Two Posts in One--Wifi Problems @ the Falco's

We've had internet problems the last week and a half so you get a bonus today...the last two emails Carly's sent. :) Enjoy!!

January 19, 2015

 

Dear Family and Friends,

Well this week has been a blessing with some unique experiences. I am very grateful to be a missionary!!! The Mission President came for interviews this week!! It was very sweet!! He is one of the best people I know!!! BEST!!! Thanks mom for giving them a package. Sister Erickson said it was very sweet.

When I met with President, we talked about the goals he has for the mission especially concerning obedience. Our prophet has set a standard but our mission president wants to exceed it! He said our success is determined by our attitude, as we are obedient. When obedience becomes a blessing instead of a burden he believes that we can reach the goal of 750 baptisms. He also shared how he believes that the Lord’s hand is in this work. I believe it. It was such a blessing to be a part of MLC and to REALLY feel the spirit so strong.  . .I’m not ready to go home anytime soon J.

 

He also asked me what my personal goal was this year. I told him I want to be a consecrated missionary and devote all my time and attention to the Lord. And he said that he has gotten that response from basically every missionary because he believes that the Lord has really been working with the missionaries here and humbling them so we can reach that goal as a mission.

 

I’m in a threesome for the next four days with a future missionary from Malawi. She has been called to Uganda!! She was set apart when the President was here since we don’t have a Stake or District. I’m very blessed to have these experiences on my mission. This email is short because we spent most of the day buying her clothes for her mission.

 

I am happy to be a missionary. Keep reading your scriptures and praying.
Love you!

Sister Falco

____________________________________

 

January 26, 2015

 

Hey Family and friends,

Honestly, this week has been one of the hardest but best learning experiences of my whole mission. First of all, I have been very sick the past three days but am feeling a lot better. I had a fever of 102.7 on Saturday. They tested me for malaria and I don't have it. The doctors were out so I didn't get tested for anything else. I am pretty sure I had strep. While I was sick, Sister Muthengi had to go to the hospital, too, so I had to get up while I was very sick and drive her to the hospital. It was really hard but I feel better so it’s all good.

 

There were some other things that made this week very difficult but I need to not share them to protect the privacy of others. I did learn that YOU TRULY HAVE TO LOVE EVERYONE. And so often someone’s troubles come from their insecurities. I spent many hours on my knees and had to rely completely on my Savior. I do feel blessed for the opportunities like this that cause me to learn and grow. I’ve felt every emotion this week and being sick was just a great way to top it off.

The Lord has also blessed us like crazy this week!! We had nine investigators at church!!! We taught nine lessons and two of them were with people that are educated, financially stable and can help establish the church!! One of the guys even came to church in a car! I was talking to him while waiting outside during one of the classes and he said, “You can consider me already a member!” Such a blessing! I hope we can get him baptized before February 15!! We had a baptism scheduled last Sunday but the man had malaria so it will happen when he’s better!!

 

So all in all, it’s been great week!! I can't wait to teach the people especially those who can help in the growth and establishment of the church in this area!! I’m grateful for the hard times. I feel like when I go through trials I can see how the Lord blesses me even more after the trial. Mission just gets sweeter after a hard trial and realizing all that I’ve learned and experienced. For example, the first three baptisms we were supposed to have ALL fell through. And then the Lord blessed us with the Lunguzi family. The family that will forever be faithful and forever help the church grow. I am so grateful. It’s amazing. Heavenly father loves us. Even as we struggle he is just trying to teach us and make us stronger. I am very grateful for all that I have learned on mission!!

The church is true!! I love the Gospel!! Live up to your potential by living the Gospel. Look at your patriarchal blessing to determine what your potential is and do everything you can to fulfill the promises there.

 

Love you all!!
Sister Falco

Photos: MLC Group Shots & Lunch

Mission is so SWEET!

January 12, 2015

 

Hey Family and Friends,

This week has been a huge blessing and a huge adventure. First off you should be thankful that I have written you the past two weeks! Haha!! The power goes off in town for like an hour. And the Internet has been so bad since the rainy season. I don’t know if it is because of the rain or if it’s just by chance.

Well I figured out my major for sure, Business Accounting or Finance. Why? Because MLC (Mission Leader Conference) was so sweet and I think I would be happy in the business world. And the math part that President showed us just made me happy and made me realize how much I actually do like math.

(Mom Note: Carly flew to Lusaka, Zambia where the Mission Home is to attend the Mission Leader Conference this past week.)

Well MLC was easily the best experience of my life. Well maybe not the best. But it was up there. It was incredible. Zambia is super RICH compared to Malawi. It’s like going from Kaysville to London. Well maybe not that dramatic but it was so different! I can’t even imagine how different it will be to be able to go from Zambia to Home.

 

I have the best mission president ever. He’s so sweet. I can’t explain it. It’s the best. I don’t really want to go home!! Oh by the way I am pretty sure I will be going home in December not November. I asked my mission president and I told him that I just want to be home before January and he said that I will be going home probably with Sister Proctor in December. So that’s sweet! MLC was two days of meetings. ALL DAY LONG. It was GREAT though!! We talked about a standard of excellence (which is when I basically decided that I wanted to go into business accounting or finance). MLC was the best experience. I wish you all could be flies on the wall. It’s so hard to explain. I haven’t felt the spirit so strong for such a long time. I even woke up in the middle of the night so excited and couldn’t fall back to sleep because I would start thinking of everything I had experienced the day before. It was the best!!!! It truly is a blessing to be a part of the Lord’s church and the Lord’s work. I loved being reminded of the real purpose of why I am a missionary. It’s the best. I am grateful that I understand this--it makes hard days or hard times much easier. We talked about having our will match our Heavenly Father's will and if we really do this, its hard to be upset or have hard days. I am truly grateful for all that I have learned! Mission is so SWEET.

 

The presentation that I did on communication went well. It was great!! Everyone participated. ALSO these missionaries that I am surrounded by are SUCH GOOD PEOPLE. It’s just a blessing to be surrounded by people who are JUST GOOD. I wish I could just be surrounded by those people my whole life. I guess you just have to marry someone who is a good person and then you are surrounded by a good person your whole life.  :)

I love you all!! Keep going to church reading your scriptures and laughing through the hard times. :) Take life seriously, but remember we have the atonement when we make mistakes or go through hard times.

LOVE YOU!!!

Sister FALCO!!!

 Sister Falco & Sister Proctor

Sisters @ Miission Leader Conference

A "Bright" Story

Bad Mom here...this is a week late. We unexpectedly went to California to see Carly's grandparents. Her Grandma passed away on Saturday. :( This week's email coming soon.

January 5, 2015

Family and Friends!!

Well mission was sweet this week!!! My favorite thing happened when we were teaching this sweet guy named Bright!  He is from Caderbay (Mom’s note: I think he lives outside the boundaries of the branch and so is unable to attend a branch because of distance). We were teaching him at the church one night. We were helping him better understand the Book of Mormon so he can help others better understand it in Caderbay. At the end, I was really curious how he felt not having the church where he lives so asked him. And he said "I feel like I’m on an island sometimes, like I want to tell someone something I read in the Book of Mormon and then I remember that there truly is no one here that knows what the Book of Mormon is. I want to be able to share my experiences with others but I can't."

I then felt prompted to tell him “Heavenly Father loves you" and then felt prompted by the spirit, "Tell him this is not coming from you but this is coming from God." I then testified to him how much Heavenly Father loved him. It was so awesome. I don't know how to explain it. I know in lessons I have felt the spirit and knew what I was saying wasn't coming from me but this was different. I KNEW it was from Heavenly Father. I have felt love for investigators but I don't know if I have truly ever felt and KNEW the love that Heavenly Father had for this man and KNEW that I was speaking on behalf of Him. I KNEW Heavenly Father wanted Bright to know. It was literally the coolest experience I have ever had. It was one of those moments when you don’t want it to end. And Bright knew it was from the Lord and not me. It was so sweet!!!! I don't know how to best explain it or if my words will ever be able to describe how it really felt. It was so powerful. Heavenly Father allowed me to help Bright know how much HE truly loved him and how truly proud HE was of him.

On a less positive note, working in my area, which is a poorer area, has been hard for me to adjust to. Not because they are poor or that the circumstances are different. I don' t mind going to the toilet in a hole in the ground. Haha! It’s just that the people we teach don’t have the leadership or language to really help establish the Church. BUT I know that every soul has great worth. And I know I need to develop more charity for these people and see them as our Heavenly Father does. And we’ll keep looking for good people and keep working hard!! It’s all good! And I know that if someone is truly converted they can strengthen and build the church! We just need to find them!

My new companion is sweet!!! She is so funny!! She’s super bold and doesn't put up with investigators that aren't serious. She’s also really sweet and bold with me too. I love it. I really want to improve and she helps me. We have a sweet relationship, one built on trust so any correction feels like love and concern. I hope that I will be able to keep this attitude throughout my whole life…trying to be the best I can be and willing to take critism and actually act on the critism given. She’s sweet. I love this woman!! I want to serve with her forever! But we’ll probably be split in February.

We are teaching at MLC (Mission Leader Conference) on communication this Wednesday. SUPER SCARED. But it will help me grow and develop my confidence in being in front of people. I’ve been thinking about why I’m so scared and it’s because I’m afraid of what people think which isn't good. I'll try not to be scared and just do it. I keep thinking of Jeff’s quote, " Communication is the key to life." You are the best Jeff!! Such a wise wise guy!!

Investigators are doing well.

OH there was this HUGE rainstorm and HUGE windstorm that destroyed many many houses in my area. It was horrible. Most of our progressing investigators houses were hurt and then many of the recent converts.

Well anyways!! That’s all for now!! Wish I could explain how cool mission is! Everyone should go!!

Love you all!!
Sister Falco :)

New Area, New Companion

December 15, 2014

Hey family and friends!!!!!

Hope all is well with everyone!!

Well, this was my last week in Area 47. It’s a great area and I am really sad to leave it but it’s all good!! I am very grateful to have met the people that I did. And, we found some pretty sweet families this week which is super nice!!! Man I can't believe I am leaving!!! But at least I can go on exchanges there. J It will be great!!

We had MLC (Mission Leader Conference) and it was very good!! It was a lot of fun. We did it on the Internet with Skype. President Erickson is the best!!!! He is so cool! We talked about starting a “Standard of Excellence” in the mission. This hasn't been done here before but our mission president is ready and will create it with the APS or maybe start in January. Oh--for the next MLC, we will be flying to LUSAKA, Zambia instead of using Skype. This will be sometime in January. It should be sweet!!

We really did have a week of miracles!!!!! James, an investigator who was avoiding us and lives in Area 47, randomly showed up to church this week!! It was so SWEET!! Like such a miracle!!!!!! And then some random guy that the elders contacted in Mtsiliza showed up at church and he LOVED IT!! Another miracle!!! And then this guy who we have been teaching in Area 47 finally came to church too!!  His name is Brother Beeto and he is so sweet!! I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to teach him. He put his Book of Mormon in a protective case! Sunday was the best—really a miracle Sunday! I am truly grateful that my last Sunday in my area was so good!!

This transfer is kind of weird because I’m staying in the same zone and apartment just working in a different "area”. I don’t know how to explain it!! It feels like I haven't really left and that’s kind of nice.

I am now companions with Sister Quaye!! She is from Ghana and is the best!!! I am really excited to be with her!!:)

Well I think that wraps up this week!!

I am truly grateful to be a missionary. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!!!

I love you all!!

Sister Falco

Jaw Issues, Baptism and Transfer

December 1, 2014

 

Hey Family and Friends

So bad news first...
I need $500 to fix my jaw. So if you could get that in the bank account as soon as possible, that would be great. The mission insurance doesn’t cover it.

 

Good News…The baptism went great!! I don’t know what else to say!! It was the best!! She is a sweet lady!! I am grateful that I got to teach her. And also right now we are working in a three some so I have a hunch I’ll be transferred very soon--probably December 15^th.  That is when Sister Orr is leaving to go home.

 

Working in a three some is way fun actually!!!

We found some pretty sweet people…two families, which is awesome!!!!!!!!!! It’s like a miracle knowing the time frame we are allowed to work in. Most people work in my area so it’s hard to find families at home when our curfew is so early.

Mission is the best. The Church is true! Sorry there isn't much time to write. I had to go to the Jaw place and then my companion had to do her hair.

Love you!!
Sister Falco
_____________________________________________

December 7, 2014

 

Hey Family and Friends,

How is everyone doing? This week was great!! A fun thing that happened is we went to a member’s house for dinner in Area 12. Families are the best!  This family is so sweet. I don’t know how to explain it but having a family that is centered on the Gospel makes the home just so sweet and so friendly. The spirit was so strong. I hope that I will be able to one day have a home similar to theirs. I don’t really know how to describe it but it’s been a long time since I have been in a home with such a spirit. It was very awesome!!!

So good news and bad news! I’m being transferred to Kalombo Branch next Monday. I am pretty excited. But I am way sad about leaving my Lilongwe people. I am excited though because I know many of the people there because of exchanges I’ve done, etc. Their branch is a little bit poorer than my area so that will be a change. I’m used to having the big houses with the toilets! haha Very few people have flushing toilets in my new area but it will be great. I’m excited but I am also very sad. I have been thinking I’d be transferred ever since I was put in a three some so it’s not unexpected. It’s crazy when you leave people though that you have been serving for six months! Crazy hard!! But it will be fine and good. Also I will be driving the truck--so stoked about that—even though I’m scared to drive in Malawi

 

My jaw is better.

We also had zone conference. It was sweet!!! I am grateful for my mission president and his wife. They do a lot for our mission. It’s so big--I can’t imagine!! My mission president is tops. I love him. He told us that we won’t be opening any new areas like Kasunga or any of those where there are groups gathering because we need to strengthen our center before we go and establish more branches. All I know is the General Authorities are inspired; they do things the Lord’s way, not our way.  Malawi is currently the fastest growing country in the Southeast Area of Africa. Sweet right??! It’s crazy sometimes I feel like its not growing at all but I guess it’s doing well!

 

Well, that's all for now. Hope all is well at home.

I love the Gospel!

Love, Sister Falco

When it Rains in Africa, it Pours!

Dear Family and Friends!!

This week has been pretty normal!! haha I don’t know what to say anymore. Saukalani’s mom is progressing very well!! Saukalani’s a branch missionary that works with us and is super awesome!!! Completing families is the sweetest!!!

Sister Thomas will be baptized next week on the 30th!! She is the best!! She doesn't speak a squat of English, doesn't even read Chichewa but I love that woman to death. She grew up and both of her parents were blind. It is very humbling to be with her. I want to know how to help someone so uneducated grow and develop in the Gospel. It’s a hard situation but I am grateful to teach her. I truly believe the Lord will take all things into consideration when we are judged.

James lives in 47/2 and is progressing very well!! He wants to be baptized on December 28th! We were thinking about moving it forward because he is ready but we might have to keep it the same because he missed church this Sunday.  He had to go and see a friend. He’s the guy who when we asked a member to teach him with us, they ended knowing each other. They were COLLEGE FRIENDS and went to school together!! It was so sweet to witness that tender mercy.

OH MAN!!! We had our first African rain this week. When it rains in Africa, it POURS!!!!! We were drenched from head to toe!!!! We were out for an appointment but it fell through and our back up also fell through. We were in the rich area so no one let us in their house to teach. It was freezing cold after but felt nice!! I am grateful that the hot season is ending!!

I am grateful for the area I serve in. My recent converts are doing well except for Anita Nyondo. She was baptized Sept. 28. Her mom is very sick so she has to go and visit her for like a month!! And she has already missed three Sundays because she was helping her Mom. I just hope the missionaries follow up when she gets home... Or I follow up! Depending on if I am still in this area.

Thanksgiving looked like fun!! Wait isn't it this coming week?! (We had Thanksgiving dinner with my brother on Sunday and posted photos in our email—which is why she was confused.) I love the Smiths so much. They are definitely the funniest people ever!! I am grateful for the relationship we have with them!!!

The Gospel is true and I am truly grateful to be a missionary. 

Love you all!

Sister Falco

Love it when photos come in the mail!!

 Relief Society in Lilongwe Branch

 Sister Lunguzi's Family

 Off to Market