Going to Germany!

This week was the most intense of all that I have experienced in the MTC thusfar. One sister became very ill Friday last and was taken to the hospital. She continued to get worse and suffered very much until she returned home Tuesday morning. We all look forward to her return when all medical can be cleared. Due to these events, I spent a lot of time out of class and away from my companions. She needed sisters with her at all times, but she always uplifted every soul that came to try to help her. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know her now and I look forward to seeing her in Germany.

I am going to Germany Monday morning!! We leave the MTC at 5:00 am. I have so much to finish and I am working hard to replace my fear with faith (2 Timothy 1:7). I know this gospel is true and I know it will bless the lives of all those that choose to accept it. I have had so many witnesses again this week to make my testimony even more firm. It's true.

Austin is baptized! He helped us so much and in our last lesson broke character and we evaluated the entire experience. I have learned so much from teaching at the MTC. Daniel is warming up to the idea of baptism and he mentioned that it will be hard to change his life, but he knows God's hand is in this work. It didn't feel right during the lesson to commit him to baptism (both my companions mentioned the same thing after the lesson), but it is very clear that he wants to come unto Christ through baptism after his comment of Mosiah 18:8-10.

I am so excited to be an aunt for the 25th time!! Congratulations Naomi and Kyle on Zade Wallace Thomas. I am so excited to meet him and look forward to getting LOTS of pictures. I love you all so much. I'M going to Germany!!

--
Sister Carla June Carroll

Life at the MTC is amazing!!

Dear Family,

Life at the MTC is amazing!! I cannot believe we only have two weeks--less than two weeks--left. Today we did service at the Provo Temple in the morning. I had the opportunity to help install and arrange a few chandeliers (Sealing rooms 12, 11, 10 and 5). I spent the entire time with Hilary Wilson, who works in the Laundry most of the time. She is an amazing sister with great spiritual strength. She served a mission in Kentucky. One of our new sisters headed to Alpine is a German major at BYU and speaks fluently, so she will leave with us and has been moved to an international branch. We are sad to see her leave our zone, but excited to have Sister Lind join us on the way to Germany. We should get our flight plans today ...

By the way, I haven't really explained our progressing investigators. Each investigator is a teacher here who bases his or her character off of someone they taught on their mission, a friend, or themselves in the past. As Elder Holland said about this kinds of teachings, "it may not be a real life situation to you, but it is real to the Lord. This is how he trains his missionaries." The Spirit in each lesson is the same Spirit we will have in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Hans-Peter is our only German language investigator at the moment, he is Brother Swensen, one of my two teachers. He based Hans-Peter after someone he taught on his mission. It is very real.

One of our investigators, Austin, committed to baptism on 26 July 2010. It is SO soon, but we only have a couple more principles to teach. He is ready as the Lord has been preparing him and working with him during this time. We are so excited for him. The devotionals and firesides here are always life-changing. I love the MTC. All activities here are truly inspired and run by the hand of God. So much goes into the functioning of this place and it makes all the difference. Richard I. Heaton, the Administrative Director at the MTC, gave the Fireside on Sunday and explained what the Apostles saw in vision what Preach My Gospel would do to missionary work. I thought a lot about April and Lucas and their emphasis on raising four outstanding missionaries. I will send them my notes. I found the fireside so uplifting and insightful. This is truly God's work.

Oh, yeah. So, in sacrament meetings in the MTC, they are in your mission language and they announce just after the Sacrament who will be speaking. All missionaries prepare a talk on the assigned subject. So, I gave a talk on Sunday about Repentance (Umkehr) in German. For the first time, the German seemed to just flow and I was able to speak what was in my heart. I honestly didn't understand all that I said, but I know the Lord was working through me to give the testimony I have been given to others. It was a neat experience.

Elder Field has started walking without his walking boot and the healing is coming. We are continuing to pray that he can come with us to Germany. Miracles have happened already and we all know that if it is the Lord's will, he will come with us and we will work as hard as we can in prayer and faith to show that we want him to come. Our district has grown really close in the last seven weeks. It is amazing what bonding comes through learning and growing together.

Thank you everyone for making sacrifices so I could have this opportunity to witness the process of others coming unto Christ. This is a divine work and each missionary out has been called of God and is a true servant of the Lord. Your support means so much to me. I love you all.

--
Sister Carla June Carroll

"Music is a fluid carrier of the Spirit"

Precautionary note--this computer keeps freezing, so I won't know what I'll be able to send. This week has been AMAZING in every way. I was so sad to see Sisters Jensen and Allen and Elders Wagley, Guthrie and Pierson leave for Berlin, Germany on Tuesday. It was hard to part with them, but I am so excited thast they are able to serve the Lord in the field of Germany. The field is white already to harvest! In EVERY mission! The sisters were our roommates, so for six weeks, we were able to better get to know them and learn more about them. I love them so very much. By the way, this computer freezes for one minute and then lets me type for one minute. The MTC is so interesting with each computer bug that comes each week. Anyway, the older district sang in Sacrament Meeting before they left--The EFY Melody (translated by them) including the Army of Helaman. I love this song and hearing it from missionaries that I love so dearly on the eve of their departure made me cry, but tears of joy. It seemed so long ago that I was singing that song in preparation for my mission.

We had an amazing fireside with Jenny Oaks Baker. I knew about her before, but had never had the opportunity to see her in concert. She shared her testimony and then played her testimony through the violin. Her nephew, Jared Oaks, played the piano--I recognized him from BYU. He played at almost every BYU concert I attended. Jenny Oaks Baker's father, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, attended the meeting as well. It was an amazing opportunity to feel the spirit so strong. I had many moments of near pure intelligence flowing into my mind. I wrote down a lot of things. One thought that I wrote down to share with Sister Jensen who is cosidering majoring in music was "Because music is a fluid carrier of the Spirit, hearts are healed, tears are shed and testimony is felt when a humble servant of the Lord plays. Music brings people joy and an opportunity to feel the Spirit that they might not have had without it. God gave us music to share with ours." Sorry for the typos, I have to type without looking since the computer onoly responds for about 10 seconds and then freezes for one minute or 3 minutes.

Friday of last week, we finised every German principle to be taught at the MTC. I cannot believe we are done! I am no where near fluent, however, so the next three weeks will be review. We are teaching Hans-Peter Mauer in German, but not getting as far as we would like as I rarely understand what he is saying. I am praying hard for the guidance of the Holy Ghost to understand what he would like to communicate. I am learning two languages--the language of the Spirit and the language of German. I know which is more important. :) Our other investigators are going well. Austin has still not set a baptismal date, but has started to share his own testimony of what he is learning. He has made great progress from the time we started to meet with him when he did not believe in God. Daniel committed to come to church! He actually went last week, but his wife forgot something, so they left before the meeting started. We are excited to talk about his reaction to church and finally sit down and teach hi8m about the restoration. Liz is so popular, that we were not able to meeti her this week since every available time she had was full.

I got an letter this week from Dad explaining my family history! I was so excited to read about my German and Switzerland ancestory and share it with others. Elder Field was able to explain to me where in England some of my ancestors are from. Saturday, our district participated in a fast for Elder Field's broken leg. Instead of fasting from food, we spoke no English. It was really hard, but with a lot of prayer and focus, I only spole three English words the entire day. I felt really weird speaking English after that. I learned so much from that experience.

We got NEW MISSIONARIES! This is the higlhlight of my week. ALL of this new district is going to the Apline German-speaking mission. One of the sisters is already fluent in German (she is a German and English major at BYU and has finished all her German classes and grew up in Germany), so she will leave with us, but we won't see her as she will be moved to a new zone learning the gospel in English (as if she was going English speaking). As my companion, Sister McGuire is now the coordinating sister, we were able to greet them and speak about how things go here at the MTC. It was so much fun to share our testimonies of obedience and encourage and support them. They will all be great missionaries. I'm so excited. I only have three weeks! Where did the time go??

Well, the gospel is true. Ich weiss dass. Always think of your friends and give referrals to the missionaries! Missionary work is 100x harder without the help of the members. Please support your local missionaries and them them this week how much you apprecite their service. Thank you, family, for all you have done for me. I love hearing about how Hyrum and Melissa all got sunburnt on their vacation and how they have had opportunities to share the gospel with friends. Thank you all so much for your updates. The every day little things mean the world to a missionary. I love hearing about your children and each little achievement. I love you all so much, family! This is such an opportunity for me and I hope you are feeling the blessings come for your sacrifices. Press forward, saints!

--
Sister Carla June Carroll

In the Work of the Lord

Life is wonderful at the MTC with growth and opportunities all around. I finished my LAST extra curricular activities this weekend as we sang in the Standard of Truth choir (same choir as last time) and I had previously volunteered to give a narration. The meeting was wonderful and a great reminder that the Declaration of Independence for America was a gerat step in the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I also performed a solo on Monday for the Senior Missionary Orientation. I sang "I Heard Him Come". Many cried.

My German is truly being aided by the Spirit as we are now teaching lessons completely in German and have many days without English. I love this language and look forward to speaking it to all the German, Austrian and Swiss people. Thank you for your prayers to help me learn the language and grow to be a better missionary. I see the Lord's hand working through me daily. I learned this week that humility is about having confidence that the Lord can and will work through you and that it is to his credit that good things come to pass. That really changed my perspective. My DL's (now a ZL) leg is still in the walking boot and we have been praying for him regularly. He is able to put weight on it sometimes, but still needs his crutches to get around. He is being a real trooper.

Our investigator Austin has made a soft commitment to baptism and because of our incompatible schedule, we are only able to meet with him once a week. He had a rough time with the Word of Wisdom, but is willing to exercise his faith to experiment upon the word. Daniel opened up a lot to us about his desire to change and come unto Christ. Liz even started to open up, but she closed up almost immediately after asking a deep question. We picked up a new investigator, Hans Peter Mauer, who lives in Essen and has had a very rough life. He used to be married, but after his son died of Cancer, his wife left and after his mother died, his father severed contact with his family. Plus, all of our lessons with Hans Peter are in German. Amazing what the Spirit can do.

In our mission conference this Sunday (like a session of General Conference each fast Sunday), Sister Clegg shared a story and encouraged everyone to pray about a specific verse of scripture. President Clegg gave a great talk, mentioning that we should warn investigators that when they show any interest in the gospel, Satan will try to get in their way. He mentioned that this warning will be a testimony builder to them. President Smith shared a message about opportunities lost and opportunities found. He mentioned that we are all living our personal histories and asked us, "How will your history be written--an opportunity lost or an opportunity found?" The devotional this week was absolutely amazing. Elder Dellenbach (an emeritus 70 member) talked about the miracle of the Book of Mormon. If we sit and think about how much of a miracle the Book of Mormon truly is, we will want to share it with everyone! Heavenly Father brought this book so that we could enjoy the blessing of learning more about the attributes of God and how he works. He also mentioned that the missionaries are the embodiment of the message and we should let people see Christ in our countenance. That hit me hard.

While at the devotional, I met several missionaries who were basically fluent in German, but going elsewhere on their missions. I had felt my call to Germany was just because of my background in German as this would aid my learning of the language. I felt the Spirit tell me there was more to it. I know that Heavenly Father has called me to this mission for a purpose. For the people. For my companions. He will shape me to how I need to be for those people as he has already begun to shape me. I will be at my bvest because God is working through me now more than he ever has before. Though my testimony brings me the greatest joy, it is not for me. It is to share. I wish I had known all the miracles I would witness so early on my mission.

Thank you for all your encouraging letters. I love hearing stories of miracles you have witnessed as you see God answering prayers and working through you. What an amazing opportunity we have to be on the Earth at this time in this day. God is aware of each of his children and will personally guide them as they seek him. This gospel is true. The Book of Mormon bears witness of Christ and wa translated by the power of God. There is no other way it could have been brought to pass. Heavenly Father loves each of his children and wants them to come to him and find joy in the journey. I know all of this and so much more is true. The gospel is true in every language.

--
Sister Carla June Carroll

PS--all nine Elders and Sisters in my district are going to the Alpine German-speaking mission. We have 47 in our district and will gain 17 and lose 5 next week. Everyone except our district is going to Berlin. I already love all the missionaries in our zone. Elders Reschke and Field are now the Zone Leaders and our new District leader is Elder Ramage. There are currently 11 sisters in our zone.