Changes in the Mission

Our mission is splitting next transfer. I won't be a part of that, but our mission is making a lot of changes right now partially in preparation for that split. One of our zones had to split in half because the mission is going to split right down the middle. Our mission has about 220 missionaries in it, I think. When it splits we will be really small for a few weeks until the transfer comes and new missionaries will come in. Lots of missionaries will have to train.

Tomorrow is my last Zone Conference. In our mission we have zone conference every other transfer (or once every 3 months) and all the missionaries who will finish their missions before the next zone conference are asked to give a departing testimony. I had forgotten that this included me until a couple of days ago. This will be no problem. Anyone who knows me knows that I am never short of words to say (sometimes that's a good thing. Sometimes it's not.) Still, I'm nervous about the idea of it because I don't want to face the fact that I'll be leaving soon. I'm getting pretty good at not thinking about it.

At Zone Conference, all of the mission cars will be outfitted with little monitors called TIWI. These monitors will make sure that we aren't abusing the mission cars or endangering ourselves or others with unsafe driving. We are a little behind. Many missions in America got this technology a long time ago.

Speaking of technology, I am reminded that our mission still doesn't have iPads. I am okay with that personally, though the thought of what they can do for our studies is intriguing. I also like the idea of showing any Mormon message to any person at any time. That's okay. I get along just fine with my hard copy scriptures.

Sister Moetala, Sister Gresham and I are a very musical companionship. We have taken to singing primary songs and hymns to people as we teach. I like it. There is a powerful spirit associated with the hymns. If you need a change in your attitude or your emotional well-being try changing up the music that you listen to. It works wonders for me. We have the Spirit more in our companionship when we are playing reverent, uplifting music that points our hearts to Christ.

Keep the faith, my friends. I love you all! Stand fast in the liberty wherin God hath made you free!

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

El Dia De Los Madres

Yesterday was mother's day. I got to give a talk in church about how you don't have to be perfect to be a good mom. I think that we need to address this in our culture. Moms tend to judge themselves very harshly and blame themselves for the poor choices or circumstances of their children. Children, too, will sometimes look back at their parents with indignation because we feel that they ought to have done a better job.

The truth is very few parents wake up in the morning thinking "What can I do to ruin my family today?" Most of us are well-intentioned at the very least and each of us falls every day to human weakness. We have a bad habit of judging ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions. I am grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ which has the power to fill any open heart and heal any wound. Christ has the power to consecrate our afflictions for our gain (2 Nephi 2:1) and He has the power to make us better and more capable human beings in time. We need to be more understanding of ourselves and others without condoning sin.

I think that mothers and missionaries sometimes fall for the same ruse. We see the calling to represent the Savior, and we see the expectations so far beyond our reach. We allow Satan to misdirect our attention. When we focus on the fact that the gospel of Jesus Christ centers on our faith, and our desires to do what is right (Alma 41:5, The living Christ, 2 Nephi 31:19-20 Moroni 4:3) we see that Christ's power to save us doesn't come after we meet someone's expectations. It comes when we have faith and we show Him that we are willing to keep his commandments to the best of our abilities. Therefore we can't be upset when our abilities, or the abilities of another person, do not match up to what we want them to be. Jeffrey R Holland of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles said:

"So be kind regarding human frailty.Your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we." 

I think we need to be more loving. I really need to work on charity and humility (as always) I love the people we are serving, but I need to learn to be more compassionate in word and in action. That is my goal for the rest of this transfer and for the rest of my life.

I've really been working on my Spanish. We have a new investigator who doesn't want to go all the way to the Spanish branch in Pasco, and her kids speak English. We have been trying to take Spanish speakers with us, and I am working on learning how to teach better in Spanish. I can teach (very simply) the first three missionary lessons in very poor Spanish, but I'd like to be able to testify better. We'll see how this goes.

Yesterday we got to talk to our families. It was really good to see them. I am so grateful to them for helping me and supporting me here. It means so much. I know that your testimony can grow just as much in other ways because I've seen the powerful testimonies of my sister and my mother (and other wonderful people in my life) but I am infinitely grateful for the opportunity to serve.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

May The Fourth Be With You

I apologize for the speaker who talks over the song a little bit. He's very good at not being distracting, though. I commend him for his many years of practice.

Today I hit 17 months. I can't believe that it's been this long. It doesn't feel like that long at all.

Someone asked me yesterday if I would have any regrets if I knew I was going to die tomorrow. I told him that the thing missionaries regret when they go home (which we like to call "dying") is not being bold enough with people or not giving our all to the Lord. I don't have any regrets right now, I feel that I am doing my best and I am patient with my shortcomings. I am not worried about it. This week begins my last transfer, and I want to make sure that I give everything that I can and that after this time is over that I continue to give all that I can to Christ in building His kingdom. It isn't over; it's just the new mission field.

I'm staying here in Richland (that will be 7.5 months in this area) and I get to continue looking out for our recent converts and investigators here. I have come to love them so dearly. Sister Gresham and I will be receiving another Sister Missionary in our companionship (we will be a trio). You never have more freedom as a missionary than if you are in a trio serving in a young single adult congregation. You can go anywhere. We cover two stakes worth of area. It blows my mind. The Sister that's coming was Sister Owen's MTC companion.

In case anyone is keeping track, Sister Owens hit her year mark this last month. My little baby is growing up. Now she's almost finished training her companion. They grow up so fast.

I've had this song stuck in my head for a little while now (since they played it in conference). It’s absolutely beautiful. We've got to love our Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

It's true that we can trust our Father in Heaven to pave the way before us as we go about His work. HE will take care of us and He will make us into something far greater than what we are on our own.

I got a letter from my Mom and a package from my trainer on the same day – Two letters from two "Mom"s on the same day. I was exceedingly blessed. Especially since Mother's day is coming up. My trainer reminded me that even though it's a little bit frightening towards the end to deal with the work and prepare to leave, it works out okay as you do your best to focus on the Savior. That's my plan.

I hope that you all have a beautiful day and you go forth with faith.

Be strong,

Love Sister Faulkner

What marvelous light I did behold

This week we read President Eyring's conference talk in our companionship study. I think that we may use this in the future to teach about the law of the fast. It was a really powerful. It's amazing to hear about the sacrifices that people make to serve God and their brothers and sisters all over the world. I want to have that kind of Christlike love and dedication. I realized that the fast has been implemented as a way of taking care of the poor since Old Testament times. That seems to have always been a part of Christ's church. It makes sense. When we fast we give up two meals that someone else can eat.

We had a really beautiful family get baptized this weekend. I love them so much. Their member friends in Oregon sent a referral. We got a text "Go visit these people. Here is their address" We went and found that they were ready and excited to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We come to love people so much as we watch the truth change their lives. I am excited to come back in a year and be there with them when they are sealed in the temple for time and all eternity.

I love my companion, Sister Gresham. She is so determined to serve, though she deals with a lot of physical challenges. Sometimes she is in pain. I try not to let her get too broken. She is really determined to serve, though.

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I watch people come closer to Christ I am filled with joy. When I watch them give up it breaks my heart. We see a lot of both. The scriptures show us that this path has never been without opposition. The scriptures also testify of the peace and the limitless joy that fills us when we are about Christ's work. This work has also brought me low many times. I have felt a minute portion of Christ's love for these people, and with that comes a tiny, tiny portion of His sorrow for them when they choose not to come to Him. We feel so little of His infinite love, and so little of His infinite pain, but it is enough to overwhelm a person with joy or anguish from time to time. I've learned that there is more joy than sorrow, though. We don't experience anything anywhere near what He did, but what we do feel changes us.

I love this work!!!

Alma 26 is Ammon'swords about his mission. I feel just what He feels. 

This link has some verses highlighted that meant a lot to me this week.

Thanks for your love and support. Share the gospel.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

In Summer!

Summer is a miracle! The days are longer, it's not as cold, people are outside walking around at all hours of the day. Being a missionary in the summer time is pretty fantastic- also we start harvesting all sorts of delicious fresh fruits very soon.

In Summer, you can knock on people's doors at night, and they don't get mad because it's still light outside so they don't feel like it's all that late. There are also frequently families together at home.

Technically, it isn't Summer yet. It won't actually be Summer until the day I give my homecoming talk in church (June 21st everyone is welcome) but it feels like summer, so I'm happy. We also have many beautiful flowers and these magical floating fuzzballs – that I've been told come from cottonwood trees – everywhere. Although no one has been able to point out which tree that is yet.

We have two really golden people getting baptized on Saturday. They are some of the most prepared people I've ever met. It's pretty cool.

A recent convert in the Branch gave his farewell address. It was really cool. He is on fire and it is great to see a recent convert doing so well. It's a testimony that even though it's hard for a lot of converts to hold on - they can make it. He is helping his family to come closer to Christ as well. He goes to the temple this week. We are so excited for him. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

I heard from the Pendleton Sisters that the gentleman I taught that got baptized in Walla Walla is still active. He got baptized August 23rd. He's doing really well. That brought me more joy than I can describe.

 I just got a letter that a family I started teaching while I was in Selah is getting baptized May 9th.I am excited to be there for them on that day. I've also heard that they young man that got baptized after I left is still doing really well.

I don't use names because I don't want to share them, not because these people are not precious to me. I hope that you all know that. I love these people so dearly it's hard to describe.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Faulkner

Easter Greetings!

There are certain occasions that open people's hearts to the Holy Spirit and turn their thoughts toward Christ. In a world who's values are growing farther and farther from the commandments of God and a culture that tries to persuade us to turn our heads and deny the miracles and grace of our Father in Heaven, Easter is a bright light, and a needed reminder of God's love and His plan for His children. I know that most of these holidays came out of some pagan tradition and I've decided that I'll take anything that points people to Christ and use it for His work.

Honestly, I don't think that most people have forgotten what's right. I think that the media and the internet have a tendency to make the minority appear to be the majority (aside from all of the beautiful, useful things that they can be used for). Still, with Babylon screaming in your face day and night, it's good to have an excuse to talk about our Savior's love and our Father's plan.

Sister Gresham and I have been taking full advantage of the Easter season to share our message of the restored gospel. It was easier this year because General conference happened this weekend as well (another one of those occasions that we love to use to help people feel the Spirit and see how God works in our lives today.)  We've loved inviting people to watch as living prophets and apostles testified of the living Christ- just like prophets and apostles did anciently.

We also enjoyed Easter candy, flowers, and sunshine.

I love springtime. I love that the days are getting longer and that more people are outside. I love being the Lord's missionary- especially at Easter and at conference. We love watching conference and getting rebuked by the apostles and Spirit. Now I have all sorts of goals for the next few months. I have all sorts of new ideas about how the Lord needs me to be a better missionary and what He wants me to change. I've learned that there is no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone. I think that's why we have transfers. Once you get comfortable, it's time to have a new growing experience.

Christ lives!! Have a wonderful week!!

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

Deja Vu

Here I am training again. Once again, it's my favorite calling. My new companion Sister Gresham is back out after a stint at home working out some health challenges, and she's super prepared. I love how well she knows the lessons, and how ready she is to teach and talk with everyone. She has no fear. Part of that might come from her bubbly and outgoing personality.

She is from California, where she was a theater student – similar to most of my group of friends back home. We get along pretty well.

She'd served in Richland before, so she's already familiar with the area.

One of our investigators got baptized this week after a long period of meeting with missionaries. She fought so hard for this, so we are really very happy for her. It was one of the sweetest moments watching her get what she had been working so hard for and thinking of how pleased our Father in Heaven is with her.

Sister Gresham and I got moved into an apartment that Elders lived in before but has been vacant for 3 months. The water is still a little brown sometimes, but we found crazy stuff in there like a sign that says "No girls allowed," and a beard hat. We took pictures with some of those things. The water is still brown sometimes, but it's getting better. We have been taking advantage of the food they left behind- Pop Tarts and frozen burritos. Yum.

Somehow I thought training this time would be very similar to the first time – but it's not. I have so many plans to do things differently this time, and of course my companion is very different. I love all of my companions so differently.

Training is still my favorite. I love helping new missionaries get the hang of things and helping them become comfortable in missionary work.

We are working hard to get everyone to conference so that they can have revelatory experiences listening to the living Apostles. The women's broadcast was amazing.

You can watch it here.

Check out this Easter Video: 

Happy Easter! Remember He lives!

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner