Merry Christmas!! See you all tomorrow!! Xx

On the Seventh Day of Christmas... you got a surprise email!

Surprise! We got a bonus p-day that Sister Popa and I were NOT expecting! haha So here ya go! and extra email! Whoop whoop!

This week has been a roller coaster, and we have thrust in our sickles with all our might, but the fruits are few. Thank you Dad for that brilliant story, and advice. I will definitely be implementing it. I have been so blessed during my mission, I am so incredibly grateful. Some of those blessings are in the good times and others come from the ones that are more rocky- these are the times when I get to really focus, dig deep, and truly realise in whom I must place my trust. It is never in myself, but always in my Saviour. 

In MLC we talked about a lot of things, and I loved it as usual, but I really felt inspired by something that was said, then reiterated to me during companionship study the next morning. Is this : Satan can be bound NOW by our righteousness and obedience. We don't have to wait till some future date. I know that this is true. I have felt it during my mission. When I am obedient is when those negative thoughts are far away, this is when the spirit is with me, and I can discern the needs of others. It takes a lot of work and self discipline- hense repentance, but it is so incredible to put into action. Be obedient and righteous, bind Satan, and miracles can happen!

And Yay!!! CHRISTMASSSSS!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS THIS WEEK!!!!!!! wowowowowowowwwww Yes, so we have church at 9:30 for just an hour. Mum, could you let me know what time works best for you all? I was thinking 7! Holy moly, this will be so crazy to see yo facesssss!!!!

It is good to hear that you have had snow, you lucky ducks, but i will not complain, I haven't had to pull my darth vadar boots yet ;)

Not much to say, not tons to update you all on! I will keep working hard! 

Temple trip on Friday, and the mission Christmas party, and then holidayzzzz!!!  do me a favor and give the missionaries a small gift, even if it is just chocolate, or cookies- it means SO MUCHHHH!!! <33

SEEE YOUS SOOOONNNNN!!!!
Love you all

Sister Carter

It's not cold... I'm beautiful!

Ello Family,

Wow!! Snow! Yous are quite lucky, aka SO STINKING LUCKY!! It's the best when it's cold and it actually snows, but I shouldn't say that... I am so grateful for how dry it has been here all fall and so far this winter! (knocking of this wooden table as we speak). So irregular, but so nice! haha snow day from church though, wowza! For us, no snow so far... we shall see!! Ah, I wish I had taken a picture, but the rain and constant drizzle of some days here made my boots from Primark (#primone` ;) fall apart! the sole is unattatched, time for some new ones! Merry Christmas to me!!! 

AND yes, I realise you all are probably dying to hear about transfers, of course, naturally..... I AM STAYING IN CHORLEY WITH SISTER POPAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so ridiculously excited!!!!! ITS A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahhaa we DIED when the ZL's told us!!! haha yes yes yes yayayayayyyyy! 

Other than that, this week has been... hmmm... yeah the week right after a baptism can be a bit... uneventful? haha Loads of finding, YES! haha We met some great people, with lots of potential, but so far, we are still fishing :) Yesterday we stayed up in Buckshaw ALL. DAY. ... it was madness. I started saying crazy things.. which I know yous think aw thats normal. But for example. I will explain the title of this lovely email haha So it was really cold yesterday, and I also needed to use the loo, so I am standing there saying, "aw man its so cold!!" and then I realise, wait... positivity.."It's not cold! I'm beautiful..." sister Popa: "your beautiful??!" me:" HAHAHAA NO I MEANT TO SAY IT'S BEAUTIFUL, LIKE TODAY IS BEAUTIFULLLLLLL!!!.... But also yes HA!" Haaaaaaaaaaaha how embarrassing.... haha it's a good thing nobody answered the door, we could not stop laughing!  

Sorry our senses of humor as missionaries... it's.. interesting. We had our plans all set for our day on Friday, but as we go out in the morning, we get a text from the Preston Sisters. They are asking if they should eat lunch before coming on exchanges with us.....??? HUH!??? Dang it AP's!! So we had no idea but we were to be exchanging with Sister Setu (trio, yay!) while Sister Barlow went to the temple! Surprise!! haha So the day was crazy and our plans totally got butchered. But ya know, it is all good! And Sis Setu is fab! Love her!

A few funny things happened this week: 

We saw the mad hatter in the bus station, and no it was not in the mirror! 

There is a common thing that the english say when we try to stop them:"I'm inarush!" so this quote from my brill companion was quite funny, "They're not english, they're 'Rushin'" haha ;) 

And at our ward Christmas party,  Jason's family came (!!!!!) and his younger brother goes (after getting a present from Father Christmas) "I love santa! Santa and I are BEST BUDS!" haha so cute!

ANYWAYS!! Ok, I will let go get on with your day, but I am SO EXCITED TO SPEND CHRISTMAS IN CHORLEY!! And Also, to skype you all SO SOON!! make sure everyone is on!!! keep #LIGHTtheWORLD - ing!!!

Much Love,

cheers

Sister Carter

One by One

Heya yallright,

So wow, I was not prepared for all this news all in one week!! So much is changing and I am like.... wow I have been on my mission for forever!! haha Ethan, I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhh man, you are going to be a fab missionary, SO good, don't even worry. I know that the Lord is leading you, and He needs you, and His timing is perfect :) YOU GO!! and Tori is BACK?!! And Taryn got her CALL??!!! So much, dahhhh!! haha I am literally just like aaaa!!

This week though, wooh, we survived! and JASON GOT BAPTISED ON SATURDAY!!! haha we were literally racing around like chickens with our heads cut off, one of those weeks we bother REALLY wished we had a car, but yes. It was incredible! He is such a good boy, and we can already see the difference it is making in his and his family's life. They all got to come to the baptism, and loved it! The ward had on a festival of Nativities, and it was going on while we had the service, so we had to do it all in the little font area. We weren't expecting many people to come, but So many people came! It was so special, and I was SOO grateful, wow. there wasn't enough space in the area for them :) At first the meeting started a bit rocky, but then the spirit kicked in, and the talks were so inspired, and during the baptism itself, the spirit was so strong. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and love. As we were saying bye to everyone, in walks President and Sister Ulrich! Yeah! They had been at the festival, and we were so surprised!! haha He congratulated Jason and us as well. It was such a good moment. Ahhh, the relief though, yay! the ward has been SOOOO supportive in this whole process, our WML, bishop, and the Sumner family have all just jumped on board and helped us so much. I LOVE CHORLEY!

This area is so brill, especially at Christmas time, because they go all out. #minitemplesquarestatus they had a Christmas Carol Concert on Saturday and Sunday night, and it was phenomenal! The talent in the stake is outstanding. I had never heard the song "one by one", but they sang it during the program, and WOW. I felt the spirit touch my heart so strongly during that song. It was right after the baptism, and I was keenly aware of just how much the Saviour loves me and each of us one by one. This week has been full of tender mercies, and as they sang, I realised that they were singing it to me. That His hand has been in all of the events of this week, of my mission, of my life. He takes such good care of me. I know that He lives. He loves you. Just take a look around, and I know you will find evidence of that.

That theme has continued throughout this weekend, at church we heard it two more times in separate lessons, and during ward council, they read from 3 Nephi 11. I know that this lesson is so valuable to understand. That He takes the time to minister to each one of us. But also to realise that this ministering is often done by other people around us. That I have been called to be his hands to help and serve here now. How wonderful!

Sister Popa and I are PRAYING LIKE CRAZY that we stay together for Christmas!! This transfer was a short one, 5 weeks, and we find out on Sunday what will happen to us, but either way, we have made plans for a fab Christmas... basically we are both staying! haha we hope! 

I love you all and hope that the Christmas festivities are going well!! STAY HAPPY Y'ALL!! ITS CHRISTMAS!! #LIGHTtheWORLD!! And don't miss me, because we'll chat on the 25th, no worries!! haha

Love you all! Stay Classy!

Sister Carter 

xx