Updates from My Mission

Transfer Week

2010-06-24T16:54:00.000-04:00

Hello Family, etc!

So as many of you know, this was Transfer week! Dun dun dun DUUUUUUNNNNN!!!! Everything changed... I moved, my companion is now a trainee and... Okay, I just went to the temple this morning, I shouldn't lie...

Basically everything stayed the same. I'm very thankful! Sister Carlisle and I are still companions, still in Chat, and still in the same apartment! I've been in that apartment since I got back from outbound! I'm so glad that I don't have to move, I can't tell you!

Something that's kind of fun, is that our roommates are Sister Ang who is training Sister Carlile. It's kind of funny. Something else that is going to be interesting is that we all have the same p-day, so we're working out who does laundry when and so on and so forth.

One huge change in my life is that Chat zone went from being the smallest zone in the mission, to the largest!! I thought that president might end or shrink chat zone because during the summer we need a ton of sisters to accommodate the guests on temple square, but he made it bigger! We were all so surprised! But also very excited. There are going to be lots of changes coming soon that make it so we will need tons of sisters in chat!

So now we're getting used to having many sisters on a few computers, and now it is set up in a different way where we schedule computers during times we have appointments, rather than having our own set computers. We're still working things out, but I think it will work out well!

It's getting hot. My companion loves it, but I'm... well I'm like a marshmallow next to a fire... I don't do well in the heat! Thankfully this summer I'm in chat, and last summer I trained so I had/have reason to either be in the cool, or a good example!

And now there's a sister in our apartment who's being trained, so I get to be an example there! I'm excited to get to know her and sister Ang better!

Oh, and if you're all still trying to think of what to get me for my birthday... I don't want a lot of things... just a laptop I can use for school! That way you don't have to worry about giving me something I will use only for a short time before I come home from my mission! You all can pool together and... hehe.

Any way, random thought that I ran into while I was reading the Book of Mormon this morning; Alma the elder. How on earth did he get people to listen to him if he was teaching in private? Did he have a friend that he went to first, then that friend told other friends, and it just kept going and going? Just something to think about. It would be interesting to see how that all worked because he wouldn't be able to put a sign up that says, "Come and learn about the truth!" and have people flock to him, or anything like that. He'd be killed. Any way, random.

so many people came back from outbound, so it's really exciting to see them!!! and a few people went out- one of them went to Tasha's mission! Sister Sorensen! So Aunt Julie- Tell Tasha to keep her eye out for a blond from Temple Square!

Any way, love you you all!!!

LOVE!!!

~Sis Sarah

B-day week!

2010-06-17T16:23:00.000-04:00

Amy asked some questions about my birthday-

How does it feel to be 23? Doesn't feel bad at all! People keep on saying with surprised voices, "It's your birthday???" because I wasn't very verbal about it (and neither was my companion, but a few times) and I was in chat the whole day, save a couple of hours.

Are you feeling old yet? You're not old, by the way, but I know sometimes you can feel old. Old??? What's that??? O.O Sometimes I feel it, sometimes I feel immature :P Both are fun in... diverse ways!

Did you have a good birthday? Did you do anything different to celebrate?

I did have a good birthday! Sister Storer and Moulton (ASL sisters who are companions, kinda funny) came to our apartment just before I went to take a shower that morning and sang happy birthday very loudly (sis. Storer is VERY loud when she wants to be.) and that was loads of fun! They gave me cookies. which are really tasty. And now in the freezer because I still have a sugar high from yesterday.

I also celebrated it by going to a new restaurant called the Blue Lemon (tasty but pricey...) and because my compy told the worker there that it was my birthday I got a free dessert! I chose a chocolate cake. Twas good. I ate it that day so I wouldn't have it staring at me the rest of the week!

Also our neighbors (who helped me surprise sister Talines with brownies for her birthday) made me some muffins and sang happy birthday to me in the evening!

Do you get to call Father's day?

Yes! I do get to call father's day! What a great gift!

Heavenly father also gave me a most happy gift! I found the ring I'd been searching for since before I went outbound! It's my Celtic one I got from the renfaire the first time I went! It was in a suit coat I don't wear because it doesn't fit me (too small- got it from sister Droege) and I decided to try it on today. It still doesn't fit me quite right, and the button fell off. I put the button in one of the pockets, and heard a clink, and felt inside and LO and BEHOLD! my ring!!! I was (and am) SO excited!!! :D YAY Ring!!!

So that was Heavenly Father's gift to me, a day late, but that's okay! He always does it at the right time!

We also had some amazing lessons! We have two investigators that are SO open! One was actually trying to get the other to stop learning with us, but we committed the other to invite her to one of the lessons, and now she can understand why! We're so excited for them! They both love the fact that we teach that we're children of God and that He loves us so much! Since they're both just finishing high school, they love the young women's talks!

I'm excited to chat with you all on Sunday!

And I look forward to hearing your exciting stories too!!

Love!!!

~Sister Sarah

PS- the dolled up pictures, first one is where I'm trying to look nice, second is where I'm being silly and our roommate sis Pommells is in the background.

LOVE

Adventures...

2010-06-10T10:25:00.000-04:00

My week has been weird.

So, Friday night/Saturday morning I wake up because I swallowed. Yes, I swallowed. And it hurt. A lot. I got through Saturday alright, downing loads of vitimin C and so on, and even half of a Niquill when I went to bed that night... It didn't help.

Saturday-Sunday morning, I tossed and turned and had weird dreams about one of our investigators and trying to find the right thing for her to read for our next appointment, and waking up every time I swallowed. It's kind of weird how you don't notice how often you do a bodil function until it hurts! Well I finally got to sleep, just in time for alarms to start going off, and couldn't get out of bed to go to church. I had no energy, and it was excruciating to swallow anything. I signed to my companion (and mouthed, because I've been teaching her a bit, and she had a crash course the day before because it was hard for me to speak.) "I think I have strep."

She told that to our district leader and zone leader, but I didn't have the symptoms that they recognized, so after going between sleeping and attempting to swallow blended up food, I went to the square and did Chatfinding with my companion for an hour, went home, slept, ate some more soup (my companion's amazing and made some for me), then went back to chat finding for another 3 hours. My companion didn't like that I had to be there while I was sick, but we saw so many miracles! For the first time, we had so many return appointments, we almost didn't have time to give them their own time slot later on!

Monday, I was feeling a bit better, a combination of benadryl and Ibuprophen knocked me out for the night, so sleep probably helped greatly. Sunday hurt the worst, and I started to get better Monday. I was signed up to see the mission doctor on Tuesday, but I was feeling well enough, and we were going to be late to RC. My companion insisted, "You can blame me if it's nothing, but I think you should go."

so I did. The conversation with the doctor went something like this,

"I wasn't going to come, but my companion told me to. I think I have strep."

"Let me see... Say AH. Yep. You have strep. Take this prescription to Rite aid, and take it until it's gone." So that's what I've been doing and it's getting better and better every day!

Like today, I could actually eat/Swallow, and it didn't hurt very much at all! YAY! I'm very thankful that I'm able to recognize what I have... even if others don't realize it at first. That's the second time I've had strep and both times, I self-diagnosed, and both times I was right. Kind of funny.

Any way, so things have been going well! We love the people we've been teaching, even if some of them are flaky. Or at least the things we try to contact them with are flaky, like phones, or internet.

One of our investigators is amazing, and continues to want to learn more even though her family and best friend don't approve.

Love you all! And Thank you for writing too!

I look forward to reading your adventures too!

~Sister Sarah

Always improving...

2010-06-03T10:23:00.001-04:00

That's the motto that this mission has. And clearly that's what's going on all the time. Whether it be changing up where we're assigned to different places, or jack-hammars going on the square to improve it in some way, there's always improvments!

My companion and I have been doing some improvments of our own. During our weekly planning we made a LOT of goals to help us be more effecive missionaries, especially in our assigned zone. We have chosen to do a lot of things that will help us use our time more wisely, and so on. We're both excited about getting more things done in a timely manner!

We also have a new way to chat with people that makes it so that the people we're chatting with can see us both at the same time! That's pretty exciting, and during one of the chats we had together, we found a young woman who wants to learn more, and she's deaf! It's pretty neat! I'm excited!

So my talk went well! Amy emailed me a talk that had a little saying on it. The saying was similar to the one that Mom had on a hanging in the kitchen,

"Control your thoughts because they become the words you use.

Control your words because they become the actions you perform.

Control your actions because they become the habits you acquire.

Control your habits because they become the character you reflect.

Control your character because your character becomes your destiny.

Control your destiny by becoming what your Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ want you to be. "

And for some reason, when I first got up, I felt impressed to say that God loves everyone in that room, and if anyone was feeling any less than they should- they should know that they were loved. Or something like that. Kind of a weird thing to say when you're about to tell them to keep their thoughts and hearts clean and pure...

We finally took our class picture. It was the last week possible to get everyone that we could in because one of the sisters had to go home so she could be sure to get a visa back to the US to go to school. We're going to miss her!

I can't believe it's June!

OH! We got a new display! I know I've kind of been talking about this off and on, but the walls are down and the display is a hit! Tons of people come and look at it.

Now that I know what it looks like, I can describe it to you! It's an exact replica, a minature, of the Salt Lake Temple, with two sides (the south and west) cut away so you can see inside. It shows many of the different rooms and has two keyosks that each give a discription of the different rooms. It explains it very simply, that people who don't know anything about the church can understand without having any other background information. I haven't had much time to use it myself, but what I have seen is really neat!

The modle is SO close to the original, it even has the little black marks that you see that comes from the imperfections in the granite! When ya'll come here, you HAVE to come and see it! It's a great way to explain the temple to any friends you have that wonder why they can't go inside, or what goes on inside, and really demonstrates that the reason people who haven't prepared can't go in is because of the cerimonies, not because we want to keep people out.

something else that is neat about the display, is that as Sisters we were able to see it before the press because we needed training on it before it was open to the public, so that we could answer people's questions about it, etc.

I met someone who knows 3 people I know! Cousin Emily, Amy, and my trainer! Weird! Her name is Kajsa (Sp...) and she taught Emily German, served in Amy's ward, and grew up with Sis. Williams!

Crazy stuff, eh?

So we had to let a few of our investigators tbe taken by the missionaries in their area since they contacted them. It's amazing to be able to find the most prepared people online, but also... well the least prepared. We had a funny situation where a member came on masquarading as an investigator and put my poor companion through the ringer, we later found out that the same member... was related to one of the sisters!

Our roommates are falling apart! Both of them have backpain, and are looking to me for sympathy and massages. I do my best, lol.

They're both fun, and the same ones as last transfer, so it's even more fun!

Any ways, I look forward to hearing your own crazy stories!

Love ya!

Be good n stuff!

~Sister Sarah

Zone Conference and randomness, etc

2010-05-27T10:17:00.001-04:00

So this week we have had Zone Conference. It's been a bit different this time, because in stead of having everything all at once, or even over two days, it's been over the better part of a week or two.

Each group which consisted of a portion of our zone and another, was taught by 2 sets of Zone leaders, President Holmes, and the Assistants. Each teaching was about an hour long, which totaled to about 4 hours. Each one was tailored to a specific subject that all came together and helped us improve in missionary work, and having them spread out helped us to implement what we learned throughout the week, instead of doing it all at once, and then forgetting most of it. There was a day or two in between so it soaked in better.

The last day of Zone Conference was a temple marathon! We were able to do Baptisms, Initiatories, and a Session, some people were also able to do Sealings, it just depended on what they had for each companionship. We could only do 3 of the 4 things in the time we had. It was really nice to end that on an extra spiritual note!

The last two days have been pretty exciting, with the temple, and then later that day we recieved someone who wants to be taught! We were able to teach him and his wife today, and they are both excited to learn more! This has been a process for them for the last 12-15 years, and they finally decided that this is something that they need to do. We are so excited for them!

On a different subject, I am giving my talk on Sunday. The topic is, "We must discipline our Thoughts and Purify our Hearts" so I've been thinking about that a lot recently. I've been listening to Zone Conference, and trying to find things to add to my talk, and started writing /compiling it this morning, and will hopefully finish today, as it's the only day I truely have time until sunday.

I'll try and type up what I say next week so you all don't miss out too much ;)

Also on Monday we had our first Chat Zone FHE, which was a blast! We played a game that was basically Cranium, and we all had a blast while we ate psudo-mexican food, and had a spiritual thought. That's what the picture is of. The sisters converging to the table that contains the food! YAY food!

Other than those things, this week has been pretty uneventful. Sister Carlisle and I are still just as crazy as ever... and so are our roommates. Sometimes the craziness is a little more than needed, but it all works our right??

I love you all and I look forward to hearing from you all soon!

Be good! And Happy!

Lots of love!

~Sister Sarah

Pix!

2010-05-20T10:59:00.000-04:00

1- Infamous Roommate picture!

2&3 service at heratage park

4- One of the reasons I love Africa = missionaries contacted 4 of our investigators!

5&6 Heratage park service again! Tis fun stuffs!

7 a pic my compy took of the tulips with the Tabernacle peeking in the background!

Enjoy!

Chat Zone Picture

2010-05-20T10:57:00.000-04:00

This is the zone I'm in now, and the picture was taken last transfer, so I'm not in it, but it's fun!

Where to begin...

2010-05-20T10:15:00.000-04:00

Hmm... so this week is kind of crazy! In a good way!

I've been getting used to my new zone, which is a lot of fun! We have been teaching a lot of different people and they love what we have to share. One of them even wants to make a Youtube video about the things we've been teaching her she likes it so much! Crazy!

We have many people come and ask lots of questions. Some of them really want to learn more, some of them... well- don't. One person came and said right out that they wanted to debate, and we explained- kindly but firmly- that we don't debate. He tried for a little, but we were straight forward with him.

On Saturday I had my first ASL contact this transfer. I had to send my pager to the pager doctor again (For some odd reason it didn't like accidentally being dropped in my glass of water... hmm...) and so I didn't recieve the page. Thankfully for him and the other sisters, I was in the same room, so the sisters got my attention as soon as I was done talking to someone and we were able to chat in ASL. He asked me to interpret the Map for him, so I did (the one in the North Visitor's Center that shows Jerusalem at Christ's time.) I did, and it was nice to be able to hear it all the way through. He really appreciated it and even thought of someone for me to contact on the videophone!

Sunday we had a lot of time to talk to people online, and not a lot to talk to people on the square, but it's amazing how God prepares people when you have little time to talk to them, we've seen many miracles, especially of people saying they want to learn more, even about things that we barely brushed on, like the book of Mormon.

Several of the people that we teach have been contacted by the missionaries in their area now, so we turn the teaching over to them when that happens! It's so great to see the changes in people now, especially since I have experience from being outbound. I really love seeing the difference in people, those who are really ready to hear about the gospel, and those who really aren't! I am amazed at the joy I feel when I hear someone else getting so excited about the gospel and what we have to teach them.

It's that time of the year again! The Tabernacle Choir is recording once more. Or at least half of it. The men are doing a CD. I don't know all the songs, but from the snippits I hear as I'm walking (quietly) by sounds great! Unfortunately, it also makes it difficult for guests who have planned to come to see the tabernacle specifically. Thankfully after this week it will be over.

There is also a new display going up in Temple View, I don't know anything about it except it's supposed to be really neat when they finish.

They also remoddled parts of the Beehive house to make it look even more like it's supposed to (make the clerks office look like a clerks office, and Brigham young's office like his office.) I haven't seen it yet, since I'm not on the square much, or any where else, but it sounds cool!

My companion is about as weird, random, crazy and so on as I am. So we get along just fine! I mentioned, I think, that her name is Sister Carlisle, and that we've been in the same zone and district several times before. It's fun being with someone I know and get along with, especially since we're so close in "age" on the mission. She's just one Transfer "younger" than me.

any way, hope all is well in the 4 quarters of the earth!.. or at least of the United States!

Love you all!

Be happy and good and stuff!

Love ~

Sister of a Durtschi of a Sarah Sort!

New Zone, New Companion, Less sun, and same room

2010-05-13T10:13:00.000-04:00

I think that about summs it up :D

I'm in a new zone. It's kind of weird. I've never been in this zone before. I've been in Extended the most (3 transfers), Cover the second(2), South once, and now I'm in a zone that wasn't even a zone before I went outbound. It's called Chat. Chat is a zone where we talk with people online/on the phone and teach them, just like we would outbound. Except we don't see them face to face or get to sit with them at church, etc. I was able to talk with two of our investigators for the first time this morning, and they're both amazing! SO ready, but they live in South Africa and there is a Train strike t here, and it's extremely difficult for them to get to church. They haven't been able to get there, yet, but they're doing everything they can to. Our finding is downstairs on computers talking to people who come on mormon.org or call to talk to a missionary.

It's really fun! We get ALL sorts there. Every kind of person goes there, from the very interested, to the argumentative, thankfully we have something that helps us if they're being vulger, or wasting our time, and so on.

So I'm teaching people again, but I still have time to contact on the square, and so far we have had a lot of miracles. We got our first referral yesterday, just from walking outside, and talking to someone who was on his way in, and taking him around. I'm still getting used to not being on the square as much, and being in chat, as it's only my second day there and it's p-day. I'm learning a LOT from my companion.

My companion is Sister Carlisle from Virginia/most places in the US/Born in Brazil. We've been around each other a lot on the mission, which was why I was somewhat surprised when we found out we'd be companions. This is only the second time I've been companions with someone I know well from the mission, the first time was with sister Fellmann. It's been a lot of fun so far! We communicate well, and I don't think we'll have an awkward week. We may have to work through things, but that's normal. We won't have a hard time talking, so that's nice :D.

Sister Droege (The sister I Trained) came back to Temple Square yesterday. I was SO excited! Still am! I haven't seen her in 4 transfers... about 5 months? I think?

I was in the hallway between the kitchen and the lounge downstairs in the South when I saw her come through the door. She saw me and screamed, I saw her and screamed, and we ran towards each other and gave each other a huge hug.

Sister Packer, one of the sisters, commented that she could hear that we saw each other on Temple Square all the way at the apartments. I laughed when she said that. We were just so excited to see each other!

It's so good to have the outbound sisters back, it's like a part of temple square was missing and now it's back.

Speaking of outbound, there are none going out this transfer. Because of changes in the mission, President has decided that during the busiest months, he wouldn't send sisters out. I'm guessing that he won't send anyone outbound next transfer either, but you never know, God does what he wants, and President listens to him, thank goodness.

I love you all SO much!

You're amazing!

LOVE!

~Sister Sarah

Pictures Again!

2010-05-08T10:50:00.001-04:00

temple

my roommies

temple

my district

Exciting, no?

So I figured out where my camera cord is. In my camera case! Whoda thunk??

Any ways, so now you get to see pictures from MY camera :D Exciting, no?

last first etc

2010-05-08T10:11:00.000-04:00

Today's the last p-day of the transfer, and I won't find out until monday what's going on. I feel pretty calm because I'm not going outbound for sure, but at the same time I want to know what's going on for my second to last transfer, even though that feels really really really weird. There are some things that I miss, but at the same time I'm really glad I'm a missionary right now :)

There are so many miracles, I may not get to many of them especially since I'm so out of it currently. :)

On sunday I talked to a man on the phone and he said something that I found profound- "There are too many members and not enough disciples." He was talking about christian just in general. I think it's true in a lot of ways. Amazing how things are like that.

Also on sunday we took two guys around and they both referred. It was pretty neat that they wanted to learn more.

I was at welfare square a lot this week and met someone named Brittani Nicholas from the Hollister 1st ward. She doesn't live there now, but she recognized my name and mentioned other people that I knew from hollister. Kind of crazy. Does any one remember much about her? She's about the same age as David.

We lost a couple of our japanese sisters. Some of them came here instead of Hawaii, because there was too many in Hawaii, but then they wanted two of them back. It was sad... one of them was a sister that I had helped take around Welfare square the second time.

Today we had an ASL tour with a guy who was still learning sign language. He lost his hearing over time, so he's deaf but didn't start learning ASL until recently.

Now we're taking a Tagalog tour since no one else is responding :)

LOVE

My ability to speak English is fading

2010-05-01T17:09:00.000-04:00

At least that's what it seems. You would think on an english mission, it wouldn't suffer, but no... I have-apparently- a knack of picking up accents and ways of phrasing things... even if it's incorrect. Like this morning, I couldn't see my district leader and a meeting was about to start, "Where she is?" said I. Then realized what I said. Perhaps I'll need help to speak properly when I go back home ;)

So last sunday we were able to go to Music and the Spoken word for the first time since I've been back because sister Talines and I weren't announcing in Tagalog or ASL. It was pretty neat because the orchistra was playing, and President Monson was there (I could kind of see him through the fake cherry tree.) and -to my companion's delight- David Archuleta. She was excited that he was there, I was more excited that the prophet was there, so we each got something that we liked.

That same day I ran into someone who gave me a quote from his mission. His mission president told him, "We're sending you to a new area- the world. Your assignment is to give at least one referral to the missionaries per month." I thought that was a neat way to look at it, so I wrote it down so I could remember it.

I also met someone who was a missionary in the San Jose mission! He was the first person I met from that mission, so it was pretty fun. He remembered a lot of t he people that I grew up with like the Greens and Grahams and Woodruffs. He just got off his mission a year or two ago so it was neat to hear that they were still in Greenfield.

This week I took my second tour at Welfare square... well my second time taking a sister who spoke Japanese, and never had given a tour at Welfare square to welfare square. It was kind of funny. The zone leaders paged me and asked me to take her there again, like I had the other. The poor sister was nervous, but I think she did well, because she gave her best, and that's all God asks her to do. I tried to encourage her after, and hopefully it helped.

I also learned a Russian phrase- Ya tibya lublue. Which means- I love you. Lots of things we learn daily.

Wednesday we planned more specifically and saw many miracles. It was neat to be able to see God's hand in things. We also got to go to Welfare Square again, but this time it was my companion's first time giving a tour. We had a huge group of young men and women from Orem and actually had a few of them give us some people we could call. It was really nice.

And now to answer a few questions... I honestly do not know when I'll be calling. I have no clue, because we now plan our entire schedule ourselves. We don't have a little slip of paper telling us when to take lunch and dinner, we just have... well our planners, and a request that we don't do the same time every day, etc. It's crazy, but good how far this mission has come. If you let me know when you all are available, I'll ask my companion if we can plan to have lunch or dinner during the time that would work best for every one :)

We found out about us being able to do our own schedule (completely, including when we go to the call center -- we just sign up at the begining of the week so we know when it's going to be full.)on Tuesday Evening. It was crazy. Our district leader paged us and we went and talked with her for a moment, and that's when she informed us. It was fast and a little crazy, but in a nice way. This mission has changed completely from the way it was when I first arrived. I love it! I'm glad the change has been gradual, but every change has been good. It still amazes me though. It went from a mission where you couldn't move from one spot for an hour, or more, until your replacements came, to us being able to move wherever we want, within our area, and go according to the spirit. Thank goodness.

Oh, Laila from david's ward in CA says Hi. I met her and her family randomly on the square, so I thought I might pass it on :)

Today was pretty neat, we met a couple of guys who were originally from India and took them around. They reminded me of my old investigator- Rajen. They were quiet, and seemed like they weren't interested, but in the end both wanted to learn more. It was amazing :).

Any way, I love ya all!! Be happy and stuff!! :D

Love sister of a sarah of a durtschi sort.

Tulips, Daisies, butter...?

2010-04-18T10:06:00.000-04:00

Okay... umm... I left my book of Mormon with my Planner... at home... so I'm kind of lost and don't know what to say.

The weather! That's a great place to start! It's been GORGEOUS!!! If it would stay like this the rest of my mission, I'd be in heaven. My companion, sister Talines, and I have just finished taking about 200 pictures... each. Okay, maybe I exaggerate.... Any way, I took more than I have in a LONG time.

So, today was pretty neat. We finally got to Weekly planning (we had Zone Conference this week as well as a ton of other meetings, so we haven't had a companion study to do it in. That's something that's different from outbound... Weekly planning is a LOT longer, and you HAVE to do it before the next week starts. It's now Saturday and the week started on Wednesday, and we just did Weekly planning this morning. Kind of weird, but we don't have any investigators to plan for, so why take more time than is needed?

Any way, so we got onto the Square and almost as soon as we got there, we ran into a man from North Carolina. It was fun. We took him around, then walked and talked with people, namely the parents of the organist who was performing today. His mother's from the Philippines, so sister Talines and she had a fun conversation. We were near the tabernacle when they started handing out programs for the performance that day. Sister Rafi' (shortened because most people can't say Rafidairimanda.. and I probably spelled it wrong.) and Holmes asked us to stay in the Tab' during the performance to let people out when they need to go, etc, in a way that it won't be loud. It was wonderful to be able to hear the music, especially 'Come Come Ye Saints' I got goose bumps and one of the ladies who was listening wanted to leave because she was tearing up. It's neat how heavenly father gives little treats now and again to make life sweet. Kind of like eating a raisin bagel, mostly bland with a bite of sweetness every once and a while, that makes the whole thing sweet. :) But if the whole thing were sweet, we'd get tired of it. Bored you might say.

After the Organ Recital, a man came in from England. He was there on business and was interested in different things. We got to know him, and were able to answer questions. Sister Talines mentioned that she used to be Catholic, and he had said previously that he was Catholic, so he asked if they were different. I explained the greatest difference was that we believe the authority was lost and is now back on the earth with prophets and apostles, and he seemed to accept that well. He asked a few more questions, but didn't want missionaries because he's always traveling. We encouraged him to stop and talk to the missionaries in his area whenever he saw them. We hope the best for him. I think we have to have a lot of faith on this mission and know that those who are ready will receive the gospel one way or another...

Earlier in the week, Thursday I think(which is when we had our Zone Conference) we met a couple from Pittsburgh. They were truck drivers, and had a bit of an accent. At first I thought they were from Brazil, because it sounded similar, but when I asked if they "spoke another language" (my polite way of saying, "I can hear a bit of an accent... what's it from?") When they replied, they said, "Arabic." I was a little surprised, it was my first time in a long time that I ran into people who originally spoke that language. We'd already been having a great discussion about Christ, so I just kept on going, explaining about the Temple, and so on. They were both open and could feel the spirit, and it felt good to them.

After we finished, one of the sisters who can kind of speak Arabic walked by myself and sister Talines, and we pointed her in the right direction to distract them while we got them an Arabic book of Mormon. They were very thankful for the book, and said they would read it. They're already reading the bible in Arabic, so it would be good for them to have both. :D So... again with the faith thing. Hopefully they'll meet with missionaries too...

I'm very thankful for sunscreen.

Sunday was nice. Sister Talines announced in Tagalog, and we kind of got a tour. Some other sisters found them for us, and they were members and had a very limited amount of time, but it was nice for them all to talk for a while.

I used the crock pot for the second time on my mission... the first time was in my first transfer. It worked out well. I tried to do something like what dad does for sundays (potroast, with potatoes, etc), and... well, I didn't have most of the ingredients that he uses, so for what I had it turned out well :).

I don't remember much. Sorry... that's what happens when I don't have my planner... my goldfish-sized memory kicks in .

I can't believe it's Week three... and the middle of it to boot! I've noticed a lot of things, and have been trying to improve. It's kind of funny because I remembered some things from before outbound and some of them are starting to come back. Some of those things I'm glad about, but others I'm not. We (Sister Talines and I) made a goal today to try and learn something new every day that we can use every day, so we're not just saying, doing, etc, the same things over and over again and getting bored. So hopefully that will help.

I've been able to run into a lot of members recently. I've really encouraged the young members to go on missions, especially mission-aged young men (girls too ;) ) I've been able to improve my ways of talking with them, and others... I hope.

Any way. Many many miracles. I love it. :D

Love you all! Be good! And Happy!

LOVE!

~Sister of the Durtschi of the Sarah Sort.

Ps... No butters were involved in the making of this email... aside from the small amount that was in dinner last night (in case you were wondering about the subject.)

More Pictures

2010-04-17T10:35:00.001-04:00

1. Sample from today's pictures

2/3/4. Just after the session of conference that we got to see

5. Conference Sunday night when we got together to see what the totals were and so on.

Pictures!

2010-04-17T10:27:00.000-04:00

Some pictures of me and Sister Talines! Enjoy!

Hi... again :)

2010-04-12T15:25:00.000-04:00

So, it's not been that long ago that I wrote. But that's okay, right? You like hearing from me, yes? :)

This week is pretty neat, even though you just heard from me on Wednesday :)

We were able to take two wonderful ladies around on Thursday. They're deaf and wanted to learn more by the end of it. My poor companion almost fell asleep because we chatted so much. At first I thought they're members, but as we chatted we got to know each other better. they asked some really great questions about the church and what we believed, and some normal questions about temple square and us as missionaries, especially since the next day we were able to take the same ladies around the Beehive house. They asked us there if all of us had to wear skirts (common question...) and we let them know that we want to look professional, so as missionaries we wear nice clothes, etc.

Something that's interesting about temple square is we have a chance to answer a lot of people's questions. Some of them make me think a lot. Even though I know the answers for myself, it forces me to think about it from their perspectives... which means that I have to find a different way to answer the same question with the same answer. I love it. Even if I don't love it at the time I'm having to think on my toes and answer it.

We met a lady today who's coming back to church. We were able to share some uplifting scriptures with her and help her feel welcome. I think those who come back are brave, because it usually means they're admitting they have been wrong and they're willing to make the changes that they need to. Change is scary a lot.

There have been a lot of things that have changed here, namely sisters and so on, but it's taking me a while to adjust to absolutely everything. Thankfully the gospel always stays the same :D

Something I'm also thankful for is the district that I had in the MTC is still going strong. None of us, asside from the one who went home in the MTC, have gone home yet. All the girls are still here, and according to them, all the boys are still in Hawaii. The reason I bring that up is because one of the elders from our zone in the MTC who left to go to his mission when we left to come here is home now. I ran into him yesterday. It was kind of sad, but things work out in their own way.

Any ways, love yas lots!

Be happy n all that!!

Love

Sis. of the Durtschi of the Sarah Sort.

Temple Square, take two

2010-04-08T16:05:00.000-04:00

SO, yes, I'm back. And it's weird. but good.... and weird.

We have lovely shiny new computers in the Family Search center, and a shiny new gmail-ish email thing that makes it so it doesn't munch my emails, so I can safely type in the email thing, YAY! And if you didn't understand that sentence... I'm sorry. Thus is my ability to speak currently ;)

any ways. It's weird to type a letter, rather than write it. my fingers are getting ahead of each other and trying to give ya'll a bunch of typoes to play with... but I'm cleaning them up so no worries.

Any way, so as you probably know I got back to Temple sqare the wednesday before general conference. Heavenly father didn't want to give me any time to complain about my feet hurting before I was on them alllll t he time, I think.

So my last day in Washington was kind of crazy, Tuesday we went to zone conference in a different zone because President Showalter wanted me to go to one last zone conference so I could bear my testimony, which was nice. We gained a new companion that day, sister Christianson, and took her over to meet one of the families we were working on re-activating, because we had meant to see them earlier that day, but since zone conference went over (plus the exit interview with pres. Showalter) we didn't get back until an hour or two after we had wanted to go. So we attempted to take pictures. Edith was less than cooperative. At 96 she didn't really want people taking pictures of her, but we accomplished it. :D

We moved that day into a different member's home, because another sister from Temple Square, C.Martinez, took over my area. She also knows some sign language, and will help the Deaf branch out a lot! I'm excited for her. I hope all goes well there.

Wednesday I went to the airport (After repacking my bags so everything could fit.) And waited. For a long time. Sister Bailey(who flew with me to washington) came and joined me and we chattered about outbound and how fast it went and exchanged pictures and stories, but since we sat on different places on the plane, we didn't meet up again until after the flight. During the flight I sat next to a woman who lived in, basically, my area back in washington. It was fun. We talked the entire flight and enjoyed each other's company, and at the end of the flight, I asked if we could keep in contact, we exchanged info (I just gave my email since that's all I really knew... ) and then I asked if she wouldn't mind having missionaries like myself go and visit with her. She agreed. I was so excited.

Thursday we had an outbound testimony meeting at President and sister Holmes' house. It was really great to see all the sisters who came back and how they've grown.

I've noticed that I'm a lot more comfortable with people asking me challenging questions. We've had a lot of those since conference, and I've been able to answer them well, even though I still don't like them.

At the meeting, President asked us to not talk about outbound now that we're here, so that we can focus on the work here. it's kind of weird since it was part of us for months, but I've been able to use what I learned there, here. I'm more straight forward with people, and don't hide behind facts as much as I used to, I give them the facts, because that's what they want, but I also don't shy away from explaining the gospel, especially when they ask questions about it.

Friday we had a lot of miracles. At around 10:30 I got paged for us to go to the Beehive house (so something that's changed here is that our schedules are basically blank except for when we have lunch and dinner, so not all the sisters go at the same time. Especially in Extended zone, where I am. We can go wherever we want, within reason.) Because they were swamped. We stayed until lunch, took a quick lunch, then came back until dinner. I lost count of how many tours we took, but I was VERY thankful that my knees didn't give me any problems the whole day. We saw so many miracles. A deaf woman and her significant other came in and informed us that they were deaf, so I got to take the two of them on a tour, rather than a group of 20. It was nice, they wanted to learn more, so I'm excited for them.

Saturday and Sunday were crazy, but that's how conference normally is. We had a goal of 3,000 referalls from members... and we totally blew that goal out of the water with 4780. It was pretty much amazing. It doesn't feel like it was my last conference as a missionary, but I'd say we did it with a boom :D

Mon and tues, we got to sleep in... which was nice. but weird too. I'm not used to sleeping in any more... Oh and monday I found out that my friend Samantha's getting married on Friday, CRAZY! amazing the things that happen while you're on a mission!

Today we had a wonderful tour, a motorcoach of 40 english students. They all were taking english as a second language, and my companion (Sister Talines from the Philipines) and I had to speak very slowly and clearly so that everyone could understand what on earth we were talking about. Their teacher wanted them to ask questions, so we had a lot of questions. Several times it was, "How do you spell..." because they were taking notes. Other times it was, "Could you repeat..." They were very polite, and enjoyable to have. At the end they all had questions, and we enjoyed answering them, but they had to rush to their next class.

Any ways, love you all looootss and lots and lots!

Be happy n all that!

*hugs!*

Byeees for now! I'll email again on Saturday!

~sis Sarah

Email Update

2010-04-08T16:03:00.002-04:00

Hi family type peoples! I'm just writing a short one, then I'll write a longer one :)

Any ways, My p-day is Saturday, but since General Conference was this last saturday and sunday, it got temporarily changed to Wednesday. I'll have another p-day on this coming saturday :)

Letters are also appreciated, especially since we're only supposed to be on for a short time. If you write me, I will respond in a written letter, hopefully sooner more than later :)

Love ya all!
I'll send the long letter in a bit.

~sis

March 22nd Letter

2010-03-25T15:58:00.000-04:00

I only have a week & 2 days left. It’s crazy and, no, I’m not counting. Everyone keeps asking me, so of course I know :)

This week my district made a goal to have a week of excellence, which means that each companionship achieves standards that the mission President thinks missionaries can achieve (can- but with a lot of work) so we set out and worked hard.

The last few days came and the only thing sister Batkhand and I were short on were new investigators. Every person we met and talked to wasn’t interested in learning any more, or they were but had just moved into the area so had no contact information, or the father of the house said ‘no.’ Frustrating!

But the Zone Leaders and District leader companionship came to our area and tracted for use and got us 4 new investigators. We got standards and would have, as a district, gotten standards, except one companionship was short a member- present lesson. It was pretty neat.

So transfer calls were today. We’re both staying. I think the sister that will be sister Batkand’s companion when I leave will either come tomorrow (hopefully they’ll tell us to go get her before transfers…) or when I leave to go back to Temple Square… I don’t know which and neither do the zone leaders. In some ways I hope she comes now so she can get to know the area, but then again it’s a small place to live in…

Anyway… umm…

One of our investigators is golden. We met him at church and his girlfriend is a member. Her family is very supportive of both of them. We didn’t meet with him the first time we met him because things kept falling through, then he was there the next Sunday and I caught the two of them so I could talk to them at the same time.

We set up where we could meet with them (the member’s house w/ her parents) and had a great 1st lesson with a member who served his mission in Brazil, where Sam (our investigator) is from.

He speaks English fairly well, but it’s easier for him to understand in Portuguese, so the RM has been a huge help. :)

Yesterday he accepted the invitation to be baptized. It won’t be while I’m here, but I’m excited for him anyway. :)

Today will be crazy. WE have dinner with the Knowes at 5, lesson w/ Osborns at 6, deaf FHE at 7, lesson with a new investigator at 8…

Okay, not very crazy…we just had the dinner and deaf FHE because other two cancelled…oh well. We’ll meet with them later.

So, my piano practicing (plunkering…) has come in handy because one of our over 90-year old members is less active and plays the piano by ear…which is mainly what I do too. She & her son love having us over and her son has become much more active than he has in the past as a result. The Spirit plays the major roll in all of this, but it’s pretty neat. We try to sing hymns while over there to bring the spirit and now the son, Winston, wants to learn the hymns so he can participate better, which is cool. One more thing to get him interested in church. His mom knows the hymns fairly well, so we see if we can stump one another sometimes and find a song that the other doesn’t know. It’s fun overall. :)

Anyway, loss of love to you and I’ll probably be just as scattered when I write next week too…but y’all love me anyway right????

Love Sis. Durtschi

"The Story Continues" March 15th

2010-03-20T15:56:00.000-04:00

I know I’ve not titled my letters for a while, but I thought this would be appropriate.

Why, you may ask? Well, Kristina went into the hospital last Monday. WE didn’t find out until Wednesday night. (we’d tried calling her Monday and Tuesday with no answer) Friday was supposed to be her baptism. She called us on Saturday to let us know she was out and still wanted to be baptized and wanted to meet with us at church the next day. Her foot hurt so that fell through. We were going to meet wither that night, but she decided she wasn’t feeling well enough, so now we’re meeting with her tonight.

We’re hoping for her to be baptized this week. It’s the last week of the transfer and my second to last week in Washington. Time Flies, eh?

We had zone p-day today and it was beautiful outside, so half of us opted to go out in the sun, half stayed in and played basketball. I and my companion went outside and threw Frisbees, Mostly to each other and the elders, but sometimes it ended up being at each other and the elders. There was also a football involved. It was fun. I’m tired.

I don’t have anyone’s letters with me, so I can’t remember if anyone asked specific questions, or wanted me to talk about something etc so if you asked something, I’ll try to respond later in the letter, if not… oh well :)

I’ve been getting more and more out of the Book of Mormon since I’ve been reading basically everyday and 3 or more pages a day. The only day I consistently miss is Sunday because we don’t have time for personal study. (Well, we could put it in, but it’s our last day to get new people to teach, etc, for the week before the new week starts.)

It’s nice to get new insights. It’s also been good to read from different Ensigns that the Blanchards have. After reading one Ensign article this morning, I decided to look though the family home evening annual thing. Even though it’s old it still has a lot of good ideas that will help for Family Home Evening for the future, both on my mission and after. All you Lucky Family type people that I’ll be living with after my mission are going to (hopefully) have consistent and fun FHEs :)

Anyways, I’m kind of glad that while I’m in Washington I don’t email. You can’t use a computer any where you, but you can use pen and paper. I’m realizing that, because since my companion is from Mongolia and it would take a long time (and postage) she’s able to email. We have to worry about when to go and when it’s (the library) open, etc. Kind of annoying if both of us had to use it. It’s almost impossible to find 2 computers next to each other at the times we usually go. Not to mention we only have 1 library card between the two of us and I think you can log on to only one computer at a time with that one card.

I also like getting letters :) It’s exciting to find out if either of us got mail…my hand would prefer the computer, but…it all works out :)

I don’t know if I’m getting trunky. I asked about Temple Square and home and it makes me think.

One of the things I miss (besides the obvious) is reading whatever I want and learning about thing that aren’t gospel related. I miss the computer too, but mainly to use to get information, etc (including from friends and family via chat etc. ;)

But, I wouldn’t trade this for anything else. I’ve had so many amazing experiences out her, on Temple Square in the MTC. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

The world’ is too heavy anyways

I had a random realization whilst I was reading a letter from Amy a few days ago… Everyone in our family, but Stephen and Luke will have moved at least once since I’ve been on my mission. Mom and dad (Dad twice). Amy (Soon to be twice) Becky, Elisabeth and even ME! From Utah to Washington, CRAZY!

We’re just a mobile family! Oh and David – That’s what made me realize, because David’s on his way to Colorado right? Well, soonish anyway.

Speaking of David, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I have a card for you but I need to write in it and p-day is over (things went crazy… I’ll have to try and remember to tell y’all next week) So…until next p-day :)

Love y’all! Be good! :)

Sis. S. Durtschi.

3/8/10 Letter

2010-03-16T11:57:00.001-04:00

My goodness gracious! I don’t know where to start! I guess with the most recent….

So we just had a sister’s luncheon. It was a lot of fun. It was really weird to see my old companions again, along with the two sisters from Temple Square. We got there a little early and we all chatted while we waited for sis. Halladay, Kitto, Coleman and DeWitt to arrive. Sis. Halladay was a bit sick to it was a little hard for me to recognize her voice at first.

We sat around al long table (2 tables put together) and had light sandwiches and salad as we chatted. Sis. Showalter (mission mom) passed bookmarks out to each of us that had first names. Each one had the first name of one of the sisters and we had to guess which name went to which sister and then tell a bit about that sister.

After that we had a chance to talk about our areas so the sisters who’d service there could get updated on what’s going on with the investigators.

It gave me a chance to inform Sis. Halladay, Cicon and Coleman (who I replaced) that Kristina’s getting baptized this Friday

Bet that got your attention.

So a couple days ago, sister Batkhand and I went to Kristina’s and basically told her (in a nicer ways) that she was putting coffee ahead of God and she needed to give it up or else she couldn’t get baptized (which she was talking about, that she wanted to do) we also let her know that the only reason we were hitting this so hard was because we loved her and wanted the best for her. She cried and we prayed together.

Sunday rolled around and she made it to church coffee free. She was about 20 minutes late, but she made it! I was so proud of her. After sacrament she wanted to talk to the bishop to make sure everything would be good for her to be baptized etc, It went well, and that night we went to her house with the elders, because I didn’t know if she needed to be interviewed again since it was January that she was last interviewed.

As soon as we walked into the apartment, Kristina went right to the kitchen and handed me the two small packets of coffee she’d bought. Later in the conversation I told her how proud I was of her for giving it up and she said “it’s no big deal, it’s just coffee.” Miracle I tell you!

Kristina reminds me of the ocean, like tide that’s coming in. Every time she gets a little closer then falls back, then gets a little closer… Etc. I hope she does it this time! This is the closet she’s ever been before. I hope she goes all the way. She’s been speaking like she wants to go all the way and then some… I‘ll start celebrating at 8:00 pm Friday, because then the baptism will be over. Hopefully! :) It’s tempting to do it sooner.

Another miracle this week is Tallon and William got married this Thursday! We all have been hoping and praying for this to happen. I’m so grateful! It means they can progress to baptism and have a better life for their two little girls. I hope they see that. I can tell they’re starting to. Even though (*Gets distracted by noticing whipped topping in hair and picks it out before resuming*) it’s been a slow process I can see the two of them progressing. Who knows? Maybe they’ll get baptized before I leave.

Winston and Edith are funny. I think I mentioned them before. They’re son and mother, with Winston being 67 and Edith being 95, going 96. crazy! They’re not consistently gone to church since Winston was a teenager, near as I can tell, so we’ve been trying to help him gain his testimony back by helping him realize little things are part of his testimony, like him believing in Christ, him sustaining the prophet, etc in ward conference, him going to church are all part of his testimony. He sounds surprised when I tell him each thing is a part of his testimony and then tries not to smile as if he’s so pleased he can’t hide it. It’s kind of cute, like a bashful teenager in a 67 year old body. We’re working with the ward to see who he’d get along with, etc.

We’re hoping the best and working our hardest.

Last time we met with them half the time we were mainly talking with Winston, since Edith can’t hear very well she gets bored easily, so the other half of the time we sang hymns. Edith plays the piano very well and by ear (ironically enough). I don’t play very well but I can sometimes fake it because I also play by ear, along with a small amount of note reading. When I can’t read the music or make it transition to my fingers, I just sang. Both Edith and Winston loved it and I think could feel the spirit.

Sis. Batkhand and I were just about to leave without saying a prayer and he stopped us and said “hey aren’t we going to say a prayer?” I couldn’t hold back a grin and asked him who he wanted to stay the prayer.

It was exciting for me because that was the first time he had put forth the effort to keep something spiritual like that when we’d forgotten.

I love getting the ward involved. It’s been tough at times but seeing it happens it just such a great thing. I love it!

It helps me to meet more people because it makes me branch out from the normal members I’d generally run to for help in missionary work, sometimes it’s scary, especially if you have not talked with them much before and you’re teaching a lesson with a tough investigator who already has a hard time with the church. So far it’s worked out. Sometimes it’s worked better then others, but we’re getting more people to church then ever. Both investigators and those who haven’t gone in a long time. It’s exciting

I can’t believe this transfer is more then half over! I have only about 3 weeks before they ship me back to Temple Square. It’s crazy!

Doing Interviews with President Showalter I asked him what I should do to make the best of my time here (‘Make it Count’) and he said something wise and mission President-y, but I can’t for the life of me remember what it was right now, probably something to do with following the Lord, because he knows where his people are. I remember we read a parable from the bible about the Fish in the next and how there were so many that the next broke, where before they had no luck. Well, Christ knew where the first were and he’s doing a pretty good job of scaring up new investigators (though sometimes – about half the time, they’re for other missionaries since they’re out of our area)

Anyway, God’s mindful of us and wants us to improve. During interviews I’d realized my prayers were a bit selfish, looking for my glory more then God’s, so I’ve been changing my attitude and the way I’m looking at tings and doing my best.

So that’s my schpiel for this week. Forgive the Scatteredness…you know you like it ‘cause it reminds you of me :)

LOVE! Be good and Happy!

Love S Durtschi.

Lastest Letters from Sarah 2/15 and 2/22

2010-03-01T09:24:00.002-05:00

2/15/10 Crazy week, I tell you what! I have a companion for a week and we are stuck to each other like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth. We’re having so much fun and I’m feeling so productive, even if we haven’t been doing as many missionary things and have been putting things together so I’m ready to be the senior companion to whoever will be my companion next.

We find out on Wednesday and apparently the change will effect every sister companionship in the mission except Sister Halladay & her trainee. It’ll be interesting to see all of the sisters together, not to mention 2 temple square sisters that I know, Sis Faddis (From Houston Texas) and sister Nakajima (from Japan) Originally we thought that it would just be me and Sister Cicon, who would be getting the temple Square sisters and it going at that, but then we found out that it was more than that and now everyone is speculating who is going where with what companion. It’s being called a ‘sisters transfer.’ I’m not sure what to think of it. I’ve loved being with sister Cicon (sigh-son) and this week we’ve been together has felt longer, but in a good way. They’ve been filled with many good opportunities to serve.

2/22/10 So I ran out of time to finish this letter last week so I’m finishing it this week. Sorry I didn’t send what I had, but…yeah. Transfers

I’m now with sister Batkhand (Baht-ahnd) from Mongolia. She’s pretty much awesome :)

She’s been on her mission for a bit longer then I have and will be going home after next transfer, I believe. She gets lots of the same questions, but she’s patient. The thing she gets asked about the most is how to pronounce her name. The KH makes an almost silent sound, but it’s a throaty…well I don’t know how to explain. I guess a cross between a growl and a gargle.

At first it was a little awkward, because I had come from a companion (sis Cicon) where I felt I could be exactly myself, to someone who was also quiet that I don’t know very well. We talked a bit and after just a day or two we broke each others shells. There’s still some quiet time, but we converse readily about different things.

She’s organized and likes to clean. I’m working on being organized and tend to clean when I’m upset, (usually just because of Elders etc ;)) So it’s kind of a funny combination. I’m sure Elisabeth will be happy that I’ve learned to clean/organize so much from my mission. ;)

Sister Batkhand is getting her first ever real message from sister Tilley, a member in the Lake Forest Park Ward. I just had mine. Sis. Tilley offered several weeks ago, when Sis. Halladay was here and we got one 2 weeks ago. It’s a much different experience getting a message as exposed to giving. It’s kind of funny being on the receiving end of things. Kind of nice.

On a completely different not…or similar, depending on how you look at it, GUESS WHAT???? I passed my year mark last Thursday! Crazy!!!! Over a year ago I was giving David, Melissa and Becky a hug goodbye and spending my last text message. I can’t believe it’s been a year. Sometimes it feels a LOT longer and sometimes it feels like just yesterday. It’s pretty neat.

I think when ya first get into the mission you feel like you’ll never get used it and then you’ve there fro a few transfers and all of the sudden you can’t see yourself doing anything else and I wonder why I never though of doing certain things. It all is fitting together.

Things are going very well. It feels very weird that this is my last transfer in Washington. I go back to Temple Square the day Tasha Goes into the MTC. Crazy, eh? I’m so excited she’s going on a mission. I think she’ll do great and will find all the people she’s meant to find and baptize those she’s meant to baptize :)

Wow, yesterday (Sunday) was CRAZY! My goodness. We get to church about 20 minutes before it starts because we didn’t have a meeting at 8, so we just went early so we could have a new/updated ward list printed out and it became so crazy from there.

First our investigator Charles was there. That was good, except Bro & Sister Parks went to do their duty with the library and left him with us…but we had to get things done. We told him that we had to do some things and would be right back. As we were printing things out 4 of the 7 children in a part member family come, we had just visited them the day before, did out best to teach them a lesson and invited them to church. Their mom was still sick so the dad stayed home and most of the older children stayed home too, so we had a 6, 8, 9 and 11 year hold on our hands

I had a bit of a panicky time until we asked Sis. Wilcox (Bishop’s wife) to help us.

During this time one of the older sisters pointed out that Winston Sanderson was there. We had also visited Winston and his mother Edith the day before and invited him to church. He probably hasn’t been to church consistently since he was a teenager and he’s old enough to be my grandpa. I notice the no one was sitting next to him and sister Batkhand was sitting with Sister Wilcox and the kids, Charles was sitting with the Parks, so he wasn’t alone. So I decided to sit with Winston

We had talked the day before about testimonies and how him believing in Jesus Christ was a testimony and he didn’t have to get up on fast Sunday and bear it to have one. As we sat there listening to the speakers talking about the prophet I leaned over and informed him that jus being at church was a testimony

He looked at me and said ‘really?” as if the thought the thought had never occurred to him, then sat back and smiled.

I hope he comes back next week. I can see him being very active in the church.
All in all yesterday was good, as was the entire week. :)

Letter 2/8/10

2010-02-25T10:42:00.002-05:00

Well, we got the call this morning, indicating what’s going on for this transfer. Sister Halladay is being transferred and I’m staying. We don’t know where she’s going yet, or who my or her new companion is going to be. One of use or any of the sisters could be training because of the 6 new missionaries coming in this transfer, one of them is a sisters. We’ve known who she is for a while, Kimberly Kiddo because the Milsteads (a family in the ward) found out online. I understand that either tonight of tomorrow morning the trainer, whoever she is, will find out what she’s training, Exciting, no?

Last night was interesting. The only thing that went according to plan was that we went to church. Kristina’s still not baptized. She cancelled twice in 2 days. So…we don’t know if she’ll really be baptized any time soon. She says she has not worries or concerns aside form not feeling well, but both Sis Halladay and I and the Bishop feel there is something more, but we don’t know what on earth it could possibly be. So we did what we could and later on that night, the bishop called and invited us over. Initially it was just to eat, but then he asked if we were allowed to play games. So we play rummikube and part of Phase 10 while we (the bishop, his wife and daughter and the two of us) discussed what we could do for Kristina, our other investigators and the ward.

We had a blast and it was the first time we’d been able to really just sit down with them and get things hashed out all the way, not just in the PEC or anything like that. We were able to see where he was coming from and us him. Not to mention we all laughed and joked and were really open and comfortable with everything. During that time I thought to myself that I could handle staying here if I was needed

I have learned a lot the last two transfers. Sis. Halladay and the ward and our investigators have made me grow in so many ways. I’ve really been working on charity. I know that’s one of the things that will help me to the most, not only through the mission, but my entire life.

I’ve learned a lot in the way of communication. Sis Halladay & I both sometimes have a hard time communication, but within the last few days things have really fallen into place and we both have been able to not judge and not feel judged. It’s been really nice we’ve had to go through harder times, but they help us enjoy the good times all the more, which is really nice.

I’m really excited for the reunions! It’s a little crazy that they are happen one right after the other and right when I finish my mission! I have a feeling that you all will pick me up, I’ll get released…from the bishop/stake pres in Orem? We’ll have the reunions, then I’ll go to school? I don’t know, but it’s kind of crazy how things are working out.

Poor Sister Halladay. She’s had to say goodbye to all people that we’ve been working with, etc. She’s been in this area for 6 months. She’s had a lot of ups & downs, but she’s going to miss it. She’s trying not to cry a lot, but every once and a while her head leaks.

It’s going to be a long day tomorrow and tonight. Oh, I don’t know if I mentioned, but we got message today from a sister in our ward, fro free. It was nice. She also balanced us, so our bodies are adjusting to it. :) Sister Halladay needed it the most.

Sister Hallady is training. She’s freaking out a little bit. She doesn’t want to train, but I know she’ll do great! :)

Letter 2-1-10

2010-02-11T15:32:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's February, not to mention it's 2010. It's kind of crazy to think about. Seems like it's going so fast and yet so slow. Part of me wants to be done with this part of my mission and the other wants it to never end.

It's so cool that I'm an aunt again twice over. You're the first to tell me and send pictures. :) They are so cute but I knew that'd be the case anyway Most of our investigators know and ward members :) It's fun to brag in that way.

Poor Davy Boy. 2 years ago I don't think he expected to have children at this time. I'm glad they're stared though. I'm excited for the two of then...4 of them. They'll be all amazing family and have lots of fun. Hmm the Twins, Baby twins...maybe new baby twins? Or the other baby twins? :)

Kristina, She went into the hospital Saturday night and we fasted for her and another investigator Sunday that she'd get out Tuesday or Wednesday so she could still get baptized on Saturday. She did get out Wednesday. We were eating lunch at the “Gorditos 'Health' Mexican Restaurant” and just as we were finishing up the phone started vibrating and it showed Sis. Wilcox was calling, Kristina's member Friend and bishop's wife. Kristina was on the other side of the phone, telling us she got home and wanted to see us sometime that day. So we made our way over there. Stopping at time or two along the way (we'd planned to visit , whether she was home or not and go permission to go to the hospital (out of our area,) if she wasn't home.

She was happy to see us and seemed bright and perky, but old us she didn't want to get baptized on Saturday. We convinced her to wait until the next day to decide for sure. To make an already long store shorter after doing everything in our power, we found out that she still doesn't have a testimony of Joseph Smith and this being the Lord's church, not just a good organization. So...we were sad she didn't get baptized but glad she didn't because we want her to be ready.

We have some new investigators that we're hoping the best for. Jamie is a non[member street contact referral. We haven't met her yet but we've talked with her one the phone. She seems to be really nice and her mom wants to hear what we have to say too. We feel good about her and have an appointment with her tomorrow. I hope the best, but how this transfer has been going I cant' help but worry that they are of another faith and just want to anti us. I really hope and pray that's not the case.

Charles is a member referral. We went to drop some pans off at the Parks' house from dinner a while ago, last Tuesday and sis Parks (from Russia) said (after chatting a while with us and Bro Parks (American)) we all need to pray to find someone fro us to teach. So we prayed and she said her husband needed to ask a friend of his to come over. He told her she could ask that friend, so she had to figure how to say what she wanted in English, then went up to another apartment. We waited a few minutes and she returned. At first we just saw her, but she and such a pleased smile on her face I knew she'd convinced someone to come with her. She had. HE wasn't the person she had planned to bring, but that didn't matter to her. So Charles sat down with us in the Park's tiny apartment and was very stiff at first. After a few minutes his body language became more and more relaxed and we thought him an abbreviated (Temple Square) version of the first lesson. He seemed to like a lot and I invited hm to continue to learn with us and he accepted. Bro. Parks was so cute. He was surprised at Charles's reply and said “Really???” He could hardly hold in his excitement. So now we're teaching Charles at the Parks' apartment.

One little tidbit that we found out just as we were about to leave is Charles is Jewish...which would have been nice to know before we gave him 3 Nephi 11 to ready before our next lesson...and then he came to church Sunday and it was ALL on the atonement of Jesus Christ, Etc. Thankfully he has a friend in the gospel so we're hoping he's not completely weirded out of offended by anything.

Olivia is our ward mission leaders' cousin. She just turned 11 and her mom is not active, but has agreed to let her have the lessons so she can choose if she wants to be baptized or not. Doug (Ward Mission Leader) lives with his grandma and Olivia goes to their grandma's house very Thursday to be home schooled. Their grandma is in the stake relief society presidency and invited us to ask Olivia is she wants the lessons. We did just that and while I filled my handy dandy water bottle and used the restroom, Sis Halladay plopped down and started Chatting with Olivia. I came out and joined the conversation. WE got to know her for the better part of an hour when her fiend came over to play. Just before they left to play , we asked Olivia if she wanted to learn from us and she agreed. Her grandma asked her daughter and she agreed, so we're going to start teaching the Thursday after Transfers because she's out of town.

We met Bernadette just before she was about to J-walk across the street. Sister Halladay caught her attention and we started chatting with her briefly. We sound she's a non-practicing Jehovah's Witness, like another African American kid we'd met earlier that week. She recognized the restoration pamphlet and wanted to learn more. WE got her phone number and told her we'd call her that night and see if it was okay to each her (she's about 16 too) Her mom seemed really out of it (drugs?) so we're calling her tonight to get the okay.

Bill's wife is a member who comes to sacrament meeting and then leaves. He doesn't talk much at all. He's nice, but we can't ask him questions and ever expect to get an answer unless it's about something unrelated to the gospel. We know he's believes in Christ and goes regularly to the Disciple of Christ Church, but that's it. We're going slow with him. He's solid, but silent, so it will take a while.

We didn't get any snow and not even a ton of rain. It's was like California winter more than anything else, which was nice :)

Anyways, love you lots and love getting your letters!

LOVE! Sis Sarah Durtschi

Letter 1/20/10

2010-01-28T13:47:00.002-05:00

Dear Family Type Peoples,

It’s been a loooong week. 2 days wouldn’t normally be a long time, but when it’s two extra days before P-day it’s a bit harder. So I survived and so did my companion….but it was close!

Last week, around this time, Sister Halladay got sick. So I had my first sick day on the mission in Washington. My first two sick days.

The poor sister had made herself sick because of stress, but she didn’t figure it out until much later (about the 2nd day) what was wrong.

President Blanchard knows how to d this one thing, I’m not sure what it’s called…and sister Blanchard said it’s called “stress Management” where he asks if we’re ‘balanced in all 28 areas of your energy field.” And when you hold your arm up and he pushes on the arm if you answer ‘yes’ and it’s true, then your arm stays firm, but if it’s not true then it goes down and you can’t stop it from going down. So he asked sister Halladay if her sickness was related to stress and she answered, ‘yes’ and her arm stayed up. He asked a couple other questions and couldn’t get everything straightened out, but in the end Sister Halladay got better. President Blanchard also says that verbally forgiving others and ourselves for things also helps relieve stress. Like “I forgive that guy for cutting me off and I forgive myself for getting made at him.” It does help.

So Saturday we had president’s interviews, which was part of sister Halladay’s stress and that helped be happier when it was over, and it was nice to have a somewhat normal companion back.

Sunday no one came to church or to cottage meeting (a meeting that missionaries can take their investigators to and recently baptized members talk about their experiences with the missionaries and the church etc.) which as frustrating. Our investigators are improving though ;)

Monday was long for me. By dinner I was about ready to flop down on a moderately flat, warm surface and sleep until morning. I flopped on the couch for about 5 minutes, then went elsewhere to pray and felt better, so I ate then we went to do FHE with the Deaf Branch. It was fine the rest of the night. ;)

Tuesday we had District meeting again and the zone leaders were in charge of it this time and they talked about the area book and how to use it to become more effective missionaries. It was very helpful and helped us to bring up coffee again to Kristina.

In the past Kristina would not give up the coffee at all, wouldn’t even think about it because ‘we’re living in the Northwest!’ But when we had a great conversation with her that started out solemn because things kept coming up, like she let us know that her apartment had given her a 3-day notice because the bill hadn’t been paid for January, because she’s on disablility and her dad wasn’t able to help with things this month.

We let her know that the reason all these things kept happening was because Satan was opposing her getting baptized on the 30th of this month. It made sense to her and the conversation continued and coffee came up again. Af first she oppsed giving it up again, but after a while she started to accept it, eve if she doesn’t really like it.

Today we went to the temple, which is why we didn’t’ have p-day until today. In this mission they/we get to go to the temple every 6 months or so. I thought it was pretty neat to go through another temple in a different state.

After we went to Olive Garden as a district and had a good time there. All 4 elders (our zone leaders are in our district too, but had to go with the other district because they need another car.) got the all you can eat soup, salad and bread sticks and kept it all coming for a good amount of time. Elders are funny.

Well, I think that’ about as exciting as it gets this week! Love you all!

Love Sis. Of Durtschi, Sarah.

Letter 1/11/10

2010-01-28T13:46:00.001-05:00

Dear Family type Peoples,

This week has been interesting. You could say that we’re having growing and improving experiences…a long with growing pains. We have seen a lot of progress with the ward and our investigators, especially as Sister Halladay and I are trying to improve ourselves even more. As we’re making changes in our personal lives, we run into bumps along way, however we have seen many miracles. 2 Basically happened yesterday.

One miracle was Ktristina. She has met with the missionaries for over a year, and when I came Sister Halladay promised that we would not mention baptism until she mentioned it first, because Kristina felt like we were pushing it on her. The bishop and his wife had been and continue to fellowship her and finally after all this time Kristina has a solid date to be baptized. We feel she is ready or will be ready for that day.

We’re slowly building up the ward. For as long as I’ve been here and longer, we’ve had lists of people to go visit from the Relief society president. They were people that probably were less receptive to us than they would have been to actual members in that ward. People who’re less active, inactive, new and they haven’t heard of before, etc. Just as we would finish one list of people, most of them saying they’re not interested, she would give us another list work on.

She gave us another one yesterday, but most of them were duplicates from the other lists. We had planned the night before to finish them all then take them over to her house and report on the results. We did finish and headed over to the relief society president’s house and started talking with her. I don’t know her as well as sister Halladay, but she was 100% more response, receptive and help etc. It was amazing to see the change. We hope that things will go like this, if not better from now on.

Other miracles that we’ve seen are the fact that many people that we’ve been trying to contact for…since I’ve been here and longer have been home when we’re been by this last wee.

One such family are the Eatons. The wife is a member who comes to sacrament then goes to her husband’s church. We met the husband one day when we’re stopped by and set up an appointment. It was very awkward. Like whoa, we basically just jumped into teaching without getting to know them first

Amazingly and thankfully they gave us a second chance and we were able to go back Sunday (last) night. Before Sacrament Sister Eaton came up tot Sister Halladay and gave her some tips. We took those tips to heart and the second lesson went 110% better, even though he still inst’ very open with us. It will take time, but I see good things happening with that family.

I really appreciate your prayers. They help a lot and I know they are answered. J
Love you all! Be happy and know that God loves you!

Love Sister Sarah Durtschi.

Letter 1/4/10

2010-01-28T12:20:00.000-05:00

Dear Family,

Life is good. Crazy, but good. My companion – Sis. Halladay and I agreed that she’s going through a missionary mid-life crisis. She hit her half way mark on the 1st and since then it’s been hard, especially since the ward doesn’t appear to be progressing much. It is. It’s even better than when I first got here, but it’s is challenging.

Last week was transfers and sister Halladay and I were worried. We both wanted to stay and most people thought we would stay, but it’s always up to the Lord. We’re both thankful that we are staying together. It’ll be the longest amount of time that I’ll have with a companion. I’m excited because, I’ve been learning so much from Sister Halladay. She’s assertive enough to lead and help me know where to go and what to do, but laid back enough to let me be myself and learn for myself. She’s so funny and we get along every well.

It’s been a slow couple of weeks. Our investigators aren’t progressing as much as we’d hope, but we’re still praying and doing everything we need to be doing things will improve as time goes on.

I got a letter from Lizzie Shattuck. She’s serving in England and having fun there. It’s fun and kind of weird to hear form people back in Hollister. I don’t really keep in touch with people there.

It’s interesting. I worry for the ward and the people we teach, but I’m usually able to stay calm and not lose sleep because of it. I’m very thankful, because I have hard time with no sleep.

How was everyone’s Christmas and New Year? What did you each do? Anything fun?

Oh, are we still planning on having a family reunion when I’m doing with my mission? It’s still a ways away, but now it’s this year instead of next year.

Anyways, I love you all lots! Be Happy! Do missionary work!

Oh and there’s a talk called “The Missionary Next Door” and just listened to it today and it’s REALLY good. If you have a chance to listen to it :)

Love!

<3 Sister Sarah Durtschi

December 28th Letter

2010-01-04T10:53:00.000-05:00

Dearest Amies,

I got a frame fro the picture and sent it to David, so I hope it gets there because when we talked on Christmas it didn’t seem like it had arrived L Hopefully it will soon.

I did get the package! It’s a lot of fun. I enjoyed reading all the days of Christmas on each package. I got the box on Wednesday when we had district meeting (we usually have it on Tuesday though) and I decided that I’d open it on Thursday because I thought Becky would be sending me the gift rather than Elisabeth, but I saw “Grant Smith” on the other side of the papers and a different return postal code than is normal in Utah. No other name was on the box but mine, so I was really confused for a while. I opened the box and most of the gifts (“days”) on Thursday night since we had to be in the house by 6 pm and had fun guessing what each gift was. The deodorant was the easiest to guess. I got most of them right. On the stocking/tights I guessed socks, but that’s close enough right?

Sister Halladay was sitting there watching me open my gifts, probably thinking my family and I are weird as I laughed at each change in the 12 days of Christmas then relayed them to her and guessed each gift as I felt them. Helps that I knew what I’d asked for, so it was a bit easier to guess. I honestly thought that day 12 was going to be shoes. I felt the box and it felt like a shoe box, but I waited until Christmas day to open it Low and behold it was a purple sweater-type thing! It’s been keeping me nice and warm since I got it. It’s fits nicely and is the warmest thing I have as near as I can tell and goes very well with the purple ½ turtle-neck sweater you gave me. I may not be able to wear it back on Temple Square, but I can enjoy it here and after my mission when I‘ll be going to COLD Rexburg ID.

I’m may combine this letter with the family one because I want to answer you questions and I think the family will like hearing too, if you don’t’ mind sharing J

Question #0 I am not allowed to email. I‘ve just had two exceptions. 1- to let you know I can’t and 2 0 to let you know where to mail things. I’ll be able to email after March 31st 2010.

Q#1 Favorite Tracking Story…
Well we don’t tract a ton, neither of us like it and it’s harder to find apartments (or homes for that matter) without stairs and the physical therapist told me to avoid stairs. However we do it on occasion. One occasion was a Sunday night were we were so close to reading standards, and a very short amount of time, done the things we had planned and couldn’t go street contacting (or “walking”) because it was rainy and no one was on the street. We had not clue what to do. We decided to pull over to the side of the road and pray, so the next tiny side street came and we pulled out onto it turned off the car and prayed. Sister Halladay voiced the pray and near the end, she paused for a long time. I said own little prayer silently that she would be inspired about where we need to go. She finished the prayer and we sat in silent for a few moments, listening. We asked what the other felt and decided to go to an apartment complex near one of our investigators apartment (Kristina). We went to every door in the complex. Most weren’t interested and talked to us for more then 2 minutes and none were able or willing to make a return appointment. I think I mentioned this story in a previous letter so I’ll be brief with the rest. Just as we were walking back to the car, a man walking his dog came towards us, intent on going to one of the apartments we had just knocked or as near as we could tell. We stopped and talked with him and he agreed to meet with use and learn more and prepare himself to be baptized. It was our little miracle. Unfortunately we not really be able to talk to him since.

Q#2 – Did you like our gifts
Yup! Couldn’t you tell? J How long had you all been putting those things together? Who did what?

Q#3 What’s the ASL ward like?
It’s very English. I’m not sure how to describe it. I love it, but it’s different then the other deaf wards I’ve been in. It doesn’t help it’s the only ward from the Canadian boarder to Oregon and we can’t get to the largest group of Deaf near us because it’s out of our mission by 2 miles or so. Sadness. President Blanchard is doing everything in his power to keep things going, but he’s the only in the branch presidency that knows sigh language well.

It’s small and most of the people who go don’t live near by and can’t drive so it’s a bit hard because we want it to grow so on, but there is not a lot we can do. They are not really tight-nit like deaf wars normally are, but I love working with them. I’m still trying to figure out how to best help them…

Q#4 Do you teach many deaf people?
We’ve taught 2 people since I’ve been here. 1 - Michelle, was baptized on the 19th, but she doesn’t got to the deaf branch. The other, Katie, is a bit difficult. She video-phoned us on night at the beginning of my first transfer here and wanted to be taught again. Apparently it’s touch and go with her. She seemed to enjoy the lesson but her kids were distracting. She came to church and seemed to like it, but was still distracted by her kids. We had an appointment, but she wasn’t home. We tried to get in touch with her, but no luck. We still hope to teach her more, but we’ll see.

When we were out eating with a member we noticed 3 deaf men sitting close to use in the restaurant. After we ate I said to sis. Halladay “Should we go invite the to church?” She said “Sure, go ahead.” I’m sure my eyes got huge. I was expecting us both/her to make the approach. I was nearly shaking as we both went up. I started by asking if they were deaf. They said yes. We asked them if they had seen missionaries before and they informed us that they were Jewish and Celebrating Hanukah. They were really nice but weren’t interested.

Anyway. How’s all there? Oh Transfers – Sister Halladay and I are staying here and staying companions next Transfers are on the 9th of February, so life is good until then. I love you lots and the family lots and everyone lots n’ stuff. Be happy and find joy in the small things. J

Love ya! Love ME!

Letter 3 from Sister Sarah

2009-12-21T19:49:00.000-05:00

Hey Family Type Peoples!

I’m now battered and bruised…well just my arms and parts of my hands… it was a zone p-day today so it was the first time I’d played volleyball since the MTC and before that I’d only played it really in high school. It was fun. I laughed a lot because of the elders reactions to things and that they came up with mascots for each of the teams. The first was the wombats. Then my team decided they would be the unicorns and then “my little Pony.” We kicked some wombat behinds J It was hilarious. I was definitely not the reason we won, but I did nit the ball several times. Hence the battered and bruised.

Anyways the most exciting thing is we have my first convert baptism coming up! We taught him for the first time after he got married (The Friday I arrived). On Thursday the 3rd , then Wednesday the 9th we asked how his reading and praying has been going. He grinned and said ‘good’ (now some background, he is VERY shy and had just come from Fiji to get married.) Sister Halladay and I both had the feeling he got an answer to his prayer, but we didn’t want to ask if he wanted to be baptized at that moment. We both wanted to be sure he understood and our bishop asked us not to pressure him into baptism. Late in the lesson Sister Halladay felt impressed to invite him. He had kept bringing up baptism himself, like he said the reading we had given him was all about baptism which there is some mention of baptism, but it’s not all about it. He’s excited. That’s second lesson he talked a whole lot more and opened up quite a bit for him. He accepted the invitation and is getting baptized on Friday, the 18th. Pretty fast, but he has a huge support from his new wife and her family, they ‘re all members. His name is Rajendra (pronounced RahJen) Sammi and his wife is Keshni Gaundar Sammi.

Something else that’s exciting is that we started teaching a family today. We found them in our ‘former investigator’ area and when to see them on Saturday before the ward Christmas Dinner. We invited them to the dinner, but they weren’t able to come because their car broke down, but we met with them this morning at 10 and both Misty (wife) and Robert (husband) were soaking it in when they were being side tracked by their 4-year-old son Dante. They’re both very good to each other and to their son. They treat each other and their son with respect and have come a long way already. They used to use a lot of things, but then Dante came around they stopped. They were both listening intently and liking what they heard. We explained that we’re family oriented as a church and they loved that. We hope the best for them and are excited to see them progressing even farther then they have already.

Wendy Tinker is a recent convert who got baptized just before I arrived. They day of her confirmation she was called as a ward missionary. She went out of town and came back and stared getting right to work. She ahs several friends that she’s invited to 2 different dinners that Sister Halladay and I were also invited to. Two of those friends – a mother and a daughter- now want to learn more for themselves, so both we and sister Tinker are excited.

In this (and probably other) missions we have what we call standards of excellence, which is the mission presidents’ vision of what each companionship of missionaries could feasibly could find, teach etc for each week. Well last night (Sunday Dec 13) we needed to find one new person to teach (investigator) and one person to ‘put on date’ for baptism, so they had a goal to work towards. Well, we’d already done everything we had planned, there was no one outside that we could talk to and were at a loss. We pulled off to the side of the road and prayed. We waited a minute, listening and praying in our hearts (sis Halladay offered the verbal prayer and paused before saying “amen’ and during the pause I gave my own silent prayer that sister Hoalladay would be directed to where we needed to got) then looked at each other. Sister Halladay asked me what I thought, I told her that I felt we needed to go back the way we’d come (we had pulled into a side street) and she feel impressed that we should go to some apartments just down the road. So we turned around and got off the side street and back on the road we had been before. We got to the apartments and started knocking on doors. Most of the people were polite, but not interested. Some accused us of soliciting, I girl – Cassie – was interested, but she was going off to school soon.

We almost skipped the middle section, but I pointed it out to sister Halladay and we knocked on those doors making so we started walking to out car just in time to meet Antonio.

Just before we exited the apartment parking , Sis. Hallsaday said “I guess it was for Cassie’ then a man came around the corner and walking his huge dog (Doberman I think). Sister Halladay and I stopped to talk to him. He mentioned he was having a hard time and Sister Halladay said something to the effect of :if you give Jesus the time first, life will get easier.” He perked up and she said, basically “we’re holding a baptismal service on Dec 31st, will you prepare yourself to be baptized on that day?” he said he would, we got his name, number and address and will be teaching him on Wednesday J God loves giving us miracles at the last second.

Anyway, LOVE you all! Be good! And let Santa think you deserve coal this year

<3 Sis. Sarah Durtschi

letter #2 From Sister Sarah in WA

2009-12-18T22:06:00.001-05:00

Dear Family Type Peoples,

I’m currently watching Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration with 6 guys and 1 girl. My district plus our Zone Leaders. It’s kind of weird to have Elder district and zone leaders, etc. I mentioned to one of my zone leaders last night that it was weird not to be able to hug my district/zone leaders.

This week has gone a lot faster then last week. I’m starting to get used to being in Washington. I’m starting to get used to teaching everything all the way to baptism rather than just the first lesson or trying to get to know what their concern or knowledge is of the gospel and building on it or teaching to that concern. I’ve learned a lot so far, especially from my companion Sister Halladay. We’re been working, fasting and praying for baptisms. We have several people who we believe are ready, but things keep coming up. The ward (Lake Forest Park) needs 3 more baptisms to reach their goal for the year and we don’t have a whole lot of support from the ward as a whole, but there are several members who are very supportive. I hope you don’t see this as negative. I love the ward & branch I am serving in but things have happened in the past that makes it difficult for the members to trust us completely. That being the case we’re working hard and trying to gain trust and get the Lord’s work done.

The mission goal for the year is 1,000 [baptisms],which means 4 more baptism for each companionship. A lot of people say it’s not about the numbers, but it is. Not to make anyone look good, not to up the members of the church, but every number we add to the people baptized is another soul saved, it another child of God who has the chance to live with him again. Sometimes it hard for mission to put the two together, I think. Sister Tew helped me to see that in both ways.

It’s kind of interesting seeing missionary work from the missionaries’ point of view. I remember going to PEC meetings as first councilor in the relief society and it’s really different.

And the rest will have to wait until the next week. Please write and if you have questions ask, they will help get my letters going faster.

Love you all!

Love Sis.

Letter from Sister Durtschi 11/30/09

2009-12-04T15:57:00.002-05:00

I received a letter from Sarah today :) I've typed it up below. Enjoy!

My Dear Family type Peoples! 11/30/09

Well I’m out. It’s kind of weird. And it’s kind of weird that I’m not emailing. I guess that Heavenly Father wants to see if I can go 4 months without touching a computer.

So I got to Washington last Wednesday (late for a missionary) because my plane was delayed an hour or so. It was supposed to leave at 3:30pm with me and Sister Baily (a sister from class and is in the mission next-ish to me, Tacoma) but it left at 4:50pm or so. Our mission presidents and their wives were there to greet us anyway and mine, President Shewalter, took me to eat at Olive Garden. We then went to the mission office and met the assistants to the President and my new companion. Sister Halladay, the sister who had been sister Halladay’s companion, sister Coleman and her new companions (sister Dewitt & Cicern (sp?).

We – sister Hallway and I – went home and planned, I unpacked a bit and crashed. The next day was Thanksgiving, which we went street contacting beforehand. It was very different. I still used to people more coming to me and asking questions them me pouncing on them to get their attention, then speaking quickly to keep their attention.

After Thursday was a whirlwind of contacting, tracking and teaching appointments ending with Sunday and Church, trying to get people to church, and ‘cottage meeting’ which is where recent and not-so-recent converts give their conversion story and the way missionaries are able to go is if they have an investigator with them. It’s once a transfer. After that meeting, one of our investigators, a 13 year old named Nikki stated that she was going to bet baptized on the way back Nikki told us all that she learned. Sister Holladay and I were surprised at how much she had learned because she kept chitchatting through the whole thing.

O, I’m going to get a tape recorder. Sister Halladay says she sends on, a tape, back and forth wither family because there is too much to tell just in a letter and I agree wholeheartedly. I’m not sure whether to get a mini-tape one or a regular sized tape. Does anyone have a mini-tape? And we just went shopping and tape recorders are/seem expensive! $25! I don’t know if that normal or not…

Anyway, lots of love to you all! Hope you’re having a great season so far.

Love y’all lots!

Love Sister of the share of the Durtschi sort.

No Email Until...

2009-11-30T10:13:00.000-05:00

I'm just emailing to let ya'll know that I won't be able to email you again until after march 31st when I get back to Temple Square. It's a mission rule in the Everett Washington Mission, but just know that I'm doing well. My companion is Sister Halladay, who is awesome, and we're teaching a messload of families and individuals. Some of which are really close to baptism, one said she wants to be baptized, and just let us know tonight. I'm over two wards, a hearing ward and a deaf branch, we live with the deaf branch president, so you can write me at that address for at least the next 4 weeks.

233 19 Cedar Way K201
Mountlake Terrace, Washington, 98043

But, after that... you may want to just write to the mission address.

16124 35th Avenue NE
Mill Creek, Washington 98012

I love you all, and hopefully I'll be good at writing individual letters so all ya'all can hear from me. I'll probably write Amy so she can post stuff on the Blog, whether by scanning it in and forcing you all to read my horrible writing, or by typing it up. Hope to get letters from you all, and I love you all. Email you in 4 months!

Be happy and all that!

LOVE!!!!

~Sister Durtschi of the Sarah Sort (AKA Sister 'D' People have a hard time with my name for some reason here... :P)

Important Announcement!

2009-11-23T21:29:00.002-05:00

Hi fellow friends of Sister Sarah.

Tonight Sarah's companion called me to follow up on a referral and told me that transfers had been announced and Sarah will be.....drum roll please....

Going outbound, heading to the Everett Washington Mission for 3 transfers (about 4.5 months).

I'm very excited for her! More information to follow I'm sure :)

Halfway there and still kicking

2009-11-19T07:14:00.000-05:00

My dearest family peoples!

I tell you what, wow! Time flies!!! I’ve been on my mission 9 months minus 5 days! I’m half way! That’s SO crazy!!! I can’t believe how fast it’s gone, and yet I can. It keeps on flying in my face every time I think about it that I’ve changed SO much and that I’ve been here for so long. I can hardly imagine how it would be to not be on a mission… Kind of weird to think about. Someone said that at one point in time on your mission you’re afraid that people will answer the door (Or in my case, that they answer the phone or come to take a tour) At another point in the mission, you’re afraid that they WON’T answer. I’ve gotten to t hat point. I still don’t really like calling, but I do it because I want to talk to people and want them to have the gospel. Same with talking to people around Temple Square.

SO many miracles have happened this week. I was on exchanges for some of the time, but when I wasn’t things seemed to fall into place.
On Saturday we went to family search for a while and almost everyone we talked to wanted to talk to us, which doesn’t normally happen. Usually people just kind of breeze by and ignore us, so it was a very nice change. Especially since I ran into several people who served missions.
On Sunday, sister Fellmann was announcing German and wasn’t horribly excited about it. She’s much more confident speaking French or English than she is at German. So the time came around that Music and the Spoken Word was supposed to get out, and a few people trickled out… but they continued singing. We waited and tried talking to people (I and sister Quist who is from CA as well, and actually went to the same ward I did during the summer… she’s the first sister from CA I’ve known before we were on missions. We were going around and trying to find people that spoke Chinese and German, since her companion speaks Chinese and mine speaks German) but it was kind of awkward since the program was going late. Finally It let out and sister Quist and I were able to find a ton of Chinese speaking people, but no Germans. Since being with sister Droege I’m more or less able to tell when people are from Europe by their dress, so I noticed a couple that was dressed differently and we went to talk to them. They were from Oregon. Bummer. They left so she could “Powder her nose” and Sister Quist went back to her companion and I went back to sister Fellmann. We looked around hoping to find someone who spoke German. No such luck, but the couple came back and searched me out, they wanted to take a tour, so we took them around. It was amazing! They both had really good questions, and asked about Joseph Smith in basically the first stop, we were able to explain things to them, and in between stops, sister Fellmann talked with the man (who is a country singer, hence the different clothes.) and I talked with the woman (they work together, and I think that’s it) She asked many questions, and had a hard time with the Bible because it had been translated so many times, so I explained the book of Mormon. In the end I invited her and she accepted to have the missionaries and the Book of Mormon. It’s pretty amazing.
On Tuesday I was on exchanges with my district leader’s companion. We were in Family Search for about 2 hours and we were able to talk to many different people who were going into the MTC and coming back from their missions. One who was going to the MTC was going to California, Signing! She was signing with a deaf man and we were able to chat for a bit.

On Wednesday (which happened to be Sister Fellmann’s birthday) We didn’t get any of the language tours that we had planned for, but we did find people to take around. Two of which both came in through the south Gate. One was trying to figure out the map, looking confused, so we started talking to him. Sister felllmann noticed a young woman that walked in and went to talk with her too while I talked with the young man. The young woman was from England, so she and sister fellmann hit it off, and the young man was from Texas. They had never met before. We asked them if they wanted us to show them around and they agreed, so we did. They both were interested and asked a lot of questions, and both of them wanted to learn more about family and how they could be together with them forever. It was really neat to see people so excited to learn.

We’ve been having a Preach My Gospel Marathon as a mission where every day but Sunday we go at different times and either the Assistants, President or one of the groups of Zone leaders will teach from Preach my gospel, and we’ll all participate. I love it so far! We’re learning so much! And it helps make it so we’re not just bored trying to contact the same guest 50 different times…

Any ways, love you all lots!!! Be happy and all that jazz type stuffs.
~The sister of the Sarah of the Durtschi sort

Apartments and Frozen Eggs

2009-10-23T16:22:00.002-04:00

Dearest Family type peoples-

So this is the second p-day and it’s been an interesting week. As we were getting settled in our new apartment, up the hill from the old one where I’d lived all my other transfers, we get news that we get to move… again. Day before yesterday sister Fellmann and I had our president interviews and while sister Fellmann was in hers, one of the Assistants pulled me aside and informed me that we would be moving, and so would our roommates, and the sisters next door, because the porch needed to be renovated. Exciting, no? So yesterday we worked hard at moving our things, and got mostly everything moved, we just need to do some last minute cleaning things so that the next people to inhabit the place don’t have to. Where do we move then? Even further up the hill! Plus stairs! Whee! Kinda.

The apartment is nice. It’s MUCH bigger than the one we had just been living in. Both the rooms are good sized, unlike the one we were in, and the kitchen living room, etc, are larger as well. Thank heavens. The only down side is that the sisters who were living downstairs last transfer, when the apartment we moved into was empty, had had a scary experience with hearing someone upstairs. When we got to the apartment, we went to all the different windows and made sure they were all locked. Our roommates slept over in the new apartment before us, and one of them swore that she heard something in the apartment, and was thoroughly freaked out by it. Last night we had a roommate prayer before going to sleep, and I don’t know about the other sisters but I didn’t hear a thing. Then again, we’ve only been there one night.

I mentioned to sister Fellmann more than once that I get my imagination from my dad, and that sometimes, like my dad, that imagination is used to worry. I try not to let it overtake things, so I prayed and relaxed, and everything worked out fine, and will work out fine.

Earlier in the week we were introduced to Mission/Guest services, where people call to schedule tours, or anything else under the sun. We get some interesting questions in there, most of which we’re able to answer… one of the most unique that I got was a man calling in and asking what the nutritional facts were for a product called Atmit that we talk about on Welfare square (and probably the Humanitarian center too.) . I told him to call Welfare Square since they have some there in little packets with the information on the back of it. It’s something that is given to countries that are starving, or who’s people are struggling etc, to make it so their bodies can accept real food when they get into t he advanced stages of starvation. It was started in Ethiopia, and it’s an Ethiopian word that means Nourishing Porage. The government over there wasn’t able to make enough for the people who needed it, so they turned to the Church and asked us to help, we accepted. The original stuff was made of oatmeal, honey, and goats milk, or something like that, and they took some over to BYU and they fixed it up so that it could be a dry product and got it back over to Ethiopia within a month or two. It’s pretty amazing how the work of God goes.

Another fun experience in Mission/Guest services was due to a mix up. People are able to call in and reserve theaters for special occasions, etc, and I was reserving one for a leader to work out a ward youth activity. I wrote down all the information he gave me, but since some of it was missing (my first time doing it, so I didn’t know what questions to ask) I had to take it over to some other sisters while I waited for him to call back later.

He did call back, and I thought the sisters had the paper still, so I didn’t take down his phone number again, but unbeknownst to me, they had thrown it away because normally you’d take down their number again if everything wasn’t there, etc. So I hung up. Then I asked them for the paper… then we all started scrambling trying to find it. We searched using the information I had remembered, to find his bishop, but I had remembered the ward name incorrectly. Eventually we did find his number and all was well, but it was crazy for a few hours. Kind of like Grace. We are given it after all we can do. I’d done all I could do, so I turned it over to the lord and he provided. Thank Heavens. By the way, that was during the same time I found out we were moving, so it was exciting in more than one way.

Something also fun is to see how God answers prayers, especially when we plan prayerfully. On Monday we had planned for 2 language tours, one French one German. We had 2 French and 1 German, and both of the French tours had 2 people, the German had 4, and one of the French Couples referred. A tender mercy and a blessing. Since things are slowing down, and we are in Mission/Guest services, and the Referral (Call) center a lot, we don’t have much time to contact people on the square. So it’s really good to have those experiences when we do.

It's amazing how the Lord takes us and stretches us in ways that we never thought we could stretch. I mentioned to Sister Fellmann one of the first days we had together that I felt like being on a mission and with different companions was like being thrown into a mold with another person for 6 weeks, and then after the 6 weeks you pop out, and look a little different, but still the same, only to be thrown into the same mold, but with a differently shaped person for another 6 weeks. Some of the people you fit well in together, but some, you have to make room for, or make room for yourself so that you two can stand to be together in the mold of Christ for that amount of time. By the end of it all, everyone changes at least a little bit, and hopefully you keep the mold of Christ more than anything else out of it.

One funny experience in the RC(Referral Center) This morning. In Mission/Guest services, we normally answer the phone, "Temple Square visitor’s Center" and then our name (for me, Sister Durtschi) So when I had my first call in the RC, I had to stop and think about what to say, and I’m sure the guy on the other end thought I wasn’t quite all there. Normally when someone calls us in the RC I say something like, "This is Sarah with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, how can I help you?" or something like that. It was funny. After that I made the calls instead of having people call me.

Another funny thing earlier t his week- In our old apartment our fridge liked to… well you could say; pretend it was a freezer. So occasionally when I would cook something, I’d have frozen eggs. My companion took pictures for me. I’ll just send one. It was quite a unique experience. I always wondered what would happen if you froze eggs… now I know! They kind of have a funny texture after the fact, but they’re fine in baking.

Something about my companion that’s kind of fun is that she loves to Role play. Meaning with the dice and Table top and things like that, so we discussed when we last had our weekly planning on how to use that to figure out how to improve what we do on temple square… it’s kind of funny, and we’re going to have fun with it I think…

Any way, I love ya all!

Be happy and all that fun stuffs!

Transfers are completed

2009-10-16T16:19:00.000-04:00

OKAY!!

So guess what? I’m still on Temple Square. I’m not training, though a lot of sisters that I know are. Like sister Tew, she’s training someone from Japan. And sister Williams, my trainer, she’s also training someone from japan. Fun eh? I’m with Sister Fellmann who’s in the same class as sister Droege whom I trained, and you may recognize her name because she, I, sister Droege and sister Shugart always did things together the transfer I trained. If you don’t remember, I’ll try and send pictures.

It’s funny because when I found out I was training I looked at the pictures of t he sisters who were coming and said that I either wanted the German or the Swiss, and now I have both!
To tell a bit about sister Fellmann, she’s only been a member for about 4 years. We’re about the same age, I’m a few months older, she’s a little taller than me, blond hair, glasses, etc. Before she joined, she was partway between Agnostic and Atheist, and her parents raised her that way. Since Christmas is coming up, president sent a letter to all the parents and I’m not so sure that hers reacted so well to it.
It must be getting to that time of the year. A lot of sisters have been getting sick, and this morning my chest started getting that feeling of weight, so I’m going to try and rest today and kick the cold while it’s down. Being sick is not so fun.

Some of our senior couples are going to surrounding wards and trying to help people come back to church. We’re going to miss them, especially since some of them won’t be coming back to temple square before they come home, but they are needed else where. From what I understand, fewer senior couples are going on missions and so that means that the ones that do have to do more, at least in the more proselyting missions. Some are going to where Becky is! It’s pretty neat!

This transfer, a lot of things are different. Usually I live in a big apartment with other sisters, but there are also houses nearby that are divided up into apartments that the sisters live in as well, and this transfer is the first time I’ve been in the houses. It’s pretty nice, but it takes time to get used to. The room is tiny, but not any smaller than the one I was in last transfer. Good thing sister Fellmann and I get along, otherwise it might be a bit interesting… Especially with both of us knowing some form of Karate.

Something really cool is last night, sister Fellmann and I were walking around the tabernacle trying to find some people to talk to just before we went home, when we saw a cute little family. We walked over to them, and I recognized the mother, it was Becca, Becky’s friend from High School (Lortscher… or however it was spelled.) We talked for a bit, and I was able to meet her husband. I had met one of her little girls, but the other one hadn’t been born yet when I last saw her in Orem. They were here for a wedding of a friend and to find work.

Any ways, I love you all lots and lots and lots!!! Thank you so much for your letters and emails and so on, they help a lot! :D

Last P-day

2009-10-09T16:21:00.000-04:00

Dearest family peoples

So what was everyone’s thoughts on conference? I was able to watch the Saturday Afternoon session, and portions of Sunday morning, but other than that I’m mostly in the dark. I heard that Elder Holland’s talk was amazing and I’m working on printing it out as we speak, and my companion and I intend to listen to it before we go to the rest of our p-day.

As usual Conference weekend was a bit insane, but it seemed less insane than last conference. On Saturday sister Tew and I were a bit bummed because we talked to and invited 50 different people, but only one of them gave us their friend to call. Some gave us the name of a friend, but no number because it was at home, but it was a bit discouraging. Sunday was a LOT better. We talked to one less person, but got 7 or 8 people to call. Today 2 of those people accepted the missionaries, and yesterday one of them did. I’m excited to see how it all works out!

On Sunday I was announcing ASL and standing up on some steps at the conference center, fingerspelling "ASL" and doing the ‘I-Love-You’ sign so people would know that I did ASL and was waiting to give a tour when one of my friends ran up to me. Becca Riches is a mutual friend of mine and Clarissa’s and we have been serving in neighboring missions for the better part of half our missions, but had never met until that day. She’s going home soon, finishing up with her mission in Salt Lake City South, so we were both super excited to see each other :D

On Monday, we took some people on the tour, two of them were identical twins, traveling around to celebrate their 60th birthday. They were sweet ladies and both referred, which was amazing. They were so much fun to have on the tour, both southern bells and very happy about everything.

Tuesday I ran into Catherine, who recognized my last name and apparently knew Amy when she went to BYU. I don’t know much more about her because her friend, (also went to BYU) showed up and they went to do what they had come to do.

Wednesday was exciting but kind of sad at the same time. We had found out earlier in the week that the group that does Joseph-A Nashville Tribute to the Prophet were going to perform Wednesday night… and we weren’t able to go. I was able to informally meet some of the people, like the piano player who also plays for Diamond Rio (if you know that) and Jason, I think his name is. Sister Tew worked with them before because she’s a sound tech and they came and played over at BYU-I which is where she went to school, so she was explaining things to me and some senior couples that were there for a while, and pointed out who different people were. I also found out that in addition to Trek and Joseph, the band is also doing a tribute to Missionaries and It’s coming out in 2010 :D hehe.

I was also able to meet some people who I’m pretty sure are ready for the gospel, but they just need to realize that they’re ready. They came into the tabernacle in the afternoon sometime and started asking me questions, first it was just about the building, then it was about our beliefs, and in the end, after I had explained about spirit Prison and Paradise(which was one of the woman’s questions), the woman who had asked the question mentioned that she was a fan of heaven. Then I started explaining the three degrees of glory and told her that God and Jesus Christ wanted her to be with them in the highest degree and the missionaries could help her learn how to get there. They left without filling out the card, but that woman was crying on the way out. I hope she learns more.

Thursday we had a referral in the Beehive House. It’s the first one this transfer for me, and the first one ever for sister Tew. It was a husband and wife who both referred, but since they live in the same house, etc, it counts as one. The husband wanted more info and history, the wife wanted a Book of Mormon, so I’m excited to see how that goes :D

This morning sister Tew and I took pictures around temple square while it was dead and deserted and posed like we were taking a tour. It was fun. I’ll try and send some pictures to amy so she can post them.

Any ways, loves all ya’lls. Be happy and all that fun stuff.

I’ll find out on Monday whether or not I’m going outbound. I’ll try to have someone email you on Monday or Tuesday to say if I’ve gone outbound… but if I do, I’ll be able to call in the airport :D So if you get a random phone call, you’ll know why :) Love n stuffs!!!

Day before General Conference

2009-10-02T16:28:00.000-04:00

Dear Family type peoples-

So last week I was able to do some family research on our p-day, that was nice. It felt weird to be on the computer for more than a half hour or so. I watched the time go by and realized that I’m no longer used to being on the computer for hours on end. Kind of amazing what happens over just a few months, eh?

It’s also kind of funny the different things that happen in the temple. Last week I ran into the Lindseys as we were leaving, this week, a man stopped us and gave us someone to call to invite to learn more. That has not happened to us while we’ve been companions, and I can’t remember any other time that has happened since the beginning of my mission. He just walked up to us and said he had someone on his mind that he wanted us to call. He wasn’t sure why, but he wanted us to call his friend.

Saturday all us sister missionaries, old and young, were able to go to the Relief Society general session because the elders(the husbands of the senior sisters) took care of Temple Square while we were gone. We really appreciated it and they said that it wasn’t too bad at all, that everything went just hunky dory. After the session, we (sister Tew, myself, Sister Guenter and Rios) were asked to sing and give our testimonies to a small group of women from a near by stake. We did so, but they forgot to let us sing. It all worked out, but it was a little surprising at first.
One of the senior sisters in our mission had a heart attack and has had several heart surgeries. She’s doing fine, but it’s always something that is hard, so we’re trying to pray for her as a mission so that she can get better soon and can have our support.

Thursday I ran into Darren Kortzen’s sister and her husband. Actually my companion started talking to them first, then I joined in the conversation and found all that out. It was kind of interesting. I found out Cassie is on her mission in Tampa Florida, but I think that Elisabeth left just as she was going into the mission.

Also yesterday, one of the sisters in my class- who had to go home for foot surgery- is finally on Temple Square. She had to go home from the MTC and she just got here. Every one in our class is so excited to have her here, and she’s excited too, but also a little overwhelmed I think.
We’ve been preparing for General Conference tomorrow! Have you? It’s amazing to see the blessings that come from having a prophet for our time today. Do you all have questions that you need answered that you can take with you to conference?

Love ya all lots!

Be happy etc!

September 25th

2009-09-25T17:11:00.001-04:00

Hello all my family type peoples!

This week has been a bit crazy, but I think that’s normal now! There’s always change in everything in this mission, and the Assistants and president call it, “Always improving.” One change wasn’t really announced, but apparently they’re not doing South Gate tours any more, just west gate, which has kind of confused some guests who haven’t been here for a while and are getting their information from dated books. Thankfully we’re usually able to help them out, whether it’s us giving them an unscheduled tour, or helping them find the West Gate w here they can get a tour all their own.

I’m currently in the Library instead of the Family search center because sister Tew and I are planning on doing family research after this which will be quite fun I’m sure. She’s going to try and find some of her Native American Ancestors. It’ll be quite fun. While she’s doing that, I’ll either help her or try to play around with New FamilySearch more. Has anyone tried to use it before? It’s pretty neat. I was able to get all the way back to Adam on Mom’s line one time in my third transfer. I just followed the lines that looked like they had kings.

This morning in the temple, as sister Tew and I were on our way out, we ran into the Lindseys that were in our ward in Hollister. I think their first names are Tim and Ara, or something like that. I think I remember babysitting their daughter whose name was a combination of their names, Timara. We walked past them and we recognized each other. Brother Lindsey looked at my name tag and said, “Hey! Durtschi! We were in your ward back in Hollister!” and I knew I recognized them too, so we talked for just a second before we went our separate ways.

One fun thing about Temple square is that we get to see some of the international missionaries before they go to their respective missions. Today I met a sister who’s going to Germany on her mission who is best friends with sister Rogers, who was my roommate my second transfer.
Last P-day was exciting. We went to Ensign Peak as a zone activity and nearly got blown off the top. A storm was coming in and so it was very windy. On the way up we sometimes had to stop because the wind was so bad and dust was making it hard to see, besides most of us were wearing shorts or kapris / short sleeved shirts, and the dust hurt the exposed skin. When we got to the top, some sisters had to hold onto the rail to keep up, and it was quite fun. A little scary in some ways, but I was excited the whole time and tried to make sure no one fell off. It was a time I didn’t mind weighing what I weigh. After we all made it back down safely, we decided to eat the sack lunches we had brought to exchange at our Zone Leader’s apartment instead of at the top of Ensign peak. It was fun. We did a White Elephant gift and had a spiritual thought about pioneers as we ate.

During our district/zone meeting on Wednesday we talked a lot about preparing for Conference, and part of that is being able to talk to Members. After the meeting, sister Tew and I ran into a young man who was preparing to go on a mission. We talked a bit and he gave us someone to call. Later he was trying to track us down so he could give us another of his friends to call. And this morning when we called to let him know how one friend went and to get the number of his other friend again, he said he wanted to have us call more people, but he had to think of their names. It really helped me see that many of Heavenly Father’s children are ready so long as we’re ready to listen, ask questions, etc.I also ran into Aunt Janet while she was on a layover on Wednesday. More like other sisters met her and chased after me as I was on the way to lunch to let me know she was there. We chatted for a bit then she went to her hotel and we went and ate.Yesterday, Thursday, we went on exchanges, I went with sister Lara, and sister Tew went with our district leader, sister Warner (in my class) Sister Lara and I were basically in the RC all day. I came out relatively unscathed, but I’m still working on liking the Referral Center. Calling total strangers is not my idea of fun… but someone has to do it.

It was good to hear from both mom and dad! I’m glad you both got to Georgia safely! It’s also pretty neat that you were able to go and visit so many people! Did you have fun along the way?
So tomorrow we get to go to the General Relief society meeting, and I’m excited for it! Normally we need to be outside and contacting people, etc, but the Senior elders are making it so we can all go to the meeting. Directly after sister Tew and I are putting something on for a stake along with our Zone leaders… we just found out about it as we were leaving to email. Sister Tew does not like speaking in front of big groups, so she was not very happy. Oh well. It’ll be good :D

Any ways, lots of love to you all!!!

Be happy and all that jazz!

Visiting Sister Sarah!!!

2009-09-25T16:29:00.006-04:00

with many of our family members already in UT and several others coming to town to pack up the Orem, help Becky move and go to Jared's baptism we decided to take advantage of the Temple Square mission's policy that family members can make arrangements to visit the sisters.

I called the mission service line and told them I wanted to set up a tour with Sister Sarah...the poor sisters were obviously new and a little unsure of what they were doing...I got disconnected. But don't worry :) After working with sometimes difficult people I've learned how to be persistent as well as polite...so I called them back. We made arrangements for tour for Sunday, Sept 6th and 4:30pm.

Later that week we found out that Grandpa passed away. We called the same number to try to talk to someone who could let Sister Sarah know the news. Blessings happen in unexpected ways. Mom talked to one of the counselors in the mission presidency and he said that he would let Sister Sarah know and then mom told him that we had request to have a tour with Sarah on Sunday so if needed we could tell her then. He commented that he remembered that request and had approved it. Mom asked him if he remembers the exact time that had been approved (we had said anytime after 4:30 pm according to Sister Sarah's schedule). He couldn't remember and transferred us to his wife to find out. The sister couldn't find the approval in the system, but because of our call we were able to get that resolved and see Sister Sarah...a definite blessing in an unexpected way!

Here a few pictures. Sarah looks great! I loved being able to see her :)

A great take-it-yourself picture while we were waiting for David and Melissa :)

The Family :)

Pictures from Last weeks letter :)

2009-09-18T16:42:00.005-04:00

Unfortunately the other pictures from the dinner and such didn't make it...but here are the 'blackmail' pictures of Sarah's companion, Sister Tew and a few of Sister Sarah last p-day in front of an old building (her explanation not mine :P)

Reasons I love my Companion

2009-09-11T16:38:00.001-04:00

So, here I was, minding my own business chatting with our roommates at the table, when all the sudden I look to one side and see my companion... flopped on the couch in what may or may not be a comfortable position... I did my best not to laugh as I took a picture of her. You can probably tell I wasn't very successful. Especially in one of the pictures. She's trying not to smile because just as I was taking the pictures, I said that she'd probably try and kill me for this. Thankfully she hasn't yet. Just asked for a copy of the pictures so she could send them to her family.

The other picture is sister Tew and sister Jakobson (from Denmark) just a random picture taken when we were eating dinner after all ya lovely family type people came to take a tour n stuffs. When sister Tew was outbound and I knew she would be my companion, people who didn’t know her would ask me about her. I would say that she kind of looks like sister Jakobson… but not. You can see for yourself what she looks like now.

Any way, this week has been good. Sister Tew and I are getting used to each other and all that other fun stuff. For the first while we were both basket cases. She was having a hard time adjusting from outbound back to Temple Square, and I was having an interesting time with things like Grandpa Durtschi passing away and Dad loosing his job. Needless to say it was an interesting first week or so. Now we’re able to work things a bit better n stuffs.

Something that I’ve been learning from sister Tew is to write down the names of everyone we teach if at all possible. It’s really helped. Though there are still a lot of people, and sometimes we miss a few, I feel like we really helped someone instead of just talking at a wall. And I’m very thankful for companions. There have been so many times where the situation could have turned out bad (or at least me not being able to make any sense to the guests, etc) if I hadn’t had a companion to pass things off to. YAY companions!

Umm… I’m not sure what else to write about. Any questions? Things you’re dieing to know about things that go on here?

Any ways, loves ya all lots! I’m going to jet for now, but know that I love you all!

***Editor's note: For some reason the pictures didn't come through, but hopefully sister Sarah will be able to send them to me later.

Celebrating Life

2009-09-10T16:22:00.001-04:00

Our Grandpa Durtschi passed away earlier this month, on Sept 5th. We were able to get most of us together for the funeral. Sister Sarah asked me to let you all know so that her following letters would make sense.

We love and will miss Grandpa Durtschi. We are very blessed to have a knowledge of the gospel and the Plan of Salvation. It gives meaning to life and understanding to death.

Transfers, take 5...4?

2009-08-31T17:05:00.001-04:00

My dearest people of the family sort…

Today I found out, as did every one else, what all is going to happen next transfer, which starts on Wednesday.

Unfortunately, sister Dröge and I didn’t get to stay together, like we hoped. But I’m not going outbound yet. I’m going to be with a sister who has been outbound for the last 3 transfers and helping her get readjusted to all the multitudes of changes that have been going on in our lovely mission. Her name is Sister Tew. I don’t remember where she went on her outbound, but I’ll know that by next p-day, which will either be Thursday or Friday. I’m in Cover Zone, which means that I get to cover anything… well almost anything. My district covers Family Search, which is cool. I get to be in Family Search at least once a week, probably more than that!

Ooohhh my goodness, things are changing a lot, which I think is pretty cool. This coming transfer, there will be very few assignments that we HAVE to be at, so it will be a lot like a regular mission, where we’re able to plan most of our day, then go and do what we planned. This will take a lot more diligence on our part, and more planning, but I think it will work out for the better.

I am going to miss German tours though.

Oh, and I’m living in the same apartment as the Assistants to the President. It’s pretty interesting. It’s a good thing that I get along with them, eh? Sister Dröge and I will be moving the majority of our stuff today so we don’t have to worry about it later.

*deep breath*

Outbound calls and transfer conference was a bit crazy, but fun, this morning. Sister Cox is going outbound, (to Colorado, I think. Mom, where do our cousins in Colorado live?) and sister Salazar is going home. She’s finished her 18 months. It’s so crazy.

Sister Dröge and I have decided (so long as the Lord agrees) that she’s going to “Kill” me. Meaning that she’ll be my companion my last transfer, especially since we’re not able to be companions this coming transfer. She’ll be companions with sister Brunsvik who was in my district my third transfer. Pretty neat.

Thank you every one who’s written me, and all that other fun stuff. I’m thankful for all the support you all give me, and really appreciate it.

Any way, love you all VERY much! Be happy n all, and I’ll be writing you again either Thursday or Friday!

Loves!

Stuff n' Stuff

2009-08-24T21:44:00.001-04:00

So, Family, How is everything going this week?

Good?

Wonderful!

I find out, a week from today, where I’m going, who I’m going with, and so on and so forth. I don’t want this Transfer to end! Both Sister Dröge and I are praying that we get to stay companions, but… we’ll see how it goes. I may go outbound, I may not. We shall see.
Since today is our second to last p-day, we’re having a zone activity and going Bowling. Sister Shugart, Dröge and Fellmann and I are all going to gateway after words and getting ice cream to celebrate our times together. It’ll be fun. I’ll be the only American in the group! Canada, Germany, and Switzerland/England/France. Fun, no?

Anyway… this week was good, kind of merged into the other week.On Wednesday we had 5 German tours. I think we both had an overdose of German. The first 3 were fine, then we contacted a German motor coach and after that we both had headaches, but it worked out. The first family that we gave a tour to that day referred. We were soooo excited because that was the first German family that had ever wanted to learn more, aside from what we told them, enough to fill out the card.A little later in the week, we had a tour with a husband and wife, the wife wanted to learn more, but the husband didn’t want to. We’re praying for her and really hope that she gets more information.

I’m sure something funny happened this week, but I just can’t remember a specific thing.
We did go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication. That was really good. We went to the last session and got to hear President Monson talk on a somewhat less formal level than he normally does with conference. He talked about how he met M. Russell Ballard, and a lot of stories, one where he was visiting the people in East Germany before the wall went down, and they really wanted a temple, one family had at least 12 pictures of temples in their front room. When a request was put in to the government to build a temple, the government replied, “We’ve watched you all these years, and we trust you. Permission is granted for everything you’ve requested.” It was made even more special because my companion is from Germany, even if she is from the West side rather than the East.He also really emphasized making sure we have room for Christ. He said we have rooms for Eating, rooms for sleeping, rooms for entertainment, but do we have room for Christ? Even though I’m on my mission, it still hit home, because sometimes we get so busy with things here that we forget to really focus on the important things, even though most of what we’re doing is important.

So, are you all going to take a picture when you come for Jared’s baptism? And are you going to send said picture to a certain someone? :D

Any ways, much love to you all!

Be happy and all that!

L
O
V
E!

~sister of the Sarah sort

August 17, 2009

2009-08-17T21:42:00.000-04:00

I’m very glad that we write our president’s letters before we have p-day now (for my zone any way) because I had to go back over the things that happened so I could write it in that letter before I wrote it here. A lot of things happened, but some of them I already told you about since they happened last Monday before I came to do emails.

So ever since sister Droege(Dröge, the dots above the ‘o’ replace the e that would be there…) passed off German, we’ve taken at least one German tour a day. I’ve loved it! One day we prayed to have three, and though we only had two official ones, we talked to a bunch of people who spoke German to make up for it.

On Wednesday I think it was, we had a motor coach that we were supposed to be contacting for, but they called and said that they would be late, so we contacted around the tabernacle (the motor coaches all pull up at the West Gate behind the Tabernacle) and on occasion I like asking other sister missionaries if they have someone we can call to invite them to learn more about the gospel, and the sister from Sweden, sister Hollesen, said that she did have someone. This someone was basically her best friend, but I have to make sure and call at a certain time so I don’t wake her up, etc, since the time difference is so big. I called once, and it went, I think, right to voice mail, but since it was in Swedish, I couldn’t tell… But that was rather cool.

We get to contact for a lot of Mandarin motor coaches, one day we had three. Just imagine trying to get 20-60 people, who want to take lots of pictures, to follow the sister who’s giving the tour in their language, without speaking their language… it’s interesting. I feel like I’m on a big deaf tour and I have to wave my arms around a lot. It’s a lot of fun. One of the sisters who I’ve helped before with the Mandarin motor coaches gave me a card to use as an example to show how to fill it out, so that even though I don’t speak their language, I’m able to help them get more information by indicating what they may be missing. Three people, so far, have been able to get more information by me looking at their cards, then pointing at the information they’re missing, like a phone number, and them filling it in.

My second companion, sister Salazar, is going home in a couple of weeks. It’s kind of sad to see her go, but I’m glad that I was able to be her companion.

So… I think I’m out of things to say… does any one have any questions about anything I’ve written for the past 6 months?... Can any one believe that I’ve been gone for that long?

And Carolyn mentioned in her email that David and Melissa are having twins! My goodness!
That’s exciting!! Do you know if they’re both boys, both girls, or one of each?

And Belated Happy Birthday to Jared! Happy 8th!

And Happy Birthday to Becky! :D I’m excited for you and all the stuffs

And Happy Birthday to Dad early, just in case ;)

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

August 10, 2009

2009-08-10T22:07:00.002-04:00

My companion is typing away, and has been while I read your emails. Usually I print them out then read them later when I have more time through the day, but since we’re not tooo strict on a time limit because we’re not driving any where and so don’t have to worry about making other sisters late, we’re kind of taking our time, meaning that we actually ate lunch, and did a few things before coming and doing emails. One of the things we did was go to the top of the Church Office Building (COB) and took pictures. It’s kind of weird to be able to look at my whole mission from the top of a building, all but the Beehive house which was behind us. I think we could even see Welfare Square and the Humanitarian Center, which are both parts of our mission.

So this week… um… I’m very glad we have planners, otherwise I’d forget half of what I want to type at you all, if not more than half.

I’ve been working harder on eating healthily. I don’t know if I’ve really mentioned that I’ve been working on that much, but it’s been something that I’ve been doing for the past month and a half. In that time I’ve gotten rid of about 12-15 lbs, and my companions have been very supportive. I’ve noticed, now that I have very little sugar in my diet, that when I eat sugar, like a small piece of cake, that I get a mild headache, so that has been helping me not eat sugar in large doses. Graham crackers are some of my best friends, because they taste sweet but have very little sugar compared to a lot of things.

I had my first ASL tour this transfer on Wednesday, with two people who didn’t really need it, but since they had requested the tour the day before or earlier, I gave it to them. It was fine, but directly after, sister Droege and I contacted a motor coach(huge tour).I also am starting to fill in my responsibility as the American Sign Language coordinator by talking to one of the new sisters who wants to pass off Sign Language. It will be interesting, but good.

I’m continuing to learn German, and have used it, especially on Friday when I was on exchanges because sister Dröge needed to pass off English so she could pass off German, so I welcomed some people from Germany using German and mentioned where I was from, and they said something in German that I didn’t understand until I heard Sacramento or something like that and realized they were talking about visiting California. It was pretty neat. But I still have a LONG way to go. >.>

Also on Friday we had our Zone Conference, which was excellent, we had two gentlemen who are in charge of Visitors Centers all over come and talk to us about things we can do to be better missionaries here, which was mainly by not being rote and following the spirit, plus making it personally applied to them. Meaning not being Tour Guides as some of the guests call us. We don’t say the same thing over and over again because every one is different, so we need to apply it to them personally as much as possible.

We also got to see a video that’s going to be/is in buses when people come to see temple square in big groups, and from the air port so they have an idea of what they’re getting into when they arrive so they can go and find a sister missionary when they arrive if they’re not already going to take a tour. It’s going to be a lot of fun. :D I’m kind of happy that I’ll be staying another summer, just because I’ll be able to see a portion of the effects that this video will have on how guests interact with us, and so on. You all probably won’t be able to see it just now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were on youtube in a few months…

On Sunday I got to announce ASL for the first time. Meaning that after Music and the Spoken word, we go out side of the Conference Center and speak (sign) a message saying that we have tours that they can have here on temple square in about 15 different languages at that time. So basically the English sister says, “Good morning!” and every one (meaning the other sisters) responds, “Good morning!” and she continues, “Welcome to Temple Square, we’d like to invite you to join one of our complementary tours which explains the Grounds history and Basic Beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints. Please meet your Missionary Guide after the presentation.” And I’d translate it into Sign. My last Companion, sister Cox was the one announcing in English and it was her first time too, and she was a bit nervous, so she changed it a time or two, but it’s all good.

Today we went to the temple and a thought came to mind that all the big things in life are just a bunch of little things put together. Little things make big things, so don’t let the little things that don’t matter get in the way of the little things that do matter, because if one takes over the other, then it becomes a big bad thing.
And if that doesn’t make sense… it’s okay, that’s just how my mind works sometimes :P.

Sister Droege can usually understand me when I’m joking, or when I say something in a funny way, because she has a similar sense of humor/way of speaking, which is nice, so even when we can’t communicate as well just speaking, we can normally get our point across with the tone or what naught.

Right after the temple we had to go to a Safety Training meeting, where a woman, Tracy, came and talked to us about being mindful about our surroundings, not being naïve, try to be/look confident and listen to the spirit. Basically if we feel uncomfortable, that’s when we take action, not after words. After words it’s too late. And when we listen to the spirit, we need to remember that the spirit gives Guidance, not explanation in the majority of the time.

So just as soon as we got out of the meeting, we had a tour with three gentlemen. One of them, both sister Dröge and I didn’t feel comfortable about, so we mentioned it to the elder there and the security guy there, and had someone shadow us. Two sisters kept an eye on him and helped us in our first stop when he kept on interrupting us. He wasn’t malicious as near as I could tell, just couldn’t control himself from saying what was on his mind in the moment it was exactly on his mind. He said we were both good girls before the tour started, and during the tour he interrupted a time or two, mostly talking to sister Dröge, saying, “It’s okay, you can just say what you want to say.” Etc. It was a bit weird, but we did our best to give the information and keep the spirit there, and be polite to the man. We started on to our next stop, and normally we would intermingle with the people, but because we were both feeling a bit uncomfortable, we stuck together. When we got to our second stop, the Tabernacle, we went one way, and he didn’t follow, so the sisters that were following us went to him and made sure everything would be alright (apparently when the organist started playing, he bolted towards the organ, and one of the sisters went after him.) then had the security guys help him out.

Sister Droege and I continued our tour and it was very good overall, because the two gentlemen saw how patient we were with the other guy, they wanted to learn more, so they referred themselves. It was rather nice.

Directly after that, sister Droege passed off German, so now she can take German tours! YAY!

Lots of love to you all!

Thank you so much for your emails! I'd love to get pictures of all ya'all in the mail so I can carry you around with me ;)

Love youuuu!!!

Pictures from the end of Last Transfer

2009-08-06T15:41:00.003-04:00

Sister Sarah sent me these few pictures from the end of last transfer. She didn't give me much to go on in terms of labeling, but enjoy!

Yay missionary Work :D

2009-08-04T16:01:00.001-04:00

OOOOOOOOKaaaaaaaay!

I can’t believe it’s already our second p-day! It doesn’t seem like it’s been all that long, and yet at the same time it’s like it’s been 3 or 4 weeks instead of just 2 and a half.

So Just today we had a lot of crazy things, but cool things, happen. We had a tour, which we thought was at 10:00, but it was really at 10:15. The 10:00 tour got 4 people, and we got 16 people for our 10:15 tour, it was crazy! But it was so much fun! We had the Zone Leaders following our tour to see how we’d progressed as a companionship, and they found a lot of good things about our tour, and had a hard time finding things for us to improve! YAY companionship unity!

So the second thing, after giving a tour to a couple of grandparents, and their 8 year old Baptist grand daughter, we (sister Dröge and I) walked past a man that we both recognized. We looked back and both said at the same time, “I know him” Then we looked at each other and asked how the other knew him. We come to find out, after he recognized us and came back to talk to us, that he taught my good friend David Byars back in California when he was on a mission, and that currently, he was dating one of sister Dröge’s friends back in Germany. It was entirely insane. But cool at the same time. It’s a small world in Temple Square…

Okay, so now going back through the rest of my week. On Tuesday, we (north and south Zones) went to Big Cottonwood Canyon and had a game time and BBQ. It was a lot of fun. Extended and Cover zones went on Thursday, which was fun for us who stayed on Temple Square. And that was tons of fun, minus the sunburn that I got on the back of my pasty white legs, and neck. It wasn’t too bad, and it was all a ton of fun. Unfortunately, it made both sister Dröge and I a little out of it for a while since it was so hot and we didn’t drink as much as we should have… bad sister missionaries… :P

The next day, Wednesday, President Holmes put on a breakfast which consisted of Cinnamon Rolls and juice, which was good, but I was glad I ate before hand so I didn’t over do it on the sugar.I also had my president’s Interview, and after words I went and talked to the Assistants to figure out what on earth I’m supposed to be doing as ASL language coordinator, so that helped get things more or less organized in my brain.We also had our first Zone/ District meeting, which was good. This transfer they’re combining the two just because there are a LOT of people on Temple Square and we’re all needed on the square as much as possible.

So since Extended and Cover zones were at Big Cottonwoood Canyon on Thursday, We had a fun schedule. We had family search for 4 hours in the morning, just like my old schedule used to be, but then sister Dröge wasn’t feeling well, so she had to go rest, then after she rested and felt better we had an hour or so together before we went on half-day district leader exchanges.
On Friday, we went on full day exchanges, but this time sister Dröge was with the district leader, and I was with the district leader’s companion, and we had 3 tours, one right after the other. It was a little insane. Our first one was fairly big, but the last two only had two people each in them.
That was also the day I ran into one of Stephen’s old neighbors from Syracuse. Coleen Davis. She recognized the name and we got talking, and found out that they had lived just down the street. Do you remember her, Stephen or Carolyn?

On Saturday I learned a little Dutch, how to say Thank You (Dankavel) and you’re welcome (Alstublieft) Wich kind of means ‘there you go’ or ‘here you go’ or something like that.I’m also trying to learn German still…

On Sunday, we had a tour which didn’t happen since everyone was going to Music and the Spoken Word, but we did get a German Tour because none of the other German sisters were available, and we were right there, so sister Dröge gave her 2nd german tour. Her first was when I was on half day exchanges with our district leader. It was cool. We also started figuring out some of the more funny things about temple square that we’re going to write about after our missions, like how the plant next to the buttons in the Tabernacle likes to try and eat us whenever we go to assist in the Acoustic Demonstration (you all will have to come and hear that if you haven’t already, and it will make more sense if it doesn’t now), and how when contacting a Chinese Motorcoach (huge tour) we feel like we’re herding Cats. (they like to stop and take pictures about every 5 steps… and one tour group we contacted was rude and made the sister giving the Mandarin tour cry. She’s a great sister, so she’s okay now.)

Sister Dröge and I have been getting to know each other better, and we’re finding even more things that are alike than we had before. We are very similar in a lot of ways, in addition to what I said last week, she also likes to write ( I think I mention that she likes to draw people, etc) and… yeah. It’s fun. :D

Thank you all for your emails, and stuffs, and thank you Amy for the package, I did get it, and I wrote you… but I haven’t sent that letter yet, so I’ll have to try and send it today, along with a few other things : )

Oh, and if any one has an extra cord that connects from the camera to the computer it would be greatly appreciated… I’m pretty sure there are some in the house in Orem, but… yeah. :D
I’m excited for Jared’s baptism coming up! Who’s going to Baptize him? You’ll have to let me know how all of this goes with the moving and packing and stuff like that!

Lots of love n stuff n stuff!

~sister of the Sarah Sort.

Traiiinnniiinnngg!

2009-07-28T15:57:00.002-04:00

Take two.

And the computer just ate my letter ‘cause I had to restart! Oh vell.

Any way, so like the last title says, I’m training! Wheee!!! It’s been so much fun, I’ve loved it, and as you can also probably see, my p-day has changed to Monday, so that’s when I’ll be emailing and all that.

So on Monday I found out that I’d be training, and Tuesday, up until the middle of Wednesday were both REALLY slow. I wanted to know who I was training and where she was from and everything, but like all the other trainers and trainees I had to wait and find out.

We all gathered in Theater 1 and looked at each other, wondering who was going to be with who and what they’d be like. Thankfully I didn’t have to wait long because I was the second one called up and told who my new companion would be.

Sister Dröge is from Germany, about two hours from Frankfort, and we are very similar personality wise. I just sent you a picture of the two of us taken this morning on the way to our assignment, which happened to be a tour that one of the Assistants and one of our Zone leaders joined in on. It was good. They helped us find ways to practice better.

She likes hugs, bread, being crazy with good friends (but they have to be good friends, otherwise we’re not comfortable being crazy…) and laughing at me, which is good because I try to make her laugh :P

Unfortunately, I’m gonna have to give more details next week, because we need to head off to Walmart, I may be able to email a bit more later because she forgot her email address and she needs to get it again.

Love ya all!!! :D

changes, changes, changes

2009-07-19T10:17:00.002-04:00

Lots and lots of changes. Like transfers happening this week... and so I may not be emailing next Saturday, but we shall see....

So... I'm hearing a lot of moving things, but not anything definite.... what's going on? Becky mentioned she's moving closer to her store, Amy mentioned something about packing, is the Orem House being sold?And I just got an email from Amy saying it is. Where will I be going after my mission? So I can tell my mission president, etc. I’m guessing Georgia, but nothing’s definite, eh?

That’s the one thing that is constant in this mission: change. Like yesterday, we all were informed that there was a meeting that we all had to go to at 8:30 last night. None of us had been informed of it beforehand, except those in it, and all of us were wondering what it was going to be about, but President Holmes made a rule about no speculating, so not tooo many rumors were flying around.It turned out just to be a movie night, where we watched a movie about a young man who went through a huge trial (being really good at athletic stuff, then becoming a quadriplegic) yet he always had a good attitude. It was a good thing to watch. Then we saw a clip of Elder Worthlin’s last talk, Come What May and Love it, and both movies were really about attitude and how to have a positive/good attitude, no matter what happened. It was something that many of the sisters needed, including me to some extent. I think we all have times when we have a bad attitude and just need a little uplifting so we can see things better.

President Holmes likes throwing curve balls at us so we don’t get complacent and we are able to rely more on the spirit. Like this last transfer he called one of the sisters who’s more or less in the middle of her mission to be an Assistant to the President, which had never happened before.
So the last two days, sister Cox and I have been working on a manual for the new Zone leaders for next transfer about family search district, since both of them will be brand new… or at least new as zone leaders. I’m a little anxious to hear what will be happening and so on, and part of me can’t wait until Monday to hear what’s going on, but at the same time, I don’t want to say goodbye to the friends I have that are going home. Sister Kreiczer is going back to Hungary, and sister Ward is going back to Australia. I’m planning, sometime after my mission, to do a world trip to see all the sisters that I met and became good friends with on my mission. So far on my list I have Hungary, Australia and Switzerland, we’ll see how much it grows… I’m planning on learning at least a little of all the languages that are here on temple square… about 50ish all together.
Oh… my book of mormon broke earlier today. It was sad. The binding was already starting to give way, but now it’s really sad. I gave it to one of the senior elders to fix, so hopefully it will be all happy by tomorrow… if not I have an extra one I can use. Poor thing.

OH! I need pictures! I have ones from David and Melissa’s wedding, but I haven’t had any pictures from any one from that time, other than one from Amy. So pretty please with sugar on top?

Umm.,.. and if I haven’t answered any of your questions, please email them again, chances are I thought I answered them and didn’t realize I hadn’t.

Love ya all! I’m prayin’ for ya’ll!

Love the sister of the Durtschi of the Sarah Sort.

July 11 2009, Second to last P'Day

2009-07-14T22:00:00.002-04:00

OOOooookkkaaaayyyy!

This week, I have realized that it’s almost the end of the transfer… again. Had things been normal, we would have found out who’s going out bound yesterday… but since they’re not, and we’re finding out during transfer conference… well a lot of people are speculating and figuring t hat not a lot of people are leaving especially since only 2 or 3 are coming back from outbound (my trainer included) and fewer are coming from the MTC than are going home… I’m kinda sad because my zone leaders are going home, so sister Cox and I have been spending as much time with them as we can, which has been kinda crazy but fun at the same time.

Just some things that I forgot to mention last time, Thank you Grandma Maren for the card and check, I did get them! I’m not sure where I put the check just now, but… I’ll find it when I clean today. Sorry I didn’t mention it with the other email…

And mom and dad asked if we ever went on exchanges with the ward members here, and we don’t. There isn’t a single ward that we belong to that we could exchange with. We’re in our own ward, all us missionaries, etc… it’s kinda cool.

Umm…Oh, I was actually able to be with my companion for the majority of the week, rather than on exchanges, it was pretty cool. But yesterday one of the sisters in our district got sick, so she had to go on exchanges, and while we were on exchanges, she planned the district meeting, and usually she’ll tell me everything, but this one she wants to be a surprise for everyone. Even the Zone leaders… It will be exciting I’m sure : )

While we were on exchanges, I was in family search, and one of the senior sisters said, “I’m the Floor Monitor(or manager)” and her husband said, “Would a slight bow be sufficient?”And one of my zone leaders said, “no, you need to kneel on the floor!”So he got down on one knee in front of his wife and said, “oh omnipotent floor manager!” It was one of the times in Family Search that make me want to stay there next transfer…

And yes, I still enjoy being the District Leader’s companion, it’s a lot of fun, and I get to learn different sister’s teaching styles a bit better than I would otherwise. It’s really cool and helping me be more flexable.

Oh mom, I ran into Dwayne Webber, he’s a director of institutes and Seminary in northern Atlanta Georgia area, and so you’ll probably run into him in August for the big thing that’s going on.

And dad… I told the ‘Sick bird’ joke that you told me one day on the way to school to my companion and she laughed and thought it was horrible. She usually writes a corny joke to the mission president in her weekly letter, and she’s planning on putting that one in the letter this week. And if every one else wants to know what the sick bird joke is… ask dad, has something to do with sick eagles… or ill eagles. :P

And I got my 'I love you' asl pin that shows that I can do ASL, but I haven't drilled a hole in my tag yet to put it there... so... I have to wait until monday to wear it

Thank you all so much for writing me when you do, I'm sorry I don't have time to reply to individual letters/emails all the time, but I do love reading them, and I try to answer specific questions as much as possible, and if I forget one week I try to write it down so I remember the week after :)

LOVE YA'll!!!

Be happy n all that!

July 6, The Forth and so on

2009-07-06T22:02:00.001-04:00

So this week has been craaaazy. Currently I'm on my lunch break, so hopefully I can write everything that I want to write, because time is short.

As is usual for me this transfer, this week was full of exchanges, one of which was with sister Leota, and while we were giving a tour in the beehive house, two people appeared at the end of our tour that we weren't expecting. Normally the people who want a tour are told to wait for 10 minutes after a tour has started so they're not too huge and us poor sisters have a chance to actually teach something, so we were both confused as to why they were there. i was in front at that time and sister Leota was in the back, we went upstairs to the Long Hall (which can be seen from two different doors) and sister Leota was the one in front and talking. I noticed the two going to the other side of the long hall and went to ask if they were on our tour. They said no. So I informed them, very kindly, that they needed to either be on our tour, or on a tour with another set of sister missionaries, because they are not allowed in the house alone.

Not only is it a big house and confusing at times, but it also has a ton of old things that are rather priceless that we don't want to have disappear.I found out later that she was a returned missionary who had gone to temple square, and wanted to show her boy around (I'm not sure if he was her boyfriend, fiancé or what.) and she should have known better, especially in the summer when there are so many people who come.In any case, that was kind of cool because I could tell I was getting comfortable enough with the rules, etc, that I was able to get a back bone and tell them that it wasn’t okay.

I went to my first ASL language meeting… it was interesting. One of t he sisters, who’s the youngest (in mission terms) here that knows ASL, seems to not like working with sisters whom she thinks don’t know ASL as well as she does… so I’m not really looking forward to working with her, but I’ll survive, especially with a lot of prayer and patience. I’m very thankful, however, that another sister passed off ASL. She’s really nice and hopefully all will work out 

On Saturday (my p-day) we weren’t able to email, so we went home and did some random things while we waited for other sisters to get ready, and so on. Sister Cox, the zone leaders and another district leader and her companion and I all went to a farm “wheeler farm” I think is what it’s called, and wandered around for a bit taking pictures, etc (which I don’t personally have because I accidentally erased them from my sd card… long story ) Then we went to walmart, where sister Cox bought a huge bubble wand in the form of a sword, and some water balloons, while sisters Ward and Kreiczer bought red and blue paint… and I bought an outfit for 6 dollars.We went home and I changed into the outfit and put our groceries away while sister Cox filled up the water balloons, then we went to the grassy area between the apartments, and met with a portion of our zone and had a mini-water fight accompanied by a paint fight. It was SO much fun. Our arms were covered with paint, and basically everywhere else. After that we rinsed off (kept the paint on our shirts etc, because that was the point of it.) and went to a park where we played some more games and had a picknick.

Today, just before I got on to do emails, I had my first Temple Square ASL tour. It was looong… about an hour and a half. It was mostly members, which made it interesting because they were mostly there for their one friend who was investigating. So they’d fall behind and I’d have to go back and get their attention, then continue the tour. They wanted to see everything they could, when I thought I was done with the tour, I took them to two more buildings, which was fine, but I was running out of things to say and didn’t want to overload the poor guy, especially since ASL was his second language, and he knew mainly BSL (British Sign Language, which is COMPLETELY different.) so a few of his friends had to interpret for me and vice versa so we could understand one another better.

Overall it’s been good :) But now I need to eat something before we go to the beehive house for several hours.

Love ya all!!

Be good n all that! I'll try to write more next week :)

June 27th 2009 Quail, 'herding cats', and horses

2009-06-27T22:02:00.001-04:00

Oh goodness, where to start… hmm…

This week has been interesting, but I think that’s normal, eh? It doesn’t seem like I just talked to you all on Sunday. It’s kind of weird.

On Tuesday, I went on exchanges, it was pretty fun, but exchanges can get quite hectic, especially when we have to figure out how to do everything that we need to do when we need to do it, so on Wednesday we were on exchanges in the morning and in the evening and actually together in the afternoon.Thursday we had Zone Conference at ‘This is the Place’ Heritage park, and it was a lot of fun. The training part was really good and about how to get more of the stories from the pioneers (and I’m getting distracted by the sisters talking about what to do for the rest of p-day so if I sound a bit less coherent than usual, that’s why. :P) Then after words we had an hour and twenty minutes to wander around and do what we wanted. It was quite fun, I was somewhat reminded of Renaissance fair, except it was cleaner, and more free (meaning that people weren’t walking around with revealing clothing and every little thing didn’t cost an arm and a leg)It was a lot of fun, and they had animals there, like horses, peacocks, lambs (one of which had just been born that morning.) tiny goats, etc. They had several houses that were made up to look like the cabins that

I’m now officially passed off in ASL. I almost forgot to meet up with sister Shawcross (who’s the coordinator of that language), but she paged me and reminded me.

Several times this week, I had tours where I felt like I was herding cats… meaning that people would wander off in a different direction while we were talking and trying to lead them to the next stop. It was rather entertaining at times, and somewhat more annoying at others. I had to let people know, several times, that because they were only half hour, or 20 minute tours that we couldn’t see everything, but they could come back. That made it a little easier.Hurrah for summer… >.>

Oh, and my companion just reminded me of some other exciting things about summer time. Namely birds. More specifically baby quail. We were walking along, heading from the south to the north when all the sudden my companion made a squak, ‘hey watch out!’ or something like that. I stopped in my tracks and about 4 inches from my foot was a tiny puffball of a baby quail. It was about an inch and a half big, and like a round little ball of fluff. They’re really cute. The poor little thing also stopped in its’ tracks and hunkered down, which made it look even more like a little ball. The momma or the papa bird called for all the little birds, and all 15 or 20 of them ran. We waited until they went so it wasn’t likely that I’d scare another one.

And one of the sisters just said this:“that’s the other part of being a temple square missionary, we judge wedding dresses.”Because we see so many wedding dresses here. Sometimes that’s a subject of conversation when things are slow, “What do you want your wedding dress to look like?” “Would you take wedding pictures before or after the actual wedding?” “Have the wedding reception the night before, or after?” etc. It’s kind of funny.

Something else that was somewhat funny is that when I was on exchanges with sister Shugart, she asked me what I had learned from Sister Cox so far, I answered by making an animal noise. Sister Cox tends to make animal noises at random times, especially when she’s stressed or annoyed at something. After I gave that answer I gave her a real one, and that was to always be working/moving, etc.

It’s kind of funny, I’ve lost track of the last time I got a physical letter from someone… I take that back, I think it was when dad and sister Senator sent me cards for my birthday. I think it’s funny the different reactions sisters give depending on if they get letters or not. Some sisters get a lot of mail, some don’t. Some who do get mail, don’t want it because it distracts them, while others complain that they never get anything. I think that mainly the new sisters get most of the mail, especially so they are less likely to get homesick, then it kind of pitters off after a few transfers.

Speaking of transfers, earlier today I almost called a Quarter or a Semester a Transfer, because we were talking about school. Twas kind of interesting.

It was really great talking to everyone on Sunday! I was excited to hear from everyone and get a small update by voice rather than email. I’m glad that everyone’s alive and kicking!

And my zone leaders are goofs. I love them to bits, and to some extent because they remind me of sisters. They tease each other and have wrestling fights, and sometimes even food fights (they have photo evidence… oatmeal in hair is rather messy.) They work so well together, and I’m not sure if it’s because of their playing around, or in spite of it…

Any ways, loves ya alls!

Be happy n all that!

June 20 2009 P-day take two

2009-06-20T22:04:00.001-04:00

Whoooohooo!!! Okay, this transfer has been crazyyy so far. The weather here has just been adding to it. I’m not complaining one bit, I love the rain and cooler weather, but I know it’s not really normal…

But first off, Stephen, I’m SO sorry that I forgot to send you something for your birthday! I remembered the day before… which wasn’t p-day, so I couldn’t send you anything! So Here’s a Belated Birthday Hug via the Internet!

Elisabeth, it’s so good to hear from you! I’m glad that you’re able to be in Texas now and somewhat settled, and that the kids are able to adjust to the different things that are going on and all that! I’d still like some pictures, particularly ones that are snail mailed to me, so I don’t have to be attached to a computer in order to see them :D

That goes for the rest of the family! I’d love to get more pictures :D

Mom mentioned that it’s my 4 month anniversary, on Stephen’s B-day, and it’s kind of funny, because today when I was exercising with some of the other sisters, we were trying to figure out how long I’d been out in months, because I’m starting to think of time in terms of Transfers, which is kind of funny. My companion, sister Cox mentioned this morning as well that mission life is starting to feel normal (She’s just a transfer ahead of me.) So it’s been fun adjusting to things and just getting into it.

And as for the figuring out when I’m calling, Chances are I’ll be calling around 5:30 my time, but it may be 6 or 6:30 depending on the other sisters who are on the same phone line, I haven’t had a chance to talk with any of them but my companion and roommates, and there are 3 other rooms full of 4 sisters that are attached to the same phone line… but yeah, sisters who are calling to another country can just call from the Referral Center.

Amy, I think my companion, sister Cox knows how you feel. I think I mentioned last time that she’s a district leader, and currently, there are only solo district leaders, so I can’t help her much, so she’s a bit stressed, but she’s not able to talk to me about it since she’s the district leader, and I’m not. She’s doing a really good job though, and making sure that all the sisters are doing well.

We just had a Zone meeting this morning, and as always it was fun. Our zone leaders, sisters Ward, and Krietzer are very creative. I kind of feel sorry for the sisters who will be zone leaders next transfer, since both are at the end of their missions. Today we went to some grass that’s between where most of the sisters live, and had breakfast in a picnic like fashion, then had some ‘games’ My group first had a fast companionship study, and we were given points depending on how good it was going, then we were asked some random questions about our companions (since it was ran by the district and zone leaders, I was in a tri-companionship, and didn’t know the other two sisters very well, so we asked each other questions just before we got to this part)Then we had a three legged race (in our case, 4) The three of us were saying together, “One two one two …” etc until we got up the hill, then we had to feed each other pudding, and paint one of the sister’s toe nails, before giving one of the sisters a piggy back ride back down the hill. It was quite an experience. Then we had to choose an item and bridge from it to the gospel and the restoration. We got some Ibuprophen, and so talked about how Christ takes away our pains and afflictions, etc. It was a lot of fun.

Then later, sister Cox and I had a huge tour. Normally Gate tours (tours that we take from either the West or North Gate) are just a few people, but we had 17-22 people on our tour. It fluctuated because people would join us, then they’d leave, but it was the best tour that we’d taken together so far, and I’m really excited for the rest of the transfer.

I told Amy that I’d tell her a little bit about my birthday. It was a lot of fun, and I’ll be sending pictures soon enough.In the morning the first thing out of my companion’s mouth was, “Happy Birthday” and she did a lot of things for me. We all went to the Oquirrh mountain Temple Open house, and walked through. It was my first time through a temple like that before and it was fun.
After we got back, I got a page in the middle of making lunch, and was the only one available to take an ASL tour at the Beehive house. It was my first one, and they were all very sweet. It was to couples, and they loved the tour and would have referred had they not already done so on temple square.

The day before I talked with the Doctor that volunteers for us, and figured out what I needed to cut out of my diet so I can get rid of some weight, so I didn’t have many sweets on my birthday.

As I went through the day, a lot of people wished me happy birthday, and I was sung to at least 5 times, and people left things in my mail box, and I was wearing the green shirt that mom and Amy sent to me.I got several cards, etc, from sisters who were on the square, etc. Then that night, when we got home, sister Cox said, “Oh, we’re going to sister Shugart’s apartment at 9, just so you know.” I didn’t think anything of it, because I thought it had something to do with district stuff. I only got slightly suspicious, when she said some sisters who were visiting me could come with us.

The door opened to the apartment that I had moved out of, and sister Shugart had moved into, and was surprised by no less than about 25-50 sisters, who all hollered, “Happy Birthday!” and started singing to me.

My companion had gone behind my back and planned it with the sisters at Mission Services (which is where we call to when we don’t have anything to do and see where we’re needed) and so on. It was a lot of fun!

Any way, must go! Love you all LOTS and LOTS!

Talk to you tomorrow!

HUG!Byes!

June 16th Transfer #3

2009-06-16T22:07:00.001-04:00

Crazy how time is flying!
As you can tell, my p-day is still on Saturday! Which means I'm in the same zone, Extended. But guess what? I'm still in the same District! Family Search. And guess who my companion is? The District Leader! So I'm kind of the unofficial official District Leader Helper person.

I'm with Sister Cox, Who is also from Southern California (oh the irony. Heavenly father has a sense of humor. But she also has lived most of her life in New Mexico, so she's claiming that place this transfer)She's a pitite blondeish young woman. It's been fun to get to know her. I've seen her around, but I never knew her very well. That's something I've loved so far, I've been able to be friends with some sisters even though they're not my companions, and then when I have companions, I don't really have any set expectations of them, because i know sometimes when we get to be with our really good friends, things don't always turn out the way we plan, so I'm glad I get to find out about my new companions the way I do. :) At least I'm able to know what she looks like before I knew she was my companion, unlike it was with sister Salazar.So Sister Salazar is Training! She didn't want to but I had the feeling that she would. Her Trainee is from... Samoa? someplace like that. It's been so much fun seeing the new sisters and remembering that I had that look of 'Where am I? What am I doing here?' on my face when I first arrived. It has been fun.

I don't know if I mentioned in any of my letters that there was a sister Carlisle and Martin that looked a lot alike especially since they were both new. Sister Martin went home early, and this transfer another sister Martin came. It was kind of funny, and neat at the same time.

Shoot, I was going to bring my old planner... oh well.

So On Thursday I went on Exchanges with a sister from Hawaii, because her companion and my companion are both district leaders and they had to go to training. As they were at training, we were at Family Search. Since Sister Levai is newish, she had never been to Family Search, so I was showing her around, and as we worked together we started seeing so many miracles.Now something you have to know about sister Levai, when she smiles, it’s not just her face that smiles, everything about her smiles. She’s very expressive. One of the things I mentioned to her is that when she smiles at someone, she makes them feel like they’re a child of God. She is also very enthusiastic, so the combination of me knowing a bit more about Family Search, and her enthusiasm for everything made it so we were able to help people in ways that I’d not helped them before. We had at least 3 people refer their friends to receive a DVD, etc, and possibly the missionaries. One couple in particular comes to mind. Sister Levai was engaging them in conversation and I was just off to the side, somewhat listening. They included me in the conversation, and as we talked, the woman spoke about her mother who wasn’t against the church, but her mother didn’t really agree with her daughter joining it. She (the mother) already has basically every movie, and book, we offer, but as we were talking a new movie came to mind, Finding Happiness, it’s one that is brand new and pretty neat, really short. So IMentioned that to her(the daughter), and she responded something like, “You know what, that’s probably just what they need, my father has been out of work for a while and they need that.”It’s wonderful how the spirit works.

So You might have noticed I haven’t talked much about my experiences with sister Cox. That’s because even though we’re companions, we haven’t done much together since she is the district leader. It’s kind of funny, but we get along well. She also likes Harry Potter, so on the first night, when she found out that I liked the books, etc, she enthusiastically suggested, “We should have a Harry Potter moment every day!” in addition to our “Faith Thoughts” that we decided to have daily. Hehe. So it’s been fun.

One of my zone leaders is the same as last transfer, but the other is new… kind of. She was a district leader last transfer, in this zone, just not my district leader. So today we had our Zone Meeting, and last transfer, they had a demonstration where sister Ward shoved cake in the faces of some of the sisters to demonstrate a point, that we need to present things in a way that people want to have them. Today, they did a demonstration of how we need to have Balance in everything we do by putting WAY too much salt into some brownies they gave to us. One of the sisters noticed that you could actually see the salt crystals it was so salty. So they’re good at giving memorable demonstrations.

We also had District meeting, and that was excellent. Sister Cox is going to be an excellent District Leader.

I LOVE you all!

Be happy and so on and so forth!

June 6th Last P-Day of the 2nd

2009-06-06T22:07:00.001-04:00

Dearest family!

Okay, this week has been a bit crazy (especially since it's the last pday of my second transfer), but that’s okay :DTransfers are this Wednesday, so next time I’ll be writing you, I’ll be with a different companion (more likely than not) and a different p-day(more likely than not) and hopefully a different apartment… >.> I’ve been in the same one for two transfers, and apparently that’s really weird.

So we cleaned a lot, because we have to have the apartments all spick and span for transfers so the sisters moving in can not be driven mad by our messes :P But it was fairly easy since our roommates are so diligent in cleaning in any case.

Today’s already been an amazing p-day. At 8 when we’d normally have personal study, we had a talent share, where a lot of sisters got up and played the piano/sang/guitar etc in the tabernacle. It was really neat, because we were all able to be in the tabernacle, just on our own, not having to worry about guests or anything, just us and it was really nice to have that time. I could feel the spirit so strongly when some sisters sang certain songs. One sister in particular wrote a song before her mission which she sang for us and played on the guitar. It was amazing to see the talent that the lord gives each and every one of us 

After that, my zone went to the main apartment where most of us live and gathered together for our Zone meeting. We then walked swiftly to a Karl Block art gallery, where we’d had our zone conference, and if you’ve ever heard the story of the Seminary teacher who asked one of his students to do 10 pushups for each of h is classmates to have doughnuts… yeah, that was our zone meeting. One of our Zone leaders was the one doing pushups (and for those of you who think that we have Elders for zone leaders, we don’t. Zone, and district leaders and APs are all girls) The other zone leader was the one who went to each sister and asked if they wanted a doughnut. Only one sister said she didn’t, and she was at the beginning. I think the others said they wanted one because of her, because they knew the sister doing the pushups would have to do them any way even if they didn’t accept. It was amazing to see how much love we all had for her, even before this thing. She, and we, were all crying by the end of it. Then we had a testimony meeting type thing. So my eyes are kind of dry right now.

So from last week:

Deaf Ward experience:

I can’t believe it’s June already. I’m going to be 22 soon O.oSo… I’ve been to two different deaf wards, and it’s pretty neat. One (the first week) was good, but I felt a bit rusty, and it was hard to focus on what everyone was saying all at once. The second one (last week) I had a bit of a cold, so it was hard to pay attention at times, but we had a voice interpreter for all the meetings, so I could close my eyes when I needed to, so I had a good time at both, but enjoyed the second one a bit better for some odd reason. :DWe’re inviting all different languages to come to temple square and use the resources that we have, so hopefully we’ll have a lot of ASL tours coming up. :D
The guy who possibly knew the teacher at the Deaf ward:So after the first deaf ward, where we went to class for about 15 minutes, the teacher of the class was from Ireland, and I met a guy the next day who’d gone on his mission to Ireland, a sign language mission, so that was really cool :D I couldn’t remember the teacher’s name so I couldn’t let the man know and see if he’d known him.

Thanking amy for the Talk she sent:A LOT of sisters love that talk. One sister in particular was reading it and she was trying not to cry because she felt that it was talking to her directly (the talk was “Making Right Choices”)

Sister Stephen's friend:So sister Stephen gave me a friend to call a while ago, and I didn’t call her for a long time, then just last week, I called her, and invited her to have the missionaries and she accepted. She’s going to have the lessons at Sis. Stephen’s home. It was kind of cool, because had I called her friend before, she probably wouldn’t have accepted, but because of all the things that had happened right before I called, she wanted to learn more.

Elder of the 70 and Family SearchSo I ran into my first (well first that I realized) incognito member of the 70. He was looking at a family chart with his wife and a couple other people. The other people wandered away and I told him and his wife a bit about the chart, etc, and then I shook his hand and introduced myself, he introduced himself as elder something of the 70, and that was not something that I was expecting, so I’m sure I had a look of shock on my face. His wife took pity on me and change t he subject. Afterwords, the other sisters asked if I had asked him for referrals. I was thinking that asking one of them was not allowed, but apparently it’s encouraged if they engage you in a conversation. My companion told me that she got a few referrals from Richard G Scott after I told her about my experience.

Sacrificing dinnersSis. Salazar and I were just on our way home for dinner (at about 8) one night when we walked past a couple taking a picture. We offered to take it for them so they could both be in one, and they agreed. That sparked a conversation, and we talked for quite some time, so long that it was time for us to go home for the night, just before 9. They didn’t ask for more information, but we invited them.The next night, just after we’d waited for a Spanish tour and didn’t get one, we were about to do something else before we went to dinner. We saw them on our way into the Assembly hall, and invited them in so we could talk about it. We did, and my conversation with the wife somehow got to family, and so on, and different things, and a thought popped into my mind, “Together Forever” which is one of the videos we offer. She accepted it, and the missionaries coming over. We then realized that we had 10-20 minutes to eat dinner before our next assignment, but our sacrifices yielded blessings.

Summer time/motorcoachI had my first motorcoach, which is a bunch of people coming to have a tour as part of a larger tour that they have going through the state of UT. It can be basically any one from anywhere, and the two I’ve had so far both had people who spoke Chinese as the main group. The first was a group of people with the tour who spoke English, so we gave them a tour in English. The second, sis. Salazar and I were just contacting (or in my case, herding so they didn’t get left behind because they were taking too many pictures) while one of the other sisters gave them the actual tour in Manderine.

So, life is good, and so is food :D YAY food!

LOVE YA ALL!!!!

~Sister of the Durtschi of the Sarah sort

:(

2009-05-30T18:50:00.000-04:00

I apparently closed the window that had my big ole long email in it :(

shooot.I'll try and capsulate it, then ... yeah... we'll see what happens.

So, sunday I went to the Deaf ward which was a signing overload for my brain. It was good, but at the same time it was focusing so hard on translating for so long that my brain started shutting down by the time Relief Society rolled around.

I think I'll try and rewrite it next week.

So things that I wanted to write about... or had written but the computer ate:

Deaf Ward experience
The guy who possibly knew the teacher at the Deaf ward
Thanking amy for the Talk she sent
Sister Stephen's friend
Elder of the 70 and Family Search
Sacrificing dinnersSummer time.

More details to come, but I'd like to see if anyone has any guesses on what I'm gonna expound on next week ;)
Love yall!

May 15, 2009

2009-05-17T16:38:00.005-04:00

It's funny when people ask me what I'm doing for p-day. I tend to have a short term memory and so am just focused on what I'm going to be doing just a few minutes from now, rather than a few hours, so a few tiems today I've mentioned that "I'm going crazy, want to come?" then I remember what we've planned on doing so I tell them what's really going on.

That was put in to respond to becky's comment "I have to say that being on a mission has not diminished your silliness at all, if fact, it might have made it even more defined. But what else can we expect huh?" It's true. What do you expect with me living with about 150 girls and interacting with them daily... and living with 3 of them 24/7? I mean it was bad enough with just 4 of us in one house. :P

Hmm... random answers to random questions:"What would you like for your first birthday in the mission field? "Usefull stuff... maybe short sleeved shirts. I have mainly long sleeved so I may melt before the summer's out... or at least my short sleeved shirts will get VERY well loved. >.> I'll let you know if I think of anything else :D"Do you have a favorite chair to sit in? "umm... Sure? I like sitting on the couch in our apt.... and then there's the Massage chair in the lounge on the square (usually occupied by one sister missionary or another :) ) On the note of the Massage chair, I have lots of people who want to take me home because I give them minni Massages. The Piipo's are some (a senior couple who just barely went home, their name is pronounced like People, but with out t he L Peeeeppoooe!) and so on. Tis fun."What is your favorite meal when you eat at the cafeteria, if you ever do/have?"Hmm... well we don't really have a cafeteria, unless you count the one downstairs in the COB (Church Office Building) If there... I like going on fridays 'cause if you can guess how much the ice cream will cost (they do it by weight) then you get it free, but... their soup is really good, and their food is overall just really good etc. :D
"Do you love me?" Of course. That's a silly question :P
"Aren't you loving this great spring weather? " Yes! But when it gets hotter, I'm gonna be a little Sister Missionary Puddle. Full of sweat and nastyness and stuff. thankfully most if not all of the buildings are air conditioned. YAY cool air!
"Aren't you excited to be able to talk to us in a little over a month only 5 days after your birthday?!?!?!?!?!? " YES! YAY birthday call! hehe. A little late, but that's fine with me :D. I'll be 22... weird... >.>

:D YAY! go CAmeron! Way to be a Doctor!I'm excited to see a picture of Elisabeth with her cool hair now :D And when you all get to Texas, I can't wait to see a pic of your house!And I'm on a mission to loose weight too. From the MTC I've gotten rid of 15 lbs (Which had found their way to me while in the MTC and in the Orem house... so now I'm back to where I was when I was in Florida :P). Now to get rid of another 35 or so :D
Okay, now I need to go through my planner and see what things I wanted to tell you that I wrote down...
Mom and Dad, say 'Hi!" to sister Senator for me! :D And thank you all so much for your prayers, etc. They're really helpful...
Oh, after I talked to you, someone randomly came up to me while I was waiting for my compy out side the bathroom and said that I liked like someone called "Kelly Mcguellis" from Top Gun, so that was interesting
Okay, so something I didn't mention in my last email/talking on the phone was that I had an appointment with a Physical Therapist on Monday, because my knees have been giving me grief. So I found out that because my knee caps are small for my size and my hips are wide, and I'm too flexable (Hyper Mobile he called it) I'm gonna have knee issues the rest of my life. Fun eh? So I found that out and had/have to learn how to avoid going up and down stairs (which is okay, there are several elevators in most of the places where I have to go.) and do some 'fun' exercises to strengthen the muscles around my knees. And I've also been working on getting rid of weight because he explained to me that every 10 lbs I get rid of is 140 flbs of pressure off my knees, which is a good thing.So since I went to the Physical Therapist twice this week, it feels like it's been two weeks since I talked to all ya'all, not just one. And yet it only feels like yesterday at the same time.Some things he asked were if we have any history of bad knees, etc, but I didn't know, so... do we?

I also met a senior couple on tuesday that know a Walter Durtschi who's 99 in Midway, who's a son? of Fredrick, who came from Switzerland. Cool eh?I also was able to look at a book of the durtschi side of our family, and I saw a pic of Grandpa Durtschi as a kid, his father, his grandpa and his great grandpa, Friedrick. It was so cool :DAlso on Tuesday, I made a goal to read the whole Old Testament and read the first 15 or so chapters in 2 hours while my compy wasn't feeling well and had to rest for a bit.
On Wednesday I found out that "Mormon" means "More good" Or "Happy Man" hehe. I think it was from the book of Mormon Student Manuel.
thursday was our Zone Conference, and that was really goodFriday was my second trip to the Physical Therapist, and he gave me "homework" which came in the form of some excersizes to do at home, which I did this morning, and... yeah... we'll see how I feel tomorrow. Strenghtening muscles is messy business :P

I've met a lot of people from Germany, and something I found out on Thursday was that sis. Stali lives in the same place our durtschi ancestors came from! sooo good. :D
Oh and we also had Fleet Training this week, Fleet is basically being able to drive, so... yeah... Dad is there any way you can request for my Driving Record? And since it's a month till my License expires, can you request for that too? :D
LOVE YOU ALL LOTS!!!! be happy :D
The Sister of the Durtschi sort on the place with the Temple type thing on it.

So Fast

2009-05-09T18:38:00.001-04:00

My companion and I can't believe that time has gone by so fast. We woke up this morning and exclaimed that it couldn't be P-day yet, we just had p-day a week ago!... even though it felt like it was only a few days... like two. We're happy that it's p-day now that we get to write our lovely families! YAY family!This week has been crazy, but I think I usually say that. So it's a good thing that it's usually at least somewhat true!

To answer some questions, for dad- The RC is the Referral Center... sorry I thought I'd mentioned that before. It's the place where we make calls out to the people that members have referred to have the missionaries, or put the information in of someone who has referred themselves.

And now to answer Becky's Questions :D
Hmm... A favorite Scripture that I've read this week... I've read lots. Recently I've been reading in the Book of Mormon, and I found out there are two different Ammons. One who went to find the people that moved back to the land of Nephi with the Wicked Noah's father, and the one who chopped off all the arms. So that's cool.

The other one I found that I rather like, that I think I might do for my plaque is ... well two scriptures, one from the old Testament, and one from the new And I don't have the paper with me so I'll have to do it by memory. The first is one from Isaiah, which is also in 2nd Nephi. Isaiah 2:2-3 (2NE 12:2-3) and... Mark? no Matthew... I think... It talks about how the Gospel will be spread to all nations and when it has reached all nations, then the end is there n stuff like that.

Hmm... There are a lot of tours that we give... do you mean a specific tour with people, or a type of tour? We give tours around Temple Square which cover the historical buildings, etc, basic beliefs and so on. Then there's the Beehive house, which is so cool. Amy'd love it. Dad probably would too :D. That's Brigham Young's house (Well one of them) And Then there's Welfare Square (Which is cool, but it's an hour long rather than a half hour...) and Humanitarian Center (which I've not been to yet and haven't given a tour at... My training experience has been different than others...)

As for a specific person... there have been many tours that I've loved. But Yesterday, sis. Salazar and I were able to see miracles. So far, in our companionship, we've not received any Referrals. Maybe a Member referral or two, but no actual referrals (They're basically our equivalent of Baptisms since we don't baptize in our mission, so it's been a bummer) And yesterday we had an excellent tour with a very less active member, who probably hadn't been to church in 30 or more years. The whole tour (it was only him on the tour) was about him and he could feel the spirit so strong through the whole tour. After the Christus statue, we asked him how he felt and he couldn't speak, just pound his chest over his heart and shake his head with a smile.That was an excellent experience.

The next one was at the Beehive house. We took three groups of people through, and in the second group there were three people from Japan... unfortunately they weren't from Dad's mission, they lived more northern.It was t he last group that was the miracle. There were two missionaries (a couple) that are on a mission for the security, and their friend who's not a member. We went through the house and we didn't expect much to come of the tour, but at the end, their friend surprised us by referring! She was our first referral we received as a companionship.We were SO excited about that...

And I'm excited to talk to you all tomorrow!

OH!!! And dad!!! Do you have Oren's Number? And can you get a hold of him? I've met several distant relatives since being in t he Family Search district (you know that place with the computers in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building? We get to invite people to do missionary work on the other side of the vial in addition to this one. It's so cool :D) And one of them was talking about how Oren wrote a book about our ancestors, and so on. And I met a Turtschi! I think he changed his name from Durtschi back to Turtschi, so it's really cool :D
Any ways, I'll talk about it all more tomorrow, love yall lots!!!!

Be happy and so on!

LOVE!!!!!!

New, new, new

2009-05-02T16:06:00.000-04:00

So many new things in this week!

And I forgot a few things, like the letters I printed out from you all that could make it so I could respond to things without forgetting anything, but I'll try and respond to things this time. I also forgot my old planner so I could look back and see what happened farther than last Wednesday.
As you can see, my p-day is still Saturday, but that and where I live are about the only things that are the same about this transfer. My trainer left for North Carolina Wednesday morning after packing all night (I was no help. I was sick from Monday night until late Tuesday, and was tired most of the day Wednesday, but was able to do missionary things for the most part.)Wednesday I was on exchanges with my Mission 'Grandma' (the sister that trained my trainer) all day and then I finally met my new companion that night. Sister Salazar is from Guatemala, has medium-long dark brown hair, is shortish and pleasantly plump. She is so positive, something I missed having around with sister Williams, and we communicate so well with each other. I love her to bits already, and have enjoyed being with her as a companion.

So some other things that have changed is the way the mission is set up. Instead of everyone doing everything, there are 4 different Zones instead of 6 and each zone has a specific assignment. I'm in Extended Zone which takes care of the Humanitarian Center, Welfare Square, and Family Search (etc) We also do Beehive house, and take people on tours and go to the RC. IT's exciting, especially since I am in the District that does Family Search! I just today signed up for New Family Search and it's SO cool! for those of you not in UT, I HIGHLY recommend it!! We get extended training for family search so we can be more effective missionaries and will be learning more. I'm excited to see how it goes :D

The other zones are North, South and Cover, which are fairly self explanatory, but since you don't know temple square like I do, might be a good idea to explain. North covers the things in the north part of Temple square, including the Visitor's center, etc, does tours, and so on.

South, same as north, but in the south.

Cover just covers for places that need help especially when a zone has a p-day, so cover will be covering the things for my zone today, exciting, no?

We have no new sisters in our zone, and will never, but I've met them and they're so cute :D. They still have the bewildered "Am I really here? what's going on? huh??" sort of thing going on and probably will have it for at least another week. or three. or six.

I met a guy who was walking by Family Search who's related to the Durtschi side of our family, his name is Sam McCall, and he has some big books on the Durtschi side of the family's history, So cool! so I might run into him again later.

And when I went on exchanges with Sis. Nobre(my 'grandma' from Brazil) we got referrals both times, it was kinda cool and on one of the tours we took, there was a girl there who looked SO much like Sister Wooters, it was creepy. The only differences were that she had less freckles, had black hair and a nose piercing... and was atheist. It was cool, like a dark version of sister Wooters named Jenny. She was really nice too.

So enough about me, how have things been going there?

Elisabeth, when are you moving to Texas? what part again?

Goood luck to David for Finals! if they're still going on...Oh! Melissa, a while ago I ran into an old student of yours and someone who's likely going into your class. I don't remember their name, but they recognised mine and asked if you'd married my brother etc, and were excited to find out that you had :D I had some pictures on me so I showed them off :D

Hey, Specks, what's this I hear about a promotion? What are you doing now?

I've also met many people from Kaysville coming down, it's kinda fun. How are things going with Stephen, Carolyn, n the kids?

I was so happy to read all of your emails. I read them right when I got home and started thinking of things I wanted to reply... then the week happened.

Hmm... I think I might suggest to my companion that we go to Kwans (a Chinese restaurant that's down the street that loves missionaries)to celebrate my ability to eat normal food again... by eating a lot of Chinese food! :D

any ways, love ya all lots and lots!!!! Hope to hear from ya all soon!

Talk to ya all Sunday after tomorrow on the 10th of may!

Big hugs for you all! :D

Your favorite sister missionary of the Durtschi sort

ps

OH! and I completely forgot to reply to what happened with Dad! That's kinda crazy, but cool that you're able to be in the van for so long! Are you thinking of renting from someone in your ward? a room or something like that?

How is mom doing? Ya'll ready for mother's day?? I think I can call for a half hour, and I can also call on Father's Day! Which'll be close to my birthday! so exciting! :D

any way, lots of love again!

Short One Again

2009-04-25T17:21:00.000-04:00

So I don't have long because sis Williams needs to pack some stuff for her folks to take back with them to CA and we just got done having lunch with them. I'm not sure when my next p-day's going to be so... yeah... I'll let you know as soon as I know and I'm able to write you all, which will be next time I have a p-day :P

Really quick, I've not been able to read everyone's emails, but thank you so much for them! I was really excited to open my email and see so many waiting for me to open and read them :D. I'll probably not be able to respond to them all until next week some time, when I have a p-day.

But some interesting things that happened/I found out this week are:The Footes (our old stake president back in Hollister) are going on a mission to Nauvoo, so that's cool.

I was on exchanges with another sister who's a first transfer, sister Harris(whom I met at the sister Missionary mall just before we went into the mtc) and we took a tour with 4 people, two members and two french people who weren't. The French people referred 'cause I explained to them that they could get a free French BoM and the missionaries could deliver it to their home in France. They'd seen the French BoM in the display downstairs in the North VC and were intrigued by it, since they'd started reading the title page, but we had to run them to the next stop.

And last week, which I'm not sure if I mentioned in my last email, I talked to Pres. Holmes (which you might have heard his name during conference, since he was released from the 70 to be our mission pres.) and he said I could do ASL things n stuff, but we're waiting a bit until the main ASL person leaves before I start doing anything major so I'm not stepping on her toes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!!!!! I'd sing to you but that'd be difficult from all the way over here...

Oh and I'd heard about Luke Fairchild coming home from a letter from Christina, who's a friend from Santa Clara who also knows Luke. It's kinda crazy to think that he's home already.

Anyway, I love you all lots and lots and looootttsss!!!!!

Be happy and so on. :D

Where to Start...

2009-04-18T16:32:00.002-04:00

This has been an eventful week, not to mention that I wasn't able to write as much last week, so I have even more to make up!

Yesterday (Friday) We had Outbound calls in which sisters who have been on temple square for a while find out whether or not they are going to be called to another mission this coming transfer or later. My companion, Sis. Williams, got called to North Carolina (exciting stuff) and one of my roommates also got called to do outbound, and my last roommate is going home! so I'll be the only one left from those who live in my apartment! Crazy stuff eh?

It's kinda cool, one of the sisters here got called outbound to t he same mission as Clarissa, the Florida, Orlando mission. She's super excited! It'll be a bit weird not being able to see some of the sisters who are leaving, and even though I've only known most of them for only a little over a month, I've gotten really close to them. It's amazing what you learn about the sisters you work with when you see them on a nearly daily basis.

also yesterday, sis.Williams and I got to go on exchanges with our Zone Leaders (which, if you weren't sure, are all girls. ZLs, DLs, and APs are all girls... and sis Wooters, whom I went on exchanges with yesterday, mentioned that when she was on her outbound she kept on forgetting that the APs, etc, were elders in her outbound area, but thankfully she never called them sister to their face!)

Okay, now I'll answer questions that all ya'll asked in your emails, then I'll get back to telling exciting things that I didn't mention before... if I haven't covered them all :D

Mom's Questions:"So, how was Easter at Temple Square?"

So, Easter on Temple square was basically like every other day, except we got to go to sacrament meeting and hear some really excellent talks. All the rest of the day we were on the square doing what we always do, contacting, giving tours, teaching and inviting! etc.

HHAHAHAH!!! Ohhhh goodness! I love the sisters here. Just now while w bunch of us are writing emails to our families, we're able to print out the emails and so on, and so one of the other sisters (the other ZL) picked up an email and handed it to one of my District Leaders saying, "I thought it was my companion's 'cause her name's that too." Though instead of 'that' she said her companion's first name, then she announced to the room of sisters what her companion's name was and we all gasped in horror like she had said something vulgar or whatever. Oh the joys of missionary life.Like on the day we had outbound calls, since it's all sisters here (aside from the senior couples), we had quite a fun time. From what I understand, normally outbound calls are full of cheers, shouting, cat calls etc, and this was not really an exception. Our mission pres and his wife are such characters. They are exceptional at their job as leaders in this mission, but they also make sure we all have a lot of fun in the process. They dressed up in UPS shirts and hats and had a map where the sisters who are called outbound played something like "Pin the tail on the donkey" but it was "guess what state you've been called to" and spun the sisters around that got called and had them stick a sticker with their name on it on the map. It was so much fun.

Okay, back to the questions, sorry about that. I got distracted by the silliness of my lovely sisters here on the Square.

So another question that mom asked was: Do you belong to a ward? Have Sacrament meeting ( well of course you do that, but what are the logistics?)?

Yes? the ward is basically just the missionaries on the square and our mission president, etc. So just imagine a chapel filled with sisters in the center, the occasional guests/visitors in the back, and senior couples on the side. As soon as we get out of Sacrament, we have a small prayer meeting, then we go to our assignments on the square.

And it looks like my companion's done emailing, so I'm going to try and go faster.

Amy mentioned that Sis. Shattuck commented on the blog, and actually I did know that Lizzie got called to London! that's so cool! I found out from sister Henderson when she and others came up for General Conference, but I didn't know it was because of sister Chenina! I know her. She cut sis. William's hair just before conference, and is really nice. I'll let her know about Lizzie and where she's going, etc :D

And things are going well. Sis Williams and I figured out a way to plan our tours to make it so ti works out better. We've been having a hard time at first, but now we have something that works really well. We figure out what we want people to understand by the end of the tour and then plan out what we're basically going to say at each place that will help us get our point across. So that's been helping things out, especially since we've been having more than one tour a day overall for a while, and summer's coming so we'll have tons of people, and we'll have to be faster at saying what we want/need to say.

And I'm glad that mom got my card on her birthday! YAY!

And thank you dad for reading my story, I'll email you more about that in another email.

And for Becky's Questions:"Do you and your companions cook a lot?" Not really. Some people are able to, but since being here I've not really had time to cook a lot. I've done spaghetti and one thing in a crock pot, and rice, but other than that I've been living mainly on sandwiches, cereal and trying out the restaurants nearby.

"Do you have time to do such things?" Sometimes... I may have today, but we'll see how it goes. :D
So last week I heard from my friend Samantha that I got into BYU-I, Becky did you get anything like that? I'm super excited, but I'm not sure if they truly know that I'm on a mission... even though I mentioned that in my application. We'll see how it goes!

How are Stephen, Carolyn and their family doing? David and Melissa?

It's good to hear from you all! I especially love getting emails and snail mail. It's exciting to go to my box and see that there's a letter, and it's not a letter for the other sisters who's names also start with 'D'.

I love you all! I'm gonna wrap this up so I can do a few individual emails, and then head out.

Lots of love! *HUG*

Byes for now.

No Time

2009-04-13T10:36:00.000-04:00

So we're supposed to be shopping right now, and other people are driving so hopefully we'll be able to email more later, but for now I'm just able to do a short "Hi! I'm still alive!" and I'll have to either do more later, or next week. Hopefully later!

How is everything going with everyone?

This week has been interesting, with getting back into the swing of normal tours, etc, and not conference, so I've been stumbling over my words and forgetting things, but it's gotten better, and today's tour was MUCH better than the others earlier this week.

I don't really have any interesting stories that I can think of off the top of my head, other than I signed with some people sometime in the middle of this week... Tuesday. It was really cool. the wife was hearing and the husband was deaf, and we chatted for about a half hour, and I didn't feel nearly so rusty after that, and started teaching some other sisters how to sign, like sister Escalante, she's loved it and used it whenever she sees me. Tis quite fun.Then another day sis Williams n I met a girl who looks like Anne Hathaway.

lol, and I just remembered something else. Just before we left the north Visitor's Center, and went to sign with the couple at the end of our night, one of the elders was saying that the visitor's center was closing and to "please exit the building... promptly!" and one of the other sisters went to get on the intercom and teased him after basically everyone had left, "Elder King, it is time for you to exit the building. Please exit the building." etc. It was funny.

Many random things have happened throughout the week, and hopefully I'll have much more time to write you all next week, and later today by pen and paper.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!!!! LOTS OF LOVE!!!I was worried I wouldn't be able to say that before your birthday, so... yay! on your birthday!

Love you all!!!!!!!

Byes for now

Post General Conference

2009-04-06T16:05:00.001-04:00

Okay! Now I'm in a place where I hopefully won't get kicked out until I'm done writing my very long story for this very long week :D

Any way, so I haven't written you since last month! How sad! :P It's been a crazy week, but that seems to usually be the case.

On Sunday (day after my last P-day- 3-29-09) My companion and I witnessed a snowball fight on temple square. We weren't sure if they were teenagers or college students, but we both thought it was hilarious, if somewhat dangerous since the girls were, in a majority, in high heels. Quite funny. They all went into the Tabernacle for the Organ recital that starts at 2, and when they came out, they resumed the fight again.

Monday (3-30-09) was the first time I heard of the guy who dresses up like Satan when there are protesters and has a sign that says, "I'm Satan, and these street preachers/protesters are my missionaries" I think it's hilarious, and I still thought it funny when I saw him in person during General Conference weekend.

Tuesday (3-31-09) I ran into someone who knows David from High School! Sharen Yoingco. She said she was in a class with him, and the teacher was Mrs. Williams and that she was the only Pilipino in that class... or something like that. She said she'd try and find him on Facebook. Kinda cool, eh?

Also on Tuesday, Sister Williams and I took part of our tour to the Conference center. It was my first time being inside, and they had an art gallery that apparently isn't there most of the time. It was... wow, I loved it. I was only able to get a glance of things as we walked to our destinations, but what I saw was excellent. They have it there until the next General Conference and I Highly recommend it!

April First was busy. We went to Welfare square to give tours. It was my first time, and I think that Heavenly Father likes to keep me busy when I'm learning a new tour because just a few moments after we got there until we left over 7 hours later, we were constantly giving tours (each of the tours are an hour each, give or take) with about 15-20 minutes for a hasty lunch. I guess he thinks that if I have time to sit down and relax that I'll forget everything I'm supposed to say, or something like that. I'm just glad I'm more used to being on my feet now than I was when I first got here, because directly as soon as we got back to Temple Square, sister Williams and I were doing God's Plan For His Family, which is us standing and offering to take people through a 15-20 minute walk through video, which we don't get to sit much at.

We've both been working on listening to the promptings of the spirit, and I think that's really been improving, so that's exciting.

I've also been learning how to page. That's quite interesting. I don't get a pager now, but I will next transfer, and hopefully by then I'll have passed off ASL and I'll be able to give tours in ASL :D

On Thursday (April 2) We had Zone Conference, which was Very excellent. I loved it. We had a meeting in the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, then lunch, then we went to the ... Bountiful Temple and did a session together (I still haven't been able to do anything but initiatories at the Salt Lake Temple...haven't had time yet) Then sister Williams and I worked at the RC (Referral Center) for a while, and so on. It was fun.

Friday we had a mission training meeting that revolved around General Conference and what we as missionaries were to do (and or were not to do) and how to do it, and then went about our business as usual, ignoring the protestors who had come early as we took tours, etc.
At the end of our tour, I noticed some familiar faces. Sister Henderson, her daughters, Sister Barker and some of the other youth from Hollister were there, which was really cool. I was able to take them all through God's Plan, and talk with them a bit, and catch up on what I'd been missing since we moved.
One of the things that we talked about in the mission Training thing is our goal for General Conference. How many people we wanted to invite to refer their friends, and how many of those friend's information we were able to get so that we could call them and invite them to learn more... as much as I love talking on the phone, I don't, but since being on my mission, I've been able to be less afraid of opening my mouth when I can't see the person I'm talking to, especially since I've had so many great experiences on the phone.

Saturday and Sunday felt like weeks on their own. On Saturday we did tons of contacting (talking to people either who were waiting in the STandby Line, or in the Visitor Centers, etc etc, and asking if they had anyone that they wanted us to call and invite to have the missionaries come over.)
As temple Square Missionaries, we are able to watch one session of General Conference, and I was able to go to the Saturday Afternoon session, and loved it. We get to sit up really close, 10-11 rows from the front, and have a great view of everyone... though mainly from the side, but it's a point of view you don't usually see when you're watching it on TV, etc. Something I notice that we don't hear when it's broadcasted is everyone who coughs. There are a lot of people who cough it seems.

Directly after the session, we got back to work and contacted like there was no tomorrow. We ran into Sis. Henderson and Barker again, and talked with them for a bit before heading back to the Square. Also on Saturday before the Session was Diana Heartlib who I knew from when I lived in Santa Clara. Someone else that I ran into went to the Barcelona Spain mission and had heard of Cameron. Cameron, do you know a Josef Spjut? (Elisabeth, you'll have to ask him, I don't have his email address...)

On Sunday... it was just as crazy and contacting like as Saturday... for the most part. Unfortunately, Sis. Williams and I weren't able to go out and contact as much for some of the time because we were at God's Plan (which was basically dead, we were able to take a grand total of 4 people through because most everyone else was watching conference)

oh... I don't think I mentioned what our goal was for General Conference weekend. As a mission, our goal was to invite 5640 members, and receive 2000 referrals from those members, so that we could call and invite those people on those referrals to have missionaries come to their house (either to talk to them about the Gospel, and give them a movie or a book, or just talk to them about the Gospel) And last night we got together after we totaled up everyone we'd contacted and all the referrals we'd received and it came to 9881 members, and 2715 potential investigators! Exciting stuff!

Our mission President loves us and didn't want us to be dead today, and was happy with all of our efforts and let us sleep in today, and we didn't have to be on the square until 10 am (normally we have to be on the square and working at 9 or earlier, and as per usual for missions, awake by 6:30) and he encouraged us to rest much today, especially since we worked so hard the past two days and had to be on the square by 7:45 both days. It'll probably be one of the only semi-day of rest we have on our missions :P.
Another cool thing about President Holmes (aside from the fact that he was just released as a member of the Quorum of the 70, because he's our mission Pres, on Saturday) is that he was out there contacting people just as much as we were, and working right along side us, his wife as well. We love them both. (did I mention that he got pizza for all of us for lunch today? Yeah, we have an awesome president :D )

And it sounds like a generator just turned on... kinda odd... any way, that was random.

So, if you all could, next time you come to Temple Square, whether for General Conference, or anything else ( like taking a tour from your favorite Sister missionary :P or something) Please please please remember to be thinking of someone who needs to hear the gospel and have their name and phone number on hand so they can be called and invited to hear more.

And the weather's been crazy. The past week and a half it's been snowing/raining, etc, and yesterday and today, it's sunny, almost warm. crazy crazy.

I know I've written a lot, but I feel like I haven't said all that much, kinda strange, eh?

I think I'm going to send this for now and if I think of something more to write, I'll start another email.

Love ya all! You're the best!

~Sis Sarah Durtschi

Post General Conference - take 1

2009-04-06T16:00:00.000-04:00

tell you what, wow!

I have tons to say, but it sounds like they might be doing a class where we do emails, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to get everything typed up that I want to, so... I'm going to type quickly and hope for the best!

And I'm going to send this, then type what I can elsewhere!

'First Day in the Field' Pictures

2009-03-28T17:31:00.004-04:00

Sister Sarah didn't give a whole lot of explaintion about these pictures, but they are of her zone and I believe they are from Family Search center training her first few days in the field.

She's in the back and the sister with the red sweater and the white shirt is her trainer.

The 'silly' picture...

Long Week

2009-03-28T17:24:00.002-04:00

I opened a new thing to write an email in and my brain suddenly blanked. So many things happened this week, and even though I wrote down an outline of what I want to say, I'm not sure where to begin!

So I'm getting along with my companion. Things were a little rocky this last week because of communication issues, but night before last we talked it out and things have been much better. We're very similar in some ways, and in others completely different. In some ways (part of the reason why we had a harder time for a little bit) she reminds me of me when I was younger and so it was... difficult. but it's better now, and things are looking up.

Elisabeth asked about being able to take me and my companion out to lunch when she comes and visits and I asked my companion about it and she said that you'd have to clear that with mission services, which you can call at (801) 240-1245.Another thing, that I mentioned to dad in another email is that sisters on the square aren't supposed to let visitor's know where other sisters are for security reasons (we get some really interesting people out here, and not all of them have the best intentions, but they take good care of us. The security is on the ball, and will make sure we stay safe.) Also if you want to hand bring a package to me... well they discourage it for security reasons again. If you were able to find me (which could be arranged, I think, but again I think you'd need to go through Mission Services) then you could give it to me, but they don't like sisters or couples taking packages from strangers, because they don't know what's in it, etc. It's kind of unfortunate that these rules are needed... oh well, they're what keep us safe!

I got a letter from mom yesterday! it's so good to hear from you! (by the by, "So good" is a VERY common phrase here on Temple Square, because it's easier for people who are learning English to say. It's kind of funny how it works out) I plan to write a hand letter back to you today, but it's not likely to be sent until Monday because of tomorrow being Sunday and all.

And Amy, I'll probably receive your package today, because I didn't get it yesterday... well more likely I'll pick it up tomorrow because mail doesn't usually get to our boxes, etc, until about 4 pm, and we'll be off of temple square by then (we get the packages and letters on temple square... I'm not entirely sure if I'm allowed to say where exactly. Oh well.)And thank you much! I really appreciate all the packages you send me and so on, I've really loved them all, and the emails! :D

Elisabeth, that's so crazy that you're going to Texas! For some reason I wasn't really surprised when I read that. I know you and your family will flourish and grow in ways you couldn't have otherwise.

Oh, Amy, you and Robyn both asked about the Jewelry thing. I'm definitely allowed to wear it, but it can't be something that is so huge and so on that it attracts attention and detracts from what I'm saying. the AP (Assistants to the President) suggest that earrings be no bigger than Plain M&Ms. Bracelets are fine, necklaces are fine, but no ankle bracelets or toe rings, etc (they wouldn't be comfortable in close-toed shoes any way :P )And I just thought of something that is very useful for future reference, stockings. Like full length panty hose. we have to wear them every day. Knee highs are okay, but the word is, is that because of where they hit, they cut off the circulation in such a way that they cause Vericose Veins. (Random, and possibly TMI for some guys, but I thought I'd mention it any way)

And Amy, thank you for sending me the phone numbers, I didn't get them from any one else, so I'm thankful that you sent them :D especially since Mother's Day is coming up soon!

AHH! Next week is General Conference, and we are going to be bombarded with people, which is cool, but at the same time it's going to be absolutely insane! We get to watch one session of conference, but that's it, and I think we're going to be able to hear it while we're on the square, which is good, but... we'll see. And since my P-day is normally on Saturday... next week I'll be emailing on Monday (I believe, that's what I heard, but things change so it may be Friday... it all depends) Instead so we can all be on the square and working during the insanity.And I saw the guys who take the videos of the flowers earlier today, you know the ones at the beginning and the end of Conference? Yeah those ones. It was kind of cool. It also looked like when one of them was doing a video of the temple and he moved his camera to point at some of the sisters I was with while we were walking back to the South Visitor's Center from a training thing behind the... thing... shoot, what's it called? The Museum. We were playing with a fire extinguisher to make sure all us greenies knew how to use one, just in case, and we were on our way back when I saw the guy video taping us... well not really me, I don't think, but girls who were in the MTC with me and their trainers. So if you see a huge group of sisters in anything, let me know! They probably all are/were wearing looong winter coats, like the grey one Amy is letting me use.
Okay, now that those random thoughts and answering of questions is more or less over, I'm going to write as much of the thoughts that I outlined before it's time to go.

So as I said, things were a little rough at first with my new companion. She does things differently from my old one, and wants me to learn more by observing and doing than by her saying things, which caused some communication problems (my end of the communicating wasn't helping much either) but we talked about it, and I understand where she's coming from, and hopefully she understands where I'm coming from. I'm learning and growing and things are working out.

Oh an interesting book that Dad might be interested in (or any one else for that matter) is The Presidents of the Church Edited by Leonard J Arrington. I saw it when a senior elder, Victor, was reading it, and he said it was out of print, but you could probably find it online or something.
Oh, Stephen, do you know a Ted Victor? Elder Victor and his wife were talking to me, and they mentioned that their son went to Denmark on his mission t he same time as you and Carolyn, does the name ring a bell?

Sister Williams and I did companionship exchanges with our district leaders, which was excellent. I went with a sister who's from Hong Kong, and one of the first things we did was do a Mandarin tour, because she was the only one who could do it who was available. It was fun, but the only Chinese words that I could understand were Shuhshuh (thank you) and Hello (...and I can't remember the Chinese word just now... oh well) We had a lot of fun, and I talked with her about what I felt were problems in my companionship and she gave me some suggestions which I'm doing my best to implement.

The day before we went on exchanges, I ran into some women from china in the Assembly hall who were very curious about what we believed, so I explained the plan of salvation and about prophets, and they wanted to go on a tour, so after we talked for a bit, they went on a tour with the same sister that I went on exchanges with the next day, and I asked her about them, and she told me that they referred, but because China isn't open to the church yet, t hey can't receive missionaries... sad... but soon, I hope they'll be able to! Something that Pres. Hinckly said at the dedication of the Hong Kong temple was that china would not open up to t he church in a major way. That members from hong Kong and Taiwan would move to Mainland China and the virtue of how they live will make a difference, so I'm praying.

oh, and in all ya'alls next emails/letters, I'd LOVE to hear missionary stories, either from your own missions, or things that have happened to you! Especially dad, since that was a longer time ago and a lot of people are interested in the fact t hat you went to Japan on your mission. (me included) Was Japan just one mission when you were there? I couldn't remember, but I thought you'd said something like that. Where in Japan did you serve?

We had a mission conference type thing, and Elder Garn of the 70 came and spoke to us, which was cool. He spoke at the MTc while I was there, so I'd heard some of the things he'd said before again, but it was fine. Like one time when one of his daughters was finding out whether she was going to have a boy or a girl, he asked,
"So is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's another missionary!"
"Oh it's a boy!"
"It's another SISTER missionary!"

And a quote that one of my fellow sister missionaries said while at this conference is, "Zoning into the voice of t he spirit is like zoning on a friend's voice in a noisy cafeteria" which I thought was rather true.

hope I didn't confuse anyone with how scattered everything is! I love questions, because it gives me direction aside from what I write down that I want to mention to you all.

So just some things I want to reiterate-My p-day for next week will likely be on Monday, but the rest of the time for the rest of this transfer, it will be on Saturday.Mission Services is (801) 240-1245 and you need to talk to them if you want to take me places or anything like that I love my mission, especially spreading the gospel (I'm not as scared to talk to people on the phones in the RC, I just have to pray a lot before hand...)And I LOVE you all!

(and I know I haven't really mentioned friends in my emails, but I love my friends that read my blog too! I especially love when they write to me :D Thank you Sam and Robyn for writing me already, I really appreciate your letters!)

Until next time!

~Sister Sarah Durtschi

PS. I forwarded amy and Elisabeth an email that has pictures. I've not had time to take pictures myself since I've been here, so that's what I have so far! I'm in the back and my companion is in the back with me wearing a red sweater with a white collared shirt underneath.

LOVE And big hugs for everyone!

Temple Square- First Week

2009-03-21T16:23:00.002-04:00

Okay, it has all been kind of crazy!I've been at temple square since Wednesday, and it's been great! Last night was the first time I wrote in my journal since I got here since we've been running around like chickens with our heads chopped off from the first morning on, so I don't have some of the experiences written down from a fresh perspective, or at all.

So our first day, we left the MTC, we were told that we were supposed to be at the bus area at 6 am, but we got a call via the intercom thingy saying, at 5:15 that we were supposed to be there 15 minutes ago and that the travel office got it wrong. None of us were ready, so we just got there at 6 any way.After the chaos of getting on the bus, we had an uneventful ride to the airport to drop off the many elders and couple sisters who were going elsewhere on their missions. From there, we were taken to our apartment (top secret, very hush hush... but seriously, they don't like us giving out that information 'cause apparently some sister's have acquired stalkers in their time at Temple Square.) Where we dropped off our luggage, then were hauled to the basement of the south visitor's center and were given a ton of info. Including finding out the super secret way of how to get the flags to stay on our name tags... which is with a very high tech piece of tape... :P jk it's just clear packing tape that's placed on the back of them. It's kinda weird to have a flag at times.

We did a few things, took a tour type thing, then met our trainers. I'm with Sister Williams who is just an inch or two shorter than me, and much slimmer (is any one seeing a pattern here? :P) blondish (dirty blond) with super cool eyes (a yellowish brown in t he middle and bright yellow/blue green on the outside)

We talked for about 5-10 minutes, then she had to hustle to Welfare Square so we weren't able to talk much more.Sister shurtliff and I were companions for a little bit longer while we returned to our apartments and unpacked our things in our separate apartment (we're on the same floor, but on the other side of the hall from each other. it's kind of weird seeing her with another companion).

We got most of our stuff unpacked, when we all skeedaddled to Walmart to get some bare necessities, so we could have dinner that night, and breakfast the next morning (since both our companions were out and about until about 9 pm or so)

After walmart (which was a two storied one which had a little thing that hauled the cart up to the section where the parking lot was... it was kinda nifty... maybe I can take a pic of it today when we go for Pday)

we went home, put things away, and continued unpacking.Eventually our companions came home, and we were separated.Sister Williams and I finished gathering the last minute stuff from her old apartment, then rushed through planning and eventually got to bed.

The next morning, I started out wearing a green shirt (almost corrected myself and spelled that shurt... haha) but because I was putting something together in t he crock pot for lunch/dinner later, I got something oily on it, and had to change. My purple shirt was the next one I was planning on wearing... but my companion was also wearing purple. So we were twins for the day. We both were wearing purple shirts, black skirts, tan nylons and black shoes, so everyone we passed by commented on our matching-ness.

I don't remember many details of t hat day... we did a tour after training at the southgate, then went to the beehive house and did three tours in a row. It was a lot of fun. Amy, I think you'd love the Beehive house! the first tour, I just testified about different things, and sister Williams just did all of the informational talking. Second one, I did a bit more, and third, we did about half. I feel that the lord is really blessing me and helping me to learn things faster so I can be more effective and more helpful to my companion.

The last tour we gave at the beehive house was given to a family, parents and two kids. they were so wonderful. If they hadn't asked so many questions about the church, I would have sworn they were mormon. You could tell they had really close family relationships and the parents would use something in each room to teach the children. That being the case it took us about 40 minutes to do a 20-30 minute tour, but it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately they didn't ask for the missionaries to come speak with them, but they were going to temple square after, so hopefully they'll be moved to learn more. I know that the gospel can bless them even more than what they're doing now.

The next morning we had a meeting about cleanliness before everything, etc.Then we were in the South Visitor's Center, just kind of standing around and greeting people. One couple we greeted had a little dog that they carried. Our policy, as far as I know is that if it's not disturbing people and not bothering any one and they're carrying it, then it's fine, or if it's a service dog, but the security guys (who just tend to pop out of nowhere) were thrown for a loop. They kept coming up to sisters and asking if they had said anything about the dog. They kind of reminded me of bees who's nest had just been hit by a small stone. After that, since no one was around really, sister williams and I did some role playing with two other sisters to pass the time.
Once we were done with that Sister Williams and I had 16 people in a tour, 12 of which were from places like Puerto Rico, which was so cool. They loved learning about the different things and several referred. The rest was a family, and they were all nice. sister Williams tried to give me more responsibility on the tour, and I stumbled a bit, but made up for it as we went along.The tour after that consisted of one man, who knew a bit about the church and had bought a triple combination book of Mormon earlier that day as he went on two different tours (which was kinda funny since I'd forgotten the pass-along hard bound book of mormon that we usually have with us constantly, so I had my triple with me) so we were able to use that as a teaching tool. He was very interested in learning more, but it was mainly a casual interest, but because he had the triple we challenged him to read Joseph Smith History, and chapter three in Enos, which he said he would because he had a long flight the next day.

We actually got home before it was dark! A miracle! SO we did personal study, etc.

now we get to today! We had training again (this time I didn't almost fall asleep many times, just once...) and it was on Welfare Square and the Humanitarian society. It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to serve at Welfare Square on Wednesday sometime... I think that's when we're going... I'm not sure. Any way. And then we did Companion Study, and now I'm writing to you all!

After this Sister williams and I are going to the Lion House (which I've never eaten at...) then to Walmart, then I'm writing other people and cleaning. :D

So how is everything going there? (wherever there is for you... for Becky, David and Melissa, I waved as I passed your places of abode on the way up to Temple Square)I've not heard from mom in a while... how are things going?

OH!!!! I need people's phone numbers! I forgot to write them down, and I only have Amy and Dad's memorized...

Any way, LOVE YOU ALL LOTS!!!!!

Write again next Saturday!

Byes for now

Excerpts from a Letter to Amy from Sister Sarah

2009-03-19T08:47:00.000-04:00

3-13-09

Time is flying for me as well. The first few days went really slow, then it feels like I look back two minutes later and 2-3 weeks have passed. It’s really crazy.

Oh something I forgot to say twice now, it that I have a progressing investigator in the referral center. Her name is Kris and she lives in Georgia. She called to get a BOM a while ago and I called to see if she received it and she had and had been reading it a little at a time. She and her husband used to be Baptist but both haven’t gone to church since they have married. She still wants religion in her life but he seems like he could careless, but when she asked him if he wanted to go to a Mormon church, he agreed. They haven’t gone yet, because she wants to go with her husband and wants to learn more, and her husband works some Sundays. I hope to call her again soon and convince her to let the missionaries into her house but…my schedule is weird…Oh well. I’ll pray for the best and see what Heavenly Father has in mind.

I am way excited to be out in the field soon. A bit scared…but really not at all at the same time. When I wrote that I didn’t feel scared at all. I know there are going to be protesters and maybe more then previous years because of prop 8, but at the same time I know that they can do no more then rock the boat a bit. No large scale lasting damage can be done by those who oppose the work. This is God’s work. As Joseph Smith said “Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the work of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent until the works of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah says the work is done.”

Pictures

2009-03-18T15:06:00.011-04:00

I'm just going to do a post of the pictures Sister Sarah sent me with what she wrote on the back.

Sisters Sarah Durtschi, Angela Shurtliff, Mele Alexis Jones, Constance (Connie) Allred

Elders Matthew Prina, Samuel Jackson Doane, Johnathan Kamae, Paul Barraza, Ethan Kyle Hansen, Nykolas Farrer (2-22-09)

Sister Sarah didn't write anything on the back of this one, but it's her and her companion Sister Shurtliff by the MTC sign.

Sister Angela Shurtliff & Me (2-28-09)Disclaimer: The picture above was kind of blury before I scanned it and the scanning didn't help.

Elder Glaves, Elder Parente & Elder Loar - Elders in our zone, the district just older then us. Elder Loar is now at the DC South Mission. (3-1-09)

Sisters Jones, Allred, Shurtliff, me (Temple Square)

Elders Doane, Hansen, Prina, Barraza, Karmae (Hawaii) (3-1-09)

Sister Shurtliff (2-22-09)

Poor Elder Prina... He's my fav. in our district I think, but now they're all in Hawaii.

Elder Barranza in the middle

Sister Sarah Durtschi and the MTC Map (a must have picture for all MTC goers)

I hope you enjoyed this little trip down picture lane. I would like to thank my coworker Sanjay for helping me to figure out the confusion that is scanning pictures on our copy machine.

Farewell MTC

2009-03-18T08:47:00.004-04:00

I know, I know, who would have thought a month could go so fast! But it's true, Sister Sarah leaves the MTC today.

This is just a reminder to all y'all the address to use to send Sister Durtschi letters while she's at Temple Square is:

Sister S. Durtschi
Utah Salt Lake Temple Square Mission
50 N West Temple St, BSVC
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-1006

Also, please don't fret. I'm working on getting some pictures posted :)

~Amy

Temple Ward We go

2009-03-13T16:43:00.002-04:00

So, tomorrow we're going to the Salt Lake City Temple for a "Temple Experience" all 26 of us sisters that are going on Visitor center missions are going (22 of the 26 are going to temple square, two are Spanish speaking and going to Amy's temple, so, Amy keep your eye out for them... I'll get their names for you next time) so we're all really excited for that.

I've really enjoyed VC training. The other day they had us write questions of the soul that we had, and then we switched papers with another sister, then we went and found a picture in the main building that could help us teach how to answer that question. IT was wonderful. The question I got to teach about was how to bring families closer together, and I focused on service, not judging and praying for our families and with them. The picture I went to was one of Christ washing his disciple's feet.

After that we made mini visitor centers in the TRC and had people come in and we taught them with our companion like they were in the VC. It was a lot of fun. I and my companion were in a cubical, when we were all supposed to be in two big rooms, but it worked out really well.
My companion and I have been teaching a sister who works in the main building as a call in secretary. We were sent out by our teacher brother Menasco to share our testimonies with people for about 15 minutes, and give a commitment to read a scripture or something as practice, so sister Shurtliff and I decided to go and teach/share our testimony with one of the people who worked there since a lot of the missionaries are really busy and have to run from place to place. So we found sister Deeben, and shared 1Corinthians 13 with her and challenged her to read that and 2 Ne. 9 on her own. She said, and then said, play acting like she didn't want what she asked for, "Okay, I committed to do it, now promise me blessings! promise me blessings!" so we promised her blessings and made a return appointment.We went back one more time to that area, and didn't think we'd see her again, but then we went to see if they were going to tell us when we had enhancement (where they tell you a little bit about how to put on makeup and give you free makeup from nu skin) And she was filling in for the sister that usually works there, so we taught her some more, and so far we've taught her 5 times, each time challenging her to read scriptures and PMG, and from what she's told us, it helped her a lot, and sister Shurtliff and I loved our discussions with her.

So, our elders left on Tuesday. Sister Jones and Sister Allred took it really really hard, but sister Shurtliff and I got over it quickly, except we thought they were going to displace us as District 24A, and we'd be just these dregs of that old district, so we called ourselves 24A prime...until we found out that they were turned into District 24D instead.... they seem to be good boys/elders. I'm excited to see how they turn out, even though I won't really.

Oh, and something that Sister Allred told us about were things called Spiritual Hugs, Little things that happen through out your day that just add some happiness to it all. I've decided that I'm going to do my best to write things like that down in my journal every night.

I love you all! I hope this gets to you all! and I'm not sure when my p-day's going to be next... so we'll see what happens! talk to you asap!

Byes for now!
~Sis. Sarah Durtschi

Letter from Sister Durtschi

2009-03-07T09:45:00.000-05:00

March 7, 2009

Sarah sent me a letter she wanted me to type for the family so here it is, enjoy.

Dear Family,

I’m going to try to write legibly, but we’ll see what happens.

This week has been insane! It went by so fast, and yet so slow. On Tuesday a bunch of things happened. I hit my first time when I needed to talk with my companion about things, so we talked and chatted for what seemed an hour or so, and everything was better and we got to know each other better, which was nice. We found that we’re a good amount alike, because we didn’t really hang out with people, other than family, while in high school.

My companion is from Canada, Eh, in the middle of nowhere, Eh, but she only says Eh occasionally, Eh. But it’s still fun to say Eh, Eh?

She’s not quite as tall as I am but she’s close. She’s much more slim than I am has longish light brown hair more pale than me.Also on Tuesday we had a meeting with some people (a Guy and a girl who typed what we said) who asked us what we thought of the new things they tried out on us last week. They asked sequentially about what we did and we answered as best we could (usually our opinions, so it was fairly easy) it’s pretty neat that our opinions are going to be used to enhance the experiences of other missionaries. It’s a bit humbling but at the same time exciting to be influencing things even by being a guinea pig.

Oh, Mom, I bought a back pack because the thing I was using was killing my shoulders.

Dad can you send me earplugs? I lost one of mine and they help to block out the random noises that come with having 5 other girls in the room and hundreds in the building, even if they’re all asleep.

All of us have alarms, so we can choose to get up anywhere from 5:15 to 6:30. 6:30 is what my alarm is set for, but we’re almost always up before then. 6:30 is sleeping in for me now, which is kind of insane.

I don’t like having gym after Dinner. It’s no fun to exercise on a full stomach.

And I’m kind of scattered now because I’m distracted by people talking,. I’ll explain a bit about Elder Farrern. Who went home in the small email I send. Hopefully he’s okay.

Oh, Amy, my teacher, Brother Manasco, was at the MTC just as they brought preach my gospel around, Did you have PMG or were you getting it when did you get it is my question, cause he got it the day before he left the MTC basically.

Also to Amy, you’re moving! I’m glad you’re excited, what’s your address?

As for getting or sending picture emails. I think I can see them, but only for the time I’m on the computer, so it’s Much better if you physically mail me pictures, and I have the crazy picture of our family, but it’s too big for my scriptures, so a family picture for my scriptures would be Awesome!

To any one, if you have a working SD card laying around that you don’t need, it would be useful so I can mail my SD card to someone and they can get the pictures off it and mail it back.

And I don’t think anyone but family is supposed to email me, even just with the emails I got this week, (mom, Dad, David, Elisabeth, Amy… I think that’s it.) It would be insane to try and answer them all if other people emailed me. But mom used dearelder.com, which got the letter to me the same day. Which is nice, I’m not sure how much it cost. If it cost anything, I don’t know if it works outside of the MTC thought.

Oh and I’ve not gotten anything from Amy in the mail yet. I might get it later today but nothing so far.

David I’m so glad things are bringing you and Melissa together and I really hope you get your apartment room sold!

Dad, I so know what you mean with sleeping sitting up. I’m usually fine in class because my teacher are engaging but I nearly fell asleep several times in the temple. The seats were too comfortable and yeah…

Did I tell you all that the elders in my district are going to Hawaii? They’re so stoked about it but we (the sisters) are going to miss them because we are here an extra week beyond there stay. I’m getting more used to calling people in the referral center (and Amy, the Thai sister are doing the RC, TRC etc. now just in English for now and later in Thai) but I still don’t like talking to strangers.

Mom I ‘m glad your seminary girls would still want to go to seminary where there’s no school. That’s awesome!

And my comp. is telling me it’s time to get ready for dinner, so until next week!

Love Sarah!

(The sister of the Durtschi sort)

p.s. Elisabeth, I started reading your email, but didn’t have time to finish it, and apparently I didn’t print it out like I did the others, sorry! I’ll write more to you next week.

Love you! Love Sarah

~Elisabeth

Week Two

2009-03-02T20:08:00.001-05:00

and I just wrote a really long email and it's gone now... grr, I'll just have to write it by hand. :( I'm really sad because I thought I had copied it but apparently it doesn't do copy and paste. Now I have three minutes.
Any way, This week has been crazy.
One of our elders went home on saturday w hich was really sad for us all. We were supposed to go to a zone activity but because we were all having a hard time at seeing our elder go, our teacher (sister Harlan) decided that we could go back to the classroom and talk about it, and read scriptures, that helped, but it was still sad to see him go home.
on a happier note, we are all still really close as a distrcct.
ANy way I'm gonna send this and write what I was going to say in a hand written letter, and send it to Amy... or maybe Elisabeth since I don't have Amy's new address. I'll do that.
Love yo all lOts!!!
~sis sarah D

I'm Aliiiive!!!

2009-02-23T19:56:00.005-05:00

Hello my wonderful family!

They told me I could write home the first night, but we didn't have more than a few minutes and I'm horrible about writing short letters. Any way, I'll be sending that letter today, and you'll probably get it in a while... and Amy, I'm really sorry, my handwriting isn't the best, even though I tried to do otherwise.

So yes, I am able to write emails at the MTC, I have a half hour, (24 minutes now since I had to register) And there are some computers at the laundry room, so while I'm waiting for things to wash, I'm writing you all! how exciting.

Any way, so far it's been awesome :D. My district is a bunch of guinea pigs, because our first day in the MTC (full day, not Wednesday) we went to the TRC (where people from the outside world come in and pretend to be investigators so we can practice teaching them) and taught 5 ten minute lessons, without planning. We just went in, got to know the people, then tried our best to teach them something that applied to them. The first one was really crazy, but it got better, and our (sister Shurtliff, my companion and mine) best contact was our last one, who was an older man.After the TRC, we went to the TEC which is where we teach teachers, or teach with teachers, etc. Sister shurtliff and I took turns teaching with a teacher, then the two of us taught that teacher. It was a lot of great practice, and our experience a few hours before let us appreciate and pay attention to it more, because she helped us pick out what questions we should ask that would be better to get to know people better, etc.

From the TEC, we went almost immediately to the TC, which is where we called people (actual real living people who aren't members... scary) to make sure whether or not they received their book of Mormon, etc. Two people answered for me, one person just told me the person who asked for the thing wasn't home then hung up soon after, the other was polite, she had received her BOM but hadn't read it, so I fumbled until I asked her if she wanted a movie, she said that'd be great but she wasn't home often so could we just send it, I couldn't find the button that allowed for something like that so I asked her if the representatives could contact her before they went over to her house and she agreed with that. My companion on the other hand got in contact with an older lady that is clearly very lonely, and the lady talked to sis. Shurtliff for about a half hour (we were there for a little under an hour, so it felt like it was longer)Of the three things, I must say that the teaching was MUCH more enjoyable than the calling. I'll have to work on the calling thing, but... oh well.

Anyway. Friday was kind of a let down after Thursday, because instead of teaching and going out and doing things, etc, we were in a classroom the whole day and some of it wasn't nearly as interactive and so on as the other. In other, we could have really excellent classroom discussions, and so on, but the teacher we had seemed to want to rush things, or something like that.
Saturday was better. We had our real teachers for the first time since we got there (they'd been there the whole time, but they weren't the ones teaching, other people were because they were experimenting on us.) They're so cool. Sister Harlen (something like that... I'll get it right one of these days) and Brother Manasco. They teach us at different times, but they're both excellent in their own ways. They're both return missionaries, Sister H. was on a temple square so she'll be able to help us, and Bro. Manasco went to Hawaii where our elders are going.Speaking of our elders, they are a hoot. Currently they're chatting and singing together while we all write letters. Sometimes it's hard to pay attention when we're doing companion study because we're all having such a good time, so sister Shurtliff and I tend to leave the classroom so we can focus on what we're doing. They're really good about studying when it's personal study time, or at least being quiet.

On Saturday, we found that we really liked the elders in our district. We did a Zone activity where we had to teach and be taught by people who weren't in our district but were in our zone, and... yeah... The elders that I and another sister (one of my roommates, sister Allred) were interesting. I liked my 'companion' for the teaching thing, elder Loar, but her companion was the type of personality that liked to somewhat antagonize her type of personality, so it drove away the spirit at first, but after a while it got better. He bore a wonderful testimony at the end, but the whole experience really helped us sisters appreciate our elders in our district.

And I'm running out of time, so I'm going to have to wrap it up.

Sunday was wonderful! I loved everything, and bawled when we watched the Joseph Smith movie.

Today we went to the temple and that was wonderful, as usual.

It's Official!

2009-02-19T08:25:00.002-05:00

Sarah....I mean...Sister Durtschi, entered the MTC yesterday. Becky tells me that everyone was brave and no tears where shed (at least none that were seen). I will admit it's a little odd for me to realize that the last time someone from my immediate family when on a mission it was me and I also have to confess that I never once thought about how hard/frustrating it must have been for my family not to be able to call me up and ask me how my first day in the MTC went (I wanted to call Sister Durtschi, believe me!) I am beyond excited for my baby sister. She's going to be an amazing missionary.

Here is Sister Durtschi's official MTC address, good until March 11th.

Sister Sarah Durtschi
MTC Mailbox # 241
UT-TMSQ 0311
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

*Please note that it's slightly different then the one she posted earlier in this blog. This address should be the one you use.

Having been a missionary, I know how important it is to receive letters and packages from 'home.' Please take a second to drop Sister Durtschi a note to let her know you're thinking about her (you obviously are, if you are reading her mission blog :))

Please stay tune for some pictures from Sister Durtschi's 'entering the MTC' experience.

Pre-Mission Missionary Reunion

2009-02-16T15:14:00.002-05:00

Well? What would you call 4 sisters meeting up at the Sister Missionary Mall, all going to the same mission, and entering the MTC at the same time?

I went to return some shoes that looked good but killed my feet whenever I wore them for more than a few minutes, and chatted a bit with the girl who helped me buy them in the first place, then she exclaimed that two of the other girls in the store were going to the same mission, with a third next door. How exciting was that? With that information I asked one of them, Sister Harris, when she was going, and she said this wednesday, as was the other two. Can we say insane? It was so weird. I'll be seeing them this wednesday, which, by the way, is when I'll be dropping from the face of the internet world.

Some Extra Info Before I Go

2009-02-13T15:47:00.002-05:00

So, I have about 5 days to go before I am no longer the one writing the blog posts, and last night my newest sister in law, Melissa requested that I clarify some things , like favorite foods, etc, that can be sent in lovely things called Care Packages. I'm more than willing to oblige her.

Food:

Cookies of basically any kind are good. I love Mint and Peanut butter (though separately. Combined I think would make most anyone sick...) Chocolate chip is always a good one (I Love David's recipe. Though I like Pecans MUCH better than walnuts in any situation.)

Canned things like Cream of Mushroom or chicken are always useful, corn, black beans (not horribly fond of kidney beans for some reason... too big I guess) Olives, of course.

Rice A Roni/ Pasta Roni are good too, fast, but tasty. Not so much Ramen, but it has it's perks.

Hmm... I like fruit and veggies, but that's kind of hard to mail without it rotting along the way.... unless you mail it in a cooler or something... Same with chicken and beef, but that's a bit more dangerous.

Clothes(hey, why not?):

Shirts I'm usually a 16 or so, large or extra large depending on things

Skirts/Pants, etc: approximately 20, give or take depending on the brand.

Shoes: 10 or 10.5 wide (it's what I get for wearing only flipflops for the better part of a year or two...)

And on my mission, in my specific area, I can't wear patterned shirts. They have to be solid colored, and preferably button up with a collar. If they're not, then they can't be tee-shirt material (if you know exactly what that is, you have one up on me)

I think that's basically it! If I think of anything more I'll either post it as an edit in a different color, or I'll mail it to Elisabeth or Amy or whatever. I'm sure we'll figure something out.

So it Begins

2008-12-29T09:59:00.001-05:00

This blog is to make life less interesting for those who want to know what on earth is going on while I'm on my mission. My wonderful sisters Amy and Elisabeth have volunteered to keep it updated whilst I am out and about spreading the gospel to all the diverse people who come to visit Temple Square in Salt Lake City Utah. Amy (and to some extent Elisabeth) will be monitoring the email (sarahdurtschi@gmail.com) that this blog is attached to, so if you have any questions you can ask her through that email. I will also be monitoring it until I report to the MTC (Mission Training Center for those of you who don't know) on February 18th, 2009.

When I'm on my mission I would LOVE to hear from you. If you send me a for real paper and pen(or ink from a printer) letter, I will do my best to reply in like terms, but from what I understand, when you're on a mission, you are extremely busy and I may have to just answer questions, etc, in the email that I'll be sending that'll get put on this blog. But chances are you'll get a paper letter back from me.

My mailing address for while I am in the MTC is:
Sister Sarah Michelle Durtschi
Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E Provo, UT 84604

And while I'm on the field:
Sister Sarah Michelle Durtschi
Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission
50 N West Temple St Rm BSVC
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-1006