"Sister Carter" #1 (Krisitn) is on her way!!

Kristin left for Virginia on June 16th. She called us from the airport and we talked for over an hour. She sounds wonderful! We can sense her excitement to get to work. Then we didn't hear from her until Saturday. On mission stationary she wrote that she had arrived and some of her thoughts:

"My Dearest Parents,

Well I am here! I cannot even begin to tell you my experience. As the plane started to descend into Virginia I was totally at ease. I was excited but still not quite sure what the Lord has asked me to do. As we landed and met the mission president, my heart became more and more filled. Then we went to the parking garage (and sweat like dogs) while our dear elders packed our luggage in the trailer. Then we started to drive through Richmond. I cannot even begin to tell you what happened in my heart. I saw people drive next to me and I felt like they were my brothers and sisters and I had a fond love for them. I know this is where I am supposed to be. I have never felt more love from my Savior than I think today. He knows me and I am so excited to go do His work. This is the time to raise our voices, and the way the Lord wants us to. One of the first things President Milburn said was that we need to teach “real.” We are not robot missionaries.

I just had interviews with the mission president. He told me that he has been looking at my picture and been very excited to have me arrive. I have a feeling that this is going to go all too fast! I am grateful the Lord knows me. I am grateful for the opportunity to take this wonderful gift and place it in the homes of these wonderful people!

Mom, Dad, thank you for raising me in a righteous home. Dad thank you for listening to the missionaries. Please send me your conversion story! I am so grateful to my family and the blessings you have brought into my life. I will write again next Wednesday or sooner if possible. But for now, I am so excited to get to work!

I love you! Pray for me! I will pray every day that I will be able to teach with the Spirit. That I will be humble and willing to learn and listen! I pray for you! I love you!

God be with you till we meet again! Love,

Sister Carter"

It is apparent that Kristin has the mantle of a missionary as she talks about the huge love she feels for people she does not know, but in her heart they are her brothers and sisters. It is a miracle! I kind of enormous emotion I know is real. I experienced it as a young woman on my first mission.

She is in good company when she says she doesn’t know what the Lord wants her to do. Nephi had the same experience and said, “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.” He was a “go and do” guy. Kristin must be a “go and do” missionary.

In my mind there is one word which describes missionary work - “INTENSE.” Did you notice all the exclamation points in Kristin’s letter? She’s feeling it.

We are so proud of Kristin. We appreciate her willingness to serve the Lord. What a marvelous opportunity for her.

I think it is interesting to note that she is presently one of seven missionaries serving from the Onaga Trail Ward:

Elder Preston Freeland – Washington, D.C. South Mission

Elder Levi Sackett – Marshall Islands Mission

Elder Dane Jensen – Texas Houston Mission (Spanish)

Elder Armando Castillio – Illinois Chicago (Mongolian)

Elder Bryce Robinson – Washington, D.C. North Mission

Elder Jimmy Benke – Ecuador - Galapagos Islands Mission

To be added to the list on August 9^th will be

Elder and Sister Carter – Mongolian Ulaanbaatar Mission

But that’s not all! This week Brother and Sister Mayo should be receiving their mission call to Heaven alone knows where. They will top us out at ELEVEN missionaries from the Onaga Trail Ward, Yucca Valley Stake, California. What an exciting time!

Thursday, June 10th was the last day with boys and girls. I enjoyed attending the 6th grade promotion and found the day to be very relaxed since I did not have a homeroom class this year. At the end of the day I waved goodbye to the buses for the last time. The drivers honked the horns and the children hung out the bus windows waving vigorously. The tough and tender moments came when bidding my cooworkers farewell. This was the last work day for all instructional assistants. I have become very connected with these lovely people who dedicate their lives to helping boys and girls. I will miss them!

All teachers were expected to be at school on Friday, June 11th. I finished cleaning out my classroom and turned in my keys. It feels right to be finished with this chapter in my life. I am glad to have our mission to concentrate on and turn my attention and efforts toward. Saying goodbye to my fellow teachers for the final time was tender and emotional.

Last night Don and I were invited to dinner with Deb and Keith McCalment. Debbie has been a dear and loving and trusted friend. It will feel so strange not having her near. We had a wonderful time at Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneer Town having a great meal and good bluegrass band. Then we went back to Keith and Deb's for dessert and visiting.

So Saturday, June 12th was my first, official retirement day. Wha-hoo!!

Send-Off Celebration

Don and I attended a party celebrating my retirement yesterday at Lisa and Ken Knoll's in Landers. We had a great time. It was a cookout/pot luck. Great company!! The Knoll's opened their home to all the staff and their families. Don and I even played a game of ping-pong together. He was winning at 22 to 4 (his favor), but I concluded that I had ping-pong potential!!

It has been my blessing to have worked with wonderful, good people at Landers Elementary School. Some time ago it occured to me that Landers is a place I've grown-up. Over the past 12 years, I've become a part of the Landers Elementary School Family. I've learned so much about myself and how to be a better teacher. I am confident that our Heavenly Father is mindful of and loves the children at Landers. And He loves those of us who have served those dear little children. I have felt His strength and support so many times!! May He continue to bless the work and efforts of my dear friends there.

I was given some sweet gifts! Several people prepared a scrapbook page and compiled them into a really lovely book. It is a treasure! Little bits of personal experiences gathered up. It really is sweet!!

Debbie Turner, a former principal, friend and mentor who helped me see "opportunities for growth" instead of problems, gave me a lovely lap quilt to take to Mongolia. It's great - red, white and blue, stars and stripes, Americana! She chose it so I'd remember from whence I come. Don and I will be sharing it on cold Mongolian mornings as we have companion study. Debbie told me that when she went into the quilt shop, after finding just the right quilt, she took it to the counter and told the lady there that it was for someone who would be serving a mission to Mongolia. The lady thought that was lovely and asked if she could put our names in her prayer book, which Debbie gave her. So this will be our prayer quilt. It will remind me that prayers are being offered in our behalf - and there can be no greater blessing than that!

Mary Wilson, our school psychologist and my dear friend, hand knitted a wool cap and scarf which will keep me wrapped in warmth and love. What a thoughtful, kind gift!! Mary won't be serving Landers next year being reassigned schools. It has been a pleasure working with Mary, who made sure we had fresh cookies every Tuesday. And she never brought the same kind in twice I don't believe.

The staff gave us money to buy winter coats - real winter coats. I haven't had a real winter coat since my first mission to British Columbia 33 years ago. All I took out with me to BC was a short dress jacket and nearly froze to death! (You'd think a girl from Colorado and Utah would have more sense than that!!) But the Lord knew I was cold and He set a woman in my path and touched her heart to give me her coat. It was a full length, wool coat with a hood. I lived in that coat for the rest of my mission! And memories of that incident have crossed my mind a zillion times since, reminding me that the Lord is mindful of our every need. So now, I'm being provided, once again, with "rainment" (Matthew 6:24-34) from people who love me and want me to be warm. I am so blessed!!

"Grandma Willis," (aka Carolyn Willis) serves as the kindergarten instructional assistant, gave me a wonderful large, and I mean LARGE bag with a "travel kit" inside of incidentals needed for travel, including our own can of nuts for our 19-hour plane ride to Mongolia (since they don't give you nuts in flights anymore). The bag is what I'm excited to have. Lightweight but big enough to carry my American quilt in when we travel in taxis in Darkhan, Mongolia! The couple we are replacing told us they carry a lap blanket with them wherever they go. I'm so glad to have this thoughtful gift.

So many sweet friends and associates! Many hugs and encouraging words! As we drove away Don put it simply, "Very nice. Very nice!"