80 degrees!!!!

letter from Feb 22

Hello!

We have made it back up to 80 degrees here in sunny, southern California. Hopefully you can feel the warmth through this email. As the temperature raises, more people are outside. That means there are more people for us to talk to! It doesn't only bring the people outside though. Yesterday, we saw a few goats just hanging out in the back of a truck. They were truly living the life. They looked so happy, and made me happy. So as the sun comes out, I hope you can enjoy it like a happy little goat.


So this entire week we have had troubles getting into people houses. No one has been home, or they just don't have time when we come over, even if we already had a set appointment. We had a total of 9 investigators tell us that they no longer want to meet with us for various reasons. But that did not stop the work! We worked a lot of hours of finding, and didn't see the success, but knew that if we continued, then we would. In the past 2 days, we were able to find 3 new families to teach. I am so grateful for the blessings that are promised us as long as we do all that we can and are supposed to. The family that we had visited last night, invited us in, and had a lot of questions. After setting the time for the next appointment, they told us to come hungry on Thursday, because they would be feeding us. They're really cool! I'm excited to continue working with them and the other 2 families we found. They all so willing let us into their homes without knowing who we were. We made sure to introduce ourselves after walking into their living rooms. I know that as you continue diligently in obeying all the commandments that Heavenly Father gives us, then you will see the blessings of obedience. Maybe not right away, but you will see them. So continue obedient!

I went to the temple this week, and it was lovely. I love the temple! When was the last time you went? Want to go again? DO IT!

Hermana Sager and Hermana Visick @ the Redlands Temple

So the bishop of the ward I am serving in right now is a cool guy. He has been bishop for 3 years, and a member for 5! How cool!  He is very helpful and knows how to handle situations in the ward. It's cool to think that someone that we are working with right now, could end up being a bishop at one point in their life, and if it would be 2 years after their baptism, then that would be really pretty great. Heavenly Father definitely prepares his servants in different ways! How have you seen Heavenly Father preparing you?

Yesterday, we taught the class of the 16-17 year olds. We were sitting in Gospel principles and one of the girls runs in and asked us to teach them, because their teacher wasn't there. Pretty cool right? A class of teenagers found someone to teach them, when their teacher didn't show up. So, right on the spot after the opening prayer, we had chosen to talk about the attributes of Christ. Everyone listed off a different attribute, and there was still many more that weren't talked about. Through faith and daily repentance we can work on developing the characteristics of Christ and becoming like Him. I am so grateful for His example that he gives us every single day.

Here's a video to help us remember a few of His characteristics. It's one of my favorites. Enjoy this, and then share it with others!

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/christlike-attributes?cid=HP_FR_2-19-2016_dPFD_fYTH_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng

Have the best day ever!
Love,
Hermana Sager

Loves her valenties!!!

Lunch break at the church after service. Peanut butter and apples have my heart.

New friends!

Letter from Feb 16

So I had said that I'm serving in Menifee, but it's actually Perris! I'm in the Menifee stake and zone, but all of my area is in Perris.There are many, many missionaries in our zone here. It's fun. There are 3 districts. My district is the 3 sets of missionaries that are all in the same ward, which means we all speak spanish, so it makes it really fun! Spanish is fun. I love it so much. The only thing that I don't love so much is that it takes about 25 minutes to drive to the stake center for our district meetings. It takes us longer to get to this building than it did when we were in Lake Elsinore. But that's okay. I love it here.

By the way, working with Hermana Visick is as fun as I thought it would be. She's a great missionary. It's so fun to see how we've really grown from being in the MTC together! 

This week I made a lot of new friends! As we did our hour and a half of walking and talking every day this week, we were able to talk to a lot of people. There are so many hispanics in this area, and they are all very nice. We were able to meet 76 new people this week and quite a few of them have said that we could come back! We are now just searching for the time to visit all of them that have allowed us back. We are so so grateful to have talked to so many people, and plan to do the same this next week. As a mission, we have a goal to talk to at least 65 new people every week. It's so fun talking to so many new people, and being able to remember who was who and how interested they really are. I love it! I love talking with everyone.

This week, a 16 year old boy named Christian was baptized. His family was baptized in December, and so now they are one step closer to becoming an eternal family! They still have a few things to put together to being able to do so, but I know that it will happen. They're great.

I also found out today that Marvin, the investigator that we were working with in Hemet, got married!! This means that he is closer to baptism!! So so exciting. Great news. I love seeing people progress and seeing how the decisions they make really do bless their lives. This gospel is so great, and everyone needs to learn more about it and how they can live with their families, Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ for eternity.

I found a scripture that I really like this week. It's in Doctrine and Covenants 121:43.
 "Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;"  
I know that when we feel we have been reproved, or set back, or called to repentance by the scriptures or teachings of the prophets, that we are able to stronger feel the love of our Heavenly Father. Things are taught in the gospel simply and sharply, so that we can understand how we can live the commandments Heavenly Father has given us. I know that we can feel His love when we are striving to live His commandments. I'm so grateful for the scriptures and for being able to feel the love and comfort through the Holy Ghost.

I hope you had a great Valentimes day, and a better Presidents day.
Have the best day ever.
Love,

Hermana Sager

Hermana Sager and Hermana Visick with Christian and Family 

7th Transfer!!!

Letter from Feb 8

How weird and crazy and cool?! I'm moving into my 7th transfer, my 3rd area, to be with my 6th companion. I will be leaving Lake Elsinore to drive about 20 minutes to the East to a city called Menifee! Menifee is right in between Hemet and Lake Elsinore. I'm so excited! I will be working with Hermana Visick. We were in the same district in the MTC, so we already know each other, and already know that it will be a great transfer!

So on Saturday, even though I was sick and was told to stay in and rest, we went to the baptism of Karimne. She is the 8 year old sister of Katia, who was baptized 2 weeks ago. She was so cute! They're family is one step closer to our Heavenly Father, and you can tell that they have recognized the blessings of the restored gospel. I am so grateful to be able to help people every day, to take the steps of repentance closer to our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. As I have helped others come closer to them, I have been able to stronger feel their presence in my own life. I know they are there for all of us in every moment.

In our mission, every transfer, we are asked to work on a specific attribute of Christ. Last transfer I studied about diligence, and this transfer I have chosen humility. I was able to learn so much about diligence, and am grateful for the challenge of becoming more like our Savior. Of course, I still have a long way to go. But I want to invite all of you do to the same! Think of one of the characteristics of Christ that you admire the most, or that you want to develop. If you study about that topic in the scriptures, and other resources, I can promise you that you will see improvement! As we do the things to repent daily, we will be able to become more like Jesus Christ, and are steps closer to being clean to live with Him and our Heavenly Father for eternity.

Shorter email, but my time is short today. Doesn't mean my love is any smaller.
I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! Have the best day ever!

Love,
Hermana Sager

Sid wasn't able to send pics this week.
This is an older pic with Hermana Babb(left) and Hermana Visick(right).
She was in the CCM  with both of them. She also served in Hemet with H.Babb
 and has just been transfered and will serve with H. Visick in Menifee. 

Happy February!

Letter from Feb  1

Hello! 

So Yesterday, Katia was confirmed as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was able to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. She was nervous having to go up in front of everyone in Sacrament meeting, but you could tell that she was so comforted afterwards. I just love seeing the comfort that the gospel brings. It's wonderful. After her confirmation, Bishop Valencia took her to the podium and gave her a nice warm welcome. He had her look at the ward and introduced her to her new family. She smiled and felt welcomed. It's so great to be able to help her and her family, to receive the blessings of the gospel and the love from our Heavenly Father and our Savior. It's so great to strengthen the ward and to invite more people into the ward family. I hope that you all are inviting and loving to everyone who visits your wards, and help all to feel the love of our Savior and Heavenly Father. 

This week we went to La Michoacana, this Mexican Ice cream shop. It's so good. I love it. But It's so fun and colorful inside so I thought I would send a picture. 

I hope you are all doing well. Sorry for the short little email. But Have the best 1st day of February. You're all the greatest. 

Love, 

Hermana Sager

Since her group email was so short ill add some from our family letter

We were given 2 birthday celebrations this week! Monday, we ate at our Ward Mission Leaders house. They sang to me and gave us ice cream. The Hermana even put together a little present for me and gave it to be before we left. It was so cute. They are a really nice family. We're eating dinner with them again tonight, so that will be fun. It's the same family that I ate with on Thanksgiving too. They're so kind. The second celebration that we had was last night. We showed up for dinner and there was balloons and a happy birthday banner! After dinner they sang and gave us cup cakes. This one was a celebration for all 3 of us, because my birthday was lunes, Hna Rasmussens "birthday" was sabado, and Hna Vorkinks birthday is viernes! So we all celebrated and it was fun. That family is also super nice. I love getting to know the members and spending time with them. The ward is starting to help us more in the work and started to see the joy and importance of missionary work! Of course we're still working to get more help from the members, but it's fun to see that they trust us and love us enough to celebrate with us, and serve with us throughout the week. 

This Saturday is transfer calls... already! I can't believe it. We're nervous to find out whats going to happen, but we know that either way it's all the Lord's will and we will be more than happy to serve wherever he wants us. So on Monday you'll find out what is happening with me, unless it somehow shows up on the mission facebook page... Not sure. But yes. CRAZY! 

Yesterday, we taught a Sunday School class for the 12-15 year olds. They were quiet and wouldn't talk, but it was still fun! We taught about the Godhead. I know that as we feel the comfort of the Holy Ghost that we are feeling the comfort from our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. They work together, and I know that we can work with them as well to strengthen God's kingdom on the earth and for eternity.

 In a talk that Elder Holland gave at the MTC a few years ago, he says, 

"We are to know these Divine Beings in every way we can. We are to love Them, draw near to Them, obey Them, and try to be like Them."  As we strive to become more like our Savior, we can also strive to become more like our Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost! Continue to look for ways to love them, and to show your gratitude that you have for them and all that they have done for you. I am so grateful for everything that I have learned from them, and hope that I am doing what I can in order to work with them. I know you can do the same in every aspect of your life. 

Tengo gozo in mi alma hoy!

Monday Jan 25 was Sid's 20th birthday!!  it was fun to be able to email her on her birthday.  thanks so much to all of you who sent her a card of letter to make her day a special one.  I was missing her today.  It was great to get pics of her so happy!!

Birthday Surprises!!

Cant believe she is 20!!!

Letter from Jan 25

Good Morning! 

This is the weirdest birthday ever. Mainly just because it's not a miserable cold that makes me want to stay inside all day. If I were to have lived here growing up, I could've had my birthday parties outside every year. It's about 56ish degrees (that's what the car said) and sunny. It's great. But other than that, nothing else feels weird. Oh, except I'm no longer a teenager anymore. That's a little weird. I'm 20. ha. weird. Thank you so much for my package of fun things! I love the clothes, and all the treats. They are great. I've "decided" (with quotes around it because it's just a soft decision) that after I run out of the treats that I've been given, I can't buy anymore. But now that I typed it, it slightly sounds like a terrible idea. So I'll let you know how firm that decision stays.

So this past week has been great. We had a world wide missionary conference broadcasted to us, we had our multizone meeting, we met a whole bunch of new people, and a baptism!!! 

About 1 month and 1 week ago, we got a referral from some of the English Elders for a woman named Adrianna. When we went to visit her, we were able to meet with her and her family. We have been teaching them at least 2 times a week ever since. They have progressed so much and they absolutely love the Book of Mormon. Adrianna was baptized about 5 years ago, and wanted her 2 girls to learn more about the gospel and to go to church. This week, we were able to have a really fun lesson with them about service. We threw garbage all over their porch, and had them do a little "service project" after the lesson and clean up their porch. No one would touch this really gross napkin that was on the top step, but it needed to be cleaned up. So as I picked up the dirty napkin, the girls lost it. They were laughing so hard and wouldn't stop. I love the relationship that we have with this family. It has been so fun to work with them and to become part of their family. 

Last night, one of the girls, Katia, was baptized. It was a great service and we had a lot of support from the ward. Katia was extremely nervous before her baptism, and so was the 18 year old boy, who is preparing for a mission, who baptized her. Our bishop had asked him to do it, and it ended up being the best person to do it. As they both nervously walked into the water, they were exercising their faith in our Savior. As soon as the ordinance was completed, you could see the change in both Katia and Isaac. They were calmed, and happy, and so was I. Katia had known that she made the right decision, and that was confirmed as her mom put her arms around her and kissed her forehead after. Her mom is so grateful that she found the missionaries, in order to help her family receive the same blessings that she has received. Katia was so prepared for her baptized and was truly converted. She has now entered into a covenant with a determination to serve our Savior and Heavenly Father until the end. 

Katia awaiting her baptism!

                                 (Sorry it's a little blurry.)   Katia is the one in the California Shirt. 

                                     Then the boy on the side is Isaac, the one who baptized her. ​

 We found a couple more families to teach this week! They are both really cool, and are big families. I'm so excited to keep working with them, and to help them strengthen their faith in our Savior and his atonement. One of the families we found, was definitely a blessing from diligence and obedience. Every night, if we are not in someones house by 8:30, then we have to head home. One night this week, we had just a few minutes to find someone to teach, but we went through all our planned names. We stopped at a potential investigators house that was on the way home, and we were in their house by exactly 8:30. They are a really cool family and invited us to come back! We know that we had success with that lesson and with finding this family, because we kept working until the very last minute possible. I am so grateful for all the people I have meet here, and for the ability to help people change and realize what they need to do.

The scripture I want to share with you today is Enos 1:25. (JAN:25)

 25 And it came to pass that I began to be old, and an hundred and seventy and nine years had passed away from the time that our father Lehi left Jerusalem.

I found this scripture today, and I don't think it's a coincidence.... I began to be old, and a hundred and seventy and nine years have passed away from the time that I left Salt Lake City. (kinda)

But I love every minute of it, and I wouldn't want to spend my 20th birthday any where else. I hope you all have the best day ever and that you do something super fun with your families tonight. 

Love, 

Hermana Sager

Birthday Girl!!! 

The Terrific Trio!!!! 

​

He is the perfect example!!

Its Sid's Birthday on January 25.  It would be fun to have her receive letters  or cards from all of you.

Hermana Sidney Sager
2088 East Lake Shore Dr #717
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530

Help make her 20th birthday a memorable one!!!!
 

Letter from Jan 18

Hello everyone!

Last week, we had a big training and we learned a lot about repentance. This week, as we have been working on teaching repentance and baptism in every lesson, we have seen improvements! Not only in our companionship, but in the mission as a whole! There have been more progressing investigators, which means more people with an accepted baptismal date and more people coming to church every Sunday. That's so great! How are ways that you can help the missionaries in your area? They should always be looking for ways to have members present in the lessons. Ask 'em about it! As a missionary, if people are asking to help us with the lessons, it's one of the greatest things ever! I know the missionaries already love all of you, no matter who you are or what you are doing. And if you are a missionary, then you keep loving the members and look for ways to help them too.

Last night, I watched 4 short little videos that we have on our phone. Because of Him, Because He Lives, A Savior is Born, and He is the Gift. I love them all! They're all just about 2 minutes. They all testify of the same message: That Jesus Christ was born to save us from our sins and from death. He is the hope and the light of the world, and we can receive peace, guidance, and comfort from following his example and from reaching out to him. He wants to help us, and all we have to do is show our desire and act on our faith in following him. We will all come face to face with him and our Heavenly Father one day, so we need to do all we can on this earth in order to stay in their presence after being judged of our works. I'm grateful for His example.

Hermanas enjoying Guacamole

I went on a hike today. It was lovely. I have scratches all over my arms and legs because we were on a kind of trail. We had to push our way through a whole bunch of bushes that hard and scratchy. But it was fun! Our whole zone went, and it was great. There was one point on the mountain where we would've been able to see the ocean off to the other side, but there were too many clouds. But I imagined the ocean there and it was beautiful. Weird right? I'm just a mountain and some land away from the big old blue. But I have little Lake Elsinore that is more than sufficient. I wish I would've gotten a picture of all of Lake Elsinore when we were at the top. But the only time I could see that view was when we were driving... and I'm the driver. 

This week I read President Monson's talk from the previous general conference, "Be and example and a Light". He's so cute. I love his testimony and how he teaches from the scriptures. I have thought of the many examples that I have looked to in my life and wondered who has looked to me as an example. I am so grateful for the perfect example of our Savior Jesus Christ. As we strive to follow the example of Christ in all things, we can be an example and light to all those who surround us. I encourage you all to read or listen to his talk again, and think of the ways the could be better in being an example and a light. 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/be-an-example-and-a-light?lang=eng

Thank you all for being great examples to me. Keep reading those scriptures, praying, and going to church! And everything else in between.

Have a great Martin Luther King Jr. Day! 

Hermana Sager

Wednesday!!!!

Letter from Wed Jan 13

Hi! It's Wednesday. 

How are you doing? 

I'm doing so great. The work is going well and we are definitely busy!

This week, we had a family come to church with us. They were sitting with us during sacrament meeting, and my heart was so happy. They were singing, and listening, and it was just so cute. The whole time, I was just so happy that they came to church and they are doing what they can to follow our Savior and grow closer to him. During the last hymn of sacrament meeting, I looked back to the corner of the chapel, and one of our other investigators was there who we hadn't had a lesson with this last week because he kept canceling! It was so great, and I almost started crying. I was just trying to stay quiet as I pointed it out to my companions. When people come to church they really develop their own testimony and can feel the power and love of God. I am so grateful to be serving here in Lake Elsinore. I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ. 

I am grateful for all of you. 

Have the best day ever! 

Hermana Sager

It rained like crazy for almost 3 days straight.
All sorts of miracles happening here in the California Riverside Mission.

Additions from our family letter 

Sorry I forgot to tell you last week that my pday was going to be changed. As soon as we left the computers I remembered. Instead of having it Monday, like normal, we had a big meeting with the South half of the mission. Elder Hamula, one of the 70s, came to our mission. It was so great! I learned a lot about repentance and the plan of salvation, and the gospel in general. I learned a lot about the type of missionary that I need to be and why I am really here. I am here to help others to become clean through the gospel and the atonement, to help them remain in the presence of God after meeting him again. I am so grateful for the knowledge that we have of the plan of salvation, and am excited to continue learning more. We all have a lot to learn, so it's a good thing we have a lot of time to do it! 

I feel like my spanish is improving every week! This last week I have had a few experiences where I have really seen progress and where I know that I am being helped by the Holy Ghost and the gift of tongues. The other night, I was asked a question, and without even thinking about what I was asked, I was able to spit out an answer! Normally with conversational questions, I still have to slow down and think about what I am going to say back, but my mind just did it for me this time! I don't know. It's hard to explain. But I was grateful for that experience and to recognize the hand of the Lord. Yesterday, I spent the morning with a cute little old couple in our ward. They don't speak any english, or even understand it. It was just me, while my companions were in Riverside for a meeting. But it was so fun! I was able to talk with them and feel comfortable with everything that was being said. I have noticed that conversations are becoming a lot easier, and my companions are helping me with that as well. As we set goals to speak Spanish majority of the time, Heavenly Father is more willing to help us in other situations. I loved spending the morning with one of my other sets of grandparents. They were just called as ward missionaries, and so yesterday was their "training". They are so willing to help when they can and have a sincere desire to strengthen and grow their ward. It was really great to be able to spend time with them yesterday. 

This week I focused on Romans 15:4. It says, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." I really tried to focus more this week on the scripture that I chose, and I learned that this is 100% true. The scriptures have been written for our learning. We can gain hope as we read from the scriptures and read of all the stories of the faith and trials of those in the scriptures. We need to look at the scriptures of a source of patience and comfort. I love the scriptures with all my heart and I have the comfort from them. I know that we can receive patience, comfort, and hope from reading the scriptures. I encourage you all to make scripture reading one of the favorite parts of your day.

I love you all. You're great. 

Love, 

Sid

 My MTC sisters. well, 2 of them.