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!”
Sister Hattie Lyn Carr 