Sheer Poetry!

Slightly sappy but I'm embracing all things "sister missionary" right now. :)

"As I prepare to leave this place behind
My thoughts are turned above
To my Father and Redeemer
I feel Their fervent love.

The time is getting closer
When I'll set out on my way
I begin to count the weeks
The hours and the days.

The beginning of a journey
A tale I'll soon convey
Of the struggles and the joys
I'll feel along the way.

I'm sure the work's demandinding
And the hours will drag on
As I face the taxing task
of Teaching 'til the sun is gone.

There are days I'll be discouraged
And nights I'll miss my home
My heart might just feel empty
I may feel utterly alone.

Although concerns surround me
I must always face my fears
And know that through my trials
My savior will be near

I'll study scriptures daily
pondering the words I read
I know that if I do this
The Lord will take the lead.

When my heart becomes discouraged
I know that I must kneel
And utter words unto the Lord
His love for me is real.

For I know I am His daughter
He sent me here to earth
To preach of his true gospel
And learn of my great worth.

In my life He's never left me
And I'm sure He never will
Through trials I will face
I must listen and be still.

If I make sure my heart is open
And I'm faithful, kind and true
I'll hear the Savior's words ring out
declaring, "I love you!"

So as I serve His mission
I know He'll be my guide
and if I follow in His ways
He'll be right by my side.

(Thank you, HeatherAdele!)

...And a small addition of my own:

I'm excited for my mission,
I get to learn Tahitian.
:)

xoxo Court

Additional Missionary Outfit Ideas!

Dear People,

These are a few more outfit ideas for warm climates, hopefully this helps those of you sister missionaries who are trying to pack!

And my fabulous parents:

The Errand of Angels!

The most intriguing movie about sister missionary work I have heard about is a 2008 movie called "The Errand of Angels" which follows a sister missionary ("Sister Taylor") on her mission in Austria.

It was a little cheesy.

However, the missionaries had a lot of experiences that broadened my view of investigator types. (Investigators are people who are taught by the missionaries because they want to know more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.) There are many different stages of investigating the church and different people will succeed and struggle with different aspects of the church, every single person will be different.

I really recommend seeing it if you are an LDS girl on any spectrum of mission interest (have your call, thought about it, reporting to the MTC soon, etc.).

Observations:
1) It is possible to wear cute clothes on a mission without distracting yourself from missionary work.
2) Be teachable.
3) If you're having a rough moment, take a few moments to sit down on some steps in the pouring rain.
4) Don't push baptism, it is a personal decision that should always be encouraged but not shoved down their throat.
5) Don't gossip about your companion with other companions. Only ask if you genuinely want to improve yourself for the benefit of the companionship.
6) Don't assume the attractive man is single. (In the movie he had a wife...)
7) You must try to speak in the language of your mission as much as possible.
8) Take time to understand how your companion thinks.
9) Love your companion.
10) Time will fly by, be careful not to waste any time.

I shall remember this!

love,
Sister Carter

Le Pays de Papeete!

 THE MARKET. I already foresee this being one of my favorite places.

 Where I will land. :)

 Coastline

THE TEMPLE!!!!

 When it was first discovered by explorers. 

Future home. 

My Missionary Email!

Here it is:

courtney.carter@myldsmail.net

This will probably be the fastest/easiest/cheapest way to get in touch with me whilst on the mission!
love, Court

Outfit Numba 1!

Shopping for summer/tropical clothes in upstate NY in the dead of winter: difficult. However, rewarding when found because they're usually in the clearance section!
Skirt in this picture: $0.97, no joke.

Te Buke a Moromona! Hokay, that's all for now. 

amour, Souer Carter

My Addresses!

Alright people, old-fashioned/loveable hand-written notes (also packages) will be sent to this address until April 20th (I leave April 22nd, but just in case):

MTC address: (I won't know the P.O. box until the Friday before I leave, so I will update this when I know)

Sister Courtney Annette Carter
Tahiti Papeete Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
PO BOX 184
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604
United States

And this address after April 20th:

Sister Courtney Annette Carter
Tahiti Papeete Mission
L'Eglise de Jesus-Christ des Saints des Derniers Jours
B.P. 93, Mission Mormone
Papeete 98714 French Polynesia

I don't EXPECT letters, but I would LOVE to get them. :)
love,
Courtney Annette Carter

Documentation of the Mission Call Opening!

I look disoriented because I was. :) Such a cool experience, though and I'm so grateful I got to open it in front of extended family!

xoxo Court

Ia Orana and Bonjour!

Bienvenue to my missionary blog!

Who: C'est moi, Courtney Carter! Old school age 21 and actually already had my mission call when they made the big age change announcement. I think the announcement is awesome & inspired.

What/Where: On 10/11/12 I opened my missionary package at a family reunion at Ft. Tuthill, AZ and read out my mission call to the Tahiti Papeete mission speaking Tahitian!!!

When: I report to the Missionary Training Center on February 6th and I go to Tahiti on April 22nd! (That's right folks, 10 weeks in the MTC.)

Why: Now the blog name explanation: (being previously ignorant of Tahitian pronunciations) I announced (cry-blubbered) my mission call as a rhyming mission "Tahiti Papiti" when in reality I believe it is pronounced Pop-eye-etay.

How I'm Doing: Pretty darn well. My excitement eclipsed pretty much everything after my mission call. I'm "home" in this beautiful part of upstate New York (about 20 minutes away from the Sacred Grove!) where my family moved during my past semester at BYU. I loved Virginia but I'm preparing for a mission so it is actually better for me to be somewhere where I mainly hang out with my family. I've been doing the classic side-by-side reading of Tahitian, English, and French scriptures and Tahitian looks absolutely zilch-o like English. That's about all I want to say for now. :)

A bientot!
Soeur Carter