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