“The World Revolves Around You”

During Fast Sunday this month, a guy bore his testimony about how the Earth revolves around the sun. He compared it to how how we should revolve OUR lives around the son; the son of God. I just love that comparison.

Y’all!!! I hit my 3 month mark! I can’t believe it! Only 15 more months to go! 🎉😉

It seems like I was set apart just yesterday! Well...kind of🤪. Here’s a photo of me with my first companion😉.

Christmas was extra special this year! Uncle Dean and his family came all the way from Japan! we haven’t seen them in years and it was a joy to have them home this Christmas. The only thing missing was Emmalee. We were able to visit with her over video call, but it still wasn’t the same without her. I was kind of bummed to have only been home for two days in Jasper with the rest of the family, but I feel very blessed to have had those two days.

Christmas Jammies!!

Sushi suckers! What?!!

Little Lizzie! I remember carrying this girl on my shoulders.

”Are those directions in Japanese?!”- me

“No, it’s just a warning about a choking hazard.” (Millie)

Scrunchies from Japan! 😊

My sweet Nana💗

Emmalee and her companion on Christmas Eve

20’s theme New Years Party!!

Julianna decided to get endowed while she was home. It was very special and I am proud of her for choosing to make more sacred covenants. ❤️

She’s got the glow!

Jared and Kali decided to “seal the deal!”

This year has started out Great! I am grateful that many of my family members are making good choices and following God’s plan. It makes me so happy and I feel special to be a Carter and a part of an eternal unit. It’s been a bit since I last posted. I believe some of that is because of the holidays. Now that things are settling down. I’m happy to continue sharing with you about my mission!

Monday: The Kemsleys are doing well. Bob has had several doctors appointments lately, so I haven’t had the chance to see them quite as often as I would like. I visited this past Monday, and Sister Kemsley and I caught each other up on recent life events. She is such a good person. She told me to send her a wedding invite when I get married. I told her I would if “I do”😉🤪.

Tuesday: There was one day where my alarm clock did NOT go off, so I was running very late to my assignment at the Assisted living home. I was super embarrassed, and I thought about not even going, but I decided to go anyway. It was hard, but I know it was right. It turns out that they were a little short handed that afternoon, so it was a good time to show up late. I testify that the Lord truly does know us and our needs! He knew that I was needed more that afternoon, than that morning. We cannnot help that we have trials or that our circumstances may not be perfect, but we CAN help how we will react to them.

Wednesday: I also get to go to the assisted living on Wednesdays, and I just love helping out there, and feel very blessed that I get to serve there twice a week. Today, we invited the clients to do memory watercolor paintings! We had them pick out pictures, and then paint their own version of the picture, like ducks for example. Then, Mrs. Lorrie and I went around and asked the clients about their paintings and if they brought back any memories! Like, for example, Mrs. Mary chose the picture of ducklings And she said, “I used to take my children to the park and they would feed the ducks, and squirrels, and anything else they could get their hands on! They fed them peanuts. I’m not sure if ducks can have peanuts, but that’s what they gave them!” Haha, I just love helping there!

After they dry, we put them in the client’s file. I decided to do my own watercolor painting after I helped everyone with their memories. I decided to paint flowers! it’s not the best painting ever, but I still think it’s a nice keepsake! 😊

That’s another thing that I like about serving here; keepsakes. Clients will sometimes write you cards or give you gifts and you can also participate sometimes as well. I get to have keepsakes to remind me of my mission.

Here’s a picture of me with my finished product! 🎨

Thursday: I go to the temple for an hour or two on Thursdays. The week before last, Julianna’s endowment was on that Friday, so I decided that would count since I wouldn’t be able to make it to the distribution center on Friday.

Friday: This last Friday after Kali’s wedding that morning, I helped stock clothing, break down boxes, and shredded paper. I’ve been working on shredding the paper for a long time and I FINALLY finished! It feels good, but I feel like I’m also going to miss doing it, haha! 🤪

There was a Service mission conference for all of the service missions within the Texas mission boundaries. The weather was supposed to get super bad. So, after the distribution center, (I rode with Sister Marchese and her Mom because my parents couldn’t make it), we decided to book it to the hotel in San Antonio. It was a pretty smooth ride up until almost the end...and then it got BAD! Terribly bad. I’ve never seen weather as bad as it was. It got to where the rain was pouring and you couldn’t even see the road! It was dark out, so the lightning would literally light up the entire sky. Then it started to hail! Sister Marchese and I were clinging onto our sides of the car for dear life, and praying like crazy. Thankfully, we made it safe and sound.

Saturday: Saturday was the conference! I’m so grateful that Sister Marchese invited me to ride with her and her mom so that I could go. I really wish that my parents could have made it, but sometimes events just don’t line up the way you want it to, so maybe next time! The conference was soooooo good! It was mainly to inform leaders and parents about service missions, but I still feel like I got a lot out of it. The speaker from Salt Lake headquarters said something that really struck me; he said that, teaching of Christ and serving like Christ are both equal in the eyes of God. It was my favorite part and I needed to hear that. My mission, the HTSM (Houston Texas Service Mission) sang “Gethsemane“ as a choir at the beginning of the conference to set the tone. I’m so grateful to be in my mission! I know a lot of people think they have the best mission, but mine is DEFINITELY the best!! It’s a fact. 😊😉

HTSM missionaries from left to right: Elder Chadwick, Elder Slay, Elder Beus, Elder Menna, Elder Pierce, Sister Carter (me!), Sister Marchese, Sister Bush (now an RM, but she was asked to speak at the conference), Sister George, and Elder Carroll. The first 4 leaders on the front row are region leaders, I think. Finally, it’s Sister Ellis and President Ellis. ❤️

I bare my testimony that Jesus is the Christ. He was born in a manger, in humble circumstances, and suffered for our sins in the garden of Gethsemane, and completed the atonement by dying on the cross to save us from sin. He rose from the dead, and by doing so, we will rise also. Jesus came to us and will soon return to us.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Things I’m grateful for/quotes: matching jammies, Japanese scrunches, sushi suckers, Mrs. Mary and Mrs Pat, the power of good words, our Savior’s birth, “This orange doesn’t look yummy.“ (Mrs. Norma) “yes, it does! I would eat it!”(me) ”Well I wouldn’t!!” (Mrs. Norma), mug “hook” handles, that I grew up in a family that taught me to laugh when I make a mistake.

Love, Sister Carter💗