I Loved Conference!! April 7, 2011

Dearest Family,

Well here I am!! Four days late but still alive :). Our Preparation Days are now going to be changing because we are now working at the sites 4-5 days a week. Hopefully we'll start to get a routine going... I think I'll be emailing next Thursday again. We're going to try and get to the Temple sometime this next week. I'm so excited, its been so long.

I'm so glad to hear that everyone is well! I loved hearing everyone's favorite talks from Conference because everyone liked something different. It really is like Elder Holland talked about, one of their messages is really meant just for us. Personally, I loved Elder Oaks talk about our desires and how they determine who we end up becoming. I've been thinking a lot about that lately and how we can turn our desires into actions and he just laid it out perfectly for all of us to understand. I LOVED Conference! It is such a feeling of home and refuge. Not even for the reason that I knew all of you at home were watching it, but because we will always be safe and taken care of when we listen to what these chosen servants have to say. Its funny, Dad, that you talked about me sneaking into the Priesthood session because I DID!!!! HA! We snuck in to hear Elder Anderson's talk and then we left because we felt a little weird :). It was great though! I'm excited to get to read the rest of the talks in the next Ensign.

We had a busy week working in the sites. It has been wonderful. There is already a feeling of pageant in the air and it is exciting! We had a special training last night about taking bus tours... things are starting to get busy. While we were working at the Hill Cumorah this week President Christianson pulled aside Sister Gines to talk to her for a few minutes. When she came back out Sister Christianson had her arms around Sister Gines and she was crying. Alarmed, I ran over to them and as I walked up President looked at me and said, "I guess you two have more in common then you thought". Her Grandma has terminal cancer. She's not expected to live for more than two more months. It was a tender experience to get to hold my companion in my arms and both weep and grieve together. I have no doubt that we were both suppose to be together, through this part of our lives, to be those tender mercies that the Lord provides, to show of His love. To rely on each other's strength and build our tesimonies, together, of the reality of the Plan of Salvation.

As I was sitting, studying, pondering, meditating, in the Christus room this week I was thinking about some of the lessons that my mission has taught me. One being: how to be alone. It is ironic that I have never talked to more random strangers, I have never talked on the phone so much or have ever had someone attatched to my hip 24/7, and yet, at times, I have never felt so alone. I thought of Dad's favorite song that plays in "Phantom of the Opera" during the end credits, "Learn to be Lonely". As I stared up at the Christus statue I realized that we have to learn to be lonely, to realize that we are never alone. When everything else seems to be disattatched, there is One with "his arm outstretched still". There is always something constant in our lives and that is the love of the Savior. Nothing can ever separate us from Him, whether we be in Utah or New York, whether we be missionaries or investigators, whether we be sinners or saints. He will never leave us. We never have to be alone.

I love all of you so much. I'm so grateful for each one of your silent examples and incredible strength. I draw from your prayers and your memories often. I hope you have an amazing week.

Love always, Sister Carter