Out in the beautiful country of Texas

¡Hola mis amigos! ¿Cómo están??? 

Another good week as always! We found a few more people to teach, all referrals through the members! And Elena went to the temple with the branch on Friday. She already wants to get her patriarchal blessing! She's so amazing, I love her :) 

On Tuesday I caught a bad stomach bug, but the Elders gave me a blessing and I pushed through in the evening. The Elders invited us to come with them to a bible class that is on Texas State campus, and what did we find???? A whole room full of YSA potentials! The Elders are teaching the pastor who teaches the class haha. So we are all going to start going each week and bring the YSA members so we can teach all these people! :))) 

One of my favorite things from this week :) so we had our first lesson with 2 of our new people that our member Kolin referred us to on Saturday night, and some of Kolin's neighbors were over as well who are younger kids. The one girl who has met missionaries several times asked us what our favorite lesson to teach is. So I responded with the Plan of Salvation and talked about how I love it so much because of the additional knowledge we have of where we were before this life and where we go after death. We said that it would be the next lesson we would teach, then Ashley (one of the girls we're teaching) perked up and said "Oh wow! I'm so excited for that lesson!" :)) but seriously though, so grateful for the Plan of Salvation! How wonderful to know that God has a plan for all of His children!!! 

Enjoy these pics from the hike with our zone to Hamilton Pool Reserve.  

 

We helped Sister Pulliam (aka Grams) move out this week :( 

THE RESTORATION IS STILL HAPPENING!

Sister Schofield & Hermana Haddock last p-day

WOW Y'ALL! I can't keep up with these changes, I can't believe all the guidance that the leaders of our church have been receiving lately. I have to quote something I received from my dad's email cause I think it's just hilarious :)
"Facebook, cell phones, Sisters can wear pants and now they can call home!?  What’s next?
“You’ve never had it so good” – Grandfather Dale Dorius"

We had another baptism yesterday after church, and it was so good! Elena is just so awesome, she was introduced to the church by her roommate and has progressed so quickly ever since! We have a few other people we are working with in the YSA branch who are close to baptism! And we have a lot of recent converts we are working with, trying to get the newest ones ready for the temple so yay! The gospel is just so cool!!! 

 

One of my favorite experiences from this week was teaching a lesson with the deacon's in the family ward. For their mutual activity last Wednesday, they asked if they could come out on a visit with us. So we decided to stop by a returning member who lives in a nursing home, and the deacons prepared a lesson about missionary work & service. It was so powerful and such a neat experience to see the deacons sitting on the floor around this sweet lady in her small room, teaching her through the scriptures and sharing their experiences. She was smiling through the whole lesson and sharing some of her life experiences afterwards, and like wow can I just say how much I love the church and the way that members minister to each other?? It's just amazing :))) 

I love y'all so much! Hope y'all have a wonderful week!!! 

Elena! & she made her own dress!!

Made it to San Marcos!

Last trip with the Boerne sisters

Hello from San Marcos! Wow, still crazy that I am here. It's been fun to see some of the members that I met when I would come on exchanges. And it has been SO WEIRD to be back in a YSA area. But I love it! 

The YSA branch is on fire with missionary work. Like let me just tell you how insane President Gleason is. This is literally what happens. Whenever he sees a non member come to church, he invites them to meet with him in his office after sacrament meeting. He gives the person a priesthood blessing, and then invites them to be baptized on a certain date. He's crazy haha but it works! We had a baptism just this weekend! Tyler is friends with one of the members in our branch. She invited him to church one day, which was a big step since he grew up not believing in God. But when Tyler came out of President Gleasons office he told the missionaries he was getting baptized and that he was excited about it! It is so amazing how the Spirit works. 

Sorry it's not a super exciting email this week. Things have just been all over the place this week, especially my emotions haha :)))) like every time I think of the fact that I'm leaving Texas in a few weeks I start to tear up. So we're just going to try and not think or talk about it haha :) 

I LOVE Y'ALL SO MUCH! Missions are seriously the best, so glad I have this time to serve as one of God's full time missionaries :))) 

My new companion is Sister Jensen. She's from Idaho and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in theater. So yeah, she's awesome :) 

Sister Jensen! And I finally got some pants hahahaha 

I'M A GRANDMA! 

Love my Hermana Bos & her new daughter:)))

_________________________

The Carlson family <3 

FROM TRIALS TO BLESSINGS

The Boerne Sisters! Fun fact: Sister Saunders & I graduated high school together!

This week was definitely one of the hardest weeks of my mission. Sister Warr had a medical emergency that took her to the hospital for a few days, and she had to go home on Wednesday :( So I was in the hospital with her for a few nights with little sleep, but words can't express how grateful I am for the Boerne sisters, for President Polley, and the wonderful members in Kerrville. They helped so much to make sure Sister Warr & I were okay. It was a challenging week mentally & emotionally, but I am doing better. Please just pray for Sister Warr right now, I am sure it is so hard to leave a mission early. She is an absolutely wonderful sister! I learned so much from her this past transfer, and I know without a doubt that we were meant to be companions at this time with the experiences we've had so far in our lives. 

Other sad news, I am leaving Kerrville :( haven't cried about transfer news until now haha, but yep just pretty sad cause I was only here one transfer and I absolutely love the members here! I'll be going to San Marcos/San Marcos YSA and Sister Jensen will be my new comp! She just got out of training and she's an English sister. But I'm excited, I've been to San Marcos a few times on exchanges and I'm finally making it closer to Austin my last transfer. When Bishop gave me a priesthood blessing, he talked about how blessings come after trials, so I'm excited to work hard in a new area my last transfer and see what more miracles God has in store! 

The night before Sister Warr went home, it was just me and her in the hospital room. We were getting ready for bed, and she asked me to read the Book of Mormon out loud to her. I asked her what chapter she would like me to read, and she told me to pick my favorite one. I chose to read Alma 36, because I just LOVE Alma the Younger & his conversion story. It wasn't until I got to verse 27 that tears just started coming:

27 "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me." 

In that verse it was so natural to put myself in that verse, and especially Sister Warr as well. The Spirit was so overwhelming, as I received the confirmation that Heavenly Father was aware of me and what I was going through. That He was aware of Sister Warr as well and the things she has been dealing with. I know that Heavenly Father does support us in trials & troubles of every kind. I know that the Book of Mormon has the power to heal. I know it. 

I love y'all so much! Please keep Hermana Warr in your prayers! 

I think it is called Frysauce???

Skype lesson with Mitch & his missionary
daughter w/ Bishop & Sister Carlson