Happy Birthday America 🇺🇸

BLESS US MOMENTS

As we were walking up murder hill, our favourite hill, actually called broadway, that kills us when we walk up it.. every day.. we passed by an older man who was waiting for a bus. As we do, we say hiya, how are you? He goes, "good!! I'm the best person in the whole world!!" We had a pretty good laugh at that one ;) good perspective, hey.

Linda, our wonderful returning less active, came to church on Sunday, and during Sunday school, she and sister hunter were praising me, saying that I have really impacted their lives and how they will miss me. Bless. I love them both so much, and it was such a tender mercy, as I was struggling a bit to see if I had even made a difference in this area. I just couldn't stop crying! Haha  hate that ;)

It's been a good week! We have been wearing our winter coats and scarves

all week even though it's July 3 but all is well! 

VINO

After not seeing Vino for what felt like ages, we finally got to see her again on Tuesday night. I love my sweet Sri Lankan auntie!! Haha she is the best, and really understands and internalises all that we teach her. This time, we picked up where we left off last time at baptism (last time we taught about faith in Jesus Christ and repentance), receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. She loved the gift of the Holy Ghost, and told us she wishes she had met missionaries earlier in her life. In response I felt the need to read Alma 32:27-28 and invite her to act on the faith she had just expressed by coming to church. I wish so badly we had invited her to be baptised in that moment however, because this invite to church distracted her. But I always love the quote from The District, "as missionaries, we are allowed to make mistakes, as long as the spirit is still there." We will still have a chance to invite her, and I loved what Elder Karren reminded us after the lesson: trust the Lord's timing. She may move back to Sri Lanka and be baptised there, she may be baptised here in a month, who knows?! I just know that I must keep the faith. She is wonderful and a beloved daughter of God.

FELIX 

We went and talked to felix about earth life and why we had to come to earth. He is a really smart nine year old! We talked to him a little about baptism and asked if that was something that he would want to do and he said yes! We talked to his mom and she is wanting it for him as well, we just know it is going to be a change for their family since they haven't been to church in a while. 

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER 

Okay so the other week there was a man we talked to who went and talked to the famous person, Andrew Lloyd Webber! So we ran into him again this week! We were so excited to find out what had happened. So I guess he and Andrew got talking and he was only on the Isle of Man for 2 hours and went up to the place that Refira(the mans name) and his friend were doing the project and wrote a letter of endorsement! How neat! He thanked us for giving him the courage to go and talk to him! So fun! 

THE HUNTERS 

There is a couple in our ward and the wife is from Jamaica and the husband is from Scotland and is not a member. We went to their house this week just to talk and share a message. We ended up showing Because of Him and baring testimony of Jesus Christ. It was really spiritual. I am so grateful for my Saviour and the knowledge that I have that I can rely and turn to Him. Bad things in life happen but through Him you can get through them. At the end we really felt like we needed to ask the husband if he would listen to the missionary discussions and he said yes! We are so excited! Such a huge answer to many many prayers. Keep having faith you all!

DRUNK MAN

Okay so basically on Saturday night we decided to grab one of the new Cadbury peanut butter chocolate bars before we went to visit one of our less active friends. We got to the bus stop, enjoying our chocolate when this man comes in he sits down next to me and started a harmless conversation of asking if we were from Canada or America. Well we quickly realised how drunk he was by the long pauses between each word and the less and less we could understand him, haha. I was trying to be polite and talking to him when all of the sudden this lady next to sister Wamsley chimed in and started talking about how animals have souls and that's why she doesn't eat them and about how God doesn't exist all while the drunk man (Malcolm) was talking as well. We were SOO confused. Thankfully the bus showed up and we thought we would be able to make our escape..nope. He sat right behind us. I probably could have gotten drunk just by the smell, haha. The conversation ended on how rat meat has the most blood and vitamins, in case you wanted to know. Haha It was the longest bus ride ever

but eventually we made it. People are weird sometimes.

PRESIDENT AND SISTER MCREYNOLDS!!

They have arrived! As sad as it was to say goodbye to the Ulrich's, it has been so exciting with the anticipation of welcoming the McReynolds' to the EMM. They got here on Friday morning. We got a text from Sister McReynolds telling us that she lived on the Isle when she was growing up, and how excited she is to hear there are sisters here. So sweet! And then I got to chat on the phone with them this morning asking a few questions, and they are so sweet with mixed accents, almost Aussie! Haha change is always a bit of a doozie, but we are thrilled to have them here.

Btw, sorry the font goes so funny. I have to copy and paste it from notes and it all kinda freaks out.

Anyways! I am so baffled that this is my final full week of my mission. Just as the new mission President get here, I leave. My mission has been such a sacred experience for me. I have learned so much, grown, and changed. My faith and trust in the Lord has grown tenfold. I am tremendously grateful for the blessing and trials that I have experienced during my service. I have striven to be obedient, diligent, and hard working each and every day. I am not perfect, and I have so many weaknesses, but I now understand the power of repentance so much more. I am also so blessed to have witnessed that same change in the lives of others. What a joy and peace it brings. I am so sad to close this chapter of my life, it is going to be a bit of an adjustment, but I know and have faith that my future is bright. I will continue to work hard to achieve my goals, and strive to keep the habits I have worked so hard to develop. I love my mission. I love my Saviour, and I am so grateful for all I have been blessed with these past 18 months.

I love each one of you so much. I am sorry I haven't been the best at keeping in good contact individually, but I hope you know that I think of you often. I pray for you individually every day, and am have gained a greater testimony that God has placed me in this family, blessed me with you as friends, not on mistake. Families truly are forever. I am excited to see you all soon. Don't make fun of my awkwardness too much ;)

I love you all!!

Bye for now.

Sister Carter xx