Week #23

June 16, 2012

Hi Family! 

Holy cow, can you believe that week one of my FOURTH transfer is already done??!! I still just can't even believe it. This week has been SO great!! It is so much fun to be an Office Assistant!! I have really, really enjoyed it. Part of the reason I love it so much is because of my companion, Sister Richardson. She is absolutely WONDERFUL!! I love her so much. I swear I love each companion more and more! 

We had an interesting experience today... we gave a "tour" (which was basically a question-answer session) of the South Visitor’s Center to a couple from Maryland. They had a LOT of questions, really good questions actually. They, of course, asked us about Mitt Romney and how we feel about him. (Every-other person that comes on the square asks about him now.) I told him how I felt about him without trying to sound too biased, and then the most interesting thing happened. . . Hank said, "I feel so much more comfortable about him being the President of our nation from being here. I know now that he will turn to God rather than man to run this country." So awesome, right?! If we're not converting people, at least we're helping them see the light a little easier. Hank and his wife truly were great, great people. They were so friendly and really sincerely wanted to know about our church and our beliefs. Unfortunately, we invited them in the end, but they didn't acknowledge the invite... we're actually not sure if Hank even understood us correctly lol. It was sad.  We talked about it afterward and realized that we should have invited them again. It would have been better to know if they really didn't want to learn more than to walk away wondering about it! 

I've learned that missionary work is like that. There are so many times where we make mistakes and afterward wish SO badly we could do it over again! I definitely learned the principle of repentance since being on my mission, making mistakes and trying my best to fix them and do better the next time. It's really hard though. I've realized how weak I am as a missionary.  Like dad said in his email to me this week, "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble..." What's even harder about this concept, though, is still having that faith and confidence that I AM a good missionary, that I am making progress and getting better at this. I know if I have that faith that I am and can continue to improve, I will!  Brad's letter was really great to me this week on that subject. It really is so true! If you have the faith in yourself that you are great, and that the Lord and Heavenly Father love you, you'll become great! I see missionaries here on Temple Square that don't quite have that knowledge, and sometimes I feel so bad for them. They don't seem to progress as much as other missionaries. 

That's actually how my trainer was, Sister Wilson. She had very little faith in herself. She had more faith in the Lord though, and when she exercised it, she did GREAT things!! But that's partly why I had to be her companion-- I had to help her realize how great she is, and how to have better faith. I always learn so much from my companions. I love how intricate Heavenly Father's plan is for us! 

So my friend called Rachel again today, and the voicemail was a man's voice... she's thinking it is not her phone number again. Is her phone number possibly on face book that someone could look up for me? That would be so wonderful! If not, no worries. I'll try and contact her again when I get back home. 

Speaking of which.... in 3 days is my "one year left" mark!!! Can you believe that??!! I'll be a third of the way done with my mission!! (I knew mom would like this, ha)

It was so sad... yesterday we were able to do the MTC tour at Welfare Square and there was a lady there that was living in her car. She said she hadn't eaten in 3 days, and someone referred her to Welfare Square to get help. The poor woman had just gotten out of jail, and was trying to find a place to sleep in her car with her 3 kids (which she's not allowed to do). It was honestly one of the saddest things I had ever seen in my life. She told us pretty much her life's story, how she has lived in darkness most of her life. She was baptized when she was 8 but has completely gone off the deep end. She was a single mom at the age of 14, later got addicted to drugs and lost her kids to her husband when she was put in jail, and so many other things. It was honestly one of the saddest things I have ever heard in my life. My heart ached so badly for her. She also said that she had started going to our church in jail, and that she felt the spirit and recognized it. She said it is the only feeling that is close to how she felt when she had her kids. So true, huh?! We testified of Jesus Christ to her, how he is the only one that knows how she feels, We also had to tell her (sadly) that the only way we could help her was to call our security guards (all members of the church) to help her, because the ceiling slightly collapsed in the Bishop's storehouse at Welfare Square so she couldn't get help. Another sad thing though is that she was breaking the law by having her car there. She wouldn't be able to get help at Welfare Square anyway--they want to help people who are following the laws of the land and want to work for what they earn. Anyway, we got security to come and help her out, and she asked for a blessing too. This woman just needs so much help in her life.  What I realized afterward was that she needs LIGHT in her life. She has allowed darkness to come into her life and take over everything, rather than finding and holding firmly to that light of the gospel. It was a good reminder to me, and also a HUGE eye-opener. I'm so grateful to be here on my mission to see a glimpse of what people go through in the world. Pretty crazy stuff. 

Well, on a happier note, we got to do another tour at Welfare Square, and guess who I met there?!!! (you'll never guess.) I met Emily's aunt, Jennifer Hansen!!! Marianne Egan's sister, ha ha!! Can you believe that?!! It was SUCH a crazy thing!! She was volunteering in the dairy that day on Welfare Square, and Sister Richardson and I just happened to get called in that day to cover from 9-3. It was SO much fun to meet her! She seems like a wonderful woman. What a small world though. Crazy! 

Also . . . Look at our mission's blog, slctemplesquaremission.blogspot.com to see the new pictures. :) I did that update!!! ha ha! Yep, we get to update the blog as the Office Assistants! So fun. :) 

Here's an AMAZING video you should all watch. After that experience Sister Richardson and I had with that lady at Welfare Square, I realized how grateful we all should be for the wonderful lives we have. This video is another example of that! 

http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#god-will-lift-us-up 

Well family, this week was amazing and I miss you all so much, but love you a ton! Can't wait to hear about how Upstage shows went this weekend! :) And, of course, congratulations to Kiana and Tyler! Can't wait to see pics from their wedding :) . . . and I want videos from Upstage's show! 

Love you all! Thanks for you emails and support. You have no idea how much it means to me. 

Love, 

Nat (Sister Savage)

PS. Jeff and Brad, congrats on doing so well on your exams!! My brothers are so amazing and smart and great! :) Really though, I'm so proud of you both! Trials always make us stronger, right? :) 

Week #22

Hi Family!! 

Wow, a LOT has happened this week-- but it has been SO much fun!! Such an amazing week!! So the AP's and President surprised us by telling us our new assignments/ companions on Sunday night instead of Monday morning.. It was so crazy!! But guess what?!!! You are looking at the new Office Assistant of the SLC Temple Square mission!!! It is SO much fun, but super busy too!! We were literally in the office all day long Wednesday, and only got a couple hours of square time on Thursday. It's basically a service assignment-- which can sometimes be hard, but I feel really good about helping all of my fellow sisters out in the mission. I get to work with the Assistants to the President and the President himself a lot, too, which is really fun! I'm being surrounded by the most amazing people! And guess who my new companion is?!! Sister Richardson from Scotland!!! She was in my zone this last transfer and my very first transfer here!! She's in a lot of my pictures-- the cute blonde. Her flag is blue with the white cross on it. I get to hear the cutest Scottish accent all day long, ha! She is sooooo, so wonderful. Oh my heavens, family! I got seriously SO lucky being her companion this transfer!! She's really funny too, but also really spiritual. She's teaching me all the Office stuff and has been an absolute delight to have around. Some of our duties are a little bit hard to explain, but we basically set up the tours with sisters, update files and lists of sisters, answer all questions people have, help the AP’s out with their duties, etc. For my first duties as OA, on Wednesday morning we got to greet all of the new sisters, chat with them, take their picture with President, grab their pizza for lunch, and see who their trainers are. :) Sister Crookston is actually training this transfer!! It was fun to be able to see who she got though! 

So guess who spoke to us at the second half of our transfer conference Monday morning?! Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. YEP! It was INCREDIBLE!!! He is such an amazing man, and he has such an incredible mantle over his head that is truly given to him from God. I felt the Spirit so strong as he entered the room, and truly know that he is an apostle of the Lord. 

He talked about the GREATEST things . . . it was incredible. He talked about how people know most about the missionaries in the church, how we are the only "symbol" of the church, besides the members itself. People all over the world recognize us as missionaries. We are literally representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored church. He also talked about how we never get a second chance for a first impression as missionaries! (in general, too, but even more-so as missionaries.) He talked to us specifically as Temple Square missionaries when he talked with us. He told us that we will be the first and sometimes only discussion/lesson most of these people will ever have with missionaries, and how incredibly important it is for us to be a GREAT example of the church, but more importantly of Jesus Christ! That's a bit of a weight on our shoulders, wouldn't you say?! Elder Holland literally called us missionaries as being "apostolic." He told us that we do EXACTLY what he does every day-- different missions, but same purpose!! So cool!! He explained what it meant to be apostolic-- meaning one sent with a witness and a message; we are sent and directed by the Savior. He helped me realize what my purpose is as a missionary, and how GREAT my calling is! I need to live up to these standards as best as I can!! 

I wish I could go on and on about Elder Holland told us...  but I leave you with one last thing he said. He, in his incredibly powerful voice said this to us; "Why should it be easy for you or for your investigator when it was never, ever easy for the Son of the Living God?! The road to salvation ALWAYS takes the road through Gethsemane, there is no way around it!" He went on to say that when we become members of this church, and even more, when we become missionaries for the Lord, He is asking us for our hearts, souls, and minds. Not for just a year and a half-- for FOREVER. This calling never ends! Dad, what an AMAZING experience you had this week!! I am SO proud of you and mom doing exactly what Elder Holland taught me this week; giving your hearts, souls and minds to the Lord and His work by teaching others about the Atonement, Salvation, repentance, etc. Elder Holland told us this, "A good life is NOT an easy life." We are supposed to taste the Garden of Gethsemane, taste the Cross that Christ was lifted up on. And yet, that is all He asks of us-- to TASTE it, to get an incredibly small and minute glimpse of what He did. All for us. 

Elder Holland ended with this: "Don't waste your mission wondering why it isn't easy. This is SERIOUS business." 

Talk about a slap in the face, right?! My testimony of the Savior has grown more this week than ever. What an incredible experience to be able to simply taste what He went through. It is such a small taste. I can't even think of a reason to complain anymore or murmur. 

Well family, you are all SO wonderful. I called Sola yesterday (from Nigeria) and he has been baptized!! :) I haven't been able to call him for awhile; the phones don't work there very well... But yeah, I have my very first (official) baptism yesterday!! Oh, and it gets better. GARY GOT BAPTIZED YESTERDAY TOO!!! :D We sent him a little package with our picture in it, a little card that talked about baptism, and a picture of the Salt Lake temple with our testimonies on the back of it. :)  I think we sent him a little CTR ring too. It was so fun!! From 5 months of work, I got two baptisms in One day! Ha! But I can honestly say it is totally and completely worth it. 

I have to head out now. I wish I had more time to write to you all, but know that I am the happiest I have ever been in my entire life!! I love the Lord and love missionary work!! 

Sister Savage 

Week #21

Hi Family!! 

Wow, I can't even believe this transfer is almost over!!! I find out what happens to me on Monday!!! So crazy, huh?! Just warning you ... I don't know what is happening to me or when I'll be able to email next... so I'll have to let you know next week sometime!! I'm pretty sure that Sister Crookston and I won't be together next transfer, which will be sad.   I really think she will be training next transfer. :) I have a feeling that I will stay in Extended again--I don't think they would have me learn 2 new scripts this transfer and not use them again--but we'll see what the Lord wants! :) I'm hoping that I will be Junior companion again to learn from another Sister!! I really have enjoyed this transfer so much with Sister Crookston, and I've learned a ton. I'm so thankful for the experiences that I was able to share with her, and how much I have grown as a missionary. I still have a LOT to learn, but slowly but surely I will be getting better! Sister Crookston and I have already decided that we are going to be best friends after the mission. :) She wants to come to CA and visit me, same with Sister Palmer (she was in our zone this transfer, from Utah) ha! And, Sister Palmer wants to marry Brad. Ha ha. She asked me for his address, and I think she might write him a letter, lol. :)  I mentioned Sister Tiffany Abeyta, from Anaheim, to Brad. She's SO funny, and she's honestly a little bit crazy... but Brad would love that, right?! :) She used to be a make up artist for models down in the LA area, and she does hair too!! She has a super strong testimony and is totally herself too. Some of these sisters tend to get in the "sister missionary" mode where they act like a "stereotypical" sister, but Sister Abeyta definitely uses her personality with her teaching!! It is SO awesome! She's a way cute girl, and I've really enjoyed getting to know her. I'm not saying anything will happen between her and Brad.... but you never know, right?! Plus, she's from Anaheim, and I knew that mom would LOVE that!! :) 

So just one "shout-out" this week: the first to one of my EFY girls, Kendall Lambert!!! It was SO fun to see her on Temple Square on Sunday with her cute family!! She looked absolutely beautiful. It was really fun to see her. I miss my EFY kids!! :( 

Gary's baptism was changed to June 8th!! We're getting really excited for him. He also gave us his girlfriend's number to call, she hasn't answered yet but hopefully she will soon so we can share the gospel message with her too!! 

Oh family. I have to tell you the best thing that happened to me this week!! Ha ha. I saw a legitimate POLYGAMIST FAMILY on Temple square TWICE this week!!! AHHHH!!! So horrifying, ha! One of the families we saw had 7 wives. I swear on my life they ranged from age 15 to 60!!! He literally had an old woman and a child with him!!! It was soooo gross but kind of funny, ha ha. I didn't really know how to react. And then we were taking this man on a tour a few days later, and saw another polygamist family with 6 wives with one man. They all had the same hairstyle and clothes on, but then they had these SUPER nice cameras that were probably worth $2000! Those people are soooo interesting. 

Well, summer is DEFINITELY here! The Asians are invading Temple square, ha ha!! and taking pictures of me!! Creepy! :)  They love blondes (apparently), and our cute little asian sisters have to tell them constantly that we aren't attractions that they can take pictures of... lol. So funny. We took 5 tours on Thursday...almost literally back-to-back all day long!! It was so crazy!! We took a motorcoach on Thursday of about 15 people. They were mostly from CA, and one man and his wife and cute 8 month old baby were there, originally from India. The whole time sis Crookston and I were taking them around they were completely focused on us. I could totally tell that the spirit was speaking to them... LOUD. It was really cool. I was able to go up to him after the tour was done, and he REFERRED!! It's so hard to get a referral from American's, haha! So I guess in this case it didn't count as much because he was Hindi... but nevertheless, we have another person to teach which is always exciting. :) He was such a nice man, We'll be calling him tomorrow to see if we can teach him more over the phone. 

We had an AWESOME mission meeting this week!! Actually, 2 this week. It was basically just visitor center training. It was really good for me. I needed it. All they talked about was focusing on the GUEST, what the guest needs to hear, and what they are feeling throughout the tours we take. I realized that I tend to be kind of a robot, saying the same things over and over again, pointing out the same places in the temple model, phrasing things the same, etc... that's not what missionary work is. Missionary work should be completely focused on the SPIRIT, and teaching according to their needs. We talked about different questions we could ask the guests, how to present the card to them (invite to meet with missionaries). One thing the meeting focused on as well was not focusing on a number. It's not about how many cards we can fill out, or even how many people we talk to. It's about how personal the tour is, how the spirit is teaching these people, how they are going to walk away from Temple Square feeling differently about our church and Jesus Christ. We want these people to walk away with a good feeling in their hearts, even if the card is blank. It was such an awesome meeting!! They also focused a LOT on how the members feel on Temple Square. They reminded us that the members that come here are NOT referral machines, they are children of God that need to be uplifted and inspired. They explained to us that sometimes people aren't willing to just "jump" into missionary work by letting us call their friends.  One way to help them get closer to that is by committing them to invite a friend or family member that isn't a member of the church to something--a church activity, a FHE, etc. One of my goals this week is to have more faith specifically in my prayers. I’m hoping this will help me be a better missionary. 

I Love you all SO much. Thank you for your prayers and emails/ letters of encouragement. :) You are all so wonderful. 

Love, 

Sister Nat Savage

Week #20

May 26, 2012

Hello family and friends!!

Wow, can you believe I only have a week and a half left for this transfer??!! This transfer has seriously FLOWN by. And it's amazing how many things I have learned in such a short amount of time!! Mission life is like an entire life's worth of lessons squished into one... Ha ha! It's so crazy. I LOVE it!!

This week was great. I somehow managed to get sick-- lame sauce! But no worries . . . I am MUCH better now. I drank vitamin C and took Dayquil and all those other lovely things that helped a lot. We even have a humidifier in this apartment which I used as well, so I only missed about 8 hours worth of missionary work. :) I went home and slept for 3 hours straight, which was super nice, and it helped me heal quicker I think. :) Not gonna lie, it was hard to stay home for a day!!

I wrote a letter to you, mom and dad, but I never mailed it.... ha ha. Sounds like me, huh? :)  I want you all to check out the MISSION’S BLOG!!! :) Sweet, right?! We have our own blog on this mission-- basically the coolest thing ever! It is: slctemplesquaremission.blogspot.com. Check it out--its sweet! I think there is one picture of me on there.

Shout out to my dearest and loveliest BC, Suzanne Whitehead!! :) I saw her on Sunday and it literally made my week!! It was so fun to see her! And, right after that I saw Megan Sollis. :) Two of my EFY peeps in the same week. Hooray for EFY! :) Sister Crookston and I were able to go to Music and the Spoken Word this week, which was super good. The men sang a way cool rendition of Called to Serve, which I of course loved. :)

Now on to missionary work. :)

Monday was a miracle day for the call center!! I called Austin Garbrick's friend that he referred at General Conference, Robbie. He referred to meet with missionaries!! It was so cool to talk to him. He talked about how much Austin has changed since high school (after his mission), how much he has grown up, how much more mature he is... he said "He's different. Something is different about him." So cool to see how much one friend from high school can impact your life, even when you don't know it!! Austin didn't even talk to him in person, he talked with him over Facebook. So cool.  He should be meeting with missionaries soon, and I'll call him and teach him over the phone soon too! :) 

Then I called a boy named Michael. He is SUCH a sweet, sweet boy! He's from Montana originally I think, and his best friend Alicia (also referred Michael at General Conference... General Conference is AMAZING!) has been a member her whole life.  She shared some with Michael, but he said that there was always something different about her family that he really liked. He's in a military base down in Southern California right now, and for some reason I didn't think he could meet with missionaries, but he actually can!! (I discovered this last night after we taught him on the phone.) So he said that he would really like to meet with the missionaries but doesn't have time right now, so Sister Crookston and & will continue to teach him until his schedule eases up a bit. We taught him the Restoration last night, and WOW! . . . It was such an incredible lesson!! The Spirit was so strong, and Michael understood (and agreed with) everything that we were teaching him! It was so awesome.  We also taught another guy named Michael (he's from Texas) last night, too. That lesson started out a little rough, but ended SO great. He's such an awesome guy!! Both of them are super prepared for the Gospel. I love how the Lord prepares people's hearts to receive His message.

I am able to speak in another ward tomorrow :) It is a ward in Murray. We'll see if I know someone that knows someone that knows someone in the ward again. :) ha! The world's so small. I have to talk on Diligence, which has been a little bit harder than I thought it would.. but prayer has helped. For part of my talk I decided to include Alma 32: 37-39, 41, which says: 

 37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

 38 But if ye ^aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

 39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ^aground is ^bbarren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

You might be wondering what this has to do with diligence... well let me explain this to you.

The definition of Diligence is a steady, consistent, energetic effort in doing the Lord's work. I began thinking about why diligence is 1. a Christ-like attribute, and 2. what it has to do with enduring to the end, and eternal life. I thought about testimonies-- how they are never neutral--they are either growing or shrinking. Then I thought about these scriptures on testimony, how when we nourish our testimonies (tree) by reading the scriptures every night, praying every day (throughout the day), going to church every week to renew our baptismal covenants, etc, we are being diligent, and are allowing those testimonies to grow. But then I thought about when we aren't diligent, when we stop reading our scriptures every night, praying every day, etc, our testimonies aren't getting that constant nourishment they need. No, it's not a sin to miss a day of reading your scriptures, but if you allow yourself to continually miss days of reading the scriptures, slowly but surely your knowledge of the scriptures and that testimony that you have of them will begin to shrink. That's why the Lord has given us the promise in D&C 84:85- Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.

When we aren't being diligent in all the things the Lord has commanded of us, the roots in our "tree" aren't deep and strong. They are shallow and weak. They won't hold us up during a storm. Instead, we'll be blown over by "the shafts in the whirlwind" that the devil sends forth. But when we continually-- and consistently-- study those words of life, and give an accounting to the Lord of our day, then we are able to receive eternal life.  Then we will have that testimony that will be strong, firm and true. The devil will have no hold on us, our roots will be too strong! And then the promise in verse 41:

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with a patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

My dearest family and friends, I love you all SO much and pray for you often. Thank you for your examples to me of diligence and perseverance. I am truly thankful to be here on a mission. I am so thankful for the trials that I have had in my life. I now see that they have prepared me for my mission, and for the rest of my life!  Heavenly Father's plan is SO intricate. It's absolutely incredible to see His hand in all things. I know that He truly is our Father in Heaven, that we lived with him before this life, and that He knows us better than we know ourselves... and knows what we need better than we do! I am so thankful for Him and for His plan.

I love you all so much! Have a great week. Look for a letter in the mail from me mama. :)

Sister Savage (Nat :))