January 2014

I asked Sadie to send a letter specifically for her blog today.  Many thanks to all of you who have loved and supported her on this journey! To protect peoples privacy I've changed names to first initials in parts of her letter.

Hey y'all! 

Yes that's right, can you believe it's been four months? Holy cow I am still in shock just thinking about it. Time really flies when you're out here! I love, love, love it all. There have been really bad days and really good days, but I enjoy and take in every single one. I love to see how the Lord works and I'm really starting to understand how much every one of us mean to Him- he cares about every single person, and He wants them all to return! I feel so privileged to have the greatest purpose in the world- to help the Lord accomplish His work by bringing His children back to Him. 

Let's see... Our progressing investigators right now are A and S. They live down the street from Bishop, and Sister Lynes (Bishop's wife) and A are good friends. We started teaching them a couple weeks ago and so far things have been going really well. S is a little skeptical about the church, but two nights ago we had a really amazing lesson about prayer, the Spirit was really strong as Sister Lynes, Sister Nielsen and I testified that the Lord is real, and that He answers our prayers when we have the faith.  He said out of all the people in his family, his mom is the only one who prayed and she still prays constantly. She was about to lose her house to her own daughter, and S kept asking "Why doesn't God answer her prayers? Why?" Sister Nielsen has been through a lot like S and she testified to him that yes, the Lord does answer prayers, but in his own way and own time. As we ended the lessons, we offered a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help his mom in the way that He saw best. We left feeling really good and really excited, because they were both talking about quitting smoking and drinking, and we haven't even taught the Word of Wisdom yet! 

Yesterday we got a text from A that said, " Sisters! Just wanted to thank you guys so much for praying with us last night. We were in shock today when they signed the house over to his mom!! And God did answer our prayers, thank you so much!" WOW! We were so excited for them and so happy that Heavenly Father answered their prayers right then and there. His timing is perfect. His love is priceless! I'm so grateful that they were able to have that experience, and we really hope and pray that they will get an answer to their prayers about the church. I have a feeling... that they will get baptized soon :) 

I'll be honest, it's been difficult for me lately because I've been hitting what is infamous for being know as "The Wall". I can't really explain it if you've never felt it, but it feels like you are being monotonous and teaching is hard and it just really sucks. BUT. Sister Nielsen and I have really been studying the Atonement and she has been very in tune with the Spirit. I woke up with a stomachache and just felt like crap. But I got up, moved around, put the laundry in and tried to shake it off. (It's not easy) We had personal study and I really just felt like crying. As we started comp study, Sister Nielsen said "Sister Maughan, I read a talk that I think applies to you. I just want to let you know it's ok to not be perfect, Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to do your best!" That really meant a lot to me that she said that, and I'm so grateful that she has been listening to the promptings of the Spirit, whether for me or for our investigators. We take good care of each other and sometimes the mom just has to let her daughter take charge! It's actually been good for her since I've been down and out, because she is starting to take charge in lessons and in talking to people. SO maybe it's a blessing that I feel like this?! Hmm never thought of it that way but it kind of makes sense. 

I love learning about the Gospel so much, when i come home I guarantee I will know the Bible like the back of my hand (maybe)/. It's so good, and with the Book of Mormon, it makes so much sense! I love to read and to find out new things, even if it's just little. 

I just want to thank all y'all for your support, your love, your letters, and your prayers. I feel them behind me when I feel weak. I remember who I represent and I try to do my best. Probably one of the hardest things for me to accept out here is we can't do everything! We cannot, and will never be perfect in this life. And that is why I am eternally, infinitely grateful for the sacrifice of the Savior. He is the only reason I get by some days. Without Him I am nothing! I rely on Him and I seek His guidance and I do my best to follow it. This area is still really hard to find new investigators, but I know they are out there and as long as we are diligent, He helps us find them. It is the greatest blessing to be out here. It is the most mentally-challenging event I have ever had to go through, but I thank the Lord for making me a strong Texas missionary. I sometimes think about how I am changing and who I am becoming, and I realize how the fire truly does refine us. And when we go through these hard times, we understand the Savior better and begin to understand, ever so slightly, the pain and the agony he went through, because He LOVES US! So much.  I will finish! I made the decision, I will not falter, I will finish, and I will serve the Lord in whatever capacity He requires of me. 

I love you all so much and remember to enjoy life and to always seek out what the Lord wants for you, He is always watching out for you and He always has your back! We are never alone.

Con todos mi amor, 

Sister Maughan 

Abrazos y besos

Sadie and her new companion Sis. Nielsen on p-day…a  service project to move firewood that turned into a mud bog.

Gangsta' pose.

December

Excerpts from Sadie's last two letters…

Dec. 23rd
Heyyyy y'all, Sister Maughan here from Houston TEXAS! 

Oh my goodness I cannot believe it's almost Christmas!! Wow that came up so fast! It's been a crazy awesome week, we've seen miracle after miracle and I have to say my heart is so full. 

Ok so we had exchanges this week, which is when we exhange companions for 24 hours. I thought I was going to stay in my area but when Hermana Phillips called (the Sister Training Leader, STL) she's likes "Sister Maughan, you're coming with me!" OOOHHH YEAHHH!! I was so excited, because I knew that meant I would get to speak some espanol :) Ole. The whole time I could understand when we went to lessons, I couldn't say much but I could definitely have a conversation with Hermana Phillips help. (Dad you would have been so proud!) The coolest part of the exchange was when we went to a member's house for dinner, Sister B's. She made an AMAZING dinner, some sort of chicken with rice and homemade tortillas, I was in heaven. Then when it was time to share a message, Hermana Phillips looked at me and said in Spanish "Do you have a scripture you want to share?" and I just said Ok! But I was so excited and I asked for Heavenly Father's help. I read Alma 32:21 in Spanish and then proceeded in my best Spanglish to tell a story that had happened with someone we had taught, how this lady we went to see also spoke Spanish and I read her the same scripture, and she liked it, and found out a week later that her daughter might have cancer in her foot, and she said that scripture gave her strength. Sister B started crying after I finished the story and talked about how her family, especially her mom, were against her in the church and that they had been really awful to her. The spirit was so strong and I knew that Heavenly Father had wanted me to come on the exchange for a reason. Hermana Phillips also gave me a Spanish workbook to take home, so I'm really trying to learn. I understand so much but it's so hard to speak back! So frustrating but I'm working on it :) 

The other amazing thing that happened is we have found 4 new investigators to teach this week!! An absolute miracle and blessing from Heavenly Father! Thank you for your prayers and your faith, Heavenly Father reminds me daily of the strength that I have backing me up. I can literally feel the prayers sometimes. 

Christmas conference was on Friday and was probably one of the most spiritual meetings I have ever been to in my life, and I don't say that lightly. The program was very inspired and it meant so much to me. President Pingree gave a beautiful presentation about the Atonement, and we watched some of the new bible videos they just came out with. I really love learning about the Atonement. It really means so much to me now that I am starting to understand it, even though I'm just scratching the surface of how deep it's meaning really is. President Pingree is so inspired! That was the first part of the program, and then the Christmas portion was last. Sister Pingree put Hermana Pedersen and I down for the last musical number, I was so nervous! The song was O Come O Come Emmanuel by the Piano Guys, I didn't get a whole lot of time to practice but I just let Heavenly Father know I did the best I could to prepare, and if He would help me. Our mission has some VERY talented people, so by the time we walked up I was a little scared. But I laughed inside as we started to play, because the song was watched already by most of the missionaries, I heard some whisper "It's the song!! This is the best song!!" Which put that much more pressure on me! So I just played my heart out and so did Sister Pedersen. It wasn't the perfect performance but I felt the Spirit so strongly. 

Although I miss home, I really cannot express how amazing it is to be out here during this season. As a mission and as missionaries, we are really close and we treat everyone like family. My capacity to love others has expanded so much, I never knew I could feel love I do for so many people. It makes me think about the Savior and how much His heart aches when he sees His children turn away from Him or when they are sad, mad, angry, depressed, etc. I KNOW with all my heart the Savior loves and knows each one of us personally, what a blessing it is that we have this knowledge. Now imagine for a second if you didn't know everything we know about the Gospel. Life would be so sad. Please keep these thoughts in mind throughout the rest of the week. If you feel inspired to share something about the Gospel with a stranger, do it. I love what President Eyring says: "Pretend every person you meet is going through a crisis. Most of the time, you will be right." You never know that by sharing a simple comment, you could change someone's life. My challenge is to JUST DO IT! That is our motto, mine and Sister Tofa's, because sometimes you just need to decide that you will do it. 

( On Christmas day we got to Skype and talk to Sadie on the phone)

Dec. 30th

Christmas was soooo amazing, it was very small of course but I have never been more appreciative of technology in my entire life, it was so fun to see y'all and talk to you face to face! It was very hard to get off the phone with you but I cannot explain the immense peace I felt after I sat there for a second. Heavenly Father confirmed to me what I've known all along- because I serve, my family will be safe. It is one of the promises he makes to his missionaries in the Doctrine and Covenants, and I feel so blessed that He always sends those little heart taps (as Nienie calls them) to me. The Grays (the family we stayed with that night) have two beautiful little girls and they got sealed in the temple last year. We gave the girls necklaces that said "Families Are Forever", and I know, I know with all my heart they are. 

So I'm staying in Olde Oaks! Woot woot! But... Sister Tofa is leaving :( Ahh! I'm hoping I get a seasoned comp just for this transfer, I feel like I still need some time to figure out what I'm doing. 

Let's see what else....Jane M. - said at the end of our lesson about the Restoration- "You know, I think I want to be Mormon. I've been thinking about it for awhile and I've been testing you girls and I really like what I've heard. Yes I think I'll get baptized soon." WOAHH! It was so awesome haha me and Sister Tofa were like "wait what"?? And "yes of course"!! It was really exciting. 

I love y'all SOOOOO much and thank you so much for the pics, I don't get too homesick anymore, they just make me laugh and I'm so happy y'all are having such a good time back home. Honestly we have this next year and then the first couple months of 2015, it's no problem, we can totally do this momma :) Besides there are so many adventures I still have to have and tell you about! I'm so grateful to be out here and to serve and to not think of myself. I love this place. I love these people. And I LOVE to be a missionary :) 

XOXOXOXO,

Sister Maughan 

The Villegas family on the day Rick was baptized.

Sadie's bishop's daughter who likes to tell Sadie about a boy in their ward that wants to marry her:)