Support and Love

This week I discovered that I can see Mt Rainier from our area if you go out in the sticks – which is exactly where we were this week. I got some great pictures. It's especially cool because my Mom was hiking around the base of the mountain this week, so she walked through our stake boundaries. I like to imagine that she's in this picture. Just WAAAAAY too small to see.

I've been thinking a lot this week about all of the people I have at home supporting me. My mom have been a huge help, not only financially (though that contribution has been significant) but also emotionally. I remember that she was on a boat almost the entire time that I was in the MTC, but I still got 3 letters from her there. She sends me packages, she writes me frequently and I know she prays for each of her children every day. I know that missionary moms go through a lot.

My Sister, Lisa, has also been a huge help. She has emailed me more faithfully than anyone else, I think. And she updates my blog every week. Even with three kids (one a new baby) and preschool and responsibilities. She's been great.

I am so grateful for the letters I get from friends at home and family members. It means a lot to us when we get mail. It also means a lot to know that you are praying for us. I know it makes a difference.

I am grateful for all of the people who have contributed to my personal conversion. Their example is part of my testimony, in a way, that I can share with people.

This week is a great opportunity to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Please take advantage of this opportunity to be uplifted and to help others are we here from living Apostles and Prophets in General conference. The Women's broadcast is this Saturday evening, and the other sessions are next weekend.

Don't miss it.

Thank you all for all that you do!

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

"You can do it now!"

The Elders left us conference CDs from last October. We found them in the car, and we have been listening to the talks in the car this week.

I was particularly touched by one form the Priesthood Session by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf called "You can do it now!"

In this Talk, President Uchtdorf reminds us that "our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off, and move forward."

I love that, because sometimes we think that we are too fallen to be saved, too filthy to be made clean, and too lost to be found. Such thoughts of self-doubt cast doubt on the Savior's ability to heal us. Remember how important that faith is.

We have to have the faith. The first step is to believe that through Christ we can be cleansed from all sin.

We got to go to the temple today. That was a great blessing. I always find peace and strength in the temple.I come away with a renewed desire to follow my Savior and do my best as His messenger.

Being a missionary is the coolest, because we get to go out and remind people that they can get up again. We get to encourage people to rely on Christ and let them know just how much He wants to heal them.

The members continue to give us the names of their well loved friends to go and visit, which is nice because people appreciate our message a lot more when it comes from a person of who's love for them they are already sure. The members also continue to give us food. We got a cantaloupe, some tomatoes, a sweet pepper, an eggplant, and new drinking glasses this week.

I tell you, people love sister missionaries. It's really not fair how kind they are to us, not that I'm complaining. It's pretty nice.

I have to include a shout out to my brother and sister-in-law- who just had an anniversary. Congratulations!

Also, I am going to have some pictures soon because my wonderful father is sending me a camera. I am so spoiled.

I cannot express my gratitude to all of the people who've given me such support and so many prayers, and such love that my cup runneth over with blessings. Thanks to all who take such good care of me. Know that I thank my Heavenly Father for you and I ask Him to watch over you.

We are looking forward to a beautiful Autumn season here in the Yakima Valley. Be strong. Go read that talk, it's great.

Yakkity Yak (Don't talk back!)

Welcome to Yakima, land of the fruit, home of the goats.

We love Yakima. Once again, I've been doubled-in to an area that's had Elders for a considerable amount of time. This are hasn't had Sisters for 15 years. The ward is so excited to have us here! And, we are so excited to be here.The weather is just starting to have a tinge of that beautiful crispness that tells us Autumn is on its way. With Autumn will come Apples, Halloween, Colorful leaves, and shorter days. I love Autumn so much. 

The people here have been exceptionally kind to us. The members here have been really good about sharing the restored gospel with their friends, and they are excited to invite us to meet their loved ones. We are so grateful for the effort and courage on their part. There are few things that can make me as happy as a person anxious to share the gospel with his/her friends and family. 

People here have also been kind enough to give us pears, plums, apples, and peaches. Blessings have been poured out upon us here. We get to eat with members every night, which brings joy to my soul, because we get to come into their homes, meet them and feel of their spirits and encourage them as they participate in this great work of salvation.

We have probably received more mail this transfer than any other apartment in the mission- all thanks to you wonderful people who are so kind to us. It helps that Sister Allred and I both had birthdays. I promise to try to write to the people who wrote to me, be patient with me, please!

Speaking of Birthdays, I would be highly remiss if I did not mention that my oldest Nephew Carter had a birthday very recently, and that I hope that it was full of greatness.

One of the packages we received this week contained DVDs of Mormon Messages- which makes me so glad because I rediscovered this video that made me cry tears of joy. (And if you know me, you know that I don't cry too often... I'm a tough girl)

My message this week is that there are indeed good things to come. I know that. If we keep pressing forward and refuse to give up, then there is help and kindness waiting around the bend. 

Sometimes our Heavenly Father asks us to wait and be patient for a little while until we are humble enough or the circumstances are right for the blessing. Sometimes we didn't know it, but the trial was a blessing. I have seen that so much being doubled in. When we have no idea what we are doing, and we feel so inadequate, we learn to rely on Christ. We learn that we don't have to be good enough because He is good enough. Sometimes we get so frustrated with ourselves because repentance and learning and healing take time and we want them to be immediate, or we become depressed because we wonder "If help hasn't come yet, who's to say that things will ever get any better" I testify that help and healing and confidence and answers come in time. Ether 12:6 tells us that a witness comes only after the trial of our faith. 

That is the way it HAS to work. We can't have all of the answers now, or it wouldn't be a real test. It's kind of like when I knock on somebody's door and they refuse the Book of Mormon because they don't want to add to the Bible. We could talk scriptures and logic and history forever but the real answer that has to come first is the one that the spirit gives when you read for yourself. Conversion comes first, then answers. Not the other way around. You have to have faith first, then things work out. If you try to switch up the order you will not find yourself becoming what God wants you to be. 

I promise that there are good things to come. Until then I remain your devoted friend,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

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

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

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.”

—Ether 12:4

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.

2 Nephi 19: 2-4 Isaiah9:2-4

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

More Pictures

My new companion Sister Andrus:

Here she is spreading the gospel, to all that will listen.