The adventures continue...

Dear Family and Friends,

Once again, another week has passed. I've decided that I should just get used to the mission being an amazing experience, but each day something amazing happens and I can't help it. The Lord's hand is in everything and it is so apparent in the lessons we teach and the people we meet. It's...amazing! :)

I guess the biggest news of this past week is that I had my first baptism as a missionary and it was an experience I will never forget--mainly because of the story that goes along with it. Sister Youngberg and I showed up at the chapel to fill the faunt. Someone else was supposed to do it, but he wasn't concerned with the fact that it takes three hours to fill it up. Since we had to be at the chapel early for a meeting and were very worried about the time issue, we offered to do it ourselves. After racing to the church, there was only two hours to set up before the ceremony started. (I should probably mention that the Spanish branch had had a fiesta planned for several weeks and the date was the same as our baptism.) We walked into the room to set up chairs and immediately stopped. The room was decorated in a Mexican theme with balloons, tables, streamers, sound system, and dance floor all set up. After making a few calls, the only option left was to take it all down, move it to another room, and pray that people would be willing to help us set it back up after the baptism.

The ceremony was wonderful and Monica was glowing when she came up. She also set the speed record for a girl changing out of the baptisimal clothing. After everyone left, a few people helped us to set the party back up, but they did very quickly so they could continue with their Saturday. Once they left, Sister Youngberg and I set it up according to our standards and left with the knowledge that every balloon was in place.

There is one member in our ward who has done wonders when it comes to missionary work. It'll make you laugh to know that his name is Jack Rassmussen. He is a convert to the church and his testimony is stronger than anyone I've ever known. If you read Alma 10:6-12, that is his story. He was a drinker, smoker, and everything else you can imagine, but gave them all up cold-turkey and has not regreted it once. He cannot do enough for the missionaries or people in general. Every ward needs a member like him.

Sister Youngberg and I were out tracting on Sunday and came to an apartment complex where we met a man named Paul. We started to have a discussion with him about our Heavenly Father and baptism. Mainly, we just followed were the spirit led us. We talked for about an hour and then asked for a return appointment. To our surprise, he said no. He said that if he's ment to hear our message, he'll meet us again and know that it's fate. In the car, Sister Youngberg and I started plotting ways to talk to him and even went so far as to decide that we would tract the whole complex. We know that he felt the spirit and could see that it took a lot for him to give us the "serendipity" line. I have no doubt that we'll be meeting him again very soon.

I think I have time for one more story. In a previous letter, I told you about two of our investigators, Lynn and Cary. They are next door neighbors and it has been a blessing because they've been able to come to church together and addiction recovery. Lynn has a baptisimal date, but is being held back by her smoking addiction. Yesterday, Jack came with us to a meeting with her and convinced her to give up her cigarettes cold-turkey. He knows exactly how she feels and his experiences helped the situation immensely. She handed them over and we threw them away. You can see it in her eyes how excited she is to get baptized and the spirit that is constantly with her. It was amazing to see this humble act of faith and the trust in her Heavenly Father that he will be with her throughout this struggle.

About an hour later, we met with Cary and committed him to baptism! He started talking about his addiction, but then told us that he gave it up six weeks before he met us! He was being prepared for the missionaries long before he met Sister Youngberg and I. Once again, the Lord's hand is in everything we do!

I am loving this area and life couldn't be as good as it is at this moment. The people are ready and we are more than willing to teach them about the wonderful plan that our Heavenly Father has for us. I love you all and pray that things are well with you!
To be continued...
Sister Sara

P.S. Watch the movie "Groundhog Day." It was filmed in Woodstock.

Another week...

Dear Family and Friends,

What an amazing week! There are so many things I want to tell everyone so I'm going to jump right in to make sure it I have time to cover it all before my time ends.

Sunday was an absolutely amazing day! Sister Youngberg and I had 6 of our investigators all come to church! Not to mention, a recent convert who has been struggling to come every week finally got the push she needed and also came. One of our investigators, Lynn, is an older woman who struggles with walking. After Sunday school she said that she was going to go home because her hip was bothering her. We asked if she would like a priesthood blessing and it was an amazing thing to witness. (I think amazing is an understatement!) When we talked to her about it later, she said that her leg was feeling so much better and that the blessing was a miracle. I am looking forward to seeing her get baptized next month, but she is still struggling with smoking. To help her, Sister Youngberg and I decided to also give up something in our lives that shouldn't be there. She is giving up her naps and I am giving up snaking throughout the day. It's going to be a challenge, but I think it's a wonderful way to help Lynn.

Tuesday was an absolutely terrifying day for me! From the beginning of this transfer, I have been content to let my companion do most of the talking in the lessons. When I have something to say I'll say it, but most of the time I'm silent. She gets on a role and I hate to interrupt her. So, she came up with the idea that I should "be boss" for one whole day! The thought of it made me nauseous and I was tempted to crawl back into bed, but I went forward.

Our first meeting of the day was with a man named Jason who has a very Catholic family. They have been trying to convince him to join their church for a very long time, but he has always hesitated because he knew something else was out there. When we met with him, we found out that he has been trying to meet with missionaries for 6 months! We taught the first lesson and it was absolutely amazing; I can't even describe it! There is much work to be done, but I feel that he has been prepared. I can't wait to see him progress!

The most amazing thing that has taken place this week was with a man named Indian. He is of Irish and Native American decent. We met him last week and told him that the Book of Mormon was written by the ancestors of todays Native Americans. He was very intriged and anxious to meet with us again. We met with him last night and read the Introduction with him, also bearing our testimonies as to how true this book is. Without batting an eye, he told us that he could already feel of its power and said that he will have read it by next week. Next week can't come soon enough!

I am so grateful to be able to see the blessings of being on a mission and the hand of God in everything that takes place. So many people are ready to hear this gospel and I have the privilage of teaching some of them. I've learned so many things in the past two weeks and can already see a change in myself taking place. I wish I had more time to tell stories, but I would need several days! The adventures of Sister Sara will be continued next week! Stay tuned...

I love you all!
Sister Sara

One week/one month

Dear Family and Friends,

Two big events are occuring this week: surviving one month on the mission and one week in Illinois. The whole experience has been wonderful and I have no complaints as of yet--even if I did I wouldn't tell you.

Fall has already come to Illinois. There is a definite nip in the air and the leaves have started to change. I'm starting to make preparations for the horror stories I've heard about the winters here. Please keep me in your prayers that I will come home that I will return home with all of by body parts intact and not lost to frostbite. I'm trying to get used to the weather, but it's befuddling at times. I've never seen so much rain in my life. I laugh because the ward members talk about being in a drought. They should move to Utah!

I have a wonderful companion and I hope that we'll be able to work together for a while. I told you in my last letter that she's from Boise, Idaho, but I'm only starting to realize how much fun she is. We'll play the Saturday Warrior soundtrack in the car and we've made one of the songs our theme song: "We'll bring them truth, freedom, saaaalvation! We're sure to be the greatest missionaries the world has ever known...!" I always laugh at the looks people give us when they drive by.

I love teaching with Sister Youngberg because the spirit is always so strong. She immediately shows how much she cares for each investigator; they come first and there's never too much we can do for them. Of course, that's the way it should be and I've decided that I want to be like her when I grow up.

The work is moving forward and it's exciting to see how ready this area is. I remember how shy I was before I came on the mission, but now it's like second nature to walk up to someone and start talking about our Savior or the Book of Mormon. Sister Youngberg and I have set a goal that before we separate I need to get someone to roll down their car window at a red light and give them a pass along card. I shall succeed!

I think that one challenge I am going to have is taking this so personally. Last week one woman we met started saying how false the Book of Mormon is and that it couldn't have been written the way they say. Another started telling us that Joseph Smith was really killed in a gun fight. The sad thing is that the latter person had been taking the discussions but reading anti-Mormon literature at the same time. However, I'm seeing how much my testimony is growing by being able to tell these people that I know otherwise and I don't need any other sources to tell me otherwise. It's true because I've felt it! I've had personal witnesses tell me what I need to know and I am so grateful to be able to tell them that. They can fight fact, but not testimony.

Sadly, my time is up. I hope to hear from all of you so I'll know how things are going back home. The church is true! I love you all!

Sister Sara

Illinois Chicago North Mission

Dear Family and Friends,

I have only been in the Windy City for about 24 hours, but I'm already inlove with it! It reminds me so much of New York with its greeness, amazing houses, and picturesque communities. I'm sure I'll only love it more as my time here continues.

Yesterday was a very exciting day, so let me tell you all about it...

Our bags got loaded onto the bus at 5:00 in the morning-an insane time if you ask me, but I was fortunate because my companions had to leave at 3:00. It felt strange to be outside of the gates and I passed the gas stations in awe of the prices. Before I entered, gas was $4.00+! It made me wonder what else had changed so dramatically in such little time.

While waiting in the airport, it was discovered that two more people were coming with Elder Johnson, Elder Powell, and myself to Chicago. One is Sister Olsen who is waiting for her visa before heading to Spain, and another is Elder Olson who had to leave his Russia mission because of back surgery. The plane ride was uneventful and very uncomfortable; one side of the plane had two seats and the other had one. My seat wouldn't recline so sleeping was almost a crazy notion, but I did what I could.

President Stoddard and his wife were waiting for us when we got off the plane. He later told me that he'd been looking for someone who had giant curls like in my mission picture and that my straight hair had thrown him off. Our bags were loaded into a trailer and then the new missionaries went with the APs on a train after we were given some Books of Mormon and some pass-along cards. I didn't talk to anyone on the train, but Elder Powell started talking to a Jehovah's Witness after the guy told him that he was a member of "the church." Whoops!

Getting off the train, we met President and Sister Stoddard at a pizza place for some Chicago deep dish pizza. All I can say is, everyone who doesn't live in Chicago is missing out! "Amazing" is an understatement. I have to stop-I'm starting to drool! We got a very quick tour of the city after lunch. I hope I have more time to explore it not quite so quickly before I leave.

Everyone met back at the mission home where the office staff was introduced. Right now a missionary couple is getting ready to head back to Ireland and the office was kind of crazy because of a new couple getting trained to replace them. Everyone there is amazing and all of the sisters are more than willing to offer hugs. More paperwork was filled out and then we headed to the President's house where we would be staying for the night. During the tour, Sister Stoddard showed us a "Dear John" wall where all of the Elders post their dear John's. Some of them are pretty brutal because the girls enclosed their wedding announcements. Ouch! In their kitchen, an entire wall is covered with pictures of all the missionaries they've worked with. It's a very impressive sight.

After some more meetings about health and staying warm in the winter, eating some more, and meeting senior missionaries who are staying with the President, I finally went to bed...exhausted.

We had companion transfers today and I met my new companion: Sister Youngberg from Boise, Idaho. The President told me I would be lucky to work with her and I can already see that he had divine invervention when making this decision. My first area is a town called Woodstock and I can't wait to get to work.

To sum up these past 24 hours: I hate the humidity, the pizza is to die for, the President and his wife are amazing, I will probably come home having gained a lot of wait from eating so much, I love my new companion, and all is well.

It felt good to talk to some of you yesterday and I wish I could have had more time, but Christmas will be here before we know it! My fingers are crossed that I'll be seeing letters from some of you in the very near future!

My time is up so I must say fare-thee-well. Stay tuned for more adventures of Sister Sara: the Mormon Nun! You won't want to miss it! The gospel's true!

Sister Sara

Final day at the MTC

Dear Family and Friends,

This is my last day at the MTC and I can't believe how quickly the past three weeks has gone by. I can only imagine what the next 17ish months will be like.

Right now, my mind is trying to go over all that I've learned, but it's an impossible task. My leaders have told me that I'm already a different person than when I arrived. A part of me doubts that, but we usually aren't able to see the change take place in ourselves; it takes another person to see it. With all of my heart I hope I have changed and will continue to change as the months continue. I fully intend on coming home as Sister Waters, but my hopes and prayers are that I will come home an even better version of who I am.

I keep saying it, but it's always once again shown to me that I am meant to be here and I feel that every day. There are things I need to learn and people I need to meet. I don't know what those things are yet, but I'm sure the answers will come when I least expect it. Isn't that how life is?

It's hard to be in a place where sister missionaries have a bad reputation, but it just makes me want to work even harder to prove to myself and them that I can do this job. I found a quote by President Hinckley the other day and it says more than I ever could about serving my wonderful Heavenly Father: "Many young women are serving missions. Many are preparing to serve. Not because they aren't married, or have nothing to do, but because they have a desire to serve and therefore are being called to the work. The reason so many are going is because in the next generation Heavenly Father will be sending His priesthood army to earth and wants to send them to mothers who have been properly trained and taught in the gospel. And what better training can a young woman have than that of serving a mission."

I have no doubt that this will be one of the greatest challenges I've undertaken in my life, but I also have no doubt that this will be one of my greatest accomplishments and it will only make me stronger. My testimony is strong, but it will be made stronger. My desire to serve is strong, but it will be made stronger. Heavenly Father will make up for all of the weaknesses I have because I am willing to serve. He has called me and I will not fail Him.

My prayers are with all of my family and friends and will continue. Keep working hard and being the wonderful people I know you are. The gospel's true!

Many hugs,
Sister Sara