Saturday, July 30, 2016

Pipe Organ Encounter

Julz got to attend an organ retreat for one week. She slept in the U of U dorms for a week and spent one of the day's at Temple Square. She even got to play the organ at the conference center! 
She also spent one day at BYU campus learning about organ's and organ music. 




Her private teacher was Lynn Thomas from Utah State University. She really liked him.

Here she is getting ready to play the organ at the Cathedral of St. Mark near downtown Salt Lake City.

She met wonderful teenagers who were from Utah and different states around the country who also attended the retreat.






More photo's to come later.

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Sister San Diego




Hello! Welcome to the inside of Sister Carlson's brain. Glad you could make it :)

Okay, so I'll be honest. I'm having a hard time finding the drive to write y'all today BUT ALAS! All is well. My heart is just heavy. Sister Essymba left Sister Davis and I for El Cajon. EL CAJON! I know... It's hot. But it's also the land of miracles so I know she'll work wonders there. I JUST MISS MY AFRICAN! Huuhh.. Just keep typing fingers. You can do it. Heaven is cheering you on.

La Jolla has never been so on FIRE! With the work.. and also the sun. I'm kind of, sort of, might be, perhaps SUPER grateful to be serving next to the ocean. It's still been pretty hot though. My heart finds joy in thinking the rest of the mission is miserable. I know.. rude. I can't help it! #blessed

My dearest Mother died today. Sister Starr... Tear for the fallen. And Elder Pierce. Woof. Missionaries headed home right and left. I adore them all.

Let me tell you about my week.
Ha. Look at my fingers go. I'm proud.

Ehem!
So! Last preparation day, we literally spent the entire day in the temple!
I LOVED IT! Ah the San Diego temple. Refuge.
Until next week!
Sister Carlson




Z walking up and telling me about his mom's baptism and Mia's confirmation.
W popping up behind him with a BIIIG smile on his face. (Never before have I on my mission had so much of a dang hard time not hugging another human being. THAT BOY)
H pratically skipping over to give me a hug before the meeting started.
E passing the sacrament (don't know why but this finally had me in tears)
H walking in 15 minutes late but just BEAMING! The tears continued.
AND THEN V! She grabs me right before we're about to head out and nods what seemed like a hundred times with this excited LOOK in her eye. Finally I take the hint to follow her eyes and where are they? My name tag. I slapped my badge and from what I can remember (excuse my lack of brain, I was just too emotional and excited) yelled "V!!!"
She had started her Papers earlier that week and Z told me he was headed out most likely in November. H CAME ON SPLITS WITH ME EARLIER and told me she had an appointment with the patriarch and wants to serve a mission as well.
As I walked out of that meeting, I couldn't contain the tears. 

I admire all of the recent converts I have been blessed to serve around. God is always too good and I will forever be grateful.

JUST KNOW! That joining the church doesn't mean you're the only convert to it. Pick up the mirror of eternity and reflect. We should all be converts. 





Wednesday, July 27, 2016

From Linoleum to Porcelain Tile


I'm trying to decide if I want mocha grout or dark brown. I guess I'll sleep on it and decide tomorrow.





Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Sister San Diego

Longest week of my mission for all the right reasons :)
SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED! Some good, some bad, but all is well!

Heh... I just reminded myself of something Jeffery R Holland spoke to
us about a few weeks ago (Note: I might just be quoting the man for
the rest of my life.. And I'm okay with this)
"You are doing as close to the work of the quorum of the 12 apostles
or first presidency work you will ever do. Never again in your life
will you have this chance. DON'T MISS IT! This only comes once. Grab
it, embrace it, and soak up everything this offers. Don't think is
this good or bad? It's all good. Even the tough days. Those can be the
best of all. Sometimes it takes more faith not to be healed"
Thoughts that have been stirring in my mind and heart this last week:
During one of our companionship studies, Sister Essymba told Sister
Davis and I about what she had been learning in Alma. The Sons of
Mosiah coming back off their 14 year missions! She paused to look up
and ask the two of us: "If the Lord called you, would you be willing
to extend your mission 14 years?" She waited then answered herself: "I
tell everyone I meet that I came on this mission because I love the
Lord... But I don't know if I could do that"
Sister Davis agreed with her.
I didn't need a moment to reflect. With an overwhelming spirit I told
my two very dear sisters that if the Lord in that very minute were to
ask me to stay, I would stay.  Both a bit critical with my quick
response retorted "but for 14 years?"
Again without hesitation, I answered "Yes. My Mission has meant
EVERYTHING to me. There is nothing on this earth that has made me more
happy than missionary work. If the Lord were to ask me to stay, and
not just for the 14 years but the rest of my life, I would indeed
spend my years preaching his Gospel. ESPECIALLY if he himself asked me
to do so."
I now turn the question and ask all of you; if the Lord were to call
you RIGHT NOW to go, would you go? If he were to ask you to stay,
would you stay?
I Love this work. I do.
I've mentioned it time and time again how I never want to stop. SO I
WONT! I will forever have the name of my savior in my heart and on my
lips so that all will know: in him I trust. As for now? I will
completely dedicate all my time and attention on the work at hand.
Like Jeffery R Holland states, you only have this chance once. Don't
miss it. The time is far spent!




Memoir from Mar C

Demo is hard work!
Finally ready to lay the new porcelain tile. Thanks to the Rubow family across the street we would have never been ready!!






Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Sister San Diego

You know when God is good so he draws out the entire YSA population
with a Pokemon game? HA!
HOW IS EVERYONE!?!
Hope you've all been on the GO!!!
..Too much? ;)
People are literally coming to us! Apparently there's a point of
interest in this new Pokemon game that leads to our church. On Sunday,
we were syncing our iPads when a man walked up with his phone.
"Sister Essymba... Invite him to be baptized"
"OH!.... Okay"
She walks over to the door, opens it, invites the man to be baptized.
"No thank you! I've already been baptized!"
WELL! GOTA CATCH 'EM ALL!
We've been role playing during companionship study on how to relate
gospel principals with things like Pikachu. It's fantastic.
OUR WEEK! Ah Mission life :)
ZONE MEETING!
This month we did a TON of practicing, I LOVED IT! And guess what?
The Zone leaders asked us all to pair up with someone of our same
mission language but NOT our companions.
Well, so what Sister Carlson.. There are a hundred other English
speakers in the zone. THIS IS TRUE! But alas. With Elder Funckes gone,
I'm literally the only other signer in the zone and Elder Cross needs
a change up every once in a while too.
SO!
I learned how to invite someone to be baptized in ASL!

Sister San Diego

Father! I'm teaching someone from Brazil!
Isn't it fantastic? I'll get to her in a bit :D
HAPPY 5TH OF JULY! I hope yesterday everyone had a bomb! Literally. I
hope y'all had a grand ol' time blowing stuff up. Our 4th of July
festivities were grand! We had a flag raising ceremony in the morning
with our family Ward and guess what? SO MANY NON-MEMBERS CAME! 7th
ward members reaching out to neighbors. Milagros. 
Oh California. The land I call my home. No matter, the church is still
true and we talk to everyone. #Murica
THE FIREWORKS THOUGH! We live pretty close to Sea World so we had a
somewhat fabulous display. Not as great as the Stadium of Fire.. But
all is well ;)
OKAY SO SISTER DAVIS IS HILARIOUS!
We laugh. Constantly.
I can't even.. Describes her. She has this unique personality. I guess
it's just New Yorkers. They escape me.
I'll try anyway ;)
She's an old soul. Very patient-- small things don't phase her. She
has a very rooted understanding of the gospel and she loves her
family. Her dad is a famous Opera singer and her mom is a Music
Therapist. She herself doesn't really do anything musical. She enjoyed
reading and writing. If I were to compare her to people... Hmm She
kind of reminds me of Sister Cortello but also Jenny. WELL. At the
same time not at all. She's her own self. Very confident in know she
is and she rocks it. I will enjoy her company as we grow old. Sister
Essymba and Davis are fantastic together. We're like a big happy
family that finds humor in all things. I'm so blessed.



Friday, July 1, 2016

Memoir from Mar C

Warmer Weather
It's kind of fun having a birthday on the 3rd of July. We always seem to celebrate it the day after. I don't mind since I get a barbecue and fireworks!



Provo High Band at the 4th of July parade 2016
Julz is some where in there playing her sax.

Jen in a Guilly Suit


First veggie out of the garden!

I really like summer!

Mia Shalom 2016


Professional Snipe Hunters

Great Leaders

 Two Female Big Feet
















Mike Carson and Julz