COMING HOME

Monica will be home Monday August 1st!
Her homecoming talk will be on August 14th at the Ogden Foothill Chapel (1475 Cahoon Street (1500 E and 24th street)). Sacrament meeting starts at 10:50 am.

Can this really be?

I just keep thinking back to the first email I ever sent and it feels like it was just yesterday. It's amazing how it can seem so long and so short all at the same time. I have been overwhelmed by the spirit once again and have been able to find a lot of peace in the different challenges and realities that I've been facing. I am so grateful for that. I'm so so so grateful for that and that I haven't been too sad or unable to focus. I've thought a lot about what I've learned most and I think to sum it up it is to love more, be happy, and press on. I know now how much the gospel and my family and friends mean to me in a way that I would never have been able to if I hadn't of had this experience. I'll be grateful everyday for forever for the opportunity I've had to serve a full time mission. Many things that I always thought would break me in life have happened to me in this last year and a half and through the Atonement and grace of God I have made it to this point and I know He will continue to carry me through. It sure isn't me that's made it, I have been brought to this point in my Saviors arms. I know that's true. I am so excited to see where He takes me and all the joys that are ahead! This past week there was a big heat wave.. it was sooo hot and humid. We are blessed with air conditioning in our car and apartment though so it wasn't too bad. Today it poured rain. I opened the door and put a chair in front of it and watched it and listened to the thunder it was pretty neat. We had a plan of salvation night at the church on the the hottest day so not too many showed up but it was still really fun. We had rooms set up and did a tour of the Plan of Salvation. I was showing a member how it was going to go and I walked out the door where they were going to talk about the creation and Adam and eve and a hornet flew right at my head and stung my ear... good gravy it hurt. There is a big nest by that door so it really was a blessing in disguise cause we figured that out before it got started and so we used a different door. I walked around with ice on my ear for ten minutes and then it was fine. I'm glad I'm not allergic. So with the missions combining this whole going home thing is a big mystery. I still haven't got any information about what's going to be happening but I'm sure it will all work out. I am so excited and anxious. It all seems very unreal though. I am itching to hold a baby so bad! Oh how I love you. I am one blessed sister missionary to have such an amazing support group to come home to. I love you and am so grateful and so sure that the church is true!


Signing off for the last time

Love Sister Savage

wow that was the wrong approach to ending cause now I feel like crying!

What do I say!

Things have been so good and busy! We have had really great experiences and I've been blessed a lot. It is really such a bittersweet time in life. I'm thrilled to be coming home but anxious too. I really am having a hard time knowing what to write so I'll just attach some pictures! I hope you all have a great day and I know that I know the gospel is true! I'm so incredible grateful for so much!

Love Sister Savage

Hello!

July is flying by. We had a really great week. Abdul Nathani was baptized yesterday. He's from Pakistan and has been Muslim for most of his life. He was so prepared though and we have learned so much from him. He is so humble and accepting. He has read over half of the Book of Mormon and gave a sweet testimony after his baptism. He is great. We have been so blessed to have such prepared souls placed in our path. I am so thankful for all the experiences I've had as a missionary! I have learned a lot his week about the power of selflessness. I want to be more selfless. I have been thinking of our Savior and how He never thought of himself. AS hard as I try I tend to be self centered a lot but I'm thankful for those opportunities to repent and focus more on others. I read Ether 12 today and that chapter always brings me so much hope! I love how hopeful the gospel is. I am really so so grateful. Thank you for all your love and support. All the mail is moving but now is going to Brampton so I think the first opportunity to get it will be when I'm just about home! I hope you all have a fabulous day. Know that I know the church is true and that I love you!


Love me!

I'm at a loss for words

I am just overwhelmed with gratitude. Gratitude for the truth I know and the freedom I have to live it. Gratitude for all my amazing family and friends. Gratitude for how tired and worn out I feel in the best work there is. There is so much to be grateful for. I am really not able to think of coming home for too long cause it doesn't seem real and I easily get distracted by the work but when I do think of it I am filled with excitement at being with you again and applying all that I've learned into my life. This has been such a huge learning experience and one that I'm grateful to have made it through. Things are really busy here which I'm so grateful for but it makes time go by so quick. I can't believe it's July 4 already. It seems like the closer it gets to time to come home the harder it is to write these emails. I just don't know what to say other than I love you and I love being a missionary and I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so much.


Love me

Just Posted this week and last weeks letter

Doubt Not, Fear Not

I have been thinking even more than usual as my mission time slips by so fast, and Doubt not, fear not are the thoughts that keep coming to mind. So all is well. I read a scripture today that I loved in 3 Nephi 21:9-10 "For in that day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which will be great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them. But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil." I love where it says that the life of His servant is in his hand... and that he will heal us from all the struggles of being a missionary and make it so clear that He is so much greater than the devil. I can testify to that! I'm so grateful for my Savior. I'm so grateful to be a part of this work and to have a month left.. it is going so fast! I hope and pray that all is well with all of you! There has been a postal strike for a while so it's been a long time since we got mail.. or at least it seems like a long time I'm not actually sure how long it's been. Anyways we are doing great, I've been blessed with great people to teach a great area and a great companion. I love you all! Keep on keeping on!


Love me!