We didn't get a phone call from Ciarra from the MTC because there are too many missionaries there. We were surprised to get a Christmas email though! -Joelle
Family,
Merry Christmas! Can you believe it is Christmas already! I sure cannot. This Christmas season is such a special one, but I want you to know that the Spirit of giving does not end after Christmas. Think of something you can give to our dear Savior Jesus Christ that will last all year round. On the momormonchannel.org there is a video... I believe it is called The Real Spirit of Christmas. I encourage you to watch it. The very last quote is amazing "Give a gift the Savior would want you to give--the gift of ourselves." As we continue to draw nearer to the Savior we give ourselves to Him and live the life He would want us to live. The holiday Spirit here at the MTC is really special. This past Sunday Relief Society speaker said "Here at the MTC you get to celebrate the real Christmas in the real way." It is so true. I have the opportunity all day long to celebrate Christ's birth not through presents but through spiritual devotionals about the Christ child. Christmas is a time to cherish. I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and the love He has for each and everyone of us. I know that He was born in the city of David that first Christmas night. I know he came to this earth to set the perfect example for us to follow. I know He lives and He helps each of us daily. I am so grateful for each of you. Words cannot express my gratitude toward my family. All the love support and prayers are overwhelming but they truly help me fulfill my purpose as a mission. I hope you all have a wonderful and cheery Christmas day. I love each and everyone of you so much! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Heart Mind and Seoul Korea
I am 19 years old and called to serve in the Korea Seoul South Mission as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I would like to thank all who have shown their love and support throughout this life changing journey of mine.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Letter - 12/20/13
Family and Friends,
Wow I can't believe it is time for another email! It feels like I just barely sent my last week's email. This week a zone of 40 Korean missionaries left early Sunday morning for Korea. So let's just say our Korean Branch shrunk a ton. All the sisters who left I miss dearly. They were all such great examples and helped my companion and I so much. I can't wait for the day I get to enter the field in Korea.
Second Sunday in the MTC was great. For Relief Society a speaker comes, and this week it was a professor from BYU. One of the thoughts she shared was "Charity has different eyes." How powerful is that?! When we strive to develop charity we look at people as Christ views them. It is one of the most powerful attributes we could possess and we must ask for it daily to be filled with that special love.
My companion has been calling her parents a lot lately because she is getting reassigned to a stateside English speaking mission. Long story, but she has been assigned to the California Santa Rosa Mission. When she was calling her parents Sunday I was sitting in the waiting room and my Branch President, President Yost, stopped by and talked to me. He is from Bancroft and knows Uncle Dirk so tell Dirk President Yost says hello. We had a really nice talk and he said my Korean teacher Brother Gunnel mentioned how well I was doing with the language. That was so comforting to hear because honestly I know I am picking it up well but I still feel so behind. Out of the Korean Branch Presidency two are from Idaho, President Yost and Brother Snow. Brother Snow is from Firth and always talks to me to make sure I am representing Idaho well. So far so good!!
Sunday night Devotional was so amazing. BYU's Men's chorus came and performed their Christmas concert. The spirit was so special. I don't know what it is about music but it really fills my heart. One particular song they sang was called "He ain't heavy, He is my Brother." As a missionary I am called to invite others to come unto Christ and let them know that Christ will carry them through their trials. He will make our burdens light. We must come unto Him and feel of His unconditional love for us. In Alma 26:3 it says the Lord will make us instruments in His hands, meaning Heavenly Father makes the music. It is God's music and He is using me as an instrument to help complete His musical masterpiece.
As for Korean and teaching and class... It does not change a whole lot from day to day here at the MTC, but this week I started learning how to bear my testimony in Korean. It is really neat but hard because as a missionary I want to express what is in my heart so badly but cannot because I do not know the language. I know that is when I just need to rely on the Lord and put all my trust in Him. He will give me the words to say. Honestly Korean makes a lot of sense and is not so bad once you learn all the different grammar forms. We practice reading and you want to know what the best thing ever is! When I am reading along and have no clue what I am saying and then BAM a familiar word shows up and I know what it means! Little Miracles like that happen daily so that is when I am assured that I am learning and the Lord is helping me. Brother Scoville, another one of my teachers, told me "Hello" from Wyatt Jolley. They served in Daejon around the same time so that was a nice surprise. When I hear all the RM's speak Korean it gives me so much hope because I know I will be able to speak like that; it just takes the Spirit, the Lord, hard work, and time.
I am super excited to see what this next week brings. I am sorry in advance if my weekly emails begin to be repetitive. The MTC life does not change a whole lot, same schedule every day. Thank you all for all your prayers. I am truly strengthened by them. I love you and pray for you. Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! Remember what Christmas is all about and give someone a gift that will remind them of our Savior Jesus Christ. LOVE YOU and MISS each and everyone of you!
Love,
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Wow I can't believe it is time for another email! It feels like I just barely sent my last week's email. This week a zone of 40 Korean missionaries left early Sunday morning for Korea. So let's just say our Korean Branch shrunk a ton. All the sisters who left I miss dearly. They were all such great examples and helped my companion and I so much. I can't wait for the day I get to enter the field in Korea.
Second Sunday in the MTC was great. For Relief Society a speaker comes, and this week it was a professor from BYU. One of the thoughts she shared was "Charity has different eyes." How powerful is that?! When we strive to develop charity we look at people as Christ views them. It is one of the most powerful attributes we could possess and we must ask for it daily to be filled with that special love.
My companion has been calling her parents a lot lately because she is getting reassigned to a stateside English speaking mission. Long story, but she has been assigned to the California Santa Rosa Mission. When she was calling her parents Sunday I was sitting in the waiting room and my Branch President, President Yost, stopped by and talked to me. He is from Bancroft and knows Uncle Dirk so tell Dirk President Yost says hello. We had a really nice talk and he said my Korean teacher Brother Gunnel mentioned how well I was doing with the language. That was so comforting to hear because honestly I know I am picking it up well but I still feel so behind. Out of the Korean Branch Presidency two are from Idaho, President Yost and Brother Snow. Brother Snow is from Firth and always talks to me to make sure I am representing Idaho well. So far so good!!
Sunday night Devotional was so amazing. BYU's Men's chorus came and performed their Christmas concert. The spirit was so special. I don't know what it is about music but it really fills my heart. One particular song they sang was called "He ain't heavy, He is my Brother." As a missionary I am called to invite others to come unto Christ and let them know that Christ will carry them through their trials. He will make our burdens light. We must come unto Him and feel of His unconditional love for us. In Alma 26:3 it says the Lord will make us instruments in His hands, meaning Heavenly Father makes the music. It is God's music and He is using me as an instrument to help complete His musical masterpiece.
As for Korean and teaching and class... It does not change a whole lot from day to day here at the MTC, but this week I started learning how to bear my testimony in Korean. It is really neat but hard because as a missionary I want to express what is in my heart so badly but cannot because I do not know the language. I know that is when I just need to rely on the Lord and put all my trust in Him. He will give me the words to say. Honestly Korean makes a lot of sense and is not so bad once you learn all the different grammar forms. We practice reading and you want to know what the best thing ever is! When I am reading along and have no clue what I am saying and then BAM a familiar word shows up and I know what it means! Little Miracles like that happen daily so that is when I am assured that I am learning and the Lord is helping me. Brother Scoville, another one of my teachers, told me "Hello" from Wyatt Jolley. They served in Daejon around the same time so that was a nice surprise. When I hear all the RM's speak Korean it gives me so much hope because I know I will be able to speak like that; it just takes the Spirit, the Lord, hard work, and time.
I am super excited to see what this next week brings. I am sorry in advance if my weekly emails begin to be repetitive. The MTC life does not change a whole lot, same schedule every day. Thank you all for all your prayers. I am truly strengthened by them. I love you and pray for you. Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! Remember what Christmas is all about and give someone a gift that will remind them of our Savior Jesus Christ. LOVE YOU and MISS each and everyone of you!
Love,
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Letter - 12/13/13
Family and Friends,
Can you believe it I have successfully made it through my first week at the MTC. I can't! The days seem to go by fairly slow but the week went by fast. I am still loving it and the Korean is coming along. I mean considering a week ago I could not say or remember anything. One of the most important things I learned this week was to look at what I do know as far as the language instead of what I don't know. It goes along with the advice dad gave me about not being too hard on myself.
Since the last email Sister Gowens and I have taught 3 lessons to one investigator all in Korean. It was quite the experience as we relied on what we had been taught and the words we could remember to answer the questions of our investigator. It was an adventure when we would try to ask a question and the investigator would answer but we have no idea what he is saying. I have become really good at playing charades. I almost think I will enjoy teaching in Korean better than English because the focus is on the basic doctrine which is easier to understand because we do not know a lot of the vocabulary so we have to keep it clear and simple. The purpose of our first investigator was for us to learn to rely on the Lord as well as our investigator to guide us where they are at on their conversion process. All of our personal study, companionship study and language study is geared toward helping our investigator in the conversion process. The mission is truly all about others. Everything I do is to serve my companion and focus on the investigators' needs. The Lord will teach me more as I focus on serving others. If I give my life to the Savior, my investigators and my companions, I will have the most amazing mission and have so many choice experiences.
Sunday was such a great day. At the MTC all the sisters meet to listen to the Spoken Word and have Relief Society. For Relief Society speakers come. Sister Neill F. Marriott from the General Young Women's Presidency came and spoke to us. A great thought she shared was, "Love will pave the way for you to get the message of Jesus Christ across." I truly need to pray for the pure love of Christ so I can look at others as Christ would and they can be drawn to the gospel through Christ's love for them. She also asked three question which I am going to review weekly while on my mission. They are: What would Jesus do? If the Savior stood beside me what would I do? and Am I giving honor to my Father in Heaven and not myself? I loved those questions and I know as I think about them weekly I will be able to strive to live the life Christ lived. The Korean missionary branch is the biggest at the MTC! It was so great to go to sacrament meeting. Each of the Korean missionaries have to prepare a talk in Korean and one of us will randomly get called on during the meetings. Luckily I did not get called on my first week. The sacrament meeting was all in Korean and I was so surprised at how many words or phrases I was able to recognize and understand. The Lord is truly helping me every day so I can fulfill His purpose. Singing in Korean was by far the best experience, although I couldn't quite read the words, but that is just how it goes. We have devotional every Sunday night too, so thankfully we were able to watch the Christmas Devotional. I loved what Thomas S. Monson said, "True happiness is when you are making someone else happy." The attitude of giving is what Christmas is all about.
This week you would all be surprised at what I did during gym time with Sister Gowens. Yes, I played lightning and beat all the elders! Yes the talent of basketball is still here! SURPRISE! It was so fun. Thank you dad for teaching all of us how to handle and shoot a basketball. It really does come in handy. Also I had the sweetest opportunity with the native Korean sisters. I was up stretching after I had been running and they came up to me asking me to teach them. It reminded me of teaching a dance warm up, and I loved every minute of it. The Korean sisters are so sweet. I love them loads, honestly the nicest and happiest sisters at the MTC.
I have come to realize that this mission is Father-Daughter time with my Heavenly Father. I have the next 18 months to walk directly hand in hand with my Heavenly Father. I love putting my black name tag on every morning, being reminded that I am a representative of the Lord. This week we practiced inviting people to be baptized. Although I was only practicing on Sister Gowens, a warm feeling in my heart came over me every time. I cannot wait for the moment when it is truly real. Quentin L. Cook came for our Tuesday night devotional and he said that missionaries always ask when their spiritual experiences will happen. His answer was right on. He said it will happen "when you are doing something for someone else and striving to live the life Christ lived." The next 18 months and the rest of my life I will be striving to live the life Christ lived through Christlike love and service. I am making every moment here count and cannot express my gratitude in words to each and everyone of you. I pray for you daily and think of you often. Just know that Sister Driscoll is living it up as a missionary and striving to accomplish all the things the Lord wants me to accomplish.
Thank you for all your love, support, and prayers!
Love,
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Can you believe it I have successfully made it through my first week at the MTC. I can't! The days seem to go by fairly slow but the week went by fast. I am still loving it and the Korean is coming along. I mean considering a week ago I could not say or remember anything. One of the most important things I learned this week was to look at what I do know as far as the language instead of what I don't know. It goes along with the advice dad gave me about not being too hard on myself.
Since the last email Sister Gowens and I have taught 3 lessons to one investigator all in Korean. It was quite the experience as we relied on what we had been taught and the words we could remember to answer the questions of our investigator. It was an adventure when we would try to ask a question and the investigator would answer but we have no idea what he is saying. I have become really good at playing charades. I almost think I will enjoy teaching in Korean better than English because the focus is on the basic doctrine which is easier to understand because we do not know a lot of the vocabulary so we have to keep it clear and simple. The purpose of our first investigator was for us to learn to rely on the Lord as well as our investigator to guide us where they are at on their conversion process. All of our personal study, companionship study and language study is geared toward helping our investigator in the conversion process. The mission is truly all about others. Everything I do is to serve my companion and focus on the investigators' needs. The Lord will teach me more as I focus on serving others. If I give my life to the Savior, my investigators and my companions, I will have the most amazing mission and have so many choice experiences.
Sunday was such a great day. At the MTC all the sisters meet to listen to the Spoken Word and have Relief Society. For Relief Society speakers come. Sister Neill F. Marriott from the General Young Women's Presidency came and spoke to us. A great thought she shared was, "Love will pave the way for you to get the message of Jesus Christ across." I truly need to pray for the pure love of Christ so I can look at others as Christ would and they can be drawn to the gospel through Christ's love for them. She also asked three question which I am going to review weekly while on my mission. They are: What would Jesus do? If the Savior stood beside me what would I do? and Am I giving honor to my Father in Heaven and not myself? I loved those questions and I know as I think about them weekly I will be able to strive to live the life Christ lived. The Korean missionary branch is the biggest at the MTC! It was so great to go to sacrament meeting. Each of the Korean missionaries have to prepare a talk in Korean and one of us will randomly get called on during the meetings. Luckily I did not get called on my first week. The sacrament meeting was all in Korean and I was so surprised at how many words or phrases I was able to recognize and understand. The Lord is truly helping me every day so I can fulfill His purpose. Singing in Korean was by far the best experience, although I couldn't quite read the words, but that is just how it goes. We have devotional every Sunday night too, so thankfully we were able to watch the Christmas Devotional. I loved what Thomas S. Monson said, "True happiness is when you are making someone else happy." The attitude of giving is what Christmas is all about.
This week you would all be surprised at what I did during gym time with Sister Gowens. Yes, I played lightning and beat all the elders! Yes the talent of basketball is still here! SURPRISE! It was so fun. Thank you dad for teaching all of us how to handle and shoot a basketball. It really does come in handy. Also I had the sweetest opportunity with the native Korean sisters. I was up stretching after I had been running and they came up to me asking me to teach them. It reminded me of teaching a dance warm up, and I loved every minute of it. The Korean sisters are so sweet. I love them loads, honestly the nicest and happiest sisters at the MTC.
I have come to realize that this mission is Father-Daughter time with my Heavenly Father. I have the next 18 months to walk directly hand in hand with my Heavenly Father. I love putting my black name tag on every morning, being reminded that I am a representative of the Lord. This week we practiced inviting people to be baptized. Although I was only practicing on Sister Gowens, a warm feeling in my heart came over me every time. I cannot wait for the moment when it is truly real. Quentin L. Cook came for our Tuesday night devotional and he said that missionaries always ask when their spiritual experiences will happen. His answer was right on. He said it will happen "when you are doing something for someone else and striving to live the life Christ lived." The next 18 months and the rest of my life I will be striving to live the life Christ lived through Christlike love and service. I am making every moment here count and cannot express my gratitude in words to each and everyone of you. I pray for you daily and think of you often. Just know that Sister Driscoll is living it up as a missionary and striving to accomplish all the things the Lord wants me to accomplish.
Thank you for all your love, support, and prayers!
Love,
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Friday, December 13, 2013
First letter! 12/6/13
I'm already behind on posting her letters, and we'll get her second one later today, so I'll try to do better in the future! -Joelle
The Happiest Place On Earth
Family and Friends,
First off I want to tell you how much I love each and everyone of you. I could not be here without all of your love, support and prayers. I am so happy here so there is no need to worry about me. I always thought Disneyland was the happiest place on earth but it is definitely not. The Provo MTC is truly the happiest place on earth. I love being here. The Spirit is so special and being surrounded by full time missionaries is so great.
Wednesday when you dropped me off I went with Sister Smith who reports to Japan Monday and she was my host. The first thing I received was my name tag. When the volunteer sister placed that Korean name tag on my chest I knew this was real life and was assured this was exactly where I am supposed to be. I could not stop smiling after receiving my name tag because I am now a full time missionary and representative of our Lord Jesus Christ. I was the first to my dorm Wednesday but the second I got in there I dropped my bags and was off to get my crazy Korean books. After receiving my books Sister Smith escorted me to the Asian building and to my classroom. My teacher is Brother Scoville and he did not speak one word of English the entire two hours I was in the building. Overwhelming?! YES! but I was not as overwhelmed as I thought I would have been. I am so glad they quickly immerse us into the language. I met my companion in the classroom, Sister Gowens. She is from Oklahoma and is friends with a girl I danced with on Dance Alliance. She plays college golf and is so sweet. I already love her.
We had an MTC Orientation after class where the mission presidency spoke to us. There were so many great thoughts shared, but one specifically that I really pondered was by Sister Nally, the MTC Mission President's wife. She said, "Nobody has served your mission and it will be a WOW mission as long as you put your heart, might, mind, and soul into it." I loved that to think that there are 84,000 missionaries all over the world but not one of them will serve my mission. I have a real purpose in this work and I cannot wait to be able to achieve it and share it with everyone.
After the orientation we had dinner at 4:15!! Who has dinner at 4:15?! Well I guess I do now and better get used to it. Sister Gowens, Sister Anderson and Sister Lynn are all in my dorm. We went there after dinner and unpacked a little bit before we were supposed to go to a Teaching Experience Seminar. Sister Anderson and Sister Lynn are from Utah. They are really fun and I am so blessed I have a good companion and roommates. The Teaching experience seminar was for all the 721 new missionaries who entered the MTC on December 4. We were split up into groups and went from room to room to teach investigators as a group. The most important thing I learned was to get to truly know your investigator, be sincere, show them you care and then open up to the gospel. Our investigators have to be able to open up to the missionaries and trust us.
My zone met with each other after the Teaching Experience Seminar to discuss a few things and show us around campus. The two sisters who are like zone leaders but are sisters are absolutely amazing. They are so sweet and always there for you.
My first full day at the MTC was actually really good. It was long, but wow I learned so much, and Korean kind of clicked. I learned the alphabet in one day. We get up at 6:30, are in the classroom by 7 for study time, and then breakfast at 7:45. The food is not nearly as bad as I thought, but I also have just stuck with fruit and the salad bar. I have come to realize that everyone at the MTC is so aware of each other. My companions Sister Gowens has had a hard time being away from home but so many people that we don't know recognized that her spirit was down and confronted her to comfort her. We attended a "People and Your Purpose Workshop" where our main focus was about others. We watched two videos about two different peoples' lives and then asked the questions: How does the Lord see these people? How do we see these people? What have we learned about these people? It was all about recognizing the people for who they are and picturing them as Christ would.
After the seminar we went back to our classroom where our entire zone of 38 people were crammed into one tiny classroom to be taught by Brother Kim who is from Korea. He loves Korea and he wants the Korean people to kind of see us as their Jesus because we are representatives of Him. We had lunch after that meeting and sat in K-town which is where all the Korean missionaries sit in the cafeteria. We then had class instruction and once again all Korean but my district is really good at charades along with Brother Scoville. When we began language study I was keeping up pretty well and things started to click. I was able to read a few words in Korea. It was truly the best feeling ever when I was able to read just a few simple words. It is amazing the small little miracles that happen everyday here and I have been able to really recognize them being here.
We met our branch presidency last night and my branch president knows Dirk which was really neat. Everyone in my zone introduced themselves and bore their testimony. When it was my turn my heart was so full because I am so happy to be here that I wasn't able to say everything I wanted to say without uncontrollably crying but my spirit was there.
There are no words to describe this wonderful place. I love it. I have been able to realize that I am stronger than I think and this is all possible, even this crazy language. I have only been here maybe a two full days and I already feel as if all the sisters and elders going to Korea are my family. I am so happy and love it. I think the challenge I gave myself about being the happiest I can be and looking at everything in a positive way has helped me the most.
I want you all to know that I love you and miss each of you dearly but this has been an amazing experience so far. I love being a missionary, I love this gospel, I love Jesus Christ, and I love my Heavenly Father. Can't wait to share this experience with each and everyone of you.
Love,
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
The Happiest Place On Earth
Family and Friends,
First off I want to tell you how much I love each and everyone of you. I could not be here without all of your love, support and prayers. I am so happy here so there is no need to worry about me. I always thought Disneyland was the happiest place on earth but it is definitely not. The Provo MTC is truly the happiest place on earth. I love being here. The Spirit is so special and being surrounded by full time missionaries is so great.
Wednesday when you dropped me off I went with Sister Smith who reports to Japan Monday and she was my host. The first thing I received was my name tag. When the volunteer sister placed that Korean name tag on my chest I knew this was real life and was assured this was exactly where I am supposed to be. I could not stop smiling after receiving my name tag because I am now a full time missionary and representative of our Lord Jesus Christ. I was the first to my dorm Wednesday but the second I got in there I dropped my bags and was off to get my crazy Korean books. After receiving my books Sister Smith escorted me to the Asian building and to my classroom. My teacher is Brother Scoville and he did not speak one word of English the entire two hours I was in the building. Overwhelming?! YES! but I was not as overwhelmed as I thought I would have been. I am so glad they quickly immerse us into the language. I met my companion in the classroom, Sister Gowens. She is from Oklahoma and is friends with a girl I danced with on Dance Alliance. She plays college golf and is so sweet. I already love her.
We had an MTC Orientation after class where the mission presidency spoke to us. There were so many great thoughts shared, but one specifically that I really pondered was by Sister Nally, the MTC Mission President's wife. She said, "Nobody has served your mission and it will be a WOW mission as long as you put your heart, might, mind, and soul into it." I loved that to think that there are 84,000 missionaries all over the world but not one of them will serve my mission. I have a real purpose in this work and I cannot wait to be able to achieve it and share it with everyone.
After the orientation we had dinner at 4:15!! Who has dinner at 4:15?! Well I guess I do now and better get used to it. Sister Gowens, Sister Anderson and Sister Lynn are all in my dorm. We went there after dinner and unpacked a little bit before we were supposed to go to a Teaching Experience Seminar. Sister Anderson and Sister Lynn are from Utah. They are really fun and I am so blessed I have a good companion and roommates. The Teaching experience seminar was for all the 721 new missionaries who entered the MTC on December 4. We were split up into groups and went from room to room to teach investigators as a group. The most important thing I learned was to get to truly know your investigator, be sincere, show them you care and then open up to the gospel. Our investigators have to be able to open up to the missionaries and trust us.
My zone met with each other after the Teaching Experience Seminar to discuss a few things and show us around campus. The two sisters who are like zone leaders but are sisters are absolutely amazing. They are so sweet and always there for you.
My first full day at the MTC was actually really good. It was long, but wow I learned so much, and Korean kind of clicked. I learned the alphabet in one day. We get up at 6:30, are in the classroom by 7 for study time, and then breakfast at 7:45. The food is not nearly as bad as I thought, but I also have just stuck with fruit and the salad bar. I have come to realize that everyone at the MTC is so aware of each other. My companions Sister Gowens has had a hard time being away from home but so many people that we don't know recognized that her spirit was down and confronted her to comfort her. We attended a "People and Your Purpose Workshop" where our main focus was about others. We watched two videos about two different peoples' lives and then asked the questions: How does the Lord see these people? How do we see these people? What have we learned about these people? It was all about recognizing the people for who they are and picturing them as Christ would.
After the seminar we went back to our classroom where our entire zone of 38 people were crammed into one tiny classroom to be taught by Brother Kim who is from Korea. He loves Korea and he wants the Korean people to kind of see us as their Jesus because we are representatives of Him. We had lunch after that meeting and sat in K-town which is where all the Korean missionaries sit in the cafeteria. We then had class instruction and once again all Korean but my district is really good at charades along with Brother Scoville. When we began language study I was keeping up pretty well and things started to click. I was able to read a few words in Korea. It was truly the best feeling ever when I was able to read just a few simple words. It is amazing the small little miracles that happen everyday here and I have been able to really recognize them being here.
We met our branch presidency last night and my branch president knows Dirk which was really neat. Everyone in my zone introduced themselves and bore their testimony. When it was my turn my heart was so full because I am so happy to be here that I wasn't able to say everything I wanted to say without uncontrollably crying but my spirit was there.
There are no words to describe this wonderful place. I love it. I have been able to realize that I am stronger than I think and this is all possible, even this crazy language. I have only been here maybe a two full days and I already feel as if all the sisters and elders going to Korea are my family. I am so happy and love it. I think the challenge I gave myself about being the happiest I can be and looking at everything in a positive way has helped me the most.
I want you all to know that I love you and miss each of you dearly but this has been an amazing experience so far. I love being a missionary, I love this gospel, I love Jesus Christ, and I love my Heavenly Father. Can't wait to share this experience with each and everyone of you.
Love,
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
May I Serve Thee, Lord?
Well the time is here. The day has finally come to say goodbye to friends and family for 18 months. I have been counting the days since July for my turn to be a representative of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am ready. I am ready to be a missionary. I am ready to serve the people of Korea. I am ready to grow in this gospel and help others find the joy it can bring into their lives. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity right now. It is such an exciting time in my life and I cannot express enough gratitude for it.
I know that this is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church. I know that this gospel was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith whom Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to calling him to be the prophet to restore Christ's Church in these last days. I know that God know and loves each of us. He is mindful of you. Pray to Him and He will listen. He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to fulfill His word and set the greatest example for us all. I know that the atonement of Christ is real. I know He suffered for all our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane and suffered on the cross at Calvary. I also know that Jesus Christ broke the bands of death and rose on the third day as a resurrected being. Jesus Christ lives. He and Heavenly Father still talk to man this day and will continue to do so. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet who is guided by our Heavenly Father to lead, guide and direct this Church.
This is such an exciting time to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is my time to dedicate myself to our Savior and represent Him. It is my time to help hasten this wondrous work that is coming forth. This is my time to share this gospel and let others experience the everlasting happiness that will come by living the doctrines of this gospel. I could not continue to live with the amazing gospel without the desire to share it. To let others have the opportunity to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, experience God's unconditional love, and know that one can be forgiven for their sins because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
I am so excited, nervous, anxious, scared, and ready to serve in the Korea Seoul South Mission. I know that God trusts me with this call and it is now my time to trust Him. It is His turn to use me as a tool in this wonderful church to bring others to Christ. I am ready to serve our Lord for these 18 months and for the rest of my life. I must humbly ask Him "May I serve Thee?" May I be an instrument in the works of the Lord.
Lord, take these hands. Let me use these hands to serve thee willingly.
Lord, take these ears. Let me hear thy words and humbly follow thee.
Lord, take these lips. Let the words I speak be formed at thy command.
Though I know I am weak and I know thy mighty power can to anything.
Simple gifts I now bring. To set before my Savior Lord and King.
May I serve thee?
May I Serve thee Lord?
May I humbly live for thee?
Farewell! I love you, each and everyone of you! I cannot thank you enough for all your love and support. See you in 18 months.
Love,
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
I know that this is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church. I know that this gospel was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith whom Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to calling him to be the prophet to restore Christ's Church in these last days. I know that God know and loves each of us. He is mindful of you. Pray to Him and He will listen. He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to fulfill His word and set the greatest example for us all. I know that the atonement of Christ is real. I know He suffered for all our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane and suffered on the cross at Calvary. I also know that Jesus Christ broke the bands of death and rose on the third day as a resurrected being. Jesus Christ lives. He and Heavenly Father still talk to man this day and will continue to do so. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet who is guided by our Heavenly Father to lead, guide and direct this Church.
This is such an exciting time to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is my time to dedicate myself to our Savior and represent Him. It is my time to help hasten this wondrous work that is coming forth. This is my time to share this gospel and let others experience the everlasting happiness that will come by living the doctrines of this gospel. I could not continue to live with the amazing gospel without the desire to share it. To let others have the opportunity to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, experience God's unconditional love, and know that one can be forgiven for their sins because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
I am so excited, nervous, anxious, scared, and ready to serve in the Korea Seoul South Mission. I know that God trusts me with this call and it is now my time to trust Him. It is His turn to use me as a tool in this wonderful church to bring others to Christ. I am ready to serve our Lord for these 18 months and for the rest of my life. I must humbly ask Him "May I serve Thee?" May I be an instrument in the works of the Lord.
Lord, take these hands. Let me use these hands to serve thee willingly.
Lord, take these ears. Let me hear thy words and humbly follow thee.
Lord, take these lips. Let the words I speak be formed at thy command.
Though I know I am weak and I know thy mighty power can to anything.
Simple gifts I now bring. To set before my Savior Lord and King.
May I serve thee?
May I Serve thee Lord?
May I humbly live for thee?
Farewell! I love you, each and everyone of you! I cannot thank you enough for all your love and support. See you in 18 months.
Love,
Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Farewell Sunday
 |
| Rodeo Sisters: Jamie, Mckinzie, Me, Mallory |
 |
| Best Friends: Scout, Cassie, Jared, Charidee, Tiffani Missing: Victoria, Mariah, Cassidy |
 |
| My Second Family |
Many people came out to the house friends and family. It was such a great day and I am so blessed. I had to say a few of my first good bye's and tears were definitely shed. I have the best people in my life and I cannot thank them all enough for their examples.
I can't believe it is now only 10 days away that I will report to the Provo MTC! I am so excited and cannot wait to join God's Royal Army! Korea Seoul South I hope you are read for Sister Ciarra Jean Driscoll!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Seoul Sisters
 | ||||
| L to R: Kaelin, Calea, Me, Candice |
"The sisters of Zion are called to God's labor,
We willingly serve HIm with spirit and might.
We go to the nations with truth everlasting,
We teach of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)