Sister Alicia Carter: December 2014

Friday, December 26, 2014

December 15, 2014 Christmas, transfers, miracles

Oh my goodness. This is easily the craziest mission day ever! Well, such is mission life, right?!

We were just sitting at the computers (Sister Gregerson and I) when the Hermanas walk up to us and say that they are moving in! Well, funny thing is, we knew that they were moving in but we thought that it was more towards the beginning of the new year! Turns out it's today which means that we have to completely clean out their apartment so that they can be sleeping in their new warm beds by tonight. Not to mention p-day is over at 6:00 AND their old apartment is getting completely shut down. No more missionaries will be living there.

Also here's the kicker. . . Sister Gregerson is leaving! My trainer is getting transferred. Not only am I getting two new roommates but I'm getting a new companion! Tomorrow morning at (9:00 a.m.-ish I will be driving Sister Gregerson to San Jose and picking up my new companion. My zone is all the same people minus Sister Gregerson and Elder Lundy one of our zone leaders.

Yesterday night was the 21st Interfaith Activity Day by the Livermore wards where we invited five choirs to come and sing/perform for and with us. Three other Christian churches came along with a high school choir and us. It was beautiful. We all together sang the Hallelujah Song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBZ7AfZR9xs

It was intense! It was so loud in there. More people were there than at Stake Conference! Our Stake Presidency also showed the "He is the Gift" video to everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzjFEMmM0Xs

Sister Gregerson and I typically go to Zumba on Wednesday mornings for exercise. All of the moms are found there and it's actually pretty hilarious because it's a bunch of moms dancing around with children and babies running around in circles. Needless to say it is chaotic but fun and a wonderful teaching/finding opportunity. Sister Gregerson and I typically bring Vanessa with us who we are teaching. She has a son named Ethan who is so wonderful.

Here's a miracle. Sister Gregerson and I are never ever low on food and we ALWAYS have dinner. Since I've been on the mission we have only had to eat at our own apartment once!! With that said, we for some reason had two nights where members did not sign up to feed us. We were not worried and figured that we would just call our ward mission leader to feed us or even a member. Sister Gregerson and I did not have to do so because the Lord blessed us with a miracle. Sister Gregerson and I answered our phone one night to a lovely experience. A member called us and asked if we could come to dinner on the very night that we didn't have dinner and to teach a non-member friend!!! Woo hoo. Not only did they call for the night that we didn't have dinner BUT it was so that we could teach!!!

Sister and Gregerson and I had the opportunity to teach her on Sunday night and will start teaching her twice a week!!

Not only did that happen once, but it literally happened twice. We didn't have dinner (for some reason) again and the Lord blessed us with another referral!! A member called and asked us to teach her friend!

Merry Christmas to all!

Love,

Sister Carter

Monday, December 8, 2014

December 8, 2014

My emailing is terrible. I'm not too sure why besides the fact that I am HORRIBLE at managing my time! On Monday, the hour we have to email really isn't enough! I feel really sad because I'm so bad at expressing myself and informing everyone on what's going on and how people are progressing etc. I'm sorry. I pray that I will get better and I will certainly pray that my future letters will help many people see how happy and grateful that I truly am.

I had the blessing of being able to give a talk on Sunday about being physically and spiritually prepared. That, translated to me, was "The Doctrine of Jesus Christ". Truly, the Doctrine of Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End allows us to be BOTH physically and spiritually prepared. "Keep the Commandments." is a phrase we read a lot in the Book of Mormon. Wickedness never was and never will be happiness and truly keeping the commandments always allows us to be happy, thus, being "Prepared". I sobbed while giving my talk in perfect Sister Carter fashion. I'm always so embarrassed but oh well, I'm tender.

Here is a bit from my talk:

Missionary works allows us to declare to others that they too must be physically and spiritually prepared. There are many who don't know what they're missing in their lives. Many don't know where or how to find the truth. But, all is well Brothers and Sisters, because I am here to tell you as a representative of Jesus Christ that not only I, as a missionary, but we all "must declare this gospel [to all people] that they may be filled with joy.

Declare to this people that they must repent, have faith, be baptized. Don't only tell them, but show them of that straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life.

"This is the way and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now behold this is the Doctrine of Christ, and the only true doctrine of the Father. . ."

We're in a pretty serious drought here in Livermore. Something that I'm not used to, especially being from a place that gets a ton of rain. Everyone is so cautious of how much water they use, shower time, dish washing/hand washing time. It's interesting.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. It's so weird: number one being in California where there is no snow makes it even funnier. Snow certainly helps you realize what season it is. :)

I love you all,

Sister Carter