September 10, 2012 letter

Happy Grandparents Day! Sorry I am a day late, but I want you to know, I hope you had a great (fake) holiday! :) Love you both.

This week has been pretty crazy, but it has been pretty good. I will give you a little brief overview on the week. Sorry, there never seems to be enough time in the day. The ward is taking such great care of Sister Thayer and I. They are feeding us like crazy and they want me, I think I talked about this last week, to go in to a natural doctor for a vega-test. It will let me know if I am allergic to anything. Still waiting to hear back from the mission office.

We have had few lessons, but they have been great. I am excited to see how they turn out. Things are going well for the area, and I am learning a lot about myself. I know what it was talking about in Ether 12:27. Weaknesses are coming out, weaknesses I didn't even know I had. My job is to work on turning them into strengths.

Sorry this week is a lame letter. I will send a better one next week, hopefully along with a hand-written letter. Sorry it has been a while mom.

Love you all. Give the kids a hug for me next time you see them.

Read 1 Samuel 17. I love the story of David and Goliath. We all have our Goliaths we need to face.

Sister Saal 

September 3, 2012 letter

Hello family!

Yesterday was Labour Day and so the library was closed. I am thankful for that because I was able to rest a lot yesterday.

This past week was pretty rough. We were inside most of the time due to Sister Saal being sick. That is right. The antibiotic they put me on for my sinus infection made me sick to my stomach and I threw up a few times. Not a pretty sight. The ward here is so great and Sister Thayer took good care of me! I slept a lot and she was able to do some extra studies!

While I was able to sleep/ rest, I was able to learn a lot about me. One major thing I learned while being sick is how much the Lord really loves me. Last Sunday we had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting. Sister Thayer did amazing on her talk on the Power of Scriptures. I was humbled by my topic. It was an address given in the October 2011 General Conference entitled, 'You Matter to Him' by President Uchtdorf! I love that talk simply because it talks about how much God really does know and love us. I feel small at times. I feel SO inadequate. I feel like I won't make a difference. However, that is how Satan wants us to feel. He wants us to feel alone, and small, and worthless. And yet, Heavenly Father loves us so much! He feels our sorrows. He knows our pains. He loves us perfectly. He has created worlds without ends, and He wants to hear from me. I am one in trillions, and yet I matter to Him. How true that is. How strongly I have come to see that. I love that talk! I am so thankful for the tender mercy in being assigned to speak on it. It was an amazing learning experience for me and for that, I am so thankful.

Another thing I have been working on is applying the scriptures to myself. A friend wrote and told me about the experiences he had. I have really thought about that. I try to apply my name in the scriptures, but I never would have thought about putting myself in the shoes of a Roman Solider, or Judas. It is amazing how much we can learn if we really apply the scriptures to our life. 

I love receiving letters from people, and I sent out a bunch yesterday. Sorry mom and dad, next week I will send a hand written letter. I had so many I had to catch up on, and I am still trying to play catch up. I love you family. I am thankful for your love and support. I am thankful for all you do.

Sister Saal!

Read 2 Nephi 24:3! One of my faves!

August 27, 2012 letter

Hello family! (and friends)

It is a beautiful Monday here on the Island! I hope things are going well for you down in Utah. How is the weather? It has been nice here.

The biggest news that I have to share at this time - I went to the small town of Port McNeill on Wednesday to do an exchange with the North Island sisters. Honestly, it is a small town, 3,500 people-maybe? It is at the top of the Island and it is basically already winter there. It is so beautiful though! They have the World's Largest Tree Cancer! I took a picture. I will try and send some pictures when I can. It really is amazing here.

Anyway, we had a very amazing experience in Port McNeill. We had a lesson with a potential investigator. She is so amazing. She has been through a lot, but she has so much faith. We gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon to read and she said she would love to read it. The Book of Mormon changes people's lives. I am so thankful to be a part of that.

We found two new investigators this week, with the potential of like 5 more this. Keep this area in your prayers.

Sorry, I don't really have a lot at this moment. I am sick, again! YAY! Sinus infection came back and I went to the doctor's last Monday. Well, the medication is really not liking my stomach so I get to go back! Perfect right?! I will let you know how things go. One of these days I am just going to ignore the doctors and do what I think is best. Sister Tilleman doesn't think that is a good idea.

I love you all family so much. I am so thankful for your prayers and for your love. I hope things go well for you this week. And enjoy the time with the grand babies. Give them a hug and kiss for me. Don't let them forget me.

Love you.

Sister Saal

you should read: Alma 34! Great chapter.

August 20, 2012

Both Sister Saal and her companion stayed in Courtenay!!

This week has been good. Sorry it won't be very long. We had a baptism yesterday. A 10 year old boy was baptized and it was an amazing thing to be a part of. I am grateful for that chance to be a part of it. We have seen many miracles in the past week. Mostly meeting a lot of new people who are interested in the church. It is great.

I have to go to a doctor again. Lo and behold, my sinus infection came back. Awesome! So much fun hey?

Hey, do you remember that book, something about the Voyager? It has a lot of cool pictures. It was by James Christiansen. Hopefully you do. Megan loved that book. Well, we met someone up here who loves him. She has his artwork all over. Lo and behold, Sister Thayer knows him and it made an instant connection. She gave us some homemade organic soap to help with my eczema. A lot of people up here are really into being green and going organic. Has that happened in the states yet?

We are going to have a sisters conference with all the sisters in the mission in September. It is going to be amazing and I cannot wait.

Sorry, I have to go. Love you all so very much!

Sister Saal :)

Read and pray!

Read the introduction to the Book of Mormon. It is great.

August 13, 2012

Just letting you know, my letter will be pretty boring this week!

Happy Birthday papa! I hope your day was super awesome old man! Just kidding, you are not old. But really, happy birthday. I hope mom made you a cake or something. Eat a piece for me. :)

Things here are good. That was so kind of Sister Thayer (she wrote a letter to us telling us how wonderful Sister Saal is). I had no idea she sent you a letter. She is great. She is from Provo/Orem/St. George. Her family moved a round a bit. She wants to do fashion design, so she is super stylish. Makes me a little jealous, but as long as my mommy thinks I am special. I keep forgetting my cord or else I would email you pictures. I will remember one of these days.

Well, today we get our transfer calls. And thanks to the Elders, it will probably be at like 10:20 tonight if we get one. We find out if one is leaving, if both are, or if we both are staying. We have a feeling we will be staying, but we never know. It is a surprise. It is kind of exciting to find out what is going to happen.

That is fun to hear about your trip. I miss backpacking and camping. I think when I get home I am going to go out in the woods somewhere for like a week! No cell phone, no computer, no traffic. Just good ol' mother nature.

Courtenay is going well. We had a little slower week than we wanted. People used their free agency to cancel appointments. Frustrating, but I think Heavenly Father is just trying to teach me something.

Biggest news, I don't remember how much I said in my last email, but we have a baptism on Sunday. It is a 10 year old boy. His mom, his grandpa, and his sister are all less active. The mom and sister have been coming back with him. He is so excited for Sunday, and it is going to be a great day. I know this, because Satan has been working extra hard on making sure things don't work out. However, we have faith to move mountains.

Sorry I don't have more to share. I hope this letter finds you well. Sorry about the water main (we had a water problem at home). That is not fun. At least you have uncle Pat. Make sure he doesn't do anything to harmful though.  

Give the kids a hug and kiss for me!
Love you all.
Sorry, not feeling well today. Letter will be better next week.

Sister Saal.

p.s. I hope you get the card I sent papa.

August 7, 2012

Hello Family!

I was a little worried that you would be worried about me, but you won't even get this for a while. We were unable to email yesterday because of BC days! They have a lot of random but awesome holidays up here. I hope you have fun on your trip. I am a little jealous, but I think I am having a better time that you. :)

Courtenay is amazing! It is getting pretty warm and humid out there, but it is so good! I love the beauty, and boy is it beautiful! The mountains on one side, the ocean on the other. It is so green and it is simply amazing. I don't know how else to explain it, so I figure I would just get you really jealous of the wonderful place I am in.

We are seeing miracles here! We really are. We had an amazing almost lesson last night with a potential investigator and her husband. The Spirit was there and they are defiantly being prepared by the Lord. It was such a touching experience to see their hearts pricked as Sister Thayer and I bore our testimonies. Long story short, they want to meet with us again. Even though the husband was saying he wouldn't be here, his tone was telling us he would. It gets me motivated and excited to be in this part of the Lord's vineyard.

6 months ago tomorrow I was entering the MTC. It is incredible how time is flying. On Monday we will receive transfer calls. It is interesting to think that I have been in Courtenay for almost 6 weeks. It seems like nothing. It seems like only yesterday I was on the ferry headed back for the Island. I don't even want to think about how fast it will head from here. I am not ready to be done yet! Good thing I still have a year!! Ha ha!

I think you may have been gone before he dropped it off, but a friend of my bishop here lives in Farmington. He is in the Farmington South Stake, but he said he would drop some stuff off for me. Thankfully, I don't have to ship it home. I wish I knew their last names, but it is Bob and Marilyn.

I have been trying to take more pictures, but time gets away from me. I am sorry. I really need to send some out.

I hope work is going well. Miss the grand babies yet? Yeah, me too.

Sorry I have to get going! I sure do love and miss each one of you. Please write me! Tell my friends to write me!

Love you all.

Sister Saal

John 16:33!!!

July 30, 2012

Hello family,

Another week down, so one less to go right?! Ha ha. Not like I am counting or anything. I don't even know how long I have been out here in Courtenay. Seems like it has been years.

Things are going pretty well here. Things happen, but that is part of life right? The investigators we have been working with have yet to come to church. Ah, it is so frustrating! I think I mentioned that last week, so I will not talk more on it.

Big news from here! We have a baptism set for two days before transfers. We don't know if we will be transferred, but it is awesome that he wants to be baptized before one of us leaves. He is the cutest kid ever. He is 10 years old. His sister, mom, and grandpa are all baptized but less active. They are coming back to church (we are still working on the grandpa) and loving it. We are hopefully getting his older sister involved with the YSA. We are doing FHE Monday nights with the YSAs. Sometimes we have trouble teaching him, but he is super excited for the date. He is already telling all his friends. I will send pictures when I can.

I need to work on that. One of my goals is taking a picture everyday. I think I have taken 6 since I have been here in Courtenay. I need to work on that.

Life is full of ups and downs. We have been working with a lot of less active members who want to come back, but for some reason won't. It is hard to see that they have lost that joy and love they once felt. I want to give it to them. I want to share it with them. I can't when they don't want it though.

One thing that we talked about in District Meeting really hit me hard. We were talking about the Book of Mormon. I agree with Elder Holland when he said "For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.” How powerful! You should listen to that talk. It is Safety for the Soul by Elder Holland. We talked about the moment when we realized the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. It was amazing to listen to my fellow missionaries explain just a part of what makes them... well them!

I testify that it is true.

Please ponder that. When did you really see that the Book of Mormon is true?

I love you all. Have a wonderful week!

Sister Saal