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