Monday, August 25, 2014

Baptism

​This week was quite eventful! First of all, Steve got baptized! His confirmation was yesterday and we are really happy for him. We had a really great turnout from the ward. The Ward really loves Steve. I loved the spirit that was there. We showed this video while Steve was changing into dry clothes.



Planning for a baptism in 6 days was difficult, but not impossible. It seemed as though every pianist in the ward was out of town, but we did find a member who was kind enough to help us out. That's good because nobody wanted me to end up playing. That would not have been a good experience for anyone.

We have been making a collage of pictures of the Savior on the wall in our apartment. This is me with that collage.

It's official. My camera has snapped it's last picture. It just wouldn't turn on this week. No idea what happened to it. I've had it since Christmas of 2010, and it's been with me through thick and thin. That's okay. I'll just continue to take pictures with my companion's cameras.

Shout out to a very special person with a birthday this week- my little brother Jordan is turning 19. I also have a birthday. I am 22 today. Mission birthdays can be pretty cool. Sister Andrus decorated our apartment with sticky notes this morning. 

Transfer calls came Saturday night a little while after Steve's baptism. I am being doubled in to Yakima! That will be a fun experience. I will miss Walla Walla a lot, but I know that Sister Andrus will take care of it for me. I also know the missionary coming here  really well and I trust her as well. I have grown here. It sounds kind of silly, but I think of Walla Walla as a huge turning point in my life. I stopped thinking of myself as a kid. I think of myself as an adult now. I am more confident. I trust the Lord and His Spirit. I know that He will guide me and I have seen Him do it. I have a long way to go in becoming humble and submissive but I feel closer to Him now than I did before. The ward here is amazing. I love the people we are teaching, and one day I will come back and see how they have progressed, but for now the Spirit of the Lord has called me another way (Alma chapter 22 verse 4), and I will go. I'll borrow from Nephi's closing testimony in the Book of Mormon "For thus hath the Lord commanded me and I must obey. Amen" (2 Nephi 32:15)

Have a fantastic week of greatness.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

A post on Wednesday

I am sorry about writing last week. There are so many emails I have to write, sometimes I cannot get to all of them!

I try not to write too much about the people that we are teaching, for privacy. But I'll share about one of the people that we are working with, without sharing his name.

 On Saturday night we asked one of our investigators if he wanted to be baptized on the 23rd. He almost cried he was so happy. He slept only 2 hours that night. He got up early, drove to the mountains and finished the Book of Mormon. It was a great experience for him. He loves the scriptures so much. We are excited for him. Even though so much has happened to make his life difficult lately he is filled with love and faith. When we found him 3 months ago he was lonely and depressed. Now he's happy and filled with hope. We have seen a great change in him. Planning his baptism and getting him ready has been a whirlwind, but it's been great. He had his interview yesterday. We just hope that we can get everything done in time.

This week we also make a collage of pictures of the Savior on our living room wall. I would send pictures, but my camera is being difficult. I will get it working or borrow someone's camera. I may even put up some pictures of the baptism if our investigator says that's okay.

I learned that my cousin serving in Japan is also planning a baptism for this Saturday. I am so happy for him. He works really hard, and I know how much you get to love the people you teach. You want them to have the blessings of baptism with all of your heart.

This week my idea of family scripture study totally changed. I've decided that family scripture study in my house will be more like companion study. A topic-based discussion drawing from multiple resources. Videos, scriptures, church magazines, words of the living prophets, and personal experience. I want my children to have those sacred opportunities to share their faith building experiences and their growing testimonies in that kind of a setting. 

This transfer has gone by so quickly! I can't believe that it is almost over. Transfer calls are on Saturday! We will see what happens.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

Monday, August 4, 2014

Hope for a Better World


“Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast.”

The Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that people can change.  It's repentance. Isaiah said 
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and increased the joy – they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor.


The Yoke of our burden is the price to return to Heavenly Father. We can't be perfect. We can't make ourselves perfect. Christ has broken the yoke. He has taken away the rod of sin. He took our punishment. He overcame sin and death. He introduced us to a many things we never could have thought to attain without His help – Including Hope and Mercy.

Because of Christ death has lost its sting. There is hope where there was none. That hope is that Christ has the power to shoulder our burdens, take away our pain, and purify us. He can make us clean.

“And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, though canst make me clean” – Luke 5:12


Do we believe, as that leper did, that Christ has the power to truly make us clean? Do we come when He calls us? Our faith is required. We have to come to Him and be willing to change – but remember that that yoke of perfection isn't on us anymore, if we give it to Him – He takes it. We have to come to Him, and when we do we don't say "Lord, if thou wilt, I can make me clean." We say "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." I think that too often we expect ourselves to be perfect (or other people) when really all we have to give is a broken heart, a contrite spirit, our best effort, and a real desire to change.

My message today is this – there is hope. No matter how far we feel that we are from Christ, we have hope because we don't have to go where He is. He comes where we are. Our progress and desire are significant to Him. Don't give up. 

Also, this week has been awesome. We've been shown a great deal of love from the ward, and we are working with several people who have a great desire to find answers by the spirit. Something that I'm learning is that an answer doesn't sustain you forever. Sometimes, the Lord can only direct our steps if we are moving. If you don't work on your testimony, you lose it – but as long as you seek Christ He has the power to help you.

Love,
Sister Caroline Faulkner