Hurrah for Israel!

Sister Carter and the Prophet Joseph Smith

Dear Family,

Here it is... my last hurrah. I can't believe it! I remember Dad telling me that it passes like a dream, and there have been moments when it has been anything but a dream. Moments when one foot would barley move in front of the other. But now it is coming to a close, and it has felt like a dream. So here is the plans for coming home: We enter into the Mission home on Monday morning (so we won't be emailing) and spend the whole day with President. He's going to feed us and take us to all of the sites for one last time. That evening, we are actually having a "Family Home Evening Night" and the Joseph Smith Farm which we actually have shifts taking tours from one home to the other, caroling, drinking hot chocolate. I'm excited to end working and it will be a good way to see everyone before I leave. Then we go back to President's, have our exit interviews, and go to bed. The next morning is the day! We get on a plane, get off a plane, get on a plane, get off a plane, get on a plane :), and THEN........ I see all of YOU!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! How exciting!! Its hard to believe its so close! I'm going to warn you right now that I will most likely be very awkward :). So, I apologize in advance. It will be a hard transition but I do believe that there are still great things that await and I know that all will be okay.

This last week has been an incredible one. Bro. Copp got confirmed yesterday. It was such a special event. In his blessing he was blessed that he would be able to read and love to read from the scriptures! How cool is that! We took him up to Temple grounds this week to talk about some of the next goals that he should shoot for. While we were there one of the members of the Temple Presidency let Bro. Copp come and and see the baptismal font and answer any questions he had about the Temple. It was so awesome! When we left Bro. Copp said, "The more I learn about all of this, the safer I feel". What a neat statement. I never thought of the church in that way before but it is a complete safety net. He has been interviewed and is going to be able to get the Priesthood this next Sunday. So neat. Also, Sarah, a little girl I taught in Webster, is getting baptized this Saturday! Yay! What a neat way to end a mission. I don't think I could ever be happier.

So as I thought about what my last email would be like I was trying to think of all of the things I have learned on my mission. I've started making a list, and it is getting very long. I could write down some of them for you but the thing that I've learned the most is something that I already came out here with, and that is my testimony. I love this work! I have loved being a missionary with all my heart! I know that there is a God out there who cares and loves us, that He sent His Son so that we could make it home again. I know the Savior lives. He's apart of everything. He offers peace and eternal life to everyone. He truly is the light and the life of the world. I know that Joseph Smith was His prophet. That just a couple of stone-casts away from where I live, that young boy saw the Father and the Son and that singular event started a work that will never stop again. There are living prophets on the earth today! President Monson is that chosen instrument and when we follow his direction we will never be led astray. I love the Book of Mormon. I have come to realize how rare a possession it really is. No book can offer the peace that that book can. I know the work moves forward whether you have a black name tag on or not, and I'm so grateful to be apart of the Lord's kingdom on the earth.

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" -2 Timothy 4:7

Hurrah for Israel!!

I love my Savior. I love all of you. See you soon :)

A Sweet Baptism

Dear Family,

It feels very strange to be emailing you so shortly after I emailed you last time. Because the sites have slowed down significantly they want the sisters out proselyting more during the week. Hence, the Preparation Day change for the last time. So there isn't too much to report on since Thursday except...... A BAPTISM!!!! So, I'm going to recount the events of the day so that you can feel like your were present in spirit.

Bro. C came to church, all dressed up in a suit! We didn't even know he owned a suit but he walked into Sacrament meeting with his chin up, wearing the only white shirt and tie that he owned. He was nervous. He kept saying that his knees were shaking all during church. We had the service right after the last meeting ended. The font was filled, programs were made, members came. There was a lot of support from the ward! Everyone who has ever got the opportunity to talk to Bro. C loves him. President and Sister Christianson came to the service as well. We had some great talks from some members and then it was time for us to sing (again! :)). Sister Lee wanted to sing her favorite song called "I'll find you my friend". It really is a beautiful song, it talks about how we were all friends in the pre-existance and now we are trying to find each other again. It is such a moving piece. I was completely composed until, in the middle of the song, I looked over at sweet Bro. C who had tears streaming down his cheeks, and the spirit of the song became real. We had found our friend. He's now here with us, entering into the gate that is going to lead us back to our heavenly home, together. I never get emotional when I sing but by the end of the song there were no dry eyes in the room. I could feel the angels there, and Heavenly Father's love and pride in the decision that one of His precious son's was making.
The baptism was wonderful, he only had to get dunked once :). After 58 years of experiencing pain, sorrow, grief, and guilt Bro. C is finally free. Free of all of that. Yesterday was the first day of his brand new life. While the participant's changed Sister Lee and I gave a talk on the Restoration and then Bro. C came out to give his testimony. It was simple and beautiful. He talked about how he wasn't much a man for words, that he couldn't even read when he first met the sisters, but that he knows the Book of Mormon is true and that he is going to do all he can to stay on the path. It was honestly the best day of my mission. I have felt no closer to heaven, than when I am in the the Temple. I'm so proud of Bro. C! He is such a good man, its been a privilege to be able to teach him.

The last email that you sent, Dad, made me cry. As I read the schedule of when I will be taking off my name tag I just bawled. I have found myself, in random place, thinking about taking off that name tag and it makes me weep. But (just like you do so often) the next paragraph you wrote, about the name tag just being apart of me, lifted my spirits. Who knew that a piece of plastic could mean so much to someone? I love that black name tag. It has been an honor to wear the name of our family and of our Savior for as long as I have. I hope that I can still always carry it with me, wherever I go. That is what I promised to do when I was baptized, and there is power in keeping your covenants.

I sure love you family, and although I will leave a piece of my heart heart in New York, I am excited to be able to each one of you, because my heart has always been with my family. Have a wonderful week!

Love always, Sister Carter

P.S. I did get the 12 days of Christmas package! Thank you!

Thanksgiving Miracles

Dear Family!!!

Wow do I have a lot to write to you! I'm so glad that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I thought about you a lot that day. I'm glad that Mom, Kris, and A'lyssa had some fun Black Friday shopping. I can't believe the stores open so early! Thats kinda nice though, then you don't have to go to sleep, just shop till you drop :).
Well, this is what my Thanksgiving was like (a day full of miracles):
-Worked at the Book of Mormon Publication Site: No one really came in but I got to sit in the original bookstore that the Book of Mormon was put on sale in and write down all of the things that I'm grateful for (with the SUN shining on me! (Miracle :))
-Found my missing CTR (miracle)
-Got a phone call from Bro. C. One of the best phone calls I have ever gotten..... HE IS OFF OF PROBATION!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY. We couldn't believe it! We danced around for a little while, shouting for joy! He can now be baptized. So we set the date... December 4th! This week. So we've been busy this week planning for his baptism. He'll get baptized this week, confirmed the next week in church, and hopefully I'll get to see him get the priesthood my last Sunday here. The Lord is so gracious with His blessings! I can't believe it.
-Went to eat Thanksgiving dinner at a member's home. The Ellsworths. They are the greatest family in the world. They invited all of the missionaries in the ward over. It really felt homey.
-Made Symphony Pie for a woman in the ward who didn't have family for Thanksgiving. It was fun to get to sit and chat with her
-Ended the night having District Meeting. President and Sister Christianson decided to show up and it was the best night in the world. We watched "The Other Side of Heaven" and drank homemade eggnog. Loved it.

Yesterday we had Zone Conference (that is why I am not emailing until now- my last couple Preparation Days are going to be on Mondays now). We had an 8 hour training on faith! We had to fasten our seat belts. It was incredible. Because it was my last Zone Conference I had to share my "last" testimony to the Zone. Thats a hard thing to do. To be honest I'm not really sure how to act as a normal human being anymore :). I would be lying if I said that I wasn't excited to be home for Christmas and see all of you, but it scares me leave all of this behind. I have loved my mission. With all my heart. It has taught me more about the gospel, and about who my Savior really is then I think I would have learned my whole life. Sister Trujillo, Sister Anderson, and I got to the special musical number for the Conference. It was neat to get to stand next to these two sisters I have come to love so much and sing. We sang the song "He is Real", and I have never sang a song that has meant more to me. So, I just share the lyrics of the song with you, even though its better with music in the background:

"If I could see HIs face, would I believe even more
That He is God's own son, the Redeemer of the the world?
Would I believe His words even more than I do now?
Would I follow more faithfully?

Chorus: By my faith I know that He is real
By my faith I know that He is there
The spirit testifies and warms my soul, with His redeeming love,
and I know that I'll see Him again.

If I could touch His hand, or see the prints upon His feet,
If I could see Him kneeling in prayer to my Father above
Would I believe that He, did it all for me?

Chorus
And someday I'll see His face wet His feet with my own tears,
and I shall not know more then, than now that
He is real"

That is my testimony. By my faith I know that He is real. Sure love you family!! Have an amazing rest of your week!

Love always, Sister Carter

Feeling the Spirit at the Whitmer Farm

Dear Family,

There is lots to write about this week so I'll try to get in as much as much as possible. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Thank you for sending the Thanksgiving package! I love it.... I devoured the Frito chips in a day :). It sounds like you have some great plans for the Holidays. I always love the bustle of eating dinner together and then trying to squeeze in a nap before BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!!! Wish I could be there with you, just know that I am there in spirit :).

This last past week has been FULL of miracles! It seems like sometimes, after trials, the Lord just seems to hand you some amazing experiences to keep you going. We had a wonderful lesson with Bro. C this week. We took him down to the Peter Whitmer Farm because it is the last church site he hasn't seen. We had such an amazing spiritual experience. There is nothing like sitting in the downstairs of the log home there and thinking about how far the church has spread since 1830. It had 6 official members in its first organizational meeting and now there are over 14 million members of the church! Pretty incredible. I also love hearing investigators explain how the spirit feels to them. Bro. C kept saying that it felt like "pin-prickles" were going up and down his arm :). We find out if he gets off of probation this Wednesday, and if he does he can get baptized!!! So... we're praying hard.

Another neat thing was a family that we have been working with for a very long time finally came to church this week! It is two sisters that we are working with, Karen and Tiffany, and we just happened to go by this week at the exact times that they needed us and I think it was the Lord softening their hearts enough to let our message move them to action. So they brought all of their kids and we had the entire middle pew FILLED with people! YAY! I haven't experienced that my entire mission. I felt like I was serving somewhere in South America. The Lord has been so gracious with His blessings the last little while.

I had a really neat dream this week. In my dream I was at the church house and there were tons of people running around everywhere. I remember I had a place that I needed to be at but I heard a familiar voice start talking behind me. I looked back and there was President Monson! He was starting a "Mormon Message" (this just goes to show you how much of a missionary I have become :)) but no one was listening. Everyone was just running around not paying attention to him. So I decided to stop and listen. He was talking about a tree that was growing in the corner of the church house. That this tree had a limb that was growing at the bottom of the trunk that was so big and heavy that if they would have left it there the tree would have eventually fallen over. So they had sawed the limb off and grafted in a "good" limb, to support the tree where it was needed so it could grow better (I swear- I haven't even read Jacob 5 in a long time.... too much time out in the Grove I suppose :)). I was super confused by this whole thing and because I didn't understand what he was talking about I started walking away. It was then that he summed up his "message" or the point he wanted to get across. His message was, "Stay your course. Finish what you started to do". Wow! I have no idea what that had to do with the tree but I woke up from that dream feeling like that was direct revelation from Heavenly Father. That morning I had "new" eyes and some moments that seem harder then others I just remember to "stay my course", I'm going to finish this.

I hope that all is good for you the rest of this week. I sure love all of you. I'm okay to fly into St George. That will be fine. I guess I'm just a little nervous about being by myself for a couple hours... but I guess it'll be time to just plunge into being normal again :). Have a wonderful grateful week, and just know how grateful I am for each one of you!

Love always, Sister Carter

Satan never quits

Dear Family,


Wow! Your letters were so exciting! I couldn't help but feel the butterflies in my stomach when I saw all of the classes that I'm signed up for! I'm SO nervous, but really happy. I feel good about all of those classes (a little nervous about Biology but I think its going to be okay :)), and I hope that as I get back into school things will start to come back to my memory. YES... I would love that job at the Elementary School! That would be such a neat opportunity, especially if education is what I want to go into. It would give me that extra shoe-in to get into the program I want. If the job becomes available I would love if you put in my application. I might need your help to kind of adjust it to fit more of something that they would be looking for. I want them to want me! :) Those hours would be great as well.

I got a hand-copy of my flight plans this week after site meeting. My whole stomach about dropped. I can't even believe it. I feel such a wide-variety of emotions as the end is coming near. I don't think I've prayed or cried more on my mission. My knees are sore for kneeling for so long, pleading that I can end strong. I have never felt Satan so great. He's such a jerk! He gives me every reason to stop, and I've realized that excuses are easy to find. I can feel like I am entitled to be tired and some-what discouraged but we are asked to "remember him... and not hang down our heads" (2 Nephi 10:20). So... sometimes, 5 weeks seems like a short amount of time. Sometimes it feels like an eternity away. I know that I'm going to make it to the end... I just want to do it well. So every day I need a new "rally cry" to get me up, but I know that the Atonement isn't just there to cover our sins. It is there to to sustain and enable us to accomplish the things that we could not on our own.

There is nothing too exciting happening in our area right now. We're actually just trying to find people to teach. Lots of nice people, just no takers. We got our last transfers this week. I'm staying with Sister Lee in Marion. I'm happy about that. She helps me stretch and grow and she doesn't let me give up. We've been doing lots of service lately with the holidays coming. We helped decorate a Christmas tree yesterday!!! YAY!!!!!! So happy! I sure love Christmas. Mom's going to have to start recording all of our cheesy Hallmark channel shows because guess what?! "I'll be home for Christmas" (I have a whole new feeling associated with that song now).

So to end, family. I just want to say thank you. I thank you for figuring out my resume, my apartment situation, staying up till midnight to get me signed up for classes, helping me find a job. I couldn't have a better family in all the world and I know my words don't do it justice, but thank you. Sincerely from my heart. I love all of you more than I can express. I hope you all have the most amazing week.

Love always, Sister Carter

You need happiness in your lives!

Dear Family,

Yay for Daylight savings time! Its the closest that we can get to sleeping in as a missionary! Plus it makes it nice not to have to run in the dark, in the mornings. Thank you for taking care of everything with school! I sure appreciate both of you for all your efforts. I think Dad's email came at a perfect time. I am so glad to know that life is still good after this. That the experiences only get richer and more rewarding. I feel as if I am on an emotional roller coaster all of the time. One moment I'm crying because I don't think I can do it one more day, and the next minute I'm crying because that day has ended. With all of this crying I have now become a real Sister missionary :).

We've had a pretty good week this week. It has been relatively nice outside which always lifts my spirits up. We're still finding it very hard to get people to progress in the gospel. Its weird because people will sit out and talk to you for hours but when you ask them if we can come back they never say yes. DOESN'T ANYONE HERE WANT MORE HAPPINESS IN THEIR LIVES!? I'm always amazed when we talk about how this message can improve the quality of anyone's life and their response is, "I'm all set" (Those words haunt me at night :)). Its all okay though. Sister Lee and I were talking about it last night and its really frustrating when people don't pick the right things with their own agency but at least we can decide what we want to do with ours. So.... fellow Western New Yorkers.... although you think that this is all the happiness that life has to offer, I promise you there is more, and it is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We had a really great experience this week with online proselyting. I don't know if you've ever been to mormon.org but if you go to that website there is a place that you can click on that says "Chat with us". Its a place where you can anonymously ask questions about the church. Now, all of the Visitor Center's are going to be the missionaries that these people get to chat with. So you literally Chat with US! How cool huh? We work in companionships still and just wait for people to get on and answer their questions using the resources the church has online like mormon.org or lds.org. You teach lessons online to people! Sister Lee and I taught a girl from Pennysylania last week. She had just received a Book or Mormon and had questions while she was reading. We asked her if she wanted missionaries to come over and help her understand it more and she said YES! So cool. Its fun to get to use technology to further the work.

This week we watched "17 Miracles" at Site Meeting. I don't know if you have seen that yet or not. It was SO sad! It made fasting and tracting in the snow look like a cake walk! I can't believe all of the things the early saints went through. Makes me appreciate what we have so much more.
Well, family. Sure love you. I can't believe Lindsay comes home this week! Tell her how much I love her and I'm sure excited to see her!

Love always, Sister Carter

Happy Halloween

Dearest family,

Sigh... what a week! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! I know this is Kreigh and Kris' favorite holiday and so I'm sure Atreyu got all costumed-up. What did everyone dress up as? Did we get any trick or treaters this year for Abby to bark at? This Halloween ended up being a great one for us. We had the ward truck-or-treat on Saturday night which was a lot of fun and then last night Sister Stoker and I got a special invitation to come to the Senior couple's Harvest dinner. They wanted an encore clogging presentation!!! So... we gave them what the people wanted! Sister Stoker and I thought it would be funny to dress-up as a Senior couple as well. So I wore this terrible 80's grandma dress with shoulder-pads and bright red lipstick (although, to their credit, none of the Senior sisters actually dress like that), and Sister Stoker wore a white shirt and tie, and we put flour in our hair to make it look white. Oh the Senior couples LOVED it when we walked in! They think everything we sisters do is cute. It was such a great night. We ate food, enjoyed each other's talents, and Sister Stoker and I performed our famous dance for the last time (she goes home in two weeks). I sure love those Senior couples. They have become my new adopted Grandparents :)

The rest of the week has been pretty good. Its been one of those weeks where you wonder if you're really making a difference. We have people that we are teaching but none of them are progressing. No one is willing to change to get closer to the Savior... frustrating. Its funny because I feel like I'm getting split personalities. Some days I don't think I can wake up and do it again, but then I go to bed and night and feel as if I never want to leave. I had a dream the other night that I was home and Dad told me that it was time to take my badge off. I, first off, told him he had no authority to tell me that (ha) but he told me he had permission from the Stake President to release me. So I took off my badge and as I walked up to him I looked at it. It was banged up, and scratched, and as I walked I thought about all of the things I had experienced wearing that badge. When I finally handed it over to Dad I just sat and cried and cried. The sad thing is... that dream some day, will happen (except it probably won't be Dad :)). And that kinda breaks my heart. But, I'm not going to think too much about that right now. I've still got a month and a half. Every day is a brand new day, thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Anyway, sure love all of you. You're my rocks. I can't wait to see Baby A WALKING! I'm missing all the good stuff. You're all the best.

Love always, Sister Carter

Open House

Dear Family

This past week has been a crazy one!! We were trying to get the Open House all set up and going and I learned how much time and effort it takes to put on an event like that! It really did look great in the end. Each room in the church was full of people and displays to explain all of the different auxilaries and programs the church offers. In the Cultural Hall we set up tables with TONS of finger foods, with Mormon messages being projected on the wall, and a table with referral cards and literature people could take with them. That went on for about two hours and then President Christianson came to speak about the Sacrament in the Chapel. It was a great climax to the evening. Everything went really well and we were all really pleased at the end of it. The ward saw that we were willing to try and think outside the box and the community was able to understand a little bit more about our church.
That kind of took up most of the week. We had a really great lesson with Bro. Copp. We took him to the Smith Farm and gave him the first lesson, on the Restoration. We taught most of the lesson in the Welcome Center, until we got to the point of the Apostasy. Then we took him out to the Smith log home and taught him about the first vision and restoration. We ended our lesson by walking into the grove and praying together to know if the events that happened there really did happen. It is a strange thing to be relaying the story of Jospeh Smith to people, by saying "In 1820 there was a young boy that lived.... well, here, actually...... who had a question about all of the different religions." I feel like its unbelieveable to people. They kinda think that our church is just a local church, they don't realize that this gospel HAS SPREAD THE EARTH! That this is the truth, and all they have to do is look outside in their backyard to where it all began again.
We had a leadership training with President Christianson yesterday where he shared this video that completely changed my vision on what we're doing out here as missionaries:
Missionary Work and the Atonement
The more I'm out here the more I realize, that after these 18 months are done...its not over. We're at war. We've picked sides. Sometimes I'm tired, and I feel like I can't take another step, or knock another door, or get rejected by one more person, and I long to be home. But this work never stops. Some day I wont be a set apart missionary anymore, but this badge I wear doesn't just cover my heart, it has been branded into it. I will always be a missionary. I will always proclaim His truth because that is what I have been called to do.
Thanks for sending pictures of little A's birthday! He's a little boy now! I can't wait to see him soon. Tell Abby that I wish her a happy birthday as well (I'd send a card but she'd probably just eat it). I love you all! Until next week....

Love always, Sister Carter

Great friends and examples

Cade St. Pierre

Sister Carter, her "baby" and "grandbaby"

District

After clogging

At the Whitmer Farm

Tanya's baptism

Dear Family,

I'm glad that you got my camera card! I always pray those things aren't going to get lost in the mail. I'm glad that you liked the clogging routine and Sister Stoker and I's Sister Missionary Barbie Act. It was such a blast to get to live with those sisters and get form friendships with them. There is one thing that I will FOREVER be grateful for on my mission, and that is the people that I've met and the friendships that I have made. I've met some of my greatest heroes out here. People I would have never met if I had not decided to serve a mission.

Well.... Its kinda been a crazy week. Some parts good and some parts a little bit harder. We've been able to talk with a lot of people but getting them to progress or getting them to show up for their appointments is hard. Free agency stinks.... Okay, not all the time. Just when people don't do the right thing with it :). We have been able to see some miracles, though. Cade , the little boy I was teaching in the Webster ward, got baptized this weekend. I wasn't able to go because it was too far away but Sister Chatterton informed me that everything went well and that the family was so proud of him and that he said that he felt "clean" when he got out of the water. He's such a sweet little boy.

We have an investigator right now, named Bro. C, who is one of the most humble sincere men that I have ever met. He was at a park a couple months ago, out with one of his friends drinking a beer, when he saw some Sister missionaries on a bench reading the Book of Mormon. He wanted to know what they were do so he went over to talk with them and they ended up getting him to refer himself to the missionaries serving here in Marion. He LOVES the gospel. He is completely illiterate, can't read or write hardly at all but he loves the Book of Mormon! We gave him one of the pictures books with a caption underneath and he works hard, every day, to try to read a couple of those captions. He has completely been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Last night, at sunset, we walked up with him to the top of the Hill Cumorah and he was so excited when we got to the top. He told us that he never would have been able to make it, had he not have given up tobacco and alcohol. He is so ready to get baptized but he still has to get some things worked out, but he has faith that the Lord will allow him to get baptized when it is time.

So lots of events this week... Seeing Kris' family. That was fun (kinda bizarre though, to mix home with mission). We also had a mission conference at the Peter Whitmer Farm, where all the missionaries were called together so we could have a testimony meeting about our experiences finishing the Book of Mormon in our six week transfer. It was awesome. This weekend we're having our Open House at the church. We're having all of the auxiliaries come to explain what we do and what we have to offer to the community. President Christianson is even coming to do a devotional. We're crossing our fingers that it goes well!!!

So lots of good things happening. Just taking it one day at a time. Well I sure love you family! You're the best, ever.

Love always, Sister Carter

P.S. My P-day has been switched to Tuesday just so you are aware :)

Walking Where Joseph Walked

Dear family,

Thank you for all of your letters of encouragement! I'm sorry that my last email may have been a little dramatic ( :) But when am I not dramatic?), but you've got to know the bitter to know the sweet right? It has been one of the longest weeks of my life! Probably because change is just hard to get use to. But it has been a rewarding one, and I feel like I'm starting to get use to things.

Marion is great!! There are three different areas in Palmyra and I just happen to be in the one that is flourishing the most! They have SO much work going on here. Our whole entire week is completely booked (that is what I get for judging something before I actually experience it). It is a very different type of work out here. Being in the country is so weird. Houses are so far apart and there are farmland everywhere. It is beautiful. You don't get the opportunity to talk to as many people but I feel like I have talked to more people this last week than I have my whole mission combine. People are so friendly and kind here! I mean, you still have the few who are jerks, but they will stand there and listen to the message you have to share and add their own comments even if they aren't really interested. Its bizarre! The country has its own set of problems that we have to deal with but we have a lot of good people progressing toward baptism so I can't help but feel very grateful.

Another cool thing that I have been able to experience this week is the feeling of being so close to the church sites. We live in an old house that was built in the 1800s, they think that the Smiths may have even helped build it. We are honestly just a block away from the Joseph Smith Farm. Every morning we run to the Sacred Grove and back. We are only about two miles away, on either side, of the Grandin Building and the Hill Cumorah. And as I walk the streets, and talk to the people around here I can't help but feel a deeper connection to Joseph. I have always felt proud that I got to be in the area that he served, but now I get to live where he did, and walk the streets that he did, pray in the same place that he did, and teach the same message that he taught. What a gift! If there is one man that I'm excited to meet some day, its him. I sure love him and am grateful for what he, and his family, did to bring back the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world again. I'm glad I can help share that message in any way that I can.

So things here are good. They aren't perfect, I still have my moments. But it will be a good place to end my mission. Sister Lee is awesome. She is really quiet and shy, and I kinda feel like a giant around her, but she is a good missionary. She's really hard working and loves to teach people. I feel close to Kyle now with an Asian companion :). I'm glad to hear that he is doing well. I pray for him every night still. He'll get his hearing back.... I have faith. And I'm glad to hear that Atreyu's face is healing okay. Poor little baby A. I'm glad that he's not scared of Abby though. He's a tough little guy.

Well I sure love you family! Until next week...

Love always, Sister Carter

Transfer to Marion

Dear Family,

Yay for Conference! I sure loved every minute of it this time around. I don't know why but on my mission I can feel my spirit react differently to spiritual experiences then I did at home. It always has somewhat of a "draining" effect, but it always motivates me and inspires to me to do good and to be better. If there is anything I have learned this last 14 and half months the wrestle we go through, not only with THE spirit but with OUR spirit. The natural man always seems to want to take control but being on a mission, and away from all the things of the world, it seems like MY spirit- who I truly am inside- gets more of a fighting chance. It has been neat to get to know the real me, although it hasn't been an easy one.

Sounds like it has been an emotional week at home, as well as for me here. Its been an emotional rollercoaster. On Thursday we had interviews with President Christianson and about two minutes after he left we got a phone call from his Assistants. They asked Sister Chatterton to train a new missionary this transfer! Woh! What a shock! I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMA! It was a little overwhelming for both of us (I don't know why I was freaking out so bad- she's the one who has only been out for two transfers!), we both just sat on the bed and cried together. She's feeling overwhelmed and I think the sadness of leaving this area had finally hit me. I've served in Rochester my whole mission, this is where my heart is. Plus, Sister Chatterton has been such a wonderful companion to me, and its hard to see your baby grow up and move on without you :). But here's the worse part... I then had to wait FOUR WHOLE DAYS to find out where I was going to be transfered to. I have been a nervous wreck all week (you would think that I would just be use to this kind of stuff by now). We finally got the call last night... and I am going to Marion (which is an area in Palmyra) to serve with a sister named Sister Lee. AH! Its hard to convey feelings because you don't really know any of the areas or missionaries but I'll just try to give you a glimpse into my brain. Palmyra is such a hard area. Its been tracted over MANY times. Everyone knows Mormon missionaries in Palmyra, its like going to Rome and and trying to teach people about the Vatican. I am excited, and nervous, to get to know Sister Lee. She just came out (same time as Sister Chatterton), she is from Hong Kong. She's really really quiet. Hopefully I can get her to open up a little bit. I would love to tell you that I am such an exceptional missionary that when I got the call last night that I respond with, "I will go and do the things which the Lord commands". But I mostly just sat on our balcony and bawled my eyes out, in anger, all night. I'm feeling a little bit better this morning though. Still terrified, but I'm going to just do the best I can. That is really all I can do. I know the Lord is in His work, and I'm just going to have to trust that right now. I keep thinking about how much I really didn't want to go to Webster in the beginning. I viewed the people as somewhat "rich snobs", but as I labored among them, my vision cleared and I began to see the area like the Lord sees it, and because of Him, we were able to see miracles in a place that hadn't seen them in awhile. So, right now is just the leap of faith. Leaping in faith that this is where I'm suppose to be and that miracles can still be had if I just strengthen my faith. The best part of these experiences are the end. Looking back and seeing the love you were able to develop, from nothing. That in and of itself is a miracle.

I'm so grateful that Kyle was able to leave this week for Japan. My heart still hurts that his hearing hasn't come back. My testimony echos that of yours, though. As Sister Chatterton and I were reading the Book of Mormon this week a specific verse struck my heart with force. When the Savior comes to the Americas He admonishes the people, "Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them..." (3 Nephi 17:7). Unfortunately the Savior doesn't give a time frame on when He will heal us. My favorite talk this week was probably the talk by Elder Quentin L. Cook (a lot of it had to do with the fact that he talked about TITANIC most of the time!!! :)). I loved that he talked about how bad things still happen to good people. How sometimes life just isn't fair. But all is made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Sometimes it hurts my soul to think of all the things that have happened to our family in this time I have been gone, but I still love the Lord. I know He is mindful of us and our family. He still wants to bless us. He just needs us to hold on a little longer.
"There is no chance, no fate, no destiny, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul."

I love you all... so much. You mean everything to me. Hopefully all will go well this week and both Kyle and I will be writing to you from a new location :). Just know that my prayers are with you, especially with Atreyu right now. Keep me updated on how his face is healing.

Love always, Sister Carter

I knew clogging would come in handy one day!

Dear Family,

OH NO!!! I can't believe that Kyle's hearing loss is so severe!! I guess I didn't think it was that bad! How scary. Poor little Boppy. My heart hurts for him. Sometimes it seems frustrating when things don't work out even though you're trying to do the right thing. He sounded like such a good sport in his letter though! Oh my gosh!!! I hope its not permanent!! AH! He's so easy-going that he probably doesn't even make a big deal about it. Sigh... I hope and pray that he will be able to get sent out on his mission next week. There is probably not much more discouraging than feeling like you need to be somewhere that you're not. When Mom got sick, I continually read the scripture in D&C that says, "Be still, and know that I am God". Sometimes I feel like Nephi, "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." He love us. I guess, through trials, that is the source of truth that we can hold unto.

Here in New York things have been marvelous. You were able to see the 5k that we participated in this weekend. SUCH a blast! People from all over came to help raise money for the "House of Mercy". It has been fun to get ready for it and to be able to enjoy the Fall scenery and just enjoy the sound of running shoes hitting the pavement. There is no sound quite like it. Sister Stoker and I were also able to change Site History this week. Every week we meet together to have a Site Meeting at the Hill Cumorah. Usually there are trainings and musical numbers that we get to listen to, kinda like a fireside at home. Well this week Sister Stoker and I put on a "VERY special Musical Number". WE DID A CLOG ROUTINE!!! That is right! A CLOGGING ROUTINE! HA! It was great! Sister Stoker and I have always wanted to do a clogging routine, ever since we were companions together, and the Site Directors asked us to do one for Site Meeting but to make it a surprise. I can promise that a clog routine has never been done before in a meeting like that. It was great! It wasn't the best dance ever (mostly because I haven't clogged in 10 years!), but we mostly just acted out missionary work with a few clog steps in between. We "knocked on doors", we "took tours", "referral called", handed out pamphlets, and at the end I leaped into Sister Stoker's arms and as she spun me around I threw pass along cards to the audience! It was epic. I have it all taped on my camera card so hopefully I'll be able to send that to you soon. Who knew that old talent would resurface someday!

Another great thing that happened was that we got an investigator with a baptismal date this week! We set a date with little 9-year old Cade St. Peter. Cutest boy I have ever seen. He reminds me so much of Dillon Jardine! He's just this tiny little boy with these cute little glasses. He is the sweetest thing. It has been so neat to teach him, especially to pray. Hearing someone pray for the first time is one of the neatest experiences, especially little kids. So his baptismal date is set for October 15th, so we will cross our fingers and press forward.

All else is well here. Transfers are coming up this next week, which I'm a little nervous about. I only have two transfers left but I'm thinking that they're probably going to move me somewhere else. I have been in this ward for now over 8 months! I sure love it though. Serving these people for so long has just made my love for them grow deeper and I feel like they're my family out here. I have a lot of my blood, sweat, and tears in this area to leave behind. We'll see though. I'll be going where the Lord wants me to go.
Well, I sure love all of you. I will be fasting with you for Kyle tomorrow. In the words of my companion, Sister Chatterton, he's going to "kick this pig". I love this work.

Love always, Sister Carter

Invite Others to Come Unto Him

Hello family!!!

I am so sorry that this email is three days late. Our Preparation Day got changed this week because Elder Marcus Nash, from the Quorum of the 70, came to our mission and had a big Conference that we all went to. It was SO spiritually enlightening! I was exactly what I needed to get all jazzed up and ready to go again. We talked a lot, with him, about what our name tag means to us, and about what the Savior would do if He was serving in ther New York Rochester mission. You know what I found out? He would do exactly what we do every single day! He would "invite others to come (unto Him) by helping the receive the restored gospel through faith (in Him) and His Atonement, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end"! I don't know what that hit me with such incredible force but it did. We get to do exactly what He did and what He would do if He were still here. Kinda special. It was such a great meeting. Sister Chatterton and I got to sing "The Olive Tree" for everyone, which was really neat (although I just about threw up all over the pulpit). That has been one of my favorite songs of my mission.

We've had some miracles this week!! We still don't get to be in our areas all that often, but the time that we have been in our areas have been pretty spectacular! We have found some new investigators to teach! A couple of them actually, the funny part about them is that they are all kids! We have two new 9 year olds that we are starting to teach and a 8 year old and his family that we are working with. Most of these families are in the ward but have been inactive for a little while. This is my favorite type of work to do... family work. So we get the opportunity to work with all of these neat kids and their families, and try to get them back active in our Heavenly Father's Kingdom again. I love it! It makes me appreciate all of the knowledge I have about My Twinn Dolls, iCarly, and Pokemon. Who knew that would someday create a bond between me and my mission investigator's someday :)

Last night we went over to the home of a less- active lady that we have been working with for a really long time. She has such a desire to get to the Temple someday but she has some addiction problems that keep setting her back. We didn't even feel all that prompted to go over there but when we got there we knew that we had made good timing. She had had a few too many beers and took a tumble onto the ground, breaking her pinky and (we think) fracturing her wrist. The poor thing, when we got there, was hesterical. Just sat there are cried and prayed and cried and begged Heavenly Father to help her. So we knelt down with her on the ground and said a prayer with her. Wow. I don't think I've ever felt the Savior's Atonement in a more tangible way then I did last night. His Atonement really truly works! I know it, and the best part about it is that He offers it to all that will come to Him. Instead of last night being "rock bottom" for this woman, it turned into a "changing point". So we took all of the substance we could out of her apartment, and left her to make her amends with her Father in Heaven. I am so grateful that because of the perfect One who came to the earth, there is no soul that ever has to be lost. It was pretty incredible.

I love you all! Thank you for all the prayers and updates about everything that is going on. I really miss all of you still, so much. But am excited to see you again soon (today is my 14 month mark!).

Love always, Sister Carter

P.S. I never got that night guard in the mail, must have gotten lost :(

Book of Mormon Challenge

Dear Family,

Happy Labor Day! It sounds like you had a wonderful time! I'm so jealous that you got to go hiking this weekend! And got to go to Tuachan! Now, you just need to lay in the pool with a book and you'll have what I would consider the perfect life :). I'm excited to come home to all of our family traditions together. I am very happy to report that I am feeling MUCH better! I was a little worried at first that I was down for the count but my body bounced back after a couple days of recovery. Everything feels back to normal again. I am trying to pay more attention to when I get really stressed out so I can just take a breather for a minute. I have found much solace running in the morning. I just hope that when the winter storms blow I can still find a way to exercise so I can keep my sanity :). I went to the doctor this week and he told me that I should be back to normal soon. That is was most likely just a one time thing, that my body just couldn't take one more type of stress and so my heart deaccelerated and responded the way it did. I'm glad that I'm not a permanent "mental case", just embarrassed that that happened to me in the first place.

So because I had a lot of "recovery" days this week there isn't too much to write about. President has started something really neat, in our mission, this transfer. He asked us all to come to a transfer meeting at the Hill Cumorah. So the whole mission met together and he told us what his plan was for our mission to become more unified. He wants us all to read the Book of Mormon together, in our companionships, in one transfer. So six weeks, it ends up being 13 pages a day. He wants us to pray for a vision of what the Book of Mormon can do for our areas and then apply what we learn and read every day. The whole mission is really excited about it. Not going to lie, its kinda hard to find time to read 13 pages a day (we're already a little behind :)). But I know that this is going to change my mission! I have such a love of the Book of Mormon, I think the first time I ever fell in love with it was when I was in China and I tried to read it in a week. Do you remember that? I remember closing that book, after reading it, and just feeling the fire that was burning deep within me. It was undeniable! I feel like this project is going to reaffirm that feeling and get that fire back. I'm so grateful that we have the Book of Mormon! That God loved us enough to provide it for us, and that prophets loved God enough to write it's inspired words. And I am so grateful that it came out of the ground that I serve at... that is was talked about for the first time in this last dispensation in the upstairs of the Smith log home, that the first copies that were ever put on sale came out of the Grandin building, and that Joseph finished translating it at the Peter Whitmer Farm. All four of these sites that we serve in testify of the truth of the Book of Mormon. I kinda just love it....

So everything else is good. Its so cool that Kyle got to hear from Elder Holland! What a great experience that must have been. Thanks for sending that night guard, it hasn't gotten to me yet but I'm sure it will soon. I also have some things that I need to talk to you about, about the.... (gulp) future. I need to start picking a major.... yuck. But I was wondering if you might be able (the next time you send a package) to send me a list of all of the majors the Utah State has to offer, with maybe a little synopsis about each so I can maybe start praying about it and seeing what might be right for me. I don't really want to think about the future but I don't want to be unprepared for it either. Anyway, I love all of you! Thank you for your endless prayers. I think and pray for you always.

Love always, Sister Carter

In God's Hands

Dear Family,


Well it was good to hear your voices yesterday. Although, I say this with as much love as I can muster, I hope I never talk to you again on the phone until I'm home. :) I was thinking the other day about all the many things that have happened to our family in the last 13 months... its insane. Yet, every single time the Lord has taken care of us one at a time, and all has been in His loving hand. Today's been an okay day. I'm just REALLY really tired. We went out to do our morning exercise and I walked two blocks down the road and came back and slept for two hours straight :) (Good things its our Preparation Day). I'm hoping with the added rest that today will help me get back up to full health. I still have the occasional convulsion but luckily I have a great companion who knows what to do and how to help me. So I'm on the mend. Slowly but surely, I am going to be able to finish my mission the way I want it to.

I'll just share with you a lot of what I learned this week about people, and about my Heavenly Father. This has probably been one of the scariest things that has ever happened to me and it was just because I wasn't in control of anything that my body was doing. When the paramedics came to get me at the Joseph Smith Farm, I was fairly out of it but I knew enough to know that I was at the mercy of these two men who were putting me onto a gurney and that there was something that was seriously wrong with my body. When they stuck me in the back of the ambulance they tied my arms and legs down, and were pricking things into me, and yelling out code words to each other. It all started to become really frightening. I was looking around for anyone I knew, I couldn't find my companion, (Sister Chatterton was already sitting in the front), and Sister Nielsen (the Senior Couple) wasn't there, Mom wasn't anywhere. I just wanted someone to be there to hold my hand. So as I lay there, my body shaking uncontrollably, the only name I could utter, underneath my oxygen mask, was "God?" Right when His name slipped out of my mouth He was there. I'm pretty sure He was there before I even said His name out loud but it was as if He slipped in right beside me and grabbed my hand so I wouldn't be afraid. It helped the fear subside to a degree. And I don't mean to tell that story to make Mom sad (because I know she probably wishes she could have been there), I tell you all that story because I know there is a Heavenly Father that is out there that cares about us. It was amazing to just feel Him slip so easily and naturally into His role as parent. I know He wanted that time alone in the back of the ambulance together, so He could remind me of how much He loved me. I could just feel Him treasuring the time to just take care of one of His children in need. He loves us, it was so evident to me in that hour ride to the hospital. Even after we arrived at Strong Memorial Hospital His spirit never left, He sent His other children to act as angels for me. The whole rest of the day and night there wasn't a moment where someone else wasn't holding my hand. It was never free :).

So, like I usually end most of my emails, all is well. All of these experiences are just to bring us closer to our eternal Father and His loving Son. My body's pretty sore and tired. I'm able to sleep a lot though which is good. I just hope that all my strength can come back soon. Thank you for your prayers, thank everyone for their prayers. I have sure felt sustained through them. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow in the afternoon, but I'm sure they probably won't have much to say to me, just like every other doctor. Pseudo-seizures are normal right? :) The convulsions have gone down drastically though, I have more strength over my body now. Its just taking it one step at a time.

I love you family. I love this gospel. I love being a missionary. Please don't worry about me, I'm doing fine.

Love always,

Sister Carter

"No Faith is Ever in Vain"

Dear Family,

I'm glad that you had so much fun on your vacation!!! It sounds like such a blast. Wish I could have been there. I'm excited to get to do all of our fun traditions together when I get home.

Sorry this update is going to be a little bit shorter, I ran out of time faster today. All is going well here in New York. The work is still slow. We don't have much time in our area between sites, referral calling, morning studies, and travel time. There was one day, this week, that Sister Chatterton and I were working at the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center and kinda feeling discouraged that we haven't been able to find any new investigators. After we came back from our lunch break a man in a tie walked into the Visitor Center and started looking around at the displays that we have. I went over to talk to him and help explain what the displays were. As we were talking he told me that he was a non-member and that he was from Maryland and had always wanted to stop by here and see what it was all about. He told me about the job that brought him out here, and that he was living in Rochester for about a year to finish the work he had here. Where in Rochester? WEBSTER!!!! My jaw about hit the floor!!!!! So we talked about religion and what his background was and what he knew about the church. When I asked him if he would like to learn a little bit more he gave a resounding, "No". That made my heart drop. I still showed him around though and offered to show him some videos about Joseph Smith's life, which he accepted. So I took him into a theater and he watched the movie. When he came back out he started talking about good times for Sister Chatterton to come over.... Wait? What? He then gave me his address. And said that he would like to look around more at the other sites. Oh.... So when you say "no" you actually mean YES!!!!!!!??? I'm guessing the spirit worked on him as he went about his time in the Visitor Center, because his heart was softened more and more. WHAT A MIRACLE!!!! When he left Sister Chatterton and I had a dancing party around the Visitor center. The Lord is so mindful of us! So hopefully all can work out with this man. I found this quote that I stuck on this next transfer's planner that says, "I believe God will always make a way where there is no way". This was Example A.

Another cool thing we got to do this week was go on a grove tour. I've been on one before but because Sister Chatterton just got here I got to go on another one. Bob Parrot, took us around again to show us everything there is to know about the Smith property and taking care of the Grove. It is amazing because Bob isn't a member but I have never been so spiritually instructed before! He goes around the grove and teaches us principles from the trees and from nature that we can apply into our lives. It was amazing to walk in that hallowed ground all morning and to be taught by the spirit. Such a sacred place.

Well the work is true. I love it. Its hard at times and it seems like it may not be going according to plan, but as one member said to me a couple weeks ago, "No faith is ever in vain". I love being a missionary. Its the best. I love all of you. Sorry I couldn't write to more of you this week! Until the next one...

Love always,

Sister Carter

Another baptism!

Dear Family,


We had a great week this week! Tanya was BAPTIZED!!! YAY!!!!!! We were so happy for her. We all weren't sure if this day would come because of some of the things that she has been going through but it came, and how ever grateful we were. The font was filled, the programs made, the desserts brought in, and the members came. It actually ended up being one of the most spiritual meetings I've ever been to. Sister Chatterton and I were able to perform "Never a better Hero" (who knew that listening to all of that 80s church music would come in handy someday parents :)), and President Christianson actually came to perform the baptism. It was such a special experience because President's Dad actually passed away that morning, but at the end of the meeting he got up and just declared that he would rather be no where else then with Tanya on her baptism day. That this is our purpose, and no matter what, everything is in the hands of the Lord. It was such a great day. I feel so privileged to be a missionary and to get to see some of God's children enter into the strait and narrow gate to start their journey back to our Heavenly Father again.

It has been a little more discouraging in our new area. I find it hard sometimes to be serving RIGHT next to my old area, Irondequoit. Serving in the same ward even, and seeing all of the success that the Irondequoit sisters have in an area that I tried to work so hard in. Its just hard when the area we serve in now is having a hard time getting up and moving. I've had some very tender experiences with the spirit these last couple of days, though, that have taught me that Sister Chatterton and I are in the exact place that we are needed. Yesterday, we were dropped off in our area (11 miles away from our apartment), on foot when it began to POUR with rain. Both of us, being the geniuses that we are (and not having our mothers to remind us), didn't bring any kind of waterproof anything or any umbrella. So we took cover under a tree and got stuck underneath it for quite some time. The only thing we had to keep us dry was a waterproof map. So we sat under this tree with a laminated map on top of our head :). We looked great. As the rain continued to poor my sweet companion decided it was time to activate our faith and ask the Lord to stop the storm so that we could continue on in His work. So as we prayed under this tree, as the storm blew around us, we just asked simply to let His will be done but we were going to press forward to do all that we could to help invite others to come to Christ. When we were done we stood up and walked out into the storm. Not two minutes later (just enough to get us soaked to the bone :)), the rains stopped. And they didn't start again for the rest of the day. Wow!! I keep telling my little "baby" that she cast away a storm!!! We had miracles the rest of the day, we weren't able to get any new investigators but we were able to tell many people the truth. One man in particular that we talked to, had a question about why he was here and when we shared a scripture about it, from the Book of Mormon, his heart was touched. So... I'm slowly learning that numbers don't matter. At the end of the day, if you looked at our numbers we wouldn't have been successful, but when we laid down to sleep last night I knew our Heavenly Father was so proud of us and so happy that He could answer the prayer of two of His daughters.

So all, things are slow but good (story of my life every day). I'm glad that you all are doing well at home. I miss you all every day! You mean everything to me. I hope to report back next week and the many more miracles that we are going to be able to witness. Love you all!!

Love always, Sister Carter

"However Long and Hard the Road"

Birthday at Latchworth Park

Birthday with the Ross Family

New companion, Sister Chatterton

Biking Sisters

Dear Family,

Hmmm... where to begin? It has been another wonderful week. I'm glad that you were able to get my camera card, sometimes when I'm having a bad day I look at my pictures and remember all the joy that I have experienced. I think that will kinda be how the mission goes when its all done and over with. You will know that you went through hard times but hopefully you can just treasure the special memories that you were able to create. I'm glad that everyone is doing well at home. Kyle sounds like he's doing great in the MTC. I'm sorry that you aren't feeling too up to par, Mom. I think that when I heard you were in remission that that would mean you would be completely healthy and back on the move again. Patience is a virtue that I struggle with....:). Just know how much I love you and think about you. One of the things I'm looking forward to the most when I get home is being able to just sit and talk to all of you in the living room, and sitting out in the pool reading a book.

Well, I'm tired. Its been a good week, it went by really fast its just been a harder week. Its okay for hard weeks to come because it makes you appreciate the not-so-hard weeks but its hard learning to just take things one step at a time. Sister Chatterton and I have been praying for miracles in our area, and we've been able to see many. We've been able to get some new investigators and teach some lessons. We had one of those hard days yesterday where every appointment we had fell through but we still tried. I've never been more physically exhausted in all my life. Lots of biking and walking. It feels good to be physically tired. I feel like the mission is such a "wrestle". It is a wrestle in both mind and spirit. Your spirit wants you to go one way while your "natural man" wants to take you another. We were able to feel a little bit of peace this week when we got to the temple.... Sigh. Oh how I love the temple (can you imagine me saying that after my first experience there? :)). I find myself wishing that they could just bunk beds in the Celestial room. Wouldn't that be nice?! I wouldn't mind living there forever. Its way clean! :). There is so much peace found in its walls and I never feel closer to my Savior then when I am there.

So the work progresses forward, slowly but surely. My mind keeps reverting to that talk that you gave me Dad, "However long and hard the road" by Elder Holland (one of the best things that I've ever read), and when Elder Holland talks about Coriantumr from the Book of Mormon, when he would fight and fight and then he would get tired "and rest for a time", then he would get up and fight again. I think it is the getting up part that is the hardest :). Sister Chatterton is awesome, we have a lot of fun together and she teaches me so much about faith and obedience. I'm lucky to have her. I love being a missionary. There is no where else I'd rather be. I love the Lord, I am so ever grateful for His ultimate and infinite atoning sacrifice on behalf of me and those that I love. How in debt I am to Him! Yet, how grateful I am that we can choose Him above all else in this world.

Thanks for sending Grandpa's funeral. It has brought a lot of tears as well as a lot of closure. I feel him near, all the time. Mom, you got all of my companions hometown's right, Sister Gines goes home at the end of this month so if you're up in Logan I'm sure she'd love to meet you. Thanks for the tip on freezing bananas, Dad :). I find myself talking about you a lot these days, and how you loved me so much you learned how to braid hair :).
I love all of you! Thanks for your prayers...

Love always, Sister Carter

PTSD

Dear Family,

I have found a love for New York and the people in it. Its got its own kind of beauty and it has become my home. I'm so glad that Kyle is doing so well! I'm so proud of that little guy! I remember being in the MTC and being FREAKED out to teach people, and I was speaking English! I can't imagine trying to do it in some other language. It sounds like he's already having experiences that are teaching him about how the spirit works and how you can rely on it during lessons. I'm glad that Grandma is doing well and remaining busy, I still pray for her and think about the family all the time. Dad, I find myself thinking about Grandpa at random moments too that brings me to tears still. I thought I would get use to the idea that he's gone by now but yesterday, during my Personal study, and I was crying at my desk, looking at his funeral program, I looked up on the wall to the picture of the Savior and it brought so much peace to my heart. I know Grandpa's happy, I just mourn for myself.

So this week has been CRAZY! First week back from pageant and into real life missionary work again. Its kinda fun to teach my new companion and about missionary work. The first day we went out we were on bicycles (my first time on bikes my whole mission!). I felt like a real Sister Missionary with my huge backpack on my back and my skirt blowing in whatever way the wind would take it. Its a good thing that garments look like biker shorts :). We went around all day on our bikes, unfortuantly it was the hottest day of the year. Actually, it was the hottest day in Rochester since 1993... 100 degrees, and that doesn't include humidity. My poor companion. As we were biking along I suddenly hear someone call out my name just to turn around and she is collapsing on the grass on the side of the road! I biked over to her, and she was still awake and talking but she was about ready to puke and dizzy and getting delirious (she locked her helmet to a pole instead of her bike :)). She was suffering from heat exhaustion. She was such a trooper and never even complained but it was just too dang hot. So.... that was the first day I tried to kill my "baby". Second day, we went to go contact a referral but couldn't find the house anywhere. We finally pulled up to what we thought was a home but it had all of these signs that said "Beware of Dog!" and "If dogs are out DO NOT get out of vehicle". When we pulled around to the side of the home and realized it was not the place that we were looking for I told her to get out and back the car..... I HAD FORGOT WHAT THE SIGNS SAID! So sweet Sister Chatterton gets out of the car to go back me up and I see this movement from the corner of my eye of this HUGE BEASTLY looking dog, running full speed ahead for Sister Chatterton. He looked more like a bear with his teeth bared and his horrible sounding bark. Before I even had time to react Sister Chatterton was right at the door trying to get in. She barely escaped the dog as she leaped into the car, slamming her ankle on the way in. Ah! We were both shaking once we were safely inside. Now we laugh about the whole experience, but now my poor little companion has no confidence in riding a bike anymore and has PTSD everytime we come across a dog (which happens a lot in New York :)).... I'm a good Mommy.

We're starting to see miracles in Webster. Not only do we make it past dogs but we've been able to find a few new investigators. We're still in the same ward as I was in before so we get to work with the same members and I get to still see some of the recent converts that I taught which makes me happy. The Lord is blessing us with so much and I am so grateful.

Well family, I love you all. I pray and think of you always. I love being a missionary... I can't even remember what life was like not as one :). Have a wonderful week!!

Love always, Sister Carter

"Whew! Pageant is over!"

Dearest Family,

I'm going to make this email a little bit shorter so that I can write Kyle a "Dear Elder". I remember, in the MTC, that was my FAVORITE part of the day! I LOVED getting messages from home, and thanks to all of you I got them plenty. My District use to joke around and guess how many "Dear Elders" I would get that day. That was the best! What a neat setting apart he had! I wish I would have been there for it. It sounds like he was blessed with so many things! I'm so excited that he received so many blessings concerning the language. I think that part made him pretty nervous, but if anyone can do it Kyle can.... or I guess Elder Carter can :). How cool! Now there is a Sister and Elder Carter out in the world. I think Grandpa would like that :). I'm sad that I'm not going to be able to see Kyle for the next couple years but I feel closer to him now more than ever. We are both servants of God in a very unique way, and it makes my heart soar to know that I have a family member that is out wearing the same name badge that I am. Just in different locations :). He's going to do awesome.

WHEW! PAGEANT IS OVER! It is a very very bittersweet experience. Last night we were able to come back to our apartment again for the first time in two week, and I got to sleep on a bed! What a blessing! Its exciting to be home but it is also a little scary because now its time to go back to work and teach my little "baby" what missionary work is all about. She's a little nervous to get started but she's so great about just plunging in with all her might. She is ready to learn and willing to try new things. I already love her! She's got so much "Greenie fire" that we're going to set Webster a-blaze. Its just going to require blood, sweat, and tears. Its going to require our bones to be tired, Dad :). I'll just tell you that I can freely say that my bones are tired after this pageant. It was a constant "GO" all the time! I talked to SO many people. We worked at the Smith Farm for the last week and we had over 20,000 visitors come from all over the world. I was able to experience SO many miracles, though. It truly was incredible to watch the Lord's hand over all of it. Someone said that the pageant was acted by man but put on by God and I know that that is totally true. I was able to see the pageant 7 times! By the end we could quote most of it, but it still put me in awe every single time. The best part of the whole play was when the Savior decends into the Americas after all of the people had been through the destruction. Just the feeling that even comes over all of the people that were watching was neat to experience. I loved being able to see the Book of Mormon stories come to life, and to maybe get a better visual of what it might have been like back then. I had many times this week to testify of truth, to stand up for what I believe in, to invite others to come to know Christ better. There really was nothing like pageant. In a slow moment, as I was sitting in the upstairs of the Smith log home where Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, I just couldn't believe where I've been blessed to be called. That I get to stand where Joseph did and testify of him. That I get to be in the Grove where the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph, and I get to tell others that I know they live. I also get to be where the Book of Mormon came forth again, the book that has completely changed my life. What a mission! I love it here!

I'm glad that everyone at home is doing well. Tell Grandma I love her and am praying for her. I'll leave you with one of my new favorite quotes by Elder Boyd K. Packer:
"I will not consent to an influence from the adversary. I have come to know what power he has. I know all about that. But I have also come to know the power of truth and righteousness and of good. I am not ashamed to say that I want to be good. And I've found in my life that it has been critically important that this was established between me and the Lord so that I new that He knew which way I had committed my agency. I went before him and in essence said 'I am not neutral, and you can do with me what you want. If you need my vote, it is there. I don't care what you do with me, and you don't have to take anything from me because I give it to you- everything I own, all I am. And that makes al the difference."

I love you all! Have a great week!

Love always, Sister Carter
- Show quoted text -

Miracles of Pageant Week

Dear Family,

This email isn't going to be very long. We don't have much time but we tried to squeeze emailing in this week so that my new companion can assure her family that she is doing well. I remember how important it was for me, to get all of your advice and be able to tell you how my weeks had been. It still is important. I'm sitting here crying like a little baby right now. Those pictures of Grandpa's funeral were really touching. To be honest, I had a moment to cry last Sunday after I got of the phone with you, but I've been too busy to really sit down and think about it since. I was really touched by the picture of Kreigh, Kyle, and the other grandsons carrying Grandpa's casket, and the last picture of the whole Carter clan together. All Aunts and Uncles and Grandma, and I just realized in that one moment how family is everything. I don't know what I would do without any of you. This is the first real loss I've ever really had to deal with and it hurts. Its like a really dull ache that doesn't seem to go away but I know in Whom we have entrusted our precious Grandpa with. He loves Grandpa even more than we do, and He has provided the way for us to be with Grandpa again. What a kind, loving, merciful God! Sometimes I weep just thinking about how infinite and constant His love truly is. I will ever be grateful that He loved us enough to send His Son, who came to provide the way for us to get home again. It is amazing that in these moments of sorrow you can see and feel the light of the Son. There is a peace to be found in the Son of God and I am so blessed to get to wear His name, and the name of our family, right over my heart.

Well, pageant is everything I've imagined it to be.... INSANE! There is not one moment of rest, there are always a million people to talk, teach, and testify to. We have worked in the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center every day this last week and we have met people from all over the world! I've been praying to see miracles happen here at the sites, for pageant, and the Lord is sure showing His hand, every day. So many neat experiences and precious tender mercies! Yesterday I was talking to this kid that was around my age and his friend and I was trying to convince him to go into the theater room to watch the 20 min. "Restoration" film that we have. He was hesitant at first, saying that he had seen it a bunch, but I kinda pushed him in saying it didn't hurt to see it again. As I herded him into the Theater a missionary from across the room was motioning for me to run over to him exclaiming, "Thats Joseph!! Thats the actor who plays Joseph in the movie you just put him in!" ..... Hmm... awkward. So I went back into the theater room, feeling like an idiot, and testified that the movie was true and that it was very well acted :). After it was over I apologized for shoving him in his own movie but he was super nice and said that he hadn't seen it in a quite awhile... So my claim to fame is that "I met Joseph Smith this week".

Another really sweet experience that I got to witness was as I was standing in the Christus room a family of five walked in and sat down. I started the 90-second Christus narration for them and right when it started the three little tiny kids perked up and wander right over to the statue. Then one by one they each took turns touching the Savior's feet, where the nail prints were at. I watched the parents sitting there watching their children with tears running down their face. It was a beautiful thing to see.

We've got to see the pageant two times already and we'll get to see it every single night this week! It is SO well done! It reminds me of all the plays that we watch together at Tuachan. There is a lot of special effects and excitement, it is amazing that these cast members have no previous training and have only practiced this play for a week, yet everything flows together wonderfully. I love getting to talk to all of cast members and all the people who come to see it. These are definitely days never to be forgotten, the beginning song of the pageant will always be imprinted happy peaceful feelings into me.

Well, I love you family. I've been thinking about you a lot. I'm praying lots for little Kylie... how exciting! Its the new page of one of the best chapters you'll ever write in your Book of Life. I love you all! Until next week...

Love always, Sister Carter

Farewell to Grandpa-July 5, 2011

Dear Family,

Man, I hate sending these sad emails. It was a really crazy experience Sunday because Sister Stoker and I were talking about our skype conversations with our families on Mother's Day and she made the point, "That was the last time we are going to talk to our families until we get home!" .... Then I called you that night :). Very ironic. When President called me Sunday night to tell me that he was coming over to talk to me about something he could hear the panic in my voice and he told me, "Don't worry. You're Mom is okay but something else happened." I think I knew then that it was Grandpa. It was almost as if his spirit was sitting there with me trying to tell me that it was okay. Its weird to me to think that he is actually gone. I try not think about it too much because I can feel my stomach tighten up and my eyes start to burn. I know that he's in a better place, and for that I am so grateful, but I'm selfish and I already miss him. I cried when Mom wrote in her email about that stuffed dog that has sat on my bed my
entire life. I actually kinda forgot why I loved that dog so much. Its kinda embarrassing that a 22 year-old girl would still have a stuffed animal she sleeps with but I love that dog because it was a gift from a kind loving Grandfather who always put his pride and love in his family. I'm so grateful to carry the Carter name, I can feel him now more than ever and I know that he's going to be that angel that will be there for me throughout the rest of my mission, and my life. Some moments are harder than ever but its comforting to know that I will see him again... we all will. He will always be our Father and Grandfather, in the words of Elder Scott "It doesn't matter what side of the veil you're on".

Its probably been the most stressful, crazy, sleepless last couple days that could have ever happened. With pageant starting up the sites are crazy, transfers came, we're trying to get new areas up and running, we had a holiday, we have to leave our area for the next two weeks. Tomorrow we are leaving to go live in Palmyra until the pageant is over. Since we live a hour away from the sites and some days we aren't going to be done working until 10 pm they need us closer to the sites. So we're going to be living in a home with 11 other sisters... Party time! We just got out schedule that we will be working at the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center the first week of pageant and the second week we are going to be working at the Joseph Smith Farm. I'm really excited about both of those! As a request from the Missionary Department in Salt Lake we're not going to be give tours this year because at pageant. We're going to be at stations talking with people and answering questions. I think a lot of people will be sad because we're not having tours but I'm excited to see how this new system is going to work. We get to go to the pageant at least once and if we bring an investigator, recent convert, or less-active member then we can go again. It has been so exciting watching the cast practice all of their dance moves on the Hill Cumorah. They have been up there working hard every day for the last week. I have missed going to plays on my mission so this is going to be SO EXCITING! I can't help but feel so happy and excited every day when we wake up to blue skies, sun, and pageant in the air. Because of all the craziness we might not be able to email next week, but we're going to try our hardest to find a spare moment to get on and let you know how things are going.

So I got my little "baby" today!! Not going lie, I was SO nervous. To the point where I wanted to throw up, and I don't even know why because it wasn't MY first day in the mission (I guess it just brought back and lot of memories). So my Greenie's name is Sister Chatterton. She's not a foreigner! Which is a huge suprise because I was so convinced I was getting one of the foreigners! She is from Logan Utah, so already a great connection. She went to Sky View, so she remembers Lindsay, and she's already caught me up on the great things that are happening at home. Sister Stoker got her greenie too... Her name is Sister Meister, and she if from Australia. Its going to be interesting to all be living in the same home together, working in the same home but Sister Stoker and I are not going to be companions anymore. We're both nervous but now that they're here it is just exciting. Sister Chatterton has a ton of enthusiasm and is so excited to get working. She has so much greenie fire and faith that I can feel it rubbing off on me (I'm making her believe that Webster is the "Promised Land" of the Mission :)). I'm excited to get to lean on the Lord more, and hopefully He can continue to teach me how to help her in becoming a great missionary.

I hope you all had a great Fourth of July yesterday. I thought about all of you, especially Kreigh, I was missing all of the homemade fireworks he creates. You'll never guess where we got to go!? President gave us permission to go to a baseball game! So I felt like I was right back at home, cheering on some team I didn't know and just enjoying the atmosphere of it all. I loved it, it made me think of all of you. So family... I love you all. My prayers are with you now more than ever. I'd love to hear about the funeral, so I can feel like I was somewhat apart of it. And to my favorite little brother in all the world: Go knock the MTC dead. You were born to do what you have been called to do. I'm so proud of you.

I love you all!

Love always, Sister Carter

Preparation for the Pageant-June 27, 2011

Dearest Family,

I can't believe little Kylie's farewell was yesterday! I completely forgot until I was lying down to sleep last night (which I actually did on the balcony. Sister Stoker and I decided to have a sleepover out there:)...). I am SO proud of him! I wish I could have been there, more than anything. It sounds like he did a great job. That is a very interesting topic and I'm excited to get to read of his bullet points that he went through. It is so great that so many people came. That was the biggest sense of power to me, seeing all of those loved ones in one room, supporting you as you chase after your dreams. At least for me, I realized when I stood up at that pulpit, that the tender mercies that the Lord gives me were in the familiar faces sitting in the crowd. Now just have to wait a couple more weeks and YOU'RE LEAVING ON A JET PLANE.... okay not quite a jet plane, but the MTC might as well be a foreign country. Kyle's going to love it though. I hope all goes well with Mom's bone marrow biopsy. I'm praying SO HARD. I think the hardest part about all of this is just standing back and letting God be God. He knows what needs to happen and He will let it be done in His own will and own timing, but I agree with you Dad, I hope that it starts looking up soon.

Another crazy week here in New York. PAGEANT IS A WEEK A WAY! They've already started building the stage on the Hill Cumorah. It is SO exciting. I feels like its Christmas Eve and I'm just anticipating Santa's arrival. It is one big blur of motion. You never stop now. We have bus tour after bus tour coming to all the sites and people from all over the world coming to see the excitement. I feel like such an old woman. Every part of my body hurts by the end of the day. My feet, my back, my knees, my jaw.... when all of Sisters get together you would think that we were 50 years older than we actually are because we're all talking about the aches and pains we have :). They're the satisfying aches and pains though. We had a really cool event happen this week. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is on tour right now and they decided to stop by the Sacred Grove on their way through New York and give us a little concert! So we went, on a pouring rainy Friday afternoon, to wait for them and right when they showed up the skies cleared and the sun started to beam. They sang "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" in front of the Smith Frame Home. It was SO cool!

So, my final thought comes from Neil A. Maxwell (what a guy). He said:
"The thermostat on the furnace of affliction will not have been set too high for us- though clearly we may think so at the time. Our God is a refining God who has been tempering soul-steel for a very long time. He knows when the right edge has been put upon our excellence and also when there is more in us than we have yet given."
I love you family. I think about you all the time and pray for your success in everything you do. I don't know when I'll be able to email you next because next week is the fourth of July and then during the Pageant weeks we actually don't get a Preparation Day. So I'll try to find some time in the next couple weeks to jump on and let you know how things are going, just don't panic if you don't hear from me for a while. I love you!

Love always, Sister Carter

Moroni's Promise is for Everyone

Dear Family,

Yay! I love weekly emails. I'll just start by addressing each individual person (that will be easier for this email):
Dad- Happy Father's Day! I'm glad you got my card. I also wish that we could have called you, I brought it up with President and he totally agreed but I guess we'll try to listen to the Prophet on this one. Dang...
Mom- That is so cool that you got to go to the 14ers in Colorado! I now have such a special place in my heart for those mountains. I really hope that some day I can go back and finish the hike I started. Weirdly enough hiking is one of the things I miss the most about my past life (that and roller coaster riding :)).
Kreigh and Kris- I'm glad that Kreigh is doing well in school. I'll be praying that he gets the promotion at Target. I don't know how he can do all the things that he does.
Kyle- THIS WEEK! YOUR FAREWELL IS THIS WEEK! I can't even believe it! How crazy! You will have to document everything so that I can feel like I am apart of it. I wish I could be there more than anything.

This past week was another one full of miracles. The Lord is so gracious with His blessings. we were able to go to the church sites this week with one of our investigator's named Joe. I have been teaching Joe the entire time I've been in Irondequoit. He has been being taught since August. His sister is a member and so he's always been interested in what she believed but never really looked into it further until now. He is great because he will always come to church, he's already living all the commandments, but he would never read the Book of Mormon. He was too scared that it would take place of the Bible and we tried to teach him again and again but he would never take the leap of faith so we quit teaching him. That was over a month ago, and this last past Sunday we felt prompted to go back to his house just to see how he was doing. When we got there he was so depressed. He said that the day before he watched "The Restoration" movie three times in a row (we think it was because he was missing the spirit)! So we talked with him about giving it another try and he said he was really wanting to this time. So ever since, every single day he has read from the Book of Mormon. He also reads a chapter out of the Gospel Principles book (which we never told him to do!). Its amazing in just a week the changes we can already see in him! He's really really reading it, I feel like now its because he now really wants to know. So yesterday we went with him and family in the ward to the Hill Cumorah. This was so exciting because Joe has always tried to avoid the sites, but he was so brave and decided to just face his fears. It was such an amazing afternoon! We had a picnic on the Hill, we went into the Christus room, we watched the new Joseph Smith movie. When it was over I asked him how he felt and his response was, "If Joseph Smith hadn't done what he did I would have never met you girls. I wouldn't know what church to go to. I would be lost." It was so cool!

Another cool experience I had this week was when I was working at the Grandin building I got to take a tour of four people from the Community of Christ. They were actually tour guides over at the Kirtland Temple. They were SO great! I learned so much from them! I learned about when they split from our church but how we have the same history. They're different because they believe that women can have the Priesthood and that Brigham Young was never a prophet. They also don't really read the Book of Mormon. They just think its a cool book, they mostly study the Bible. When I bore my testimony, at the end, of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon one of the girls on tour said to me, "That is cool. It is cool that you are so grounded in something. I wish I could be that way." So we talked about Moroni's promise and how that invitation is to everyone. That God is no respecter of persons and that He wants all of His children to know the truth. It was such a neat tour! You get to meet the coolest people out here!

So everything is going great! Dad, I didn't get to see Bro. Hill but he passed a message to me through some other sisters, so I communicated to him that way. I love being here in this beautiful part of the world! I love you all and think and pray for you often!

Love always, Sister Carter