Summer Drought

Dear Family and Friends,

  I'm almost grateful to only be in Illinois for one summer because it seems that the summer season causes a drought in the work of a missionary.  Everyone but us seems to be on vacation or out and about doing things with their families so when we come by, we knock on the door of an empty house 75% of the time.  Last week we kocked on 70 doors (time goes by quicker counting doors than hours) and we only spoke to maybe 10 people for longer than, "hi, we're missionaries with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints...."  I'll admit it's easier to find people because they're playing outside whereas in a few months the hibernating will start with the cold weather.  Either way, our work is challenged by some kind of annoyance from Mother Nature whether it's 100% humidity, random rain storms, wind that's strong enough to knock you off your feet, snow high enough to cover half of your car, or just a season in general.  Life is never dull.

  Transfers are once again heading towards us.  Sister Clark is predicting that I'll be getting transfered, but my fingers are crossed that the prediction will not prove to be true.  Just in case I do, she baked me some applesauce cake yesterday.  This has been a challenging area, but I love the members here and have adopted several of them as parents and grandparents.  A new area would be exciting and it definitely does make the time go by quicker, but I prefer staying in an area and being able to leave my mark.  Whatever decision is made, I believe any mission president is inspired and that I'll go where I need to be.

  A few days ago, Sister Kolb and I stopped by to visit a less active member.  Let's just say it was a very aggrivating meeting and it's a good thing Sister Kolb was sitting between me and the less active. For future reference, missionaries do not appreciate being given every excuse in the book as to why they're not coming to church.  The covenants made with Heavenly Father at baptism are not the kind anyone wants to break.  I love being a missionary, but the work can get very aggravating at times.  Surprise, surprise.

  That's a crazy note to end on, but I just realized that I only have a few minutes left.  My fingers are crossed that I'll be receiving some much anticipated letters from some of you in the very near future and my toes are crossed that they won't all be arriving around Christmas time.  The gospel's true!  Love you!

        Sister Waters

Trading Places

Dear Family and Friends,

  It's been the usual kind of week for me so here's another one of those grand "nothing too exciting but let's see what I can come up with" letters.  Here's the news:

  *On Wednesday, the suggestion was made by Hermana Pettit that maybe we should go on companion exchanges, an activity that is mandatory for the Elders but not so much for the Sisters.  No one really took her seriously but later that evening we got a call from her saying that she'd talked to President and he was okay with the idea.  So on Saturday afternoon after President interviews, Hermana Pettit and I traded places.  For 24 hours, I resided in my old area of Round Lake/Lake Villa.

  I'm hoping you gather that from the term "hermana" I went into the Spanish program for a day.  Hermana Padillia had several appointments lined up, but the only thing I could really say was, "muy mallo, un pocito."  I'm not sure if I spelled that right, but the translation is "not very much and very badly" or something to that extent.  I also thought it was quite humerous that the translation of my name is Hermana Aquas.  On my part it was pretty much a day off and at the end of it, I have to admit that I missed teaching.  I felt like a greenie again because I didn't know enough to contribute to the lesson.  Returning to Gurnee on Sunday afternoon and teaching a lesson a few hours later, I said a silent prayer for being able to understand the things that were being said and also being able to respond.

  Honestly, that's the most exciting thing that's taken place this week and it makes me quite sad.  Today should be fun because Sister Kolb and I are having a Farewell Party for Hermana Pettit and also combining it as a "Day of 15's Party."  Hermana Pettit has 15 days left, Hermana Padillia and Sister Kolb have 15 days left, and apparently I've had 15 guys fall in love with me on my mission.  That's not true but I'll go along with it.

    Have a great week and I'm looking forward to all of the letters I'm sure you're getting ready to put in the mailbox.  The gospel's true!

          Sister Waters

A Few Realizations

Dear Family and Friends,

  Another thrilling week in the cities of Gurnee and Waukegan.  I'd also have to say it's been another challenging week, but nothing I can't handle.  My time is short today so let's not worry about the required 4 sentences for the opening paragraph and get straight to the news! Heeeeeer's Sister Waters!  (That works much better for Johnny Carson.)

  I'm realizing how inadequet I am in this mission.  I mentioned last week that it'd been one of the hardest weeks of my mission and it continued that way for the next few days.  It's still hard, but I now feel that I have more control on a few things.  After having a long talk with Sister Kolb and her pointing out the minor detail that I can't do everything on my own-for some odd reason I tend to think I can-she asked me if I would consider a blessing.  Not saying anything, she asked if I would like her to ask someone for me.  Not able to speak at the moment, I nodded my head and she then went through a list of possibilities grabbing the phone when I again nodded my head at the thought of Elder Child.  We drove to their apartment and for several minutes I just sat there and cried, but the instant Elder Child layed his hands on my head to give me a blessing, the most amazing calm feeling came over me.  I know how real the Priesthood power is and being able to receive guidance from my Heavenly Father, because He's the only one who knows exactly what I'm going through at this time, gave me the boost I needed.  For the first time in several weeks I feel like I have what is required to finish my mission.

  Realization #2: people have their free agency.  On Sunday morning, Sister Kolb and I sat in the "principal's office."  Actually, it was Bishop Bourgeois office.  A few more events have taken place in the recent convert MIA story, but again that will have to wait.  Either way, people have their free agency and no matter how hard it may be for me to accept that fact, it's all up to them.  I may have a hard time dealing with their decisions, but in the words of Bishop Bourgeois, "keep the faith, you're doing fine."  Without a doubt I feel that was an inspired statement on his part.  I'm keeping the faith and doing fine because no matter how many people CHOOSE not to listen to the message I have been called to share, every time someone says "no," my testimony grows stronger.  That may sound contradictory, but it is so true.  Hearing that little word gives me the desire to share with them all that I know so that they too can experience the same happiness.

  Realization #3:  speaking of "happiness," Sister Kolb and I were able to go to the temple today with the Hermanas.  Sadly, we didn't arrive on time to do a session, but for the first time I was able to participate in a sealing and I think I have a new favorite part of the temple.  Giving people the opportunity to be sealed to their families FOREVER was the most amazing feeling and thinking about the concept of "forever" is mind boggling.  The feeling continued when we took a few minutes to sit in the celestial room, realizing that the room I was in should be the goal of every person and every family.  Who wouldn't want to be with their families for eternity?  If you know anyone who doesn't, please send them my way so I can have a chat with them.  Even hours later that concept is still boggling my mind and I'm okay with that kind of thought "boggling" it.

  Realization #4:  baptisms are grand.  On Saturday S**** got baptized and everything went according to plan except for one thing:  the maintenance guys forgot to mention that they turned the temperature up on the water heater.  When Bishop steped in, he immediately got out because it was so hot.  After several minutes, some ice, and some pots of cold water, it was cool enough to go ahead and perform the ceremony.  It's not a baptism without a little adventure!

  On Sunday we met with one of our newer investigators and were able to commit him to baptism on August 1, along with CJA.  What a great day that will be!  I love baptisms and firmly believe that everyone should experience one.  (Performed by the correct authority, of course.)

  Well, that's the end of my major realiztions.  I'm pretty sure there have been more, but I can't think of them right now.  I'll save them for another letter so you can get the inside scoop of the inner workings of a Sister Missionary's mind.  Lucky you!  To summarize: the gospel's true and I love it!
    

    Hugs!
                   Sister Sara

D is for Discouragement

Dear Family and Friends,

Another week has ended in Illinois and I'm pretty sure it's been on the hardest weeks of my mission. Don't start worrying about me, but mission life is bound to get stressful every now and then. Besides, where would the thrill be if I didn't get hit with the occasional curve ball?

The first discouragement of this past week came when we stopped by one to visit one of our investigators. It had been several weeks since we'd seen her last so it was decided to try one more time and then maybe leave it alone for a while. Her husband-an inactive member-came to the door and promptly told us his wife is no longer interested in learning. To any missionary, especially when the investigator is progressing so well, that's a slap in the face. We walked away with me shaking my fist in his general direction.

I'm not sure if it's a blessing or a curse, but I'm a very persistent girl. Those words came from her husband and I'm not going to stop trying until I hear those words from her. Bishop Bourgeois has told us several times to never give up if someone has even the slightest potential. So, just call me a squeaky wheel.

The next discouragement came in the form of our recent convert, Josh. Along with our investigator, he's been MIA for the past 2 weeks despite many calls and visits to his house. One day Sister Kolb and I decided to divide and conquer: she'll call him one more time and I'll leave him another note. The phone rang and a very shocking message was heard in Sister Kolb's ear, one not appropriate for missionary ears. Let's just say she hung up the phone in a hurry! Driving away, one thought kept running through my mind: "What is going on with the world?!" A few days later we actually got in contact with Josh, but it's too crazy of a story for me to write so I'll have to fill you in later.

I am a persistent missionary, but I also tend to take things very personally and usually end up blaming myself in the process. So even though I know that free agency is a blessing and am constantly telling people that, sometimes it gets in the way of my ultimate goal. However, for all of the struggles that we are given in this life, Heavely Father also makes sure that we are blessed for enduring those trials. For example, on Sunday afternoon, a member came up to us and said that her nephew wants to get baptized. Yay! I've been in this area for 4 months and thinking about all of the people who have been baptized, I realize that they were practically handed to me. It's nothing I did, except following the spirit, but these members were definitely prepared-despite some of them getting their own personal curve balls.

Other blessings are being able to work with some amazing members and feeling their love for us. (I've adopted myself into several families.) On Friday night we went over to the A's for dinner and to teach their son C.J., who will be getting baptized next month. He has a little sister and not to toot my own horn, but she absolutely loves Sister Kolb and I. We knocked on the door, her little face appearing in the window within seconds. She sees we have arrived and starts screeching, "The sisters are here! The sisters are here!" It was almost like the American's shouting, "The British are coming, the British are coming!" Except in a much higher octave. She ran upstairs and Sister kolb and I stood on the front steps for several minutes wondering what to do. Obviously, they knew we had arrived so should we knock again? I gave a light knock and fortunately someone soon let us in.

This was my first 4th of July away from home, with Sister Kolb and I both panicing that no one would take pity by inviting us over to lunch or dinner. However, that was a needless worry because we had a lovely lunch with the C***/F******* family and then had dinner with the C****'s. The Elders also joined us, having permission for all of the missionaries in the area to go to the Navy Base to watch fireworks. It was fun, but I missed the thrill of sitting on the lawn, feeling the vibrations of the explosions and smelling the smoke. I'm already looking forward to next summer and plan on taking full advantage of this fireworks holiday.

I've been quite proud of myself these past few months for gaining a new sense of boldness. In this job it's a requirement, but sometimes I'm not always willing to do it. Each week, we try to request a list of less active Relief Society sisters who might want a visit from us. We managed to track one down on Monday evening, one who willingly admitted to being less active. Before I knew what was happening, the words, "would you mind me asking why you're less active" popped out of my mouth. I was shocked and so was Sister Kolb. She told me later that when those words came out, she was wondering if that was even legal. Yep, it is. She gave her explanation and then said she would like to start coming to activities again! Her husband isn't a member so we're hoping that maybe he would like to hear our message.

Wow. I just realized how long this letter is and that I only have a few minutes to give President Doll his weekly update on the work. (By the way, we met him and his wife. They seem nice, but I'm already missing the Stoddards. I'm still not used to the idea, but it'll happen eventually.) In closing, the work is going well and I'm enjoying it all, the blessings and trials. Whatever I'm given, someone must know I can handle it. I love you all! The gospel's true!

Sister Sara

Life's an obstacle...get over it!

Dear Family and Friends,

To forwarn you, this letter is going to be nothing exciting as it has been one of those weeks where nothing really thrilling happens. I'm sure most are surprised to hear/read that kind of statement from a missionary serving in such an exotic location (can you also read the sarcasm?) but it is prone to happen. So let's see if I can come up with enough "breaking news" to make this email worth both our time......Ummmmmm.........Okay, I thought of a few. Drumroll please.....

*At our appointment with CJA last week, he told us that he's decided on a date for his baptism: August 1. I was hoping that it would be sooner, but I'm happy as long as the big event takes place before transfers.

Sidenote: you have no idea how awkward it can be to teach the Law of Chastity to a 14 year old boy, his 6 year old little sister, and the parents! Thank goodness the Church forsaw this awkwardness and has published phamplets on the subject. I think the most important thing we can do with this kind of topic-or any serious matter-is relate it back to families and how important they are in Heavenly Father's plan. To emphasize this point, the Family Proclamtion is a lifesaver!

*Since being on a mission and having my reading material limited, reading things such as the Ensign has become a "dear diary moment" each month. On Monday Sister Kolb and I were with Sister Clark, having a final lunch with her before she heads to Utah for a family reunion. Sister Clark gave us some issues of Church News and I was shocked to read that the Angel Moroni on top of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple (did I spell that right?) was struck by lightning! It was crazy to see the picture, but wonderful to get some information about the outside world, even if it is just church related.

*Each morning, except Sundays, we are required to do at least 20 minutes of cardio exercise. To do this and still get to study on time, Sister Kolb and I have started waking up 5:45 to be back to the apartment by 6:30. I'll tell you true: standing on the elliptical every single morning with not even music to entertain me-just the thoughts in my own head-can get pretty aggravating and monotonous. Tuesday morning I walked into the gym, took one look at the machine and said, "I loathe you!" Except for the testimony which I am constantly bearing, I don't think there has ever been a truer statement.

Well, that's all I can come up; the week wasn't as boring as I thought. My fingers are crossed you will also agree. Oh, today we meet our new Mission President and his wife: President and Sister Doll. We'll see how that goes and I'll report on it next week. Until next time, remember the Gospel's true and that you've got a lonely Sister Missionary who loves finding letters in the mailbox!

This is Sister Sara Waters reporting live from the Gurnee Library, signing out!

Hugs!
Sister Sara