Merry Christmas!

I just can't believe it's this time of year again. I have been finding more meaning in Christmas this year and it's a hard way to find it but I truly rejoice more thinking of the Birth of our Saviour and what it means for our family. It was the beginning of his mission on earth and i'm so grateful for all that He has done for me. I'm strengthened everyday by the Spirit and the scriptures. I fininshed Moroni and I loved so much of it. I loved in Chp8 when mormon writes his son and says in vs 3," I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the FAther in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he through his infinite goodness and grace will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end." I feel that way about all of you! I love when he talks of how perfect children are and he says in vs 17 " i love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation." I feel that way too. In Chp 9 vs 6 he says "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation;for WE HAVE A LABOR TO PERFORM whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God." I like that cause it means even if you labor and don't see the results it's still so important to keep laboring and we will be at rest one day.and then in vs 25 it says, "but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings unto our fathers, and his mercy and long suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever." I have felt lifted  up. I love the scriptures. I love all of you. We still meet crazy people everyday.. some say we should be in modeling school and some say we deserve the death sentence... so they are both extremes. We have been doing a lot of christmas caroling which is freezing but fun. We had a mini mission for the youth and it was fun to take them out tracting and stuff... they took it really well :) This one guy said oh i've heard all about your church and i'm not interested and the girl i was with like it's not true look at this website and she managed to give him a card before he shut the door. It was a good time. Well I wish you all a very merry christmas and i'm excited to talk with you.         Love me

it's cold outside!

Well I don't have much time today but I love you all and pray for you constantly. It has been a pretty good week we went and volunteered at christmas party for under priveleged kids and it was fun and it made me a little sad too... there was a magic show and it was so fun to see the kids get sooo amazed and excited! All week long i think of things i want to write but when it comes to it I don't know what to say. It's a happy time of year and such a sad time too.. but i'm determined to make the happy times win! I love you all i'll email more if i can get another computer!


Love Sister Savage

it's beginning to look like Christmas

It's pretty snowy today. Yesterday we were walking on the street and these people were doing free pictures with santa and I don't know what came over me and I was like lets get one.. my companion was a little skeptical at first. Then the camara didn't work and it took longer than I thought and I felt bad but we talked to two of the elves about the gospel so really it was just an out of the box finding activity. We have had some sweet miracles. I called a girl I talked to on the subway a few days ago then she called back while we were in church and left a message and was like I would really like to join your church. She came to the First presidency christmas devotional last night and really liked it. She is wonderful. she is coming to FHE tonight. Curtis is an investigator that we have been working with for awhile and he has had such a rough past. He used to be in the rap industry in Harlem New York... and he was in a bad way when we first met him but he has come to church once and FHE 2 times and to the ward christmas party and he just smiles. I asked him why and he said he was happy. It's amazing to see the changes the people go through. We finally got Gerald to commit to praying about a specific date he did not want to do that because he's afraid something will come up and he won't make it. he was baptized but not confirmed 15 years ago and he knows everything is true and he wants to be baptized but he has a lot of obstacles. We told him setting a goal always helps us progress more than we would if we don't set goals and he said he's going to pick a day and pray about it. The hardest thing here is people are sooo busy.. most are going to school and working and finding time is really hard. We just keep trying though. Mandla who was baptized the first week I was here is struggling cause his employers make him work on sunday now and he is so sad about it. He reads the book of mormon everyday and I love calling him and hearing him tell us what he has learned. He always says how much he loves Nephi. So it's been a good week but very emotional for me. I think this Christmas will be a struggle as I miss my family and my sweet mom. There are no words to tell how I feel. I'm grateful for prayer and for the scriptures. I am being carried through. Life is so full of dissapointments and things we don't understand and i'm learning more and more to just accept and not question but to keep on moving forward. Life is so much more full of blessings and things to be grateful for. when I am at my lowest my companion and I go back and forth and say what we love and are grateful for... that's something I learned from dad and I'm glad I have such fond memories of doing that with him. It really lifts my spirits. I've noticed that it is in my moments of feeling the most peace and happiness that I feel closest to my mom. I know that those are the feelings she is wanting so much for us all to feel. It is when I doubt and focus on the negative that I feel the most separated from her. I challenge each of you to look for the good in life, despite what happens. God is waiting and there to comfort us whenever we choose to let him. I love you all. I don't know if I shared this thought before but I think often of when the Savior went to suffer for us in the Garden and He was sore amazed.. or surpised.. He even asked to let the cup pass from him. But in the end He said Thy Will be done... and I think that's how i have felt of course in a much smaller degree. I think we all knew we would come to earth and go through the struggles and pains of life but I think it is surprising when we realize how much it can hurt. I know I have been surprised. But there is a way and that is through our Savior. I know He lives. I know that the more I try to put my will in line with the Fathers I find more peace. I miss you. I love you!


Love Sister Savage

Helpful quotes

I thought I'd just write some quotes i've been given that have been helping me along. I'm ok as can be expected. I can't tell you how much i appreciate the love and support and I'm sorry if I can't get back as quickly as I'd like. I haven't got mail for a while and I hear it's piling up so it will take me awhile to get on top of things. I LOVE YOU ALL
"Life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight." -Rossiter Worthington Raymond (that's a big name)
" To live in hearts we leave behnd is not to die." -Thomas Campbell
"Hope [through Jesus Christ] stands quietly with us at funerals. Our tears are just as wet, but not because of despair. Rather, they are tears of heightened appreciation evoked by poignant separation. Those tears of separation change, ere long, becoming tears of glorious anticipation." -Elder Maxwell
"Mourning is one of the deepest expressions of love. The Lord said, " thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die"(D&C 42:45) The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life." True to the faith
"People are often unreasonalbe, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulerior motives:

Be kind anyway.

If you are succussful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies:

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you have anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway."

Mother Teresa

Two Posts

I just posted Monicas Letter from this week along with a few pictures and the tribute she wrote for her mothers funeral last week. Monica Chose to continue serving in the mission field but was able to watch the funeral live via Skype.

not ok and ok

I'm learning everyday that I have to embrace whatever i'm feeling when I feel it. I cry everyday and I laugh everyday and that's ok. I am grateful for all the love and support. I got some gorgeous flowers from the davis park ward that sure make me think happy thoughts. The temple was lovely.. I didn't cry until I had to leave. I wish I could live there. My MTC companion is the traveling sister so i got to go spend a night with her which was really good. The made me a cake and they sang to me at the subway pick up place and we ate cake on the back of the car. I'm just wondering how to do this.. but i'll keep trying. I don't have much time left... this guy came and sat by me and talked to me for awhile.. he said i talked to him on the bus before and he was asking me questions... kinda strange. There are soo many interesting people here. I got kinda tired the other night and we were waiting for someone on the corner and i sat down on a bench and then this guy came and sat down and he was eating a frosty or something and he all the sudden was yelling COLD! COLD! COLD AS THE NORTH POLE! COLD AS A STONE! COLD! I held it together... I know how he feels sometimes i feel like just yelling it out but i never do.. well now in the morning my companion and I do just for a laugh. We've had some super crazy experiences this past week. I guess i tried eating some chocolate covered almonds someone gave me in my sleep last night because I woke up with A TON of chocolate all over me and my sheets, good thing it was laundry day! I have been given so much food. I loved the gift jen sent of the book of pictures and sweet things from you all. I can't stop showing it off... I love it. THanks for the scarf barb and shirts holly and pens and sticky notes and candy heatho. I sure am grateful. I just keep thinking about how sad all of this is but it's not the saddest thing. Covenants were kept, love abounds and our family is forever. Mom lives on in all of us and I'm so grateful for all she's done for me. I love the scriptures. I love you all. I miss you and pray for you.


Love Sister Savage

I really wanted to carve a pumpkin for halloween, and I found one at the church and they let me take it.. so I carved it for mom. and then these are my latest companions and me.

Monicas Tribute to Mom (Read at Laura's Funeral)

I don't have words to express any of my feelings. The disappointment and grief has been crushing. When I received the call that mom had passed away many thoughts came to my head that I had to wrestle with. I questioned If I had a lack of faith, or was unworthy of the miracle I wanted so much. Then I was flooded with these thoughts. My mom is the miracle. My 22 years with her as my mother was a miracle. Her Family is a miracle. She's no longer in pain, that's a miracle. All my precious memories are a miracle. The Atonement is a miracle. The Restoration is a miracle. So I still believe in miracles, I have been witness to many. I'm so grateful she's not hurting or scared. I attribute so much of me to my mom, my love for children, my love for all the beautiful simple things, and so much more. I love Alma 40:12 "And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow." That's all I've ever wanted for you mom, it is quite thrilling to think of you having it. The moments you would look at me like I was the most beautiful thing you had ever seen or praise me for a poem i had written like I was the most talented person you'd ever met have done so much for me.I know I'm not but I know you really believed it. You've always loved poetry and i wish I had the talent to express all that I want but this poem is for you my angel mother.

The day has come too soon for me

My angel mother I cannot see,

Time here seems so very long

but in my heart you are a song,

A song of love and warmth so pure

The kind of song that will endure,

That's why a missionary I chose to be

To sing that song you've sung to me,

Thank you for all you've taught

Something that could not be bought,

In this work I've had many tell me I'm wrong

but now more than ever I don't doubt the song,

Though in sorrow my head I bow

Because you're my angel mother now,

The truth is that's nothing new to me

My angel mother you've always been and will be.

It was a tender mercy to receive you're birthday card early mom. I love you and like you so much too. I'm honored to be your baby. I am so grateful that even though you had your hands more than full you added me to the beautiful picture of your life. I miss you so much but I'm so excited for forever. I know you are the busiest most beautiful angel up there and now you have no limits and can serve all you've want.. wow i bet you're happy. This has turned into a letter to my mom but i would like to thank all of you for all the love and support. I want you to know I know that God lives and that families are forever!

Hallelujah Anyhow

Music has been a big comfort this week. There is a sweet lady from trinidad here that we visit and she taught us this song this week. " Hallelujah anyhow, never never let your troubles get you down, when life's troubles come your way hold your head up high and say Hallelujah anyhow!" I'm far away but hallelujah my mom is alive, she can't talk but hallelujah she's my mom forever. I miss all of you but hallelujah you're there and your mine! Hallelujah we know the truth and have all the blessings of the temple! I get to go on the 11 and i just can't wait. It has been a long time but i look forward to the peace that is there. Sweet hour of prayer has been my favorite hymn this week. "Sweet hour of prayer that calls me from a world of care and bids me at my fathers throne make all my wants and wishes known, in seasons of distress and grief my soul has often found relief and oft escaped the tempters snare by the return sweet hour of prayer."I'm getting kicked off the computer but i love you all. I've really been so blessed and comforted and the work goes on and is great! I love you!                  Love me

a grateful heart

Well this has been the hardest week on the mission by far. It all started when we got a call that one of the sisters had to go home for knee surgery so Sister HAkaraia was going to be moved to missisauga and Sister Rosenlof and I would be staying in Down town toronto. It was so sad to have her go and I just have no idea what i'm doing but we have been managing and having lots of adventures. The addressess here can be pretty messed up. Then Sat morning Sister Eyre called to tell me about mom's accident... holly called shortly after and I got to talk to her as she was going up to the temple. It breaks my heart to think of the road she has a head and that i'm not there but i'm so glad she has a road ahead. all i can say is that i'm so grateful my mom is alive and that I know the gospel is true. I've been so comforted and that is a big testament to me that the Atonement is real and The Holy Ghost is an amazing companion to have in this life. Elder Ballard came and talked to us yesterday and it was amazing. there was such a strong spirit. Two elders played I am a child of God on the piano and violing and it was beautiful. The words went through my head and i cried as i thought of and felt of my father in Heaven's love and of the wonderful earthly home i have and of my parents kind and dear. I am far away. I heard of a quote that says we all have to face adversity but it takes courage to face uncertainty. Don't lose hope. Have courage. Help our sweet mom. I just keep thinking of how bad she is going to feel.. love her extra for me. I'll do all i can here. I love being a missionary. I love all of you.


Love me

out of time!

I only had 30 minutes and i got kicked off but an elder is letting me use the last ten minutes of his time! All is well... this is soooo different from the country but it's awesome.. i'm excited to keep figuring it out! I've really been bad at writing letters..i'm sorry! I'll try and do better! I hope all is well i love the you all and thank you! sorry  this is so short i'm going to write more next week. Lots of adventures here in the city! i'm grateful for the gospel! i love you! Ya for Holly and Mark this weekend i will think of you lots! love me!

Wow. Happy THanksgiving!

What a change! All is well. Sister Hakaraia from New Zealand is awesome! she thinks it's way cool that you served there dad and she said we can stay with her when we visit someday:) She says some of the funniest phrases but sister Rosenlof and I are catching on and i even catch myself talking like her already!She's only been out six weeks and i feel terrible that i have to rely on her so much. I wanted to be a helpful trainer but getting put somewhere where you know no one and have no idea where you are going is CRAZY. I now know what my sweet Sister Simons felt like! So Sis HAk ( i'm going to shorten it) has done two things that remind me of you dad, things you've told me about new zealand. We had Thanksgiving dinner last night.. it's in october here.. weird eh? And she mixed all her food together like me....and then i remembered you learned that in New Zealand. Then we were doing dishes afterwards and she was washing and a sweet investigator from mexico was drying and i came over and he was like this is a weird way to do dishes.. and she wasn't rinsing the soap off! haha. So i was the rinser and he was like ok this is normal. Oh and heather she say's 7:30 in her new zealand accent all the time and it's awesome.. i think of you :) I LOVE being around so many different cultures again. I met a lady from the DR and it was fun to talk to her about going there and about you Holly. This place reminds me so much of my time in Russia there is a big ukranian church next to our chapel and it looks like a russian building.. ill attach a picture. Our chapel is really cool cause it is very different. and we ride the subway and buses and I've just had so many wonderful experiences on them in Russia so it's not foreign to me at all. I love having so many people to talk to. So we lost our sweet Sis Rosenlof on her first day! We weren't sure what subway stop we were suppossed to get off and then it was time and she didn't make it off. We felt terrible!!! So Sis Hak went ahead to see if she hopefully got off at the next one and I stayed to see if she came back. We took our tags off cause that's what you do but i was talking to a lady and gave her a pass along card and then a man came up to me and said do you know who i am.. it was brother bradshaw that jen knows! We only had a second cause his train came but what are the odds that he picked me out when i was seperated from my companions! So we retrieved her quickly and all is well... poor thing! This area has done amazing! On sunday Leonard who was baptized three weeks ago recieved the priesthood and baptized Mandla who is his friend but they didn't know that they were both learning about the church when they started. And the Sergio was baptized last week and received the Holy Ghost. And then MAndla and Sergio bore there testimonies at the President's fireside... phenomenal! and they are way amazing converts! Leonard is from Kenya, Mandla is from Swaziland, and Sergio is Armenian but raised in Lebanon. SO COOL! Mandla speaks like the people in the Gods must be crazy.. with all the clicks.. it is soooooo cool! He left us a message yesterday and he so happy and says ready to keep fighting for the celestial kingdom. he is So humble and I have learned so much from them and i've only been here less than a week. Wow. So everything is great! I love the gospel. I bought boots that are good for -45 degrees and i'm so excited to have warm feet this winter especially in a bus area. I'm so blessed. HOlly and Mark I'm sooo excited that your wedding is soo close! I love you all! love me!

My new companions :)


Our Chapel

The Ukranian chapel that makes me feel like i'm in russia!

BIG CHANGES!

So i recieved very humbling news this week. I'm going to be training in down town toronto. There will actually be three of us me, sister Hakaraia who is from New Zealand and has been out 6 weeks and then a new sister that will get here tomorrow. It's a bus area and so i'm going from one extreme to another. I'm so excited for all the adventures that are ahead.. pray for me. Patrick came to conference and was very impressed and he is just great. We've been so blessed and though i'm sad i'll miss his baptism i'm just so happy for him. I felt like so many of the conference talks were just for me. I loved hearing so much of hope and of being patient and grateful when God lets us struggle and that we need to be so watchful and careful. I thought so much of how all of you have done so much for me in helping choose good things and stay away from evil. Mostly be your examples. I'm sooo grateful. So sister swim and i are sad to part.. we've had the craziest experiences and it's funny cause we've been out in the country. This week we had a bird poop on my hand while we were tracting.. that was disconcerting. We taught a lesson about the word of wisdom where we took a water bottle and fillled it up with musturd and sesame oil and all sorts of stuff to show how bad substances make us unpure and afterward the people dumped it out for us and gave us it back. Well we have water bottles everywhere and we are always filling them up and we were just starting planning when sister swim took a drink of a newly filled water bottle. it registered to both of us at the same time that she was drinking out of that sick water bottle and her face was priceless hahaha! I'm trying to think of what else has been going on... while tracting this week i asked to adults if there parents were home cause they looked so young. they were not impressed. i haven't had that problem my whole mission and then withing two days i did it twice. We have met some of the sweetest kids lately... this one lady pretty harshly rejected us and her little boy went off and was like thanks so much for the offer though.. try those guys over there they like it... then when we were walking away we heard him say.. oh that was so nice of them. It made our day. Thanks so much for the oreo's mom... we didn an official test to see if american oreo's are better or canadian. We took it to Nikki to try them both and she was very thorough and the verdict was.. American oreo's are better :) We went to the old folks home for my last time and it was one of my sweetest.I fed one guy strawberry shortcake and he kept smiling so big. I gathered a bunch of wheel chairs around me and talked and sang to an old man a few old ladies there hands were cold so i took turns holding there hands... two of them kept kissing my hands.. they couldn't even talk. I'm just so grateful to know of the plan God has for us. I was thinking of them in there resurrected perfect bodies. It made think of Max as well since his birthday is coming up and I just felt so sure that there is so much more after this life. I'm thankful for that! Wow. I've loved the country. The people here are amazing and i'm so grateful i had the chance to serve here. I get all spectrums in this mission and i love it! I love you all... sorry to those i haven't had a chance to write back to yet.. you are not forgotten! I love you.All is well and i'm sure my next email will be a frantic one!

Sister savage

one of the members dog had puppies.. that is a brand new one... i've never seen one in real life before..it was the sweetest thing and they made the cutest noises. The mom kept sitting on them.. i kept thinking woah take it easy they just got here!

My last district

I'm a missionay:)

I'm grateful that i'm still so grateful to be a missionary. I really am. It was a rough week for teaching. Sister Swim and I often walk away from doors so confused.. we tell people there is a prophet on the earth and that our families can be strengthened and protected and live together forever and people say i'm not interested. i'm thankful to be interested! These things have truly blessed me and i can't imagine life with out the gospel. We've had an interesting day today.. we had to take our car in because i part got recalled so we decided to ride our bikes but then the chain came off one of them and got jammed. we were right by costco and I called a member who we knew could help us and I asked what he was up to and guess what.. he was at costco! So we went in and he bought us poutine( french fries, cheese curds, and gravy) which is soo yummy and ice cream cones and fixed the bike. We are soo blessed! I feel so taken care of as a missionary. It's getting really dark in the morning which makes waking up hard but who wants things to be easy right.. doing hard stuff is way better! I'm grateful for the scriptures and i'm always trying to be better.. I have so much to do better at! I love you all! be happy! we have to go pick our car up! it looks rainy so it'll be a fun ride!


sister Savage

here's a pic of sister swim and i.. she took it upside down..sorry

Hello again!

This week sister Swim and I both got pretty sick but we still did our best and we are being blest. I thought I was tired but being sick really wipes you out. My mind has been so foggy.. It was embarrassing because I was telling someone to look at our website and I was trying to tell them there were little clips of people and their experiences and instead i told them there were little people and their experiences... whoops. I had to give a talk yesterday and the power was out and my voice was struggling but i made it through.. it was really different talking in a very dim chapel without a microphone. When the power came on during the second speaker the mormon tabernacle choir blared from the speakers and woke everyone up.. it was pretty funny. Patrick came to church again yesterday which is amazing. He is such a trooper. He is 76 and has parkinsons but he has been awesome.. this week we met with him and he was asking lots of questions about the baptismal font and if he'd be able to get in and out.. so that's promising! The elders met a lady who dyes silk at some fair and so we all went and made scarves or ties today and that was fun. She has a parrot and the elders had been holding it but when i went to put my hand out it bit me really hard.. sure scared me. I guess it doesn't like the color red and I am wearing a red shirt. Then I was ironing my scarf and it kept coming up and pecking my bare feet.. birds are kind of scary. I am so blessed and learning so much...today I was reading Jesus The Christ and it was talking about when people were accusing Christ of healing people by the power of satan and it was so interesting because He tells them you can say whatever you want about me as a man but don't associate the power I have with that of satans because it is the power of God. I just love how humble our Savior is. He took persecution and rejection patiently and preached the truth. I love you all and am grateful for all of you support. Have a fabulous week! love me!

What a wonderful week!

We have had some great miracles this week. We went to teach an investigator named Gaye and we didn't have her phone number so we stopped by early to see if it was ok if we came back at three and if we brought someone with us. She was soooo excited to meet a member.. she said she had been thinking about what she would do once we left and so she was like you got get her. So we brough sister Whitehead and had a great lesson and then she came to church yesterday! yahooo! We also taught an older man named patrick who has parkinsons disease and he told us he would come to church. We didn't see him but then he walked in a little late. He had spent the whole night in the hospital and then went back after church. He is so sweet. He said he wouldn't have missed it. all the memebers were so welcoming and we were so grateful! Two investigators at church.. wow :) I got a serious case of hiccups while tracting this week.. luckily the man was really nice about it and offered me some water. I haven't had hiccups that bad in a long time! I am so happy and things are getting better here everyday. Sister Swim and I have been a little under the weather but still able to work so that's a blessing. We had a picnic dinner in a random field the other day and it was so beautiful.. it felt like we were dreaming. Oh and some members in my ward were going to Buffalo this weekend for there sons basketball tournament and they were able to meet up with laurie and bryce! wow huh! Laurie made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on saturday and I ate them on sunday.. amazing! Well I was reading in romans 12 this week and these are my favorite verses,"1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2 And BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD : but BE YE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 12 Rejoicing in hope;patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Cool Huh. It is up to us to decide to be hopeful and prayerful and patient and to not be overcome. I heard a quote this week that said, "If satan keeps reminding you of your past, remind him of his future." Some have badness in their past.. mistakes and heartaches but everyone has a bright future unlike the adversary because we know that throught the Atonement of Christ we can live with God and with our families forever. Don't let regrets hold you back. Move forward. Believe Christ. Do good. I love you all and thank you for your support!
Love Sister Savage
We wanted to take pictures on these cool round hay bails......
but then I couldn't get up so we just pretended to try and pick them up:)

Blessings!

We have been so blessed this week with people letting us in and agreeing to let us come back. It takes us by surprise but it's great. We were tracting in the rain the other night and this man said sure come in and Sister Swim tried to go first and she kind of closed her umbrella but it shot back out and drenched me and so she was fighting to close her umbrella and get in the door and I was just trying not to get wet and the man was so patient and just stood there while we collected ourselves. He said we could come back so that's exciting. We had two really hot and humid days and then it cooled off a ton. The hot weather really takes it out of ya.. We were soo tired. We are teaching a really cool lady name Jeanne who is so on top of reading and it's just great. She had mormon friends when she was young.. it really shows how all of us are doing missionary work even if we don't know it just by setting an example. We are teaching a really interesting man named john that loves to talk. We took a lady with us that loves to talk too and wow did they get off on some weird stuff. Now we are just working and praying to get them to church! We have two cool families that we have appointments with so that's great. It is really interesting because whether i'm thinking about now or past experiences or future ones i always picture myself with my name tag and pamphlets. I am just so grateful to be here. I'm grateful for all of you! I hope that all is well. I know God lives. I know this gospel is true and if we live it we can overcome this world because Christ already has. Until next week! I love you! Love me!

:D

CONGRATULATIONS HOLLY AND MARK!!!! I'm so excited! i love to hear of all the great things happening at home! I almost had this email done when the system at the library crashed and so I don't have much time I just came back to tell you all that I love you and that all is well here in Cataraqui! We've been blessed to meet some great people and I am loving the country. We've had some fun dinner appointments lately.. I ran right into a screen door at the Amos's and I don't think i'll ever hear the end of it. That's nothing new though :) I read a great quote by Gordon B. Hinckley. "If as a people we will build and sustain one another the Lord will bless us with the strength to weather every storm and continue to move forward through every adversity." I know this is true! We all need help moving forward sometimes and I think our greatest progression and happiness comes when we focus on others. I love you all! Thanks for all that you do for me. I love this gospel. My companion showed me some fun tricks with magic filters on my camera so we had some fun taking pictures! Love you!
Sister Savage
The first one makes everything look very soft and glowy.
The second one makes everything really bright and beautiful.. I love fall :)
We saw a snake while tracting.. did you know they don't have snakes in Hawaii?
And we saw a frog.. they do have those in Hawaii.

From HOW I SEE IT

From HOW I SEE IT

From HOW I SEE IT

From HOW I SEE IT

This is of me riding my bike in the country.
Sister Swim and I like puzzles.. but we are always sooo tired!
I can't remember if i sent this one but it is of us in our canda poncho things!

From HOW I SEE IT

From HOW I SEE IT

From HOW I SEE IT

Love you!

Staying in the country!

So Sister Swim and I are staying here for fall and i'm very exciting! It's starting to get cool again and I love it... although it's been raining a lot. We had a great week.. we went up north and tried tracting on our bikes cause the houses are far apart. I think every missionary should have bikes... we have so many funny experiences with them! It's not as hard as i thought in a skirt... you just have to be more careful getting off. We found three new investigators this week and that's the best we've done in a long time. One girl is 17 and she really doesn't know anything about religion but she is so open minded and she even prayed the first time we met with her... it was awesome. We meet so many amazing people everyday. We go volunteer at an old folks home sometimes and there is the sweetest 92 year old lady who just goes around making all the other patients smile and she gives them kisses and it's just so sweet. What a great example of how we can make a difference no matter where we are or how old we are. I've only got four more minutes so I should probably send this off... I love you all and miss you! Thanks for your love and support! Keep on keeping on! Love me!

Just another week in paradise :)

They call the country zones the paradise zones... it is beautiful. It's been really humid and rainy but great. My hair usually starts out straight but before long it's all weird and wavey. We are still teaching marilyn and she was supposed to come to church yesterday but her asthma attacked her again and she sounded horrible... next week! I think there is so much to learn about hope on a mission. You just keep on saying the next person, the next door, the next week someone will come to church, the next time they will have read and prayed.. and you know what usually not but those few times when it does happen makes it worth it. They have implemented new leadership training meetings for zone leaders, district leaders, and trainers but sister swim and I were invited and it is really cool. the church came out with a new missionary dvd and it's so real! And as you watch it you realize wow there are over 50,000 missionaries going through the same things as me right now and it is such a boost. This is the Lords work. We are all asked to lift where we stand and it makes such a difference even if we can't always see it. i'm so grateful to be here. I'm sooooo grateful! I love you all and hope all is well! Sister swim and I are going to try and ride our bikes to the Senior couples house and it's kinda far so i hope all goes well! We laugh a lot even when we are crying.. it's great!
Sister Savage

August 3 2010

It's been a great week. We don't have much time to email cause it was a holiday yesterday so all the libraries were closed and so we got permission to come during one of our breaks today. I am so sore right now.. we played Zone sports yesterday and i ran into the corner of a table and boy does it hurt! I showed sister swim my bruise and she said, " wow that looks like the solar system" haha it's pretty colorful. We have been plugging along. Tracting is always an adventure... this dog went nuts and the lady was so funny cause she could probably see the terror in my eyes. She had to run down the street after it cause it went after a kid on a skateboard and she was yelling he won't bite he's just a terrorist! We felt bad we let it out but it was pretty funny. We've had some miracles and some dissapointments but i'm just as grateful as ever. I read something in Phillipians that i love. Chapter 4 verses 11-13, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound:everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I think this sums up being a missionary for me.. I feel on top of the world and at the same time like I NEED SO MUCH HELP. And that's great because my Savior wants to help me and he is and i'm just happy. I do some crazy stuff though sometimes.. I was calling a referral and I accidently started praying on their message machine.. I really had to try and smooth that one over but i luckily didn't start laughing till i hung up. whoops. We met with our wonderful investigator Marilyn today and she is doing so great! She asks awesome questions and she is so refreshing to teach. I can't believe Laurie is off to buffalo.. I was thinking it's a good thing it was after I left cause I can handle leaving much more than being left. I love you all and you are all in my prayers! Do something nice for someone. God is aware of us all and uses us to answer prayers... that I know! love me

What a week! Letter 2

Well Sister Swim and I have had quite a week! We got over five more hours of tracting then i have ever gotten this week and we are pooped but excited cause we found a lot of potential investigators and a few new ones. At one door we were talking to the lady and her little boy was standing there telling us to come in and he was saying it over and over and so she let us in and he did not stop talking the whole time and he said the funniest stuff. I love kids. Saturday morning Sister Swim and I were sitting there kind of frustrated and saying man we just want to find someone who is really seeking and that it won't be like pulling teeth to get them to read or come to church and then we went and taught a lady we had talked to named Marilyn and guess what she called herself.. A SEEKER! and she had read the pamphlet and really like it especially the title.. The Restoration:) She loves the idea of the Church being Christ church restored. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she's excited to read it. Wow. We are blessed. I feel like we have to work a lot harder to talk to people out here but we're helped and it's such a privilege to just give all you've got and know that it's the Lord's work and that's all he expects of me. We've had some funny experiences this week. I cooked some salmon and i put a glass lid on it.. then I put the lid in the sink and turned the water and and it exploded! It was pretty crazy! I've never seen that happen before. We have bikes here but no helmets and so last week we went and bought helmets and we decided this morning that we were going to ride them to the library today. so we got them on and went to get on the bikes and they were really stuck together i mean REALLY stuck.. and so we were trying really hard and all the sudden this mammoth spider came out from under the seat and we both dropped the bikes and screamed a lot and then we kept finding more spiders and and finally I was like lets just shake them. So We picked the bikes up and shook them for awhile and they came apart! It was amazing! It was probably a pretty embarrassing display though cause we look like little kids with our pink and blue helmets and we were jumping and screaming a lot. then i got on one of them and the seat was really high up so i had to postion it just right so i get get started I felt like I did when I was little.I got started though and thought we were good. We had to stop to cross the street and when it was our turn to go my peddles weren't in the right place so I tipped over and then I started to get that embarrassed panicky feeling and I couldn't get going and I just looked ridiculous.. so sister swim and I switched bikes:) She's great. The weather has been really crazy this week lots of rain and then it gets really hot and humid too. Thankfully we have an air conditioning unit in our bedroom and we always talk about it. I sleep sooo much better now. So all is going really well i'm excited for this transfer! Thanks for all you do I love you all so much! have a wonderful day!
Love sister savage

Hi :)Letter 27

Wow! I am all a big whirlwind of feelings right now. Sister Swim is my new companion and I just love her. We have had some of the harshest rejections i've had on my mission in the last five days we've been together and I'm just amazed at how we can just smile and keep on going and laughing and serving. Every time that happens I wait for a pit in my stomach or for doubt to come to my mind but i feel so much peace. It's amazing. I read a quote i love today , "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve." Albert Schweitzer. I believe that so much. Happiness comes from others. Mom shared a story with me that I liked a lot about how a boy died and asked to see both heaven and hell and in hell there was a big table will lots of food and everyone was all starved and wailing cause their arms were really long spoons i think so they couldn't get the food in their mouths but in heaven everything was the same but people were using their arms to feed eachother. I thought that was so true. We are here to feed and love one another. I'm just so grateful. Thanks mom :) i've been missing the temple a lot.. i've only gone once since i've been out. So my challenge is for all of you to go to the temple and think of me and I know i will feel that special spirit more in my heart and I'll be so grateful! We are so blessed. I miss you all. My sisters make me so happy Jen is for Joy Mel is for marvelous Barb is for bubbly Heather is for hilarious Holly is for happy Laurie is for lovely and that's a little cheesy but you all are great! Thanks for the packages they are alway perfect that collage of the grandkids is my favorite!!! so precious. Have a great day and smile! Love me

More Changes! Letter 26

Count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done! I want each of you to know that when i count my blessings I count you. I'm just so grateful. Yesterday a lady gave a talk on gratitude and she quoted something about how we should make lists of our blessings and at the end feel like.. wow I think Heavenly Father loves me best. I feel like that. I've been given everything especially when it comes to what really matters. I want so much to exercise greater faith so that I can help others feel that way. It really is about feeling it and not having it. To someone else i might look like I have everything.. but I do! I'm just happy. So transfers is this week. Sister Stebar has been out in the country for four transfers and is now going to my old area! She is really nervous to go to the city but i'm excited for her. My new companions name is Sister Swim and she is from Hawaii and she is really peppy and i'm excited.. we are going to really nuckle down and kneel down and find those who are just waiting for us to find them! I think i told you about a poem one of my zone leaders shared at the beginning of my mission about vikings burning there ships.. well i got it and it goes like this.

Burn the fleet by thrice

in this dark night we stand or we fall,

we are kings now, or nothing at all.

Check your armour, light up the torch

touch the flame to the sail before you head to the shore

and we will burn the fleet.

We can never go home, it's on to victory or underground

burn the fleet we'll be hero's or ghosts,

but we won't be turned around.

The old flag will burn with the sail

and a new one won't fly if we fail.

but the fire continues to rise and it shows

not a hint of any fear in our eyes.

I like that because in my case i know we won't fail so it's not scary to leave behind everything and go work and give this my all because I know that the gospel is true. I know that we are on the Lords side and I can't imagine being anywhere else! I'm so happy to be here! Well today we went on a boat tour of a thousand islands. it was relaxing.. I like boats.. we even were in america for a bit! there is a cool castle on one of the islands but it's a sad story. There was a man who really loved his wife and so he started building it and then she died three months before it was finished. So he just left it. someone eventually fixed it up and it's pretty cool! I love ya!
Sister Savage

I want to challenge all of you priesthood holders.. especially my brothers in law to write me and tell me what the priesthood means to you. I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks I love ya!

The first pic is us with the castle behind us
the next one is us by the us and canadian flags :)

From Sister Savage

From Sister Savage

wow! Letter 25

It doesn't feel like the fourth of july probably cause i'm not with all of you and i'm in Canada :) I hope you all have a great day together. I'm doing great. it is pretty sticky out and hot today. We've really been trying to be more obedient and to have faith in finding and we are being blessed. I'm just soaking all this learning and experience up. I feel like the MTC was traing for a mission and a mission is some major training for life! So i'm in the LTC.. life training center. We met a cool family and the guy had read the pamphlet when we came back and he was like everything i want to hear is in that pamphlet but how do i know someone just didn't make that up... cool eh! We are excited to keep teaching him and helping to know it's true! Sister stebar laughed at me after our appointment cause I was all giddy.. i love having the opportunity to teach of truth. There is an amazing quote by Elder Wirthlin that says, "Perseverance is a POSTIVE, ACTIVE characteristic. It is not idly passively waiting and hoping for something good to happen. It gives us HOPE by helping us realize that the righteouss suffer NO FAILURE except in giving up and no longer trying." Wow did that bring comfort to my soul. Sometimes i feel like i'm failing but we never are if we are trying. Just don't give up.. I can do that.. and so can you! I'm so grateful for the scriptures. I love D&C section 6. I've been wondering about answers to prayers and such and verse 14 &15 really hit home for me. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee,blessed art though for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place ( CAnada Toronto East Mission) where you art at this time. Behold thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou has been enlightened by the spirit of truth." I know i've been directed here and i'm so grateful for the answers to my prayers! the Spirit is amazing. Wow i just feel so blessed right now. In PEC on sunday someone was talking about how a bunch of beaver dams had broke because of all the rain and sister brown was like "Did the beavers make a mistake?" she was so concerned it was sweet. I'm going to attach a picture of me jumping for joy in the new outfit Jen sent me.. it was fun to have a whole new outfit to put on... i've got the best sisters ever! Love you all so much!
Love Sister Savage

From Sister Savage

Hello again! Letter 24

I'mjust amazed that it is preparation day again! Is that how you spell preparation? Anyway it's been an interesting week. We went and taught this sweet older man who when we were talking about the three different kingdoms he went into how there are people living under the ocean and on the moon... hmm.. he was a nice guy though! We've found some people while tracting but then they haven't been there when we go back so that's hard. I was reading last night in our search for happiness about hope and I feel hopeful. It's hard when success as a missionary is often rated by the agency of others but in preach my gospel it says that a successful missionary is one who feels the spirit working through them. That's something I can do something about. I love when there is something to improve on. I'm glad i've developed that love because there is always something to improve on. In sunday school we talked about Saul and David and Jonathan... I like when it says that the souls of david and Jonathan were knit together. (There is a kid screaming through the library... makes me miss home!) I was thinking of what an amazing blessing true friendship is. wow. It's amazing that Jonathan wasn't jealous of David even though he was a prince and david was a servant and everyone was praising David so much. I'm just really grateful to have wonderful relationships! The teacher shared a quote that said a true friend never makes you choose between God's way and their way. So don't take for granted your friends. my challenge is to talk to a friend or family member you haven't in a long time. We are here for eachother that I know. I love you and thank you and miss you! Take care! Sister Savage

Picture Update

This is a picture of the sisters in our district. We have two awesome senior couples.

From Sister Savage

and then there is a picture of the gorgeous sky.

From Sister Savage

The next one is of me right before i ate a sardine! Elder mako dared me and it was sick. We had pretzels there and it reminded me of the burbs when he eats that sick sardine...these ones weren't at bad as that.

From Sister Savage

The next one is of a lovely pond that was so still and the trees are reflected perfectly... amazing!

From Sister Savage

Letter 23

Well the weeks are picking up speed here in the country. I'm learning so much. I can't believe how much I have to be grateful for! Something I've been podering a lot is David and Goliath. I read about it because I was thinking how was David so confident that God would help him. It talks about how he used previous experiences where God had helped him kill a bear and a lion so he knew God could help him. He didn't go up to Goliath and toss stones at him( Sometimes I feel like that's what I do) He knew God would deliver him. He say's to Goliath in Samuel chapter 17:47 "And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands." Wow. The battle is the Lords! So What are the Goliaths you face? What do you feel is unconquerable and how can you face those things with confidence. Remember what God has done for you in the past remember how he has strengthened you.. don't doubt. I also got thinking about Shadrach, meshach, and abed-nego. I substituted some words in so they applied to missionary work but you could do it for anything. Daniel Chapter 3:17-18. "If it be so, Our God whom we serve is able to deliver investigators, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O Discouragement. BUT IF NOT, be it known unto thee, O discouragement, that I we will not stop sharing the gospel!" so I changed it quite a bit. But it's so true. Someone gave an awesome talk in General Conference awhile ago about BUT IF NOT. We just have to have faith. The church is true. The gospel changes hearts. All is well. Be happy and change something if you aren't. I love you all. Dad I hope you had a wonderful fathers day and I would like to say that you make me soooo happy!
Love Sister Savage

Letter 22

Happy Birthday Abi! I know that many birthdays have passed and i always think of them but i'm really bad at always wishing them! know i love you all. It is really crazy that abi is 9 years old. Wow. I feel like she was born yesterday. MAN I LOVE MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS! All is well here. it's been rainy. Sister Stebar and I got completey drenched tracting the other day.. i left my umbrella in Don Valley. It was fun though. We went and did service for Brother Andrews after it had been raining a bunch. We moved his fence over. so we each picked a post to try and get out of the ground.. they both had no problem and moved on to another and I kept struggling. I pulled and wiggled and kicked and pulled and all the other posts were up but mine... i felt really weak. So Sister Stebar came to help me... we both pulled and it didn't budge.... we tried and tried and I felt a lot better it wasn't just because I was weak. She said I think you picked the hardest one of them all. It was by a tree and the roots had a hold of the bottom of the post. She went to get a shovel and I kept at it and I got it out! I learned a great lesson that we can't compare ourselves or our progress to others cause we all have different situations. They may appear to be the same task but there are different challenges we each face. So don't stop trying even if your post doesn't seem to be moving :) We moved a bunch of hay bails for a family and a cat had gotten smashed inbetween some of them... sick eh? I was thoroughly disgusted. I had the cell phone in my pocket and then after an hour and a half I noticed it was gone...... there was a lot of hay and a long path we'd been going on. We found it though! miracle! We are so blessed. I'm grateful to be here and learning so much. I love you and can't wait to get my mail someday! Pray hard and be happy!
Love Sister Savage!

Cataraqui! Letter 21

So it was way hard to leave the city! I miss my companion and area and zone.. It is so different here. Everyone is canadian and there are no tall buildings and it smells sooo fresh! I miss the city but i'm excited to be here. It's a lot slower which kinda stresses me out because I like to be really busy. But I went from an area that you could drive across in fifteen minutes to one that takes over two hours.. so lots more time in the car which means less time sharing the good news! We are going to work hard though. We do a lot of service and we moved a mammoth pile of compost for this lady and dad you would have been proud of me with that shovel.. don't worry mom i tried to be graceful ;) Sister Stebar is fun and we are going to work hard to find people to teach even though it's hard. In the city you just turn a little bit and start talking. Here you see someone a ways up and start booking it and then they turn and book it the other way... it'll be more work but we'll just pray lots! We had a good fireside about prayer. The guy said sometimes we treat prayer like we've reached Heavenly Father's voicemail instead of having a conversation. That's so true! I think I leave messages way to often without taking the time to let him get a chance. So that's my challenge. Don't just leave a message, talk to Him! I love you all so much. I am so happy to hear of all the many blessings that you are recieving and I just know i'm the most blessed person ever. There are no words for how grateful I am. Thanks and I love ya and pray for us to find those who are searching for the truth out here in Cataraqui! It is so pretty here! Till next week!
Love Sister SAvage
PICTURES!
Here is me in the country! There is a lakeshore which I LOVE and country which I LOVE and animals! There is a picture of me with a goat and the sweetest little colt ever... That fence is electric and I totally touched it and nothing happened... miracle!

From Sister Savage

From Sister Savage

From Sister Savage

From Sister Savage

From Sister Savage

From Sister Savage

big changes! Letter20

Well this past week has been full of change which is uncomfortable but good! The book of mormon say's that men are that they might have joy but it never say's men are that they might be comfortable. That's what i'd like to bear witness of today.. that dispite the discomfort of talking to complete strangers, or waking up at six and working all day, or singing at a baptism :/(that was bad), or having people you're teaching struggle, or being transferred I still feel peace and joy! Do you know what that means?! The gospel is true! The work that is being done is going forth because through Jesus Christ we really can find joy in our strugglings and discomfort... it's what builds us as individuals and as a church. So my challenge is to do things that aren't comfortable... but that are sooo important. Someone said the realm of possibilities is right outside your comfort zone. Logically thinking about what i'm faced with here in the missionary field and knowing myself i should be a complete mess... but i'm at peace. I'm being transferred to the country! Cataraqui which is pronounced cata-rock-way. This means no more of the city bussel I love.. the languages from all over the world and the food. i'll come back though and I know I'll love it there.. I think it is an area Jana actually served in. maybe. I hear it's beautiful and i'm excited. I know that wonderful things await me! I'm going to be companions with Sister Stebar who was in the MTC with me! Wahoo! It's hard to say goodbye to this Zone and area and my companion but I just am ok. Amazing. Elder Sybrowsky of the quorom of the seventy came to our zone conference and it was awesome. It was so inspiring and i'm so grateful! I love you all so much! I'm going to only get mail that is sent to the mission office twice a transfer now so that'll be a change! It'll just be like christmas twice a transfer! I miss you and pray for you and am soooooooooo grateful! Be happy and share the gospel so other people can be too!
Sister Savage

Picture Post

One of these is a picture of me and Eli. She is the first persian sister I met and she's the sweetest thing EVER! Her husband was sent back to Iran awhile ago and now she is going back to try and see if she can get him back here. This was us saying goodbye. The next is of a fruit boquet the relief society did and sisters this should go on the list of the many sisterly activities we will do together when I get back. It was fun and we dipped it in chocolate after..yum. The next is milk in a bag... that's how it comes here in canada..weird. It's just a little bit harder to control the milk.

From Life As We See It

From Life As We See It

From Life As We See It

May 25th Letter 19

Hello! Wow we've been meeting a lot of interesting people lately. It's been a great opportunity to really focus on what I believe and testify and feel the peace. That's how I know the gospel is true because peace is hard to come by and the peace it brings is such a wonderful witness of it. I've been thinking a lot about how we progress. The answer is prayer and work. Lots of effort. Elder Bednar said, "AS disciples of the Savior, we are not merely striving to know more, rather, we need to CONSITENTLY DO MORE of what we know is right and become better." I love that. Another quote I love says, "if we don't try we don't do, if we don't do then why are we here?" That applies so much to missionary work and so much to life. If we aren't accomplishing things that bring us closer to God then why are we here? We don't have to everything we just have to always be doing something to be a little better. I'm so grateful to know what I know and I just hope and pray that if there are things you don't know for sure you put forth the effort to know.. "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32 There is nothing more liberating than a personal testimony. It's sometimes easy to rely on others but real freedom comes from knowing for yourself. It is such my desire to help people to feel the freedom the gospel brings. I love you all. I am thankful for your prayers I feel them and I need them. I feel like thins is kinda a heavy email. I'm trying to think of something funny that happened this week.... Well we were all playing frisbee the other morning and there was about four of us going for it and all of us fell... i caught it and ended up sitting on top of the other elders that had fallen.. whoops! I sure stood up quick and I was as red as a beet. Dad it reminded me of my first soccer game when I fell and sat right on the ball and there was like seven little girls surrounding me and kicking at the ball and I could hear you yelling "that's right just take a rest monica!" haha. I've also tried getting into the wrong car a few times.. my companion never tries to stop me because she thinks it's funny. We have a great time together. She goes home next transfer. Weird! Transfers are this sunday so i'm anxious to see what's going to happen! Take care and be happy!
Sister Savage

physically and spiritually stuffed! Letter 18

This past week i've eaten more food than I have my whole life I think. Last monday we had a farewell party for Eli who is a persian sister who has to go back to Iran for five months and a birthday party for Elder Neff... Sister SHah made sooo much food. It was really fun though. Then we went to sister Rajasooriars and she made chicken ala kin and I'm pretty sure that is mentioned in Alladin.. it was really good. She gave us some Sri lanka treats that were interesting :) Sister Rider took us out for Greek food which was really yummy and she bought three desserts for us to try. I had baklava which I believe is also mentioned in alladin. It was yummy. Sister Simeon had us over that night and gave us phillipino food.. she made some yummy spring rolls. We had a rice cake thing for dessert that was interesting but tasty. Then yesterday Darlington our ward mission leader had a farewell lunch for Elder Neff because he is leaving and he is from africa and his wife is from the phillipines and they made soooo much food! There was foo foo, and some noodley meat thing, and fish, and oxtail and she made these little shrimp balls and they had tiny shrimp eggs.. blessedly they were way smaller the the fish eggs i tried in Russia so I was able to manage swallowing them. Then we went and saw Srini and they gave us a traditional Indian breakfast food called idli and it is like little rice pancakes saucer things. and you dip them in this spicy sauce.. who would of thought spicy in the morning. I just wrote so much about food but it has been a big part of my week! There was a pretty cool thing that happened. the sister in the office who is over referals just found this envelope with some old forms in it on her desk and she didn't know where it came from. Turns out it was a family that was taught about two years ago that made it to the day they were going to be baptized but then backed out. We went and found them and they are awesome. THey are from Romania and almost fed us cabbage but it wasn't done yet. They reminded me a lot of Russian people. They were very willing to let us in and said that they had just been talking about how great it was when they were involved in the church. We said a prayer with them and after he said it's been a long time since we've had a prayer.. it's good! They are going to start coming to church again. Srini and his family are great but still so worried about their family.. they know they will be happy here but they are afraid of how the community will treat their families in india. Srini told us I know there is only one God, I believe what you have taught us, I believe in Christ... It's amazing to hear them bear testimony! I love this work. I love the people we meet. I love all of you! I'm so grateful to be here. I'm way behind on responding to letters but thank you so much to those who write i love it and i'm trying to catch up! Sorry! Keep on keeping on and be happy! I love you!
Love Sister Savage

Letter 17

What a blessed week. I was so giddy yesterday after I got to talk to you all... except don't worry paul I know that you somehow slipped through the cracks :) HI! My gratitude for you all is at a peak in my life. Being away makes me realize just how blessed I am. Wow. Thanks for all you do! This past week I had the opportunity to go on an exchange to Weston. It's more downtown and it's a bus area. It was such an adventure and I loved it. I'm hoping I get sent to a bus area next because I felt much more like a missionary because there are constantly people to talk with and you walk a lot more which is nice. The car always makes me sleepy and we drive past a lot of people and I think i wish I was talking to them! It was an even greater adventure because it was downpouring almost the whole time I was there. I love walking in the rain and the sound it makes on the umbrella and the lightening and thunder! It was effective in contacting people too because I was standing waiting to cross the street and I looked over and there was a man standing under my umbrella with me.. he smiled and we got to talking. It was raining really hard. we got on the bus and he was very receptive it was funny he said "thank goodness it was raining or I wouldn't have met you" He was very nice. I was thinking about how the gospel is like an umbrella in the storm of life... people who don't have it are looking for it and if you let them under the umbrella you can bless them so much. People see a difference in those who live what they believe.. they are wondering if you would mind helping them to find that difference. Most won't just hop under with you without asking so we need to invite others to enjoy the protection and blessing of coming unto Christ. We still get wet but an umbrella makes a substantial difference. I stepped in a mammoth puddle running after the bus and my shoe was soaked. just like we still face trial as members of the church but we know that if we keep walking and enduring the sun will come out and our shoes won't be wet forever. Compared to the buses in Russia these ones were really nice. They actually stop for more than one second :) I love being a missionary. I have so much to improve upon but right now i'm so excited to move forward! I love you all and I hope you all are searching and finding and sharing your testimony.
Love Sister Savage

Picture Post

Here is a picture of Ruth Jarvis and I and one of the mammoth amount of food i ate at Pavani's birthday party and then a picture of me and the whole Kuntumalla family at the party

From Sister Savage

From Sister Savage

From Sister Savage

May 3rd already! Letter16

Happy birthday yesterday my sweet Barbara sister! Spring in Canada is very nice and unpredictable. Someday's it's sunny and humid and really warm other days it's chilly and rainy and WinDy!! Sister Simons was having the hardest time keeping her skirt down the other day.. it was pretty funny. The blossoms and leaves are awesome though... everything is so green! I'm really excited this is such a beautiful place when it's all alive. We played ultimate frisbee outside the other morning and it was soo nice. I love being outside. This past week was really good. I found another accent that i just can't understand and that is people from Nigeria.. good thing my companion has figured out how to tell what people are saying. Eli gave me a persian candy at church yesterday and it was yucky.. The persian people have amazing food but when it comes to cookies and candies I don't know what happened. Their cookies are like sand and whatever I ate yesterday tasted like soap. She is so sweet though she has to go back to Iran next week and I'm sad about that. She has been such a fun person to get to know and she's so faithful.
We had our Zone Conference which was exactly what I needed. It was all about not being afraid to jump in and just do the work and also about waiting patiently. Every month we pick a Christlike attribute to work on and last month was patience and I sure got what i was praying for. The best way to learn patience is to have a lot of things try your patience. I know that God's hand is in all things. His timing is the best it's just not the easiest. Pavani gave a talk in primary yesterday and it was amazing! She has almost finished the childrens Book of Mormon. I love the people we are teaching so much. Srini and Sara fasted for the first time yesterday and Srini came up to me at church all shocked and said " I don't even feel like fasting!" meaning he wasn't even hungry and he was pretty amazed. We watched the Prophet of the Restoration movie with them and talked about how we have to sacrifice sometimes for what is right and I think they are coming to understand that being baptized isn't going to be easy but it's what they should do. The scriptures are amazing. We are blessed everyday to have the opportunity and freedom to learn from them and it makes me think how easy it is to not take advantage of that. We truly come to know God and Jesus Christ when we study the scriptures and live what they teach. I love you all so much. I am so excited to talk to you soon. Keep doing the small stuff that will make an eternal difference. Love me :)
Dear Mom I haven't sent you a letter yet so it'll probably come after mothers day but I can't wait to talk to you I love you so much and i'm so grateful you are my mother. You've taught me so much about being compassionate and it has blest me so much as a missionary.

From Sister Savage

Letter 15

So I'm kinda an emotional mess at the moment... which yes means there are quite a few people at this library wondering whats wrong with me but no need to worry i'm mostly just sooo grateful! I'm so happy to hear Britton got here safely and that Laurie's delivery went so well... but man do i want to hold him! I just can't express how much happiness my family brings me and it's hard to be away but I know that Sacrifice brings for the blessings of heaven! We had wonderful and challenging things happen this week. THe family we're working with is still progressing amazingly but they said it's the wrong time to talk to their families in india and they are very afraid of what will happen when they do and so their baptism is going to be pushed back until they tell them because they don't want to do it behind their backs. It's hard because we want them to recieve the blessings of baptism so much but we also understand how important family is and why is so hard for them. Pray for them. They say in india it's very community and family centered so they are afraid they will think they are turning their backs on them. Pavani's birthday party was saturday night and we gave her the book of mormon stories book and the next day she had read 11 chapters! And Srini and Sara are progressing so much with the Word of Wisdom.. so many miracles are happening. They are so fun. They fed us so much food again and this time we ate with our hands. I didn't know that there was a right way to do that so my companion and I just went at it with both hands and i couldn't figure out how to do it without sticking my whole hand in my mouth. They gave us a demonstration and you should of heard Srini chear when I finally got it! Another huge miracle is that our investigator went to the addiction recovery program! We went with her because she is was scared and it was amazing! I haven't felt the spirit that strong in awhile and I know it's because of the amount of humility in the room. These people have so much courage to come and turn to God for help for all sorts of addictions. One girl wasn't addicted to any substance but had had some really negative experiences growing up and she needs help applying the atonement. The booklet they give is so wonderful both sister simons and I wanted one after. Our investigator absolutely loved it and is excited to go again and has been doing the booklet. I can't tell you how happy it makes us to have her call and be upset that she can't find Moses and not for all the other reasons she usually calls us. She is really progressing a lot. I really encourage anyone who is struggling with an addiction or even if you are addicted to negative thinking about yourself or you need help forgiving someone to go to these meetings or get the manual. It is very powerful. I'm so thankful for the atonement. I'm so thankful to be sharing this message and hear people say i've felt a difference as i prayed or i found an answer in this book... AMAZING. A big thing they talked about in the meeting is about how we can't dwell in the past.. theres nothing we can do to change it and we can't dwell in the future because no matter what we can't control it, we have to dwell in the present and then we will succeed and find happiness everyday. One of my favorite scriptures i've memorized is 2 Timothy 2: 7 " For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Don't be afraid to do what needs to be done to grow, with God you are powerful and he will help us stay sane! I love you all so much! I know that there are many blessings in store if we live righteoussly and ask for them! Love me!