Mescalero!!

It's been a really fun week! Tuesday we went up to Ruidoso for district meeting and then just stayed up there in Mescalero for exchanges. I love that place so much! Every time I go up there I realize how amazing mountains are. The drive up from Roswell is almost surreal because I'm not used to mountains anymore, haha. We had to leave early on Wednesday to get back for interviews with President Heap, but we came back up on Friday to interview one of their investigators for baptism.

Sunday was a crazy day, too, but really enjoyable. We had to wake up extra early (and not only because of the time change). There was a new high councilor called for the Fort Sumner Branch named Bro Logan, and he's really pumped about missionary work up there. He's going to start driving us up there two weekends a month for Saturday and Sunday. So yesterday we got to go up there with him for church. During sacrament meeting a sister did a musical number where she played her guitar and sang, which was really good and brought the spirit very strong. Something like that would only happen in a place like Fort Sumner, though, haha.

We got to make it to the last hour of church in Roswell, too, and right when we got there R told us she had decided to be baptized on the 19th rather than wait until the 26th. In our lesson on Saturday, Elder Woodland brought up jokingly to move it to the 19th, but she was super excited about that, so we invited her to pray about it. So now this week will be hectic trying to prepare her for it and get everything ready, but I'm kind of happy it got moved up. She's super excited and was telling everyone at church about it.

I want to share a quote I learned from Elder May in Borger, but the principle it teaches I've been very impressed with this week. Winston Churchill said, "To every man there comes that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a special thing fitted to his talent. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." And then Pres. Monson said, "When the time to act arrives, the time to prepare is over." I encourage you all to prepare yourselves. Keep God's commandments, learn to recognize and follow promptings of the Holy Ghost, and stay worthy by making the right choices day to day (even if they are small decisions) to fulfill the work the Lord has in store for you. I love you all. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Carlson