Brenda's Baptism

Dear Family,

Whew! Another week- GONE! I am now halfway through my mission! So crazy! I still feel like I have so much learn and now I'm running out of time to learn those things! I'm so blessed to get to be out here to learn so many lessons about myself, others, and the gospel. It is such a growing experience. One that takes all the strength I have, every day I wake up.
I'm so excited that Kyle had such a wonderful experience going through the Temple! He was much more prepared than I was (even though it sounds likes he got about as much sleep as I did :)). I wish I could have been there to hear his talk in church. I'm so proud of my little brother! I tell everyone about him and his mission call. Everyone is so fascinated that he was called to that mission right before all the disasters happened. I know that that wasn't a mistake, there is a real purpose for him being sent there at this time. I'm so excited to see the wonderful man he's turning into. I had a dream about all of you last night! I was over at our ward mission leader's home, and you were all waiting for me! I got to hug each one of you and I got to see little Atreyu. He wasn't even scared of me and I got to hold him for a little while. It was such a sweet wonderful dream. A tender mercy for a girl who still misses her family.

So the big news.... DRUM ROLL EVERYONE....... Brenda is now a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!! I hear the angels singing the "Halleljuah" chorus now. What a wonderful blessed day it was. There was quite a few members of the ward that came to support her. She was a little nervous but everything went smoothly (except the water was boiling hot again... I guess there is no cool water in this font. I guess we are serious when we say they are going to be "baptized by fire"). The most tender part about the whole things was the next day in church when her husband was able to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost in Sacrament meeting. He gave the most wonderful blessing where he talked about being able to go to the Temple together in the near future to be sealed for time and all eternity. They have their eyes set on the Temple. I am just in awe and am so grateful that because we are members of the restored gospel that we have the opportunity to be eternal. That Brenda and David's love for each other will never end... Good things don't have to end.

So the other big news. Transfers. So like I predicted, it was a big one. Seven sisters went home and four new ones came out (there are about 34 sisters in this mission- that is A LOT). Sister Stone and Sister Van Den Berghe (one of the Webster sister that I lived with), were part of the seven who left. It was very sad to say goodbye. Sister Holm (the other Webster sister I lived with) was sent to Buffalo and my companion, Sister Gines, was sent to Fairport. So... that just leaves me. I'm still in Irondequoit. They actually combine the Irondequoit and Webster areas... so now I am serving in Webdequoit :). Its quite a big area, and a lot to take on. I have a GREAT new companion though. Her name is Sister Stoker, she is from Idaho. She is such a sweet good person. I'm still trying to find something that is wrong with her.... I'm so excited to get to serve with her and we're excited to get the work moving. I was a little sad to say goodbye to the three sisters that I loved so much, but I realized how grateful I am that it WAS sad to sad goodbye to them. It is good that we loved each other enough that it is hard to move on. My new favorite quote from this last Conference is, "Thank you, Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down". I am continually humbled, time and time again, on a mission. It always seems like there is something that comes up that is hard to work through, or that I don't quite understand but I'm so grateful to know that we have a Father in Heaven who LOVES us, and that the only reason He gives us these trials, to experience, is because he's trying to make us grow into something beautiful. I am also grateful that He loves us enough to not just cut us and leave us to grow on our own. He's with us, every step of the way. I know that is true.

Well family, I love you. Thank you for the wonderful Easter package! It brightened my day! I love you all and will be thinking of you all this Sunday a lot. Have a wonderful Easter!

Love always, Sister Carter