28 September 2015

WOW. This has probably been one of the most exciting times in my mission. I keep saying it can't get any better than this, and man, does the Lord show me!!

It started with the Bishops Storehouse. The Bishops storehouse distributes food to the needy. There are many in different locations. The one in San Jose just moved locations allowing it to now look like a legit grocery store!! Equipped with pictures of the Savior! I wish all grocery stores had pictures of the Savior :)

We took Ryota there because our last lesson with him before he was baptized on Thursday was about Tithing and Fasting.

Tithing is when we give a tenth of our annual income back to Heavenly Father; because we know all of our wealth, success and ultimately anything good comes from Him, all He asks is for us to help build the kingdom and give back. The money we give in our tithing helps to build temples, send missionaries on missions (thank you), make books of Mormon and muchhhh more. It's a blessing to be able to contribute.

Fasting is when we don't eat for two consecutive meals and we pay a fast offering, which means we give the money we would have used for that meal to a fast offering. That money is then used for welfare. In this case, this Bishops storehouse was build 100 percent on fast offerings! What a blessing. We thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to take Ryota there to help him understanding what he would be helping with as he starts to pay his tithing and fast offerings. 


 

 John Henry (on the far right) a wonderful fellowshipper who even helped with some of my investigators is Palo Alto in the Stanford YSA!!

Then the day came!! Sister Hill and I got to speak about Baptism and the Holy  Ghost....Don't worry, I only cried a little.....

 


 He even asked Elder Leishman to baptize him!!!!!
 

Hooray!!

What a blessing to be apart of Ryota's baptism. He was prepared!

He was set apart and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday! He was also interviewed to receive the Priesthood after church.

The Lord has big things for Ryota.

I am really excited for General Conference and am certainly excited to see who our three new Apostles will be. What an interesting thing to see three Apostles pass away on your mission.

I am grateful to be a member of the true church on the earth and to be lead by leaders who receive revelation from God. I am grateful for the organization and Priesthood authority which makes all of this possible.

This is the Lords work and church and I am grateful to be apart of it!

Love you all!

Sister Carter

September 14, 2015 Baptisms, Feeling the Spirit, Youth

 Here are more pictures from the temple last week with Ryota who is still on track to be baptized on the 24th!!! Yeeee. We also have a date for our Middle Eastern investigator for October 1st! He came to church again yesterday! wooo hoooo.

It's so stinking fun to see and be with people as they feel the spirit of the Lord in their lives more abundantly. Many of them don't understand why they are starting to do things, (going to church, praying etc.) or in many cases why they stop doing things (using bad language, smoking etc.) but they know it makes them feel good. And it's not a temporary satisfaction, but it's something that makes their spirits shout for joy! It's a beautiful thing to see the light of Christ truly manifested out of Gods children.

Yesterday, Sister Hill and I spoke at the Alum Rock ward, our Family Ward, about Missionary Work. It's always a blessing to speak to wards and congregations. 

We also were asked to be the speakers at the Bishops Youth Fireside, again, talking about missionary work, and helping the youth become comfortable sharing the gospel.
Majority of the youth in this stake are less active. It's sad to see so little youth in he wards here but Sister Hill and I are determined to see that change. 

I am a true advocate of helping the youth and want them all to be with us on Sundays! As well as for mutual actives and other inspired actives the leaders put on. I have a serious testimony of the youth programs in the church. I also have a serious testimony of inspired leaders and members who truly do lift, encourage bless and strengthen the youth. I was helps tremendously throughout my time in the Arlington Ward and I am TRULY grateful for all who supported and loved me.

We are also doing our best to work with part member families in the Alum Rock Ward. There are 90 part member families. That’s a lot......

Last night we got to watch the CES fireside with Ryota! It was a blast to have many of the branch members with us, all crowded around the TV. It's so fun to see Ryota with us. He is truly going to be a beacon at BYU!

I love you all!
Sister Carter

7 September 2015

 
 
Today is P day! But we were blessed with an opportunity to go to the temple this morning with none other thannnnn our new investigator Ryota who is going to be baptized on the 24th of this month!!!! 

Remember that guy that walked into the institute to get an endorsement for BYU? Well this is him, and he. is.WONDERFUL. God is preparing His children to hear the truth and we are blessed to help this one. Ryota is precious and he is destined to do great things. He practically teaches US  the lessons! It's so interesting to see how much the Lord prepares us, so long as we listen. 

We watched the Restoration movie at the visitors center and walked around the beautiful grounds. 

What a wonderful way to spend Labor day! 

Ryota heard about BYU and the engineering program so he decided to do some research on the university. He is from Japan and was raised with a Buddhist background but his family is "flexible" (in his own words). He has 3 sisters and parents all in Japan and he is just a solid investigator who now understands his purpose here on this earth more now because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

What a miracle! In his own words, after we asked him why it's important to repent, he said it's the way we show our gratitude to our Savior Jesus Christ! He also said he KNOWS Jesus Christ set the perfect example and that Heavenly Father must love us, because he sent the perfect model, his son, to help us. He has felt the Holy Ghost and is grateful to receive the gift so that he can be with him forever! 

I am SO excited to see where Ryota ends up in these next couple of years. He is already and will continue to do great things! Especially with the Savior on His side. 

The Church is True!

-Sister Carter