One Big Awkward Moment

My trainer told me a long time ago that a mission was like one big awkward moment that lasts for 18 months. I believe that. It isn't a bad thing – It's just a thing. Sometimes it's really funny.

Somebody who didn't want to keep his appointment left us this note last week. It was the best drop I have ever received. It's not the only drop note I've ever received, but it is the only one that came with candy taped to it.

Missions are a big awkward moment because people break social norms when they talk to missionaries, and missionaries break social norms to talk to people.

Example:

When you and your companion pull over so that you can talk to a person walking down the street.

Or when you walk up to a person in a car and knock on their window to talk to them about their faith.

We have a blast…

Another thing missionaries have to get used to is silence. Sometimes people need a minute to think, or to feel the spirit. Sometimes we need a minute to let the spirit tell us what question to ask, or what scripture to use to meet a person's need. It's only an awkward silence if you're not a missionary.

We also get really bad at talking to people about things that don't have to do with the scriptures. Most of us start avoiding people of the opposite gender unless we think they need a message about Jesus Christ. That's why you get a returned missionary in your school or your place of work and they are difficult to talk to. I've heard it wears off. I haven't really experienced too much of that, but my poor companion has got it really bad. It's a good thing.

We have a hard time being alone too. You lose sight of your companion and it's like the end of the world. We get really awkward really quickly.

We got to show someone the temple this week before he got baptized on Saturday. That was a joyous occasion. We walked him around the grounds and talked about all that is ahead of him. The spirit of the temple is powerful, even on the outside.

I love this work. I love the spirit that we feel. Every day is a new adventure. Crazy things happen each day and it's the best.

This is a pre-baptism picture of some people's feet. Since I didn't ask permission to put up a picture of his face.

Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

The Miracle of the Book of Mormon

This week was full of Miracles. I am really grateful to our members for coming with us to lessons so often because it makes a big difference. People need to have support. We have a couple people planning on being baptized in the coming weeks – both young adults with very little family support. It's stressful for them because they want to serve God and can't deny their testimonies, but their families don't seem to understand. Admittedly, I've heard the things people say about us and if they were true I'd be worried too. I understand how these families feel. I just feel bad for these poor young pioneers trying their best to follow Christ.

I told one young man this week "You know, your family really can't say anything until they have read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it's true. They can have an opinion – just not a very educated opinion until they have asked God for themselves." He agreed that that was how he got his answer, and it was the only way they would ever know for sure.

Sometimes people ask me if I've prayed to know if their faith is right – the answer is probably yes. I've prayed to know about a lot of truths. I was taught from a young age that if you want to know the truth it's best to ask a question, and that the best person to ask questions about faith and lost toys is always God. He is the only one who knows the answers to those questions for sure. So I've asked a lot of questions about a lot of doctrines and a lot of books.

I've learned something recently. It really matters very little what we say or do. People feel the Spirit when they read the scriptures and pray. When people read the Book of Mormon with an open heart and mind and humbly pray to know the truth, they will eventually get an answer. I've seen it again and again. I have watched countenances change. Sometimes it is slow and subtle, other times it is quick. I know it will always come. That's the miracle. The Book of Mormon a book of scripture written for our day. It was prepared by God to help people know that His church is restored in its fullness. The Heavens are open! God speaks! It's pretty exciting, and it makes sense to me that the Lord would deal with us in the same way that He dealt with His children so long ago (as recorded in the scriptures) with prophets, apostles, and priesthood authority like Moses gave to Aaron and Christ gave to Peter, James, and John. As we learn that the Book of Mormon is true we also learn that all of these things have been brought back to the Earth today, because the Book of Mormon was translated by one of these living prophets – Joseph Smith.

I all this is true, it's pretty important to know about. I really recommend this book.

But even with all of this, it can still be hard for new people if they do not have emotional support. Sometimes I wish that I could buy a house down the street from the people I've taught so I could be there for them for the rest of their lives, but I can't. I am eternally grateful to members and nonmembers who support people as they make this change in their lives. It's hard to do – like everything the Lord asks us to do. And it's not fun to have to do it without a good friend by your side. Luckily for those who find themselves alone. Our Father in Heaven plus one other person can make up a family (I got that from John Bytheway).  I know that our Father in Heaven is also eternally grateful when we support His children as they take steps in faith. Because the nature of our life on Earth requires that He cannot always stand physically in our presence and hold our hand, Our Father in Heaven inspires others to stand in His place and show some of His love to those who feel that hope is beyond them.

I am so grateful for the work. I love it. I love Richland. I am glad to be so near the temple.

The sun came out yesterday and it filled our souls with joy. That's a big change for me – coming from Arizona. I used to be so bored with sunshine. You never know what you have until it's gone.

Make every day count!

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thanks so much to all who sent cards, letters, and goodies to us this Christmas. We truly experienced an outpouring of love from the members here and at home, our families, and especially our Father in Heaven.

We had many miracles this week as we found several people who have truly been prepared by the Lord to accept our message. We have come across so many humble, soft-hearted people.

Exciting things are happening in our mission this year as we open up more Spanish branches and the first two all-Spanish zones in the mission. We still don't have a Spanish group in Richland, and we got a referral for a Spanish speaking family last week (we have an appointment with them today). So today I used my personal study to learn to teach a very simple restoration lesson in Spanish. This will help me a lot tracting anyway. Luckily, one of our Spanish speaking sisters is finishing her mission this week, so we are going to have her companion with us for the next couple of days. We will have a grand time teaching the family in Spanish. If they want to come to church, we will have to invite someone to translate for them.

I am so excited for a new transfer. Sister Lindmeir and I are staying here together for another 6 weeks. We have great plans, and we know that The Lord has great things in store for us.

Christmas was super fun. We had some really great experiences where people who had never let us in before let us in (the power of cookies and carols is amazing) and we met great people as well, like I said.

I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is our Savior. He leads and guides the church today. His Spirit is real and it testifies of truth to all those who honestly seek answers. I love watching people find answers by the spirit as they read the scriptures and receive a spiritual witness that they are true. I love watching the Spirit fill hearts and lives and homes as people embrace the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and live His gospel by faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. I am so humbled to be His missionary at this time of year when so many people are ready to learn and listen.

Thanks for all of the prayers and support. I love you all. Keep marching forward.

Love,

Sister Caroline Faulkner

Side Note from Caroline's sister Lisa:

We had a great visit with Caroline on Christmas. She is very busy. This is Sister Lindmeir's last transfer, so she will get a new companion for sure in 6 weeks.We hope you all are praying for the people she's teaching, and for her in general.

Thank you all and Happy New Year.

Born to Give Them Second Birth

Born to Give Them Second Birth

Being a missionary on Christmas is the best thing ever. People's hearts are so soft. We get in with people who would never otherwise let us in. I'm not homesick at all.

This morning, for companionship study we watched Elder Holland's Talk Safety for the Soul.

It's a really powerful talk. I really appreciated his testimony of the Book of Mormon and why it is important.

Another cool video is Scriptures Legacy.
We watched this today while we exercised. That was fun. I got to run from Lamanites with Moroni.

We've been talking a lot about what we are giving Christ for Christmas. My goal is to memorize The Living Christ by Christmas. I want to give the Savior my testimony of His power and divinity for Christmas.

So many blessings have been poured out upon our heads this week. So many members gave us their love and support, and sometimes food or gifts. I was really humbled by their kindness. The Lord has helped us to find some really great people to teach. I love this area and these people so much.

This is my planner for this transfer. 

And this is us on exchanges. Sister Lindmeir and I have both been companions with Sister Allred, and on exchanges I got to know Sister Steen- who's a real gem.

I know that Jesus Christ was born to allow us to be born again and return to our Father in Heaven. I know that He can heal our hearts and overcome our weaknesses.

I am thankful to be His missionary at this time.

I love you all, and thanks to all who have sent letters and packages- as well as those who pray for us and other missionaries. We love and appreciate you so much.

Merry Christmas!!!

Love,

Sister Faulkner

Miracles!

I really apologize for not writing. Things have been so crazy with our temple trip and preparations for Christmas. We've had so much to do on P-Day.

I have a few wonderful miracles to share.

This week has been one of the best in the last year. We found so many amazing, humble people this week. We found someone on Friday, and someone on Saturday that really needed a message of hope. They both came to church (given rides by members of the ward) and had really good experiences there. I've found that attending church does wonders for a person's testimony. They feel a great spirit there. We also found a family of 7 on Sunday night right before we headed home. They are really great, humble people. I love how the Lord leads us to people who will receive us. We really felt led this week by the spirit. There were so many times that people were placed in our path or we were directed to theirs.

I think our temple trip last week really helped us. I think that having the spirit of the temple in our hearts and on our minds helps us do God's will. We are working really hard to do our best, but I know that our efforts have very little to do with what we accomplish. Christ waits for us to show faith, and then it is His infinite power that gets the work done. We see miracles because of His Grace.

Another miracle was that a couple of my aunts sent me information regarding my grandparents’ conversion here in the late 1950s. I was moved by their recorded testimonies and experiences. I was glad to see that both sets of grandparents met missionaries who were tracting. (Though my Mom's parents were actually taught by missionaries, whereas my dad's parents were taught by stake missionaries – AKA older members called to be missionaries in their own area.)

I hit my year mark since I've written. I was at Mission Leadership Council on the 4th. That was a pretty special day. MLC is a great meeting where we discuss the needs of the mission and council together on how to serve the other missionaries. I saw Sister Reyes there, and some people I've known in past areas. It's weird to have been out a year. It doesn't feel like it's been that long. It feels strange to be having another Christmas in the field. I have more time to think about it and prepare now. I know the area and people we are teaching now. We have had a chance to share Christmas messages with several families. Especially He is the Gift. We have been sharing that with everybody.

We see a lot of hearts soften as we share about Christmas. We always tell people that our message is about Christ, but I think when it's about Christmas people are a little bit more open.

Here's a picture of Sister Lindmeir and me at the temple, and then one of Sister Owens and Sister Standing (I trained Sister Owens and Sister Lindmeir trained Sister Standing. They are currently companions) at the conference that happened in November.

Another thing that happened – I sang a solo at Christmas Zone Conference. One of the elders in our Zone is a concert pianist, and he wrote his own spectacular arrangement of "Oh Come all ye Faithful." I got to sing along and it went really well. Sister Lindmeir shared her testimony at Zone Conference because it's the last one that she'll have on her mission. She gave a really moving testimony. She's on fire.

I am so grateful for this time that I have to serve the Lord at this Christmas Season. I love you all. I am praying for you. I know that our Father in Heaven is watching over you.

Merry Christmas,

Love

Sister Caroline Faulkner

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