Literally overfilled with HAPPY!!!!

Letter from Aug 29

WOO HOO!!

I'm so happy. Yesterday during church, I just felt so good and was so happy. For no reason at all or for every thing combined together. I couldn't stop smiling and since I had to sit still and listen, I was just trying not to laugh throughout the entire Sacrament meeting and gospel principles class. I was just so happy that I was literally overfilled with happy that it was flowing out with smiles and laughs. I felt the spirit very strongly and just wanted to share the happy with everyone. BE HAPPY! Jesus loves you. He wants you to be happy, and him and our Heavenly Father have provided multiple ways for you to be happy at all times.

This week was different. We had to stay in a couple days because my body is attacking me. I am slowly getting better and stronger and healthier. We were still able to find new investigators and have some success this week. After a couple days, I forgot what it was like to teach a lesson again. The first one taught after a couple days in was wonderful. It made me realize that I cannot take it so lightly. Every lesson we teach is so important and they make me feel so great. I love being able to share my testimony with others, to invite the spirit, and to help others to have spiritual experiences and come unto Christ. Being a missionary is just the coolest thing ever. I love it all.

Yesterday, Hna Pena was called to be a Primary teacher! She is so nervous and so excited. She loves the gospel and will be the best teacher. I heard that Zaid is doing well. He is at the church every Friday to  help clean the church, and he should be receiving the Aaronic priesthood this coming Sunday. He loves the church and knows he has found his place. I'm so happy to hear that he is doing well. Also, Hna Rasmussen went and visited the Arizmendi girls when she came back to visit. She said that they are doing so well, and that they want me to come back and visit. I want to go see them again too! Those people who I have helped come unto the gospel have helped me so much and have changed my life! I love them and pray that they will always continue faithful.

For sacrament meeting yesterday, we had the hymn testimony meeting. It was awesome. One by one, the members went up and shared a short testimony of why each hymn was their favorite. The organist for our ward can only play the songs after having played them, so he didn't play for the entire time. Normally, spanish wards struggle a little bit more in the music department, but yesterday was wonderful! As we all sang without an organ or piano, we were united in sending prayers and alabanzas to the Lord. The spirit was so strong as we sang about our Savior and how much he loves us. I love all the hymns, and know that they invite the spirit without fail. What's your favorite hymn? Why?

Have the best day ever!
Love,
Hermana Sager

FELIZ

Blurry.. We had a combined lesson with the Elders and with la familia Leon.
Working in a quadpanionship is tricky, but the kids loved the lesson! 

There is a Difference!!

Letter from Aug 22

Hello!

This week I was reminded that there is a difference between having a testimony and living it. We are working with this less active family who have strong testimonies. They know everything is true, and they love learning more. They know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, they just aren't currently reading it. They know they need to come to church, they just aren't doing it. It makes me think about all the things I know to be true. My testimony has grown tremendously as I have had the opportunity to study and to share it many times a day. We need to be looking for ways continuously to strengthen our testimonies by our actions. Sometimes actions require faith, but then those faithful actions will strengthen our testimonies. So I want you to think... Do you have a testimony? And what are you doing to live it? In Ether 12:6 it says,   "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerningthese things; I would show unto the world that faith isthings which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore,dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witnessuntil after the trial of your faith. " We don't receive testimony until after the trial of our faith. So have the courage to continue trying. Have the courage and the faith to continue acting, and the spirit with help you to strengthen those testimonies you already have.

I hope this makes sense. I was sick this week and my brain is sleepy.

Okay, so the temple last week was wonderful. I love love love the temple, and the way I feel when I am there. Everytime we go to the temple, I like to think that the person whose work I have done has already accepted and is helping us in the work. This time, one of the members in an english ward gave a bunch of missionaries family names. I was able to do a family name for one of the members here, so I hope that she will help us and guide us around Corona to find those who are waiting. Heavenly Father leads us in his work and does so in many ways. I would like to think that Hna Brown and I have a little army of angels guiding our paths and protecting us from behind. I am so grateful that we have the opportunity to go to the temple as frequently as we do.


On Saturday I went on exchanges with a wonderful human named Sister Banks. She is serving in Eastvale. It's a very new city with a lot of new communities, a lot of money, and a lot of asians. It was a different exchange because the only time I used my Spanish was to contact the landscapers working in the yards. However, I learned a lot from Sister Banks. She taught me that I need to ask more questions during lessons to understand what the investigators know and feel. In the ward where she serves, they have a group of Chinese members who attend, and everything is translated for them by one of the elders. They don't have enough members yet to form a branch or ward, but they are working on it. So for dinner we were invited over to eat with a Chinese family. The mom didn't speak any english, and the dad just a small amount. They invited another family over who knows more english to help communicate if it was needed. When we showed up, I took off my shoes, showed off my tanlines and worried they would smell my feet. I also realized that eating dinner at a members house with your shoes off is actually really nice. We ate real life dumplings, with a soup that you drink from the bowl instead of using a spoon. Except they gave us a spoon after they saw us struggling. I was also given a fork because I couldn't pick up a dumpling from the plate with chopsticks. The family was so loving. No matter the person, race, language, or location; the gospel is the same. In very broken English, the dad bore his testimony to us of the truthfulness of the gospel. Before meeting the missionaries, their family didn't know about God or Jesus Christ. Their life has changed completely and they know the source. They know that they are loved and they know that the Book of Mormon will answer any question they have. After sharing a video in Chinese, we bore testimony in English. As we bore testimony, I could feel the spirit helping them understand our words. They were comforted and not worried. I love the gospel. I know the spirit testifies of truth, and we should pay more attention to the times when we are being taught by the spirit.


Love you all!
Hermana Sager

Hermanas Brown and Sager at the Redlands Temple

Cute Companions!1

​Hna Brown helped me with some corn rows on a sick day.
They need a little work, but we don't want another sick day to practice.

Representing the Larsens, the Sagers, the hood, and the Lord. (corn rows are a result from a sick day. hehe)
​

Las llamas estan en llamas.

Letter from Aug  17 ( Emailed on  Wed this week because of Temple Trip)

Buenos dias mis amiguitos. Les quiero mucho y espero que esten bien.

This past week was very busy. We had a lot of lessons set and felt like we didn't have enough time to do everything we needed too. As we did our daily planning, we really tried to go by each step and plan specifically and effectively for our investigators, potentials, and members. As the days went by, we were diligent in visiting the people we had planned for, and tried to stick to the schedule time wise. We tried to use every minute with sabiduria and were able to see the blessings from being diligent. We were able to find people who the Lord has prepared and in many situations, we recognized that the Lord was guiding us like little puppets to be in the right place at the right time. I know that when we plan according to the needs of the investigators and the impressions of the spirit, we will be guided by the Lord and find those who he has prepared. Diligence and obedience go hand in hand, and really do bring great blessings!

There have been quite a few times this week where I just get so happy. I just start smiling and laughing for no reason at all. Everytime it happens Hna Brown slightly laughs at me. I'm just so happy. We had a few lessons this week that just went really well, and so as we were leaving, I was just trying not to scream and make loud noises too close to the front door I just walked out of. So I wait till we get to the car, and then I celebrate and make noises and almost cry because missionary work is just the greatest thing a person could possible do. I seriously love being a missionary. I love the gospel. I love helping others understand the mercy and love of our Savior and Heavenly Father.

We get to go to the temple today! So excited. I love the temple! I invite all of you to go to the temple this week. And if not this week, then the next week. One time, my Grandpa Sager taught me a fun song. We were at the temple, and he had us all put our hands on the outside of the building. He then had us sing "I love the see the temple" but replacing see, with touch. Even if you can't go into the temple, I invite you to go to one and just touch it! I know that the temple is the house of the Lord and that there is power in just being close to it. I know that God loves us and wants us to return to him and stay there forever, and for this, we have the temples.

Have the best day ever!
Love,
Hermana Sager

Sid said that their computer this week wasn't smart enough to upload pictures so I'm posting a few older ones I havent posted before. She promised good pics next week.

Sisters @ Zone Conference 

Manly Lady Bug

Letter from Aug 8

This week while walking in a neighborhood, it was toooo quiet. There wasn't very many people outside. As we were walking past a house, we heard possibly the first sound of the morning. It started off a little quieter and slowly got louder.. "mom. Mom. MOM! THERE'S A LIZARD IN MY ROOM!" I laughed then, but I would've been the one screaming if I had a little friend like that in my room. Then on that same street, there was a man helping an injured lizard cross the road. hehe. It was so cute.

All week long this week, we struggled a little more with number of people talked to every day. The areas that we walked just weren't super effective. We were talking with everyone, and really trying and it just didn't work. Until we got to Saturday! We talked to 34 new people, when normally a high is around 25. We are so very grateful. As we talk to more people, more people invite us to their homes. We then can teach and testify of the restored gospel with even more of our brothers and sisters, and invite them to come unto our Savior.

Theres a really great family that we're working with right now. They always pay attention when we are teaching, and they have the desire to learn. They had been driving about 45 minutes every week to go to a church in Perris, but stopped going about a year ago. They are looking for a church, and all week long told us that they would come to church. Yesterday at church, 15 minutes before starting we ran back out to the car to grab important papers from the baptisms the last couple months. As we took a step into the parking lot, there was a car running. We smiled and waved at the familiar faces in the car, and then took a double take and stopped walking, because it was our investigators and not just other members!! We were so excited. They payed attention to every testimony given, and really enjoyed the gospel principles lesson about service. They accepted a baptismal date and will continue coming to church, praying, and reading the Book of Mormon. They really want to learn. They really want to follow Christ. We really want to help them to do so, and will work our hardest to help them continue! I know Heavenly Father has prepared people to accept the gospel. They were married just 5 months ago after living together for 11 years. If that's not a sign, I don't know what is.

Yesterday during Sunday school, we talked about Service! To start off the lesson, the teacher asked us how someone had served us this week. When we step back we can notice many many ways of how people are serving all around us! I shared an experience that is dear to my heart. My companion didn't even think she was serving me, but I was grateful for her. Always am! But the other day, there was a weird lookin bug on my car window. We had just finished praying and I noticed it. We think it was a lady bug that was really really old because it was just covered in speckles. I didn't want it to fly on me, so Hna Brown got out of the car, and put the bug on a stig, and put it on the ground. She then opened my door for me and we were off. The smallest things that people do are things that can help us very much! I shared that example, and share it with you, to remind everyone that service doiesn't have to be anything huge. So get out there and serve! Go save people from bugs and open there doors. Smile at them! Say hello! I promise that as you search for little ways to serve others, that you will be happier.
Christ taught us to serve and to love. What will you do this week to follow his example?

Have the best day ever!
Love,
Hermana Sager

This Hermana taught us how to do make up, gave us lipstick, and made us put it on right then and there.

​bumpy hair day. 

​364 days ago I went to a baseball game as a new missionary with momma Raffer. 

Sad and Happy

Letter from Aug 1

Sad today because 3 of my old companions go home tomorrow. Hna Gomez, Hna Rasmussen, and Hna Vorkink. They are all wonderful humans and I love them very much. I learned so much from each of them, and am excited to be their lifelong friends once we're all off the mission. I love them, and am grateful for their examples. 

I would send pictures home of each of them, but my computer won't allow that today. 

Happy today because I have another transfer with hna Brown! We have big goals for Corona, California and all the people here. We are excited to keep working together and the find those who the Lord has prepared for baptism. She's so fun and happy, and this next transfer will be even better than the last! 

This week was wonderful! Hna Pena was baptized and confirmed in the same week. We had a lesson with them this week two that was wonderful. We brought over the video, "Finding Faith in Christ." It's about 30 minutes long, and it's so good! As it goes through the different things that Christ did in his life, and how having faith in him helps us, the spirit was invited very strongly. Hna Pena was crying the entire time, and I only shed a few tears at the end. It is one of my favorite little movies to watch, because it reminds me of many wonderful things that our Savior did and does. He performed so many miracles and continues to do so for us! While watching the video, the 10 year old son made sure we knew that his mom was crying, that his brother was sleeping, and he made sure to tell Hna Brown when I started crying. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know he loves us, and wants us to be happy!

Remember that Christ loves you, and that I do too. 

Have the best day ever! 

Hermana Sager

Mathcing!!! 

Matching Again!!! 

​I found this shopping cart and brought it home. But then gave it to our Zone Leaders. 

​                                     Elder Whiting is being transfered, so the ward is being split up. 

Sid's Mom here,  On Tues Aug 2, I was able to go the SLC Airport
 Welcome home one of the Companions Sid was talking about, Hermana Rasmussen.
It was so fun to see her, meet her and hug her knowing she was with my daughter not long ago.
She told me that Sid said I better not cry to much when I met her.
 Too Late I started crying the minute I walked in the doors. 

This is a pic of Hermana Rasmussen coming down the escalator.
 Notice in the top left corner, 2 sisters missionaries peeking down.
 They are Hermana's Gomez and Vorkink, the other companions that  Sid mentioned were coming home.
 They all flew from Cali together and they both had connecting flights to other cities so couldnt come
down stairs or they'd have to go through secutiry again!! 

Hermana Sager and Hermana Gomez

The Trio Hermana's Sager, Vorkink and Rasmussen