March 11, 2013 letter

Greetings humans!

Haha. Funny story. There is a new member here that calls people humans and species and it is really funny. Every time we talk to him he says "Hi humans!" It is really funny.

Anyway, guess you would have to be there. It is funny to me.

So, life is really good in the mission field. I am still in Maple Ridge for at least 6 more weeks. It is good because there is so much going on here. I love it so much!

Biggest news! I am now a mom. I hope you like being grandparents, because you have a new granddaughter. Her name is Sister Dean. She is from Eagle Mountain Utah. She is pretty sweet. I like her. We are pretty similiar. She is a super solid missionary. She will be training after 6 weeks, I know it! How honored and blessed I feel to be able to train Sister Dean. She is a wonderful missionary with a very powerful testimony. It is amazing! She is always looking in her planner and seeing what we are to do next. It has been very easy to be exactly obedient with her, because both of really want to be exactly obedient. She is a wonderful missionary.

More big news, in the ward now there is a set of Sisters and a set of Elders! We are working close, but not too close, with the elders here in the ward. The ward loves them already. I am pretty sure they love them more than they love me! :) Nah, they have just seen me around for a bit longer!

This week was wonderful being able to see President Tilleman. We had 26 new missionaries come in this week, 11 of which are sisters! The spirit was so strong for the entire meeting! You could feel the "fresh meat" enegry fill the room. It was breath taking! I loved the training and I learned so much. One main thing I learned from Sister Tilleman,  we can't be too hard on ourself. We are serious about our sacred calling but happy about life. It seemed like the whole meeting was just for me. We could feel the angels in the room. It was very sacred. It is an honor to be here in the Canada Vancouver Mission under such amazing leadership. I love President Tilleman and I love being a missionary!

We have had a pretty good week. We set 3 baptismal dates this week! I feel really confident about them. One was with a man that we are going to have the Elders teach from now on. The other was a sister - she is so amazing! I love her so much!!!  The other is with a 10 year old girl. We have had a hard time getting her to come to church. We set a date with her in hopes that would help her come, and it did! She was there on Sunday with her parents! The church is so true.

I have been thinking a lot about what I want to happen with the rest of my mission. I still have a while, but the time is speeding up. One scripture that I just keep thinking about over and over is found in Jacob chapter 5. "And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: what could I have done more for my vineyard?" That is something that I have been pondering. What more can I do for the Maple Ridge Ward? What more can I do for the Canada Vancouver Mission? What more can I do for my brothers and sisters who are wandering in darkness? I want to "waste and wear out" my life in the service of the Lord. The tricky part is figuring how I am going to do that now. I have made some pretty good goals to work on and I know that with the Lord's help, I can accomplish it. I am so very thankful for the sacred responsibility I have to train a new missionary.

I just want you all to know how much I love you! I love our Savior and what He did for each one of us. I know that my life will never be the same after this amazing mission I am serving for the Lord. It is not even my time. It is His.

See you in less than 6 months! BAH!!

Love, Sister Saal

March 4, 2013 letter

I am wet. I am cold. I am tired. And yet...

Hello family (and friends)!

It sounds like amazing things are happening down there. We had about 6 days of rain followed by 2(hopefully more) days of sun. As I was doing my studies this morning the sun was shinning through the window and warming me. I have missed the sun, A LOT. I am praying that it continues to get warmer and we get rid of this rain nonsense. I want the sun! With that being said, I have such an amazing story to tell you about the rain (hence the title of this email).

I thik this has been one of the best weeks of my mission! This week was so full of miracles that I don't know where to even begin! We have transfer calls tonight, but we already know Sister Duffy is leaving. President Tilleman told us that, along with the fact that Sister Brown and I will both be training. Where we will be training is the mystery. So, with Sister Duffy leaving soon, we have been trying to get a lot done so we are up to speed (she has been here about 10 months and really knows the area). We went through and organized the potentials and separated them into streets. On Friday, when Sister Duffy was in Richmond at Zone Leaders Council, Sister Byam from Surrey, needed a companion and came here to be with us. We took a sister from the ward out with us to do splits. She is 19 and is going on a mission soon. Well, we split up to accomplish more. At first, the day looked bleek. It had been raining for days and it was coming down hard. Not the best weather to be walking around in. At first, I thought about being at home by a fireplace drinking hot chocolate. But, since I am serving a mission and all, and that would be apostate to sit around and do nothing, we got to work. I had the chance to go with Erin first. My attitude completely changed. As we were walking down the street an overwhelming feeling came over me. I was cold. I was wet. I was tired. And yet, I have never been happier. I loved walking in the rain to share the gospel with my brothers and sisters. By the end of the day I had been walking around in the rain for nearly 7 hours. I was soaked from head to toe and to the bone. However, joy filled every inch of my body and I was no longer cold. The Spirit warmed my soul. It seemed like the best way to help lift my spirits. At that moment I really understood how much this is not our work. It is our Heavenly Father's work and we need to recognize that. For that day I gave up my thoughts and feelings, my will, and served the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. And He has blessed me profoundly for it!

Giving up my will completely is something that I have been really working hard on. It seems to get easier day by day. The love that the Saviour has for me seems to radiate through my entire body! Oh how great is my joy!

Another miracle I want to share with you is about yesterday. Since it was fast Sunday my companions and I did a special fast for President Tilleman. It was a mission wide fast. Many of our friends told us they would be at church, but by the start of Sacrament meeting, no one showed. It was a little heartbreaking. However, after the prayer and while the Bishopbric was talking, a woman showed up. She had texted us a few days before and had to cancel the church tour, but told us she wanted to come to church. She showed up and sat by us. Then, another investigator showed up with his fiance who is a member. Then a family showed up! They are good friends with a family in the ward, and the mom is a member from the Phillipenes! We set up a dinner appointment to eat with both families. Then a woman and her son showed up. She only speaks French, but we have two sisters in the ward who speak French! One of the sisters gave her a church tour and explained a bit about our church.This lady lives across the street from the church and Sunday morning she just decided to bring her son to church! After Sacrament it was crazy busy trying to talk to everyone, but we were able to meet each non-member who was there. We gave one a tour of the church and she loved it! We invited her to be baptized and she said yes!  My joy is full! So many miracles are happening and I don't know if I can handle all this, much less deserve all the miracles coming our way. I love being a missionary!

My companions are so wonderful and so amazing. I am truly blessed to have them as my companions. I know that they are helping me learn and grow and become better. I have really enjoyed this time that I have gotten to know them. I know that whatever happens with transfers this week, my life is changed for the better because of them. I am so thankful for the miracles that have been brought to pass because of our hard work. God has not ceased to be a God of miracles! For that, I am so thankful.

As for me, life is really good. Things are going so much better for me, and I am thankful for the strength and suport the Lord gives to me. I have felt His love so much lately and I am so thankful for that! He loves His children so much! I love His children so much!

I love you family! Thanks for all you do for me.

Love, Sister Saal

Missionary Pictures



Sister Saal at the Vancouver Temple

Sister Brown, Sister Duffy and Sister Saal at the Vancouver Temple.
"One of the best days ever on my mission" says Sister Saal
 

Sister Nuttall, an investigator and Sister Saal

Sister Saal and one of her favorite missionary families.

February 25, 2013 letter

Dear Family (and friends) -

 

Another week has come and gone! I hope you are enjoying the cold weather. It is a little chilly here. No snow. Lots of rain. I hope that I don't walk a hole in my rain boots before the end of the season. That would be unfortunate.

 

Really quick, we ran out of time last P-Day so I will be sending the pictures this week. I hope you are ready, they are good pictures! :)

 

This week has been epic. We taught like 17 lessons this week, 10 of which with investigators. The work is speeding up and it is soon going to become quicker. President Tilleman came to a few lessons with us on Thursday. He gave us a little inside information about transfers. This transfer is only 5 weeks instead of 6. Talk about stressful. Everything that we need to do has to be done a week earlier. We have been keeping very busy. It is really nice because it keeps us focused and helps us not "get lazy" as Sister Duffy would say. Another update about transfers! We have 11 sister missionaries coming in this transfer. We have about 15 English speaking sisters right now, with two going home. How crazy! We are going to basically double in one day. Plus, with all the new missionaries and the new rules with the MTC, we will be getting missionaries coming here in between transfers. The Lord is hastening the work and I hope I can keep up. Shortly, as President Tilleman said, I will be in charge of a new missionary.

 

Our investigator in Courtenay was baptized this weekend! As sad as I was not to be there, she entered into a covenant with our Father in Heaven and that is all that matters. I love being a missionary. I love seeing how much the gospel changes lives! It has changed mine forever.

 

I had the opportunity to go on an exchange and go to Abbotsford with the sisters down there. They are both great missionaries and I am blessed to be around such amazing sisters. We had a lesson with a couple that invited us in right away. They are Bahai. We were talking to them and then a knock came on the door. It was their pastor or preacher or whatever they have. Well, we got into a heated discussion (heated on his side. Contention is of the devil so we refused to be contentious) and he was trying to prove us wrong. Finally we had to go in for the night anyway, so we just left. It ended on a good note and the wife was really interested to learn more. The sisters will be going back, though the preacher promised he would not be there.

 

There is not much else I can think of. I seem to be just SOOOOO tired all the time. I feel like I could take a 72 hour nap and still be tired. It is an amazing feeling at the end of the night when you are trying to say your prayers and your mind won't stay focused. That is proof that you did a lot that day!

 

Love you family. I know this is true. I know it can change your life if you let it. Test out Moroni's promise in Moroni 10:3-5. Read the Book of Mormon. Pray about it with real intent. Let it change your life.

 

Love you.

 

Sister Saal.

 

I love you papa! You are the best. I couldn't ask for a better dad.

February 18, 2013 letter

Hello family (and friends)!

Sounds like everything is going really well at home. It brings tears to my eyes to hear you say what an example I am to the kids (a niece and two nephews who just ADORE Sister Saal). I hope that I am, and I hope that I am an example to those around me as well. I thank you all for your prayers and love in my behalf. It means the world to me.

Missionary work is hard! No surprise! However, it is the best thing that I have chosen to do. I know that this is where I need to be because I see lives changing multiple times a day. I love this gospel and there is no way that 56,000 young adults are spreading false things! It just doesn't make sense.

This week has been pretty busy. We are very richly blessed here in Maple Ridge. This past week we found 5 friends that want to learn more about the gospel. Some days we forget to schedule a time to eat, we are that busy. However, I am making sure to eat my fruits and vegetables. I feel weird just sitting still at this moment. I feel like we should be running around.

A little about the area;

-Our contact (in Courtenay) is getting baptized on Saturday! I am so excited for her. I am coming back when she goes through the temple in a year.

-We are working with 4 people who have entered into the waters of baptism in the past 6 months! They are so great and so strong. I didn't know them before, but by the sound of things, their lives are completely different. I know that is what the gospel does for people. It changes lives. Especially the Book of Mormon. I invite each one of you to read from it every day this week and pray about the message! It is so true!

-I have learned to rely on my Saviour so much more. I have learned that I cannot do anything without Him. Even getting up at 6:30 every day! I need Him! I see my faults and I am humbly trying to work at being better. I know that it is only with His help that I can become "a new creature".

- I have two wonderful companions who love me. Things get stressful at times, but we are working together to become the best missionaries we can be. Sister Duffy, she has been out for 3 months longer than me, really pushes me to become the best I can be. I am so very thankful for it! I know of her love for me. I feel it.

-I am so thankful for the experience I have been having here to help build my faith. I was reading over some notes from a Zone Conference and something President Tilleman said really stuck out to me. He said "Don't waste your time trying to figure out if the church is true; just go to work and you will see that it is." I loved that! It hit me hard. There have been a lot of people talking about Joseph Smith being a Free Mason. I am not entirely sure what that means, and at first it made me doubt a bit. I stopped myself. I know that the church is true. I see that as I go out among my brothers and sisters. I go out to work and I know without a doubt that this is the only way to return to our Father in Heaven again. I love it. I don't have to know everything now, I just have to share the things I do know and trust that the Lord is on my side. I love this work.

I want to leave my testimony with each one of you. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have read it. I have prayed about it. I know that it is true. I am a 22, almost 23, year old girl. I go out and I knock on random peoples door to tell them about God and Jesus Christ. How strange is that? It is not though! Because I know how much this message can bless people lives. If I didn't believe with all my heart, I wouldn't be out stopping people on the street.  I know that Jesus is the Christ. He came to this world in love to redeem all people from the Fall. If we but use His Atonement, we can be healed. I don't remember if I shared this, but I still love it! 3 Nephi 17:7 "Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy." No matter what we have gone through, are going through, or will go through, Jesus Christ can heal us!  How wonderful it is to have a Saviour that we can turn to. It has brought me a lot of comfort.

I love you all family. Again, I am so thankful for the prayers and thoughts on my behalf. These are received with a warm heart and open arms.

Until next time:

Cheers

Sister Saal

February 12, 2013 letter

Hello family (and friends)!

Greetings from Canada. It seems to be getting colder here, not warmer. It is sad. I just want spring to be here. However, it will come soon enough. I am sure you still have like 8 inches of snow! :) Ha ha.

What a wonderful day it has been thus far. Probably the best morning of my mission so far! We just finished up a session at the temple, which is like a 20 minute drive from our apartment, and I am so thankful for the time that I was able to spend there. What a wonderful place to feel the Lord's love. The whole time I just had an over-whelming, over-powering, over-excited feeling that covered me from head to toe. I sat in the Celestial Room and tears came to my eyes as I thought about this amazing place, the house of the Lord. What a wonderful work that happens with-in the walls of the temple. Thoughts about an eternal family soared through my mind and I know without a doubt that this is the only place where families can be sealed together. I am thankful my parents were sealed in the temple to have their kids with them for eternity. Sorry, you are stuck with us. :) How wonderful it is to have the priesthood back on the earth. I can't imagine my life without it.

This week was pretty good. We had a lot of lessons set up with potential investigators, but they all fell through. It was a bit frustrating, but it is something that we are learning more about. When someone doesn't show up, someone else needs us. That has been my attitude. I have been really trying to stay positive. So far I feel like I am doing really well.

I am so sorry I forgot to talk about my companions. How rude of me. I am in another tri. Sister Duffy has been out about 3 months longer than me. She is from Arizona and graduated from BYU to do history teaching. We get along pretty well. She was companions with Sister Doria, my mom, for 7 and a half months! wow. Crazy! My other companion is Sister Brown. She has been out about 6 months. She is super sweet and really catching hold of missionary work. She is from Rexburg/Brigham City.

Sister Duffy is the district leader of the Sister's district, something new President Tilleman is doing. She went down to work with the sisters in Abbotsford yesterday so I had a chance to work one on one with Sister Brown. She is a fantastic missionary, and I see a lot of myself in her. She is a hard worker and loves to go out and get things done. It was different to be the senior companion. I have never been the head hancho in charge. I learned a lot about myself and my commitment to the Lord.  

We had a miracle last night. We had some time before a dinner appointment and we prayed about where we should go. We felt impressed to go and see a potential investigator who was unable to meet with us Sunday. We knocked on the door and her "other-half" was walking out of the door and said she was upstairs. She told us to come on up. She had read through the pamphlet and we talked about Joseph Smith and the Restoration. She really liked what she had read in the pamphlet and she invited us to come back. It was a miracle. Not only was she interested, her daughter was also interested. We explained the Young Woman's program and she wants to come! It was a miracle and a tender mercy from the Lord.

One thing that I have really noticed is how tired I am! I seem to be tired all the time. It is not a bad tired at all. It is an exhaustion that seems to cover me from head to toe. I know that the harder I work, the more tired I get. I love it. I feel like when I get home I will sleep for 3 weeks straight.

It is official, I have been out for over a year. I know that the time seems to be going faster and faster. Soon enough I will be on a plane home. BOO!

I love you family!

Sister Saal

P.S. Wash your hands and say your prayers, cause Jesus and germs are everywhere!

February 4, 2013 letter

Hello family (and friends)!

Sounds like all is going well. I am jealous you got to be with the grandbabies. I miss them like crazy!

Well, my year mark happens this week. So crazy how time has flown by. Before you know it I will be home and bumming off mom and dad once again. 6 more months! We can do this!

Well, I bet you are all wondering about transfers. Before I tell you, It came as a surprise to me. But at the same time, I wasn't surprised. Can you guess yet? Maybe I will just tell you.

I was transferred! I am in the lower mainland in a place called Maple Ridge. It is a great area already and I have been here for less than a week. Best part is, on February 12th, I get to go to the temple! Sweet. it is an answer to my prayers. I have wanted to go to the temple for a long time now. And come next week, I will be there. President Tilleman was inspired to send me here.

Funny story, I am in the library right now and this little boy keeps saying "mommy, mommy, mommy" and crying. Put me off kids for a while. :)

We had a really neat experience yesterday that I would like to share. Saturday night we were calling potentials at the church, so we could use the cell phone and church phone. We called one and invited him out to church. He said he wanted to come, so we got him a ride. I honestly thought he was going to blow it off. Sunday morning we were in the library meeting only one of lots of new people. Our Ward Mission Leader came in and said Michael was there. We were really surprised, since none of us have actually met him. We went into the chapel and sure enough he was there. We introduced ourselves and he thanked us profusly, saying if we had not have called him, he would not have been there. He loved sacrament meeting. A lot of people came up and talked to him. After sacrament we gave him a church tour. We thought it was going to be rough because members were walking the halls and coming up and talking to us. However, the spirit was so strong there. He wanted to meet basically everyone that walked by. We taught him about the Apostasy using Amos 8. When we got to Joseph Smith, he asked if that was when the "famine" ended. We told him yes! He liked that. We also invited him to be baptized. He said yes! We set a date for the 23 of Feb. That is also Sister B's date in Courtenay. Please pray for them both! I love you family!

The work here is moving forward at a fast pace. I love it!

This truly is the Lord's work. I so testify!

Love,

Sister Saal