October 26, 2015

Hellowwwwww-

What a wonderful week. Man time flies! We are having a blast and are doing our best to find find find, more of those lucky San Jose State Students that we receive us ha ha.  Sister Riggs is killin it! I am so grateful for her desires to work hard. She is a pro.

There is a talk that is getting us pumped about missionary work, titled "Following Christ to Victory" by Hartman Rector Jr. who was actually President Mellas mission president in the San Diego Mission where he served as a young man!!!!! I think you can liken this talk to "real life living" not just missionary work....

Some of my favorite parts-

       "Believe you can do it. This is the first important principle. All things are possible to them that believe (see Mark 9:23). Surely we must believe in a thing before we can desire it. And God does grant unto men according to their desire (see Alma 29:4). If the desire is strong enough, performance is assured.

       I am positive also that no one can be emotionally or physically healthy unless he is keeping the commandments and rendering unto God the things that are God’s. I did not say that this obedience would also make you satisfied with your every performance—I seldom am; I’m sure I can improve my performance in the job. But when I’m on the Lord’s side, keeping the basic commandments, I feel good about me, I esteem myself as a worthy child of God, and I find I am very positive. 


 How to perform positively? Easy: eliminate all negative words and phrases from your vocabulary. Refuse to think negatively, for as a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).  

Refuse also to speak negatively. Now you have become an optimist rather than a pessimist. There is a big difference between an optimist and a pessimist—one is positive, a believer; the other is negative, a doubter. The optimist, as you probably know, is a person who, when he wears out his shoes, just figures he’s back on his feet. The pessimist says, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” The optimist says, “I’ll see it when I believe it.”

We had a wonderful week and there are many more to come!

Below-

Tessi and Ismael who are Branch Missionaries. Tessi served in the DC south mission!!!!!!


 
Sister Riggs and Yesi= SUPER CUTEMe= creepy






LOVE YOUUU ALLLL.

-Sister Carter

October 19, 2015 New companion

 

 

 

 

 

 It's what you've been waiting for.....

Here she is!!! Miss America! My child. My trainee. My girl!

 Sister Riggs hailing from Springville Utah!! She's only my second companion from Utah.

She is WONDERFUL!!!!!! She is seriously the cutest thing in the world.

She cheered during her time in school, and is a Disney freak and I think we are pretty much the same person......

I would have you know, she testifies with power and authority. She listens to all of our investigators and is able to teach according to their needs because she cares. She has a heart of gold and a desires to do the Lords will.

Her mission will be a success because of this and I am so grateful to have her at my side!!!

We witnessed a miracle just the other day when we went contacting with our Recent Convert Yesi. Yesi, wanted to go contacting with us on San Jose State and so we scheduled about an hour to do so, on campus. After we said our prayer, we walked out of the doors of the institute and didn't even make it 20 feet out the door. Right there walking was young girl and because we do our best to talk with everyone, we said hello!! Sister Riggs bright eyed and bushy tailed was right there with a huge smile. We introduced ourselves, asked her if she knew what the institute was, and asked her if she had some time to learn about what we believed in. Her response was sure!-- slightly surprised but certainly grateful we walked her right inside of the institute, gave her a tour and taught her the Message of the Restoration.

It was a tender mercy given to us but the Lord which helps us understand how much we really do need to talk to everyone! And even while talking to everyone, we need to invite everyone! We need to invite them to church, we need to invite them to listen to what we have to say and ultimate we just need to give them a chance, because we don't know who God is preparing. we just need to have faith that He will lead us to those who are ready to receive this message. I'm grateful Sister Riggs got to experience that, as well as our sweet member Yesi.

I know the Lord has big things for us in this transfer. I pray that we will be worthy to experience such miracles.

This is what I'm ponderizing this week: Mosiah 8:18

"Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore her becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings."

I love this work! And my new companion!!

-Sister Carter

October 12, 2015 A Greenie is coming! Temples.

 


Another transfer has come!! Sister Hill is getting transferred tomorrow morning and I will be saying here in San Jose. 

oh...and....

I'll be training a brand new missionary from the MTC. Just around this time last year I was at the beginning of my mission. I had no idea what was so come! 

She will be arriving on Wed! This is slightly awkward because since I'm one of the missionaries that serves at the San Jose institute, every 6 weeks we go contacting with the brand new greenies on their very first day on campus..... Actually in their very first few hours off of the plane. Since I am training one of these new missionaries, and we don't actually become companions until Thursday morning, I'm not actually allowed to go with them..

I'm grateful, scared, shocked, awed that Heavenly Father has trusted me with this call. This is going to be good....... 

I pray that together we will have the faith to find, teach and baptize. I pray that we will both be committed to our calls and the expectations that the Lord has for us. I pray that we have an increase of love for all those around us! Can you all pray for us too?

Ryota received the Priesthood, which is the power and authority of God, yesterday during the 3rd hour of church! He will now be able to give blessings to the sick and the needy. He will be able to even baptize people! We got to be there to watch! It was wonderful. It is such a cool experience to see someone progress in the gospel. Next stop, the temple!

We got to go inside of the temple this week. We did some temple work for those who have passed on. We only get to go inside twice a year, so this was my last time as a missionary....! Sad!!!!! I LOVE the temple and enjoy spending time there. If you have a temple near you, I'd encourage you to go! Go! Go! Go!

Love you alllll!! Pray for my new missionary! 

I KNOW she is going to be amazing.

-Sister Carter

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do;

not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased."

5 October 2015 General Conference

What a wonderful week to be a missionary! I LOVE General Conference!! What a beautiful opportunity to hear from our beloved Prophet, Apostles and other General Authorities. I am grateful for their testimonies and the spirit certainly taught me a lot as I listened to them address us. Sister Hill and I were blessed to have 3 investigators watch conference with us!!! We watched it at the San Jose institute with a crowd of people. Nothing like raising your right arm to say you support and sustain these God fearing men and women. 

This was one of my favorite quotes! Especially since it was given by Kim B. Clark! He was the President of BYU-I when I was there :) Now he's a 70.

I have learned MORE on my mission than any other time in my life that when we simply keep the commandments we. WILL. be happy. Life will be less complicated  and certainly more satisfying and fulfilling. Wickedness in any degree, (pride, disobedience,) never ever will be happiness. 

Here is a incredibly awkward picture of all of us. Apparently we all are excited for Christmas! Red ties, green reindeer ties, and Red Christmas sweaters in October!

 

 

 

 

 

I sustain the Prophet and Apostles!!

I. Love. This. Work. 

-Sister Carter

 

 

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