Oh there's sunshine, blessed sunshine!

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm happy to report that the sun is finally shining and that the temperature is in the 30s. Heat wave! You have no idea how good it feels to walk outside and feel the sun on my back. (Actually, I'm sure those of you living in cold climates know what I'm talking about.) Feeling the warmth makes me feel so much better and I'm praying that the last few months of winter go by quickly.

Last week I think I mentioned the interesting couple we are now teaching. Joe and Sherri Paratorre incase I didn't or you forgot. We got a call from them on Thursday during our planning session; Mr. Paratorre was a little worried because he'd just read about the Word of Wisdom and wanted to find out what we wanted to drink when we came over for lunch in a few days. He started off with, "I know you can't drink soda..." We calmed him down and assured him that we're both water drinkers. When we arrived at their house on Monday, his wife mentioned to us that he'd been up since dawn cooking. The menu: spaghetti and homemade apple pie. (Mom, you've got more competition!) He is a fabulous cook and asked us what we would like to eat at our next meeting. I have no doubt that the pounds I've worked so hard to get rid of will be coming back while we're teaching this family. They both seem very excited about the things they've read about the LDS church online and promised to start reading the Book of Mormon.

We had Zone Conference this past week and managed to once again avoid giving a 5 minute talk. However, as President said, I still have plenty of time. I found out the exact date of my departure from Illinois, but I'm not going to tell you because I don't want to make you trunky. ;)

I'm almost out of time so I need to close. I wish I had more time to tell you about the excitingness that is Woodstock, but that'll have to wait. I miss you all and can't wait until Mothers Day rolls around. I've been blessed so much in my life and the one way I can thank Heavely Father for so many blessings is by giving the gospel to those around me. This work is amazing and I love it. The church is true!

Love you all!
Sister Sara

It gets worse before it gets better.

Dear Family and Friends,

Last night, I asked Sis. Youngberg to tell me a bedtime story. In my opinion, it was fantastic so I thought I would share it with all of you: "Once upon a time, there was a butterfly who landed on a caterpillar and said 'Hey, I used to be you!'" The End. (I know. We're strange.) On to the news!

The week has gone well. It's still very cold outside, but I'm surviving. As missionaries, we have the tendency to countdown how many days are left in the mission. I'm counting down how many days until spring gets here. The cold makes the work a little harder to do because once you're inside for breaks or at a member's home, you don't want to go back out into the coldness. However, the work must go forward.

Yesterday, for no specific reason, was a harder day than usual. Tracting and business contacting has the ability to make anyone miserable, but that wasn't it. At dinner, I mentioned to Sister Youngberg that I need to find something to give me a boost in the work and that I would love to hear some music by Frank Sinatra or Michael Buble; they can pull me out of any slump. About an hour later, we were talking with a referral at his home and the TV was on in the background. Suddenly, I heard "oh what a day this has been. What a rare mood I'm in. Why it's almost like being in-love!" It was Frank Sinatra! Sister Youngberg glanced at me and we both smiled. It was only a few seconds of a song, but it gave me the boost I needed. I'm thinking of it as a tender mercy.

Not too much else is going on. The ward continues to grow and it's obvious so many of our investigators were prepared to learn about this gospel. When we explained a little bit of the Plan of Salvation to an older gentleman, he looked amazed that two 22 year old girls could know so much and have such a deep faith. However, they don't realize that the bits and pieces they hear are connected to something greater than anything we can ever imagine. I love it when people tell me that something about the church is correct and I can show them that it is. They might not believe me even then, but at least one piece of the puzzle has been given to them. Without a doubt, this gospel is true!

Hugs to all!
Sister Sara

P.S. 3 Nephi 17

snow. Snow. SNOW!

Dear Family and Friends,

Another week has passed in the winter wonderland of Woodstock, McHenry, Harvard, and Marengo. Every morning we have to dig out our car and it's like opening a present each time. Sadly, we don't find anything else under the snow except our car. I think someone should leave us some chocolate, or some cute shoes...something exciting.

Not much has changed from last week, but I finally have things to write about. I hope you're excited! The first things is mainly for Sister Youngberg's family because I know they read my blog to see how she's doing. A few days ago, she got a notice in the mail saying there was a package for her. We went to the Post Office but it wasn't there because the mailman was still on his route. Driving home, Sis. Y saw him about a block away and decided to chase him down so she could get her package. Usually it's dogs that chase the mailman, not a couple of sister missionaries. I have no doubt that he thought we were crazy. Then again, who doesn't?

I have a new addiction: Chicago dogs. They are so much better than normal hot dogs. Of course you've got the meat and bun, but it's the topping that make the difference. Tomato, onion, relish, a giant pickle, cucumber, and celery salt. They are pretty amazing! Another exciting thing concerning food is that Sis. Y has the recipe for Cafe Rio's pork salad. It takes several hours to make, but it's great when a member offers to do it for you. On Monday we discovered that an elder was craving a burrito so badly, he had his mom order him one and ship it to him on dry ice. Thankfully, no one will be getting an email asking that a pork salad get mailed to me. However, I am curious: would you, if I asked politely?

I'm happy to report that the work is still going strong in this area. A few days ago, we were teaching Tracey challenged her to find out if it's time for her to be baptized. During the closing prayer, she said, "Heavenly Father please let me know if I need to be baptized, but don't let me know too soon..." We told her that there is still much for her to learn and baptism won't happen until she feels that she's ready. Without hesitation, she said, "oh good. All churches should do it like that." The changes that have happened in her small family are amazing. Jerry, her son, has calmed down immensely and now shakes our hands at the end of every meeting. He also points to pictures of Christ and tells us who it is. Tracey has gotten much softer in the way she talks to Jerry by asking instead of telling him to do things with a threat. None of these things could have happened if it weren't for the spirit that has come into their home.

A few months ago we received a referral for a family in Wonder Lake but weren't able to meet with them until a few days ago. The parents (a mother and step-father) are very Catholic but some of their kids are LDS because of their father. At the end of our lesson, the parents requested that we prove that this is the true church without using any scripture or asking them to pray about it. The way they found the Catholic church was true was by reading non-scriptural books about the topic. Sadly, the only way to gain a firm testimony about the gospel is through prayer and reading the Book of Mormon. I can't even guess at this point what is going to happen with the family as we continue to teach them.

Each Sunday, we pass our meal calendar around to the members and pray that people will be willing to feed us. At the end of the day we were amazing to see almost every day filled. The reason? Bro. Jensen, our amazing ward mission leader, made the comment in Priesthood that if the members fed us physically, we would feed them spiritually. So parents, you can stop worrying that I'm not getting fed enough. A few days ago we had a lunch appointment at 2:30 and a dinner appointment at 4:00. We are well taken care of.

Well, that's all from my little corner of the world. You're probably tired of hearing it, but I am loving being a missionary. For the past week or so, I've been reading my journal entries from when I first arrived. The person I was then compared to the person I am know is at either ends of the spectrum. As with all change, I couldn't have done it alone. It's no joke that a mission really does prepare for the rest of your life in every possible way. The gospel's true! Stay tuned for more adventures next week...

Hugs!
Sister Sara

New adventures

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm not sure if I told any of you, but transfers we're today. I would like to annouce the companion of Sister Waters is.....Sister Youngberg!!!! I can't believe we're still together! For the past week we've been dreading what could happen and got to the point where we were ready to call President, playing the transfer game, and saying many fervent prayers that our companionship would continue. This is our fourth transfer together; Sister Youngberg goes home at the end of the next one. I still have hopes of killing her off, but I don't think President will let that happen. Bummer.

This past week, I've noticed a huge change in myself. I left home as a shy and quiet girl, but I've recently found that I have the ability to speak! A few days ago, I shocked Sister Youngberg when we were talking to a man on the street who denied that there is any kind of God. Without any hesitation, I started telling him that he was wrong. The next day, a man was preaching to us as to why the Sabbath is a Saturday and not a Sunday; in a very calm voice I told him that we'll just have to agree to disagree. Other things are changing: the way I react in situations, the way I talk with people, the way I spend my time... I have no idea what is going on, but I love it!

I'm sad to report that once again there is nothing too exciting to report on. So you don't feel like you've wasted time by reading this letter, here are a few somewhat thrilling highlights:

*Last week I tried a Peruvian dessert that is made from PURPLE corn! It tasted like very weak jello. (Dad, everyone loved your Stolen!)
*I've been informed that this is the cycle of boldness--bold, try to change people with boldness, realize change is not possible, continue to be bold for the fun of it.
*Every member things missionaries starve so they send us out the door piled with goodies. Just so you know, there is such a things as too much baklava.
*The Chicago Temple flooded last week, hitting the Celestial room and several of the Endowment rooms. It'll be closed until at least February, maybe April.
*I realized that I've almost hit my 6month mark. Can you believe it?! I can now offically say that I'll be seeing all/most of you next year.

That's everything; I hope this letter didn't make anyone fall asleep. I miss you and hope you're all doing well. Stay warm, stay happy, eat dessert. Love ya!!!!

Sister Sara

P.S. I'll see you next year!!! ;)