Week 61

April 3, 2017

"Grief is the natural by-product of love. One cannot selflessly love another person and not grieve at his suffering or eventual death. The only way to avoid the grief would be to not experience the love; and it is love that gives life its richness and meaning." -Lance B Wickman

Well, I am a bit sad this week, because I am being transferred. 

But I am excited for this new adventure I am about to embark on! 

Sister Tullis and I were not expecting this to happen haha and when we were on the transfer call, when my name was called we both were so surprised! 

This is Sister Tullis' last transfer so I am sad she is going home, but I'm happy for her, her new companion is awesome. 

I am going to the Gainesville YSA Ward, which is on the campus of the University of Florida! 

Go Gators! 

My new companion will be Sister Ridenour, who is great! She came out with my trainee Sister Harris. 

I am sad to leave this ward because I love it so much. I love the members here and all of our lovely investigators. They are doing well and I will miss them dearly. 

But sometimes it is time to move on! I never thought I would go to Gainesville or serve in a YSA so this is all new to me! 

I loved General Conference!!! It was so wonderful and I saw a huge theme of doing the little things, listening to the Holy Spirit, and trusting in God. I know that doing those things really does bring us happiness and peace and I love hearing the words of our prophets and apostles, who teach us how we can be happy in this life! I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I know that even when life is challenging or scary, we can always turn to him. 

This is my 11th transfer on my mission. I can't believe it has been so long! If it gives you any indication of how much I have left, Sisters have 13 transfers. Ahhhh! I am nervous but excited to learn even more and become a better person these last few. 

This week several of our investigators kept their commitments! A family we are teaching read the Book of Mormon and we had an amazing discussion about it, they also told us they were going to continue reading it every night as a family! Another one of our investigators has been reading the Book of Mormon every day before she goes to work, and before that she always told us she would next time. You can really see the spirit fill people's lives as they seriously read the Book of Mormon with real intent. I testify to President Monson's message yesterday! Read the Book of Mormon and it changes your life. 

I love y'all! I hope you have a blessed week! 

Love,

Sister Caton

Also, look I saw a snake! P.s. I didn't catch it. But I tried to. Bad idea haha 

Week 60

March 27, 2017

"I think if you're happy you live longer." -Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Hey y'all!

This week was great and we took a lot of pictures!

On Monday we went to the St Augustine Lighthouse and the Pirate Museum

which was so much fun. Sister Tullis and I had a blast! We were so

tired afterwards though haha.

Then on Tuesday we had a surprise tradeoff with the Palatka 2^nd Sisters.  We had a great time, I was with Sister Gilbert!  We found this amazing man who is a youth pastor at his church but who has a lot of questions and is willing to read the Book of Mormon.

We also were coming home and we said, “What is that thing in the driveway?”  And we both shouted at the same time, “A TURTLE!”

He was a funny little guy.  we walked to a pond and stuck him in there.  we even gave someone a card because we were walking!  Yay!

Me and Sister Gilbert!  At subway yum.

Then on Thursday we weekly planned and got stuff done and then we had a tradeoff with the Sister Training Leaders in Jax East, and I was with Sister Koerner.  We had a great time!  She is a lot like me!!!

 We found this giant truck.  hahah

Then we traded back at PDQ!

Then on Saturday, we were able to go back and teach this cute family we met last week and we found out the wife is a member and she got baptized in a Spanish branch!  She is so amazing and wants to come back to church!  And her husband wasn’t really ready when she got baptized, but he is really open now and wants to know the truth.  Our lesson with them was wonderful and they are amazing!

Then yesterday we were walking around and talking to people and we saw this funny/creepy cow mailbox. haha

I was scared.

Then when we were walking we met this amazing man who we were able to teach!  He became a new investigator!  He has a hard life and is searching for peace.  What a miracle!

Well I hope y’all have a great week!

Love,

Sister Caton

Week 59

March 20, 2017

"The way we treat others reflects to what extent we follow our Savior in loving one another. " -Walter F Gonzalez

This week was awesome! 

One of our investigators who we found a few weeks ago is doing amazing! He has been reading the Book of Mormon and he is understanding it and gaining a testimony of it! He is a police officer and he loves to learn about good things. He has such a strong desire to know the truth and he is so nice to us! He promised to come to church next week since this one he was working but he is so great! 

We also visited a lot of less actives and we found one who has a peacock! It was awesome! 

Things you don't expect to see in Florida Haha

But we have a busy day today, we came to St Augustine and we went to the lighthouse! 

This is one of two original pirate flags in the whole world! 

On the rigging!! 

Love y'all have a great week! 

Sister Caton

Week 58

March 13, 2017

"How wonderful are the ways of our Lord. How glorious His promises. When tempted we can substitute for thoughts of evil thoughts of Him and His teachings." - Gordon B Hinckley

Hey y'all!

This was a great week. We were able to find a lot of great people to teach!

We had such a miracle where a week ago we met a man and his daughter knocking on doors, and they were busy but told us to come back!

We came back for the appointment and they invited us in and it was one of the most spirit filled lessons I have ever been in! They even invited their friend to come!

They are all continuing to learn as well! We are so excited for them to progress.

We also found a super nice man last week who is progressing now! He told us he is so excited to come to church and it was awesome.

Sadly this week we got bible bashed by a very weird man. He poured out his coffee and was crazy and it was really a contentious situation, but it ended up great because when we left, the spirit was with us and we felt full of peace. It was such a huge difference, and I'm so glad that we have the spirit and can feel the difference between those things.

I got to go on a tradeoff with Sister Martin this week, and we had so much fun!

We went to Cracker Barrel for dinner and taught some great lessons. Somebody gave us a catechism too haha good times.

Well I love being a missionary! Miracles abound!

Have a great week

Love,

Sister Caton