WATAC Sisters

Having fun with the Sisters on P-day.

THE WATAC SISTERS ARE SUPER!

Fun

Sister Rasmussen and I are just too cool.

One month?!

I love this work so much! We have had very little success but have been working very hard every day. We know there is someone here in Olympia ready to be baptized. I had to give a talk on Sunday about the power of prayer. I can’t believe I already had to give a talk. It’s like God is trying to help me improve or something.

The WATAC Sisters are ‘super!’

My trainer is the best. Sister Rasmussen and I are the best of friends. I love her so much. We were tracting the other day in the woods and both had to use the restroom so badly. Nobody was being nice to us like normal…so desperate times call for desperate measures. We had to find a nice wooded area and both peed. We are having some very interesting adventures. She also insists on teaching me how to wrestle because that is what you do as sister missionaries. What did I sign up for?!

Having fun as Sisters on P-day!

We did get our one investigator named Juan on date for baptism though! My testimony of this gospel has become so strong. Who knew that knocking doors for four hours a day would make you love Christ so much. The Book of Mormon is the truth. Whenever we have someone read from it you can just feel it testifying of itself. I am so humbled to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and will wear my badge honorably.

I love you all and God bless.

Sister Thurber

Sister Thurber and I were separated this week. So in honor of her being the best companion ever I decided to do a post with a picture of her. She rules and is an amazing missionary.

First Week in the Field

And Olympia wins for being the most beautiful city. The end.

Life is awesome! My trainer has been amazing and I am loving this whole serving the Lord stuff. It’s rained a lot – surprise! (sarcasm) I love the people here already so much. We got doubled in* so we are just trying to figure everything out. It has been crazy, but I am so happy.

I also ate an inedible plant. Don’t eat the yellow flowers. Eat the pink ones.

Slugs everywhere!

Sister Rasmussen and I are already best friends. God has blessed me with such amazing companions. And I can’t wait to see all that he has in store for me. I love you all. God bless.

Sister Carr

*doubled in means that both missionaries were transferred into a new area at the same time

They Have Arrived!

Letter from Sister Carr

Sister Carr left the MTC this morning around 3:30am this morning and is on her way to Washington right now. She  was able to talk to her family for Mother’s Day and is so excited. I continue to hear about it in letters and emails.

It sounds like it has been hard, exhausting, joyful, growing, and everything in between for her. Here are some excerpts from a letter I received from Sister Carr recently that I thought you might enjoy reading:

“The past couple of days have been the hardest days of my life. … I can’t believe how hard this really is. I’m having to learn my weaknesses and make them my strengths. I understand the doctrine and have a desire to help people’s needs but am having a hard time connecting the two. I am learning, though. I don’t think I’ve been so low and high at the same time. I don’t fully know how to put into words what is happening to me. I’m not a different person, but I am changing. I have cried so much lately. ‘What if I fail as a missionary?’ I keep being told my best is all the Lord asks of me, but that doesn’t seem good enough to me.

“I love all of the sisters in my district. Sister Odum is a southern-bell who is beautiful and bold. Her… companion, Sister Johnson, … is the same way… They are hilarious together. They are the STLs (Sister Training Leaders)…

“Then there’s Sister Thurber and I – we are the best of friends. We are known for loving each other so much. We have been having the most spiritual and heart breaking moments ever. Our happy days are together and so are our sad days. She is my rock here and I love her so much. We had good day after good day and I see how we were designed for some humbling. Wednesday, we both broke. We failed on one of our [practice] investigators and then the rest of the day went downhill quickly. We sucked at everything and cried a lot. Sister Owens, our teacher, brought us back to life. She showed me Ether 12:27 – He can make my weaknesses strengths.

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humblethemselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weakthings become strong unto them.”

The Book of Mormon, Ether 12:27.

“Back to Sister Thurber. … She loves music, she is an amazing pianist, she’s crazy funny, has a wonderful testimony, and is the best. … She is an inspiration. We love teaching together and are really good together. She is a huge blessing! She wants to be a pianist for the ballet – isn’t she so COOL?! … She’s had a hard life, but she is always so uplifting, she’s going to be a wonderful missionary.

“I can’t believe it’s only been a week and that I’m leaving the MTC this upcoming week. I am scared and super excited. …

“I have been through so much this week. I am exhausted.

• I washed my clothing three times in a row because we didn’t understand the laundry room and are ditz’s.
• I also was making fun of the food and then realized the lunch lady was sitting next to us.
• I did the choir and sate next to a tone-deaf girl.
• I fart a lot. I’m actually starting to be known for farting.
• We went to the temple today and that was amazing.
• I spend half my time counseling the other missionaries.
• We had In-Field Orientation and Elder Christensen from the Preach My Gospel (or is it the The District?) videos [was there]. … It was super awesome!! He even called me a hippy and joked with me a lot.

“I am so to be in Washington next week!”

First Full Week!

I survived my first full week! I have been growing so much and I am loving the gospel more and more every day. I have so much to tell and yet don’t know what to say. And I’m really bad at this emailing and blogging thing. My companion is still perfect. We did fall on our face this week and have become so humble and have grown so much. We had to realize our best is good enough – not everyone is going to want to have Christ in their life and that is not our fault. All we must do is love them and help them come unto Christ.

I can’t believe how time has flown. I am so happy serving the Lord. I am going to be out in the field this coming week. How crazy is that? I am nervous but excited. You are all in my prayers and wish I could say more, but I literally don’t even have time to sleep here. Just know I am growing up.

Sister Carr

Sunday Afternoon Temple Walk

A nice Sunday afternoon walk around the Provo Utah Temple. Check out more photos from the MTC here: Missionary Training Center Album.

First email!

“We got our first email from our new missionary. She is loving the MTC and is so grateful to be there. I could not be more proud than knowing that my daughter is doing what she and Lord know is right for her right now in her life. Hattie is strong and capable, and once she sets her mind to something there is no stopping her. The Lord helped her set her mind and now she will do His work with a fervency no one can comprehend. I love my girl and look forward to all the wonderful stories she will share.”

Hattie’s Mom