! He he did promise us that, as we were diligent in doing these things that he had asked, we would see these blessings come to pass! So Sister Johnson and I have started (we haven't gotten to everything yet, but we're trying!) and it's true! The goal for each companionship was to have 15 investigators in their teaching pool by Sunday night, and Sister Johnson and I got to 14!! Wow!! And even more amazing, we found and taught 3 people on Sunday!! Miracles really do happen as we put our trust in the Lord and work hard! He is a part of this work! This IS His work!!

We had another lesson with Brooke, one with Tim, and one with Shaimaa, Ellen, and others throughout the week as well. I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and His guiding hand in our lives and especially in this work. Again, miracles do happen!!

There are too many amazing experiences this week to share (I feel like this week is bursting!), but these are the ones that are at the front of my mind. I hope that all of you put your trust in Him, set lofty but reasonable goals, and work hard! God blesses us when we do these things! Miracles happen! You can experience these things too! Pray for ministering experiences! You will be lead to those who stand in need, and those you can effect and bless the most!

Love you all!

Sister Carlson

May 29, 2018

Good afternoon, all!
I know I say this every month, but where did May go? It's just flown by and I don't even know what to do about it! Sister Johnson reminded me this week that I can tell people that I've been out for a year since I'm hitting my year mark in 2 weeks! What?? That flew by too! I'm going to hang on as hard as I can to the next 6 months!

We've had 3 lessons with Brooke since last email, and she came to sacrament meeting on Sunday!! It was so wonderful! We've taught her how to use the gospel library app and shown her all the cool things that she can access on it and she's so excited!! She's darling. We've also been teaching to her needs and questions, so we've talked about being a child of God, spiritual CPR (church, pray read), the Gospel of Jesus Christ, tithing, etc! She is doing well, still struggling with a couple things, but she's working through them like a champ!

We also got to meet with Tim twice, and he's very consistent with coming to church, he's just great. We taught the  Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Word of Wisdom, then the Law of Chastity (my favorite lesson...). But with chastity, I focused it a lot on protecting yourself and protecting your family which I think is the most important aspect of the commandment! He's understanding everything well.

I may or may not have mentioned our miracle investigator in Hidden Springs - we formally met him on Sunday this week (yes, as in 2 days ago). His name is Zach, he's going into his senior year of high school, and he's getting baptized on June 6th. What what?? He was being taught in Meridian at a friend's house, but President Bartlett instructed us that he needs to be baptized in his home ward which is Hidden Springs! He already know a lot of the youth through school and mutual, and he's very close with the bishop's family. He's such an amazing person. His testimony is rock solid, we feel so blessed to have him in our ward now!

On Wednesday night, we met the cutest kinds from the Congo and their dad was actually the potential we were looking for! He wasn't home, but we're going by this week! But they were so adorable. They kept wanting to talk with us - like, they wouldn't let us leave for a minute. But once we promised that we would come back, they let us go. So cute!!

Sunday was literally insane!! We had both Tim and Brooke come to church, we had both ward councils, AND Sister Johnson and I gave talks in the Hidden Springs ward! The problem was this: Hidden Springs ward council starts right when Boise 13th ward's sacrament meeting starts. Oh no! We're told that investigators take priority, but since we had never been to a ward council and we wanted to start building a good relationship with the leadership and Brooke and Tim had good people to take care of them while we were gone, we left after the sacrament and came back before the meeting was over. Everything turned out okay, but man I was stressed! 

Then yesterday we had exchanges! Exciting thing: I got to be with Sister Snow!! Throwback and a half! It was so fun to catch up and talk about what's happened since we were together. Oh I just love her!! And we had a great day too! We had a lesson with Brooke, we got in with Gail (an elderly woman who's been through a lot that the previous sister were teaching, but she hasn't been able to meet with us since having surgery last month), Zach had his baptismal interview (which he passed, of course!), we found a couple of potentials, and we were able to make contact with 2 part member families in Hidden Springs that we've been trying to see forever! And now we're doing service with both of them on Wednesday! We set up so many return appointments and other appointments for Wednesday - Sister Johnson and I are going to be running around like crazy!! I'm excited for it!

This week is crazy! We had exchanges and memorial day yesterday, preparation day today (we got to go to the temple and it was SO refreshing!!!), all of our appointments on Wednesday, Mission Tour on Thursday (it's like zone conference, but Elder Brian K Taylor is coming and we're going to do 2 big meetings - the Twin side and the Boise side!), and weekly planning on Friday, the first day of June! We'll be going non stop! I suppose it's a good thing haha :)

Stay diligent, everyone! I know that as we set aside our needs and reach out to others in love (ministering), sometimes in the midst of our greatest struggles, we will feel our happiest. As we do minister to those who are around us - family, friends, neighbors, people you're assigned to, and others you are led to by the Spirit - God will be able to use us and greatly effect those we love and serve. This is our privilege and obligation as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We represent him, whether we wear a name tag or not!

I love you all so much!! Have an amazing week!

Sister Carlson

May 21, 2018

Hello, family!

Wow, May is almost over! I can't believe how the time flies! If we even blink we'll miss the whole summer!

So last preparation day was crazy. We were doing our normal things when we got a call from one of our investigators Brooke. She said that she was having doubts and negative pushback, so she didn't want to meet with us anymore :( We ended up going over there that night and talking with her about everything, and one of my favorite quotes from the week was "Okay, just forget that I even called you - the baptism is still on!" She is just so darling and I love her with all my heart!! We also had a lesson with Tim that night and it went so incredibly well! We taught the Plan of Salvation and he was understanding everything and the spirit was so there! So amazing!

The next day we had an actual lesson with Brooke and it went so well! We taught her the Plan of Salvation also, and she already knew a lot of things because of her previous meetings with missionaries, so we had a great discussion and answered some of her questions and cleared up some stuff too. She is so prepared and so wonderful!

On Wednesday, we visited a potential investigator in our system named Ellen and she was home! She's 83 years old and so funny. She said she couldn't sit and chat, but we ended up talking for a while and she told us some stories! So cute. Now she's our investigator and we're going back this Wednesday to teach her! We're so excited! Also that day, we had a lesson with Hannah. She is so cute, she has one son who is seven and is very quiet and gentle. we had a lesson with her and she understands because of previous contact with missionaries, but we're trying to help her take it from her head to her heart. I don't think she believes completely, but that's why we're there! :) In the evening time was got a little rain storm, and there was thunder and lighting - the whole bit! I was so excited and the thunder was very far away so it was more pleasant than anything :)

On Friday we had lessons with Brooke and Tim again. A couple hours before Brooke's lesson, she called us AGAIN and told us that she couldn't go through with everything!! No!! We, again, went over and talked with her, and she still really want this. Her testimony is so solid and so strong, it's just the doubts and fears that get in the way. we talked about replying on the Lord and remembering that no one is perfect, we're all mortals, so we're going to slip and fall sometimes. The most important thing is that we get back up and rely on Him! Get back on the path and do all that we can to return to live with Him! Then we had Tim on the evening and it was so wonderful. We went back through the Plan of Salvation and read 2 Nephi 2 together, and we had an amazing discussion. With Elder and Sister Kowallis (self-reliance missionaries) and Brother Gill, we were able to cover so many things and the spirit was enveloping all of us! So amazing.

On Saturday we walked around all morning (which was so fun!) and we found 2 potential investigators! It was a miracle to find them both, they were both very short exchanges but they are willing to meet with us! Jess and Lynette, we're going to try them later this week. On the way back up from trying a couple less active, we found an older gentleman named Dennis (he actually called out to us!). He is a less active member, and we were able to testify to him of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and invite him to church on Sunday. We were put in the right place at the right time to find a lost sheep! Heavenly Father truly does care for His children! Later that day we were able to do service for a woman named Patty who had broken her wrist. it was a good opportunity. Then we visited a less active, also named Patty, and we were able to have a great discussion...while holding puppies!! She had 3 4 week old puppies and they were so darling I thought I could probably die. It was VERY exciting. That night, we had stake conference and the addresses were so amazing. I wish I had my note journal with me, but I remember that there were so many messages about the Holy Ghost and being a disciple of Christ. I received so much revelation! Tim was able to come and President and Sister Bartlett both spoke, it was such a lovely evening.

Sunday we were slammed at stake conference!! We were supposed to have 3 people come but only one did (Tim pullin through every time!) and there were so many others that we needed to talk to and so many slipped out before we could catch them! I felt like we were holding sand and so much was just slipping through our fingers! But we were able to make really good contact with some people. Time well spent, amazing messages shared and SO much revelation received again! In the afternoon we visited a woman named Sister Faith. We found her on Wednesday and she is also a lost sheep. She is a convert of three years and she has a ton of doubts and questions. In our little meeting with her, the spirit was so strong that you could probably cut it like butter. It was surrounding all of us, and it was incredible to see Sister Faith softening. We talked a lot about self worth, faith, and Sister Johnson and I both shared our testimonies and personal experiences. The love in that apartment was strong.  At the very end, Sister Johnson asked Sister Faith how she was feeling, and she said "uncomfortable". I shared the quote with her "God loves us more than He loves us to be comfortable" - God gives us these situations and trials so we can grow! I love it! In her closing prayer, she said "...thank you for sending missionaries out to make people uncomfortable..." That's the most accurate description of a missionary's job if I've ever heard one haha!! xD 

Also that day, we were prompted to see another less active and we came in a great time of need for her. We shared the video "Because of Him" and it was so powerful. I'm grateful for the Spirit's guiding hand in my mission and my life! ]

That's about everything for the week! Sorry for the long email, so many amazing things happened! God loves His children - that's precisely why He sent His son, Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the world. Through His sacrifice, we can return to live with our Father in Heaven - may we always be doing the things necessary to return to live in His presence!

Love you all so much!

Sister Carlson

May 14, 2018

Good morning, wonderful family of mine!

Before I begin, Grandpa!!! I hope you're okay!! You and Grandma are in my prayers, I hope you have a safe rest of your trip (and no more broken anything, okay?).

This week has been insane! First full week in the Boise 2nd area, with Boise 13th ward and Hidden Springs. There is so much to do here, Sister Johnson and I barely know what to do with ourselves!

Tuesday was service and moving day! We have just serve hours at Salvation Army at the food bank, it is so fun to have that allotted time every week! :) In the afternoon we moved, so crazy! I furiously packed (because I had procrastinated oops!), then the Anderson's (from the office) came with their truck and helped us move everything over. I am so grateful for their help - we definitely would have taken 3 or 4 trips in our tiny Corolla :)

Wednesday, we had district meeting and we did role plays and talked about extending baptismal invitations and investigator's hold ups (not keeping commitments, family, too busy, and lack of understanding). Later that day, we had planned to try a former investigator, Brooke. During our planning, the spirit nudged us to try her. Our meeting with her was amazing. At first, she was a little hesitant (for ALL the reasons we talked about in district meeting) but Sister Johnson asked if we could just study with her and she invited us in and we talked more. She had been taught 5 years ago, and she already had a testimony of the Restoration and even baptisms for the dead! She brought up the topic of being baptized, and noe she's ready to work through her concerns and she is on date for June 23rd. Wow! The Lord knows His children and when they will be ready to receive the gospel, and when we follow the promptings of the spirit, we can be His hands! What a privilege this is!

On Friday we had interviews with President Bartlett, I always enjoy discussing things with him. He is so inspired and gives such wonderful direction and advice - this time he told me to focus (almost completely) on part member families. That is where miracles will occur. I am excited to take this into effect with Sister Johnson - there are people to find and work to be done! We had another lesson with Brooke too, she is so ready. I love her and am so excited to be one along her path to conversion! <3

On Saturday, we had a great lesson with a returning member of the ward. Her daughter was there too, and there are a lot of struggles in the family (just like all of our families). Sister Johnson and I ended up sharing the Mormon Message "the Hope of God's Light" and the spirit was palpable. It was so strong and we all felt it. The spirit is so incredible and I am so thankful for his presence in my life and in the lessons we have with others. He is the converter, not the missionaries.

Then, of course, Mother's Day!! Sister Johnson and I were asked to give talks in the Boise 13th ward which was nerve wracking but so wonderful. I was happy for the opportunity. Then we found out that we have a whopping 107 part member families in our area, wow! There is SO much to do! Then the best part of the day (and probably the week) - Mother's Day call home!!! Seeing you all was so wonderful and energizing and it made me so so happy. I love you all so much!!!!!

Have an amazing week! Remember to remain worthy to have the spirit with you - he is critical to our ongoing conversion and in the lives of others that we are always reaching out to. I love you all!!

<3333333333333333333333333333333333333333

Sister Carlson

May 7, 2018

Hello, everyone!

This has probably been the craziest week of my whole mission. So many things have happened and my head is still spinning!!

So, week one in the Boise 5th YSA ward has been fun! There are so many wonderful members here, and they are so willing to help us out in this great work! One of the ones that helped us out the most this week was Paige, she's incredible (and also probably the coolest person I've ever met). She came out with us on Monday and Friday to try some people at an apartment complex in our area. Monday we met with Sean (he's not YSA, but it's good to see him and teach him a little) and we had a great discussion about the priesthood and the Plan of Salvation. It was so wonderful and the spirit was there testifying through us. On Friday we were able to catch Grant, one of our investigators that is super hard to catch, and teach him with Paige! We taught the Plan of Salvation and answered some of his questions, it was awesome! We also got his phone number (huge step). spirit 100% guided us to his apartment that night!

Another exciting thing on Thursday - we got to work with the Assistants and do a booth at BSU campus! They were coming to the end of finals, so there were a ton of people on campus and we got to talk to so many people. There were so many golden people who were really searching too, it was a miracle day! We had the first three lessons (Restoration, Plan of Salvation, Gospel of Jesus Christ) on our tables, a little brownie object lesson (there were good brownies with sugar and stuff and bad brownies with salt and vinegar in them. The lesson was with prayer, how our lives are so much better with us, and sometimes we don't realize it until we taste the sweet), lots of treats and a puppy to attract the people. There were so many people, it was such an incredible and different missionary opportunity!! 

Saturday morning, we got a call from President Bartlett telling us that we were both being Emergency Transferred to a completely new area. The assistants got our ward (so sad! But exciting for them I guess) and we were moved into the Boise 13th and Hidden Springs wards, they're about 20 minutes from where we live now (it's like CT!). There has been a lot of shuffling around for the past couple days, there are so many adjustments to make! So crazy! But I can definitely see how the Lord has prepared the missionaries and the areas for this change - Heavenly Father knows exactly what's happening and He's prepared a way for us to make this transition as smooth as possible! I know that God loves all of His children and that He is mindful of us - He cares for us so deeply and personally that we can't even comprehend it!

 I'm so grateful the I get to stay with Sister Johnson and that the Lord trusts us with this new area. There is so much work to be done here (so much more than I've had for my whole mission!). It's going to be hard and it we definitely be crazy, but I couldn't be more excited!

Sunday was an insane and tiring day. There were so many new faces and important people to meet at church today, my head was spinning! But both wards are so wonderful and the people are so firm in the faith. I feel honored to work with them! I was so happy that it was fast Sunday - Sister Johnson and I were able to bare our testimonies to both congregations and it was such a wonderful opportunity to show them our excitement to serve with them and our love for the Lord and His work. Just another sign that the Lord knows what He's doing - He put us in at exactly the right time! I'm so grateful for our mission president, President Bartlett, and his sensitivity to the spirit and his willingness to follow the counsels of the Lord. This change was so beautifully orchestrated! I love the Lord, I love Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, and I love President Bartlett! My heart is so full.

That's about everything for this week! Sorry for the crazy long email, that's how the week has been haha :)

I love you all so much! Stay worthy of the gift of the Holy Ghost, that you may have him constantly with you so you can always be guided by him!!!

<3 <3 <3

Sister Carlson

April 30, 2018

Good morning, all!

Okay, I'll get the biggest news out of the way - I was transferred! All the way to Boise!! I'm really happy to be back on this side of the mission. But guess what? I'm in the Boise 5 area, just a YSA ward....I can't escape YSA haha! It's a good thing I love this age group. I've started to say that I've been called to the Boise YSA mission :)

But the week was good! I sent off Sister Marshall on Tuesday for Hawaii (sad, but also so exciting!), so I was with Sister Little and Hermana Okutsu. They are both newly out and it was a blast! We were able to get a ton of work done on Tuesday, but Hermana Okutsu and I were both being transferred, and he area was Burley...45 minutes away from Twin! So on Wednesday, I packed furiously in the morning and in the afternoon we drove all the way down to Burley and packed and cleaned her apartment. It was an exhausting day, but it was good!

Thursday was transfers, and I got to drive up with Sister Gossling who I just love! It was a fun car trip, but in the two hours I managed to get a sunburn on my neck and arms, curses!

My new companion is Sister Johnson, she's been out for 9 months and she's been in this area for 3 months. She's from Queen Creek, Arizona and is such a wonderful missionary! She's taught me so much in the past few days - mostly about being bold with people! She will just walk up to people so confidently and invite them to come unto Christ and read the Book of Mormon. I've found myself being bolder too, and I love this change of pace here! She's also super obedient which has been so lovely. She's so awesome and I'm so excited for the next 6 weeks!

We had a lot of appointments fall through this week, but we've been able to find so many people along the way. We're always moving, whether we're contacting potential investigators, street contacting, or connecting with people on social media. It's amazing!

(You don't have to include this in the blog - I contact Marina Capezzone on Facebook and asked if we could teach her and she said yes!! We're still trying to figure out details of when we can to it, but I am SO excited!! She is so lovely, and I really feel like she's been prepared for the restored gospel!!)

So that's the end of this exciting week! I hope you all have an amazing, uplifting week. Do not forget to power and importance of the Book of Mormon - it can change lives and, like Sister Johnson says, "it does no good sitting in our bags". Reach out and change someone's life!

Love you all!!

Sister Carlson

April 23, 2018

Good morning, family!

This week has been a little crazy with Sister Marshall going home on this Wednesday and transfers just around the corner on Thursday! I'm so eager to know what will happen!

With MLC on Tuesday, I got to work with Sister Enhkbolt and it was so amazing!! We had a really incredible day - we caught one of our investigators at home and got to have a really wonderful discussion with her. We ended up talking about the Plan of Salvation, then came back after another appointment and did service for 2 hours with her. Building that relationship is really important, and I was definitely able to feel that as we were with her! The other thing from that day was that we got to meet with Randy and Sibo, potential investigators. They are from Zimbabwe, and through a whole chain of events have found themselves here in Twin Falls with a member, Sister Jelovchan. They're both in limbo now with adjusting to Idaho and finding jobs, so we're waiting on starting lessons with them. They're both really wonderful people and we hope that we'll be able to work with them!

On Wednesday, we had lessons with Alex and with Trevor. Trevor is just taking off! He was so attentive during our lesson (Plan of Salvation), and we went through all the things he didn't understand and talked about patriarchal blessings and baptisms for the dead. AND he received the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday!!! He is so amazing! Our lesson with Alex was fine. We got to understand Alex's core beliefs a little bit better, but we didn't really teach anything other than the importance of reading the Book of Mormon. So this upcoming lesson, we will be just reading out of 2 Nephi 2 to introduce him to the Plan of Salvation. We're praying!

Since Sister Marshall leaving Tuesday morning, I'm going to be in a trio for Tuesday and Wednesday with two greenies! We'll be in my area, and I'm a little nervous but I think we'll have fun together :)

Those are all the big things of the week, I think! Thank you all of much for your emails and love and support that you send to me!! I love you all so much!!!

<333

Sister Carlson

April 16, 2018

Good morning, everyone!

Before I begin, can I just say that Idaho weather is silly? It got to 72 yesterday after church (it was so wonderful and sunny!) and then this morning it was raining which quickly turned to snow! I think I'm going to start storing all of my jackets and coats in the car haha!

It has been a good week - we had exchanges, lots of service, and a trip to Hansen and Murtaugh! Lots of fun things going on here in the YSA 1st ward :) 

We had a lesson with Trevor on Wednesday. It went relatively well, we went over the Restoration with him point by point (we gave him his own copy, so we read through some sections and he explained what he understood about others). In our next lesson, we'll be talking about the Plan of Salvation, along with patriarchal blessings and baptisms for the dead! Exciting stuff :D

We have a lesson with Alex this upcoming Wednesday. We're going to his fellowshipper's house and watching the 15 minute Restoration video, I am really excited for this lesson. 

We have two people on the horizon - 2 YSA from Zimbabwe. Long story short, they're living with a member here in Twin and they've expressed interest in Mormon temples and learning more. We're going to try and meet with them today and bring the to FHE - yay!

Little sidenote, we got an assistant ward mission leader last week, woo-hoo!! We are so excited to work with him - he's an amazing, reliable guy (and he's a redhead!).

Over the past week, I've received a few nudges from different sources that I need to be using my creative talents to teach. I have been nervous and stumped on how to do this, but I've thought of and prayed about a few things. I'm going to be praying and (hopefully) experimenting this week, so I'll tell you about it next week! :D

Thank you so much for all of the birthday wishes! There were a few people here who knew it was my birthday and really tried to make it special for me - they're so wonderful! I'm so grateful to be surrounded by people who love me (and I love them SO much!)

Have an amazing, uplifting week! Remember that the Lord's timetable is different than ours, and that's okay - we can trust 100% that His plan for us is better than ours :)

Love you all! <3

Sister Carlson