It's the end of September already and Cami continues on her 18 month vacation...

I mean mission!  

Cami and Sister Garvin shopping...

I mean proselyting.  

Awww.  I'm just joking.  They are clowning around on P-Day.  

I think they should start a new show, LDS Missionaries under cover.  

It could air right after the Kardashian's!

I think Sister Garvin got the right girl to get her ready for real life again...

and I think Sister Garvin got her ready for the next 16 months of her Mission life!  

Love that girl!!!

 Cami reunites with Sister Fife at Zone Conf. Sister Fife was her MTC Companion.

 Cute girls.  Silly Elders!

This is Cami and Amber's favorite place to go for FroYo!  

It's closed on Sunday so they are subtly trying to convert the owners. 

Stay tuned on that one! 

If you don't make it to the end of this letter, Cami has a new address:

Sister Camille Carlson

116 Windjammer Rd. 

Nags Head, N.C. 27959

This address is slightly better than the Kill Devil Hills name.  AARRRGGHHH!  Matey! 

I'm sure they think we have Cowboys and Indians out west here...by the name of their towns, 

I'm thinking they have Pirates with Peg legs walking the streets there! :) 

Hey ya'll!

Where to begin...Wow! We had a crazy busy week this week- which I love! 

We had exchanges at the beginning of the week in Virginia- Greatbridge Area and I got to be a part of probably the most spiritual lesson so far on my mission! The young man we were teaching is engaged to a recent convert and we were able to have a RM and his wife there and we truly felt the power of member present lessons. it makes the biggest difference in the world and there's a huge impact of the spirit when there is a strong member there, testifying of the truths that we teach people. It was so cool! 

Friday night us and the Hermanas put on a ward talent night and it turned out to be super successful! :) We were so excited to have so many people involved and excited! 

Saturday we helped some members move in the morning and did some service for Bro. Kelly. Our mission has started this thing on Saturdays called "walk and talk" where we walk around and just talk with people that are outside about the gospel from 1-4 on Saturdays so we did that and we got to have some really great gospel centered conversations so we are super excited to go back and hopefully teach those people! We are in the process of finding new people to teach so walk and talk has great benefit for Sister Garvin and I :) after walk and talk on Saturday we went to the annual fish fry that a family in our ward puts on which was great! Lots of fresh catch and good people to be around :)  We (us and the Hermana's) sang in church yesterday and it was probably one of my other favorite-among many-experiences of my mission so far. We sang the Youth Theme Song for 2014 "Come unto Christ" and I did sooooo good at not crying through all of it...and then I accidently looked at the investigator we had at church and Bro. Kelly and then I cried at the end. Everyone said they were really touched when I started to cry though so it's all worth it because the whole reason we wanted to sing was so we could touch hearts! :) 

We got word this week that we get to move in with the Hermanas so we are going to be doing that today and are SUPER excited about that!!! So....for all those (which should be all ya'll) who are sending me letters, I have a new mailing address and it's: 116 Windjammer Rd. Nags Head, NC, 27959 :) I'll be expecting lotsa mail in our new mailbox haha!!! That will be a joyous thing. This week we get to go to Portsmouth on Wednesday and see the new "Meet the Mormons" movie and we are way excited for that...you know you're a missionary when you get excited about a Mormon movie. 

This week is my last full week with Sister Garvin as my comp! I just love her so much and I can't believe it's already October and time for her to leave but I am so excited for her and the great things that Heavenly Father has in store for her! ANYWHO...I hope everyone is just doing so great! I miss all ya'll so much but I am so grateful to be a part of the work of the salvation all at the same time! 

Have the best week ever everyone!!! :)

Much love, Sister Carlson :)))))

This is a picture of a group who had dinner at the gal's house on the left.  She is playing the piano for them for them to sing this week.  She said Cami has a beautiful voice.  The 2 next to her are the Spanish speaking Hermana's.  The guy in the middle is a guy Cami has talked about a lot in her letters.  He's made great strides to change his life and has ups and downs trying to embrace the gospel.  We're praying for J!  Then Cami and her Comp.  Not sure about the guy on the right??? 

This sweet sister sent me this picture after their Sunday dinner yesterday.  Bless her.  She FB'ed me and emailed me as well.  She is AWESOME for taking care of our baby!  No pics this week, other than this one as Cami was on a slow computer today at the library, or maybe LDS mail was having troubles, but she couldn't get any of them to send.  Hopefully, next week we'll get double!  

And now a word from Cambolina...

 Hey ya'll!

Hope everyone is doing well! Our week has been a transitional (?) one. We are kind of in the middle of all of our investigators fizzling out and finding new people to teach--so that's what we are focusing on this week! 

Last week we had the opportunity to have Zone Conf. in Virginia Beach--it was so great! The theme was D&C 6:36 about fearing no man and it was exactly what I needed to hear. Sometimes as missionaries, it can be intimidating walking up to complete strangers and talking about salvation. Weird I know. Ha,ha! But it was perfect in the fact that we have to remember that salvation is so important that we don't need to be afraid because it's a message that everyone needs in their lives!! So that makes it okay :) An elder and a Sister from our zone played a special musical number on the violin and piano and the song was Bring the World his Truth or Armies of Helaman or whatever its called and it was Sooooo powerful and good. I cried. Which is weird because I never cry. HAHAHHAHAHA. Anyway-I felt the spirit so strong and it was pretty incredible to be there with so many valiant, obedient, missionaries. THE CHURCH IS TRUE. Then they talked to us about something we are doing coming up.  

On Nov. 1st we are participating in an event called a social media split. This is where different members are with us through the whole day, taking pictures of what we do as missionaries and what our lives are like and then posting it to social media for the world to see. We're doing this because the Book of Mormon musical is coming to Norfolk, Virginia-so our mission is taking part in Elder Bednar's talk at Education week and "Flooding the Earth with Good" and posting positive messages on Facebook. If you haven't watched it yet, you should.  Here's the link: https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/to-sweep-the-earth-as-with-a-flood?lang=eng.  So that will be really cool to be apart of. :) We are told to look at the musical as a positive opportunity to share our beliefs because it is actaully a really good missionary tool and opens doors with people who are curious after seeing it--I love that the church has taken that stance and turned it into an opportunity! :) Again, did I mention? The Church is SOOO true! 

We have a lot planned this week and we are really looking forward to it! On Friday we are having a Ward Talent Show- and then on Saturday there is a big stake "Fish Fry" that one of the big families out here puts on and supposedly there will be lots of people to share the gospel with so we are definitely looking forward to that! :) We always like lots of opportunity to talk to potential members so hopefully we'll find some new investigators! Stay tuned! :) 

Have the best week ever! :)

Hello Everyone!

Last night us and the Hermanas and one of the recent converts of our ward watched the CES fireside on Mormon.org at the church and...you know you're a missionary when you get excited for firesides, devotionals, Gen Conf, etc. :) It really was so good! D. Todd Christofferson talked about losing our lives for the Lord, and by doing so we will find it and it really hit home to me that losing our lives in the service of not only others, but to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is where we will find ourselves because we will grow and become people where there will be more of ourselves to find. Heavenly Father makes us more. 

This week I have gained a great appreciation for the Atonement. Me and Sister Garvin have talked a lot with each other and also members about how repentance can often be looked at as something negative or embarrassing--when really it is the most important thing in our lives on this earth. We should be repenting daily for even just the smallest things so that we can make sure that we are trying our best to be in line with how the Savior himself would and did live. I am SOOOOOO grateful for the atonement-for the ways I have seen it work in my life and for the ways I am seeing it work in others lives, as I serve. This gospel is so incredibly true, it's impossible to deny. I am in awe everyday of how much Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives. He wants us to succeed and to be as happy as possible and we do this through embracing the gospel of Jesus Christ. :) 

This week we have Zone Conference in Virginia which we are SOOO excited for! I hope everyone is doing well-I always love logging onto my account and seeing all the support and love that I receive each week from all of you! it truly makes me feel so good and I love you all SO MUCH! 

Have the best week ever!!! :)

 Bein' a frog at the aquarium!

 Sister's P-Day at the Aquarium

Sister Carlson is a lifesaver!

 Cami and her Companion Sister Amber Garvin

Hi everyone!

Things are movin' right along here in NC. :) LOVIN IT. It's currently pouring rain with a chance of....continuing to rain--non-stop for the rest of the week, but it is ALL GOOD. Good thing I am lost in the work and don't care about what my hair looks like.. :)) Haha now we know why it's so green beautiful here! This week has been a little slow as far as lessons-we had 12 and had goals for a little more but most times things don't go according to our plan, but Heavenly Fathers immaculate plan :) -  it was more of a "Sister Carlson's spiritual progression week" than a ton of lessons and baptisms week, which may sound selfish but sometimes the Lord makes it that way because there are things we need to learn and ways we need to grow before we can help others do so. We are all the Lords investigators :) and we can't convert others beyond our own conversion! I have always had a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, but this week I have reeeeally gained a testimony of absolute truth, without a doubt, of how much I (and all of us) need the gospel in my life. I started the Book of Mormon from the beginning when I got into the field and have been truly seeking to understand and study it more and I have experienced miracles! I pray every time before I read that I will be able to understand the things that I am reading and be able to apply it in my life and it has brought so many blessings into my life that I can't even explain! Me and Sister Garvin have had some experiences this past week with individuals who lack the faith and testimony they need to live their religion without approval of others and we were talking in companion study yesterday about 2 Nephi 4 16-25- Nephis Psalm -and it really just hit me how I am absolutely nothing without my belief in Jesus Christ. Earlier this week I read the talk "Come Join With Us" by President Uchtdorf where the quote: "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" comes from. It seriously is probably one of my new favorite talks and just sums up so perfectly how we need to live as members of the gospel as we live our faith every day. there are things all around us to learn and ways we can grow to become more like our savior and SOOO many blessings in store if only we have the faith to open our eyes and see them :) it is expedient (hhahahaha) that we live the way we know is right regardless of what others think or say about it! and if anyone is wondering how missionary like I currently am-  I just used the word "expedient" in my email home. WOOOOOW. don't judge. HAHA "it must needs be" that you don't judge me! ;))) anywho I hope everyone has a great week and remembers to....DOUBT YOUR DOUBTS BEFORE YOU DOUBT YOUR FAITH!! :) XOXOXO!!!!

-Sistaaa C

 Cami & Sister Hermana Hayward.  She got transferred this last week to 

Elizabeth City. :( Cami loved her.  They are drinking 'Cheerwine' which is a 

Southern version of home made Dr. Pepper.  She says it's amazing.   

Cami Loves letters in the mail!  Her address is:  

Sister Cami Carlson 

1024 Colington R. S-2 

Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 27948.  

Drop her a line, if you get a minute!

 Cami and Sister Garvin

This is a trailer that is closed during the week and on the weekend, it turns 

in to a street taco stand.  The nice people feed the missionaries free!

I cant believe it's already September. Wait actually ya I can...Haha. Anyway, I hope everyone had a great week! My week went well. We taught our investigator from our member referral on Friday and invited him to be baptized on the 27th of September and he said that he isn't sure that he is ready yet so we invited him to pray about it. He's been to church every week since we started meeting with him and he is just so sollid. We had another lesson with him on Sunday at a different members home for dinner and he didn't even know them and he was just laughing and having so much fun with them. He is just so great and SO prepared by the Lord to be apart of this gospel. So hopefully he receives the confirmation to be baptized and come unto Christ :) We washed the car this week at this car wash and its like $1.75 and you have like 2 minutes or something to do the whole thing and we didn't finish in time and so we had to drive out of the car wash all sudsy and then go to a members home to rinse the rest of it off...haha! "You know you're a missionary when.... you run out of quarters at the car wash." And the worst part is that it's so humid here that there is this coating on all the windows of moisture...so like right after we washed it, it already looked dirty again. We decided we're going to wash our own car from now on at home :) On saturday we were in Manteo, which is where a lot of our members and the Hermanas live. They took us to this this trailer for lunch that gets turned into a taco/mexican place on the weekends. Ask me if they were the best tacos I've ever had....ask me if i thought my mouth was going to fall off because they were so spicy.....ask me if i learned how to speak some spanish in the process.....THE ANSWER IS YES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE haha. There was this green stuff that i swear the guy said was guacamole so i put a ton on because i love me some guac and then one of the Hermanas said that made it spicier! So apparently my spanish isn't as good as I thought it was haha!! It really was so delicious though and they were the sweetest people on earth! Yesterday we woke up early and went to the beach and watched the sunrise. BEST THING OF MY LIFE. We were sitting there watching and then all the sudden dolphins started poppin up everywhere and it was just incredible. Definitely worth waking up early for. Things are going well in the Outer Banks-transfers were this week and I'm staying here! I'll probably be here for a little while. This week I came up with a little list of things i like to remind myself of everyday that I thought I 
would share-you can adjust it to your life at your own discretion :) 

Remember:

1. You may be weak, but He is strong.

2. Do your best, the Lord will do the rest.

3. Live worthy of your calling. 

4. Obedience is the first law of Heaven- Learn it, Live it, Love it! :)

5. Be on time

6. Let the spirit teach through you- it isn't your gospel

7. BE BOLD

8. "Trust in the Lord and lean not unto thine own understanding"

9. Love is the motive

I love ya'll SOOO MUCH. Whoever is reading this, we are all God's children and I love you!!! I hope everyone has a great safe week! XOXO

Much love from Sister Carlson!!! :)

I think #6 is my favorite!!! Ha, ha!!! Cami's companion, Sister Garvin is also staying put and finishing out her mission with Cami in Outer Banks. Sthey call it OBX. She is so glad. She LOVES Sister Garvin and they are doing some really good things there, so they get to continue working the same area they have been and they get to stay together. When I asked Cami about her training program, this was her reply: we have a 12 week program book thing that we do together and there's 

like scriptures and activities we do and we watch videos of other missionaries teaching and stuff like that. During companion study is when we come up with lesson plans and role play how the lesson would go ideally. I'm sure if you have been on a mission, up you know this, but it was news to me!

When I told her to count her many blessings for the beautiful place she is serving, she said, "thats the thing...is that although this is a very pretty place, missionary work is missionary work! I could be here or in Africa and I wouldn't care about the scenery as long as the ward, members and work was doing well." Spoken like a true missionary!

 Frogs everywhere outside our house!

 It's a bit humid!

 Beautiful sunrise over the Atlantic in Nagshead.

 My toes in the sand=I've waited a whole month to put my toes in the sand.  It's right there and yet we can only go to the beach once per transfer. Mission Rules. 

 Me on ze Beach!

 Sunrise on the Beach!

This Zipper Spider greeted us this morning...HUGE WEB ON OUR DOOR WE COULDN'T GET OUT!

Also a really wonderful Mormon Message.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1789679612001