Back to Manteca

I feel like I am at home! Well as close as I can be without actually being home.  I have loved all of my areas but there is something about coming back to Manteca that has just made me feel like I am at home.

This week has been really good.  Hermana Sheffer is awesome.  She is such a hard worker and our teaching styles work together so well. We both have such a good feeling about the work here.  We already know that we only have one transfer together so we both just want to make the most of it.  

So the reason we already know we only have one transfer together is because if all the Sisters come in that are supposed to it means that all of the sisters in the mission will be training...and it is quite possible that some will double train out of the Spanish sisters.  Crazy, right?! As Sister Training Leaders President Palmer has asked that we focus the sisters we are over to prepare for that.  As Hermana Sheffer and I were talking about this we realized how important it is that we are all prepared because this next transfer of training is going to set the tone and many of the traditions that are here in the Modesto Mission.  We want to make sure that we leave a legacy of good traditions.  I hope that this transfer I can be the example I need to be to help that to happen. I am nervous but excited for what is coming.  I know though that this is the Lord's work and that He will be right there with us.

This week was also awesome because I had the opportunity to go back for Beatriz and Enrique's Baptism.  It was amazing.  It was the most well attended baptism I have been too. I think it just shows the love that the ward already has for them.  They are both so amazing.  Hermana Beatriz asked to say a couple of things.  She bore a beautiful testimony and shared how her greatest desire is that her whole family can one day be with her in the church.  She had a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren at the baptism.  I know that they felt the spirit and I pray that they will do all they can to gain a testimony of their own and come into the church.  I am so excited for all that is in store for this family.  They inspire me to be a better missionary and to work hard so that I can find more like them that are ready to receive the gospel. 

I also had my Leadership Training Meeting this week which was also great!  The spirit was so strong.  I just hope I can be the leader the Lord wants me to be.  I know I am going to grow so much from this.  

Well I hope you all have a great week! Love you all.

Love,

Hermana Carpenter

p.s. some pictures with Beatriz, Enrique, and their granddaughters as we said goodbye. A picture from their baptism, and then a picture of Sisters Tua'i'tanu, Boata, me, and Hermana Sheffer at service this week

Next up Sister training leader!!

Hey Everybody, it is time for transfers again!!!!

So I found out this weekend that I will be returning to Manteca and I will be a Sister Training Leader.  My companion will be Hermana Sheffer.  I am sad, excited, and nervous at the same time.  All this last week I had a feeling that I was going to be leaving and I was pretty sure it would be to Manteca. I pretty much was just waiting for the call to confirm it.  It is so cool to me how the Lord prepares us. 

I am sad because I am going to be leaving my wonderful investigators right before they get baptized. I will be able to go back for their baptisms and for the baptisms of their granddaughters here in a couple weeks.  We broke the news to them at church yesterday and Hna. Beatriz was so sad.  She just talked about how we had basically become a part of our family and how she was going to miss seeing us almost every day.  I cried. I just feel so blessed to have been a part of their conversion. Even though I am sad to go I know that the Lord is aware of what they need and what I need.  I know that he will take care of them and that the missionaries that will replace me will be what they and the rest of their family need at this time.  I feel like these last couple of weeks I have also gotten a glimpse of what it will feel like to be a parent and to see your kids progressing in the gospel and making those righteous decisions.  It makes me so happy.

I am excited because I love Manteca.  I went on exchanges there a couple of weeks ago and it felt just like I was going home.  It will be a little bit weird because I will know the area but at the same time it will be different. At least I will know all of the members.  

I am nervous because I am going to be a Sister Training Leader.  I feel like I am not qualified for that job.  I know it will be a great learning experience and I am really excited to learn from and work with Hermana Sheffer. She is an awesome missionary!

This week has been really great though. I have had so many experiences where I have been teaching or talking with someone and have been able to feel so strongly how much love the Lord has for them.  I know that each one of us are his children and that he loves us and wants us to be happy.  I know that this work is his work and that it is so important! I am so grateful to be a part of it.

Well I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love,

Hermana Carpenter

p.s. I LOVE puppies!! I almost took that one home with me.  Darn mission rule about not having pets!

Becoming one with the Savior

Hey everyone!!

Sorry about no big email last week.  We did an activity as a zone and went to see a castle in the area.  It used to be a school for troubled boys that helped them to find a trade and hopefully be successful in society.  We had a private tour so we got to take our time and hear all of the cool stories.  It was great to see a part of the history here in this area!

This week was awesome though!  We had Zone Council this week as well as our first interviews with President and Sister Palmer.  I love those two.  President Palmer is hilarious and is the type of guy that wears a tie with little elephants. Sister Palmer is the sweetest and so down to earth. She reminds me a lot of my mom. 

Anyway, so in zone council we talked about becoming one with the Savior. We talked a lot about the scripture in Omni 1:26 which says "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and prayer, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

I know that I have talked about this scripture before, but I absolutely love it because it has such personal application to each one of us.  This time as I was studying it though the part about prayer and fasting stuck out to me.  This topic has been on my mind a lot lately, especially the power that prayer and fasting can have as we work to align our purpose with the Lord's.  I have such a strong testimony of the power of prayer and fasting.  I know that when we use these two together we have a greater ability to feel the spirit and do the Lord's will in our lives. 

Beatriz and Enrique are progressing greatly.  We are planning their baptism for next week. It is possible that we will also get the opportunity to have the baptism of two of their granddaughters that day as well.  It is so awesome to see all of them growing spiritually.

Things are going well. Transfers will be this next week so I will keep you all updated on what happens.  Please make sure you are sending any mail to the new mission home address:

4300 Dale Rd.

Modesto CA, 95356

Thanks!  Love you all!

Hermana Carpenter