Happy Halloween!!

Tomorrow is Halloween!! Yayyy!! My favorite holiday! I hope you all have a great day and have so much fun! This week's email is a little late because we have a new rule where we can change our p-day if we get permission to go to the temple. Well, I was going to go tomorrow, but then we randomly found out we are now having zone meeting and we have to weekly plan, so...guess no real p-day this week. So, we are not going to the temple tomorrow, but we ARE going on saturday with special permission because a girl in our ward is going on a mission, so her AND her mom are both going through the temple for the first time!! Ahhh! We are soo excited to be able to go and experience that special day with them :) Also, I am sooooo happy because I haven't been to the temple since JUNE. My poor heart needs that sweet spirit in my life that only the temple can bring. If you have the opportunity to go, GO! You never know HOW much it affects you when you don't for so long/ you're not allowed to, but it's okay! Obedience teaches discipline :)

A lot of things have happened the past few weeks! We are in a new transfer, my 7th transfer in the mission! Yikes!! Saturday marks my 10 months!!! Wooo!! Crazy how fast time flies by! And this new transfer has been crazyyyyyy already! Last transfer, the missionaries in our ward decided that we needed to make a change. We didn't feel like we were working as effectively as possible, so we came up with a new plan. As of last week, split up the ward boundaries and split it in three halves. Now we are all serving in COMPLETELY NEW areas! Ahhhh! The mission term for this is "white washing", which means its a new a start. You have nothing but the Area Book to counsel with. It's definitely been a little stressful, given I am also still training a new missionary, so it's been a little tricky juggling so many new things/ responsibilities but the Lord has really blessed us. We are having so many miracles and the Lord knows this was for a reason. We are excited to see what will come from it all!!

Last week we had our first activity in our ward since I've been here! It was our Halloween party and it was a HUGE success! We had 30+ non-members and it was so much fun! We even did a church tour to introduce the building to all the visitors :) Everyone had a great time and we can't wait for the next activity!! All the missionaries dressed up and did face painting, and basically took all the pictures. It was a blast!

Yesterday, my little hermanita and I had our 8 week trainer/trainee meeting. It was a great! We learned more ways on how to be better "master teachers" (a philosophy our mission president has implemented) that helps us teach more like the Savior taught. The trainers learned new ideas on how to be better trainers, and the trainees learned how to be better teachers. It was very insightful! I can't believe it's already been 8 weeks! I feel like we were just put together! Ahhh! We'll probably be split up in 4 weeks :/ It's going to be sad but she will definitely be ready to take over our area after I'm gone! :)

It has been a crazy couple of weeks but I am so grateful for all the challenges that come my way, because they teach me how to be better everyday! Being a missionary is one of the most wonderful things I have ever done in my life. There is not one day that goes by that I am not grateful to my Savior for letting me serve Him and His children.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween! I love you all, but God loves you more ;)

Con todo mi corazonsito,

Hermana Carbajal <3

The Woodlands is gorgeous!! These lake side homes are unreal!

 Me and my compa :)

 ​The Woodlands Hermanas (we miss you Fitzy xoxo)

 Transfers were on tuesday and so many of my friends went home!! So sad but so happy!!

 So last wednesday a surprise visitor came to our ward! Brother Koch from my singles ward! He's Hermana Koch's dad (and we now serve in the same ward) and he was in town for business and came to surprise us! Crazyyy :)

 He also took us all out to BBQ. No big that it was my first real time in 10 months! :)

 Ward Halloween Party!!!
Elder Christensen and Leah as Woody and Jesse #sooopresh

 The hermanas face painting

 ​Lady Bug/ Red Riding Hood (who's going on a mission)/ Bumble Bee :)

 ​bebeeeeees

 We made these Ghost cupcakes for the fiesta :)

 ​Just a lil Ladybug #evenasamissionaryistilldressup :)

 Ladybug nails :)

Called to SERVE

I know I have shared this scripture before, but throughout my mission, Mosiah 2:17 has become more and more meaningful; "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." It is so simple, yet so profound. When we are serving others, we are serving him because as children of God, we are of him, thus, we are literally serving Him!! And the best part about it is the LOVE you feel after! As a missionary, I have dedicated 18 months to full time service. There are no breaks, vacations, or time outs, it is service day in and day out. But here's the thing... YOU ARE SOOOO HAPPPY!!! Like honestly, I have never been more happy, felt more fulfilled, or have felt more purpose in my life than I have here on my mission. I serve others in so many different ways and each time is just as important. Serving others brings peace into a stressed, chaotic, and overwhelmed heart, and I am proof of it!

This week had a lot of changes. We inherited a HUGE part of another area, so our area has almost doubled but we are stoked because that means we have new finding areas :) We also had a very special night last night. We had a Mission President's Fireside and I was chosen to be one of the three musical numbers. I sang "My kindness shall not depart from thee", and my super cute companera accompanied me :) The spirit was so strong at the fireside and I am so grateful I was able to be a part of it. There were about 150 missionaries there and we were the "choir", and sang "Called to serve" as we all marched into the chapel, "A Child's Prayer", and the "EFY Medley" in the fireside, and "I'll go where you want me to go" as we all marched out. It was so great and the spirit was really there! Also, I got to see like all my friends so it was awesome!! :)

We are still teaching quite a few investigators and are so excited about our upcoming baptisms! We have been so blessed and are working so hard to find more of the Lord's prepared children! Thank you for all your love and prayers. I love you all and hope you all have a great week!!!

Les amo con todo mi corazon!

Hermana Carbajal

 This week was my little Coe Coe Bean's birthday so we met up together for tacos and pictures #theush

 ​I lub her

 ​Then a cute one with my little bebe

 Dead Armadillo. There were real life vultures flying around it. Like in The Jungle Book!!! #Texaslyfe #ihatetexas -_-

 ​"Do-it yourself moving. An American tradition" #PioneerWin #thanksUhaul

We had a FEAST #dontworryweshared

  Just some sweet Texan BBQ joint #wheninRome #butnotRomeatallbecausethisisTexas -_-

 Last night at the Mission President's fireside!! I LOVE all my friends :)

Milagros

Well this week was AMAZING!!! Like seriously SO, SO, SO good!! We had a BAPTISM, an investigator at our baptism, two new investigators, a new commitment to baptism AND a family that wants to be sealed in the TEMPLE!! Ahhhhhhhhh! It's amazing how the Lord really takes over when you let Him :) This area used to be "dead", but as you can see, its alive and well! We are so grateful for the tender mercies and sweet blessings the Lord has granted us with! It is so sweet to taste the fruit of your labors :)

On Tuesday, we went down to the LDS Employment Center with a potential investigator. She is actually a former investigator and we contacted her a few months ago in hopes she would want to start learning again, but wasn't interested in learning. She was interested in our free English classes we offer at our church though, and has been attending every class every week since! So that's been great. But up until now, she hasn't shown any interest in anything else so we haven't pressured her about it. Last week, she came up to us and was like, "Hermanas, I hear there's a free employment center I can go to, will you come with me!" We were like, "sure!!" So we head down and the whole time I kept feeling impressed to just talk to her about her life, thoughts, beliefs, whatever. I just really wanted to get to know her and we started building a connection so that was nice. We went inside the employment center and the senior missionary couple helped her as we sat along side her, translating when needed.  I honestly didn't really know what was going to come out of all of this, we genuinely just wanted to do a service and help her, not try to convince to start taking the lessons or anything, so we just kind of sat back. But in the two hours we were there, I could really see something happening to her. She could feel the spirit. And maybe it was just because she felt all the love and kindness from all the people trying to help her get a job, so she could give her a family a better life, I'm not sure but she was really moved and began to weep. We got into the car and she couldn't stop crying, and I was, "Hermana, how are you feeling?" "Loved, so very loved". She began to just cry over how she always feels something special when she comes into the church for english class, and how she always feel so good when she's talking to us, but when she was in the employment center, it was too overwhelming and that's why she began to cry. She didn't understand what was happening, but she knew they were good, happy tears. I explained to her that it was the Holy Ghost, it was testifying to her that all these people around her have good intentions and only want to help. She began to cry even more and then said, "I want to feel that way everyday, will you teach me how?" I mean.... YEAH!!! :)) #signalfireworksandhorns haha But seriously, it was so incredible. Now, we are teaching her and are so grateful for such a sweet, and tender experience of watching the spirit testify to her. Ahh, I JUST LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

On Saturday, we had EDGAR'S BAPTISM!! Literally the cutest, chubbiest little boy you've ever seen. I want to eat him and just take him home. Ahhh, I love him so much!! We've been through so much with this family since I've been here. In the past three months, we have reactivated their family, baptized Edgar, and last night his parents expressed their gratitude and love for us and told us they want us to help them get to the temple :))))))) EEEEEEEEEEE. I started crying. OH my gosh. I was freaking out. Ahh, I LOVE this family, like for real, I am so grateful for them. I know I was sent to this area to meet them and I am just SO grateful Heavenly Father has entrusted us with such sweet souls. 

Also, our golden investigator, Hugo, CAME to the baptism!! :)))) He almost didn't make it! But he made it just in time to see the ordinance. He LOVED IT! Afterwards he just had so many questions and told me how happy he was that he could come. Also, the ward basically fellowshipped the heck out of him and welcomed him like no other. I love our ward. They're amazing :)

Also, our investigator, Grecia committed to baptized on November 22nd!! Yayyyyy!! They're another family we're working a lot with. Her husband is a less active, and she is super interested and they have a goal to be sealed so I mean, it's gonna happen :))))

Life is sooo good and we are SOOOOO blessed! The Lord is hastening His work and blessing His servants. Thank you for your constant prayers, I feel them everyday :) I love you all so much and hope you feel it!

Les amo con todo mi corazoncito <3

Hermana Carbajal

p.s. I heard you get extra blessings for writing missionaries/ sending packages. I mean, I'm just saying ;) haha
26325 Northgate Crossing Blvd #1621
Spring, Tx 77373


 We found this cute little Jewish New York style deli and had some fun :) #asmuchfunasamissionarycanhave ;)

 I loooooove her

 ​We went to the Brooklyn Bridge :) hahah
​District lunches #districtunity

 ​We made this rad camouflage cupcakes for the bap :)

 ​Bap Outfit :) #10dollarskirt #holla

 Me and my super cute comp :) #iluhhher

 Ready for El Bautismo :)))

 ​I LOVE THEM #especiallythatlilchiknug

9 Meses!!!

Well, its happened! I've hit NINE MONTHS!! Wooo! Half way!! Nine months down, nine months to go! Crazy!!!! These past nine months have been some of the happiest and hardest months of my whole life! I feel like I've really grown to DEPEND, and truly love my Savior. It has been a time of growth, trials, learning, and complete joy. I am so grateful I listened to the still small voice that urged me to make this decision. I don't know where I would be without it. I only have nine more months to keep serving, and then the rest of my life to be grateful for it! What a wonderful blessing :)

Well this week was seriously CRAZYYYY. I felt like I wasn't even a proselyting missionary this week because I have been in meetings almost every single day! Ah! But it has been sooo good! On Wednesday, we had our interviews with President Mortensen, and a specialized training. It was so nice to see President, and be able to receive the counsel and upliftment I needed to hear from him :) Our specialized training was all about how we can better serve our members, less actives, and investigators. It was really insightful and I feel like I have a greater understanding on how I can better help the people in my area.

On Friday, we had zone meeting, where we learned more on how to better prepare our investigators and less actives to make commitments with the Lord. I have really gained a testimony on really trying to figure out the real needs that these people have. Because they are people!! Not numbers!! We are here to invite others to come unto Christ and teach them about His restored church. That's it! I feel like a lot of times, we as missionaries get caught up in all the craziness of being a missionary and forget the importance of those two simple responsibilities. To simply invite and teach. I hope that through my genuine efforts that these sweet people will feel of my sincere love for them and feel of that purpose. After zone meeting, we had to hurry on up and drive almost an hour to the family history center where we've been having training every friday for the past month. The church is training all the missionaries to be completely family history savvy, so that we can help members and investigators with their own genealogy! I'm just so grateful because I literally no NOTHING about family history work, sooooo if anything, I'm learning tons and will (hopefully) be ready when we are an iPad mission and will be able to help in so many ways!

And then you know it was just CONFERENCE!!! Which like blew my freaking mind. Conference as a missionary is like the best weekend ever. It seriously is. I wait for it forever, and then it comes and goes soooo quickly!! Ahh!! I LOVED Lynn G. Robbins talk over being fearless. I feel like a lot of time we feel pressured to please man before God, but we have to remember who is our creator and loves us... obviously GOD! So that one was sooo awesome! I also looooooved Uchtdorf's talk over our own stewardship in the gospel. We have the freedom to know what is true or not and that you can receive whatever answer you want, if you work for it!! I feel like a lot of times, at least in my life, I want things right away! We as a human race want instant gratification and this just not how it works all the time. The best things in life come through hard work, diligence, and patience. That's when we can really reap what we sow :) I obvs loved President Monson's talk on how it is more important to walk HOW Jesus walked, then walk where he has walked. Ahhh, it was soo good. They were ALL good! It honestly don't have a favorite! I feel like I learned so much for myself, and on how I can help others as well. It is seriously an incredible blessing that we have a living prophet today that speaks to us the words Christ wants him to speak. I feel so blessed to be able to have experienced two conferences as a missionary, and then only one more left! Ahh! The time is flying by tooooo fast!

I hope you all had a chance to listen to the General Conference talks and receive your own personal revelation that God wanted you to hear. If you didn't have a chance to watch or it hear it, we are pretty blessed because you catch up online!! #noexcuses :) You WILL be blessed by raising your knowledge of the gospel, and who know's  you might even help bless someone else's life because of it.. :)

Les quiero con todo mi corazon! Hasta la promixa semana

Hermana Carbajal <3

p.s. what was your favorite talk? Tell me about it :) 26325 Northgate Crossing Blvd. #1621 Spring, TX 77373

 ​​#districtunity

 Morning of interviews #studiesatdennys #specializedtrainingprep  #missionlyfe

 Everyday #missionlyfe #stressoverload #soooootired

 We made cookies/invites to conference for all of our investigators and members :) It was sooo fun!

 General Conference Sunday lunch #wecookedeverythingtogether

​9 meses!!!!! Halfway!!! #istoppedwearingmakeup9monthsago #nbd