First week in Irondequoit January 31, 2011

Dear Family,

Well hello! Another email, another week passed by. Time is really starting to fly by now. January is almost over! I can't even believe it! I'm so excited that this week is Baby A's blessing. You'll have to tell me some of the things that are said so I can still feel like I'm apart of his life! I show everyone around me pictures of him, I'm such a proud Aunt (although everyone out here thinks his name is a little strange :))! I'm so glad Kyle can come down for it to. A big family reunion!

So Irondequoit.... what to say? W.O.W. Thats a good way to start off. Its crazy here! I have such a love for this place already though. Heavenly Father has sure blessed me with an excitement to be here and a vision of what could happen to this area if we continue to work hard. So it is just as ghetto as they say :) Maybe not as many black people as I mentioned last time but they have their own culture here, for sure. We went over to a recent convert's home the other day and her 2 1/2 year old son breakdanced for us! Like real legit break dancing! Pulling out the jerk and the soldier boy, while throwing in some random gang signs in the middle of the dancing. Weirdest thing I ever saw. Tracting is also very different. People aren't as nice here as they were in Henrietta, they don't care to make conversation with you, and they've all already "experienced Jesus" in their lives. People yell at us a lot as they're driving passed. We live with two other Sisters, who are serving in the Webster area, so we share a car with them which means that we walk... A LOT. Lots of walking and street contacting, which I never had to really do in Henrietta. Its really funny because my old area is honestly only like 10 minutes away, I'm still even in the same stake, but it feels like I'm in a whole new world. It is so great though. I really like my new companion, Sister Gines. She is from Logan and she remembers Lindsay from Sky View. We have a lot in common, and yes, family, I have brought the crazy side out in her already. Not sure if that is a good thing :) Missionary work is to be enjoyed though, not just endured.

I had my first day in the new ward yesterday. Its a little smaller than my old ward and it is really hard because the members aren't really into missionary work. They are all sweet people but they never invite us over for dinners, or come on team-ups, or help drive us places. There are the few who really want to help but a lot of them have excuses about why they can't. So we're going to change that! All four of us sisters, that live together, have made new goals to change this ward around. Use the social skills we have to get them to love us and want to help us, then when they help us and experience the joys of missionary work their hearts will change. So its a big project but we're going to keep working on it, one person at a time.

So miracles are continuing to happen. I had a moment this week of realization that I, little me, who makes tons of mistakes and has so many weaknesses, was called to this area to represent the Lord and do what He would do. I was just overwhelmed with the magnitude of that calling. A couple days ago, as we were reading the scriptures with a recent convert, we were reading the story of when Nephi was asked to build a ship and no one believed he could do it. I was struck with what Nephi said at the end of chapter 17, he said, "If God had commanded me to do all things, I could do them." Nephi really believed and lived that. It just made me realize, again, that if God gives a commandment, we are able to accomplish that. Its a simple principle but if we only really truly believed and lived that....think about what our lives could be like. We would be magnificent.

I love this work, I love this new area I'm apart of. I love my companion and this opportunity I have to every day dive into the scriptures and pray with all my heart, might, mind, and soul. These are the best days of my life.

I love all of you so much and think of you often. Thank you for all the prayers and thoughts on my behalf, know that I am doing the same for you. I love you! Have an amazing week!

Love always, Sister Carter

Transfer to Irondequoit, NY January 24, 2010

Dearest family,

Greetings from the North Pole. Or what feels like the North Pole. Man its cold outside! While we were still out visiting people last night it dropped to -2. I've been wearing lots and lots of layers! Sometimes I think back to this summer where all I did was sit in the pool and read a book.... *Sigh* what a life. That is so scary about what happened to Grandpa! I'm glad everything worked out and that you were able to find out what was wrong. Please let him know that I really love him and that I pray for him every day. Its neat because not only do I pray for all of you but so do the people that we teach and the members in our ward. All of them know the sacrifice that we give, and our families give, and sometimes when they pray they feel prompted to bless our families back home. Its a very special experience to know that you are cared about that much.

Well... its been a week. I'm just going to say that much. Lots and lots of crazy stuff. So on Thursday we called M to go see if we could come over a little earlier than our designated appointment time. Right when he answered he started out by saying "I was thinking about calling you." Uh oh......... that line never comes before anything good. Turns out that M has a friend, who is a professor in theology..... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....... So M talked to his friend about what we had been teaching him and his friend gave M some "helpful hints" about what Mormons are really like. So frustrating! I guess his friend told him all this stuff about Joseph Smith and how he was involved in gun fights, that we believe in the Blood Atonement, we practice polygamy, the Olympic Scandal in 2002 (I didn't even know what that was), and that Mormons can't get on boats! What the!!?? Are you for reals?! You're faith is going to get shaken because you think we can't go over water!? I think people need to just stop their jabbering jaw until they have something intelligent and truthful to say. The good news is that M is still opened minded about things, he just wants all these concerns addressed. Some of them we can address but there comes a point, according to Preach My Gospel, that that you get backed up to your "Wall of faith" where you have to pick what side you're on. I'm praying that M picks the right side.

So, I guess I'll tell you the really important news. Transfers. Okay..... Here is goes..... Ready? Alright. I am being transferred. I'm leaving Henrietta, after 6 months, and going to Irondequoit (I didn't even know how to spell that... my companion just had to help me) with Sister Gines (pronounced Jines). I'm not going to lie... that was kinda a shock. I thought for sure that I would be leaving the city but Irondequoit is just north of Rochester (even COLDER) in the GHETTO!!!!! I'm not even kidding. This is going to be a whole new world. There's like 9 black people to every white person there. I shouldn't have prided myself on being so good with needy crazy people because there are a lot of needs up there, and a lot of crazies :). I know Sister Gines a little bit. She's really timid and shy from what I've seen but really sweet. I guess Heavenly Father really wants me to get out of my shell with all these shy companions I've had. I'm excited though. After I got through my good cry of leaving this area that I love so much, I have a feeling of excitement for the new adventures that await (and I KNOW there is going to be some adventures up there :)). If there is anything I have learned is that the Lord knows me better than I know me so I just trust Him. Its the easiest and safest route to take. So my thought comes from the song that has been replaying many times throughout my head these last couple days, and the peaceful feeling knowing that I tried to leave Henrietta stronger than when I came here:
"So trusting my all to thy tender care. And knowing thou lovest me. I'll do thy will with a heart sincere. I'll be what you want me to be."

I love you all and think of you often! Have an amazing week. My prayers are always with you.

Love always, Sister Carter
- Show quoted text -

New Investigators-January 17, 2011

Dear Family,

Yay! I can't believe Mom went on splits with the missionaries!! That is so brave! I'm so proud of you! That is not an easy thing to do! Remember the Sunday before I left and the Sister missionaries wanted me to go with them on splits and I was so scared? Ha! I remember being so relieved when that didn't work out, although I was going to be the MISSIONARY, in that situation, three days later. So funny... I'm so glad that you had that experience with Sister Morgan. I can't even tell you how nice it is when members help us with missionary work. Miracles happen!! They really do! One time, when we were first teaching S., we would ask this man in our ward, named Dan Wilson, if he would go pick up S. for church every Sunday. Well if you remember S. he had a really hard time coming to church for months. Every time Bro. Wilson would go to his house S. wouldn't be there. Yet faithfully, every Sunday Bro. Wilson would go. Once we were talking to Bro. Wilson on the phone, apologizing for S. not being there again, and Bro. Wilson's response was "When I was 19 instead of going on a mission I decided to play football. I've never regretted anything more in my life. But ever since, I made a promise to God. When ever the missionaries need me I'll be there. I don't care if I go to S.'s house 100 times and he still isn't there, I'll be back to pick him up the next Sunday." Sister Stone and I were so overwhelmed with appreciation we just sat there and cried after we got off the phone with him (Yes we ARE emotional Sister missionaries :)). There are just some things that we can't do as missionaries that members can. I've got another example from this week...

We had a referral for a man by the name of M. that lives in inner-Rochester, who we went to visit this week. We met him at his work in this ghetto little storage unit which might have been a little sketchy but there were office people walking around in and out. M. is awesome! Right when we started talking to him he told us about how he's always believed in something more than the Bible and how it doesn't make sense that Jesus Christ would only visit the people that He was surrounded by. Yay!! M. heard about the church because a member came in to install M.'s security system and the member opened his mouth and started telling M. about what we believe. M. was so intrigued that he got onto mormon.org and referred himself. He's so great! We have now started calling him "Elders Quorum President Man" ("Bishop Man" will always still be L.'s nickname). Its kinda long but it works :)

I also went on companion exchanges this week! My first time ever. We don't do exchanges as much as the Elders do. I was taken out of Henrietta for a day, and went to.... drum roll please.... Palmyra! Thats right. Just hangin in the place where the prophet lived, no big deal :). The work is very different in Palmyra. I was companions with one of the Site trainers (they're like the "Assistants to the President"- just in female form :)), Sister Egan, and she's super cool. The work is slow there, mostly because they've tracted every single street in Palmyra at least twice over. Plus you get all the hard questions out there, because everyone knows about Mormons. So you either get people who just try to ignore missionaries, or those who want to fight them. So I learned how to deal with that kind of work. It was a great experience and made me appreciate Henrietta a little bit more... although we find out about transfers next Sunday! Crazy!

Although the weather has now turned frigid (it was negative 10 last night), the work here is going wonderfully! We found five new investigators this week. I've decided that if we provide the work, and the Lord helps us with the faith, then miracles come about. I love being a missionary and getting this part of His vineyard to work in. I know that Heavenly Father is ever mindful of us and any effort that we make on our part to come closer to Him. I know I'm His servant, and most importantly His daughter. The work is true, I know it. Have an amazing week! I am now going to go face an Elder in a "garbage plate" eating contest at Nick Tahoe's (Kinda like "cleaning the sink" at Angie's just with a large pile of greasy nasty bugers, fries, and chili). Wish me luck! I'm making my own version of Man vs. Food :) I love you all!

Love always, Sister Carter

Holiday Pictures

Thanksgiving Day with member
Sister Carter, Sister Stone and Geri-Christmas

New Beginnings-January 10, 2011

Dear Family,

I loved the pictures you sent! It made me so happy to see little A! He's getting so big, and he's got these beautiful blue eyes just like is parents. I just love him! I'm also glad Kreigh got an ICarly blanket, its good to see that some things don't change much :). You'll have to let me know how Kris' job goes! Hopefully it won't be too hard to be working again. I can't believe there is snow in St George! That is just crazysauce. I love seeing pictures of the pool too... all the Elders I serve around have this idea that they want to have their receptions in our backyard (I think mostly because they just want to have a pool party afterwards like Kreigh and Kris had).

This week has been really good. We've really buckled down this week and tried to find some new investigators. Lots and lots of tracting. Not always the most enjoyable, especially in the freezing cold, but when I really look at all the big picture of my mission and see the progress that I HAVE made its pretty neat. I'm not really afraid to talk to people anymore. I know that the promise in D&C is real, that when you open your mouth it WILL be filled. Sister Christensen and I joke around that sometimes its not always filled with the most intelligent things, but it is filled nevertheless :). Sister Christensen and I work pretty well together. We work well because she's really good at teaching people who are somewhat intelligent and I am really good at teaching really needy crazy people. The great thing is that Henrietta has both. Transfers are coming up soon and I feel as if the time I have left in Henrietta is growing short...

We had lots of adventures this week. One of them was moving one of our investigators. A.'s Mom, T. (for reals- that is her name), was getting evicted. So T. is moving back in with her Mom. We got the mission truck and trailer and a couple of Elders and went to help her get all of her stuff out of the house. The only problem was that once we were done there was no where to take the stuff. Takila was going to store it in a friend's attic but she had no idea where that friend lived. So we waited, and waited, and waited.... T. tried calling her friend a million times with no success. So we were just sitting there. Wasting a whole bunch of valuable time. The only information we had about the place we were taking her stuff to was which intersection it was in and the person's name (which was B.). We finally couldn't take it anymore and Sister Christensen and I drove out to where the intersection and started knocking doors. When people would answer we would ask them if they knew a B., and if they didn't we would invite them! So we were literally RUNNING from door to door to door. All the while the Elders were just sitting in the truck (because they were not in proselyting clothes- they were in their jeans because they did service), following us to make sure it was safe, and clapping and cheering as we would move to the next house. We had little cheerleaders to back us up! Made tracting a lot more fun. Sadly enough, we never found B. So we ended up storing all of T.'s stuff at the Mission home... kinda a disaster, but it made a great story!

Sorry there is not more to report. I'm learning so much every day. I feel like this transfer I've learned a lot about who I am as a person which I think is one great thing that missionaries get blessed with. I hope that you all have a wonderful week! I think of you all often, and love the letters, pictures, emails, prayers that all of you send. My closing thought is one that I love from President Hinckely about sacrifice: "You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment you will ever make."

I love you all!

Love always, Sister Carter

Starting off the New Year Right

Dear Family,

Happy 2011!! I can't even believe it! A brand spankin new year! Just like every other holiday as a missionary, this New Years was a lot different than the ones that I've had before. Full of lots of adventures! Let me name them off for you:

#1- Helping a member move- Okay... so we didn't even really help her move we helped her CLEAN after all of her stuff was moved out. This was one of the members in the ward who has a hard time living on her own. We went over, with a family in the ward (the Porters), to help her out. OH WOW.... can I just say.... WOW! I've seen some pretty nasty things in China but this definitely made the top of the list. She was being evicted for roach infestation. One of the Porter girls started helping me clean the microwave and she went white as a sheet. There were roach body parts all inside that would fall all over our arms as we scrubbed. I finally shooed her to try and find a clean corner to stand in. Sister Porter found all these decomposing rats and spider eggs. AHHH... It made me sad (as well as nauseous). I came out of there being grateful that I have learned how to clean though!

#2- Mormon parties- That night we went over to A's to keep her company (and distract her from wanting to go out to drink with her friends). We showed her what a real party is.... playing Apples to Apples! I think she may of thought that was a "not-as-fun" way to celebrate the new year but at least she could remember it in the morning! :)

#3- Sun rise- Since we had to go to bed, that night, at the same time that we do every day, we found something else cool to do to celebrate the new year. So the Porter family has a tradition that they wake up early on New Years Day and go to Hill Cumorah to watch the sun rise, and they invited us to come with them! So we got permission from President and went with them to Hill Cumorah at 6 in the morning. When the sun finally peaked over the horizon we were ready for it already on the top of the hill, singing hymns. What an incredible experience! I can't think of a better place to start a new year.

As the sun continued to rise I thought a lot about this new year waiting and how grateful I am for new beginnings! I'm so grateful for the Savior for providing them for us! Because of Him we can always have a bright future He can always lift us out of the darkest night... He provides the sun rise in our lives.

I love Him.

I love each one of you and hope that you have a wonderful week. I think and pray for you always.

Love always, Sister Carter