Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Sister San Diego


Again my friends, welcome.
I understand this might be quite the contrast from my last week's
email, but ALL WILL BE WELL!
Mental Illness.
Depression.
Anxiety.
Fear.
It's just been the theme for these past few days of my mission.
But before I dive into that topic...
The work here is still progressing. Onward we go! P(investigator
from Turkey) in our last appointment closed with a prayer and as she
concluded, looked up with a smile to say "I want my little girl to be
just you 3 when she grows up!!!" My heart exploded. To top it off, she
mentioned how in one of her classes, she had invited her fellow
students to be baptized.

Sister San Diego


Sister Whitcomb


Things to help you smile today:
~~~I'm sure I've mentioned this in a previous email.. but Sister Davis
makes loud noises in her sleep. ALAS! Things have changed. Sister
Pitcher and I discussed something Sister Mae at the MTC had taught us"
Consecrating and dedicating" ones dreams. Sister Davis has been trying
it out and now she's PREACHING the gospel every night. "AND THAT IS
WHY YOU NEED TO COME TO CHURCH!"
It's fantastic.
~Right in the middle of a lesson with one of our recent converts
(C) a young lad came storming into the room yelling "WHERE IS THE
BEACON?!?"
A moment of silence. The small child then left the room. C: "It
does kind of smell like beacon..."
~~~You may have noticed, but we're using Facebook now. After about a 3
day period, Sister Pitcher received 984 friend requests. "What order
of Nun are you Sister Pitcher?" They ask. Sister Pitcher hid her face
in her arms and stated "I just want to be a normal nun..."
~~~We had a dinner appointment with the one and only Lei Ma. She told
us she would be picking up a pizza from Costco. The thought flashed
through my mind "Wait... She rides a scooter."
Yes. Lei folded the Pizza AND BOX to shove inside her small scooter's
carriage compartment.

Sister San Diego

Let's start from square one ;)
Last Tuesday, Sister Davis and I arrived at our Mission President's
home! It was fantastic (maybe not the hike) seeing so many familiar
faces! Hermana Shields, Sister Stirland, AH! So many fantastic
missionaries.. As President stood in front of his house, he began to
announce who would be training who. Eventually he called Sister Davis
and I up, looked me in the eye and said "We have another Sister that
knows sign language!"
I could have actually died and gone to heaven. I turned to see this
beautiful blond Sister give a quick salute before I stopped her
signing with a hug. Sister Schmitt laughed at my response. I WAS JUST
SO EXCITED!
I LOVE Sister Pitcher. As we drove to the institute to meet with
W, Sister Pitcher explained that before her mission she danced and
was studying news media. I. Could. Not. Stop. Laughing! Talk about a
celestial trio... Her reaction to seeing the San Diego Temple made my
heart sing.
The music in my soul continued as the evening fell. (I might have been
verbally singing a lot too...MIGHT) After having finished accounting
to the Lord what I had done with his Son's name that day, I lifted me
head to see the silhouette of Sister Pitcher kneeling with perfect
posture, signing her prayer to the Lord. I lowered my head again in
tears to thank my God for the Little Angel, Sister Pitcher.
And an angel she is! She knows why she is here and is 3 times the
missionary I was a year and a half ago. Hit the ground running, she
did. Her first day, she invited a part member family's husband to be
baptized with so much power and authority. I cried ha! Ah :) aah :)
AAAAAAH :) I can't stop smiling! She's fantastic. Sister Davis and I
are so blessed.
She calls me Qui gon Jinn, Sister Davis Obi Wan, and herself Anakin.
Again. I laughed so hard I couldn't stop.
This week really has been soooo chock full of Deaf Culture and sign
language. Sister Pitcher was raised in the Deaf Community with a
mother that teachers Deaf children in North Ogden Utah. As we all sat
down for District Meeting, Elder Cross' face lit up as more than half
the room could now carry a conversation without english words. I was
kind of getting emotional (not to sure as to why) THEN to top it all
off, Elder Cross stops before I could leave and signs "Sister Carlson,
you have the facial expressions of a Deaf person. I always feel so at
home around you. You remind me strongly of my Mother."
Tears.
During companionship inventory, Sister Pitcher made the same remark. I
reminded her of her mother.
SIGN LANGUAGE!
It's fantastic...
Speaking of which Sister Pitcher and I contacted a few ASL students
yesterday on Mesa College campus. Divine.
Now that I'm thinking about it, I really am in heaven. Someone made
the remark this week that "Mormons earn brownie points to heaven." But
in all reality we don't "earn" our way to heaven. We PRACTICE heaven.
Christ already paid the debt in full, and for that, I will be
eternally grateful. I marvel that he would extend his great love unto
such as I. Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
It is wonderful to me :)
I'm excited for this new transfer. I'm excited to work along this
Angel of a Missionary. I'm just so excited. I. LOVE. THIS. WORK.
-Sister Carlson







Sunday, September 11, 2016

Sister San Diego


I am unsure if any of you would know what StarCraft is.. Besides my
dear siblings and Whitney Clan.. ALAS! As Sister Davis and I finished
teaching our 40 year old, professional accountant of an investigator
(and I mean she looks the part; perfect home, perfect husband, perfect
attire) she states:
"Well sisters... It's late, I'm going to go kill some Zergs."
...Kill what?
Kind of taken back I ask "Wait like.. StarCraft?"
Her reply? "Yes, it's the perfect game for an accountant."
I am such a big fan of Tawn. 20% cooler for sure. 😂
School going well? I see mom's peaches and wish I could try one!!!
REMEMBER W!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???!!!!!!!
Now a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am
SO proud of this girl.. Wow. I might actually start crying just
thinking about her progress.
Her baptism was a sweet experience. She came about an hour early so we
could meet with her and as she put it "wind down" from the day's
events. It was a storm. That's a story in of itself that would take
more than I have time to write down. JUST KNOW that God is soooo good
and she is a TROOPER!

Sister San Diego


James J Hamula states:
Obedience/Diligence - permit us to gain knowledge and intelligence.
The call to be obedient and diligent is the call to gain light and
knowledge. You choose the degree to which you will be obedient and
diligent.
You can't just breath in once and hold it. To gain light you must
continue breathing. The harder you work, the brighter your light will
shine. What will you do to LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE?!? :)
From Gerb: (thank you)
Roald Dahl: "If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your
face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." SHINE ON!!
I LOVED meeting with Sister Schmitt this week. She came out teaching
with us! It just so happened to be the day that we had 6 set
appointments. As we walked on to UCSD campus, I soaked in the company
of this fantastic woman.
We had amazing lesson with a potential investigator named Diana who
accepted the invitation to be baptized. Our recent convert Mason was
able to come with us and he almost started jumping out if his seat as
she agreed.
The best part of the day was just sitting and counseling with Sister
Schmitt. I think it's been about a year since I've had the opportunity
to just talk with her one and one and OH MY GOODNESS. I love her to
death.
It's been a fantastic week.
We have to go with Wadia now :)
Chow!



Sister San Diego


One time, Sister Davis and I street contacted this man... And he
almost died because of it.
Life goes on.
HOW HAS YOUR WEEK BEEN?!? Full of miracles? I would hope so. Sorry
family that school had to start. UCSD doesn't start for another
month... We wait. Watching. The Club Rush will be amazing
#LDSINSTITUTEBOOTH! Huzzah!

Friday, September 2, 2016

Memoir from Mar C

Relief Society Stake Retreat 2016 at Heber Valley Camp
 Lakeside 6th Ward sisters

Tying blankets for the refugee families.

Friday night fireside.

 Keeping warm.

 Zip line challenge course.

Brave Debbie Manning.



Kathy Dalley and Lara Hinckley getting ready to do the giant swing.



 We had two cabins, this was the party cabin.

In all we had a great time. It was nice spending time in the mountains with just the gals!