For starters, Sundays are amazing. Every Sunday we go for a temple walk. It's beautiful. So many thoughts were in my mind as I was sitting outside in the glory of God's creations.
The first vision entered my mind as I looked in the clouds...I might have shared this already.
"Vidi essattamente sopra la mia testa una colonna di luce piu brillante del sole, che discese gradualmente fino a che cadde su di me. Quando la luce stette su di me, io vidi DUE personaggi il cui splendore e il cui gloria sfidano ogni descrizione, ritti sopra di me nell'aria. Uno di essi mi parlo, chiamdomi per nome, e disse incando l'altro: Questo e il mio filgio diletto. Ascoltalo!"
(that was all from memory, btw! NBD :) )
As I look into the clouds, I think not even the rays of the sun are anywhere close to being as bright as God's glory!
Then there are the mountains!!! Oh my!! "the footstools of the Lord"! wow! The mountain of the Lord, (the Provo temple) is at the foot of a mountain of the Lord! see what I did there??
I love God! I love Jesus Christ! they created this beautiful place for us! and yet, the best places are without of reach, they are the reward of making it to the next life.
But sometimes I wonder, as I look at the mountains, do angels come down and walk along the mountain ridges? although their world is more majestic, do they come and walk here and reminisce?
----
I had a neat experience the other morning. We had outside exercise time and I was stretching on the grass and ....you know how the Y mountain and the mountain behind the temple cross and create a "v"? ...well the sun rose between the mountains and I literally saw the sun rays beyond the peak of the mountain. I saw specific rays, it was great! so beautiful!
---
Ok now to the temple experience: we did the special part before the endowment. I hate the using the word...it makes me feel so bad when others use it because its so sacred! WHY would you say that word?! everything that we discuss is so sacred, it makes me sad. I refuse to use that word unless i am inside the walls of the temple.
I proxied for 7 women. 4th name down was Eliza Lilly Gregory, from England 1874ish.
The first part began and the woman pronounced those 6 words and I FELT IT! Eliza was waiting for someone to do this for her. It was like I was her. She felt it too. WOW!
---
So many great things are spoken of in all the wonderful talks we hear
Sister Allen, wife of Stephen B. Allen Managing Director of Missionary Dept., shared something
very special and silly.
We've all seen Finding Nemo correct?
Well Sister Allen shared an experience and she said her husband said, "do you think the Lord will give you revelation through a children's movie?"
He told her, "just keep swimming!"
As Dori would say, "what do we do? we swim!" sing the song! Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!
Never left your head go under water, if all you can do is keep your nose over the surface, keep breathing. keep treading!
---
Then her husband, Stephen B. Allen spoke and he started by saying, "after my talk, you will be shown Sister Monson's funeral. Since that is so sacred and somber, I cannot give you the talk I planned on. The Spirit told me this earlier but I didn't listen. So just know that the Holy Ghost is going to teach through me. I have no notes. Hopefully, the Spirit will teach you what you need to know"
WOW! No notes. Only, the Spirit. Powerful?! YES~
as the time went on, he would stop in the middle of a sentence and just stare out, and say "that was more inspiration".
He had the tech crew prepare the MoTab Choir version of Come, Come Ye Saints (a special song for me, and a perfect missionary song) and we sang it with them! it was sooo amazing!
The Spirit has been speaking to me a lot this week, saying: there is something powerful about singing. there is something special about singing in a group.
I sang in the choir for the Tuesday devotional yesterday and I found out why: a choir is (in this case) 600 people all testifying at once.
It is a group testifying all at once.
---
On Sunday, after that talk we watched Sister Monson's wife funeral. if you CAN, watch it!
My biggest inspiration was: live in a way that the Lord will be able to say, when you meet Him again, "well done thou good and faithful servant". Imagine that, really...close your eyes and picture yourself standing in front of the Lord, walking into His presence, and being WORTHY of Him saying that to you. Having Him be able to call you His FRIEND!
so wow, missionary life is incredible.
once we get to the next life, we'll have better vocabulary. worldly language just doesn't do ANYTHING justice.
---
Cool thing I heard from yesterday's devotional from Elder W. Craig Zwick:
The Lord will bless me much later in my life, and when I ask Him why He will say, "it is because you served a mission. This is going to bless me forever!
He also repeated a few times, a phrase that goes along with the rest in your quote book, Mom.
It goes right along with "dont ride the chair"
"Its not easy, but it's worth it"
3 Nephi 4: 31-33 perfectly describe the way I feel. gushing forth of tears and all that!
Do you know what the word Hosanna means? "Save now"
I know that missionary service is tough. Each morning I wake up ...in the first 2 minutes I go through this process
"I will not get up. I will stay in bed for 10 minutes. I'm not ready"
then ...I am endowed anew with power from On High and I do get up. Because I am not important right now, the work is. My progress in becoming Christ-like is, but my needs are last. I only qualify for the power of God when I put His will first. Part of becoming Christ-like is getting out of bed.
"This is a consecrated place"
There are trials, but this is the place to learn.
Remember what I said earlier, Mom, the righteous have trials. The more righteous you are, the more trials you will have. BRING ON THEM TRIALS!
Speaking of, my ITALIAN is so much better.
Posso parlare piu and capire piu. Sento meglio in merito al mio Italiano. Io amo parlare and imparare le cose dello Spirito Santo. Quando insegniamo, io so che lo spirito lavora mediante la mia fede in Gesu Cristo.
My grammar isn't perfect, but I'm learning so much. Soon ill be writing all of my letters in italian! Sorry! You'll just have to learn so that we can talk to each other.
Another cool thing I learned - the word for "keep" in English is "sostenere" in Italiano.
so...essentially, sustain means to keep
"may the Lord bless you and keep you"
"may the Lord bless you and sustain you"
Sounds better that way doesn't it?
We have this weekly thing called TRC where we "visit teach" members. It's so cool. They've all served missions and everything but we meet with them and teach them/ The first time we did this was amazing. I feel that He was touched through the Spirit, we were worthy of saying what He needed.
We have met with a man named Alessandro Avenius. he's jewish and italian and he's from New York. He has schizophrenia, and he takes medicine and we were able to talk to Him about why personal revelation and hearing the Spirit are so important...trust me, it connected to Him. I thought it was great because we felt the Spirit! and we know that he did too.
Next week we have in field orientation: we get to place copies of the Book of Mormon in Provo!!!!
how cool!
OK SO ...now to the good part!!!
June 11 is when we leave. Our flight is at 12:30 pm and we arrive at the airport at 8:00 am. we fly to Chicago, London, then Milano!
we arrive in Milano (their time) at 1:30 pm Wednesday June 12!
we are allowed to call from the Airport! I'll call you all! we can talk!
YAY!
we'll get the set plans on sunday but this is what the Travel person said when they went to the consolate. Maybe if its not write, I'll write Tanner and Tanney you can send a quick letter to me back so that we're all set on the plan. if you can make time to talk, i'll leave messages on your phones!
it's almost time! 13 more days!!!!
Please know that if I had the time, I would respond to ALL of your comments and questions. Please know that I feel everything that you say and I am touched by all and so proud of all that you do! please know that!
I LOVE YOU ALL! You are my sunshines, my only sunshines, you make me happy, yes, every day! I hope you know, dears, how much I love you! please don't forget i'll see you some day!
I love you Tanney. I love you Evie. I love you Mommy. I love you Georgie ;P
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Four: May 22, 2013 MTC
Ciao mia Mamma,
How are you feeling?
I did find out Sister Monson died. I'm not sad because death brings eternal life. I do feel sad that President Monson will temporarily be without his companion, but he knows the plan so I'm not upset about it or anything.
ok....here's the thing. I sent you a super long letter yesterday that I wrote on Monday. It's 6 pages long. So this letter will be mostly of the things that have happened in the past 2 days and the little things that I always forget to share but are really important.
First, I'm sick...I have/had a nasty cold and cough. I feel so much better today but now I have allergies! Yay! I'm just glad that I can breathe. I'm still alive so there isn't much to complain about.
I got the package with the pretzels. Our family sure loves those pretzels! Thank you, I love the carrot picture too! It was great. I love hearing about Eva and her modesty and the cool things she does, like getting her varsity jacket to say Shortstop. YOU ROCK WHITES!
Eva, thank you so much for writing Sorella Gross. She actually gets a lot of letters and stuff now so she's not too upset anymore, but she said she loved your letter. I told her you were a hippie and she says she's glad because she's one too. She also said she'd write you back so hopefully she will. She is amazing.
Eva, I also wanted to let you know that I can't open the link about the temple because it was a FaceBook link. I did kind of get the gist of it and my teacher kind of explained it.
Tanner, thank you for sending me all of the things that I asked for and all of the extra things. Thanks for the sunflower pen, and the pretzels. Thank you for writing me. I can't write letters except on P-Day, you were right. I didn't realize that until Sunday, so I won't be writing them anymore, unless it's P-day. How is the EMT Program going? How is school? Are you feeling overwhelmed at all?
Mommy, I'm so sorry about the school denying your application. I want you to keep this experience in mind when you receive my letter. Read the part about the Indian Chief quote while you think on this experience. There is a purpose to all things even though it doesn't seem like it. I thought I was going to be called to Russia remember? I received revelation. All that ended up being was a sign that I needed to have a ready heart to serve anywhere. It doesn't make the revelation unreal, it just means you don't know its purpose yet.
I'm so excited to hear all about the things you tell me about. Seriously, the little, "pointless" things make a difference. I'm so sorry for making you feel guilty about the written letters. I don't need them. Please don't stress. I realized that I need to be a big girl and give all to the Lord and not complain about everything. There is a reason for this communication rule, I need to accept it and be willing to not speak to you all again for the next 17 (!!!!!!) months and 1 week, if that is what the Lord wants from me.
Mommy! A 4.0 while taking 12 credits!!!!!! You rock! You got a 4.0!!!! Hopefully, you're not too surprised. You're so smart and you work hard! How do you feel? I hope you feel accomplished. You're just the best.
Sorella Gross and I have been sick, she had pneumonia and I had a cold, so we received blessings from Anziano Baker, who had never given or received a blessing before. The only blessings he had received were when he received the Priesthood, his Patriarchal blessing, and his setting-apart.
I've been sharing a lot of faith-building experiences that I've had like living with my LDSBC roomate and surviving my senior year. This Tuesday, we heard from Marcus B. Nash & wife. His wife said something that prompted me to write down this phrase:
My senior year was a tender mercy from the Lord.
I pondered this after I wrote it. I read my patriarchal blessing again last night, and I discovered something interesting. it says:
I bless you with the GIFT OF WISDOM. The gift of wisdom will help you always in your life as you go forth for further assignments in the church.
Every single thing that I have struggled with, that I have done wrong and repented of, that I have survived...everything, to some extent was necessary. I needed ....I was blessed with that gift of wisdom so that I could serve others. My life is watched over. Although I do not believe God wants us to sin, I do believe He wants us to get something out of it when we do, otherwise there would be no point. He wants us to ...what?...gain WISDOM! BAM! KNOWLEDGE! I have lived a life that has led me to this point, and in some ways, I am wise. I have a lot to learn, but I know how to battle the adversary and I now know how to win!
As Marcus B Nash spoke, I felt prompted to write this down:
Without my faith, I have nothing. At times, I have lived an empty life. I will not live that way EVER again.
Because of my wisdom-building experiences, I have sometimes lived life without faith. I have felt empty, weak, and acted upon. Through that experience, I have learn the importance of faith and what it really is.
Faith is the air in my lungs and the blood in my veins. Faith is in my skin and it pumps my heart. Faith is my thoughts and my actions. When I have no faith, I am spiritually dead and empty.
Now that I know what Faith means, I know how important it is to have faith. Now I know WHY all must be able to exercise faith. Without faith, our spirits sleep. I now have the privilege, honor, calling, and duty to awake those spirits and guide them to find their faith. What a calling!
---
Today we went to the temple and acted as children in sealings. It was lovely! The blessings talked of in sealings were also addressed to me in my patriarchal blessing that my beloved Grandpa pronounced upon me. They were right there and I didn't even know!
Many talks here have addressed our connection to the "other side". The angels sing with us when we sing, they watch over us as we teach and travel, and THEY pray for US! My Liam, our Liam, watches me as I serve. He's a missionary too! I think it would be appropriate if we prayed for the souls that he teaches to accept the truth as well as those on this earth that I will teach.
---
If you have not seen the Testaments, the Book of Mormon/Bible movie where the Americans wait for Christ, I command you...(just kidding, he he) to watch it. like now. I was so touched as Christ was atoning for our sins, but I was even more touched as He descended and I was able to rejoice in our Resurrected Lord! What an amazing powerful movie.
I had so many spiritual experiences this week. We have Temple Walks on Sunday. As I was sitting outside the temple this week, I looked into the sky and there were individual rays coming down through the clouds...I was reminded of the First Vision...
"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head ABOVE THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SUN." The brilliance of the sun is nothing compared to the Glory of the Father and the Son! But He created all these glorious things here on this earth for us to enjoy, yet they are nothing compared to Them.
---
Tell Grandma and Aunt Cynthia that I love them and I think of them often.
Don't tell them this, but I put their names on the temple prayer roll every week because they deserve blessings. Especially Aunt Cynthia, she needs to know she is loved.
The language is coming along and I've been learning a lot.
I feel that I am really progressing.
I wish I could go to Italy....but what I really wish is that I was ready to go to Italy and that I would be worthy to be there.
I love you and I miss you.
Be good.
Work hard.
Love God.
"whenever it feels like I'm so far away, remember my love remains"
(listen to that song, My Love Remains -Jonny Lang, think of it as me singing it to you...then picture Heavenly Father singing it to you...it really is more of a religious song than it seems)
Know that I love you...I may be far away..well not for Tanner, but we have been SEALED for time and for all eternity~ there is no end to us. There is no time apart from one another, not even death can separate us. Not even this 17 months and 1 week. Although what's-his-no-face (aka Satan, you'll understand when you get my 6-page letter) wants us to believe that we are apart...we never will be.
I LOVE YOU!!!!
Sorella Carlock
How are you feeling?
I did find out Sister Monson died. I'm not sad because death brings eternal life. I do feel sad that President Monson will temporarily be without his companion, but he knows the plan so I'm not upset about it or anything.
ok....here's the thing. I sent you a super long letter yesterday that I wrote on Monday. It's 6 pages long. So this letter will be mostly of the things that have happened in the past 2 days and the little things that I always forget to share but are really important.
First, I'm sick...I have/had a nasty cold and cough. I feel so much better today but now I have allergies! Yay! I'm just glad that I can breathe. I'm still alive so there isn't much to complain about.
I got the package with the pretzels. Our family sure loves those pretzels! Thank you, I love the carrot picture too! It was great. I love hearing about Eva and her modesty and the cool things she does, like getting her varsity jacket to say Shortstop. YOU ROCK WHITES!
Eva, thank you so much for writing Sorella Gross. She actually gets a lot of letters and stuff now so she's not too upset anymore, but she said she loved your letter. I told her you were a hippie and she says she's glad because she's one too. She also said she'd write you back so hopefully she will. She is amazing.
Eva, I also wanted to let you know that I can't open the link about the temple because it was a FaceBook link. I did kind of get the gist of it and my teacher kind of explained it.
Tanner, thank you for sending me all of the things that I asked for and all of the extra things. Thanks for the sunflower pen, and the pretzels. Thank you for writing me. I can't write letters except on P-Day, you were right. I didn't realize that until Sunday, so I won't be writing them anymore, unless it's P-day. How is the EMT Program going? How is school? Are you feeling overwhelmed at all?
Mommy, I'm so sorry about the school denying your application. I want you to keep this experience in mind when you receive my letter. Read the part about the Indian Chief quote while you think on this experience. There is a purpose to all things even though it doesn't seem like it. I thought I was going to be called to Russia remember? I received revelation. All that ended up being was a sign that I needed to have a ready heart to serve anywhere. It doesn't make the revelation unreal, it just means you don't know its purpose yet.
I'm so excited to hear all about the things you tell me about. Seriously, the little, "pointless" things make a difference. I'm so sorry for making you feel guilty about the written letters. I don't need them. Please don't stress. I realized that I need to be a big girl and give all to the Lord and not complain about everything. There is a reason for this communication rule, I need to accept it and be willing to not speak to you all again for the next 17 (!!!!!!) months and 1 week, if that is what the Lord wants from me.
Mommy! A 4.0 while taking 12 credits!!!!!! You rock! You got a 4.0!!!! Hopefully, you're not too surprised. You're so smart and you work hard! How do you feel? I hope you feel accomplished. You're just the best.
Sorella Gross and I have been sick, she had pneumonia and I had a cold, so we received blessings from Anziano Baker, who had never given or received a blessing before. The only blessings he had received were when he received the Priesthood, his Patriarchal blessing, and his setting-apart.
I've been sharing a lot of faith-building experiences that I've had like living with my LDSBC roomate and surviving my senior year. This Tuesday, we heard from Marcus B. Nash & wife. His wife said something that prompted me to write down this phrase:
My senior year was a tender mercy from the Lord.
I pondered this after I wrote it. I read my patriarchal blessing again last night, and I discovered something interesting. it says:
I bless you with the GIFT OF WISDOM. The gift of wisdom will help you always in your life as you go forth for further assignments in the church.
Every single thing that I have struggled with, that I have done wrong and repented of, that I have survived...everything, to some extent was necessary. I needed ....I was blessed with that gift of wisdom so that I could serve others. My life is watched over. Although I do not believe God wants us to sin, I do believe He wants us to get something out of it when we do, otherwise there would be no point. He wants us to ...what?...gain WISDOM! BAM! KNOWLEDGE! I have lived a life that has led me to this point, and in some ways, I am wise. I have a lot to learn, but I know how to battle the adversary and I now know how to win!
As Marcus B Nash spoke, I felt prompted to write this down:
Without my faith, I have nothing. At times, I have lived an empty life. I will not live that way EVER again.
Because of my wisdom-building experiences, I have sometimes lived life without faith. I have felt empty, weak, and acted upon. Through that experience, I have learn the importance of faith and what it really is.
Faith is the air in my lungs and the blood in my veins. Faith is in my skin and it pumps my heart. Faith is my thoughts and my actions. When I have no faith, I am spiritually dead and empty.
Now that I know what Faith means, I know how important it is to have faith. Now I know WHY all must be able to exercise faith. Without faith, our spirits sleep. I now have the privilege, honor, calling, and duty to awake those spirits and guide them to find their faith. What a calling!
---
Today we went to the temple and acted as children in sealings. It was lovely! The blessings talked of in sealings were also addressed to me in my patriarchal blessing that my beloved Grandpa pronounced upon me. They were right there and I didn't even know!
Many talks here have addressed our connection to the "other side". The angels sing with us when we sing, they watch over us as we teach and travel, and THEY pray for US! My Liam, our Liam, watches me as I serve. He's a missionary too! I think it would be appropriate if we prayed for the souls that he teaches to accept the truth as well as those on this earth that I will teach.
---
If you have not seen the Testaments, the Book of Mormon/Bible movie where the Americans wait for Christ, I command you...(just kidding, he he) to watch it. like now. I was so touched as Christ was atoning for our sins, but I was even more touched as He descended and I was able to rejoice in our Resurrected Lord! What an amazing powerful movie.
I had so many spiritual experiences this week. We have Temple Walks on Sunday. As I was sitting outside the temple this week, I looked into the sky and there were individual rays coming down through the clouds...I was reminded of the First Vision...
"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head ABOVE THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE SUN." The brilliance of the sun is nothing compared to the Glory of the Father and the Son! But He created all these glorious things here on this earth for us to enjoy, yet they are nothing compared to Them.
---
Tell Grandma and Aunt Cynthia that I love them and I think of them often.
Don't tell them this, but I put their names on the temple prayer roll every week because they deserve blessings. Especially Aunt Cynthia, she needs to know she is loved.
The language is coming along and I've been learning a lot.
I feel that I am really progressing.
I wish I could go to Italy....but what I really wish is that I was ready to go to Italy and that I would be worthy to be there.
I love you and I miss you.
Be good.
Work hard.
Love God.
"whenever it feels like I'm so far away, remember my love remains"
(listen to that song, My Love Remains -Jonny Lang, think of it as me singing it to you...then picture Heavenly Father singing it to you...it really is more of a religious song than it seems)
Know that I love you...I may be far away..well not for Tanner, but we have been SEALED for time and for all eternity~ there is no end to us. There is no time apart from one another, not even death can separate us. Not even this 17 months and 1 week. Although what's-his-no-face (aka Satan, you'll understand when you get my 6-page letter) wants us to believe that we are apart...we never will be.
I LOVE YOU!!!!
Sorella Carlock
Friday, May 17, 2013
Three: May 15, 2013 MTC
Ciao Carissima famiglia!
Thank you so much for the emails and letting me know whats going on! I love hearing from you. I think this past week has been difficult because I havent received any written letters but I knew I would have emails but I couldn't read them so it was kind of weird though. Its all good, sorry, not trying to chastise you. I do prefer writing you back individually in written letters because there is more emotion. So please forgive me if I don't seem very excited or very emotional in the letters. I just dont have enough time to do so. But in written letters I do. Bear with me.
Wow~! Ok so a week and a half is soooo much longer as a missionary! PHEW! It's been so great though. Ive learned so much.
We get to go to the temple every P-day and its amazing. I learn something new or feel something new every time! COOL!
Thanks for letting me know about people thinking about me, btw, it means a lot. I feel so disconnected here from the outside, like I literally feel trapped in here because we are always inside and there is a fence going around the MTC grounds.
So let me tell you this experience first, itll sound bad at the beginning but youll understand why I'm sharing it.
So there has been some conflict in our district...surprise surprise, missionaries are still human. One of the anziani was being kind of rude so I said something to him about my feelings being hurt (slightly aggresssively) and it kind of became a little spat. but within 5 minutes we worked it out, apologized and moved on. I'm glad I had that experience, because even though I might not have handled it with grace I had the courage to say something and resolve the issue before it got worse. It also showed me that I need to be more humble and charitable so I'm glad I handled it the way that I did because it was a learning experience.
Like everything seems to be here, our teachers are amazing! They are so filled with the spirit. This one young man, Fratello Weller, teaches with the Spirit so much and it is soooooo strong! I love learning from him because you can see the light of Christ within him.
OH! And do you remember that investigator I told you about, Patrizia??? Well....turns out she's actually our teacher now, so we taught our "now" teacher as an investigator before we knew she was our teacher. We also saw her in the temple today, which was really nice. It felt kind of like seeing Tracy.
We've been learning so much Italian. I've been saying my prayers in Italian mostly, I say some in english when I just can't explain myself the right way in Italian. I know the Lord knows my heart, but I just want Him to hear my words and know that I feel them, rather than stumble through them. It's so great though, because I understand most everything that our teachers tell us and I feel really good about it. The more we practice, the more the Spirit will help our knowledge grow.
I shared this thought with Eva in a written letter, but I dont know with whom or if she shared it, so I'll share it again. This isn't a Missionary Training Center. Missionaries don't need to be trained, the Holy Ghost teaches through them. Missionaries need to be shaped/molded. This is a Missionary Molding Center. I am becoming the proper vessel to become a proper missionary. It is so amazing. I can't wait to "not recongnize myself" as you said, Mom. This is the coolest thing ever.
OHHH! And Russell M. Nelson came to speak to us yesterday. Him and his wife are so amazing. The spoke about missionary work affecting the ancestry of the "investigator" (I vcall them friends now, as Jeffrey R. Holland calls them). He spoe about so many things and I wish I could share them all but he talked about how OUR LOVED ONES ARE PRAYING FOR US ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEIL. Grandpa is praying for me, Liam is praying for me, and EVEN MORE SPECIAL THAN THAT. Liam and I are both missionaries on either side and we are both saving souls. Through the Atonement, the souls who have died without receiving the fullness of the truth can be saved. He wears a nametag bearing the Lord's name, just like me. We share this work and we are excited and happy to do so. I know this is true and I will explain how I know in a minute.
Something Russell M Nelson's wife said that I thought was odd, but true, was that we can pray to the Lord to access the strength and faith of our ancestors (essentially)/ She said. "who do you need to help you yoday?" and I thought about it, and my answer was Grandpa...and Liam. But Grandpa because of ...."well he's my friend of course, don't you know?". I need to treat everyone I meet that way. And Liam because He has so much strength, HE IS A MISSIONARY. He has been a missionary for the past 13+ years. How much more powerful can someone be?
We had a Teaching experience this week sometime in which we taught an Italian speaking MEMBER. We went in there planning to get him to read a passage and apply it to his life. That was the plan and that happened, but the Spirit completely took over. We had him read Moroni 10:32 and I asked him how he could live the scripture and he said minimal things and then I asked him if how he could help others live this scripture and it was something similar but he really thought about it and he said it was a great question. Sister Strong and I really felt that the Spirit had touched him (Eric), and we are so glad. It was a great experience.
I saw Gabby. She got here last week and I've seen her a bunch since, it's totally awesome! WOOT WOOT Sister Beck!
OMG! JESSIKA CHAVEZ! I am so excited that you will get to come here after all.
YOU
WILL
LOVE
IT!
This is the happening place to be. I love you so much. Do work, girl! Get ready for this because it is going to blow your mind!
____
I'm trying to take care of myself and I haven't gained a ton of weight or anything , but I could totally improve on Health and Exercise. I'll get better though.
I also need to work on focusing and remembering that this isn't a social experience. This is a spiritual work!
I'm going to be making life-long friends in Italy! I love those people already!
TANNER
I got the business cards! They are so great!
Do you have those batteries that you could send?
You have acciomplished so much in the last two weeks and you have so many goals. Good for you!
I am so proud of you! YAY EMT program! And Ward Clerk that is so great...you are so much more than worthy...The Lord called you, don't question Him.
EVA
Your light will shine so brightly to those around you. Remember yourself. Never give up because it is hard. It doesn't matter. Always shine, always be better.
MOM
You are amazing! Your spiritual insights are so perfect and so true! All of the things you said in your email are so on point! You said it girlfriend, the Lord was shaping you to be a better version of who you are.
Keep learning, keep praying, and He'll keep telling you what you need to know.
I'm so sorry I didn't get to talk to you on Mother's Day. I thought about you all day. I love you
Janice Kapp Perry spojke to us on Sunday for Relief Society and it was awesome. We sang most of the songs she wrote and she said that music is a good way to bring the Spirit, and it's SO TRUE! I feel most connected to the Lord when I pray to Him through song.
-----------
I have been struggling with being friendly and charitable to everyone. There is a Sister who talks so much and there is like never any silence, but I've been handling it very well and I know it is a shaping experience. I am befriending her and that is helping me deal with it. This is good for me.
THANK YOU TO ALL THAT WROTE ME. I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR LETTERS AND THEY HAVE MADE ME SO HAPPY. I WILL BE WRITING YOU ALL PERSONAL LETTERS SO EXPECT THEM IN THE MAIL SOON. I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF ME. YOU ARE SO SPECIAL, ALL OF YOU!
Well this is it for now. I'm going to send more pictures after this email.. they wont all fit in this one.
(the picture of the elder's nametag with the 3 last names is Anziano Betchi. He's from Cameroon but from Canada now. I thought you'd get a kick out of that...just like I got a kick out of the new and improved hello song....We wanna sing like......do, well hello" ;)
I love you all. I love you, I love you, I love you, I do!!! :)
I hum Aardvarks song when I feel like I need a piece of home, and I look at your pictures. Thank you Tanney for the album. And Eva I tell some of our stories to my district! Ha ha it's awesome. Mom, thank you for being a woman who is strong enough to raise me. Thank you for loving me and supporting me. Thank you for being my mommy.
I LOVE YOU!!!!!
LOVE YOURSELVES, TOO!
-Sorella Carlock
Thank you so much for the emails and letting me know whats going on! I love hearing from you. I think this past week has been difficult because I havent received any written letters but I knew I would have emails but I couldn't read them so it was kind of weird though. Its all good, sorry, not trying to chastise you. I do prefer writing you back individually in written letters because there is more emotion. So please forgive me if I don't seem very excited or very emotional in the letters. I just dont have enough time to do so. But in written letters I do. Bear with me.
Wow~! Ok so a week and a half is soooo much longer as a missionary! PHEW! It's been so great though. Ive learned so much.
We get to go to the temple every P-day and its amazing. I learn something new or feel something new every time! COOL!
Thanks for letting me know about people thinking about me, btw, it means a lot. I feel so disconnected here from the outside, like I literally feel trapped in here because we are always inside and there is a fence going around the MTC grounds.
So let me tell you this experience first, itll sound bad at the beginning but youll understand why I'm sharing it.
So there has been some conflict in our district...surprise surprise, missionaries are still human. One of the anziani was being kind of rude so I said something to him about my feelings being hurt (slightly aggresssively) and it kind of became a little spat. but within 5 minutes we worked it out, apologized and moved on. I'm glad I had that experience, because even though I might not have handled it with grace I had the courage to say something and resolve the issue before it got worse. It also showed me that I need to be more humble and charitable so I'm glad I handled it the way that I did because it was a learning experience.
Like everything seems to be here, our teachers are amazing! They are so filled with the spirit. This one young man, Fratello Weller, teaches with the Spirit so much and it is soooooo strong! I love learning from him because you can see the light of Christ within him.
OH! And do you remember that investigator I told you about, Patrizia??? Well....turns out she's actually our teacher now, so we taught our "now" teacher as an investigator before we knew she was our teacher. We also saw her in the temple today, which was really nice. It felt kind of like seeing Tracy.
We've been learning so much Italian. I've been saying my prayers in Italian mostly, I say some in english when I just can't explain myself the right way in Italian. I know the Lord knows my heart, but I just want Him to hear my words and know that I feel them, rather than stumble through them. It's so great though, because I understand most everything that our teachers tell us and I feel really good about it. The more we practice, the more the Spirit will help our knowledge grow.
I shared this thought with Eva in a written letter, but I dont know with whom or if she shared it, so I'll share it again. This isn't a Missionary Training Center. Missionaries don't need to be trained, the Holy Ghost teaches through them. Missionaries need to be shaped/molded. This is a Missionary Molding Center. I am becoming the proper vessel to become a proper missionary. It is so amazing. I can't wait to "not recongnize myself" as you said, Mom. This is the coolest thing ever.
OHHH! And Russell M. Nelson came to speak to us yesterday. Him and his wife are so amazing. The spoke about missionary work affecting the ancestry of the "investigator" (I vcall them friends now, as Jeffrey R. Holland calls them). He spoe about so many things and I wish I could share them all but he talked about how OUR LOVED ONES ARE PRAYING FOR US ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEIL. Grandpa is praying for me, Liam is praying for me, and EVEN MORE SPECIAL THAN THAT. Liam and I are both missionaries on either side and we are both saving souls. Through the Atonement, the souls who have died without receiving the fullness of the truth can be saved. He wears a nametag bearing the Lord's name, just like me. We share this work and we are excited and happy to do so. I know this is true and I will explain how I know in a minute.
Something Russell M Nelson's wife said that I thought was odd, but true, was that we can pray to the Lord to access the strength and faith of our ancestors (essentially)/ She said. "who do you need to help you yoday?" and I thought about it, and my answer was Grandpa...and Liam. But Grandpa because of ...."well he's my friend of course, don't you know?". I need to treat everyone I meet that way. And Liam because He has so much strength, HE IS A MISSIONARY. He has been a missionary for the past 13+ years. How much more powerful can someone be?
We had a Teaching experience this week sometime in which we taught an Italian speaking MEMBER. We went in there planning to get him to read a passage and apply it to his life. That was the plan and that happened, but the Spirit completely took over. We had him read Moroni 10:32 and I asked him how he could live the scripture and he said minimal things and then I asked him if how he could help others live this scripture and it was something similar but he really thought about it and he said it was a great question. Sister Strong and I really felt that the Spirit had touched him (Eric), and we are so glad. It was a great experience.
I saw Gabby. She got here last week and I've seen her a bunch since, it's totally awesome! WOOT WOOT Sister Beck!
OMG! JESSIKA CHAVEZ! I am so excited that you will get to come here after all.
YOU
WILL
LOVE
IT!
This is the happening place to be. I love you so much. Do work, girl! Get ready for this because it is going to blow your mind!
____
I'm trying to take care of myself and I haven't gained a ton of weight or anything , but I could totally improve on Health and Exercise. I'll get better though.
I also need to work on focusing and remembering that this isn't a social experience. This is a spiritual work!
I'm going to be making life-long friends in Italy! I love those people already!
TANNER
I got the business cards! They are so great!
Do you have those batteries that you could send?
You have acciomplished so much in the last two weeks and you have so many goals. Good for you!
I am so proud of you! YAY EMT program! And Ward Clerk that is so great...you are so much more than worthy...The Lord called you, don't question Him.
EVA
Your light will shine so brightly to those around you. Remember yourself. Never give up because it is hard. It doesn't matter. Always shine, always be better.
MOM
You are amazing! Your spiritual insights are so perfect and so true! All of the things you said in your email are so on point! You said it girlfriend, the Lord was shaping you to be a better version of who you are.
Keep learning, keep praying, and He'll keep telling you what you need to know.
I'm so sorry I didn't get to talk to you on Mother's Day. I thought about you all day. I love you
Janice Kapp Perry spojke to us on Sunday for Relief Society and it was awesome. We sang most of the songs she wrote and she said that music is a good way to bring the Spirit, and it's SO TRUE! I feel most connected to the Lord when I pray to Him through song.
-----------
I have been struggling with being friendly and charitable to everyone. There is a Sister who talks so much and there is like never any silence, but I've been handling it very well and I know it is a shaping experience. I am befriending her and that is helping me deal with it. This is good for me.
THANK YOU TO ALL THAT WROTE ME. I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR LETTERS AND THEY HAVE MADE ME SO HAPPY. I WILL BE WRITING YOU ALL PERSONAL LETTERS SO EXPECT THEM IN THE MAIL SOON. I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF ME. YOU ARE SO SPECIAL, ALL OF YOU!
Well this is it for now. I'm going to send more pictures after this email.. they wont all fit in this one.
(the picture of the elder's nametag with the 3 last names is Anziano Betchi. He's from Cameroon but from Canada now. I thought you'd get a kick out of that...just like I got a kick out of the new and improved hello song....We wanna sing like......do, well hello" ;)
I love you all. I love you, I love you, I love you, I do!!! :)
I hum Aardvarks song when I feel like I need a piece of home, and I look at your pictures. Thank you Tanney for the album. And Eva I tell some of our stories to my district! Ha ha it's awesome. Mom, thank you for being a woman who is strong enough to raise me. Thank you for loving me and supporting me. Thank you for being my mommy.
I LOVE YOU!!!!!
LOVE YOURSELVES, TOO!
-Sorella Carlock
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Two: May 13, 2013 MTC
Ciao Carissimo Famiglia,
Come staLei?
I am doing so well! I MADE IT! I've successfully been here for a week, and I'm NOT coming home! This week has been intense!!!!
So spiritual, a little difficult, but mostly working working working and learning learning learning! It's been so great.
I love my teacher, Fratello Jeter, but I told you that. He's so spiritually in-tune and he really cares about us. He called us out individually and he talked to me. He said, "thank you! thank you! thank you for coming on a mission. You're encouragin and you motivate everyone. [your testimony shows and I'm glad I get to see it]." That was a really special thing for me. I really do look up to him.
We had so many special meetings and conferences this past week. I had an interesting day on Sunday. We had 3...3!!!!!! meetings/conferences, not including Sacrament meeting. Every single time we started to prepare to do something spiritually edifiying, I felt satan's influence and I got frustrated and angry and I felt like I didn't want to be here anymore. As soon as I felt the Spirit, I knew what it was...He was trying to take those experiences away from me so that I would be a bad missionary or want to go home. I WON THOUGH! I'm still here.
AHH gosh....there is so much I want to share!
Ok, so my district is amazing! It's 2 copie of Sorelle and 2 copie of Anziani.
Anziano Valentine and Anziano Betchi (from Cameroon, but he's lived in Canada pretty much his whole life so he speaks French. He's also the one with 3 last names)
Anziano Petterborg and Anziano Baker
Sorella Baird and Sorella Gross
Sorella Strong and Sorella Carlock
It's an amazing and spiritual district. Their testimonies are amazing...SO STRONG, and so enriching. I love them. It's also been a learning experience because ...well, obviously different personalities...different views of how much talking should go on during the day...(like minimal, please!) But I love them all, and I can honestly say that. I may get frustrated, but I love them all.
Sorella Gross in particular. She is such a strong person. She has accomplished so much and she is only 19 yrs old. She's powerful, so smart, and you can feel of her love through her eyes and her smile. I want to be her friend forever. I love being around her and I am so glad I know her. Hopefully, we can be companions. (she's actually sitting next to me right now! he he)
Sorella Strong is so much fun. She's an amazing teacher. She knows so mucbh Italian...more than me, so I'm glad I'm her companion because we're on similar levels.
The tesimonies of the Anziani are wonderful. You can tell they've lived it, and loved it! I wish I could share everything that I've learned/I'm learning from them. Other than Anziano Betchi (age 22), I'm the oldest. Not that it's a big deal but it's kind of cool.
We have 2 or 3 converts in our district
Sorella Gross
Anziano Valentine
(MAYBE) Anziano Betchi.
Like I said, the testimonies are so strong.
I just remembered something that I wanted to share.....we had Chad Lewis (football player for BYU and Phily Eagles) come to speak to us on Sunday and he said something really powerful:
You are here because you have courage.
Powerful, right? I have no roome to be afraid or scared or angry, I have courage!
Today is P-Day so Sorella Strong, Sorella Baird, and I went to the temple. We completed a session and I was able to understand more about our purpose here and why our bodies are so important. It was reallty great. It felt weird not being together though.
I went to the consulate on Tuesday and I finished all the paperwork for my VISA so we wont have to worry about that.
Also, missionaries in the MTC DON'T call home from the MTC. I'm sorry I thought we would be able to. Happy Morther's Day!!! I love you, my Mommy, you're such a special lady!! The best mommy ever!
To Tanner:
Thank you for the photo album! I love it! It's perfect. You were my favorite companion, and you being with me really prepared me for this experience. Thank you for being my brother. I wrote you a letter, I hope you got it.
Keep moving forward. I hope me being here blesses you and gives you the strength to move forward. If I don't accomplish anything else, I hope my service blesses you. I love you. You are the best big brother ever. My testimony is what it is because you are who you are to me. Ubuntu baby!
To Eva:
Thanks for the photo of Georgie. I couldn't print it out in large form, but I love it. I showed it to the Sorelle and they all laughed. Be strong. I know that you might be frustrated with your weird friends, but make sure you are furthering yourself and not letting other people take you away from the relationship you are building with Christ. READ THE SCRIPTURES! PRAY, morning AND night! Don't forget
To Mommy:
Mommy, thank you so much for your letter. You are an inspired woman. I will definitely try the smoothie.
Thank you for sending me the quote from Neal A Maxwell and the talk from President Eyring. It was perfect.
Don't worry. My period of doubt and struggle was Saturday and Sunday, and it's way passed now. So far behind me, I doesn't even exist. I am here. I am set. I'm a missionary.
It really is everything I'd hoped for, but more intense...in a good way. We are in a fortress of truth-sharing and strengthening. This isn't about me...but that makes me really how much my soul is worth to Him.
I'd like to share my testimony about being a missionary: a representative of the Lord.
As I have mentioned before, on the name tags there is the name of Christ, and we are blessed with the opportunity to wear it over our hearts. But also, as well as the Lord's name being there, so is me.
"Abide in me and I in you. Except you abide in me and I in you, you can do nothing." I have covenanted to give myself to Christ. He is my Friend, my companion, my example, and my guide.
Names are such a special thing to us, and I get to wear mine and My Saviour's directly over my heart. How special is that?
Io so che Gesu Cristo e il Signore mi ama. Gesu e il mio Salvatore e Lei Salvatore. Mediante la sua espiazione, noi possiamo tornare a Lui e Padre Celeste. Io so che il vangelo nell Libro di Mormon e l'unica via a Cristo. Suo vangelo e vero! Io so questo con tutto mi cuore.
(sorry, the grammar isn't perfect)
I love you all. You are an inspiration to me and you motivate me to return with honor. Don't worry about me, but don't give up on me either. I like hearing how you are, even though I am so busy. Please write me. It reminds me that we are forever connected. In the gospel and for eternity.
I haven't taken my bracelet off. Have you?!
(if you do post this on the blog, feel free to correct my grammatical errors. I'm trying to type quickly so that I can fit everything in)
I will write letters if i remember anything that I left out.
I am a missionary, and I have the opportunity to teach an investigator (right now, like while i'm in the MTC, i'm teaching some: Patrizia, in italiano) of the truth. I teach of the truth because I know it, I live it, I love it.
You are all amazing. Thank you for letting me know I haven't been forgotten.
I don't think about you all the time, but I always ...and will always love you. I'll send pictures in a little. I love you all.
Tanney, I miss you too, but we are connected. I know you said you aren't, but don't get sad or discouraged. The Lord "is my light, He is my joy and my song. By day and by night, He leads, He leads me along!"
Eva, you are so strong. Let your light of Christ shine to those who do not know of the fullness of the truth. "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!" Be that ever-burning fire!
Mommy, ....you....you incredible woman, you. I miss you and I love you so much. BE HAPPY!!!!!! "There is sunshine in my soul today. more glorious and bright where the peaceful happy moments roll for Jesus is my light. There is sunshine, BLESSED sunshine! where the peaceful happy moments roll. when Jesus shows His smiling face, there is SUNSHINE IN MY SOUL"!!!!!!
Tell Grandma I love her and I am thinking of her.
Tell Aunt Cynthia that she is special, loved, thought of, and missed.
AHH! I don't want to end this letter but I have to.
I love you.
Put your shoulder to the wheel ( i guess Hymns are my new thing)
Don't give up
Don't lose faith
Don't lose hope
Live with honor, serve with honor, return with honor!
I love you. You are in my heart, forever etched into my soul, we are sealed!!! forever and ever!
I love you, I love you, I love you, I do!
I love you, I love you, I love you, its true!
I love you, I love you, it's you I adore!
And every new day, I love you some more ~
Arriverderci la mia famiglia carissima!
Faithfully!
Sorella Carlock
Come staLei?
I am doing so well! I MADE IT! I've successfully been here for a week, and I'm NOT coming home! This week has been intense!!!!
So spiritual, a little difficult, but mostly working working working and learning learning learning! It's been so great.
I love my teacher, Fratello Jeter, but I told you that. He's so spiritually in-tune and he really cares about us. He called us out individually and he talked to me. He said, "thank you! thank you! thank you for coming on a mission. You're encouragin and you motivate everyone. [your testimony shows and I'm glad I get to see it]." That was a really special thing for me. I really do look up to him.
We had so many special meetings and conferences this past week. I had an interesting day on Sunday. We had 3...3!!!!!! meetings/conferences, not including Sacrament meeting. Every single time we started to prepare to do something spiritually edifiying, I felt satan's influence and I got frustrated and angry and I felt like I didn't want to be here anymore. As soon as I felt the Spirit, I knew what it was...He was trying to take those experiences away from me so that I would be a bad missionary or want to go home. I WON THOUGH! I'm still here.
AHH gosh....there is so much I want to share!
Ok, so my district is amazing! It's 2 copie of Sorelle and 2 copie of Anziani.
Anziano Valentine and Anziano Betchi (from Cameroon, but he's lived in Canada pretty much his whole life so he speaks French. He's also the one with 3 last names)
Anziano Petterborg and Anziano Baker
Sorella Baird and Sorella Gross
Sorella Strong and Sorella Carlock
It's an amazing and spiritual district. Their testimonies are amazing...SO STRONG, and so enriching. I love them. It's also been a learning experience because ...well, obviously different personalities...different views of how much talking should go on during the day...(like minimal, please!) But I love them all, and I can honestly say that. I may get frustrated, but I love them all.
Sorella Gross in particular. She is such a strong person. She has accomplished so much and she is only 19 yrs old. She's powerful, so smart, and you can feel of her love through her eyes and her smile. I want to be her friend forever. I love being around her and I am so glad I know her. Hopefully, we can be companions. (she's actually sitting next to me right now! he he)
Sorella Strong is so much fun. She's an amazing teacher. She knows so mucbh Italian...more than me, so I'm glad I'm her companion because we're on similar levels.
The tesimonies of the Anziani are wonderful. You can tell they've lived it, and loved it! I wish I could share everything that I've learned/I'm learning from them. Other than Anziano Betchi (age 22), I'm the oldest. Not that it's a big deal but it's kind of cool.
We have 2 or 3 converts in our district
Sorella Gross
Anziano Valentine
(MAYBE) Anziano Betchi.
Like I said, the testimonies are so strong.
I just remembered something that I wanted to share.....we had Chad Lewis (football player for BYU and Phily Eagles) come to speak to us on Sunday and he said something really powerful:
You are here because you have courage.
Powerful, right? I have no roome to be afraid or scared or angry, I have courage!
Today is P-Day so Sorella Strong, Sorella Baird, and I went to the temple. We completed a session and I was able to understand more about our purpose here and why our bodies are so important. It was reallty great. It felt weird not being together though.
I went to the consulate on Tuesday and I finished all the paperwork for my VISA so we wont have to worry about that.
Also, missionaries in the MTC DON'T call home from the MTC. I'm sorry I thought we would be able to. Happy Morther's Day!!! I love you, my Mommy, you're such a special lady!! The best mommy ever!
To Tanner:
Thank you for the photo album! I love it! It's perfect. You were my favorite companion, and you being with me really prepared me for this experience. Thank you for being my brother. I wrote you a letter, I hope you got it.
Keep moving forward. I hope me being here blesses you and gives you the strength to move forward. If I don't accomplish anything else, I hope my service blesses you. I love you. You are the best big brother ever. My testimony is what it is because you are who you are to me. Ubuntu baby!
To Eva:
Thanks for the photo of Georgie. I couldn't print it out in large form, but I love it. I showed it to the Sorelle and they all laughed. Be strong. I know that you might be frustrated with your weird friends, but make sure you are furthering yourself and not letting other people take you away from the relationship you are building with Christ. READ THE SCRIPTURES! PRAY, morning AND night! Don't forget
To Mommy:
Mommy, thank you so much for your letter. You are an inspired woman. I will definitely try the smoothie.
Thank you for sending me the quote from Neal A Maxwell and the talk from President Eyring. It was perfect.
Don't worry. My period of doubt and struggle was Saturday and Sunday, and it's way passed now. So far behind me, I doesn't even exist. I am here. I am set. I'm a missionary.
It really is everything I'd hoped for, but more intense...in a good way. We are in a fortress of truth-sharing and strengthening. This isn't about me...but that makes me really how much my soul is worth to Him.
I'd like to share my testimony about being a missionary: a representative of the Lord.
As I have mentioned before, on the name tags there is the name of Christ, and we are blessed with the opportunity to wear it over our hearts. But also, as well as the Lord's name being there, so is me.
"Abide in me and I in you. Except you abide in me and I in you, you can do nothing." I have covenanted to give myself to Christ. He is my Friend, my companion, my example, and my guide.
Names are such a special thing to us, and I get to wear mine and My Saviour's directly over my heart. How special is that?
Io so che Gesu Cristo e il Signore mi ama. Gesu e il mio Salvatore e Lei Salvatore. Mediante la sua espiazione, noi possiamo tornare a Lui e Padre Celeste. Io so che il vangelo nell Libro di Mormon e l'unica via a Cristo. Suo vangelo e vero! Io so questo con tutto mi cuore.
(sorry, the grammar isn't perfect)
I love you all. You are an inspiration to me and you motivate me to return with honor. Don't worry about me, but don't give up on me either. I like hearing how you are, even though I am so busy. Please write me. It reminds me that we are forever connected. In the gospel and for eternity.
I haven't taken my bracelet off. Have you?!
(if you do post this on the blog, feel free to correct my grammatical errors. I'm trying to type quickly so that I can fit everything in)
I will write letters if i remember anything that I left out.
I am a missionary, and I have the opportunity to teach an investigator (right now, like while i'm in the MTC, i'm teaching some: Patrizia, in italiano) of the truth. I teach of the truth because I know it, I live it, I love it.
You are all amazing. Thank you for letting me know I haven't been forgotten.
I don't think about you all the time, but I always ...and will always love you. I'll send pictures in a little. I love you all.
Tanney, I miss you too, but we are connected. I know you said you aren't, but don't get sad or discouraged. The Lord "is my light, He is my joy and my song. By day and by night, He leads, He leads me along!"
Eva, you are so strong. Let your light of Christ shine to those who do not know of the fullness of the truth. "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!" Be that ever-burning fire!
Mommy, ....you....you incredible woman, you. I miss you and I love you so much. BE HAPPY!!!!!! "There is sunshine in my soul today. more glorious and bright where the peaceful happy moments roll for Jesus is my light. There is sunshine, BLESSED sunshine! where the peaceful happy moments roll. when Jesus shows His smiling face, there is SUNSHINE IN MY SOUL"!!!!!!
Tell Grandma I love her and I am thinking of her.
Tell Aunt Cynthia that she is special, loved, thought of, and missed.
AHH! I don't want to end this letter but I have to.
I love you.
Put your shoulder to the wheel ( i guess Hymns are my new thing)
Don't give up
Don't lose faith
Don't lose hope
Live with honor, serve with honor, return with honor!
I love you. You are in my heart, forever etched into my soul, we are sealed!!! forever and ever!
I love you, I love you, I love you, I do!
I love you, I love you, I love you, its true!
I love you, I love you, it's you I adore!
And every new day, I love you some more ~
Arriverderci la mia famiglia carissima!
Faithfully!
Sorella Carlock
Monday, May 6, 2013
One: May 6, 2013 MTC
Caro mia famiglia,
Ciao! Coma staLei? I've been so busy, and I am having such a great time I had to wake up a little early to write to you because there just isn't enough time during the day. It's about 6:15am, and it is so peaceful. I can feel the Spirit so strongly throughout the day; but, right now, it is stronger in a more quiet way.
I love you all, but I haven't been thinking about you. That doesn't mean I don't love you, it just means I am too busy, and I have work to do! I do think about you when we teach lessons and testify about the sealing power of families. It's nice because we can be together forever, and we get to teach others that they can do the same.
My companion, Sorella Strong, is amazing. She also studied Italiano before being called. She is very sweet, and I think we understand each other's spirits very well. Our ideas are similar.
Our district consists of two pairs of anziani e sorelle. We have a whole mix of people. There is an anziano from Camaroon, but he has lived in Quebec City, Canada for most of his life. His name is so long! Anziano Betchi Minyono Nikodo. He is our district leader. There are five districts of Italian missionaries; we are in a room with the other sorelle and a copia (companionship, I think) from Rome.
I have been making smart choices, food-wise! Except for lunch yesterday - but we won't talk about that! Ha! The food isn't too bad, and it's a nice break from the three-hour classes.
Yesterday in class, we learned how to pray and bear our testimonies in Italiano. I have been practicing, and I think the Lord will be willing to help me if I keep doing so. It is nice, though, because I can understand most of what Fratello Jeter is saying to us. I just want to be able to speak back. I know it will come, though.
We are teaching a real, live investigator today. Patrizia. I am not scared, because this is what missionaries do, and our distritto is prepared. Lo Spirito Santo will be able to teach through us. After all, "you already speak Italian! DUH!" (That's what our teacher, Fratello Jeter, says.)
My Italiano is not perfeto, pero lo voglio to bear my testimony to you.
Io so che la Chiesa di Gesu Cristo dei Santi degli Ultimi Giorni e la vera chiesa. Tomas S. Monson e un profeta di Dio. Gesu Cristo o il figlio di Dio e Lui VIVE! Dio VIVE! Dio e nostio Padre Celeste! Nel none di Gesu Cristo. Amen.
I love you all. Be strong. Be faithful. Don't miss me; I don't want you to. I LOVE YOU FOREVER!
Until next time,
Sorella Carlock
Ciao! Coma staLei? I've been so busy, and I am having such a great time I had to wake up a little early to write to you because there just isn't enough time during the day. It's about 6:15am, and it is so peaceful. I can feel the Spirit so strongly throughout the day; but, right now, it is stronger in a more quiet way.
I love you all, but I haven't been thinking about you. That doesn't mean I don't love you, it just means I am too busy, and I have work to do! I do think about you when we teach lessons and testify about the sealing power of families. It's nice because we can be together forever, and we get to teach others that they can do the same.
My companion, Sorella Strong, is amazing. She also studied Italiano before being called. She is very sweet, and I think we understand each other's spirits very well. Our ideas are similar.
Our district consists of two pairs of anziani e sorelle. We have a whole mix of people. There is an anziano from Camaroon, but he has lived in Quebec City, Canada for most of his life. His name is so long! Anziano Betchi Minyono Nikodo. He is our district leader. There are five districts of Italian missionaries; we are in a room with the other sorelle and a copia (companionship, I think) from Rome.
I have been making smart choices, food-wise! Except for lunch yesterday - but we won't talk about that! Ha! The food isn't too bad, and it's a nice break from the three-hour classes.
Yesterday in class, we learned how to pray and bear our testimonies in Italiano. I have been practicing, and I think the Lord will be willing to help me if I keep doing so. It is nice, though, because I can understand most of what Fratello Jeter is saying to us. I just want to be able to speak back. I know it will come, though.
We are teaching a real, live investigator today. Patrizia. I am not scared, because this is what missionaries do, and our distritto is prepared. Lo Spirito Santo will be able to teach through us. After all, "you already speak Italian! DUH!" (That's what our teacher, Fratello Jeter, says.)
My Italiano is not perfeto, pero lo voglio to bear my testimony to you.
Io so che la Chiesa di Gesu Cristo dei Santi degli Ultimi Giorni e la vera chiesa. Tomas S. Monson e un profeta di Dio. Gesu Cristo o il figlio di Dio e Lui VIVE! Dio VIVE! Dio e nostio Padre Celeste! Nel none di Gesu Cristo. Amen.
I love you all. Be strong. Be faithful. Don't miss me; I don't want you to. I LOVE YOU FOREVER!
Until next time,
Sorella Carlock
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)