STeaLing Joy

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Remember to give thanks in all times and in all circumstances- that's a pretty difficult thing to do (but so worth it).

My new assignment as a Sister Training Leader isn't as scary as I thought it would be – mostly because my new companion Sister Lindmeir is really dedicated. She is the hardest working missionary I have ever met. She actually trained Sister Allred (remember how we got doubled into Yakima?) and she's pretty great. We have a blast. She's just really bold and loving – also we are both quick-to-offend, slow-to-be-offended kind of people – so nothing I say bothers her and nothing she does ever bothers me. That's the best.

My post was late this week because we had a conference. In our church we have a priesthood position called "Seventy" (see Numbers chapter 11). One of the Seventy came and visited our mission and P-Day had to be rescheduled (but it was SO worth it). I learned so much. I came away with a determination to work harder, be better, and love more. I also got to see Sister Donnelly and Sister Owens again. Sister Owens is at 7.5 months now and it's great to see her doing so well (still in Zillah). I put her name in my scriptures next to Alma 17:3. I felt it quite applicable to our situation. I don't think there is a missionary in the field who loves her greenie as much as I love Sister Owens. I just want her to have the best mission ever and spend her whole life so dedicated to Christ.

At this Thanksgiving season, I am so grateful for the friends and family who support me. I am grateful for my companion, and the scriptures. I am grateful for my Savior most of all, and for a loving Father in Heaven who loves me no matter what.

I also think about what I was doing this time last year. I was getting ready to come out here and serve. I remember how different I was and how nervous I was and I remember all of the silly things I cared about then. I am grateful for everything that has changed in my life and I am grateful for all that the Lord has done to take care of my family at home – He does a better job than I ever could anyway.

I want you all to check out this video at:

Christmas.mormon.org

​It's really great. It's there to remind us what all of this Christmas spirit is supposed to be about. I love the Christmas season. I love the decorations and the humble hearts.

Let's go work for Him.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

Transfers

This week we saw lots of great miracles. We had a bunch of people in church. Probably the best-attended sacrament meetings (as far as investigators go) that I've seen in the 11.5 months I've been out.

Then there were the great moments where the Lord led us exactly where we needed to go, and helped us find people who needed our message.

Another miracle is the fact that it didn't snow. Even though everyone said that it would.

It did snow in Tri-Cities – which is where I am going on Wednesday. I'm sad to be transferring away from Sister Donnelly. We were going to hit our year mark together, and then have Thanksgiving and Christmas here. I'm sure that my new area will be just as cool. I've been asked to be a Sister Training Leader – which just means that I go on exchanges with the other Sisters in Richland and Kennewick and I help take care of their emotional needs. I'm sad, because it means that I probably won't get to train a new missionary again, but the Lord knows what I need to do to grow. He knows better than me where I am needed.

Today as I studied I learned that the Lord can only give us answers as often as we are obedient. He waits for us to show that we are listening to the council that He has already given us before He gives us more. I think that's really important. We have to be willing to listen. I am praying for you. Let us be thankful for what our Father has already given us.

Be strong and of a good courage!

Love,

Sister Faulkner

Roots

Autumn is here like I've never seen it before. Last week almost all of the trees were bright orange, yellow and red. This week most of those leaves are now on the ground. The cold is starting to threaten us, and it's getting dark before 5 PM.

Many people have taken out their gardens, and now they are starting to talk about snow. This is what fall actually feels like, I guess. It's windier than I expected.

My companion, Sister Donnelly, had to go to the dentist this week. The poor thing narrowly avoided a root canal. That's why we don't let cavities go unchecked. She was a real trooper, though. She had more courage than I usually show when presented with Novocain shots and dentist's drills.

I am still on the lookout for relatives around here. I keep hearing about them, but I can't find them. Once again I really wish I knew my grandparent's conversion story. All I know is that they met missionaries in Toppenish and that my grandfather was a branch president in Zillah for a while. Then they moved to the other side of the state.

I think I really am going gray. I found another gray hair this week. Missionary work can be stressful- though maybe that means I am doing it wrong. I'm working on that. I know that I have to rely on Christ. He carries us through. I couldn't have gotten through the MTC without Him. I'm determining the Pros and cons of going gray at 22:

Pro- I'll look more mature/wise.

Con-I'm not really any more mature/wise.

Pro- I may be offered senior discounts by mistake.

Pro- It would look really cool to have a gray streak in my hair.

Con- It may one day seriously impede my dating life.

Pro- I won't have to worry about dating anymore. ;)

As you can see- this list is mostly positive. This is clearly going to be a good thing.

The most important thing to remember is to root our lives in Christ and His Atonement. If we repent every day we don't have to be afraid of what the world might throw at us. We will rise each time we fall. This week I did a really fun study where I found all 12 steps of the LDS Family Services Addiction Recovery Program in Mosiah 27-28, Alma 17, 26, and 36. That was a great study. It is so important that we truly have a change of heart each time we repent and that we replace our negative behaviors with positive ones. I know that Christ can help us.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

He Comes to You

I learned something this week about the Sacrament.

When you are in Sacrament meeting, you don't go up and get the bread and water from where it is being blessed, it is brought to you, and you have to take it individually. We pass the Sacrament one by one. In a similar way, we do not make it back to Heaven, or perfect ourselves and then ask for forgiveness for what we've done wrong. We aren't capable of making that trip by ourselves. When we make the effort to come to the building (ie ask for help, do our best, repent), Christ comes to us at whatever point we are at on the road and carries us the rest of the way.

He will not take our will away. He can help me only as long as I want to go His way. He won't carry me back to my Father in Heaven if I am determined to go the other way. But if I am trying, He will do whatever it takes to make the way possible for me.

Christ can heal hearts, lighten loads, carry sorrows, and forgive our sins because He experienced what we've experienced. When He suffered for us, He took my pains, weaknesses, and sins upon Himself. Because of that, He is able to rescue me wherever I am and no matter what I've done, because He has descended below all things.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:6

He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;

I am grateful to know that me Savior knows me so well, and that He doesn't wait for me to be good enough. He loves me where I am at and helps me to be better.

This week was Halloween, and we had to go in at 6 PM for safety reasons. We had fun though. We carved pumpkins, ate candy and treats, and planned our lessons.

Here are some pictures.

Angel Moroni Pumpkin:

My companion’s ghost:

Teaching "Speedy" the Turtle:

This crazy large fake spider in our apartment complex parking lot:

Displaying my love for spiders:

I hope that all of you had a great Halloween. Thanks for your love, your support, and your prayers.

Happy November.

Be strong.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

Happy Halloween

This is the only Autumn that I get on my mission. I get 2 winters and 2 springs, but really only one Summer and Autumn. I'm enjoying the colors, the apples, and the weather. One of our wards had an apple press and we got to take home some apple cider. We were warned that we need to drink it quickly because it might ferment. But it's great, so that won't be a problem.

I got a package from my mom this week with some of our traditional Halloween sugar cookies that remind me of my childhood. I look forward to those every year. I feel bad that Mom has to make them herself this year. Usually somebody else is there to help her. They look like Jack-o-lanterns with their orange frosting and faces made of Candy corn and chocolate chips.

We don't get to go to the Trunk-or-Treat because we have to be in at 6 on Halloween night. That's okay though. We will have fun planning our lessons and carving pumpkins inside.

Yakima has a lot of people who really get into the Halloween spirit with their decorations- but most of the people in our little community claim that they don't get many Trick-or-Treaters. We are considering giving out candy to the people we talk to on Halloween just for fun.

Sister Donnelly and I enjoyed another primary program yesterday. Those little children are so innocent. They bring the spirit with their simple testimonies. Their songs are so sweet. It made me think of what the Savior said "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Also, I learned to drive in the mud. We had a rainstorm and I got to drive up a hill on a dirt road in the rain. I was so scared. The Lord comforted me as I prayed for help. I know that He guides us and that He cares even about the little things.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

The Spirit of the Scriptures

Something that I've noticed as I talk to people and as I share the Book of Mormon with them is that the Spirit follows the word of God and that people notice. As people read the Book of Mormon they find that they have more peace in their homes. They want to keep reading. They have a desire to have more of God's word in their lives.

The hardest part of conversion is always beginning. Whether we are repenting and learning to trust God for the first time, or coming back after a long period of diminished faith – Satan fights against our righteous desires. Picking up the scriptures seems impossible and totally unappealing. Coming to church seems daunting. Repentance seems beyond our capacity to endure. My promise is that the first step is the hardest, and that the blessings that you will receive will be far greater than any sacrifice that you make in an effort to serve the Lord.

As you try your hardest, Christ makes it possible. I promise that you can have a better life and more peace. You can feel closer to your Father in Heaven.

I am grateful that I have the scriptures in my life. I am grateful for the spirit that the Book of Mormon brings. I invite you to find out for yourself what blessings they can bring to your life. That is how you stay rooted in Christ and how you maintain a desire to repent and follow Christ's example.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

Eternal Truth

I learned something yesterday. I learned that Satan pushes you the hardest at the most pivotal moments. He doesn't want you to win and he wants you to give up. I know that when we are faithful in the hardest times we can have access to the greatest blessings.

By our faithfulness we show the Lord what we really want. I get to show the Lord by my actions if I want to have His blessings, or Satan's deceptions. Helaman37:35

Being a missionary, I've learned to look at people for their potential. I see how if they are faithful, they can be filled with the power and strength that comes from our Father in Heaven and they can, through Him, become mighty, pure, and full of light. The Savior died for us because He could see what we could become and He knew that we couldn't do it alone. Our potential is valuable to Him.

I've been sick this week- so has the entire town. I lost my voice. That was fun because everyone we talked to brought it up. That's okay though. I sound mostly normal again.

I have a new companion. Her name is Sister Caitlin Donnelly. She entered the MTC when I did. We have a lot of fun.

I got to see Sister Owens at transfers. I missed her, she's a gem. It was a great moment of reunion.

Sister Allred was really sad to leave. Things were just starting to pick up here. It was so hard when we got here. I think that happens a lot when you get doubled-in. It takes time to get things moving. She loved this area so much. I know that the Lord needed her somewhere else, though.

We are starting to see really great things happen here. I love this area so much. We will continue to see miracles, I know it.

We had a baptism on Sunday. The young lady being baptized has waited for years. Now that she's 18, she can. She is so happy. It is a privilege to be able to be there for that moment in someone's conversion. Just another joyous step closer to our Father in Heaven. It's the first covenant that we make, the way that we show that we want to follow Christ.

Another eternal truth I've learned is that those things that last the longest are the most important. That means nothing should be able to get in the way of my relationship with God or my family.

Lastly – all stake centers have confusing layouts. But that is okay. We find our way around anyway.

Be strong. Keep fighting for the truth.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner