Subj line: Imagine Brooklyn accent this time instead of Southern. This is our neighbor Barbara who said we should come over anytime for coffee, but not to discuss religion because she was raised one way and, well, she’s not coming. :) She’s awesome. I had a fun time imagining her imagining me dragging her by the arm into the font. :)
SIS B
So can I tell you how much I love my companion?! They’re all good, of course, but it’s fun to have one that you’re just very much the same. We discovered that we’re both EXACTLY 5 feet tall and left-handed. What are the chances? She’s very hard-working and likes get things done. We have tons of fun together.
DIANA
K so there’s this nursing home we sing at every so often and we’ve got lots of friends there. We were in visiting Harold before Sis S left and she got really light-headed and almost fainted and had to sit down. So they called in a couple nurses to check on her. One I’d never seen before. She was about our age and seemed really cute and genuine. She was way cool. I decided to seize the day (once we knew Sis Sinclair was ok) and tell her a little about www.mormon.org and to check it out and that it was amazing. A couple days later we get a referral that a 20-yr old girl had ordered a Book of Mormon and Bible. We go to drop it off and guess who opens the door!! Yahoo! It was Diana. She is AMAZING. I can’t explain how prepared she is. I had just been telling Sis B earlier that you can really tell when someone is understanding the message we bring because beyond just feeling the Spirit they’re like, “whoa! That’s amazing! There’s a prophet on the earth! There’s an ancient record of Christ’s appearance to the people in the Americas? This is awesome! I have to tell someone!” So yeah, that was her. She was so excited to hear about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and it all made so much sense to her. Everything she said about her own beliefs was so in line with the gospel. It was insane. She was so excited to hear about the gift of the Holy Ghost that is available through the priesthood after baptism. She’s AMAZING. (Maybe I already said that…) We’re super excited to teach her again and pray that nothing will get in the way. The adversary sees when people are really gaining understanding and are going to be a powerful tool in the Lord’s hands and he tries the hardest on them.
THE PROPHET
We found out on Sunday night that President Hinckley had passed away. It was interesting because as soon as I heard it, I just felt peace. It’s so clear to me that he’s happy with his wife and that he’s hard at work. I’m so thankful for the knowledge of the Plan the Lord has for each of us and our role in that plan. I’m so thankful that plan is centered around Jesus Christ. I’m thankful to know that this is His Church on the earth today with a fullness of that truth and that priesthood power. I’m thankful to know that despite the death of the prophet, nothing changes. This Church is established on the Lord Jesus Christ and will move forward until He comes again. My companion said it well when we were talking about how Pres Hinckley definitely wouldn’t want us mourning. She said she imagines that if he’s watching us and we’re all hung up and mourning he would say, “What are you doing? Get to work!” I know that’s true. The best thing we can do is buckle down and serve others and live the gospel the best way we know how. Death is not the end and it’s not even a tragedy when we understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m grateful to know and to feel that.
Thanks everybody for your support of the missionary efforts in Canton, GA and wherever you may be (San Diego, Nauvoo, Provo, Russia, Indiana, Virginia, New York, Alaska, Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, etc.) I love you all!
--Sis C
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
"Hey! They brought the Lil' Un!"
Quote from Virgil Pressley, an investigator in the Hickory Flat Ward. He’d hassled me cause I kept not coming over there cause we kept being on splits when they’d teach him so he was excited I came that time. In case you need a translation, that means “little one” ...in reference to me. Virgil is amazing and even though he doesn’t think he has a testimony yet and isn’t quite ready to give up smoking. But he defended the Book of Mormon to one of his relatives saying that it’s true and that it supports the Bible and teaches the same thing cause it’s coming from God through ancient prophets just like the Bible. He’s awesome and so selfless even though they have so little right now.
Hey everyone! I got lots of good emails this week so thanks! Either my sis sent out some kind of reminder or everyone had the same idea at the same time. :) Either way, I appreciate it. I love the updates.
Just so you know, I also love pics (they tend to always be of babies these days…) but I can’t click into a website to look at them or anything so you can just send them as attachments or print and send in real mail. Yeah, that’s the deal.
TRANSFERS
Wahoo! I’m so excited! I’m with Sis. Becker. She’s way rad. She’s just really on top of it, from what I can tell. Funny cause her comp before this was Sis. Dalley who’s the other Nauvoo sister out here with me so she’s getting inundated with Nauvoo-ness. One of the best things about her is she’s about my exact same size so despite having to put up with endless jokes and comments about it, we can totally share closets! Plus, she has a really good sense of style (as much as that can be manifest as missionaries). And we already got way lost together just getting back from transfer meeting and we still get along just great! :) She really is way cool. I’m way excited!
ADIOS
Sad to say bye to Sis. Sinclair but not TOO sad cause I know I’ll see her again since she lives near LA. Plus everything on a mission just isn’t as sad cause it’s just always changing and you’re always just plowing on to the next thing.Last transfer was CRAZY so while I’m going to miss some of the investigators in Hickory Flat, I’m really glad in a way to have just one area again because I feel like we’ll be able to be a little more focused.
THE NEWBIE
Sis. Leakehe is training Sis. Parker, also from Boise. Sis. L just about peed her pants last night when she found out she’s training cause she’s just super humble and unsuspecting. It was hysterical. They’ll be an awesome team. It’ll be fun to have someone fresh from the MTC in the apt. And the best part is SHE RUNS!!!!!! Yep, she was like some track star or something. So hopefully she’ll kick my butt. And since she’s from ID she shouldn’t be scared of the cold.
SNOW!
So it snowed here. Maybe a fourth to a half an inch and don’t worry—they canceled school! It was hilarious. Everyone was outside making mini snowmen. It was cool. It was really pretty and way good to get the moisture and the Lord kept the roads not icey for us so we could still go about the work. At one member’s house we pulled up to, their 11-yr old boy was outside that day with plywood and 2x4s making a sled. The poor kid. Not only did the sled look extremely unsafe, but the snow was surely melted by the time it was ready. Totally reminded me of something Scott would’ve done though.
Not much else to report, mostly cause we don’t have time. But the work rolls forth! There’s still lots going on. In one of the testimonies of a departing missionary today we were reminded that everything we have comes from the Lord. That all the resources we have, all the investigators we have, all the times we open our mouths and they are filled with what to say—that all comes from the Lord and His infinite wisdom and infinite mercy that makes us, as inept as we are, tools in His hands to do His work.
I love being here. Thanks for all the support! :) Life is good. I appreciate the prayers for our peeps out here too.
Love you all! :)
-Sis. Cartwright
Hey everyone! I got lots of good emails this week so thanks! Either my sis sent out some kind of reminder or everyone had the same idea at the same time. :) Either way, I appreciate it. I love the updates.
Just so you know, I also love pics (they tend to always be of babies these days…) but I can’t click into a website to look at them or anything so you can just send them as attachments or print and send in real mail. Yeah, that’s the deal.
TRANSFERS
Wahoo! I’m so excited! I’m with Sis. Becker. She’s way rad. She’s just really on top of it, from what I can tell. Funny cause her comp before this was Sis. Dalley who’s the other Nauvoo sister out here with me so she’s getting inundated with Nauvoo-ness. One of the best things about her is she’s about my exact same size so despite having to put up with endless jokes and comments about it, we can totally share closets! Plus, she has a really good sense of style (as much as that can be manifest as missionaries). And we already got way lost together just getting back from transfer meeting and we still get along just great! :) She really is way cool. I’m way excited!
ADIOS
Sad to say bye to Sis. Sinclair but not TOO sad cause I know I’ll see her again since she lives near LA. Plus everything on a mission just isn’t as sad cause it’s just always changing and you’re always just plowing on to the next thing.Last transfer was CRAZY so while I’m going to miss some of the investigators in Hickory Flat, I’m really glad in a way to have just one area again because I feel like we’ll be able to be a little more focused.
THE NEWBIE
Sis. Leakehe is training Sis. Parker, also from Boise. Sis. L just about peed her pants last night when she found out she’s training cause she’s just super humble and unsuspecting. It was hysterical. They’ll be an awesome team. It’ll be fun to have someone fresh from the MTC in the apt. And the best part is SHE RUNS!!!!!! Yep, she was like some track star or something. So hopefully she’ll kick my butt. And since she’s from ID she shouldn’t be scared of the cold.
SNOW!
So it snowed here. Maybe a fourth to a half an inch and don’t worry—they canceled school! It was hilarious. Everyone was outside making mini snowmen. It was cool. It was really pretty and way good to get the moisture and the Lord kept the roads not icey for us so we could still go about the work. At one member’s house we pulled up to, their 11-yr old boy was outside that day with plywood and 2x4s making a sled. The poor kid. Not only did the sled look extremely unsafe, but the snow was surely melted by the time it was ready. Totally reminded me of something Scott would’ve done though.
Not much else to report, mostly cause we don’t have time. But the work rolls forth! There’s still lots going on. In one of the testimonies of a departing missionary today we were reminded that everything we have comes from the Lord. That all the resources we have, all the investigators we have, all the times we open our mouths and they are filled with what to say—that all comes from the Lord and His infinite wisdom and infinite mercy that makes us, as inept as we are, tools in His hands to do His work.
I love being here. Thanks for all the support! :) Life is good. I appreciate the prayers for our peeps out here too.
Love you all! :)
-Sis. Cartwright
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
"Ya'll better get on this boat."
Subject line is from an awesome kid Nathaniel. He was imitading Noah at this time when we were discussing how important it is to listen to prophets.
CHRISTMAS CHEER
So I got a friendly sheet of shout-outs from the post-Christmas party. Thank you, thank you. Made my day. :) It was so good to hear from so many of you! I was, however, extremely horrified to find out that there were no beanie weenies present and I assure any who were in attendance that that will NOT be the case next year.
THE JAIL
So this was one of the highlights, for sure. There’s a member of the church who’s currently in the county jail. Not sure what for but it doesn’t really matter. The sisters have been going and teaching him and since the areas combined we haven’t been able to get out there. We finally went the other day. It was him and another guy named Randall who’s not a member but who’s been taking the discussions. Through a glass window over the telephone. It’s crazy. It was so cool cause there were a lot of people in and visiting the jail and everyone’s countenances were so sad. But as soon as these two gentlemen rounded the corner to get on the phone with us you could just see a light in their eyes. The Spirit was so strong the whole time we were talking. Brad (the one who’s a member) said that at first when he got there he was in solitary confinement (for health-related reasons) and spent 23 hrs a day by himself and was able to just fully immerse himself in the scriptures. Since he’s been in jail he’s lost his house, his wife, and his kids and is going back to nothing when he gets back. But at the same time he feels so richly blessed because of the understanding he has gained of the scriptures and the truthfulness of the gospel. The other guy Randall is excited to get baptized when he gets out of jail. They’re so awesome. Brad does a “prayer call” every night and gathers all the inmates who want to come and they close their night with a prayer. So cool. He taught me lots just in the short time we had to talk.
MR. SLEDGE
I think I wrote about this guy before. Norlan. He’s the one who stopped us in the middle of the hallway to talk tell us how much he loved the Book of Mormon and was hoping to get back in contact with missionaries. Anyway, at the jail we met this lady Teresa. She looked really familiar and we finally figured out we met her at the library LAST p-day. We talked for just a second and she was like, “yeah, my boyfriend has that book [Book of Mormon].” Turns out her boyfriend is Norlan! What are the odds?! So we went over there again yesterday and taught them. They’re both so cool and inquisitive and everything they ask or have a concern about can be answered so simply through the gospel. It’s so dang cool.
COMPS
So Sis Sinclair is leaving next week. Crazy! I’ve learned so much from her. She’s such a 100% missionary. She just works everyday until there’s nothing left in her. She’s a real powerhouse. I’ve been blessed with really awesome trainers (Sis Faulkner as my real trainer and Sis S as my “outfield” trainer. It makes such a difference cause they set a high precedence and you don’t even know there’s any other way to do it. :) She lives outside LA though so I’ll for sure see her again. Sis L and I would love to stay comps but they’ll probably put the areas back into 2 again so we’ll see.
IN GENERAL
I’m loving everything here. We are seriously so, so blessed. Little miracles daily. Like just this morning a called a girl who ordered a Bible so we could set up an appt. She said she’s watched the commercials on TV and the questions they’d show (about our purpose in life and the Lord’s plan for us) were questions she’s always had. She’s 20 with a husband and 2 little kids. Another boy who’s 17 ordered a Book of Mormon and we’re bringing it by this week. He says his dad passed away a couple years ago and since then he’s had questions that no one else has been able to answer. I’m so excited to meet with them. I know that the gospel has all of those answers. It’s plain and perfect truth and I’m so thankful to have it in my life.
Love you all!
-sis c
CHRISTMAS CHEER
So I got a friendly sheet of shout-outs from the post-Christmas party. Thank you, thank you. Made my day. :) It was so good to hear from so many of you! I was, however, extremely horrified to find out that there were no beanie weenies present and I assure any who were in attendance that that will NOT be the case next year.
THE JAIL
So this was one of the highlights, for sure. There’s a member of the church who’s currently in the county jail. Not sure what for but it doesn’t really matter. The sisters have been going and teaching him and since the areas combined we haven’t been able to get out there. We finally went the other day. It was him and another guy named Randall who’s not a member but who’s been taking the discussions. Through a glass window over the telephone. It’s crazy. It was so cool cause there were a lot of people in and visiting the jail and everyone’s countenances were so sad. But as soon as these two gentlemen rounded the corner to get on the phone with us you could just see a light in their eyes. The Spirit was so strong the whole time we were talking. Brad (the one who’s a member) said that at first when he got there he was in solitary confinement (for health-related reasons) and spent 23 hrs a day by himself and was able to just fully immerse himself in the scriptures. Since he’s been in jail he’s lost his house, his wife, and his kids and is going back to nothing when he gets back. But at the same time he feels so richly blessed because of the understanding he has gained of the scriptures and the truthfulness of the gospel. The other guy Randall is excited to get baptized when he gets out of jail. They’re so awesome. Brad does a “prayer call” every night and gathers all the inmates who want to come and they close their night with a prayer. So cool. He taught me lots just in the short time we had to talk.
MR. SLEDGE
I think I wrote about this guy before. Norlan. He’s the one who stopped us in the middle of the hallway to talk tell us how much he loved the Book of Mormon and was hoping to get back in contact with missionaries. Anyway, at the jail we met this lady Teresa. She looked really familiar and we finally figured out we met her at the library LAST p-day. We talked for just a second and she was like, “yeah, my boyfriend has that book [Book of Mormon].” Turns out her boyfriend is Norlan! What are the odds?! So we went over there again yesterday and taught them. They’re both so cool and inquisitive and everything they ask or have a concern about can be answered so simply through the gospel. It’s so dang cool.
COMPS
So Sis Sinclair is leaving next week. Crazy! I’ve learned so much from her. She’s such a 100% missionary. She just works everyday until there’s nothing left in her. She’s a real powerhouse. I’ve been blessed with really awesome trainers (Sis Faulkner as my real trainer and Sis S as my “outfield” trainer. It makes such a difference cause they set a high precedence and you don’t even know there’s any other way to do it. :) She lives outside LA though so I’ll for sure see her again. Sis L and I would love to stay comps but they’ll probably put the areas back into 2 again so we’ll see.
IN GENERAL
I’m loving everything here. We are seriously so, so blessed. Little miracles daily. Like just this morning a called a girl who ordered a Bible so we could set up an appt. She said she’s watched the commercials on TV and the questions they’d show (about our purpose in life and the Lord’s plan for us) were questions she’s always had. She’s 20 with a husband and 2 little kids. Another boy who’s 17 ordered a Book of Mormon and we’re bringing it by this week. He says his dad passed away a couple years ago and since then he’s had questions that no one else has been able to answer. I’m so excited to meet with them. I know that the gospel has all of those answers. It’s plain and perfect truth and I’m so thankful to have it in my life.
Love you all!
-sis c
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
"He's sayin' 'Bless 'em Lord!'"
Quote from a kid who was telling me what his horse was saying when his horse was neighing at me. yes, we saw a kid on a horse when we were up in the far reaches of our area and pulled over to give him to talk to him and his horse about the gospel. thought it'd be a once-in-a-mission chance. :)
Man oh man….Holy cow! Who’s doing all the amazing prayers…cause they’re working! We have been so blessed. I SERIOUSLY don’t know how I’m so blessed to be in the middle of all of these miracles going on. It’s like Bishop Gwilliam told me before I left. His attitude was that the Lord had amazing things plans and that if we can be obedient and are willing to be instruments in His hands, then He’ll do the rest. He said “I just showed up!” That’s how I feel. There are so many miracles I’m in the midst of here in Canton, GA and I just showed up. Wow. So let’s see…where to start….
A CURSE AND A BLESSING
So it’s funny cause the Lord works us hard and we have some really awkward and sometimes painful experiences. This one definitely falls in the awkward category. We were on the way to an appt in this apt complex and as we were walking there we saw a couple teenage kids and stopped to talk to them. Sis. Sinclair was explaining a little about the Restoration of the gospel and the boy that was there suddenly turns and sprints away and around the corner—cackling as he goes. No joke. Like the fastest I’ve seen someone run outside of an organized race. No explanation. This left the girl standing there very awkwardly. All she could do was apologize and all we could do was laugh. It was amazing. That’s one way to let the missionaries know you’re not interested. Head in a dead sprint in the other direction. Wow. It was hilarious. Minus the fact that it’s sad when people run away from blessings. Figuratively or literally. (See the pun humor that has seeped in. That’s also a bit sad…)Anyway, but after that experience, the Lord blessed us big time. We were talking to the kid we had an appt with but mostly just talking outside his apt. This is a really busy complex so there were people walking by constantly and the hallways were very echoey. But one neighbor of his walked by three times. Really this should’ve been a sign to definitely talk to him but the Lord’s missionaries are sometimes really dense. So the guy ends up stopping us and asking what church we’re from. We tell him and he still looks confused so we clarify and say, “same thing as Mormons.” And he said “oh yeah!!! The Book of Mormon! I thought I heard you talking about that guy. What’s his name?” We said, “Joseph Smith?” He was like “yeah! The missionaries used to visit me but then I moved and couldn’t find them again. But I was reading that Book of Mormon. It was such an amazing book and I couldn’t even talk to them about it cause I moved. I needed some kind of release!” Well, certainly we’re happy for him to talk to US about it. He goes on to testify to the kid we’re teaching about how amazing The Book of Mormon is and how the kid needs to read it. What the?!! Does that ever happen?! :) So we have an appt to talk to him later this week. Sledge is his last name but what he introduced himself as. Anyway, amazing. And the kid we were teaching is pretty amazing too. Love it!
SPLITS
I got to go on splits with Sis. Browning yesterday. That’s the mission president’s wife. Such a blessing that she came because honestly we have more work than we can handle right now. Plus she just has such a strong spirit that radiates so it’s amazing to teach with her. And she’s so nonchalant and humble. She just introduces herself as another one of the sisters. Love it! She got to meet good ol’ Warren and some other favs.
MIRACLE CHANGE OF HEART
So there’s a family called the Paynes. The boys haven’t been baptized but the missionaries have been working with them for over a year now. The boys are 10 and 12. The dad had some major concerns about the Church because he got mixed in with some anti material. (That happens a lot when people get into stuff that’s put out for the purpose of tearing down God’s kingdom and they stop relying on the Spirit. :( So it’s been a real struggle). Anyway, Sis. B and I went there last night and they were supposed to be praying about baptism for the 12th but they hadn’t been. Usually the whole fam’s not home at the same time. But we talked to them about it and Sis. B was testifying to them about eternal families. So we whipped out a calendar and picked a date. The dad even told the boys that it was something that God has asked them to do (he’s been the one holding them all back in the past.) It was amazing because he had gotten so mixed up but still knew the truth deep in his heart and was trying to build his faith back up. All we could do was pray for a miracle so that’s what we’d been praying for and that definitely was. So they should be getting baptized on the 19th. Michael and Nicholas. They’re champs. I’m so excited for their fam. They’re so cool. Keep them in your prayers! :)
LOAVES AND FISHES
So this is the analogy that Sis Leakehe used. Missionary work (esp right now) is always a miracles because there’s so much to do and there’s a multitude of people (200,000 in Cherokee County) and just us 3 missionaries with our very limited skills and knowledge. So now think of us as 2 loaves and 5 fish. But the Lord is all-powerful and makes it work. He uses our very limited capacities and somehow stretches it to be able to (hopefully!) handle all the work. He really has been placing people in our path and having very blatant signs tell us who we need to see. It’s been amazing and I’m SO thankful for Him and His trust in us. So, so cool! I know that the Lord can work the same miracles in each of you and even when you get to the point where you feel you’re stretching yourself as far as you can go, look back and see what the Lord has done with you. You may need to pray and ask Him to help you see. We have a tendency to cloud our own goodness and gifts with negative and discouraged thoughts. That’s Satan. The Lord made you. You are divine. You have potential beyond what any of us comprehend but ask the Lord to help you understand it a little more and I promise it’ll help you get through the daily struggles we all have.There’s a million funny and cool and intense stories and I wish I had time to write them all but I do my best to give you a taste each week. Hope it does the job.
Thanks SO much for the obvious prayers that are happening, for the letters, the support, and the love. I love you all—even those I haven’t heard from. I know it’s busy in “real life” so just keep being the amazing people and examples that you all are.
Thank you and love you!
--sis cartwright
Man oh man….Holy cow! Who’s doing all the amazing prayers…cause they’re working! We have been so blessed. I SERIOUSLY don’t know how I’m so blessed to be in the middle of all of these miracles going on. It’s like Bishop Gwilliam told me before I left. His attitude was that the Lord had amazing things plans and that if we can be obedient and are willing to be instruments in His hands, then He’ll do the rest. He said “I just showed up!” That’s how I feel. There are so many miracles I’m in the midst of here in Canton, GA and I just showed up. Wow. So let’s see…where to start….
A CURSE AND A BLESSING
So it’s funny cause the Lord works us hard and we have some really awkward and sometimes painful experiences. This one definitely falls in the awkward category. We were on the way to an appt in this apt complex and as we were walking there we saw a couple teenage kids and stopped to talk to them. Sis. Sinclair was explaining a little about the Restoration of the gospel and the boy that was there suddenly turns and sprints away and around the corner—cackling as he goes. No joke. Like the fastest I’ve seen someone run outside of an organized race. No explanation. This left the girl standing there very awkwardly. All she could do was apologize and all we could do was laugh. It was amazing. That’s one way to let the missionaries know you’re not interested. Head in a dead sprint in the other direction. Wow. It was hilarious. Minus the fact that it’s sad when people run away from blessings. Figuratively or literally. (See the pun humor that has seeped in. That’s also a bit sad…)Anyway, but after that experience, the Lord blessed us big time. We were talking to the kid we had an appt with but mostly just talking outside his apt. This is a really busy complex so there were people walking by constantly and the hallways were very echoey. But one neighbor of his walked by three times. Really this should’ve been a sign to definitely talk to him but the Lord’s missionaries are sometimes really dense. So the guy ends up stopping us and asking what church we’re from. We tell him and he still looks confused so we clarify and say, “same thing as Mormons.” And he said “oh yeah!!! The Book of Mormon! I thought I heard you talking about that guy. What’s his name?” We said, “Joseph Smith?” He was like “yeah! The missionaries used to visit me but then I moved and couldn’t find them again. But I was reading that Book of Mormon. It was such an amazing book and I couldn’t even talk to them about it cause I moved. I needed some kind of release!” Well, certainly we’re happy for him to talk to US about it. He goes on to testify to the kid we’re teaching about how amazing The Book of Mormon is and how the kid needs to read it. What the?!! Does that ever happen?! :) So we have an appt to talk to him later this week. Sledge is his last name but what he introduced himself as. Anyway, amazing. And the kid we were teaching is pretty amazing too. Love it!
SPLITS
I got to go on splits with Sis. Browning yesterday. That’s the mission president’s wife. Such a blessing that she came because honestly we have more work than we can handle right now. Plus she just has such a strong spirit that radiates so it’s amazing to teach with her. And she’s so nonchalant and humble. She just introduces herself as another one of the sisters. Love it! She got to meet good ol’ Warren and some other favs.
MIRACLE CHANGE OF HEART
So there’s a family called the Paynes. The boys haven’t been baptized but the missionaries have been working with them for over a year now. The boys are 10 and 12. The dad had some major concerns about the Church because he got mixed in with some anti material. (That happens a lot when people get into stuff that’s put out for the purpose of tearing down God’s kingdom and they stop relying on the Spirit. :( So it’s been a real struggle). Anyway, Sis. B and I went there last night and they were supposed to be praying about baptism for the 12th but they hadn’t been. Usually the whole fam’s not home at the same time. But we talked to them about it and Sis. B was testifying to them about eternal families. So we whipped out a calendar and picked a date. The dad even told the boys that it was something that God has asked them to do (he’s been the one holding them all back in the past.) It was amazing because he had gotten so mixed up but still knew the truth deep in his heart and was trying to build his faith back up. All we could do was pray for a miracle so that’s what we’d been praying for and that definitely was. So they should be getting baptized on the 19th. Michael and Nicholas. They’re champs. I’m so excited for their fam. They’re so cool. Keep them in your prayers! :)
LOAVES AND FISHES
So this is the analogy that Sis Leakehe used. Missionary work (esp right now) is always a miracles because there’s so much to do and there’s a multitude of people (200,000 in Cherokee County) and just us 3 missionaries with our very limited skills and knowledge. So now think of us as 2 loaves and 5 fish. But the Lord is all-powerful and makes it work. He uses our very limited capacities and somehow stretches it to be able to (hopefully!) handle all the work. He really has been placing people in our path and having very blatant signs tell us who we need to see. It’s been amazing and I’m SO thankful for Him and His trust in us. So, so cool! I know that the Lord can work the same miracles in each of you and even when you get to the point where you feel you’re stretching yourself as far as you can go, look back and see what the Lord has done with you. You may need to pray and ask Him to help you see. We have a tendency to cloud our own goodness and gifts with negative and discouraged thoughts. That’s Satan. The Lord made you. You are divine. You have potential beyond what any of us comprehend but ask the Lord to help you understand it a little more and I promise it’ll help you get through the daily struggles we all have.There’s a million funny and cool and intense stories and I wish I had time to write them all but I do my best to give you a taste each week. Hope it does the job.
Thanks SO much for the obvious prayers that are happening, for the letters, the support, and the love. I love you all—even those I haven’t heard from. I know it’s busy in “real life” so just keep being the amazing people and examples that you all are.
Thank you and love you!
--sis cartwright
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
"Daddy, this is more better than Wheel of Fortune!"
Subject line complements of 8-yr old Leah Miller. We’re teaching her family and she was trying to convince her dad to stay for the lesson rather than go watch TV in his room. Haha! It didn’t work but it was a priceless quote. Hopefully he’ll stick around next time. :)
Ok, ok SOOOO much to say and so little time. Let’s see if I can at least get the highlights.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
So good to talk to the fam and to get updates on everyone. Sounds like everyone is pretty good. Having babies and all that. (Not my fam, but everyone else they were updating me on). The best part of Christmas was just the love and support we got from the people here. Like I said before, there are so many needs in the area. I knew so many families that had little to nothing for Christmas and it was so fun to see the ward members all chip in to help make their Christmas more special. We got to do lots of secret santa type stuff so it was way cool. Really special when you know the people personally. Then there was stuff we wouldn’t even hear about. Like we called Greg to wish him Merry Christmas and he thanked us profusely for something. I told him I didn’t know what he was talking about and he said someone dropped off 2 brand spankin’ new bikes for Katie and Cody in the middle of the night. I just told him I figure it was Santa. :) That kinda stuff warms my heart! Probably the best gift I got was from Greg’s fam. Just a simple card but it just had a very humble and sincere “Sis. Cartwright--Thanks for all you’ve taught us.” I love it! I’m so grateful to my Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ for giving us the teachings in the first place. For revealing to prophets today about the Plan of Salvation and what the Lord expects of us and how much He wants to bless us. It’s my privilege to share it with others. I only wish I could do it 24-hrs a day instead of sleeping because there’s still so many people to tell. But instead we just have to rely on the Lord to help us use the time we do have the very best. And He HAS helped us. We’ve even gotten a couple phone calls this week from people who have been reading the Book of Mormon and want to meet with us. What?! That never happens. But this area is ready and the Lord is working miracles here and I’m so thankful to be a part of it.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Happy New Year. I was snuggled safely in bed at midnight, for the first time in maybe 20 years. :) It sounded like the people upstairs were having enough of a party to make up for our lack of one (don’t worry…we have an appt to go up there and teach them the gospel :) …) so yeah, it was kind of a trip but I was pretty relieved to not be struggling to think of something fun yet safe to do on New Year’s. It’s funny cause in missionary mind there really are no holidays so we kept making appts with people and they’d be like, “uh…that’s actually Christmas, so probably not…” and we’d be like, “Oh! Oh yeah, sorry.” Good times.
FRANCES’S BAPTISM
Wahoo! The baptism was awesome. It was so cool to see her in her pretty white dress holding her little baby. After the baptism Deric stood up unannounced and wanted to tank everyone for coming and bear his testimony. It was the sweetest thing! He just said how he never thought this day would come and how much he wants to get his own testimony back to where he wants it to be so that his family can be together forever. SOOO precious to see this formally “hard-core” kid so touched by the Spirit and humble and wanting to be better and be a good dad and husband. It was perfect!
WEATHER
So despite freakish warm spells the cold finally hit. It’s like in the teens or something today with vicious wind and it actually snowed last night for a second! (Very rare). Nothing like the ice storms they’ve been getting in Nauvoo and stuff but still crazy. Time to show how hard-core I am by handling it. And maybe even time to wear my jacket.
SICK :P
So a big blessing that I have two companions. I got sick right after Christmas and was totally out of commission for like 2 days. But since there’s 3 of is, they could just drop me off at a member’s house and let me sleep for hours while they went to the appts. Felt weird to not be working but at the same time I was literally sleeping most of the time anyway so it’s all a blur. I feel much better now although it’s still lingering. I’m like a bottomless pit of snot but other than that, I’m good to go. :) I did get to have a priesthood blessing one of the first days I was sick which was so good. I know a lot of people who’ve had the same thing and they were out of commission for much longer so I know that the Lord was looking out for me. There really is power in the priesthood. God really has put the power to bless and to heal back on the earth again. A cool thing my comp likes to point out is that the priesthood is a power based on service. No one can give themselves a blessing—only other people. So I love that. I know it blesses our lives more than we can see. It’s the power by which the earth was created!
WARREN
This is the “grouchy, anti-social” one. He’s very miffed on the whole concept of faith. He doesn’t think it really exists or at least that he can have it. But he’s moving along. We gave him a video called “Finding Faith in Christ” and he watched it. Twice. And took notes. The Lord is working miracles in him and it’s only a matter of time. Sucker. :)
SCOTT
Of course I have another investigator named after a family member. This one is so cool. He’s spent years in the pest control business working with “bug boys” all across America (an industry that for those of you who aren’t aware, is predominantly LDS). So he’s been surrounded by LDS friends and would live in UT for the summers and go to church all summer and stuff. He even had home teachers and a calling. But for some reason he wasn’t quite ready to accept the gospel. Well, someone finally ratted him out that he’s ready for the gospel (actually his mom who’s not LDS) so we got his phone number via text from church headquarters. So we called him up and he just went on and on about how he’s read the whole Book of Mormon and knows the Church is true and that we can “dunk him anytime we want.” What?! Again, this doesn’t happen. So cool! But he’s ready for changes in his life and for blessings to come to his family so he’s finally willing to make the sacrifices that those blessings are contingent upon. So cool!
Anyway, all in all the work is rolling forward faster than we can keep up almost. We’re so thankful everyday for the mini miracles and triumphs that we see. It’s just up to us to try to be as obedient and as in-tune with the prompting of the Spirit as we can be so that we can help people to take the steps and learn the things they need to to get the blessings. Well gotta run! love you all!
thanks for the emails and letters and prayers and all that good stuff. keep choosing the right in all you do. it makes Heavenly Father happy. and you too! :)
--sis cartwright
Ok, ok SOOOO much to say and so little time. Let’s see if I can at least get the highlights.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
So good to talk to the fam and to get updates on everyone. Sounds like everyone is pretty good. Having babies and all that. (Not my fam, but everyone else they were updating me on). The best part of Christmas was just the love and support we got from the people here. Like I said before, there are so many needs in the area. I knew so many families that had little to nothing for Christmas and it was so fun to see the ward members all chip in to help make their Christmas more special. We got to do lots of secret santa type stuff so it was way cool. Really special when you know the people personally. Then there was stuff we wouldn’t even hear about. Like we called Greg to wish him Merry Christmas and he thanked us profusely for something. I told him I didn’t know what he was talking about and he said someone dropped off 2 brand spankin’ new bikes for Katie and Cody in the middle of the night. I just told him I figure it was Santa. :) That kinda stuff warms my heart! Probably the best gift I got was from Greg’s fam. Just a simple card but it just had a very humble and sincere “Sis. Cartwright--Thanks for all you’ve taught us.” I love it! I’m so grateful to my Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ for giving us the teachings in the first place. For revealing to prophets today about the Plan of Salvation and what the Lord expects of us and how much He wants to bless us. It’s my privilege to share it with others. I only wish I could do it 24-hrs a day instead of sleeping because there’s still so many people to tell. But instead we just have to rely on the Lord to help us use the time we do have the very best. And He HAS helped us. We’ve even gotten a couple phone calls this week from people who have been reading the Book of Mormon and want to meet with us. What?! That never happens. But this area is ready and the Lord is working miracles here and I’m so thankful to be a part of it.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Happy New Year. I was snuggled safely in bed at midnight, for the first time in maybe 20 years. :) It sounded like the people upstairs were having enough of a party to make up for our lack of one (don’t worry…we have an appt to go up there and teach them the gospel :) …) so yeah, it was kind of a trip but I was pretty relieved to not be struggling to think of something fun yet safe to do on New Year’s. It’s funny cause in missionary mind there really are no holidays so we kept making appts with people and they’d be like, “uh…that’s actually Christmas, so probably not…” and we’d be like, “Oh! Oh yeah, sorry.” Good times.
FRANCES’S BAPTISM
Wahoo! The baptism was awesome. It was so cool to see her in her pretty white dress holding her little baby. After the baptism Deric stood up unannounced and wanted to tank everyone for coming and bear his testimony. It was the sweetest thing! He just said how he never thought this day would come and how much he wants to get his own testimony back to where he wants it to be so that his family can be together forever. SOOO precious to see this formally “hard-core” kid so touched by the Spirit and humble and wanting to be better and be a good dad and husband. It was perfect!
WEATHER
So despite freakish warm spells the cold finally hit. It’s like in the teens or something today with vicious wind and it actually snowed last night for a second! (Very rare). Nothing like the ice storms they’ve been getting in Nauvoo and stuff but still crazy. Time to show how hard-core I am by handling it. And maybe even time to wear my jacket.
SICK :P
So a big blessing that I have two companions. I got sick right after Christmas and was totally out of commission for like 2 days. But since there’s 3 of is, they could just drop me off at a member’s house and let me sleep for hours while they went to the appts. Felt weird to not be working but at the same time I was literally sleeping most of the time anyway so it’s all a blur. I feel much better now although it’s still lingering. I’m like a bottomless pit of snot but other than that, I’m good to go. :) I did get to have a priesthood blessing one of the first days I was sick which was so good. I know a lot of people who’ve had the same thing and they were out of commission for much longer so I know that the Lord was looking out for me. There really is power in the priesthood. God really has put the power to bless and to heal back on the earth again. A cool thing my comp likes to point out is that the priesthood is a power based on service. No one can give themselves a blessing—only other people. So I love that. I know it blesses our lives more than we can see. It’s the power by which the earth was created!
WARREN
This is the “grouchy, anti-social” one. He’s very miffed on the whole concept of faith. He doesn’t think it really exists or at least that he can have it. But he’s moving along. We gave him a video called “Finding Faith in Christ” and he watched it. Twice. And took notes. The Lord is working miracles in him and it’s only a matter of time. Sucker. :)
SCOTT
Of course I have another investigator named after a family member. This one is so cool. He’s spent years in the pest control business working with “bug boys” all across America (an industry that for those of you who aren’t aware, is predominantly LDS). So he’s been surrounded by LDS friends and would live in UT for the summers and go to church all summer and stuff. He even had home teachers and a calling. But for some reason he wasn’t quite ready to accept the gospel. Well, someone finally ratted him out that he’s ready for the gospel (actually his mom who’s not LDS) so we got his phone number via text from church headquarters. So we called him up and he just went on and on about how he’s read the whole Book of Mormon and knows the Church is true and that we can “dunk him anytime we want.” What?! Again, this doesn’t happen. So cool! But he’s ready for changes in his life and for blessings to come to his family so he’s finally willing to make the sacrifices that those blessings are contingent upon. So cool!
Anyway, all in all the work is rolling forward faster than we can keep up almost. We’re so thankful everyday for the mini miracles and triumphs that we see. It’s just up to us to try to be as obedient and as in-tune with the prompting of the Spirit as we can be so that we can help people to take the steps and learn the things they need to to get the blessings. Well gotta run! love you all!
thanks for the emails and letters and prayers and all that good stuff. keep choosing the right in all you do. it makes Heavenly Father happy. and you too! :)
--sis cartwright
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