I Made It Through the Week Without Killing Anyone

I made it through the week without killing anyone. Yeah.

Ok let me start off this email with saying I have never played basketball in my life. I have played so much basketball on my mission it's not even funny, oh my gosh. I suck, but it's fun.

Anyways. This week we had a lesson with Danielles sons, Josh and Jeremy. Josh is 11 and Jeremy is 4. Josh is learning more and more about the church and really likes it. He is also my bff and whenever we go to Danielles house we play basketball together. Jeremy likes to play army games, he calls it "sniper" and I'm usually the bad guy he shoots down. I love those two boys so much.

We had zone conference this week! It was so good to see some of the missionaries there. I SAW SISTER WALL. I LOVE HER SO MUCH, YOU DONT EVEN KNOW.

HI BRENNA, IF YOURE READING THIS.

Zone conference was good, we talked about how important it is to use members in our everyday missionary work. It's important, y'all. Do it.

Invite those you know to do someTHING. You don't have to invite someone to church. Just invite them to your house for dinner, even without the missionaries, so that they can feel the spirit that is in your house. It will make people wonder what is different about us. Do random acts of service. Be like Christ. We can all do it if we work together, we as missionaries cannot do it ourselves.

There's a stake relief society activity coming up soon, and I am playing all the musical numbers for it on the piano. That's gonna be gr8, m8. The person in charge is named Sister Fricke, and she has about the same lever of sarcasm as I do, so we get along. I love her a lot. I really do have two great wards, I love lake of the pines and Alta Sierra.

I've thought a lot about my role as a missionary this week. I guess you could say I had a missionstential crisis. Our job is to teach others and help people come closer to Christ. Yeah, we find a long the way, but that is not our primary purpose. Finding people to teach is honestly the job of the members. We do it because no one else does it.

We have over 100 people in each of the wards I am serving in, and you're telling me not a single person has had a referral to us for over three months? No one they know is ready to hear the gospel? Bull.

Someone is always ready. Like I said, simply just invite people to do things so they can feel the spirit.

Ok I'll get off my soap box.

Another thing that has happened is I have realized how real depression is. Sometimes that is how Satan gets us. It's how he gets me. I've also realized how important it is to get help when you need it. That's what parent are for. Church leaders. President and Sister Marston.

It's been a really hard week for me, guys. I'm not doing so great. I made it another week. That's all I want to focus on right now.

I know Christ loves me. He is our savior and he knows how I am feeling. He knows me perfectly. Without him, I am nothing.

We went on exchanges this week, and I went with a greenie. It is so weird to know that as of right now, I am one of the oldest sisters in the mission. That is mind blowing.

I love you all very much. I couldn't do this without your constant love and support for me. Thank you for all the things you do for me.

Love,

Caroline

1. That's Alex Fricke, she's awesome and left for Utah this week. HI ALEX IF YOURE READING THIS 2. Went on exchanges with Sister Dee! She's from Utah and loves anime 3. I don't think I scared her too bad 4. Sister wall is

I Got To Go to the Temple!

Well the good news is I got through week 2. Only four more left to go in this transfer.

I am still struggling. My companion likes to overplan, overwork, and keep going until it stresses her out.

I am more slow paced. I like to take breaks and have fun with missionary work. Our personalities and ways of doing missionary work are clashing, and it's making me physically sick due to the stress and anxiety this is causing me. She is also 25, so I think she thinks I'm an immature 20 year old.

Anyway moving on from that.

Tuesday we had a good day, we went out with one of our returned missionaries and went to see people all day. It was fun, it made contacting people a lot more fun than usual. We had a good lesson with one of our less actives named Pam who is one of my favorite people here. I love Pam. She wants to come back to church and start going to the temple. She's awesome.

Wednesday was good, we had a lesson with Danielle again and we talked about tithing. She loves having the missionaries come to her house.

She called us her only friends. Aw. We came over again later in the week to play basketball with her kids. That was fun. I suck at basketball but I have found I enjoy playing it. It was great to see Danielle and to see how she is doing. She has already started paying her tithing and fast offering. She loves it. I love her.

Thursday was fun, we had dinner with one of my favorite families, the Rath family. They have the same sense of humor that I do and they love movies. In every area I've had, I've had maybe two to three favorite families that I for sure will visit when I come back. The Raths are one of them. They are one of those families who love missionaries no matter what. They make me feel right at home.

Friday we got to go to the temple! I haven't been since April, so it was a much needed visit. It was also the anniversary of my grandpa passing away last year. So I really needed that. Two other sister missionaries I know very well showed up to our session, and I am so glad I got to see them. It was a wonderful day. We went to Chili's for lunch and it was so good. The member who took us was so kind to us.

Saturday I went on exchanges with sister Morrison. That was a much needed break too. It was just like old times back in Lincoln. I hadn't realized how much I had missed her until we went on exchanges. I love Sister Morrison. She is easily one of the bestest friends I've made in my life.

I got to play the piano again for the Alta Sierra ward, it was awesome. I played a medley of God Be With You Til We Meet Again/I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go. The whole room got quiet as I played. I love playing in front of people.

That's about it for this week, sorry if it sounds dry. I'm still trying to not die from anxiety.

I love you all. Thanks to all who have sent me encouraging emails throughout the week. I needed that so bad.

Love,

Sister Ginn

1. This is Kaneisha, the returned missionary we went out with.

2. This is the Salter family, one of the power families. Love them.

3. Sister Zauner, our ride to the temple 4. Sister Myers and Sister Memmott showed up!

5. Welcome to the Lake of the Pines

6. Exchanges with the love of my life

New Transfer New Ward Mission Leader New Companion

Hello to one and all!

So this week was busy, we had transfers and I had to say goodbye to sister wall. I miss her so much it's not even funny.

My new companion is Sister Taylor. We each have VERY different personalities. She is pretty much the exact opposite of me in every way possible. It definitely was not an easy week. It's ok though cause change is good right?

Anyways so we had a good week when you look at a transfer week. We were able to teach a lesson to someone's boyfriend, the girls name is Courtney and she is a member. Her boyfriend is not, and his name is Andy. He wants to be married to her but Courtney won't allow it unless he can take her to the temple. We just taught the first restoration, and he liked it. He is a very logical person, that is for sure. We had a good discussion though, it's always nice to teach the restoration.

Sister Taylor likes to go go go. All the time. I am a very relaxed person and I take things slowly.

Honestly she reminds me a lot of sister Duncan. This will be interesting.

I honestly don't feel like writing too much, I'm just dealing with things best I know how. The struggle is real.

We had zone meeting this week and as I am an stl, I had to teach again. We talked about planning and how important it is. I don't mind planning, but I don't plan up until the last detail. That's what sister Taylor does. It drives her nuts when we don't have every little thing planned out for our day. It seems like everything I like to do about missionary work, she likes the opposite.

I don't know what's going to happen, but we will certainly see.

I love you all! Hope your week is good.

Any words of encouragement is appreciated, I am having a really hard time at the moment.

Love,

Sister Ginn

1. Saying goodbye to sister wall

2. Zone lunch

3. Sister Morrison is back

4. Sister Taylor and I

Being A Missionary Means Free Food

Let me explain.

Every night, we as missionaries get fed by a different member. We don't have to do the dishes, even though we offer every time. We sometimes get paid for when we go into restaurants by random members we don't even know. There's a free Froyo place here for missionaries that is owned by a member. We get free clothes, money given to us, and get our groceries bought for us sometimes.

This is the only time in my life that I will ever be fed a free meal every single day of my existence and I am taking full advantage of that. Therefore, that means that once you get your nametag, you automatically qualify for free food all the flipping time. Unless you serve in a poor area. Then you probably starve.

Sister Wall is leaving *loud sobbing* oh I'm going to miss her so much. This transfer has easily been the saddest one of my mission to date. I haven't cared at all about transfers until my friends started going home. Now it seems that all my friends are leaving and I don't know anyone anymore. She is going to Rocklin and I am getting someone named Sister Taylor. She's a little bit older and she is from Canada.

Other than that I have no idea who she is. I'm excited and terrified all at the same time.

This week was good, we saw a LOT of miracles. The best miracle was we were able to see a less  active named Wende Kliver. She is so cool. We had been trying to contact her for ages. We were able to catch her at the right time and we set up a time to go by and see her. We had an amazing lesson. She wants to come back to church, and I found out that she listens to a lot of the same music that I do. She's also into Tim Burton movies and loves creepy stuff, just like me. She asked me if she could still be a Mormon and watch Tim Burton movies and listen to screamo, and I told her absolutely. I am a Mormon, I love Tim Burton, I think horror movies are amazing, and I love heavy metal and screamo music. It brings me so much joy to be able to tell people that they don't have to be perfect to be a Mormon. It was the best lesson I have had in a while, she told us that she definitely wants us back and she thanked us for being so persistent. I have never been thanked for something like that before. I'm excited to teach her. Her daughter is not a member and is interested in baptism, so we will see where that goes.

I said goodbye to lots of my missionary friends this week. It was kind of a sad week.

But it was happy at the same time.

We had MLC again this week and president Marston told us about how we need to try to live our mission with no regrets. I love that, because so far I have no regrets at all about anything I have done on my mission. I have learned something every day, and while I might not love it all the time, I don't regret it. The savior lived with no regrets because he knew what he was doing was righteous and from God.

This is how I should live as a missionary. I am doing my best every day and I am growing into the daughter of God my Heavenly Father wants me to be.

Danielle bore her testimony for the first time ever on Sunday as an official member. It was short because she got nervous and she quickly got off the stand, but she did it! We were so proud of her, sister wall and I wanted to scream. It was awesome. Yeah. Baptisms.

That's about it, I don't want to talk about anything else. Love you guys!

Love,

Sister Caroline Ginn

1. the auburn zone. We're freaking weird 2. At mlc, this is the original Lincoln zone 3. Elder sweet, he went home this week 4. Citrus Heights zone, my first zone 5. Elder Argyle went home as well, he is one of my favorite elders I've ever had 6. Elder shepherd went home too, excuse me as I cry. Best zone leader ever.

7. Sister wall and I packing her things

I Can't Sleep So I Typed My Email Early

Ok so I accidentally sent part of my email last night, totally did not mean to. Sorry. Most of you were asleep anyway.

Ok this week was actually pretty good! Ups and downs, as usual. Sister wall and are preparing for the next transfer by working as hard as possible. We managed to see several people we have been trying to contact for MONTHS. It's the greatest when you are able to teach an investigator who you haven't seen since your first week in an area, just saying.

We saw a ton of older people this week. There is this 97 year old lady we see occasionally, and her name is Melba. She is a firecracker. She is so funny and sarcastic, and her hearing is perfect. She can still get up and walk around all on her own. She has great health. She plans on living until she is 100. She has the strongest testimony of the gospel I have ever seen in someone. I love her so much. It seems like in each of my areas there has been a senior citizen who I have gotten close to. Melba is my hero and I wanna be like her when I am old.

There is another older sister in the ward we see every week, Sister Winn. I think she's 95. Anyway, she's going blind so we go over to her house and read the ensign with her. We also sings hymns to her and I play the piano for her.

Don't forget the widows in your area. They are amazing and have the greatest stories to tell. Go take them food and listen to their lives.

We were able to start teaching Danielle the new member lessons. She is doing so well. She has started to recognize the Holy Ghost in her life. She told us that she feels different now, and it's a good different. She is awesome. I love her.

Sister wall and I have been accidentally matching outfits almost every day this week. Our companionship unity is through the roof. I'm gonna miss her so much.

Missionary work is awesome, let me tell you. I love being able to preach the gospel to everyone. I encourage all of you to find joy in the spirit of missionary work. Just be nice to people. Do what the savior would do, and that is love everyone.

I am so glad I am a missionary in the California Roseville mission.

This is the greatest mission in the world, and I have the greatest mission president ever. Hands down. We win. Heavenly Father knew I needed to be here, and I received my own confirmation this week that this is where I need to be at this point in my life.

Transfers are hard, especially when people you love go home. But, I know that these missionaries  were in my life for a reason. I'm gonna miss them and I will enjoy this last week with some of them.

I love you all and I am so grateful for my savior. He is my redeemer.

He loves me personally, just as he loves each and every one of you.

Also it's Harry potters birthday today (the 31st).

I'm so grateful for all of you, you raise me up *cue josh groban*

LOVE YALL

love,

Sister Ginn

1-2 lunch time adventures

3. Hi

4. A view of the lake in Lake of the Pines

Interviews with PMarz and Pioneer Day

I ate an entire box of dory shaped Kraft mac and cheese by myself for dinner once this week. I didn't even take it out of the pot to eat it.

It was wonderful.

We had interviews with President Marston this week. Woohoo! I love having interviews. My interview this time went really well. We talked about how after this transfer, I only have four left. We both decided that I will be staying in auburn one more transfer, and then I will leave and go somewhere else to train. Wherever that place is, I will die there most likely. In case you don't know that terminology, dying on the mission means you finish your mission somewhere. Don't worry I'm not actually dying in real life. I hope.

This week was another slow week, haha I feel like nothing can top the excitement that was last week. It's ok, weeks rise and fall all the time with missionary work. What matters is your attitude towards it and how you react to it. So I choose to stay positive and make fun in every situation. I have seriously learned to make any kind of thing fun while being a missionary. I even enjoy teaching kids now. That's happened.

There are now two weeks left of this transfer. Each companionship is getting a new companion after this one in the auburn zone. Wow that was fast.

Again, not much happened this week. I found out sister wall will be leaving for sure, which makes me sad. Transfers are August 9th. It's been so fast, I can't believe it.

Again, not much happened this week. We did go on exchanges on Saturday, and I got to be with sister Mackay again! I was her companion in Corning. Being reunited with her was fun, we talked about some of our favorite families there most of the time. Good times, good memories.

We had Pioneer Day on Saturday, all the missionaries came to help. It was so much fun. The sisters and I ran the snowcone machine. There was a huge dance party afterwards and they played Dancing Queen so you know I partied hard. There was a hula learning class and I learned how to hula dance. I got a homemade lei, my zone leader elder Kirby did it with me too. And so did sister rosa. We had a blast. They also had chicken legs for dinner and I showed people how I eat the bones. Most of the people thought it was pretty cool.

That's about it, I know it's short but that's what happened!

I love you all a lot. You're all my favorite people. Have a great week!

Love

Caroline <3 p="">

We Got a Baptism Oh Snap!!

So Danielle got baptized. *internal screaming*

It was wonderful. We were about to set up for the baptism, when we realized that another baptism was starting at 6:30 in another ward.

Apparently someone in our ward did not schedule the building. So we were scrambling around for an hour trying to push the baptism back to

7:30 for like an hour. It was 5 pm around this time, no one was answering their phones, we couldn't get ahold of Danielle, and we were starting to stress. Sister Wall had a minor breakdown and tore up a bunch of paper and laid on the floor for a while. We finally called a neighbor of Danielle and explained the whole situation to her, and she ran down to Danielle's house and told her what was going on. Her name is Sister Sanders and she saved our butts. We finally were able to tell the whole ward that the time had been changed to 7:30 through divine intervention and texting. So that happened. Anyway, the whole ward showed up and Danielle wasn't there yet. She was so nervous she almost didn't come. She did finally come though which is good, it's always nice to have the person getting baptized show up for their own baptism. We helped her find a white jumpsuit to change into, and we stayed in there for about 30 minutes because she did NOT want to go out of the changing room. We had to coax her out. That was fun. She finally did go out and after that it turned out great! We were able to teach the restoration while she was changing clothes, and when I got to the part where I recited to first vision the whole room went completely quiet. I started a crying a bit because I could feel the spirit so strongly in that moment. This was my first convert baptism where I taught someone and was apart of their baptism. It was pretty cool. The entire Lake of the Pines ward showed up. Elder Shepherd was there too, my first zone leader ever. It was neat for him to be there, he's been around me pretty much my entire mission. He saw me start and now he saw me have a baptism. I love that guy a lot.

That was pretty much the highlight for the whole week. We also had zone meeting this past Wednesday, and since I'm still and STL I had to teach. I tried to teach about repentance and I hope it went well. I think it did. It's weird that I am a leader and a teacher, I have no idea what I'm doing and I'm just 20. Ok. Something I learned from studying repentance is that asking someone to repent is an expression of love. You want this person to change and for the, to be better. You want them to feel the blessings of the gospel. You love them because you understand that they are your spirit brother or sister and you love them enough to ask them to change. I love so many people here in California. This piece of it will always have my heart. I would never live here but I will definitely visit multiple times in the future.

OH HERES A COOL THING: So Saturday night we were walking about the Lake of the Pines neighborhood. It's a gated community so we aren't allowed to knock doors, but we walk and talk to people on the streets.

There was this lady who was walking her dogs and we went right passed her. Sister Wall kept turning around and said "we need to go talk to her", so we turned around and headed back towards her. We started talking to her and it turns out she was the boss of one of the people in lake of the pines ward. She told us she has great respect for Mormons. We told her what we do as missionaries and she thought it was awesome. She wasn't super interested in hearing more about the church, but the fact that sister wall and I were able to oym her and share our testimonies was huge. I suck at oyming and I've done it like five times on my mission, so this just gave my confidence a huge boost. It was awesome, we knew the spirit had prompted sister wall to turn back and go talk to her. Her name is Daren, and hopefully we will see her again walking her dogs soon.

Guys, I've changed a lot. I'm still the same Caroline, but I'm different. Spiritually different. I like this change. I like becoming closer to my savior. I know him as a person and a friend. I would not change that for anything. I have social skills. I am not afraid to talk to random strangers anymore. If I need something done, I'll go do it. I've learned so much in the last year, I can't believe it. I still have a ways before I'm home, but I'm gonna work hard til the very end.

I love you all! I know for a fact the only reason I am still here is through the prayers given on my behalf.

You all are wonderful and amazing and beautiful.

With love,

Sister Ginn

1. Zone meeting

2. I am so short

3. Danielle got baptized!!!! Me and sister wall, and that's sister ford who found her and taught her but got transferred. She came out with me. The little boy is Danielles son Jeremy.

(Sorry, not a lot of pictures, we didn't really take any this week) 4. This is what happiness looks like.