Week #30

August 11, 2012

Hi Fam! 

Wow... one of the other sisters this morning asked me if I was in my 5th transfer, and I said "No, I'm in my fourth!" .... and then I realized that I actually was in my 5th.... AH! Time goes by way too quickly here!! 

It was such a fun week to see Aunt Maurene and Sister Julie Bailey. So funny how small the world is here on Temple Square! :) 

Dad, thank you SO much for that wonderful talk!! Well, wonderful talks. I read them and absolutely loved them! I even shared part of the "His Grace is Sufficient" talk by Brother Wilcox in our Staff Meeting last Sunday. I was asked to give the spiritual thought, so I shared about how Christ's grace changes who we are. Very cool stuff. 

We had a mission meeting on Friday about the rules of the mission. There have been a LOT of rules that are either very controversial, or just made up by random Sisters. (its actually happened quite a bit in this mission.) But after the meeting, they gave us this talk by Elder Tad R. Callister of the Seventy about becoming a Consecrated Missionary. It is honestly one of the very best talks I have ever read in my life. The entire time I read it I felt chastised by the Spirit. Ha! Always the best, right? ;) But seriously, it has changed my perspective on my missionary work. Elder Callister talks about giving things up on "the altar of Sacrifice". Some of those he gives include fears, romantic passions, pride, negativism and sarcasm, selfishness and disobedience, and instead, becoming "extra-milers." So great! 

Something truly AMAZING happened this week! My companion had a meeting for the Spanish sisters, so I went on exchanges with Sister Ibarra. She had TC time, (in the call center), which worked out perfectly for me because I haven't been able to call potentials in literally weeks. One of my friend’s here gave me her brother's girlfriend to call on Monday. This girl has the saddest life I've ever heard. I won't go into details, but she's had an abortion before and she is only 19 years old. She has had problems with alcohol before as well. I finally got a hold of her on Monday night. The conversation was SO amazing!! She instantly started talking to me about her religious background, how she's been feeling like she needs to go to church recently, and how she really wants to change her life around. She knows she needs God in her life, and she said she remembered Sister Armstrong's religion and knows she needs to go. When I invited her to meet with missionaries, she said, "I can't tomorrow, but I can the day after that?" :) SO AWESOME! There was absolutely no hesitation in her voice at all. I'm really excited to teach her more!! 

Sister Albanes and I also got to go to Welfare Square the other day!! I hadn't been there in weeks, and it was her first time doing a tour there... and she did it in SPANISH!! I was so proud of her. :) We met Sister Barbara Thompson, the old Relief Society counselor there, ha ha!! And then we went into the COB later to pick up some things for the Assistants, and Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy started talking to us because Sister Albanes had her El Salvadorian flag on, which is where he served his mission!! :) Super cool, huh? 

And guess what we just realized??!!! DOUG ORCHARD BAPTIZED MY COMPANION, SISTER ALBANES', FATHER!!! OMGGGGG!!! This is insanely crazy, ha ha!!! We both can't even believe it right now!! We're both just shaking!!! How amazing is this gospel??!!! Who would have ever thought I would be companions with someone Uncle Doug baptized??!!!!!!! WOW!!!! Now you can just see the fruit of Doug's labors on his mission, huh?!!! Literally before our eyes!! Because Doug baptized her dad in Australia, Sister Albanes has been baptized and is now serving a mission and has baptized other people!!! SO amazing!!! 

So Doug, here is Stalin's email so you can contact him. :) I'm sure he would love to hear from you!!! Apparently he's kept in touch with Elder Kimball all these years, but had no idea what had happened to Elder Orchard. :) His email is salbanes@att.net  WOW!!! I can't even believe this right now, ha ha!! The church is true!!! 

And one more thing, we took an Investigator lesson this week which was absolutely AMAZING. The spirit was so strong!! We get to go to the baptism next week. :) So fun!! 

I love you all SO much!!! I'll have to send the talk to you next week, because I'm not finding it right now. Dad, I'm so sorry to hear about your bad news, but keep your head up!! I love this talk by Elder Holland about the angels around us. Never forget that they are always helping us, as long as we are righteous! :) http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-ministry-of-angels?lang=eng&query=*+(name%3a%22Jeffrey+R.+Holland%22)&country=afe

Have a wonderful week!! Love you mucho!! 

Sister Savage