Shout out to Mike, Embarrassing moments and Christina!

Well...this world is smaller than I thought.

This week I was at lunch with a member and my companion and I was talking to this sister about my mission call, and some how it came up that I had a cousin who was born in Perù...we were talking about that and how it was such a blessing that Christina was adopted into the most amazing family, and how she is married and happy...and then this member looks at me and says..."What`s the name of your cousin?" I told her Christina Wood and she starts screaming...and come to find out...This sister is the family that Christina lived with when she lived in Perù for 4 months a few years ago...we both started screaming and jumping up and down in tears. Haha. We just sat and cried talking about Christina, and Kathy, and the changes that Christina had when she was living with this family...Janet Del Carpio. It was such a tender mercy to me that the Lord has a plan for everyone...who would have thought that this family would move to Tacna from Cusco...when I was serving my mission in Peru, in her ward. Wow! She showed me some pictures of Christina and her husband on facebook...and it was so fun to see how happy she is.

Yesterday we had a baptism...it was incredible, but SO stressful! Remember Alonso? He is the kid who never showed up for his baptism? Well...last Sunday he came to church...we talked to him for 5 minutes before he had to rush off to work, he told us that he was sorry about the last time and wanted to be baptized...and we set the date.  He said he had 1 hour on Sunday...our zone leader came, re-interviewed him, baptized him at 9:45, and 15 minutes later he was confirmed in sacrament meeting. I saw SUCH a change in him, and I know that he needs the gift of the holy ghost now more than ever in his life...and I love that I can be a part of this for him.

I gave a talk in church yesterday...but wait...you have to hear the most awkward story of my mission so far. HA!!! Okay...so I was standing up at the pulpit giving my talk, and I thought I felt my skirt flying up, but there are a bunch of fans so I just figured I was just feeling the air from the fans, and I was imagining things...about 20 seconds later one of the members of the stake presidency stood up and turned off the fans on the stand...and opened a window. Well...still in my spanish talking zone I didn`t think anything of it. Come to find out...my skirt was flying up like CRAZY because of the fans, and the entire bishopric and stake presidency were in the QUITE the shock. I am so glad I didn`t find out until after church...but seriously...how EMBARRASING!

This week was tough...I feel like every week is hard, but wonderful. I learned a lot this week about myself, and the changes that I still need to make in my life if I want to truly help others in the way that Lord has planned for me.  There are still so many people that I can help if I am humble and let the Lord guide me in the way I should go.  I love the Book of Mormon...no matter what language I read...I feel the spirit of God testify to me that it is true. "No wicked man could write such a book, and no good man would write it unless he was inspired of God, and commanded by Him to do so." -Jeffery R. Holland.

This church is true! Love you all!

Photos:

1) Plaza de armas in Tacna.

2) Baptism of Jhon last Saturday.

3) Relaxing on Pday...the only day we can sit down on a bench and enjoy the Peruvian wind.

PS. I would LOVE Christmas music if you could send it down...I promise I will play it!

Oh...PPS...MIKE DOYLE. I thought about you a ton this week...and I can't find your email...but you are loved here in Tacna, Perù. There is a white girl who is trying to speak Spanish down here praying for you!

Our Carli girl is 20!

Ah! Thank you again to everyone who sent me birthday wishes. I think I should probably tell you all how absolutely hilarious my birthday was. Like you said mom, "I will never have another birthday like this one again."  I have a picture of everything I ate on my birthday...and I am just going to be completely honest (bahaha..like I`m not always completely honest in my pathetic letters) I have never....NEVER eaten as much food as I ate on my birthday in one day. Do you understand what I am saying? Never...in 20 years eaten that much food. But the Peruvians show their love through food...entonces, no worries...because I am VERY loved here in Para Chico. Ha.

The day started with my tea (I knew I was going to have a feast so that`s all I ate).  My companion and I had 3 appointments and no one was home, so we treated ourselves to ice cream...(big mistake)  For lunch my pensionista made my favorite food...Ricoto Rellena. It`s like a red pepper (but super spicy) filled with meat, and onions and other yummy spices...baked in cheese. DELICIOUS. I'll send a picture.  She also bought my favorite soda. Then we went to a members house where she fed me...wait for it...hot chocolate with...FRUITCAKE!!! I tried so hard to be nice and eat it...and then almost threw up outside her house.

Afterwards we went to our mission leaders house for a meeting...and they had a birthday party for me! It was awesome. It was me, my companion, my mission leader, his mom, the stake president and his family, and the bishop. HAHAHAHA. When I got there they made me a cake...and brownies. So...of course I had to eat that too. (At this point I felt like the grinch when he`s getting stuffed to the brim with pudding and fruitcake and wants to throw up all over the who's at their Christmas party.)

Then...we went to our final appointment for the day...where my investigator made my OTHER favorite food thinking I was hungry (Loma Saltado...french fries with steak, tomatoes, onions and rice...except I don't like the rice...but of course I ate it) And...this is Jorge...this isn't a member...this is my investigator who I thought hated me...so of course I had to eat that too...but wait...his wife and him bought me a 40 DOLLAR CAKE TOO...and yes, they sang happy birthday with all their doctor friends from Lima, and I had to eat that too. When we left my companion and I looked at each other and just DIED laughing. Oh wait a second...I forgot. When I got home that night...my pensionista made me a cake too. Not a little slice...a HUGE cake. I'm sorry...this letter is probably so pathetic...but can you believe that? I didn't eat the next day cause I still felt sick from the day before. Haha. So...LONG story short....My birthday was great. I`m in my twenty's now sooo...I've started calling everyone jovencito. Ha.

Okay...the missionary stuff.
We had a baptism this week! I should probably start writing more about my investigators so it isn`t always a surprise when we baptize someone. Our baptism is named John and he has 19 years. He had a lot of problems in his life, and the remission of his sins was SUCH a blessing for him.

This week I had such a cool thought that I want to share with you all. I was studying this week about the light of Christ, and thinking about different sources of light...of course the first source of light that came into my mind was the sun.  The sun is the center of our solar system, and never moves. Everything moves AROUND the sun. And the same thing occurs in the church. The Savior is the center of our beliefs. He never moves...but everything we do, and believe, and know revolves directly around Him, His teachings and His sacrifice. Put Christ in the center of your life, and everything else will fall into place.
"Live in such a way, that those who don`t know Christ, but know you, will know Christ because they know you."

Love you all. Enjoy your week. I think about you all everyday, and pray for you and your happiness.

Xoxoxo,

Sister Carli Stone

Humility

Oh my goodness the entire world sent me a happy birthday wish email. I am so grateful to each and every one of you! THANK YOU THANK YOU everyone. Still waiting on the package Mom...We will see what happens. Hope I get it. Ha.

Arequipa was great. I learned a ton in our leadership counsel, and I am super motivated.  I know there is ALWAYS more I can be doing, I can always work a little harder to be a little better...and that is my goal for this month of November.

Also...this week was Halloween as you all know...I was the annoying gringo who had black and orange and yelled at everyone saying "Happy Halloween!" Unfortunately this isn't a very celebrated holiday here...but I was letting my inner Carli come out. I also told our who zone in our zone conference last week that we all get ipads...and they all believed me...it was awesome. Then I laughed super loud...and they all started throwing papers at me. I think my zone likes me...HA! I promise I am mature...but sometimes I just need to be myself. While I`m on this topic I told the ward counsel yesterday that I`m turning 32 this week...and I think they believed me too. Whoops.

This week my companion and I heard some sad news about our investigator Jorge, that he can`t get married quite yet cause his wife is still waiting on papers for a divorce of her first marriage. We were pretty upset cause this guy is READY. We were teaching him the word of wisdom the other day and he said to me..."Wait...is this some sort of diet or something?" Ha...He is also a DJ, and his name is DJ Black. How hilarious is that? But no...I am learning A LOT of humility with this man. It is so hard for me to just say to the Lord..."we will do anything you would like us to do. We will work towards baptism with him...if this is YOUR will." I know that is what I am lacking...and I just need to humble myself and realize that God has a plan for him...and I can`t try and change that plan so I am happy.

Lastly...yesterday in sacrament meeting this crazy man from the ward stood up to bare his testimony and said..."I would like to bare my testimony in English and dedicate it to our lovely missionary sister stone." The Bishop was busting up laughing and I turned BRIGHT red. The funniest part is that this guy is FLUENT. He has some mental problems...but he spent like 10 years studying English and can speak perfectly. It was great! At least some one likes me.

Love you all,
Carli girl

(My birthday cake: Tres Leches)

Chased by a PIG!

Happy birthday KK! Last week was a little harsh, but don`t you think I forgot you. I love you so much. SO incredibly grateful for your example to me...and your email last week. Haha. Hope you have the best day! So fun to see pictures and videos of the family this week. 

Man...writing the family is always so stressful because I have so much to say. First of all...Back in Arequipa for the leadership counsel with President Zobrist. Today has been such a blast. My companion and I along with the 6 elders in Tacna drove in on a bus leaving at 10pm last night, and got here in Arequipa at 5am this morning. President gave us permission to go into the city and do something fun. And the 5 gringos thought it would be funny if we toured the biggest catholic cathedral in Perù. Hahaha. It was an interesting experience. Afterwards we went and rode Go Karts. It was so hilarious. Our travel to Arequipa is always a good time.

So... remember Jorge? He`s great. This week we were teaching the restoration and he asked me, "What was the name of your first prophet? Will Smith?" Haahha. I was dying...trying so hard to hold it together. He`s also black, and doesn't like white people...so I`m having a tough time winning this man over. But he feeds us up a STORM! And I am never hungry when he feeds me. Last week he brought out a plate of like...6 sandwiches, and as soon as he left the room I started grabbing them and stuffing them in my backpack...trying to manage my weight here. Haha

Also...this week we were contacting in this farm area place, and I just want you all to know how awesome my mission is. We weren't running away from dogs...no...we were being chased by a PIG, and running for our lives through this dirty muddy field, laughing our heads off. I just love this darn country soo much!

The Sunday school president in our ward is crazy, but in the funniest way, and we were having ward counsel yesterday talking about how we can reactivate families and he stands up...(picture this man who is like...60 years old, with hairs growing out of every part of his face that he could possibly grow hair...) and says..."There is something else very important that each of your are some how forgetting....SUNDAY SCHOOL!" The entire ward counsel starts busting up laughing...and this poor man doesn't quite know he is crazy yet, so he sits down totally satisfied with his comment and we were all just dying. I know that probably wasn't funny to you guys, but use your imaginations.

I have a TON of awesome pictures of Peru for you guys right now, and the internet place we are at doesn't have a place to plug in my camera. I`m so sad. Next week you guys will have a bunch of fun pictures.

Okay...sorry this was such a pathetic letter. I promise I am having spiritual experiences and learning a ton. This week my companion and I were teaching a lesson to our ward mission leader and his family (he is preparing for a mission) and we shared with him a video of the hastening of missionary work right now and I was sitting there in tears. Wow. It is such an amazing feeling knowing that I am in the thick of it all. When I think about the fact that I am an instrument in the hands of the Lord right now in the last days as he is bringing the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people I just don`t ever want to come home. But don`t worry I love you all so much...and I will come home one day. 

Remember that we can all enjoy the blessings of missionary work...and this is our responsibility as members to bring the gospel to each and every person. I get some wonderful letters from Sandy Bertha through dear elder and I just love her example of a member missionary. She has an awesome missionary experience each week to share!

Love you all so much! Reach out, and share with others what makes you SO happy!

Xoxoxo,

Carli

"Life is to be enjoyed, not endured"

Okay...I am going to start this email by giving a embarrassing shout out to my sister Katelyn Stone Hunt who has not written me in over a month. I am waiting to hear how you have been and I miss you and Marcus a ton! Thank you! Secondly...So proud of Chan for dating up a storm in Provo. Haha...I wouldn't expect anything less from a Stone. I think about you a ton Chandler, and appreciate that you can understand the pains I feel here with the language and the 3rd world county thing. Summerella is the prettiest of the Stone girls and so proud to call her my sister. Colton is growing up so much with his very own instagram, and I can`t wait to see him pass me up cause I promise I haven't gotten any taller here...but I feel like a giant so that will be fun to come home and be small little Carli again. Mom and Dad you both know that I miss you I`m sure. I hope you can feel my prayers for each and every one of you in these specific stages of life. I am brought to tears when I think of the blessings that Lord has given me in my life, and the amazing family, ward, friends, home and country I have had. I can`t thank each and every one of you enough for the examples of love and faithfulness you have shown me.

This week was good...tough, but I learned a lot. I hope I am humbling myself enough to learn every thing that the Lord wants me to learn everyday here in Perù. This Saturday I had my first baptism...that didn't show up for his baptism. It was rough. It just made me so sad to think that this brother isn't enjoying all the blessings that he could be at this time in his life. He had his interview and everything, and Saturday night we waited for an hour and half calling him a million times and he just never showed up. We passed by his house Sunday morning and he wasn't there. We haven't been able to get in contact with him yet, but we are going to stop by later tonight after Pday.

But...there are a lot of wonderful things happening in my area right now, and I am so thankful that the Lord is blessing my companion and I with people to teach. We have a goal to better enjoy our missions.  I have a quote from President Hinckley that says, "Life is to be enjoyed, not endured." and so we decided we could incorporate that into our missions.  We have one investigator named Nicolas. He is 12 years old, and a literal TWIN to Colton. I was almost crying teaching him the other day cause not only does he look and dress like Colton, but he acts just like him. He is the sweetest little boy, and is a champ at soccer.

A few days ago my companion and I were walking through the park and felt super strongly that we should talk to this guy that was sitting alone on a bench. And WOW...that was a prompting from the spirit. Come to find out, his wife is a less active member, and she was baptized in Lima, and hasn't been to church here yet in Tacna. We told him that he needed to get baptized, receive the priesthood, and he could bless his family, his home and his children.  He told us that he would come to church with his wife and learn more...and yesterday he walked in with his family wearing a shirt and tie!! Tonight we are going to have a family home evening with them. I'm so grateful for the promptings of the spirit. I know that there was a reason that we needed to talk to this man at this time...and he will bless his family in a HUGE way with the priesthood.

We are working a lot with the less actives in our area and strengthening the ward.  A few weeks ago we had a family night with a inactive brother who hadn't been to church in 2 years. At the end of the lesson he started talking about music and how much he loved the hymns at church and how much he missed the music, but that he wished we could use the organ...I looked at him and said..."Well, you are in luck. I play the piano every Sunday." He hasn't missed church in 3 weeks, and bore his testimony in a baptism we had last week. WOO! I love miracles and I love the work of the Lord.

I know that this is the Lords church...I know that this church was restored through Joseph Smith. I know that through him we also have been blessed with the priesthood of God on earth again.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week.

"We are following the prophet"

Okay...truth circle. I`m a little bit sick right now. I have a little FOMO!!! So jealous thinking about all you guys in Utah doing the whole "homecoming game thing". Ah. I love BYU...I`m so glad they won too! But...like I said a few weeks ago about the joys and sorrows...I will appreciate those moments so much more after my mission, because I have been left out. Haha...and everyone who knows me knows that I love to be in the middle of it all...but I am so happy that everyone is healthy and safe and doing well.

This week we had such a MIRACLE happen. I have realized that they come every single day of the mission, but only when I am looking for them. Our sweet little investigator Brenno was baptized on Saturday. He has been going to church since he was 7, but never had permission to be baptized. My companion and I felt super strongly one day as we were planning that we should work on getting permission for him to be baptized, so ALL last week we were searching for him. His mom was in town for the weekend from Lima (MIRACLE!) and we literally walked up and down the street that he lives knocking on every single door asking if anyone knew his family...and some how NOBODY knew who he was. Friday, (after spending the entire week visiting every member of his family that we knew in the ward, and calling his cell phone 15 times) we were contacting on a street corner and who walks up behind us?...Yes, Brenno. We looked at each other practically in tears and told him we had been looking for him all week. Right in that moment we told him that we felt that this was his time for baptism...his eyes started watering and he said he wanted to be baptized THE NEXT DAY! We called the zone leaders from a public phone and told them to meet us at the chapel in 10 minutes to interview him. He passed his interview and was baptized the next day. He was glowing. So sweet. He is 16, and his parents are both members, and his dad is a returned missionary, but is extremely inactive right now. But he was overcome with the spirit and crying and everything the moment that his son came out of the waters of baptism. Wow. Such a miracle for that family.

This week we also had a conference with President Zobrist, and I had a super cool interview with him. I have NO doubt that we are called to the mission we are called for our mission president because he has already helped me SO much in my mission, and I still have a ton to go, and a lot more to learn from him.

My companion and I also planned a training for all the sisters this week, and it went super well. It was so fun being able to plan a training and it was really cool to be able to receive revelation for the sisters in this area, and teach them new things, and see how they are each doing individually. We also made hamburgers and banana splits and played signs and did some anti stress exercises to make it more fun. Haha. I will send a picture to you of all the sisters in Tacna. They are all so awesome.

Okay...last thing. This week my companion was looking at pictures in the Ensign and saw a picture of the prophet where he looked a little bit heavy, and she said..."Look...President Monson is fat too. If anyone makes fun of us for gaining weight we can just tell them that we are following the prophet." HAHA. I love my companion. Always makes me feel better about the 19,000 pounds of rice that we eat everyday. SO LUCKY! P.s. I don`t think I will ever be eating rice again after my mission.

Oh...and LAST thing. My companion and I completed with our baptism goal for this month...and we are only on the 2nd week of the month! Our bishop took us out to a super nice Chinese restaurant for a celebration and I got to eat....FRIED RICE. Que suerte!! Haha.

LOVE YOU ALL!

I got my buttermilk syrup!

Oh...my...general conference. I could spend the whole email talking about how much I absolutely LOVED conference! With every talk I heard I was just reminded of the truthfulness of this gospel, and the fact that we were listening to the words of Prophets and Apostles of GOD! Wow. How lucky we are to live in this time when we can listen to the counsel from our Father in Heaven directly through his servants. I absolutely loved what elder Ballard said about missionary work, he said to the missionaries, "You are called as a missionary to talk to people...don't act like it's some sort of burden." Ha. But I have to say that I was weeping in Elder Hollands talk. Wow. That talk was definitely written for a few people that I know.

Last week was SUCH a blast in Arequipa. The mission home reminds me a ton of grammy and grandpa's house and I felt like I was in Modesto. There were 6 of us sisters so we got to sleep in the mission home, and the elders got sent off to some hotel. We woke up to president making french toast and buttermilk syrup. I was in heaven! I thought it was all for us, and then the doorbell rang and in walked 38 elders...but it was okay, cause I got my buttermilk syrup! Ha.

This week was awesome. We had 3 BAPTISMS on Saturday! It was incredible! The three girls we baptized, (Maria Gracia, Ivone, and Karry) were all so excited, and SO prepared. I know that God was preparing them for us to teach...and I will never forget seeing their faces after they were baptized. They kept thanking us, and hugging us and it was just the sweetest thing ever.

I just loved this week so much...and I'm excited to see what the next week brings. It's like a mystery what will happen, who we will meet, who we will teach, and how we can help them.

Love you all so much!! Enjoy your week...and remember...Every member a missionary! Please help the missionaries in our ward...I promise they will appreciate it more than you know. We are all in this together! (high school musical throwback)

Ps...If you were wondering, Saturday I got to watch conference in English with the white elders, and one white sister in Tacna...and Sunday we watched in Spanish. It's cool to watch it in Spanish though cause I receive more revelation when I am listening to the topic rather than every word. OH...also...did mom join the Tabernacle choir...cause her TWIN was singing in the choir. I almost cried when I saw her on Saturday and I jumped out of my seat and ran over and stared at the screen and all the elders thought I was crazy! Then I said..."Elders....I think that was my mom. I`m serious." Soo....let me know if you moved to Utah.

Love,
Carli