April 22, 2012

Two letters in one week!! Bonus.

Hello family & people on my blog.

Greetings from up North.  Another wonderful week has passed and I have realized something.  Missionary work is work!  It is so crazy how things happen. 

We (Sister Doria and I) have been pretty busy this week.  We have done so much service for the members in our ward.

 Brother and Sister Jones are from Wales.  They both have really amazing accents and they are so very kind.  Brother Jones had a heart attack and is still recovering from surgery.  He loves sneaking cookies and cake when his wife isn’t looking.  They are such a sweet older couple.  I could spend hours listening to Sister Jones talk (tales of Wales – didn’t mean that rhyme – and all their fun adventures).  We cleaned her windows with a secret recipe.  Vinegar & water, with a little soap.  Works so much better than any store bought product.  You should try it.  They fed us “bunwiches”.  Merely a sandwich on a bun instead of bread. 

More window cleaning at the Binsteads!  I learned the other day that I have been saying their name wrong for 6 weeks.  How embarrassing.

There are more, but let’s just say my cleaning skills have reached an all-time high.  (I can’t wait till she gets home to help me clean!!)

Wonderful things are happening here in Victoria!!

Monday 4/16/12:  We had a call to repentance from our zone leaders about obedience.  Read 3 Nephi 6:5, Moroni 8:25 and D&C 72:3-4.  Things our zone really needs to work on.

We had a wonderful dinner with a family in the ward & their neighbor!  Ah!  They are our family from Pakistan and so are so wonderful.  Tonight he said, “I want to know which religion is true, mine or Mormon.”  Of course, we knew the answer to that!

Tuesday 4-17-12:  Happy Birthday, Abby!!  (Sister Saal’s niece who turned 2.)  We were eating dinner at Dairy Queen (we felt inspired to go there – don’t laugh) and we saw one of our investigators walking outside with her daughter!  We had been trying to get a hold of them for a week now!  We ran outside to talk and set up an appointment.  Even more miraculous, our food was still there when we returned inside!

Wednesday 4-18-12:  We had a super great district meeting today.  Elder Takabori is our new district leader.  Let’s just say, we have to sustain our leaders, right?  On the positive note, he gave a really good district meeting. 

Thursday 4-19-12:  Miracles never cease!  Mormon 9:15, Moroni 7:30-38.  Throughout the scriptures everywhere!  God is a God of miracles, I can testify of that.  However, faith precedes the miracle.  We did so much service today and I felt like God has been so merciful.  We went to the a member's home to clean and eat pizza.  Their son is super crazy!  He absolutely loves me.  He tries to climb all over me and I have to push him off.  We can’t have children sitting on our lap, so I get super paranoid whenever I am around him.  He is so funny, though.  I may adopt him.  We taught one of our recent converts about patriarchal blessings and he really wants to get one.  One of our investigator families had us over again today!  We wanted to see them before they headed to Vancouver for the Sink (?) celebration (not sure what this is).  Such an amazing lesson.  We talked about the power of the Book of Mormon.  He told us about a dream and wanted us to interpret.  He was standing between two worlds.  Both were awesome, but one was slightly better.  He had a BoM in his hands.  He was about to go to the one that was more desirable, when something dark grabbed the back of his shirt.  That is when he woke up.  Awesome, right?  It is so true.  We got on the subject of transfers & we said how we could be leaving in 5 weeks.  He was sad.  He said they thought of us like family.  They wanted to call President Tilleman to tell him to let us stay.  Another investigator is just waiting till her family comes over from India, said “Ok, they are leaving in 5 weeks.  You should get baptized in 3 weeks.”  She grabbed the calendar.  “May 10^th.  Sound good?”  I was so happy, I felt giddy inside.  The mom agreed right away, but the dad was a little more hesitant.  He said he would pray & read the BoM.  He also asked us to pray for him.  We have no doubt they will be baptized on May 10^th.  Honestly after that lesson, I wanted to cry I was so happy!

Friday 4-20-12:  More service!  Really great lesson with a less active.  Mom, do you remember that guy we saw asking for money on the way back from Girl’s Camp?  He was so close to home & we gave (you gave) him money.  We both got in the car and bawled ‘cause he reminded us of Tyler (who was in China at the time)?  I shared that story and cried again.

Saturday 4-21-12:  Saturday!  We met with our single mom today, and her boys.  They are so cute.  One was wearing a Batman costume.  We taught them using a picture book, more about Christ & His life.  We were also able to get in her house and help her clean.  It was really good.  She has really been opening up to us.

Sunday 4-22-12:  I love Sundays! Out here they are especially good.  We have been having great weather!  Sunny and upper 60’s F.  We were able to drop by some LA (less active) members.  None were really interested, but it was good to get to see & know of them.  We had dinner at the ward mission leader’s home.  Supper was good, dessert was also good.

I am so glad to be up here!  I know this is where I need to be.  I am so happy I have met all these people.   Read, Ponder and Pray.  Choose the Right.  Feed the missionaries.  Oh yeah, & write me!  

Love, Sister Saal

April 16, 2012

Snail Mail letter from Sister Saal!!  Yippee!!

Hello!  So sorry to have taken so long to write you.  I never know how long it takes for letters to get to you. By the time you read this, it will be old news …

One transfer down … woot, woot!  Crazy how time goes by.  I am still in beautiful Victoria with Sister Doria and we are loving it.  So many amazing things are going on here.  The gospel is spreading like crazy and we are seeing so many miracles.  Please continue to pray for the missionary effort that is going forth.  Joseph Smith once said, “Our missionaries are going forth to different nations.  The standard of truth has been erected.  No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine,  armies may assemble, calamity may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purpose of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say, ‘The work is done.’”  How true that is.  I am seeing it first hand!  I love it.

Talking to people about the gospel is a lot easier than I thought it would be.  It makes me happy to see people accept.  It breaks my heart when they deny.  Sister Post said they aren’t denying me, they are denying Christ.  At first, that made me feel good.  Yeah, I am not being denied.  But then Sister Doria pointed out how sad that is.  I agree!  How can people do that?  It makes me cry.  I would rather have them deny me!

Well, those who have not denied:

I think I have told you about our family from Sudan.  They are all so cute and progressing well.  We are trying to get them out to church. 

Our investigator from India is so sweet.  She has been attending church for the past 4 years.  Still not baptized, but she is waiting for her husband to come over from India.  She is living with a member and is so great!  She actually gave us a referral. 

We have a family we are teaching from Pakistan.  They are so loving meeting with us.  They are excited to learn more.  The father met with the missionaries in Germany years ago and was months away from being baptized.  So exciting.

The last one I want to tell you about is a single mom with 6-year-old twin boys.  She has no religious background but is excited to learn more.  Her sons are, too.  They came to church with us Sunday and all had a wonderful time.  They are so fantastic.  We are going to try to meet with them twice a week.

The members here are so great!  We have had the opportunity to go to dinner at members’ homes with members whom we thought hated missionaries.  More and more people are starting to trust us, which means, more and more people will trust us with their friends.  I have yet to see a baptism, but I am not giving up hope.  The Lord will provide.

We are super excited because hopefully Wednesday we will be going back to the main land (we were there Thursday for transfers) to have a giant conference with President Tilleman!  He is recovering so quickly!  It honestly is a miracle, and it is through Christ and President Tilleman’s faith.  He has so much faith.  (Shortly before Sister Saal arrived in Vancouver, President Tilleman was visiting with some investigators.  He stood up to leave, and the investigator’s dogs attacked him and bit him on his hands.  Apparently he lost quite a bit of blood, passed out and hit his head on a cement wall.  He had some real troubles after that, but it sounds like he is recovering nicely.  That’s why he has on the neck brace in Caitie’s  “Welcome to the mission home” photo.)

That is about it for me… I love you all.  Read, Ponder, Pray.  Feed the missionaries.

Love, Sister Saal

A new week

April 18, 2012

No "snail mail" letter from Sister Saal this week, but here's a recap of her email:

All is well in Victoria.  One of her companions, Sister Post, was transferred to White Rock, British Columbia.  That leaves Sister Saal and Sister Doria to carry on the work in Victoria.  She enjoyed the Easter Program in their ward, which, according to Sister Saal, is the best ward on the island.

She sent a few pictures:

Sisters Post, Doria, and Saal.  All three attended Utah State. Go Aggies!!

Sister Saal's first district

 

Sister Saal and Elder Scott on the plane to Vancouver



Pointing to Washington state from Mount Doug



Sisters Post, Doria and Saal.  Saying goodbye to Sister Post

Sisters Saal, Post and Doria hiking on Mount Doug



Sister Saal!!!!

 Please take a minute to write to her.  She would love to hear from you.

March 26, 2012

Here's the latest from our favorite missionary.


March 26, 2012

Dear friends and family –

I don’t have all that much to say this week.  Forgive the poor handwriting.  Me and my companions are feeling much better.  Thank you for any prayers offered in my behalf.  The CVM (Canada Vancouver Mission) is the best mission out there.  Obviously we are all on the same team, but BC is wonderful.  If not for the weird health care system, I would totally move here.  Since the mail takes forever, ok, like one week, I am going to put dates up as well – only on the important things.  This week we have been visiting a lot of less active members in the ward.  A few people have shut the door in our face.  We have been yelled at, cursed at, and kicked out.  With all that going on, I still love it!  We had a chance to offer them the greatest gift ever and they chose not to accept it.  I did all I could do.  We have to make sure to get the name of the church in.  We have a lot of JW’s up here (Jehovah’s Witnesses).  We have tracted into a few but they were semi-nice.  We had a nice conversation.

Other than that, we haven’t had anything huge happen.  Oh wait, two new investigators.  They are both 9 and so cute.  One is the daughter of our family from Sudan.  They have 3 other kids and all love learning about the gospel.  We have high hopes for them.  The other is the grandson of a LA (less active) and we are hoping it will help get both of them to church.  His parents aren’t ready yet, but hopefully soon.

Nothing more to report on.  Life is really good.  I am learning so much about myself.  My strengths, my weaknesses, my fears, my joys.  It is amazing what happens when you stop to listen to what the Lord has to say.  You learn so much. 

Sorry this one is short.  However, I ran out of time. 

In conclusion:

1.       Pray, Pray, Pray!!  He wants to hear from you!

2.       Read your Book of Mormon!  So much light & truth is found in there!  Don’t let it gather dust.

3.       Reach out to ward members!  You never know who needs a helping hand.

4.       Build your foundation.  Don’t be like the foolish man when the rain comes down.

5.       Feed the missionaries!!

I love you all and would love to hear from you.  I get my letters 1 or 2 times every 6 weeks.  Slow process, but it makes me smile.

Love you all – Sister Saal

March 19, 2012

Newest letter from Sister Saal:

March 19, 2012
Hello once again from Victoria! Seriously, I want to move here! You would love it up here. Plenty of outdoor adventure mixed with a “big city”! It is great. The people here are wonderful as well. Gotta love them.
Some of our recent converts are doing amazing! Others, not so much.
We are teaching an 84 year old woman who was baptized in Feb. She is so sweet and so loving. When the missionaries met with her, she wasn’t interested. They went back a few months later and at the first visit, she wanted to be baptized. Seems to work that way. We drop an investigator for a while and they miss the spirit we bring. Woot!! Works for us. We read the Book of Mormon with her every week. Her daughter is great.
We have been teaching another recent convert. He has had, and still has, trial after trial and is still strong. He went to do baptisms at the temple two weeks ago and loved it so much. He is working on family history now. That is good for him.
We have a contact who is such a good guy. He has a habit he just can’t kick. Every time we meet with him, we ask him about it. Still can’t kick it. Super sad, but we still are working with him. One day!
We have been teaching another RC (recent convert, I think). He is a super solid 29 year old Chinese man. He doesn’t speak much English, but he has been so good with all the commandments. He is going back to China soon. Very sad.
We have some great investigators as well. One is a lady from India. Basically she is a member. She is waiting for her husband to come from India to be baptized.
We have a favorite family we are teaching - they are from Sudan and are so warm and loving. They have 4 little cute children - ages 2, 6, 8, and 10.  They are so cute. Tonight we really connected with their kids. They like to color with us during the lessons.  One is super funny. I was teaching him to pray tonight. He said I talk too much (he says that about everyone) but I am very pretty. The eight-year-old is a handful. He soaks everything in! You think he isn’t paying attention, but BAM!! He throws out all this knowledge. The oldest is just like her mom – a little sassy, but so very sweet. The dad is taking crazy classes and we are really trying to focus on his example for his kids. If they see dad do something, they will follow. The mom is a sweet woman. She thinks her English isn’t that great, but she is wonderful.
The three guys from Taiwan and Japan went to the YSA ward on Sunday and loved it! How wonderful they are. We have high hopes!
Another investigator is frustrating . She is super good, but she loves to bail on us! No Bueno! We are trying to get her some friends in the ward. I am sure that will help.
We are also teaching a YSA Chinese girl. She also feels the spirit, but doesn’t yet recognize it. I love Chinese people. They are so sensitive, now they just need a greater understanding.
We have another family we are teaching. We love them, but it is hard to love them sometimes. They had a baptismal date set, but it fell through. The grandma went back to Columbia for 2 months. Now the parents, want to wait. Their 8 year old daughter wants to be baptized so badly. They won’t get baptized til the grandma gets back. That’s cool, except they won’t come to church either. President Tilleman has been wonderful in working with them.
That is about it at the moment. We are meeting with a few people but not so sure how well it will keep going.
Victoria is so pretty. The weather is pretty crazy. As someone here said, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes.” It is so true. When we went tracting the other day, it was sunny. All of a sudden, it was snowing. 10 minutes later it was sunny but the wind was blowing. Wow! It gave me a headache, and a cold.
Which brings me to my next point. I was sick this past week! Worst cold ever! I honestly thought my head was going to explode. We didn’t do much finding because Sister Post and I were sick. We did as much as our bodies would allow. However, we are both feeling much better and are ready to get out there once more. We have seen miracles happen and we know it is by the Lord.
We love making Jacob Black and Twilight jokes. Twilight was filmed near here, you know! We always drive down a certain road and every time we keep our eyes out for Jacob. Hey, we could teach him. We were joking that vampires love our church because they already believe in eternal families. Ha Ha!! It is great fun. We love it so much.
I am super excited for General Conference. Watch it. Love it.
Write me!! Love you.
Sister Caitlin Saal