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.

"Mom, my angels are here."

Letter from Sept 21

Hi everyone! How are you? Oh okay, good. 

So, this week was a little slow, but still great. Every week as a missionary is great. 

Okay. We've been teaching this lady named Enriqueta. She lives in a rest home and is the sweetest little lady. She says it makes her sad knowing that Christ can't be with her in person, and only in Spirit. She's the sweetest. So we were on splits last night, so it was just me and one of the members from our ward. It was really fun. But we were teaching Enriqueta and she has a roommate that is always talking. She never makes sense, but she is always talking. One time she just kept repeating how she didn't have a heart. Last night, she kept saying that her angels were gone. But of course, since we're teaching, I can't really pay attention to what this little lady is saying. But last night, after she kept repeating that her angels were gone, she looked up at me and Hermana Giron (my member friend) and so I smiled at her, and she goes "Mom, my angels are here." I just kinda sat there and was like... Holy Cow. What does she see? What is she saying? I'm not quite sure what this lady saw, or what she was thinking, but I know that Heavenly Father does send angels to help in the spreading of the gospel. 

I hope you all have the most magnificent day, and the best week. 

Until next week, 

Hermana Sager

A few things from our family letter:

Today is a beautiful day. But tomorrow is an even more beautiful day because I get to go to the Redlands temple. I have been counting down the days for this temple trip for over a month. I cannot wait to go!! I'm so excited! I love the temple so much. Oh, also, when we go to the temple we get lunch. And I've heard that there is a Cafe Rio and a Chick fil a in Redlands. Soooo, temple trips are literally the best things in the world. I'm so excited!

So this week was a little rough. We tried to visit so many people, and no one was home or just wouldn't let us in. No one will even answer our phone calls... not even the members. But it's okay! We still tried to work our hardest every single day. I don't let these things discourage me though. I like being in control of my own thoughts. If I stay positive, then the desire to work hard stays too. And then I can stay happy and have fun. I think this process falls under the category of agency. Y'all probably know this, but agency is one of the gifts that Heavenly Father has given us that is truly ours. He gave it to us, and we get to choose what other gifts we want to work towards or accept. So you all have the ability to choose to be happy every single day. Don't let anything discourage you, because Heavenly Father wants you to be happy. Use the gift that he has given you to work hard and have fun. All day, every day!!

I also found out this week, that I might start tracting this winter! Because of el Nino, that big storm or something, there is going to be a lot of rain, and so no one is going to be outside. On days like that, I will be going door to door, knockin, and talkin to people who most likely won't want to talk to me. I'm so excited. It's gonna be quite an adventure! 

Oh. And I heard that the presidential candidates are Hilary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Kanye West. If this is the truth, then that's slightly terrifying. So please let me know what's going on with this. hahahaha. 

Here's a cheesy picture for you all, because you're all number 1. 

We're matching like Ketchup and Mustard

Help me think of clever titles!!

Letter from Sept 14

I am so sorry that I can never come up with clever titles. I promise that I am not trying to be boring. 

So remember hearing about Rogelio, and how he was baptized... His brother Juan was baptized last night! It was so perfect. Juan and Rogelio walked up to the church wearing white shirts and ties and I started tearing up. They're the cutest boys and I am so excited for them and their family. We are still working with their mom Zulma. She wants to be baptized but can't because of legal issues. But they're gonna be the cutest little family even more than they are now. 

So this week I was reading in Ether 6 about the Jaredites coming across the waters in their little boats. Heavenly Father made it possible for them to cross the waters for a year, without anything getting in the way. They continually prayed and gave thanks for all the blessings that had, and that they would receive. The wind was constant in pushing them to land. So I started thinking... What are the ways that Heavenly Father keeps the wind blowing for me? How have I dodged all sorts of trouble, even when the sea is raging? Our Heavenly Father loves us all so much. He blesses you all with tender mercies every single day. Isn't that the greatest? Isn't he the greatest? He loves you guys a lot. 

I hope you're doing well! Enjoy your lovely week in the middle of September.

Love, 

Hermana Sager

Hermana Sager, Juan, Rogelio, Hermana Rutherford
at Juan's Baptism.