Sassy Brazilian & The Sweetest Tour 12-29-2014

This week, oh my! This week has been crazy/so good/so much learning. 

  I am so grateful for my companion. Every night we tell each other why we are grateful for one another. It's so crazy how God really does know what each one of us individually need.

  I have been learning SO much from Sister Campelo. Something that I really need to work on is seeing people's potential to change and giving them the resources and little nudges to help them change. I have realized that I struggle with only wanting to love people and help them feel good when we teach them, but I don't necessarily help them reach their goals. 

  That is why Sister Campelo and I are the perfect combination! She is Brazilian and sassy and isn't afraid to tell people what they need to do to change. This transfer is going by way too fast. I am just so grateful I am here and am being blessed with people to teach. 

  This week we had some little miracles! It's really hard on Temple Square to have member present lessons. (Member present just means you teach someone who is learning more about the church and include a member of the church in your lesson to bear their testimony and help you teach certain principles.)

  We had a goal this week of how many member present lessons we wanted to have and we just needed one more. So, we planned on Friday night that we would... somehow.. have one on Saturday even though, we had no idea how it would happen. On Saturday during our time in the Teaching Center (where we teach lessons over the phone) a tour on the square was texted out 999. That just means the people have been waiting for a tour for over 10 minutes and no sisters have responded to take it. So we decided we would call and take the tour and lose some of our teaching center time. It ended up being the sweetest tour in the world.

  It was two parents who had fallen out of the church, but had started coming back (so they were members) but their daughter was with them and she is 9. She wants to be baptized but she needs to have the lessons from the missionaries first. They are from California but they came to Temple Square and thought maybe their daughter could have the first lesson here!

 It was such a miracle because like no one ever just comes to Temple Square to have the missionaries teach them a lesson unless it is scheduled in advance. Because they came, we were able to have a member present and we get to teach Kyra over the phone since they're now back in California.

 I have really learned that when we plan and put God first, he will help us reach our goals. Even if we can't see how he is helping us initially, he is always there. He is so present and so aware of each one of us.

  I hope you all have such a great Christmas. 

  We were so spoiled on Temple Square. Every sister got one of those superrr soft blankets from Costco (I actually already bought one like 2 months ago, it's called a Sherpa Throw, I believe) with a little patch sewed onto it that says Temple Square Mission. I actually have been wanting another blanket so it was perfect! 

  And a ward gave each one of us stockings with loads of candy and hand warmers and mittens. And to top it all off, we had a white Christmas! That was like my dream because we have literally had no snow here up until Christmas day. 

 I love you all so much! Happy New Year!

 All my love,

 Sister Helton

 P.S. Temple Square is the prettiest place on earth when it snows! Here is a pic :)

Christmas and Believing Christ 12-22-2014

This week was the best. Last Tuesday we got to go to the Bierman family's house for our Christmas dinner. They were an incredible family. They made us feel SO at home and they live up this canyon (totally reminded me of driving up to Mission in the winter) in a gorgeous

house tucked into the woods. 

The Bierman Family and the Sistas

Sister Campelo and me

  But yesterday, was definitely the best part of my week. In the morning, we got to take a group of teens for their youth conference on a tour of Temple Square. Basically, I learned that being an EFY counselor would be the funnest summer job in the world. I love how they never want to talk or share their testimonies but when you finalllyyy get them to, it is the most powerful thing in the world. 

  

  So this week we have been working on cleaning out our area book. I was looking at all my Less Actives and there was this one guy who had come onto chat in like September, gave his information to a sister, she was never able to call him, she went home and gave his info. to me and I had never called him. 

So we decided to try him. 

  He answered the phone and we started talking and he just started telling us his entire life story. He said he served a mission 3 years ago and when he came home, his dad died and he just started losing hope and faith. He said he's still really active in church but he just feels like he isn't living up to be the person that God wants him to be. He said it's so hard because he knows the he is his own problem. 

  I didn't really know what to say except that I know that Jesus Christ has made it possible so that no matter how short we feel we are falling, there is always a way for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven. God didn't send us here to be perfect, he sent us here to try. 

  I've been thinking a lot about the book, "Believing Christ." (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for giving it to me!) I only read the first like 3 chapters but what I read has really stuck with me. Jesus Christ has promised us that if we follow him with our whole heart, we will be blessed and we will be able to live with God and our families forever. When we feel like we cannot overcome things on our own, that is because we need our Savior. When we feel like there's no hope, we are not believing in Christ's promise to us. We are not believing in his power and ability to perfect us and to comfort and sustain us. 

  I am so imperfect at relying on my Savior. I always think I can just figure things out myself and I don't need anyone's help. But that is so not how I should be. Jesus Christ came to the earth so we would never have to be alone. No matter how much we feel like we are failing, we're not because Jesus Christ will always be there to make up the difference. I love him so much. I am so grateful for the Christmas season that we get to celebrate and remember the birth of our Savior.

  Jerrica, is one of my favorite people. She gets taught by one of the Sisters on Temple Square and we've ended up becoming really good friends. A few days ago we were just catching up and she shared her favorite scripture with me. 

  It's John 14:18 it says,

 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

  It's so short but so powerful. That is exactly how the Savior taught. He will always come to our side when we need him. He will always be there to lift our burdens when we feel like we can't go any further. I know that with all my heart. 

  Love you all so much! I hope you eat loads of rolls for me on Christmas. 

xoxoxo,

Sister Helton

I love Sister Campelo 12-15-2014

My new companion Sister Campelo of Brazil!

Another week, another week. Lots has been happening here! I honestly can't believe I'm in my third transfer already. 

   So first things first, I absolutely LOVE my new companion. It's funny how the first day you are together, you're both kind of not sure about how the other person is and then by the second day it's like you've known each other forever. 

   It was so cool, last night Sister Campelo and I were doing our daily planning and every night we say what were grateful for during the day, what were grateful for about each other and then an awkward/funny moment we had that day. I was just telling her how grateful I am that she is SO bold and that before we were companions I was praying and praying that I would get a comp that wasn't afraid to be bold with people. 

   God is way too good. You know how people say He knows you better than you know yourself? I 100% agree. This transfer is going to be amazing I just know it!

   Last night we had a really good growing experience. We called one of our less-actives and she was a person who Sister Isaksen transferred to me.  I was a little nervous to teach because she has so many struggles and has so many things to overcome. But we called her and then after the lesson we were talking about it and Sister Campelo was like "I know what her problem is! She doesn't understand that she can overcome ALL things through the atonement of Jesus Christ."

   My idea on how to teach her was to just love her and she will, hopefully, through us, be able to feel of the love God has for her. But Sister Campelo was like, "If we love her, we will give her ways to overcome her struggles even if she does not want to hear what we have to say." (Like I said, she is bold and it is SO good for me!) 

   That got me thinking so much about people's potential and how God views each one of us. 

He knows who we can become and he has so much hope for us. 

It is so hard for us as individuals to realize our capacity. That's one of the reasons it is so vital that we tell everyone around us the good that we see in them because it is so hard to see it in ourselves a lot of the time. 

   I hope you all have seen He is The Gift by now! I love that short little vid so much. Look online if you haven't.

   The pictures this week are of Sister Campelo and me (ignore my hair....), a mission wide pic (I'm like in the very back haha) and then the first baptism I've gotten to Skype!! Their names are Renata, Fabiano and Fabiano nino. Like, all our investigators are Brazilian! So.fun. Sister Campelo is teaching me Portuguese haha!

Love you all so much!

-Sister Helton

Mission-wide pic (I'm in the back) 

 Fabiano and Fabiano nino and Renata. The first baptism I've gotten to Skype. So fun!

The Lawrences (my BYU-I Wyoming roommate Bree's fam)

Mom's Note:
 This picture of a group of sister missionaries singing Christmas carols was used in a
photo essay on mormonnewsroom.org. looking at Temple Square at Christmastime.
Just had to share, it is so pretty!

Sister Isaksen transfers to Fresno & baby miracles 12-8-2014

Hi!

   Soooo much has happened this week. 

   I guess I'll just start off with the most embarassing! So this Thursday for Relief Society, we went to the Relief Society Building to hear from Sister Burton, Sister Stephens and Sister Reeves (the actual General Relief Society leaders of the church...I had no idea that's who they were because they all look so much alike I always get confused, so I just thought I'd clear that up for anyone who doesn't know who they are.) 

   ANYWAYS, Sister Isaksen and I talked to Sister Poulsen (our mission president's wife) a few days before Relief Society and she told us we didn't have to do anything to prepare for Relief Society since we were going to the RS building. So, we go to the building Thursday morning and take our seats and are just talking and all of a sudden it gets super quiet and the AP's just look at Sister Isaksen and I. They are like motioning for us to go up to the front and conduct the meeting! 

   We go up and Sister Burton like whispers to us, "What is the opening hymn?" WE HAD NO IDEA and I'm pretty sure both of our faces were just completely blank, I felt like time stopped and I couldn't speak at all. Sister Burton, being so sweet, suggested that we sing "As Sisters in Zion." We just both nodded. hahaha! I am so glad Sister Isaksen is good at taking action and doesn't freak out when things don't go according plans. She just went up and conducted and acted like nothing even happened. She is so good. I will miss her so much. 

   Today we had transfer conference. I found out who my new companion will be!!! Her name is Sister Campelo and she's from Brazil. She's going into her 5th transfer. I can't wait! She seems so sweet. We only talked for like 5 minutes this morning, but I know we'll be really good friends. I'll send a pic next week. 

   We have had some little baby miracles this week. I love when they happen. The first one was with our less-active Stephen. We call him every other week because he's doing really,really well and meets with local missionaries Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anyways, we weren't really sure what to teach him when we called but we just really felt in the last minute like we should go through Christlike attributes in "Preach My Gospel" and invite him to develop one this month.

   When we began talking about Christlike attributes and how we would like him to develop one, he said, "Right before you both called, I was praying and praying to know how I can better serve God and what he wants me to work on." 

  This really strengthened me because sometimes it is hard for me to know if I am following the Spirit, or if it's just me coming up with these things. It was just a really good reassurance that any idea you have to help someone follow our Savior and come closer to God, is always from God. Trusting in God and being willing to follow the promptings you receive from the spirit is so vital. It can be difficult, but trusting in God really is the only way you can do missionary work. 

   Another little miracle was the night after Sister Isaksen was called to Fresno, we had been asking and asking every person we met on the Square for referrals and hadn't gotten one. We had like 30 more minutes left of Square time and ended up talking to this guy and his girlfriend. The guy was from FRESNO CALI and wouldn't you know it, referred his aunt who isn't a member to us without us even asking. Sister Isaksen said something that I really loved she said,

   "Things don't always work out the way you planned, but when you show God that you are willing to work and to do the things he has asked you to do, he will bless you." It was also just a cool little reassurance for her to know that Fresno is where God wants to her be right now. 

A little mission genealogy:
This is me with my "Mom"
 (because she trained me) Sister Isaksen
with her "Mom" and my "Grandma"
(because she trained my trainer) Sister Jones

   There have been a few other little things that have really been incredible this week. One of them is that I realized, I didn't fully understand why I personally need a living, modern day prophet. Of course I know that we need one to lead and guide Jesus Christ's church because throughout all time, that is how his church has been lead, but I just kept thinking and thinking, why do I, Carly, need a prophet? 

   In our Zone Training meeting, it was focused on being taught by the Spirit. I'm obsessed with personal study time on the mission. It is such a blessing. I 100% know that when we have questions, if we take the time to study them out and are really searching for answers, God will direct us to know where and how to find those answers. I used to be scared to have questions because I didn't want to receive an answer that would diminish my faith. I really have come to learn though that it is when we have questions, that our faith is strengthened. When we have questions, that is when we are able to see God working in our lives and that is how we feel his love. He will answer our questions I just know it. Maybe not in the time frame we want, but he really will. 

Love you all so much!

-Sister Helton

On the Utah State Capitol steps

I love Sister Ye. She is one of my favorite missionaries.

Thanksgiving and gratitude 12-1-2014

Hi! 

 Thanksgiving was definitely the highlight of our week. We went to the Grave family's home. It was just Catheryn, Aaron and their 2 kids. It was the sweetest Thanksgiving I've ever had. They are some of the most inspiring people I've ever met. They made everything so nice for us. Everything was dairy-free (I felt so bad, but they said it was no problem) and they bought this Norwegian drink called Glug and these Norwegian cookies for Sister Isaksen so she would feel more at home. Both of their kids are special needs and are just the sweetest little spirits. We had the best day and they sent us home with tons of leftovers so we haven't had to cook these past 3 days. :)

   So many fun changes are happening on Temple Square for the Christmas season, I love it SO much! All of the paintings of Jesus Christ's ministry in the North Visitor Center have been changed and now they're all pictures from the Nativity! On Friday night the lights came on so Temple Square has been packed with people these last 3 nights. It has been so fun. We've been telling everyone about the video "He is the Gift." (you can find it online) I hope you all have gotten a chance to see it! It's so short but so powerful. 

   Yesterday, I got to go speak in a ward for the first time! My topic was "The Importance of Family at Christmas." Probably the meanest topic to give a missionary. haha. It was really fun though. We went with 2 other sisters, Sister Nioguerra and Sister Olivera from Brazil. 

  I have just been thinking so much lately about our Savior and how he literally has made every single thing possible. He is the hope that each one of us have. This week, Sister Isaksen and I have been focusing on chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel, Christlike Attributes.    

 

This morning in my personal studies I was reading about Virtue (because it's one of Christ's attributes I feel like I don't understand fully) and I absolutely loved what it said in 2 Peter 1:3-8. Verse 8 is my favorite, it says,

 "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

  Basically, if we are able to understand, apply, and eventually acquire Christ's attributes, that is how we will come to know him fully. Christ was our perfect example in everything. I really do know that as we turn to Christ for strength, his unfailing, perfect example with lead us to everything that is good. 

  I love you all so much! I'm grateful for each one of you.

Love,

Sister Helton