Monday, August 29, 2016

My Mission was the best- Charlie's last post from Georgia, 29 August 2016

Well Hey all y'all, 
Well I just want to say that my mission has just been the best. I am so grateful for the chance I was able to come here. It has helped me a lot. I don't know what I would have done if I never would have extended for 15 months from the Salt Lake City South Mission. This gospel is amazing! I was listening to a talk by John Bytheway. It's called the best 3 hrs. It is so amazing! It talks about how this Church Loves its teenagers. Knowing that a teenager said a prayer and brought this church back together. So cool!! 
Sister Walker came up with something amazing. Missionaries are Spiritual EMT! We are helping everyone out as we can. Some are asking for help and others aren't. But that doesn't mean we can stop helping them. We are all missionaries; even without the name tag. All the prophets have said Every member is a mission. I know that is true. I will be a missionary when I get home. I can't wait for that to happen. I know that there are those who need us, They need that light we have to help them through out their life. 
I know that we are put in a place at the right time. I know I was called to serve a mission at the right time. I know that things can be really hard in the mission field but Heavenly Father has always said, " I never said it will be easy but I said it will be worth it." For all those Future missionaries out there it is worth it to serve. 

So just to say this week has been really fun of emotions. I just can't believe I am emailing my last letter as a Full time Called Missionary. This week has been great. One of the members who feed me bought me a cake because that was my last meal with her.  It was so nice. 
Also yesterday Sister Walker and I got the chance to sing in Church. The really cool thing was in the beginning of my mission. So in Salt Lake City.. I was able to sign with my Companion Sister Bangerter and now near my end of my mission I got the chance to Sing with My Companion. So cool! 
This week we notice we were really low on food. #End of the month/ going to food storage. 
So just to say we were stopping by a house around 6. Still not having dinner yet. Just to say the member fed us food. Tender moment. It was the best. 
Also just to say Yesterday a member gave a food for lunch and another member gave us food after we had dinner with them. Just to say we have food now!! Heavenly Father does watch over his Missionaries!! 

I am excited for seeing my family but I am really sad to leave the people here who have touched  me in Georgia. I am so grateful for them and all what they have taught me. 
I glad that things have worked out and I have learned wonderful things in my life. 
Also sad news this week. We got told on Friday that our district leader got moved to the Tifton District and that Albany is a district now. I thought so; there is 6 of us here. But it was sad to lose a set of Elders. 
So I will let y'all know what we are doing today! A member wants to feed all the missionaries and just to say we are also going fishing!! I can't wait. It is going to be a lot of fun. Also this week we are going to be like missionaries and work hard to the end. I know that as missionaries focus on the work and really work hard to the end the mission is going to really change you so much. 
Just to day I have really had a wonderful day so far. We where able to help someone answer her questions about what she is Reading in the Book of Mormon. It has been wonderful helping her out. 

I sure do hope that everyone has a wonderful week. Always know that if you have hard days, all you need to do is to Pray. He will always be there for you. He is waiting there for us to ask Him for Help.
I Sure do hope all y'all have a wonderful Week! 
Sorry that I don't have any new pictures. But Know that I pray for y'all every day. 

I want to let all y'all know that I know that Jesus Christ Suffered for all of our mistakes in our life. That he is our Savior.  I truly know that Heavenly Father is always there. I have felt him so much in my life. I am so grateful for Christ for all he has done for me in my life. 
I know that families are together for ever. That I will see my dad again; knowing that death is not an end. That I will be able to see my loved one again. 
I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I have read it several times and find things that I learn every time. It is so amazing to know how the scriptures can truly help you in your life. I know that great things will come our way as long as we try our best. Heavenly Father and our Savior are always there. I know that Joseph Smith's prayer was answered and that he brought the True Church back to the earth. I know that he was a prophet of God. I know that we have a prophet that leads and guides us in these days. I know that I was called by a prophet of god to the Georgia Macon Mission. I am so grateful for that. 
I love this gospel so much. It has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am grateful that families are so important in this church. I don't know what I would do with out my family. They mean so much to me. 

I love y'all!! See all y'all soon!! 

Thought:
“There is neither man or woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life”  - President Brigham Young 
“There will always be a spiritual light that beckons to us, giving us the hope of rescue and relief.”—Elder L. Whitney Clayton
“May we ever be a light on the hill, an example in keeping the commandments, which have never changed and will never change.” Elder L. Tom Perry 

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

A fun and crazy week- 15 August 2016

Hey all y'all, 
Well this week has been Crazy!! 
First I want to wish my Sister Jesse a very Happy 16th Birthday. 
So this week has been very fun. So we moved apartments this week. Super crazy. It is a brand new one as well. Everything works just fine. 
Just to say our AC likes to put our apartment at 66 degrees in the morning when it is set at 74. But it's  okay. 
This week we had ZTM. It was just wonderful. Just to say the spirit in the room was so strong. Of course it was my last one. I had a rough time with that. We talked about how me need to get over our fears and talk to everyone we see. Because we don't know who is prepared. As we do we will be able to answer their questions. 
So they gave the departing missionaries a time to bare their last testimony. I know that I have learned so much in my mission. It has helped me along the way in so many ways. I noticed something really cool. Sister Goade pointed it out to me when we where companions. When I bear my testimony I don't stutter. The spirit brings it clear. I am so grateful for that. They played "God be with you till we meet again" I just was in tears in the first couple of words. I was so sad to leave this behind but know that it was going to be worth it. Then I could feel my dad's spirit in the room. It was wonderful. I knew that he was watching over me. Letting me know that he was there and that everything was going to be all right. 

I am so grateful for this gospel. It is amazing. Heavenly Father works in wonderful ways. To help us learn and grow. We all have trails and we will over come them. 

Saturday we had Stake conference. Which was amazing! Elder Joseph W. Sitati came and spoke to the Tifton Stake. It was just wonderful. I learned so much. There theme for the conference was to Answer the Call. I just thought that was cool. Knowing that if the Lord has a special calling like a mission, or even a calling in the church we should be prepared and accept it. There is a reason why you are called. It will help us in so many ways. 

Sunday our mission President spoke at stake conference and talked about how we are all Disiples of Jesus Christ. We caring  his name upon us. I thought that was way cool.  

I sure do love all y'all. Thanks for all y'all do. 
You are the best!! 
I sure do hope things go well for y'all this week. 

Thoughts:
“Throughout our lives, whether in times of darkness, challenge, sorrow, or sin, we may feel the Holy Ghost reminding us that we are truly sons and daughters of a caring Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we may hunger for the sacred blessings that only He can provide.”—Elder Robert D. Hales
Great things are brought about and burdens are lightened through the efforts of many hands.”—Elder M. Russell Ballard
“Sacrifice is made sweet to us when we treasure the joy it brings to another heart.”—President Henry B. Eyring

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

JAZLYN GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!! Charlie, 1 August 2016

One of the new elders sent to Albany is one of Jack's best friends from elementary school, Wes Oldroyd.  His older sister was one of Charlie's best friends.  She said it's like serving with Jack, although Wes isn't quite as obnoxious.  :)

Hey all Y'all,
Well this week was so amazing. So just to say we set goals to work towards every week. Guess what? Sister Walker and I got 8/9. So close! We just needed a few more investigators at Church. But it was super amazing!!! 
So we had a Baptism this week which was so amazing. Back story on her... She had been coming to Church for 2 years and someone finally told the missionaries that she wasn't a member. She is amazing. She is so far the only member in her family. Her Mom and her younger sister are on a different date. They are getting close as well. 

One cool thing that happened Yesterday!!!! The Bishop comes up to me after church and says this little girl who is 9 or 10 who hasn't been baptized yet. And she really wants to! Just when Sister Walker walks by a little girl she comes up and says" I'm getting baptized and the bishop told me to come talk to you." It was so cute and funny all at the same time. Just to say her dad is a member. She is 10 and wasn't able to get baptized because her dad had cancer. She really wanted her dad to baptize her. The spirit was so strong in the room as he told us about it. Well just to say she really wanted to get baptized the next day. We told her she had to wait at least 3 weeks. She was a little sad but agreed to it. So we have her on date for August 20!! I can't wait. 

Just to say Saturday before the baptism we went out updating Referrals.. One of the referrals was very interesting. He came out gave a side hug to Sister Walker and then gave her a Kiss on the cheek. I was praying so hard in my heart that he would not give me one. Just to say he was drunk and we where the only white people(girls) around. Just to say we had another referral right next to his house. We are going to try back another time.  

Also we have more Elders serving in Albany GA... Just to say Book of Mormon class felt so big because of the 4 Elders and 2 Sisters. We may have to get a bigger room soon!! But Hey it was so cool!!   

Thought from my Studies: I was reading a General Conference talk this morning and it was just the best. It really helped me out. 
Humility is essential to gain the blessings of the gospel. Humility enables us to have broken hearts when we sin or make mistakes and makes it possible for us to repent. Humility enables us to be better parents, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, neighbors and friends.
On the other hand, unnecessary pride can dissolve family relationships, break up marriages, and destroy friendships. It is especially important to remember humility when you feel contention rising in your home. Think of all the heartache you can avoid by humbling yourself to say, “I’m sorry”; “That was inconsiderate of me”; “What would you like to do?”; “I just wasn’t thinking”; or “I’m very proud of you.” If these little phrases were humbly used, there would be less contention and more peace in our homes. -Be Thou Humble By Elder Steven E. Snow
I Sure do hope y'all have a wonderful week. I sure do love all Y'all. 
Also I got a package from my amazing Sister Lonnie!! She is the best!! Got it right before the baptism!! Made my afternoon!! 
I Just love being a missionary. I just wish I could go on forever and ever. But I know that when I get home I will still be a missionary but not with a name tag. 
I hope y'all have the best day of your entire life.