Latter-Day Glory Comes Forth, and Miracles Happen

Sorry Famsie!

I have to learn to be a faster writer! I'll try by bestest to jot down some things real quick :D

Last week (was it?) at our Elder Cook Mission Conf. one of my fellow MTC buds, Sister Miller, asked if I seen any miracles yet. "Every day," was my reply, surprising even me. I think of what Elder Holland said in his phenomenal talk in October. "Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost." (Ha, I copy and pasted that from Lds.org so it looks a wee odd)
On Tuesday I had exchanges for the first time, meaning that my companion was switched out, and spent my evening and much of the next day (24 hours) with Sister Lewis, a Sister Training Leader. it was such a learning experience. Especially, to have the thought confirmed, that all missionaries can all do the same work using their own personalities, and their own individual testimonies. We are called here for a specific reason, each incredible moment we experience is because of God's hand in our lives! We bonded over our love (obsession?) with Cookie Butter, and I lamented my lack of it. (WE MAY GO TO TRADERS JOE THIS AFTERNOON! I CANNOT EXPRESS WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO ME.) And hey, guess what? we're related, Sister Lewis and I, through Great-grandpa John Lambert! What are the chances? Plus that we would be talking about our ancestry? Plus that we were able to look over her pedigree chart and figure out the connection..? Speaking of which I still need to print mine :)

That night an appointment we had fell through, as often happens, and so we were at the point, as many missionaries are where we look at each other in a "what now?" fashion, say a prayer together (often in public), and then we go and do. This time was like the rest, Sister Lewis looked up from the prayer and I heard someone nearby walking their dog, I hadn't even seen them yet, "That person, we're going to talk to him." 

AND YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE IT. Okay probs you will because this is the Lord's work. But that man was T. Robinsen (abbreviating 'cause I'm super nice respecter of privacy); an in-active mormon, baptized maybe three years earlier. He stopped coming to church because he didn't think anyone cared if he was there or not, I don't think he thought God cared. We testified to him, let me tell you, that God sure cared. That we, just a few minutes ago, asked our Heavenly Father to lead us to who we were meant to, and there we were. That our Heavenly Father loves him and that as he is faithful, he will do a great work. It was a miracle, right?! I was so stoked. I think you can tell. I immediately said a prayer a gratitude following that. We are meeting with him tonight. :D Elder Oliver in our ward remarked yesterday that "aren't you so gung-ho (he might not have used that word) on missionary work...and T. Robinsen." I've told that story a few times now, but that's how it goes as a missionary! I have many more similar experiences that I won't share as time doesn't permit, but this is truly God's work! and we are, like Nephi (2 Nephi 1:24) an instrument in his hands. :)

The next day we went to visit Sister Back and older recent convert. It was with her I think I shed actual tears for the first time during a lesson. Her testimony and personal experiences with the atonement; they're just so powerful. She said some things that I took out my planner to write down because they were so good. "You've got to be strong." "I was literally blind and now I see." (She had eye-surgery soon after her conversion to the church)." I can love Jesus all week, I can love Jesus every day, and I do. But the sacrament...you've got to put yourself there where he [Christ] was." (I AM so grateful for the Sacrament. Whew. Each week I am humbled just by the fact that I have the opportunity to partake in that ordinance.) The Spirit filled that little Condo as the rain poured outside. She expressed her desire to have more religious reminders in her home, I'm working on getting her a framed picture of the temple she can hang on her wall.

We had a Zone meeting, devotional dealio with our Mission President on Wed. as we were all meeting at the Hilliard building for interviews. Of course it was exactly what I needed to hear, and I'm sure what the rest of us needed, 'cause Mission Presidents know things like that. In our interview, I'm sure less than 10 minutes long, he remarked on my maturity and thanked me for preparing so well to be a missionary, what? How does he know these things (I mean I do know how) and why would he think that? Hahaha he also counselled me on how to be more teachable, because I had express wanting to be better at that, I thought you would love that parents. :D

Thanksgiving of course! Was Thursday! I didn't remember until the day of. Let me know how all y'alls was, and send pictures! Ours was just wonderful, one of the best in the books. We went to the Lambert's and ate off General Authority-china, and to our bestie-neighbor Jeneba's ( I did spell it wrong last week)  I'll see if I can attach some pics for you! (So your more likely to send some to moi?) Jk, my companion is sending them to ya Ma. :)

Friday, Sister Pace felt prompted to stop and talk to two men having a discussion in a random parking lot we had gone into to turn around. They were so kind to us, and (!!!) hey hey ended up being both high-up administrators of  the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, one coming from Indonesia, where he does missionary work and such, only there for the weekend. I was so stoked especially 'cause their both vegetarian, and we talked about the Word of Wisdom a bit ;) After conversing for awhile, at the suggestion of Haskel (spelling?) we prayed together before parting.

We had a Sister Training Meeting on Saturday, and it was just beautiful. What we focus on is what we call in the mission, "today, tomorrow, and forever" principles. President and Sister Craven truly are preparing us to be Holy and to become Celestial, not just good missionaries.  I know that through the atonement, and our love and gratitude for the Savior, we can be healed, and made complete. Also, the scripture their RM daughter, mother now, of one shared, Mosiah 28:3, hit me so hard; go read it! I think I cried there on that Hilliard pew. That's why I think I first desired to serve a mission, so many other reasons to have sprung about since then, but truly it's getting hard to me to bear that so many here in Charlotte don't have that knowledge of the truth, that there is indeed a loving Heavenly Father that will never let them down. Being a missionary can hurt a little sometimes, can't it?
Sunday (I'm just briefly touching on each) we had a member MTC during the 3rd hour, I love our ward buckets. All 6 of us missionaries stood in the front, and when Bro. Arias, our ward mission leader talked about us a bit and our importance in being full-time missionaries, I was like "oh yeah, I am one of those!" It was great. It is great, and also neat. (The story of these two adjectives is still to come.) Sister Bush came up afterwards and said her brother Wayne is in your ward?! I said I knew about Connor and Mckenna Bush because Sagie was so stoked they had the same nombres as our Waldorf friends.

I love you! This is indeed, "the Lord's kindgom once again established on the earth" (Introduction to the Book of Mormon)! I'm trying to think of a good "Will you..." commitment I can extend...hmmm..."Will you pray to develop a greater understanding and love for the Book of Mormon?", it really is my favoritest book! I feel so much joy as a missionary! "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning" within me, as "the Latter-day glory begins to come forth. (I sang this to myself as I fell asleep last night) Write me! xx

Sister Lambert

Dzień dobry

Gin doubley!

[Sidenote: this is a greeting in Polish, like 'Good Afternoon' or such! It's spelled horribly wrong mostly likely but it'll do eh?] 

I'm going to write you all pre my Missh. President letter so I make sure you get some of the good stuff 

This week was my first on a bike, whew. My comp. and I are on a bike-share with the other sisters in our ward, meaning we switch off with the car every other week. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the good people of Charlotte for not committing man-slaughter against me, even though I provided them with various opportunities to do to so. This isn't a very bike friendly city, nor is pedalling in a skirt a very Sarai-friendly route. Hahaha my first cycling excursion...let's just say I won't be wearing that concert-attire-esque black skirt any time soon...or ever (unless I could suddenly work wonders with a needle and thread?) But truly, Angels are bearing me up! I'm learning the tricks of the trade, and adore being out on the tree-lined curvy back-roads scattered with fallen leaves of all colors. Usually while doing so I sing a hymn to myself. (i.e."Carry on, Carry on, carry on!, or "though hard to you this journey may appear...!" hahahaha God speed the right, am I right?

Charlotte is a nice hub of people from everywhere. A lot of those we meet hail from New Jersey, Georgia, Virginia, NY, Alabama etc. but we've also met a good amount of first generation immigrants from Europe, India, Africa. I couldn't tell ya ALL the specifics, but I'm often talking geography with the children of God here. I'm learning more about myself. Mostly that it's not about myself. Once the world is more or less stripped away, I am finding more about what means the most to me. 

1. Truth, and the knowledge of it

2. Family, including my world-family. We are all brothers and sisters of Christ and children of our Heavenly Father. There are people I will meet here, (and maybe have met already) I'm sure I knew well before the world was! So basically all people, I love people.

Music, Travel, and my nature obsessive tendencies (these leaves though, have I mentioned them?!) are often in the back of my mind somewhere, and food. Oh dear, that food. I'm doing my best not to spend so much money on it. But anywayysss, I was telling Sister Pace the other night that one (of the) thing(s) I want get out of my mission is the attribute of selfless-ness. It's not about myself, ya know? I want to be like Christ.

I'm running out of time again, but want to be sure to tell you about some of the people here I love specifically, I won't hit all of them but they are all such dears:

Sister Lee- She is the Relief Society Pres. of the ward, and reminds me a lot of Sister Harvey. She is always super fun. Her daughter Mia is 8 and my bestie; her and Hava are bosom friends that just don't know it yet. She showed up to give Sister Pace and I a ride when we were in a bit of a pickle, without us even asking (I'm still not entirely sure how...) and saved us from having to bike about 40 mins or more in the dark (up hill both ways of course) when we had a dinner appt. I will forever be grateful! Heaven Father is indeed looking out for his missionaries! We are being taken care of so well my the members here.   

Jenneva (spelling?)- Our 20-something next-door (sort of) neighbor. She is from Sierra Lione, and is such a sweetheart. The kind of next-door (sort-of) neighbor everyone wants. She's invited us over for Thanksgiving! We said we'd make sure to stop by :)

[Sidenote: Guess what family from the ward we are going to for Thanksgiving dinner! Yep! The Lamberts :D stoked.]

Terry and April- Terry is 50-something year old black man from New York who moves furniture for a living. He loves his daughter April (age 8, perfect right?) very much and wants this for her. They are so great! The spirit was so strong the first time we taught them. They met with missionaries pretty regularly about 2-3 years ago, but lost contact when they moved apartments. God led us to them; I do believe that. They were my second Restoration lesson out in the field, and the first with a follow-up appt. (ha ha ha) We have so far had taught them the Plan of Salvation, (April participated so well), and we will continue to meet with them every Tues and Thurs, pray for them! Their baptism date is roughly Dec. 21st.

Megan- We met Megan sitting smoking on her porch as we were riding by on our bikes. She is soft and kind. Her last name is Robey and she was wearing a robe! I pointed that out, and laughed way too hard at my own joke. I'm stoked to meet with her again and hear about her Book of Mormon reading. She was was first baptismal invite, she said she "sure would." !!!! Um...ohmygosh the Church is true.

Carlos- We met him last weekend I believe, but shared the message of the Restoration with him yesterday afternoon. Carlos moved here from Mexico with his family about 14 or so years ago, we ran into his mom and sister another day as they were walking their dog, and it was in no way coincidence. 

Wesley-Older Polish man who we met while he was washing his silver mini cooper, (which of course reminded me of my Galarza loves) of whom I learned my vocab. We don't even have a return appt. with him, but I love him so much. Sister P. remarked afterwards that he reminded her very much of President Uchtdorf. Somehow, I feel he identifies with me more than most, I thanked my heavenly Father that he put Wesley, even if for a few minutes, in my path.

Roman-From Moldova, lives across the street the the Eldery Moulton couple in our ward. Was stoked that I knew where that was. He is so nice and runs a handmade soap business with his wife (who I think is Cambodian?) after talking to him for a bit, about life and Joseph Smith and "a pillar of light" etc. as we bid farewell, he gave Sister P and I each a bar of soap. Like this is gourmet, special all-natural stuff. It was such an honor. I don't think I'll ever use that bar beyond decoration, I treasure it.

With Sister Bigham I learned to turn outward, as together we learned about the character of Christ and tried to apply it more and more to our own characters. Sister Pace is teaching me diligence. She is very by the book, and just what I need. (Think Emma from the Australian teen mermaid soap. but an amazing missionary, and with a smile so bright it toasts bread (?)) From Sister Jen Kramer (a new convert in the ward) I'm learning, by her example, of tender gratitude.

On Friday Elder Cook (Yeah, of the Quentin L. variety!) and Sister Cook spoke at our mission conference. It. was. incredible. President Craven had asked us to be prayerfully considering questions we could ask him as an Apostle (one of the only twelve living on earth) and I thought about about that and came up with a small pool of questions I could choose from as I felt prompted. There didn't end up being a Q and A at the end like we had thought, but let me tell you, every single one of the questions I had thought of, (one regarding the application of the power of the Atonement, another about the defintion of "elect," I had wondered about the process of how they assign missions...) Every one of them was answered nontheless. I took like 6 pages of notes. I cried. There were times in the conference I believe President Craven and Sister Craven were crying as well. It was just so good, believe me. The power of the Spirit is just unfathomable. The love of Heavenly Father has for us is just unfathomable.

Something that we do as missionaries to encourage specific action from those we teach, and to know for themselves, is in the form of "Will you...?" statements. Elder Cook said on Fri that it is in inviting others to make commitments that we can, as missionaries, best prepare them to...well, eventually live with there Father in Heaven again. 

So family, and my brothers and sisters worldwide...whoever is reading this; 

-"Will you pray to God and ask specifically if he is there, and if he loves you?" If you do it sincerely and with real intent I know you will know for yourself that he is, and that he does.

-"Will you family, answer the phone when missionaries call, and/or call them back asap?" 'Cause please, I've left so many one-sided voicemails that I just forget how many and who even I've called.

-"Will you family, pray for those I have written of, that they'll strengthen their desires to come closer to Christ?"

-"Will you, try a little harder to be a little more like Christ in all you do, and turn outward?" I will too. And I do hope I always can.

I love you so! Please write me more about how goes with all of you! Tell Gram how very grateful and touched I am for all the letters she's sent me, what an inspiration that woman is! She has become like Christ, as I hope to do. And the Highland 39th YW as well! That package was too kind. And Bee, Galey, and Mrs. Cua, and Jamie, for your emails ugh. they just lit me up :) And thanks to Mike and Donna, Steve and Avelina and Amber (and boys) for the Dear Elders and continued support, and to everyone who prays for me,  this email is for you, through your prayers you are assisting is building up Christ's kingdom on earth! Love, love, and more love! xx,

Sister Lambert

Gettin' Better all the Time

 

FAMILY! Oh my. I can't believe one week ago I woke up at 2:15 am (does that really count as waking up though, really?) and made my way to Charlotte. I wrote in my journal that my first thought when stepping out of the airport was that I was home. It's sunny here like Socal, and the incredible fall leaves and colorful trees remind me of Utah. While riding from there to the mission home my sisters (in Zion) and I remarked how beautiful it was, and "why don't we just move out here" hahahaa the response was that we are! The Lord has called us here to live and love and learn and teach. And it has become like home. After spending monday night in the mission home we went to the mission office the next morning which is a different building like 15-20 mins down the road. The office is in the Hilliard building that Aunt Donna attended and told me about, I told like everyone the would listen that it was was aunt's old meetinghouse. ;) That afternoon we were assigned companions, and I will swear I knew who my trainer was when she was called up. Her name is Sister Pace, and she claims Jackson County Missouri like I claim HB, California. Guess where her family lives now? You'll nevvvverrr get it! Yep, Highland Utah. What up. And she too attended Lone Peak for a short while. My sister from Zion, united by Christ and also by Utah. Sister Pace and I have been assigned to open a new area. She's only 3 months out, and I am none. I guess Heavenly Father trusts us a lot? We are in the University City area, UNC being just next door :) Running out of time! But Pray for me will ya? Tracting is terrfying. I love the Lord and would rather be where I am right now more than anywhere else. The church is true, this I know.

xx

Sister Lambert

MTC . . . Truth . . . (The empty sea is filling me up).

Here's my district! Such a GREAT picture, right? Our Branch President took it...of course my eyes are closed, some things don't change! Week walked to the temple grounds on Sunday, ONE WEEK exactly since I went there with Hannah Holbrook, I was all sentimental about my "past life." Love you!

Our first day as missionaries! I was SOOO stoked all day, what a surreal experience! I kept looking down at my tag with bewilderment, ahhh! And now, tonight after dinner will be giving out advice to those who are now in the shoes (skirts?) we were in just a week ago! Crazy, how much can change!

In Which I Sing Hymns While I Run, and Hey I Actually Run...and other stuff. I Cry.

 

FAMFAMFAM fammyfamfam! 

I've been thinking all week, like each day and night about what I wanted to write home to you about, something you would enjoy and could maybe learn from. On Sunday in our tiny branch/zone's fast-and testimony meeting I said something similar when I went up. However sometimes I think, if we have the desire to speak and don't know quite what to say, if we exercise faith, and just begin then it will come. :) (WAIT AIN"T THAT WHAT I SAID IN MY FAREWELL TALK?!)

The MTC is like another planet. I've ran that by a few other Elders and Sisters and they are in agreement. We forget we're in Utah, we forget the days of the week, we almost forget even our first names. (It's like a special secret when someone shares their first name with you.) But, as I was saying to a non-member lady just yesterday (and she cried, and I cried) we're all here for a very special reason. Here are all these young kids, at a crucial time in their lives, a lot of them leaving behind important things...but we're here because we want to be; because what we know and what we have makes us so happy and fills us with such peace. It would seem that we are literally paying money to give up a lot. But in reality we are giving up so little compared to how much we are gaining.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ can transform our very nature. I know that is true. I am seeing it in myself. 

I still hum Andrew Bird songs, (and Dr. Dog and...actually a lot of secular music) without realizing. But when my companion and I burst out in random song, while running the other day, it was "The Spirit of God" that we used to keep us going.
Um. I, Sarai Lambert have been working out. (Did you catch that?!?) I, Sarai Lambert am woke up this morning at 5:50am to vacuum mats. (our hymn then was "Praise to the Man") I, Sarai Lambert am (well sometimes anyway) on time to things. I, Sarai Lambert sit and focus in a classroom for like 4 hour blocks.  I, Sarai Lambert am not the Sarai I once was. I am Sister Lambert now and can never go back. I am Sister Lambert now, and I just lovelovelove it. (How serious was that little spiel?!)

I cry almost every hymn, tears fall almost every prayer. Every testimony, every lesson. Sister Bingham (my comp.) said (okay she was exaggerating...I think anyway) that someone can just walk in the room with a name-tag on, and there I'll be, crying about it. We were reading Ether 17:7 in class what like 2 days ago, (like two lifetimes ago?) And I straight-up was almost sobbing. In class. But never, I don't think once, out of the "like a million" (-Sister Bingham) times I've cried a day, has it been out of sorrow. Honestly. The Gospel of Jesus Christ just fills me up, ya know? The tears of joy just can't stop won't stop.

Another thing I've noticed...so we pray about 27 times a day, and that's probably an accurate number. Each prayer I've heard this past week given by a missionary almost always includes, "Dear Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for the opportunity we have to be missionaries." So. Grateful. That's what's up.

The MTC to me is not like the spiritual prison-compound some missionaries had made it out to seem. To me it's more like Hogwarts. (I hope you enjoy that reference Havs!) Incredible stuff is going on here. Instead of magic I'm seeing miracles.

There's like so much more I want to share with you! But I don't want to defer too much from my testimony of this great work...forgive me yeah? ;) 

My companion is from (surprise!) Alpine, Utah! Right near Westfield elementary, and her lil' sis attends Lone Peak HS as well, fancy that? She I guess was in Rob and Julie's ward when they lived over there years ago, and remembers their red-roofed house up the road. She is an athlete who likes to be on time, so needless to say we are learning loads from each other. She is crazy. And fun. We're the blonde curly-haired Sisters who are always being too loud. ;) We've been the only sisters in our room, our district, and our zone. We get special treatment but c'mon we totes deserve it. We are the two Sister Training Leaders by default, but really our former mission President-Branch President said that even if there were 20 other sisters we'd probably still be it because there was a special spirit about us together. I'd like to think that's true. I know more than ever the importance of companionship. Sister Bingham is my second witness (Alma 10:12), but she also is like a sister to me. We are not always on the same page, or even on the same chapter sometimes, (lolz) but we love each other and that is what matters most, and why I think we have that "special spirit."

At first I viewed the Elders in our district like my babies, but really they're warriors, we all are. Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, California (myself, sorry can't help it) out to our "corners of the earth." That's something Elder Ashcraft said our first night "and," he goes, " I guess South Dakota's my corner." So good. I've met missionaries here from across the globe, Finland, The Marshall Islands, Germany, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, the Czech Republic etc. etc.  All so strong and here for basically the same reason I am. In our zone we've got Charlotte, NC, Rapid City, SD, and New Delhi and Bangalore India. Our Milwaukee, Wisconsin Elders went on in the field on Monday morning. Pray for them will you? Elder McMore's testimony has changed me. Pray for him. AND we get new Elders AND SISTERS to our zone TODAY! I can't wait to meet them, I think they're (Elders) Richmond, VA (yay! next door!) and (Sisters) Farmington, NM.  Sister B. and I will be training those ladies with our one week longer seasoned status. ;)
I LURVE my name tag, it's becoming like a limb for me. When we take them off in the gym, in the temple, even to sleep, 'tis sad. I would like to continue to have one post-missh. All that met and saw me would know right-off what I stood for. What if we all had them, stating directly what we were about? Under my name, mine might read, "Disciple."
We went to the Provo Temple this morn. it was lovely, and special I thought about the Celestial Kingdom and ya know fluff stuff like dat.
Whew. I want to have more to say next week! We were trying to get some faaaantaaastic pics out to ya, but Sister B's camera won't connect, I don't know if anyone's been able to, so hopefully next time! We'll be traveling on Monday leaving at 3:30am for Charlotte! (stop over in Atlanta) and I can call!!! Probs around 4-5 am? I'm sure you'll basically be partying up anywayysss, right? Mom, I'll try your number first! Well fam, (and friends?)
The church is true, the book is blue, we'll bring the world his truth.

Much love! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Twenty X's for my twenty years! My birthday was the bestest ever, nothing real specific happened it was just great, 'cause it wasn't about myself, ya know? Okay, more on that later!)

Sister Lambert

p.s. Got your package, the leaves were great and totes something I woulda send ;) my fattie fatster Waldorf pencils came in the mail today too! I cried. But that's nothing new.

I'm Off!

I'm getting set apart as a missionary tonight! I head out for the MTC tomorrow and this is all so crazy. Write me! Start a letter this very moment!
Here's my first address:
Sister Sarai Gavriel Lambert
NOV11 NC-CHAR
2009 N 900 E Unit 107
Provo UT 84602
Send me granola and stickers? Listen to the Bob Dylan album Blood on the Tracks and think of me? Oh, and the song "Carolina" by Girls? I dunno. I love you!

p.s. I realize "Carolina on your mind" isn't the actual James Taylor lyric, but by reading this I'll be on your mind, you dig?

Catch ya on the flipside darlins'!

Oh Goodness Gracious! A Little Mission Story.

My Mission Story:

So, once I came to the California Arcadia mission, and my trainer picked me up. I didn't know so much about the work, but I was ready to go.

Day 1 in the mission field

At first, I was a brand new excited missionary....but the 2 week mark hit me like all missionaries! I walked around groggily for a few days but luckily started getting used to the fatigue.

 

We did service. 

 Exercised.

Played some pranks on the elders.

 

Had fun.

 

Celebrated my birthday.

And saw miracles. (This is our investigator Anthony.....he is supposed to get baptized on Sunday...maybe next though)

And I did get the package with the gps and such....And that is awesome news about Ashley and Caleb [Two cousins going to the same college together!]! 

Love you all!

--Sister Staker

P.S. I was wondering if you could all please call me Sister Staker. Thanks!

Ears...and also Elvis

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, LEND ME YOUR EARS! *insert some sort of Vincent Van Gough related joke here* 
I am up to speed! A blog exists...
Hurrah Hurrah!
Anyway, here's how it's going to go for the time being! I, Sarai Lambert, will continue updating on Shell's mission emails, her adventures and misadventures (not to be missed!) and on myself as I mission prep. ;) Once I head out on a mission of my own I'll figure out a nice trust-able someone to keep things going? Often the best plans are to not have a concrete plan, would you agree?
And now to inspire spiritually and inform classic rock-ally here's a good 'ole tune I've been humming to myself often recently, covered by the King himself.

 

 "Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

"When thru the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art

Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art

When Christ shall come,

With shouts of acclamation
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And there proclaim,
"My God, how great Thou art!" 

Possibly my favorite hymn.

I ate 12 slices of pizza....In one sitting.

Well, the work is going forward! We taught more member present lessons this last week than we ever have before in a week! And we did the booth at Citrus! And that was something I'm pretty darn good at. Cause of journalism interviews and such.

I lost my name tag. Shocker right? I never lose things;)  And I have been "Sister Wheatley" for about two weeks now. I ordered a new one three days before I lost it. So that was revelation on Sister Wheatley's part. But I  have been called "Sister Wheatleys" or "the other Sister Wheatley". It was a bit embarrassing at first that I lost it. And I would try to cover up the last name with my hair or part way under a shirt. But now I'm proud of it! 

There were a few amazing moments in the week. One occurred when our investigator Deborah...who I wasn't sure how much she was getting...said that we are answering her questions. In my head, I was like, "what answers?" Cause I had no idea that we were. 

She's a bit like Joseph Smith in a major way. She has been confused, searching for answers, and not getting them. And she has a ton of questions. And like Joseph Smith...she is young! (19) And now, like Joseph Smith she is learning about the restored gospel! Pretty amazing! 

Timing has been an amazing miracle several times this week. Things just happen at the right moment. Like, if we had come an hour earlier or an hour later we would have missed the person. But our timing is impeccable. God sends us exactly when we can meet a person and have the opportunity to talk with them.

Our zone leaders promised on Tuesday that if anyone could get a new investigator that day....cause it was the end of the month...that they would get free lunch on them! We had only gotten two investigators the whole month, but we did it! 

Not that the lunch mattered...but it was a miracle in itself that we met a lady from our potential investigators list...and she let us in...and we talked about family for a half hour! And we gave her a dvd...which I put on later...and it ended up being very cheesy. But still, we are coming back this week! (so I hope the movie doesn't scare her away) And this week is going to be incredible! 

Oh, and this is quote we have been sharing with EVERYONE(not really but lots of people): 

“We know that Jesus experienced the totality of mortal existence in Gethsemane. It's our faith that He experienced everything – absolutely everything. Sometimes we don't think through the implications of that belief. We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. But we don't experience pain in generalities. We experience it individually. That means He knows what it felt like when your mother died of cancer – how it was for her, how it still is for you. He knows what it felt like to lose the student body election. He experienced the slave ship sailing from Ghana toward Virginia. He experienced the gas chambers at Dachau. He experienced napalm in Vietnam. He knows about drug addiction and alcoholism. On a profound level, He understands about the hunger to hold your baby that sustains you through pregnancy. He understands both the physical pain of giving birth and the immense joy. He understands about rape, infertility and abortion. He understands your mother-pain when your five year old leaves for kindergarten, when a bully picks on your fifth grader, and when your daughter calls to say that the new baby has Downs Syndrome. He knows your mother rage when someone gives your thirteen year old drugs, when someone seduces your seventeen year old. He know the pain you live with when you come home to a quiet apartment where the only children are visitors, when you hear that your former husband and his new wife were sealed in the temple last week, when your fiftieth wedding anniversary rolls around and your husband has been dead for two years. He knows all that. He's been there. He's been lower than all that. He's not waiting for us to be perfect. Perfect people don't need a Savior. He came to save His people in their imperfections. He is the Lord of the living, and the living make mistakes. He's not embarrassed by us, angry at us, or shocked. He wants us in our brokenness, in our unhappiness, in our guilt and our grief.” (Chieko Okazaki, Lighten Up, 1993

It's definitely worth the time to read. AND read out loud. Gave me goose bumps several times.

Oh yeah...this is the park that our district ate at when our zone leaders bought us lunch....OH YEAH!

And this was at the bowling alley on P-day! Cute, right?

God loves us and he has a plan for us. We mean the world to him. And he wants us to help his children find joy and happiness in life.

I'm so grateful for Mothers...especially mine. Being a missionary is nice. But it pales in comparison to being a Mother! Nothing is as good and does as much good for the human race as being a good mother does. So if the choice is between motherhood and missionary service....I say pick motherhood. Happy Mothers day Mom! I love you! Your the best! I'd much rather have you than the nicey Mormon moms, and I wanna be like you!

Happy Birthday Dad! I hope it was amazing, and I hope you didn't party too hard. And happy anniversary! 21 years!!! WHOOOA! That's long! 

Love you all!

Sister Staker

I love my mission. Can I just stay here forever?

Being a missionary has taught me so much. I understand life better, not in the sense that the facts have changed per say, but I've been there--I've experienced more of life than before. 

Like, I always knew there were a ton of less active members, but now I've visited them. I know them personally. I know their problems. I've seen how easy it is to slip into inactivity. A habit is hard to break, hard to get back into. 

Annnnywayyys, we've had some crazy experiences this last week. Our single's ward bishopric had a major switch up. Everyone was crying and bawling and feeling spiritual and all. The new bishopric is made up of the 5th ward! (Which is my family ward) and it is insane what they just did for the single's ward. 

We got almost the entire stake relief society and our ward relief society president and a bunch of amazing people. So, I guess the stake cares a lot about the single's ward! 

Some people here are quite rich, but they are really well-educated and hard-working self created wealthy....so they act like normal people for the most part. However, they do some things a bit over the top. For instance, we had steak (technically tritips?) at our single's ward activity. And for the YW Medallion's thing they had a beauty pageant. With a swim suit section (I kid you not....Okay, so they showed photos of them as wee kids, but still?). 

We did three service activities last week and it was so fun! We helped paint, helped this eccentric lady move, and did some of that Helping Hands stuff. The lady was kind of crazy and she had so much stuff. I'd say she was a hoarder, but she actually wanted to get rid of everything. I think she was just a shopaholic. She let us go through and pretty much get whatever we wanted. I got a bunch of free jewelry! Yes! Anyways, at the end, she wanted us all to hold hands together. Which wouldn't have been a big deal except the elders were there....luckily  I was situated between two women but my companion had a bit of an awkward experience! 

Helping Hands was amazing, and the man who's house we went to started asking us questions. Anyways, we gave him the elders information and he said he wanted to come to church! And the food afterwards was amazing cause it always is with our stake! 

We hiked to the cross with the elders, taught some lessons...Anthony gets baptized this sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and I get to get my hair dyed for free! What?!? Awesome. I got it dyed and cut today. 

Cute photo, right? I had to put a better looking one there too. [Sarai's Sidenote: I only included the "better looking one" because you never know the cousin confidentiality clauses involved in the internet's infinancy...or whatever. ;)] I love you all! I can't believe I missed so much! But exciting. Love,

Sister Staker

I want to share one more story with you all:

The other day we knocked on this door and talked to this freshman Hispanic boy for a few minutes. We asked if we could share a thought, and we said a blessing on his house. Then, we exchanged phone numbers and went on our merry ways. The next day we got a text from the boy asking what the difference was between Mormons and Christians. I was pretty excited and we started brainstorming and we came up with a super SUPERB answer. Then, we got a text back saying, "Ok thanks. Are u the one with the pretty eyes?" ...............Seriously..... Then, before we even answered, he said, "Are you in school?"  I don't think this kid cared to much about the gospel, but I'm not sure what he was thinking hitting on nineteen and twenty-two year old women. Brave soul. 

A Week More Into It.

Well, Hello everyone. How are you all doing out there? I'm just dandy. 

A girl in the single's ward got baptized yesterday. She is pretty cute! I really like her. I never got to teach her, but she's in the ward. She was so nervous she was shaking before and everything. I took a picture with her, but I left my camera at home today--so I don't get to send it to you. Too bad...Oh, and I taught Sunday school yesterday, and I dominated. People were laughing their heads off and everything. I think they were laughing at me more than with me, but it was good.

Rick, the investigator I talked about before, came to church. AND guess what the assignments that were given forever ago were on....THE APOSTASY AND RESTORATION. Last time, he was having a hard time with it. We're going to meet again on Wednesday, but we might just drop him. He's driving me crazy, honestly! Cause he's brilliant and really kind. He runs a non-profit organization to fight women's trafficking. He looks like an apostle honestly! But there is something evil in his heart. Even though he is making good choices and studying out scriptures and praising God, I feel like Satan has a hold of that man in the sliest way. But I could be wrong. 

Anyways though, thanks to him I have become 10,000,000 times more rehearsed in the Bible. I'm studying it insanely. And I am finding out wonderful things! Why didn't I know this before. So, read the Bible kids! 

The elders in our zone are pretty nuts...like 14 year old boys at boys camp..but at least they try. Sometimes, I want to punch them in the arms cause they are so disobedient though. I will have crazy stories to tell when I get back home, but I'll try not to be  too negative for now. Cause we aren't really supposed to write or say anything bad about anything. 

Oh, Mom...there was some money leftover that you gave me from the stamps, so I've been using it. Hope that's cool!

Rachel looks awesome! I am so jealous of her! I will try not to covet her dress too much. I love it though. Her jewelry was gorgeous too!

How is everyone doing? Are you excited for school to be done with? What is Ashley going to do now that she'll be graduating. 

Tell everyone thanks for the letters!  I can't wait for Kyle and Stacy!

Love you family!

--Sister Staker

I've Seen Miracles All Week.

God has opened the flood gates and poured out blessings. And so, I knew something without being told. PEOPLE ARE PRAYING FOR US BACK HOME. I knew it. I could feel the weight(I'm not sure if that's the best usage for it..but in a good way) of beautiful prayers on my shoulders. And it's been great. We have seen miracles abounding. 

Thanks for the letters Ashley, Mom, and Dad! OH....Hyrum, I've been a wee bit of a bum, so I just wanted to say:

HAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPY BIRTTTTHHHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyways, I can't wait to see the pictures of Rachel. Someone send me photos of her dress! She is a lucky person to get a vintage dress! I'm sure Ashley's a babe like always, so tell her if she gets married after graduation I'd better get a wedding invite. Or something. 

I went to the temple today...

Yes, we only get one every six months. So, today is P-day. Hooray! 

We knocked on the door of a man, and without even saying anything, he opened the door and invited us to share a message. AND he offered us water with lemon in it. Then, we sat down for an hour and a half, and we talked to him and this lady he worked with. Then, he set up another appointment, and he planned to come to church on this coming Sunday. Miraculous, right?

...We're teaching him again tommorow. We'll see how that goes cause we found out he's a minister, and his wife teaches at APU, which is a very christian very anti-Mormon college. 

We're also planning this super cool Mega-missionary month for the youth in our ward. And its going to be awesome. We want to put the youth in "districts" and with  "companions" and do a MTC kickoff kinda day. 

Ohhhhh....I'm probably going to gain  weight out here. Most likely. At least, that's what I hear happens. My companino says she gained like twenty pounds. And the one before her gained thirty punds and has only been here seven months......oh well.

GUESSS WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTT???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I invited our investigator to be baptized, and it was scary. My companion kept looking at me, giving me the evil eye. And I kind of asked him with a really shaky voice, 

"Will you be baptized?"

But he said 'yes'. And he's getting baptized on May 5th! WAHOO! 

And tell Kyle and Stacy I am excited beyond belief for them. I tell everyone I meet that they are getting baptized! And it's amazing. 

Welp, remind me to tell you about Pam and Amanda. They are amazing. Amanda's getting baptized in June. 

Anyways, we taught many lessons this past week and it's been fun. Love you all!

Sister Staker

Hello from Sunny California!

Well, hello out there cute kids/older people. I'm out here in there beautiful weather of California. It's  gorgeous. Seriously, it's not like Long Beach. There are mountains covered in foliage and tons of trees everywhere and all is quite green. 

Anyways, the rules have been changed, so I can email anyone outside my mission boundary (and anyone in that isn't male inside mission boundaries). At least, I believe the rules cover all that. So, if people wouldn't write, they could email. But I like getting letters a lot more. So spread that around with subtly. 

I'm serving in the Glendora 5th and YSA ward! Perfect for me, right? I've only taught one discussion so far actually. It was to two recent converts...who happen to be nine and twelve year old boys. 

They are exactly how you would imagine. Great questions. Impossible. Deep doctrine. But creative.On resurrection: "So will all our hair come back out of the drains..etc?" On eternal families: "What if I get divorced then I get a girlfriend[after death] and then..?"  And such.

Did you know there are all sorts of missionary lingo? If someone is your "baby", then you trained them. A "mama"  is the person who trained you. "Whitewash" means that two elders leave at the same time and "pinkwash" means they are replaced by sisters. You "die" when you leave. And you are "killed" by your last companion. If you train someone and then they train someone, the person is your "grandchild" and you are their "grandparent". You may even become a "great-grandparent". It's kind of crazy because we aren't actually allowed to use slang according to the white handbook, and yet we have our own missionary language. Yes.

We went door knocking and that was an adventure. People were not very nice all the time. One man opened his door, shook his finger, and then shut the door. Some woman's dogs were barking at us from the other side and she's like "I'm sick". She sounded perfectly healthy to me. We did have a good conversation with one girl, but she still said "no". Funnily enough, the teenagers are a lot more polite and open to us than the grown ups. But it's okay. We knocked on the door of this lady the other day who was korean. And asked if we could share a thought. So I read the one about God so loving the world. And I told her my limited knowledge of Korean words. She told us she didn't believe in Christ and that it didn't matter much if God existed because she didn't think he would love us if there is so much bad. So we talked to her a bit about the plan of salvation. Her husband's anti-christian but we invited her to pray and Sister Wheatley(my companion) promised that God would help soften her husband's heart. But we haven't heard from her yet. There's still hope though! And it's always planting seeds.

...Which by the way reminds me of a man I met at conference. He's from the Phillippines and is getting baptized this Sunday(or Saturday?). But his testimony was awesome and he was absolutely glowing with the light of Christ! YES! He said he kept having these Mormon friends throughout his life and there was something special about them. So, one day he decided to learn more basically.

My district is all Elders with me and my companion. And the rest of my zone is elders too. I guess my group coming out is among the first group of half sisters out, so it's really male-dominated. Which is fine, but the elders are pretty immature. They are trying though(for the most part) so kudos for that! 

Anyways, rumors can be true. But it's pretty interesting out here. 

This is what was left of my district as we started our journey out to California. All five of us are in the same mission. The rest left the day before for the hot Arizona weather. So sad. 

Anyways, love you! Be good out there. Write me. Tell people to write me. 

And some more pics from the MTC. Haven't taken any in California yet, sorry!