Blank Title

I couldn't think of a good title for my email this week. I'm super tired as I am writing this so this email will probably make no sense whatsoever.

Ok so transfers happened, and all the people who ignore me either went home or left, and then people I've already served around replaced them! So it's a win win for me. I am so excited to see the people I've served around. Elder Bergener is one of them, I served with him when I was in Corning. I freaking love that elder. So there's that and it's been great.

This week has actually been an ok week despite being homesick. Sister Morrison and I were really homesick transfer Tuesday. I hate transfer Tuesday. It was hard to know that the missionaries in our zone were on planes that very second to go see their family. It was hard for me because two of those missionaries were going home to North Carolina, and I wasn't one of them. But that's ok, we got over it and we decided to work hard this whole week. Because of that we found four new investigators, all of whom want to be taught the gospel. Boom. Thank you Heavenly Father for finally allowing us to find those who need to be taught. Tender mercies, y'all. They're real.

Sister Morrison and I have a good relationship. I am glad I am staying with her for another transfer. Yeah she is kind of mean when she doesn't get her way, but at the same time she is one of the most social people I've ever met. I am learning not to focus on the bad parts about a companion. I am focusing on the good they do and the positive influence they have on me. This week with talking to people I have been better, we actually had a good conversation about tracting and how we both need to work on it. So yeah it's getting better. I am fast approaching my 8 month mark. W00t! Holy cow.

Friday was district meeting, and we talked about the importance of reading the Book of Mormon. We came up with a list of questions of the soul and found answers to those questions using the Book of Mormon. It truly can knock any question out of the water. Read it, and you will know if it's true or not. I can promise you that.

We had a lesson with our investigator Tito. We taught about the Book of Mormon and how important it is. It was an amazing lesson, we really felt the spirit. Tito promised us he would start to read the Book of Mormon, and he told us he believes that everything we have taught him is true. We are so pumped, we are going to try to put him on date this week. Wish us luck!

We picked up an investigator who is 9 years old. Her name is Lylee.

Her family is less active, but she wants to be baptized. It's a good opportunity to teach her as well as her family and figure out why the heck they aren't coming to church.

Gosh I love less actives. I just love everyone.

Saturday was awesome because I GOT TO SEE SISTER MCQUAGGE!!!! She is one of the members I got close to when I was in Tempo Park. I LOVE that woman SO MUCH. UGH. She took us out to eat. Oh my gosh I adore her. You get so close to certain people, holy cow.

Sunday was easily the best day of the week. We had all of our progressing investigators come to church and some of our new investigators come as well. It was kind of stressful because from the two wards, 2 investigators came in each. I played a special musical number in the 3rd Ward, the restoration medley, and I am so glad I did because two less active families who we have been working with came to church. The King family and the Stone family both had not been to church in years, and they came on Sunday. I made both families cry when I played the song. The spirit of music touches everyone, and I am so glad I can share that talent. I love playing the piano so much, and I am so sorry I didn't practice more when I was home. I am going to push myself even further and harder when I get home on the piano. If I can help people feel the spirit like that, then I need to become a professional pianist.

I made breakfast for all the missionaries in our apartment complex this morning. I made crepes for everyone. I can't play sports worth a crap, but at least I can cook and play the piano.

Also, birthday shoutout to one of the most amazing people that have ever lived, George Washington. It's his birthday today. He's probably having a blast up in heaven with all his founding forefather friends.

I love you all so very much. I would not be Caroline Elizabeth Ginn without you people in my life. You are all so dear to me. Have a great week! <3 p="">

Love,

Sista Ginn

Tracting and Knocking but Not Finding and Not Teaching

Well hi.

I am Sister Ginn.

I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I teach about Jesus Christ and help others to come closer to Christ.

Would you like to learn more?

*loud slamming noises of doors*

Fine, no salvation for you, buddy.

Story of my life.

That's basically my week. Nothing of significance happened at all. All our set lessons cancelled on us. Just a normal life in the day of a missionary.

We are having an all day mission temple trip on April 11th, and in preparation for that we are reading the entire Book of Mormon from the beginning as a mission before that. We are supposed to underline all references to the savior and his atonement in it. So far I have really been able to feel the spirit by doing that. I really like knowing that the whole mission is doing it too.

I found out a few days ago that my reputation in the mission is being the "cute sassy short chick with mad piano skills". I approve.

We had zone meeting this week with the whole zone. It was the last zone meeting before transfers. We talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon in our teaching and how it's through the Book of Mormon that people become converted. Cause it's true. When people read the Book of Mormon, they begin to feel the spirit. When they pray about it, the spirit tells them it is true. The Book of Mormon is essential in the conversion of a soul. Remember that when you are reading it for yourself. Reading it every day will truly help you to fight against Satan who is this huge bully of life. It can protect your family from bad things. I know this. I have seen the power that this book has because it is of God. Gods power cannot be matched. I know this book is true. I feel it. When I hold the Book of Mormon I feel like I am holding a friend. That is like my relationship with God right now.

It's amazing what seven months can do to a person who serves a mission.

Friday I got to see an investigator from Citrus Heights. His name is Roy. He was coming to Lincoln and I was soooooo pumped to see him.

It's so weird to see and have all these relationships with people all at one time as a missionary. I still can't comprehend it. I talk to people all day long. I form relationships with people 24/7. What. What even am I doing? I still have no clue. I'm just listening to the spirit and following the lord. He is my light. I love my Heavenly Father and I love my savior.

Sister Morrison and I are staying together by the way. Transfers are this week and we got the email telling us we are staying in Lincoln 3rd and 6th. I'm so excited because this upcoming transfer is going to seven weeks long instead of six. If I was with any other companion for this up coming transfer I would probably want to strangle them and throw their body in a ditch. So I'm glad it's sister Morrison. I love her <3 a="" and="" are="" be="" bored="" by="" change="" changing="" crap="" day.="" different.="" do="" getting="" going="" her="" home="" i="" in="" is="" it="" lincoln="" m="" missionaries="" most="" much="" nbsp="" now.="" of="" out="" p="" re="" really="" s="" scare="" so="" some="" the="" things="" though.="" to="" training="" transferred.="" used="" very="" we="" weird="" when="" whole="" wonderful.="" zone="">

The elders in the mission are amazing. Some of them are like my brothers. I've never had brothers, but they show me what it's like to have that. Especially Elder Forson, the black elder of the CRM. He is one of my best friends. He really helped me out this week with some discouraging thoughts I had. I am so glad he lives in D.C. because everyone else lives in Utah and I will probably never see them again after the mission, but I'll see Elder Forson. East coast man. Gotta love it.

Sunday was an all regional stake conference for the western part of the US. Elder Renlund spoke to us about how we need to respect others beliefs, but at the same time do not be scared to state your belief.

Be bold in what you believe in, but be loving about it. Don't be scared to stand alone. I need to follow that counsel, especially when other missionaries are being idiots and I don't want to be apart of it.

Happy Valentine's Day to all the lovers, and happy Discount on Candy day to all the single people. Eat as much chocolate as possible to fill the void of loneliness. It works, trust me I know what I'm talking about.

Also random side note I found out my companion hates the way I do door approaches; she didn't tell me to my face but she's been telling everyone else. Don't you just love that? Yeah I'm not great but she's not the best at them either (great way to boost my self esteem right?), so what did you people do who served missions? What were some ways you saw that succeeded so I can do a great door approach and mentally tell my companion to stick it? Answer at your leisure. I get tongue tied sometimes because I get nervous to talk to random people, so sometimes there are silences, which is the part she hates. She doesn't really let me do door approaches, and I didn't know why until now.

Forget that, I do what I want because I know it's the best I can do.

Don't let people make you think there's only one way to do things.

There are PLENTY of ways to do stuff. Be yourself and do the best YOU can do.

- Sister Ginn 2k16

I love you all so very much. You are the best people in my life, all of you reading this. If you aren't reading this I still love you, it's ok that you ignore my emails. You'll be held accountable for it one day at judgement though <3 just="" p="" saying.="">

I LOVE YOU GUYS PEACE OUT GIRLSCOUT

love,

Sister Caroline Elizabeth Ginn

Investigator named Roy

She has my heart!

Squishy faces

Beautiful horse

Cool negative

Two Exchanges This Week

So yes I went on two exchanges, and not that they weren't fun or anything, but I'm done with exchanges until next transfer.

This week went by so fast. Where is the time going? The highlight of my week was we had interviews with President Marston. Let me tell you a bit about our interview.

We were supposed to come up with a goal and a scripture to back up that goal that we wanted to accomplish in the next six months. My goal was to be more confident in myself and to have more charity and love to everyone I meet, even if I don't know them. I want to be more bold, but loving at the same time. My scripture was Isaiah 41:10 (go look it up). President Marston told me that as I develop this goal, I will be better prepared to train and be a sister training leader. He told me I was staying in Lincoln for a while, and he hinted that I might train here soon. Sister Morrison and I are staying together another transfer. President likes to tell everyone what is happening next transfer. We also discussed some things I've been struggling with and he told me to "stand tall in the gospel and it'll be fine." I love him so much, he is the greatest man in the universe. I am so grateful to be here with President Marston. We visited for over an hour. He loves talking to the missionaries.

I went on an exchange with Sister Trease, another sister in Loomis which is right next to Lincoln. She is exactly my height except she's cuter. I love her. We had a lot of fun. I got to drive around my area and get to know it better, so I am not as lost anymore. I like Lincoln because it's small. I love small areas.

Ok so here is the best news I've heard my entire mission: When I was in Tempo Park with Sister Hodge, we found this investigator named Dominique. We talked to her several times, and I gave her a Book of Mormon and challenged her to read it. That was the first Book of Mormon I've ever given away. So fast forward 17 weeks from when I left. I went on an exchange with someone named Sister Taylor, who is currently serving in the tempo park ward. We came out together. She tells me that Dominique is meeting and taking the discussions with the sisters AND SHE REMEMBERS ME AND TALKS ABOUT ME ALL THE TIME. WHAT.

THE. FREAK. I almost died I was so happy. She apparently loves what the sisters are teaching her and she is progressing towards getting baptized. I'm gonna cry. I never hear about the fruits of my labors.

Hearing this proves that serving a mission is worth it. Got that? It's worth it people. SISTER HODGE IF YOU ARE READING THIS GUESS WHAT, WE AREN'T FAILURES IN TEMPO PARK.

We had district meeting this week,  and three of the missionaries go home in a week. They talked about their missions and shared their favorite memory with us about their missions. It was interesting to hear their experiences. It made me realize that's gonna be me in less than a year now. I hit my 7 month mark today. 11 to go. So I better make the best of the time I've got left, cause I only got one shot at this 18 months thing and I can't screw it up.

Sister Morrison and I get along swimmingly. We're really sarcastic to each other and we pull pranks on each other all the time. An elder gave me a nerf gun so I shoot it at her all the time. I've made her fear coming out of the bathroom now and it's great.

We've been working with this less active family called the Morrill family who are all so amazing. The moms name is Briyl and she is single and takes care of her six kids all by herself. She was baptized at 8 and knows nothing about the church and only one of her kids is baptized. We had a family home evening with them at a members house and it was a miracle because that is the first church related thing we could get the family to do since Briyl was baptized. Tender mercies exist and always tell the lord how grateful you are for them.

The church is true. I know it is. Reading scriptures every day really puts a new perspective into your life. It's enlightening.

I hope you all have a good week. Make sure to smile at people, cause that really makes a difference.

Also I hate meetings.

Love

Sister Ginn

Caroline and Sister Trease did exchanges this week together

Did exchanges with all of these sisters

Super smily

The district in Lincoln before transfers

Hello my name is Sister Scary!!!!

I Am the Awkward Third Wheel

So you know the kid that was in high school that hung out with your group of friends because one of their friends was cool so everyone hung around the cool one while the other kid just shadowed that person and no one talked to them? Yes that has literally been me my entire life and still hasn't changed and probably won't change until the day I die. I'm just not cool enough to be in a group of 19-20 year old missionaries either I guess.

I really get along great with stoners, I've noticed. I don't know what that means but you know what, stoners need Jesus too.

So this week was speedy Gonzales, I don't even now what happened oh my gosh. We taught and tracted and taught and tracted some more. Once again, tracting is not the most successful way to do missionary work.

The good news is we had more lessons with less actives and recent converts, my favorite type of missionary work.

One evening we went to contact one of our investigators, and he wasn't home. We tried this less active across the street from him, and they weren't home either. I said a pray out loud that we would be able to contact our investigator soon as we got back into our car, and not two seconds later our investigator pulled up into his driveway. We got out and talked to him and scheduled a less for him later that week (and it was a bomb lesson btw). So his name is Tito Togar. He is from Liberia, Africa and he has the coolest accent ever. He wants to be baptized really bad and has been listening to the lessons for only a couple months. Who knows, maybe this might be my first baptism, knock on wood.

Ok so we have District Meeting every Wednesday right? You would think because it's every Wednesday that it would be ingrained into a 17 month out district leader right? Wrong. Our district leader completely forgot it was Wednesday so we were all at the church for an hour waiting for him to show up. He finally arrived and apologized profusely and we talked about villains and superheroes for the rest of the time. That might seem pointless to you, but it gives me comfort because even though I screw up all the time and I am incredibly awkward, I would never forget that it's district meeting.

Sunday was Stake Conference in Lincoln, and it was my first stake conference I've been to as a missionary. An area of the seventy, Elder Dube, came and spoke to us. We had an 8 o clock meeting with just him and recent converts, investigators, and less actives where they could meet him personally. It was awesome, Tito came and since Elder Dube is from South Africa and Tito is from West Africa , they could understand each other and he was able to answer Tito's questions. After the meeting Elder Dube pulled us and Tito aside and spoke to Tito personally. He bore his testimony to Tito and said that as long as he listens to the missionaries, he will be blessed and being baptized is the best decision he can make. I GOT TO SHAKE ELDER DUBES HAND LIKE THREE TIMES. That was the closest I have ever been to an area seventy, he actually talked to me and said, "Thank you Sister." It was like talking to a rockstar. I was internally screaming the whole time but I kept my cool. Elder Dube gave a conference talk back in October 2013.

Go watch it or read it. It's amazing.

K I'm off to go do P-day stuff. I love you all and the church is true.

Yeah I might not be the coolest or most interesting of people. I might not be included in the "cool crowd" but who cares, cause when Jesus is on your side nothing matters anyway. My job here in life is to comfort the lonely and less fortunate. I can do that because I know exactly how it feels to be lonely and less fortunate. I just know I have a father in heaven who loves me and I need to tell people that.

I love you all. Please keep me in your prayers, I need it. Talk to you soon!!

Love,

Sister Ginn

Flowers from our ward mission leader!

I like jumping in puddles!

I Really Hate Playing Basketball!

So we all get up at 6 and walk to the stake center and play sports for exercise, mostly basketball. I. Hate. Playing. Basketball. So.

Freaking. Much. I like watching it. It's great to watch, I love rooting for teams and stuff. It is not meant for people who are 4'11 and everyone else is 6'2. How about no. And I wanna believe that the other missionaries aren't judging me silently for how bad I play sports but they are totally judging me hardcore. I'm pretty sure that's why no one voluntarily talks to me, because I am so bad at sports. But hey give me a piano and I'll blow your ears off.

Anyway this week was great. Second week of the transfer already? What?

Wasn't it just Christmas yesterday? I don't even know what I had for dinner last night, this transfer is flying.

We have taught so many lessons this week to random people. We're out of people to teach so we've been tracting. Like five people have let us walk into their homes and allowed us to share a message with them.

What. How bizarre is that? They are mostly older folk, but they are really sweet and loving. I'm trying to see everyone I walk past as a child of God, or how God would see them.

Sister Morrison and I have started a contest on who can wave and say hi to the most people. Whoever gets the most responses wins. We aren't sure on the reward yet. We're just trying to be friendly to everyone.

We are teaching this progressing investigator named Assata. She is 17 and wants to be baptized, just not at the moment. I like her a lot, she has class and style, two things I have never owned in my life.

Teaching someone who is remotely interested is nice.

We went over to this recent converts house named Arielle twice this week. Turns out she is into hardcore screamo music just like me. I love it when people love my music. She had a girl named Sunny who had a stroke at 3 and it messed up her brain. She is the cutest kid ever who doesn't understand the meaning of personal space. But it's just two more people I am growing to love. We went over there for dinner and sunny accidentally spilled a pitcher of water all onto sister morrisons lap. I have never laughed so hard in my life. It was great.

Our ward mission leader, brother Carlisle, is the greatest man ever.

He is old. He is sweet. And he is funny. The three main characteristics you needs for a ward mission leader. He is so nice to me , oh my gosh. I love him. We had a meeting with him at his house Saturday morning and his wife baked us bread to eat with our meeting.

Apparently there is no hope of ever actually losing weight on a mission.

Sunday was good, we go to two sacrament meetings each Sunday. So I get to take the sacrament twice. We ended up going to three sacrament meetings this past Sunday, we helped the elders with a musical number.

I played the piano. It was interesting to take the sacrament three times in one Sunday. Every time I took it, it still had the same spirit as the last sacrament meeting did. I was tripley reminded of everything my savior did for me and the sacrifice be performed for me.

I love my savior so much. He knows how I feel 24/7. He knows when I am sad and how to best comfort me, and he knows when I am happy and how to rejoice with me. He does that with all of us. Knowing my savior gives me such a sense of belonging. I am glad to be here spreading that with others. It gives me joy to help people be happy.

I love you all so much. You are all my favorite people in the whole world. Thank you for all the support and love you give me. You are all children of God and I love you.

Love,

The Incredibly Awkward Human Being Called Sister Ginn (at least in California)

Cute little girl names Sunni

Haircut!

Playing with Sunni!

The People In Lincoln Are Rich

Ok so it's really fun and sad at the same time, I had completely forgotten what two story houses looked like because in Corning there's nothing but trailers and poverty. Then there's Lincoln. Dang these people got money. There's townhouses, giant mansions, bushes cut into rabbit shapes, and fancy water fountains galore. It's impressive. And our area is nice and close. Its lovely. I like it.

Anyway, my new companion is Sister Morrison. So far we get along just fine. She's exactly like me in a lot of ways, and we both have the same motto: "Work hard, play harder." So that's nice. The missionary work is done totally different then Corning is. I cover two wards instead of just one, Lincoln 3rd and 6th ward, so we have way more people to work with. We honestly don't see too many members, and every night we get dinner with them. It's great. Someone told people not to make us desserts so maybe I'll actually lose some weight. That would be nice.

So sister Morrison is sister training leader and she had to go to an all day meeting on Thursday which meant I was stuck in Lincoln and I had no idea where anything was. Another sister, Sister Patterson, was my companion and she's new to Lincoln too. We basically spent the whole day completely lost and didn't see anyone. So that was interesting.

The missionaries in my zone are great. They've all been serving around each other for about a year and a half so they're all great friends.

I'm kind of the awkward one around, I don't know any of these people.

I'm realizing that my entire life is just awkward and I'm okay with that. That's basically my first week.

We did a huge zone service project on Friday. We all did yard work for about three hours. Oh I miss yard work. It was fun, I raked soaking wet leaves into piles. It's been raining hard for the last week and the ground is absorbing none of the water since its rock hard so it's all just sitting there flooding stuff. The rain smells different here than in NC.

Saturday was a loooong day. We had every single appointment cancel on us so we spent the entire day finding, with little to no success. It wasn't until 4 that we finally found this part member family who actually let us in the door. We talked to them forever about the church and about Jesus and things like that. It went pretty great. It was such a tender mercy, especially after not seeing a single person all day. What a tender mercy. I was so tired after that, but I felt good about myself because I knew I had tried my best. It's whatevs.

It's only other people's salvation.

Sunday was nuts, so one ward starts at 9 and the other ward starts at 10:30. We have to flip flop every Sunday with church and ward councils and PEC and holy freaking heck so many meetings in one day. Our two bishops and two ward mission leaders are great though, they are willing to work with us and don't get offended when we don't attend their ward.

So far there's four progressing investigators here and I've met none of them. Hopefully I will meet some of them this coming week.

I live in an apartment again and it's wonderful. All the elders and sisters live in the same apartment complex.

The church is true guys. I wouldn't be on my mission if I didn't know it was true. I have never been a people person. I'm still not a people person. Ha you should see me interact with some of the elders. I have come to find that being a missionary really doesn't change you too much at all. It changes your testimony and how you act, but other than that you are still the same person. I'm still Caroline. My relationship with my savior has changed, and I've matured a lot, but I'm still Caroline. It's actually kind of great, I have zero tolerance for immaturity and idiocy because it just ticks me off. I am not a fan of dumb people.

My new address is 174 South O St. #22 Lincoln, CA 95643

Love you all! Talk to you next week.

Love,

Sister Caroline Elizabeth Ginn

New Companion Sister Morrison

First baptism for Caroline on her mission in Corning.

So I Skyped My Family and it Was the Greatest Thing Ever!!

Hello to all. I hope your Christmas was great this year. I had a good Christmas, I really did.

This week was one slow week, that's for sure. You know how people say that the holidays are the best time to proselyte? Well that is a lie and if anyone actually believes that then clearly they have never served a mission, at least in the United States.

Anyway. Not many lessons were taught. At all. We mostly just visited with members all week, which hey, members are one of my favorite parts of being a missionary so I'm not complaining. Tuesday we had a California Roseville Mission Christmas devotional and it turned out great. I played the piano and we all sang Christmas songs. I saw some missionaries I haven't seen in a while and it was fab. I loved it.

Wednesday was kind of slow, but we ended up helping one of our investigators make Oreo truffles for like three hours. I ate so many and I wanted to die. There's no such thing as a diet during Christmas.

Thursday on Christmas Eve we helped the same investigator cook her Christmas Eve dinner. Her name is Marybel by the way. Then we went to the Finefrocks, a family that loves missionaries, and we ate and talked and laughed and relaxed for the rest of the day.

Christmas morning sister Mackay and I recited the Living Christ to each other. That's right. I memorized it. And I suck at memorizing. We opened our presents and headed out to our relief society presidents house. Turns out the entire ward had gotten together to get us these GIANT SANTA BAGS filled with presents. I got these warm cotton pajamas that I try to wear as long as I can in the mornings and nights. We skyped our families at another members house and I didn't cry as much as I thought I was going to. I love my family soooooooo much. It was so good to hear them speak to me. I will never take them for granted again. Our Christmas dinner consisted of nachos and Oreos and jello.

It was delicious.

Saturday and Sunday were kind of a blur. They went fast and slow at the same time. I don't remember too much that happened but that happens a lot for me. I did play with playdoe with a little girl who's grandma is our investigator. That was fun.

I love the members here. They are like a giant ward family and I love it. The Relief Society President here is Sister Ellen Van Dyke and she is amazing. We are over at her house all the time. I adore her. We get along great.

Even though Christmas is over, I still feel the Christmas spirit inside of me. It's a happy and joyous feeling to be sure. I want to try to keep this feeling with me as long as I possibly can. Everyone else should try that too.

I know this gospel is true. I know the Book of Mormon is true.

I love knowing that I am sealed to my family forever. It's amazing to me to be able to know that for sure.

JESUS IS REAL AND HE LIVES.

I love you all ok? Happy New Years! 

Love,

Sister Ginn