THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Letter From Dec 28

Thank you everyone for your cards and gifts! I am so grateful for all of you and your willingness to love and serve others. To those who sent Christmas cards, thank you! You're all so cute and happy.

So I had my first door slammed on us! It was quite the experience. It was a man we had talked to before. I guess he just really didn't want to offend us the first time and said we could come by some other time. When we went back, he opened the door, and then quickly slammed it shut. It was a great missionary experience.

So transfers happened, I'm in another trio! I will be Hermanas Vorkink and Rasmussen. Super excited! It's going to be another fun transfer and we're going to be working really hard! It's been so fun to be with Hermana Gomez. I have learned so much from her and am grateful for our time together.

I had another great experience this week! One day it was really really windy. It was crazy. We were doing our hour and a half of walking for the day and just trying to stay on the ground. As we are walking down the street, I get attacked from the back. A tumble week that went from my shoulders to my ankles attacked me from behind. It was really pokey and it hurt! But it was more just frightening and funny than anything. We were laughing really really hard. Then I had little pokeys stuck in my clothes on my back. It was not very fun, but very funny. If the wind was blowing any harder it would've pushed the tumble weed right through me. As we were walking down the street there was a little boy who was there the whole time. I had found another pokey as we passed him and exclaimed a quick ow. He then goes, "I tried to warn you." He was right in front of me the whole time and I didn't see or hear his warning. If I wouldn't been looking at what was right in front of me down the road a little ways, I possible could've missed being hit by 298579438 pokeys. What kind of things are standing right in front of you that could be warning you of something that is coming up from behind? Keep putting your faith in Christ and your minds held in your standards, and you will be able to avoid unwanted situations.

Have a great new years!!
love you all.
Hermana Sager

Hermana Sager at the happiest place on Earth (and it's not Disneyland)

Matching Christmas Jammies!!! with their Pinterest Christmas Tree 

Hermana Gomez trying to be taller than Sid 

FELIZ NAVIDAD

Letter from Dec 21

Hope you all have a great week. Eat a lot of candy for me... Ha, I'm doing that by myself, but still. Eat a lot of candy. and cookies!! And you can spend time with family and have the greatest time ever. That's what will make me happy. Remember to look for more ways to remember Christ's birth this Christmas. He's always there for you. That's why he was born! And many other reasons, but you can figure out all those other reasons on your own. 

This week we had a ward Christmas party. It was really fun! The Elder's had some investigators there and there was some less active families that came. It was awesome! Then at the very end, one of our investigators showed up. But it was still super awesome that he came! The little primary kids put on a nativity scene as they sang the primary song that goes, "Picture a baby in Judea.." It was really really cool! I liked it a lot. 

Luke 2:10-14

I hope you have the best Christmas ever. You're all great. Love you all!

FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Love,

Hermana Sager

a few words from our family letter

OH YEAH!! I just remembered that I went to the temple this week! It was so nice.  Super cool. The temple is seriously a little piece of heaven on earth. And then to think about how many temples there are on the earth? So many little heavens! Have you been to the temple recently? I encourage it. It's a great place to go to just forget about all things stressful and crazy. And it's where families are sealed together forever. I am grateful for you all. I pray that we will always be able to do the things required that we can be together in the Celestial kingdom forever. I love you all. 

Hermana Sager and Her companion Hermana Gomez
and the other sisters in her area at the Redlands Temple

Okay, so this Christmas I will be going over to one of our very sweet members houses after going to Sister  Palmer's for breakfast. It is at Hermana Cruz's house where I will be skyping you lovelies! Everything is figured out and I will be eating Tomales. Yum. Anyways. She has invited us to come over to skype at 3! So I think that's 4 at your time? Hopefully that works! On Christmas day. Super great. Super excited! 

Our Skype Session on Christmas!!  Love to see this happy beautiful girl!!

Our family all together on Christmas day!!! 

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

Letter from Dec 14

As we, Hermana Gomez and I, have been working together, and trying to be exactly obedient, we have been able to see the blessings that the Lord has for us and our area. We were able to find 11 new investigators this week from walking and talking, referrals, and former investigators. With each person, we have showed them the video of a Savior is Born. The message of the Saviors birth is so powerful, and reaches out to each person in an individual way. We will be focusing more now on how to work with each person to really help them progress. We had some more help from members this week, so we are going to keep working in the way that we have, and fixing still the things that we need to do better.

So I want to share with you some of the experiences I have had while sharing the video with others. We had showed up at a girls house this week that we hadn't been able to set up a time with. When we showed up, she had just like 15 minutes that we could talk with her. At the beginning, she was very frustrated and stressed. You could tell that she wanted us to talk fast so that we could leave. Throughout the video, and after, she had changed. She was calm. She was interested. She felt the converting power of the Spirit. She desired to learn more and really discover why the birth of our Savior is important to her and her life. She had invited us back to talk with her more about the Restoration. The video really does have such a power that works differently with each person. As you continue to share the video with your friends and families, invite them to discover why the Savior's birth is important to them.

The Saviors birth is important to me, because I now have a perfect example to follow. I have been baptized, I can repent, I can continue exercising faith, I can live with my family forever in God's presence if I continually learn the reasons why the Savior's birth is important to me. I am so grateful for everything that Christ did for us, and for all that he continues to do for us. Because He was born, I can have hope. You can have hope.

Love you all!
Hermana Sager


Few things from our family letter.

This week, Hermana Gomez was cooking something. I don't know what it was, but it started smoking, so we opened the door to the little porch for a while at lunch. Then we closed the door and went out to work for the door. When we came back home at night, I knelt down in my spot before praying to start planning. Well when I kneeled down, there was a rabid lizard on the floor like a foot and a half away from me. I was terrified. IT HAD BEEN INSIDE ALL DAY. At least I saw it. It was close to the door, and I panicked. Hermana Gomez was in the bathroom and so I didn't know what to do. I went and grabbed a cup and planned to catch it, but then I decided that my hand was going to get to close to it and it would climb up my arm. So then I got a chair and stood up on there, still just with a cup in my hand. Then I had a lightbulb over my head, and I remembered we had a broom. So I grabbed the broom, opened the door, and just swept the little guy right out. He was safe, I was safe, and Hermana Gomez didn't hear a thing. So moral of the story: Don't enter into to places or situations where you don't belong, because you'll just get swept out. But then I guess getting swept out is better than staying in where you don't belong.. Somehow the little lizard story can be related to the gospel and our standards. When you figure it out, you can let me know. It's really fun. I've learned how to relate many things to the gospel when talking to people off the street, so I thought that I would share my experience and let you try it.

This week I focused on Moroni 7:46. 

 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

As I continue working every single day, I need to cleave unto charity. Cleave is such a powerful word, and it takes a lot of work. But if I rely completely on the Lord and try to listen closely to the promptings of the spirit, I will be able to love all those that I am working with. I will be able to rely and trust in the fact that if I have charity and love for the people, then the Lord will allow everything to work out that he has planned.

Sid finally got her  SD card working again  so she sent several pics. 

Hermana Sager with Lake Elsinore in the back ground.

Hermana Sager and Hermana Gomez
Looks like H.Gomez has grown a little this week.

The Hermanas and The Sisters of Lake Elsinore on Thanksgiving morning.
(for SLC People notice the Tville Sweatshirt.)This girl an the boy in the front  are from
SLC and were visiting family in Sids area.  They are 2nd cousins of the Ivins family, friends of ours.
What a small world we live in. It was fun for Sid to have connection from home!

You're All Great!!

Letter from Dec 7

Sorry, no time for a group email today. But just wanted to remind you that you're all still so great and that my love for you is still the same amount.

How has it been trying to find people to share the "A Savior is Born" video with?
What have been some of your experiences?

Love you all!
Hermana Sager

Since Sid didn't have time for a group email ill give you some of our family email

It's December, and I love Christmas. I love it so much. It's so fun. It's so warm. It's so homey. It's so family-y. It's so lovey. It's so great. Especially when you are focusing more on the birth of our Savior. 

This week we had two different activities to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. One of them, was a little musical that the stake put on. The other was the first presidency Christmas devotional. If you didn't get to watch that last night, it's online, so you can watch it tonight for a Family Home Evening type of thing. It was really really good. Really short and powerful, and the music was wonderful! I loved all the talks, and they are great examples of how to remember Christ for Christmas. The musical that the stake put on was super good. 

So in our mission, we have the rule that we need to walk 1 1/2 hours everyday, or 7 hours per week. There were a couple days this week where we didn't have enough time to finish our 1 1/2. So there were 2 days were we walking over 2 hours to make up the lost time. It was a lot of energy, and our legs and feet were more tired than usual. But we saw such blessings from being obedient to fit in all the walking time for the week. One day we talked to 32 people during our walking time, and found some that were interested in having us back. It was super great! Also, we were able to find 7 new investigators for the week. I'm super excited to continue working with them, and to really help them to progress towards baptism. The whole mission has been struggling with helping investigators to progress, so that is something we are trying to focus on. It's just hard because a lot of the people we're working with right now only want to meet with us once a week. We're also trying to change that. 

This week I focused on Enos 1:4. 

 4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

When we put all our heart and efforts into our prayers, we really do have power to reach the heavens. We need to remember to pray to our Heavenly Father all the day long, and then again when the night comes. I have learned so much about the power of prayer, and I am so grateful for the role it plays in missionary work. Thank you for your prayers. Keep praying with faith for the things that you need help with, and I know that God will help you. 

Thank you for everything. You're all great. 

LOVE YOU!!!!

les amo. 

con amor,

Sid. 

Sid and her Cute new Companion Hermana Gomez

Ha nacido un Salvador

Letter from Nov 30

So the new video that came out? A Savior is Born. Pretty cool! We have been talking about it coming out for weeks, and it finally happened! We had been told that it had already been shared on Facebook in a bunch of different places even after being released just a few days. It has such a power message about the birth of Christ. I love it because it comes straight from the scriptures. I know that no matter the language, or the country, the birth of the Savior is just as powerful and important any where you go. 

We have been inviting members to think of people that they can share the video with. What the goal is, is to have members invite friends and family into their homes to watch the video for a Family Home Evening type of thing. I know that the powerful testimony of the birth of our Savior is a message that will touch the heart of anyone and everyone. I invite you to think of people specifically that you could invite to watch the video with you. It could be a way of sharing the love of God with others and possibly sparking interest in learning more about the steps that are needed in order to live with our Heavenly Father and Savior again. Pray to think of the people that the Lord is preparing. Share the love and the true meaning of Christmas. You're all great. 

This week we had a lesson by a fire. It was really cool. And really cold. It was 45 degrees and the fire started dying towards the end. But we taught la Restauracion. or if you can't tell, the Restoration. The restoration is really fun to teach, because each time we have to teach in a way that the person will understand. It's fun trying to understand exactly what parts need to be focused on more. The lesson by the fire went really well! The investigator understood everything and was really grateful for everything that we had taught. We invited him to be baptized, and he said he wants to follow Christ, but doesn't want to because he knows his wife wouldn't want to leave their religion. That's always a tricky situation. But maybe sometime in the future, he will have another opportunity to be baptized if he's really not ready now. We're still just working to find new people to teach. We've found a lot of interested people, but they're just not ready to change, or they are a little lazy to actually meet with us and do the things we invite them to. But that's okay. We'll find the ones who are really ready if we keep working. 

This week I focused on Mormon 9:27. " 27 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him."   I chose this scripture as a reminder to focus on listening to the words of the Lord. If I have any questions or anything that I need to know, all I need to know is ask Heavenly Father. We cannot doubt. We have to continue faithful, and believing in everything that we have learned. I need to remember to come unto the Lord with all my heart. I know that if I do so, we can find the people that we really need to be working with. I know that I will be able to learn the things that will best help me and that Heavenly Father wants me to learn. I am so grateful for all that I have learned, and for the scriptures. 

So this week, I will hit my 6 month mark. Super weird! I can't believe how fast time goes by. I hope you are all doing well, and you are enjoying your time during the holiday seasons! 

Love,

Hermana Sager

You can watch the video Sid is talking about by clicking here

https://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=email-IM_Christmas_112915_Image

If you would like to send Sid a Christmas card or handwritten letter her address is:
We would really love it if she could feel the love from home this Season!!!

Sister Sidney Sager
2088 east Lakeshore Dr. #717
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530


Sid's having trouble uploading pics so I thought I'd just add a few pics  from before she left

Love this Girl!!!! 

The night she opened her call.
She was so excited to find out she was serving the in California Riverside mission.

Lake Elsinore. Week 1.

letter from Nov 23

Being transferred is a really weird feeling! It kind of felt like I was leaving home all over again and restarting a mission. But this time I knew a whole lot more about my purpose, about how to do missionary work, and a whole lot more Spanish. It has been cool to see how I work without my trainer, and how much I really did learn from her. The part that has been the most different is coming from an area where the work was moving along really well! We didn't have very many investigators, and none that were super solid when I first came in here. We found a few more this week that we are going to start working with and I'm super excited! I am determined to get the work up here to the speed that it was in Hemet. I know that no area is better than the other to find people. Maybe it might be a little harder to find people here, but that just means that we need to work harder. Hermana Gomez and I are going to be working hard to pick up and maintain investigators. I have been following the council of Preach My Gospel, and praying for the ability to see more opportunities to share the message of the restored gospel. Yesterday, as we were getting out of the car to go up to a door, there was a family across the street. Instead of just walking up to the door, we went and talked with the family and have a return appointment. It's awesome how we can see the Lord's hand in the work, as we just go to the basics of what we are asked to do. I'm grateful for this chance that I have to work in a new area and learn more about what I need to do.

How bout this area though? It's a lot prettier than my awkward little Hemet. There is a lake right in the middle of the city. There is a cute old town and they have lights around the trees. It's so cute! But the Lake is really cool. The other day, we were talking to these 2 boys leaving their house to walk to the lake. I didn't even realize until like a day later, that those boys were just leaving their house and walking to a lake. Like that's so cool! I wasn't able to get any pictures of it this week, but maybe soon you will be able to see it. Or if you even Google Lake Elsinore I'm sure you can find it that way too. The only tricky part is that there is small neighborhoods spread out all over the place. And a lot of the times, if we pull off a main street to go find a house, we pull onto a dirt road. And those dirt roads through trees and in the dark are pretty sketchy. But it's fine. I still love it.

So the past two weeks, every morning I have been reading a chapter from the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. It's so true that the Bible and Book of Mormon work together to testify of Christ! It's been really cool reading them at the same time. I'm so grateful for the scriptures and I love them so much. It was also helpful in a lesson yesterday! I was able to share something to answer someone's question from the Bible that is also testified about in the Book of Mormon. Heavenly Father really did think of everything. He's so great. I read from John chapter 6 this week, and I really liked it. It's a longer chapter, but I advise you all to read it!

So this week for Thanksgiving, I will be eating with a really cool family! The Esteves family. I've seen it spelled maybe 4 different ways, so I don't really now. They all sound the same though. But they will be having a whole bunch of family over at their house, and we have been invited to join them! I'm really excited. It will be super fun!  I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving this week! Time, is actually what I don't understand. Like how is it already Thanksgiving? Don't know. But I want to try and bring some candy corns to our dinner this Thursday and see if they will let me share a tradition! I'll let you know about that too.. If not, I will just do my 5 kernels of corn over and over until I finish the whole bag of candy. :)

So the scripture that I was ponderizing this week was 2 Nephi 32:5. It says, "For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do." This says that after we are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, we will have the guidance that we need to do all things that are in the will of God. This has been really important for me to remember this week. As I have been working in an area that I don't know, with people I don't know, and with slower work than the last area, it has been so important to me to just remember the promise of having the Holy Ghost with me. As I truly put all my trust in Heavenly Father and his Son, The Holy Ghost will help me say and do the things that are needed in order to get the work up in this area. I am so excited to continue meeting new people, and to find those that Heavenly Father has prepared for Hna Gomez and me.
I hope you have the most wonderful Thanksgiving!

I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the Gospel of Christ every day.

Love,
Hermana Sager

Sid didn't send any pictures this week so I' ll add a few from before she left.

Hermana Sager 

The last time I had my arms around this beautiful girl!!

Lake Elsinore--Looks a beautiful place to serve the Lord

Hemet5ever has been cut short

Letter from Nov 16

Hemet5ever is no more. I'm being transferred! Today, I leave for Lake Elsinore. Saying goodbye to members and investigators was hard yesterday. I don't want to say goodbye to my companions. I have been with Hermana Babb for my whole mission! And Hermana Rutherford is my mission mom. They're both so good and I have learned so much from them. I love everyone I have met here. I'm so excited to just go meet more people in Lake Elsinore. Having to leave Hemet has made me realize how much harder I need to be working. I'm excited for a fresh start in a new area!

When I heard that I was going to be leaving, it made me sad, because we have a lot of investigators that are progressing right now. But the cool part is, is that I will be able to come back for their baptisms! Hermana Rutherford and Babb will be in a trio again with another Hermana who is coming in. I know that they are going to continue working with who we have. Heavenly Father's plan is so perfect in all things. You just need to have the faith to trust in Him! Put all your trust in Him, and He will take care of all the little details.

So this week, we saw a lot of progression with all the people we are working with. Marvin and Karla, a younger couple had finally kept the commitment of reading the Book of Mormon, they've been coming to church, and Marvin really wants to be baptized! We have been working with Lorena for a long time. We finally were able to find some members to come with us to the lessons with her this week, and it was so good! She accepted baptism for December and said she knows that everything we said is true. A man named Jorge has been talking with missionaries since his wife got baptized at the beginning of this year. He finally accepted baptism for January. And the Garcia family that we have been working with all came to church on Sunday, including the dad! It was so awesome. The kids have been preparing to be baptized by the end of this month and the parents should be ready too, if they would have more time to meet with us. So many tender mercies that the Lord has blessed us with for working hard. This week, we had over 10 scheduled lessons fall through. Even though plans changed every single day, we never gave up! I love being able to see the Lord's hand working in the work here when we are simply just being obedient and have a desire to work hard. I am so grateful for all the work we have had here in Hemet. I am so grateful for everything that I have learned and for all the people I have met. I am ready to go and meet new people and help them to understand the importance of the restored gospel. I love doing missionary work.

Also this week, we developed a Ward Mission Plan for next year. Many of the goals involve having more ward activities, and then inviting everyone to all the activities. This is such a simple way to be involved in missionary work. Especially as the holidays are coming up! If your wards are having any activities or even just family activities, invite others to join you! When we spend time together for Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is easier to share your gratitude for the Savior and his teachings. I invite all of you to think and pray about someone that you can invite to some sort of activity the next two months. Share the love that God has for everyone and share your testimonies too! I know that Heavenly Father will help you as you desire to love and serve other people. 

Thank you for all your support and your love! I hope you have a wonderful week as you get all ready for Thanksgiving in the next couple weeks.

Love,
Hermana Sager

When I get Sid's new address  Ill post it here and you can all send her christmas cards!! She would love to hear a little from everyone!! 

This is Marvin and Karla and their kids, Nathan, Alison, and Natalie. They're all so cute! 

This is Chelsey, an investigator, and her cousin Teirsa, who is a member.
They're both so cute! Teirsa was a vending machine for Halloween. 

The blanket that I bought last week is like a cloud. It's so warm and so soft and perfect. I love it.

 It's name is Brad Paisley. B.P. for short. I only took it off of my body maybe 2 times this week. 

This is a picture of here as she arrived in  her new area Lake Elsinore.  

California Freezin'

Letter from Nov 9

Hello friends and family. 

This week I heard that it snowed in Utah. I don't know if that is entirely true, but I hope you are enjoying the snow! That gives it a reason to be cold. Here, it is just like 70 degrees and I cry when the wind blows. Okay, so maybe it's not that extreme. But I wish I had snow here! Even though it's not my favorite, it just seems so weird for it to be November, and I know there isn't going to be snow. I feel like the biggest whimp. I was so hoping that my body wouldn't adjust and that I wouldn't get cold in the whimpy weather. I'm not a full whimp yet, so I guess there is still hope.When its 60 degrees here and everyone is in sweats and big comfy warm clothes. 60 degrees at home was always nice... I guess it's different too when you're always wearing a skirt... Let's just blame it on that:)But that's okay, I have a lot of better things to do than play in the snow. Being a missionary is the greatest. 

here was my outfit for when I was cold but still had to wear a skirt to study. 

Okay. So before leaving, everyone always told me that I would be having 2 different dinners almost every night. That sounded terrifying. It finally happened yesterday! We went over to some of our investigators house after church and studies. Our appointment was at 3:30. So we show up and we are talking to them about how church was and if they had any questions. We talked about the Sacrament, and invited them to be baptized. They're so good! When we invited them to be baptized, the dad asks, "So how often do you have these baptisms, so we know how to figure out our schedules?" Like what?! SO GOOD! And then after telling him, baptisms just happen whenever the person is ready, he looked a little more comfortable with the idea. Then he asks, "Is there a fee?" When we said no, he goes, "Oh. Ok then." and just kind of nods in agreement. They are such a good family! So if everything continues to go well, they should be baptized by the end of this month! After talking to them for a while, he says, "Okay, now it's time for dinner!" Hermana Rutherford and I just looked at each other and slowly agreed. They fed us a Mexican meatball soup with rice. It was so good! It was just a whole lot. Since they fed us, we ended up staying longer than we had planned, so we were out by 5. Then we went straight to our dinner appointment! Luckily we're pretty close with the members that we had dinner with. They were very kind and let us take the dinner to go. We just had to eat dessert with them and then share something. They're very kind. It was just a day that made me so happy, because our investigators are the cutest, and then the members didn't force us to eat a second dinner. And Hermana Vielma (the member friend) made us scarfs. She's very sweet, and could be considered another Mexican grandma to us. 

Time is going by so quickly. It's slightly terrifying! Not only does time go by quickly, but there is not enough time in the week to get everything done that we want to! That's something that we are going to be working more on this week. We need to be better at how we use our time and asking the members to help us. Splits with the members are so fun! I wish I would've gone on splits before I left. It would've been so helpful. I feel like it's such a good way to learn a whole lot! I encourage you all to find some time to go out with the missionaries! Even if it's not splits, and you're just helping them out. They will love it! And if you are a missionary and you're reading this.... Then find ways to get the members to trust and help you more! Trust and love are so important in order to help invite others to come unto Christ. If we help and teach with trust and love, others will be able to recognize the Holy Ghost and the love of God. Those feelings with drive them to do something more. 

We are still working with a lot of the same people that we have been! They are all slowly progressing. I still just think it's so amazing how I can feel the smallest amount of love that Heavenly Father has for all his children. I know he loves you all so much too! Look for ways that you can feel his love, and see the Lord's hand working in your life. 

You're all great. 

Love,

Hermana Sager

Jesucristo es nuestra hope.

Letter from Nov 2 (combination of group and family)

Last night while teaching a lesson in full Spanish, I decided to mix things up a little bit. I was talking about the doctrine of Christ as we read from 2 Nephi 31. I was just talking, and then I said something that didn't seem quite right. I had said something about how Christ is our hope and we can receive strength from him and his teachings. The whole thing was in Spanish except for the word "hope." I didn't even realize it until I was slightly laughed at. It was really funny. 

So how bout the time change? That was nice. It's bright when I wake up now though. And it gets dark at 5:30. So we're going to have to start walking earlier so we can get it in, but then no one will be outside because they're all still working. That's fine. I still know that Heavenly Father will put all the nice people that we need to talk to outside. I still love walking and talking. The other night, when we were walking, there was a whole bunch of children outside. People kept asking us about our "costumes" and we were like... "We have no idea what you're talking about." and then people kept handing us candy and then kids would just ask for it back. It was the strangest night. I guess that's what you get for walking on October 31 after the sun goes down.... (okay so maybe that didn't happen) But Halloween was fun! As missionaries, we weren't allowed to be out past 6:00. So we all went to the church, and were locked in until 9:00. We got it approved to watch a special movie... We were able to watch THE BEST TWO YEARS. It was so great. I was dying. It's so much better as a missionary. And then imagine 23 missionaries all watching it in the church gym. A lot of them hadn't watched a movie in over a year. It was a very funny situation. I loved it so much. It's the greatest movie ever. Watch it for me once more. 

This week I have been reading in 3 Nephi. When reading in chapter 17, I found some cool verses that I learned a lot from. So I would like to share them with you. As Christ is talking to everyone here in the Americas after his resurrection, he tells everyone that they need to go home and think about the things that he has taught them. He then tells them that they need to pray to Heavenly Father to understand the things that he taught, and to prepare their minds to understand more. The people were in tears, as they wanted to stay with Jesus longer. Christ had prayed for all the people while staying with them, and the words that he prayed were not written down. The people said that no eye can see or ear can hear the things that Christ spake unto the Father. It is also described that no tongue can speak or heart can conceive so great and marvelous things. No one can conceive of the joy that the people felt as Christ prayed for them. 

We need to always be praying to Heavenly Father to understand the things that we are reading in the scriptures. We need to pray to have help to understand the things that Heavenly Father wants us to learn. You can do this every single day, but especially before you read the scriptures. You will be able to receive the answers that you need. You can feel of the joy that these people experienced as well. When Christ was suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed for you. He knows what you need, and wants you to ask Heavenly Father for his help. I know that Christ is our Savior. I know that we can receive strength from him.

I hope you had a great Halloween!

Now that it's November, I think I'm going to buy candy corn, peanuts, and pumpkin pie. 

Love you all!

Hermana Sager

​Here's the view from my church parking lot. If you look super closely,
 then you can see the S on the mountain for Sister Sager. 

Sasquatch found in Idyllwild!!!!!!!

Letter from Oct 26

If you ever get a chance to come to this part of California, head over to the San Bernardino National forest. It was really nice! The two zones serving in Hemet went on a hike this morning. It was so fun! I didn't know there was parts of California that kinda looked like Utah. I loved it. I brought along a Sasquatch call that my family sent me, and I'm pretty sure it worked. I heard three calls and two knocks. Sasquatch lives. (If you look closely enough at the picture, you can see the call around my neck)

Tres Hermana en una montana

She's SQUATHCY!!

Okay, so while being here, I have eaten more salmon, peanut butter, bananas, and cottage cheese than I ever have in my whole life. The other night, one of the members fed us each a whole salmon each, I think. It was a lot, but I still ate it all. The Vielma family in our ward always make sure we know what rule #5 of being a missionary is... Eat all the food you are given, until you literally cannot eat any more. I don't know what they have down for the first 4 rules, but rule #5 is a tricky one. 

This week, I got a few compliments from members that made me feel pretty good. While teaching one of the ladies for the first time, she stops me in my thoughts and just says. "You speak spanish very well." But in spanish of course. It made me feel like all the hard work and throwing myself out there has paid off. I just open my mouth and Heavenly Father puts words in there. The gift of tongues is so real. But that just made me feel comfortable with how my spanish has been coming along. Of course I still have sooo much more to learn, but she said that I have a nice accent, and just speak well. Then, like 2 nights later at dinner, one of the members told me that I should be a Spanish teacher. Maybe I need to rethink my whole life. Maybe I need to grow up and be a spanish teacher. I don't know. I'll figure that out later. 

Also  this week, we had a good amount of less active members show up to church. When I saw a few of them walk into the chapel I almost started crying. It was so amazing to see them back in church and happy. One of the members hasn't been going to church for a long time, and it was so good seeing him at church. Missionary work is so amazing. It involves so many people, and every member is a missionary. I encourage you to make friends with anyone that you know that has not been coming to church lately. You don't have to force them to do anything, but just by being a friend and a good example, I know that you can help them to recognize God's love, and the importance of going to church every week to take the Sacrament and learn of Christ's teachings. Just do you, and be a good example. 

The scripture I chose this week was D&C 100:5-6.

5:Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts and you shall not be confounded before men;

6: For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say. 

This scripture helps me to have confidence. I know that I can trust in Heavenly Father for everything. Especially when talking with and teaching others. Heavenly Father knows exactly what they need to hear, and I am just a little tool in His hands to help the people hear what they need to. I know that if I truly desire to invite all to come unto Christ, and just open my mouth, then I will know what needs to be said. You can do that too. Next time you feel like someone needs some talking to.... Just do it. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween weekend. If you dress up all nice then you can send me a picture of your costume. I love getting pictures from all of you! 

Love, 

Hermana Sager

The spirit whispered to me in the wind

Letter from Oct 19 (combination of Group and Family emails)

Hello! 

This week was another great week here in Hemet, California. I am currently living in San Jacinto, however. So I'm livin life here in Hemecinto. It's real nice. 

First of all, I think I have the 2 best missionaries in the whole mission as my companions. We have a lot of fun together, but are still able to get work done. It's going to be weird if I ever have a companion that I haven't been with for my whole mission so far. Oh, how about I have been assigned to be the designated driver! Never in my life, had I thought that I would be driving around a small town in California driving a Toyota Corolla. It's a nice car! But it's not the same as driving around a weird green colored little wagon. So if you see a Silver Toyota Corolla, you can imagine me in the car, and then laugh. 

Hermana Babb, Hermana Sager, Hermana Rutherford

So last night, when we went to visit some of our investigators who are living with a member family, they weren't there.. But we were talking to the members for a while, and they love to talk. As soon as we had finished talking to them, Hermana Rutherford said she felt like we needed to go visit another investigator that we haven't worked with in a while. When she said that, my jaw dropped. While standing outside talking to the members, I felt like we should go visit her, Stephanie, as well. So I'm convinced that we both heard a little whisper in the wind. We went to Steph's house, and she was actually there! She thanked us for seeing her again, and invited us back for this week. It was really cool. So, listen for the little whispers that you could be receiving at any time!

It's currently 70 degrees outside. It feels real nice. It's going to be nice for when we go out and do our walking now that it is cooling down. I love walking and talking so much! It's like a game. We have to talk to every one that we see. So sometimes, people are doing something where you can actually start a conversation from. Other times, people are literally just sitting on their porch. Those are the hard conversations to start. Or if people are like in their garage, and you're on the other side of the street. But this week we saw the blessings of really talking to everyone you see! We talked to a significant amount of people in our hour and a half walking time, and found a couple people for ourselves to teach, but then were able to send off 5 referrals for the English missionaries. It was really cool. 

On Friday this last week, we had our Multizone Conference. We had to be at the church at 7, and we left at 4:15. It was a really long meeting, but they fed us lunch so it was fine. And I was able to learn more about what I need to do, so that was also fine. While at this meeting, there is a part where it's like a small devotional. The new missionaries and the outgoing missionaries all bare their testimonies and it's really cool to hear how everyone things. During this devotional, they had the spanish missionaries sing a musical number. So, I sang in front of our little stake of missionaries with 5 other spanish speaking missionaries. It didn't sound all that great, but I hope that people were still able to feel the spirit. We sang "I know that my Redeemer lives." We chose to sing this song because one that everyone can understand the message of through the Holy Ghost. As we sang the last line of the song, my heart started a little fire. "Yo se que vive mi Senor." I can honestly say that I know that Christ lives. I know that he is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. As we continue to put our trust and faith in him, we will find strength and comfort. I love Jesus Christ with all my heart and want to do all that I can to serve him. I want to help others around me to feel his love and strength. 

Multi Zone Conference

The scripture I chose for this week was, Deuteronomy 4:29. 

29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

All we have to do find Christ and God in our lives, is to search for them. Sure, we need to search with full intent of heart and soul to find them, but that is a small and simple request compared to all the things that Heavenly Father and His Son have done for us. I am so grateful for everything that I have received. The gratitude I have drives me to search with full heart and soul. 

I hope you all are having a great October! 

Love,

Hermana Sager

Never getting married!!!

Letter from Oct 12

So last week, I told my family about how we were trying to be like Elders because they always have so much fun. They always go get Polar Pops, or just over sized, under priced sodas. It's so awesome. I currently have a Polar Pop at the desk right now. Except... This week when we had to move apartments, we decided that we no longer wanted to be Elders... or get married.

Holy Cow. The apartment that we moved into was sooo gross. Elder's have lived there constantly for like 3 years. Every inch of the walls has been touched by greasy Elder hands, and the tubs. Ew. They were like stained black. We got permission from President's wife to stay in and clean for a whole day. It was the worst. So in that moment, we decided that we were never going to get married, because boys don't know how to clean AT ALL. I just imagined myself cleaning away for the whole rest of my earth life while my husband touched the walls constantly. Nope, can't do it. 

So other than that, the work is going so well! We found a good group of new investigators this week. Everyone is so cute and small. I get comments all the time about how I'm so tall, and how the little kids are scared of me because I'm so tall. Anyways. Cute little investigators. I love them all so much! And since we're working in 2 areas (so now all of Hemet) we have many opportunities to find people! So this transfer is going to be great. 

The Elders who moved out of the apartment brought us polar pops
 because we cleaned their gross apartment for a whole day.

​This is the apartment after it's been slightly cleaned. It's a pretty nice and big place!

How bout being in a trio is going soooooo great sooo far! I love it! Who else gets to say that they only two people that have been there companions, are now their companions together. Yup. It's pretty cool. We all get along really well and know how to have fun. We laugh about everything. Especially the stuff that goes wrong. It's better than just crying about it. I love being able to have a sense of humor about things. Because if we get sad about things to the point where we are down and grouchy, then the work slows down. Time moves way too fast for the work to slow down.

Hermana Trio

The scripture I chose to ponderize this week is John 5:30. it says, "I can of mine own self do nothing... because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." As Christ talks about doing the will of the Father, we can follow his example. Heavenly Father provides a way for all things to get done that he has asked of us. I need to be obedient to his rules, mission rules, and the commandments, and I can get closer to fully submitting myself to the will of the Father. 

Continue to be obedient to the commandments, and you will see more blessings from Heavenly Father every day. He loves you and wants to bless you. The commandments are there to help us, not to restrict us. 

#Hemet5ever

I love you all! 

Have the best day ever!

Hermana Sager

4 Months down!

Letter from Oct 5

I have officially been away from home for 4 months and 2 days. I cannot believe how fast the time has gone by! With 1 transfer in Mexico with Hermana Babb, and 2 transfers in California with Hermana Rutherford, I am now in a trio with both of them! It's going to be so much fun, and we have big plans to get a lot of work done. 

I am starting to understand a lot more of how to talk during dinner conversations. I am learning little jokes and sayings that I can throw in whenever I feel they fit. Except some of the sayings are really sassy so I need to be careful. But I feel like I am starting to develop closer relationships with the members. I love serving in the little Ramona Ward in cute Hemet. The people are so great, and have offered me a place to stay when I come back to visit. So that's nice. 

I have learned the importance of every member being a missionary. Missionaries are just serving in the wards, and trying to help the members to strengthen their own ward. This is important as we try to involve the members more in the process of learning. The investigators need friends at church to help them feel comfortable and to learn. As we, as members, share our love for the gospel and the love that God has for all his children, then those who are not members will be able to recognize God's love. When you recognize God's love, you will better understand why he has given us the gospel and the example of His Son. If we live the gospel by following Christ's example, we won't have to worry about too much else. 

Heavenly Father loves you. I love you. I hope you all enjoyed Conference and learned a lot. 

So how was General Conference?! For me it was so good. I don't think I've ever learned so much from conference. But then again I don't know how seriously I've ever watched all 4 sessions. But it was really good! Watching it in the church helped a lot with being able to pay attention and feeling the spirit to help me learn. I even cried 2 times during the conference. Once when we sang We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet, because it was so powerful and sooo many people are singing about one very cute old man. And the other time was when that very cute old man was talking. He's just so cute, and then he started getting all sad looking. I was afraid he was going to fall over, but his talk was still so powerful. I love President Monson and know that he is a prophet of God. But I learned a lot about what I need to do to convert myself, and how can I more fully submit myself to Heavenly Father's will.Let me know if there is anything specific that you want me to tell you all about! 

love, love, love,

Hermana Sager

HERMANA POWER!!!!

​The missionaries who have been serving in the Ramona Ward. 

Ever heard of a Polar Pop? When I first heard about them, I thought it was a popsicle. Definitely not a popsicle. It's just an extra large sized soda that only costs 89 cents. So like why not? Well, the Elder's always rave about them, and Hermana Rutherford and I wanted to try and be cool like the Elders.. So we casually got a few Polar Pops. Holy cow. Being an Elder is way too hard. It is soo hard to finish those things. 

Only one more week of training.

Letter from Sept 28

Hello everyone!

I have now moved into my last week of training! After this week, this transfer, I will no longer be a little trainee missionary! Time has gone by so quickly. It's insane. By next week, I will be into my 3rd transfer in California, but my 4th transfer altogether. I still think it's so insane that I could say that I lived (kinda) in Mexico for a month and a half. And now I've lived in cute little Hemet for 3 months. I hope I get to stay in Hemet 5ever, because I love it. #Hemet5ever

So, I had the opportunity to go to the Redlands temple this last Tuesday! It was really cool experience. I also got Cafe Rio, and that is always nice as well. But while at the temple, I was just marveling over the fact that there was Palm trees by the temple. So I am sending you a picture so you can all marvel too. I just marvel every day still that I'm a missionary. I still can't believe it, but I love it so much. I am so grateful to have this step in my life. 

I was reading in Mosiah 23 today, and verse 21 says that the Lord sees a need to chasten us, and that he does so by trying our patience and our faith. We need to not only remain faithful, but continually grow our faith. If we grow our levels of patience and faith while everything is going just fine, then it will be easier to stay faithful and patient through the hard times. But just know that in those two aspects, Heavenly Father is trying or testing you. And He chastens,tests, and tries all those that he loves (Hebrews 12:6). 

Have a great day!

Love, 

Hermana Sager

A few words from our family letter 

On Saturday night, I had the opportunity of watching the General Women's meeting! It was so good. When I first saw the inside of the conference center on the screen, It made my heart warm. I was watching a broadcast from my home land. It was really cool. I never realized how lucky I am to live so close to downtown Salt Lake! Even though I've really only been in the conference center a few times, I am so grateful to have ever had that opportunity. So many people would love to be there, and to go to the Salt Lake Temple, and to see President Monson. I am so lucky and so so so grateful. Anyways. The conference was really good! I don't know if you all watched or heard about it, but President Uchtdorf's talk was really cool! It's so true how everyone can learn something different if you are focusing on feeling the spirit. How bout, the little video that played during the middle of it.. The one about Melanie! She was the stake camp director for like my first 1 or 2 years of girls camp! That was really cool seeing her story. She taught my how to memorize Proverbs 3:5-6 and Helaman 5:12. And then she was teaching those little kids a scripture too. It was really cool. 

So yesterday at church, Juan was confirmed! He is officially a member of the church. He's so cute. I love that family. 

Hermana Rutherford and Hermana Sager out side the Redlands Temple 

The Redlands Temple and palm trees

​Here's these terrifying Emu/Ostriches.
 I couldn't get any closer to the fence or I would've cried.