BABY GIRL IS HERE!!!

email 27 January 2015

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE WORLD BABY GIRL!!!!!!

So of course I've been in baby mode all week!!!!!! And now SHES HERE!!!!!!

I've been thinking all week about how amazing and sacred our bodies are. Of course with my sister Samantha having her baby, and we've been teaching the word of wisdom, and the law of chastity. We wanted to be like our Heavenly Father and have a body. And with our bodies, a little bit of His power was given to us. The ability to create life. How amazing and sacred is that responsibility! He has given us the opportunity to create the bodies for His special spiritual children. It makes us look at others differently and look at ourselves differently. At the beginning of my mission, I was struggling with eating disorders. I was going to therapy and they would always ask me what my motivation was to stop. I had no clue. I really didn't know. But as I kept working, I realized that my motivation was because I love my Heavenly Father. He has given me this beautiful and functioning body. He gave it to me out of love. And I want to show my love back to Him by taking care of it. I want to be healthy because I love Heavenly Father. I want to be healthy because I know the Spirit will be with me as I am. I have such a testimony of our bodies and how sacred they really are. They are a home for our precious spirits. I am so excited for the little bundle of heavenly joy that is being born into this world. I cannot wait to see how she will grow and progress. I know she got the best and most spiritual parents around! Sorry this is kind of a weird letter this week. But my area is doing wonderful, Sister Smith and I are having a blast (not too much of a blast). And I couldn't be happier than I am right now, doing the Lords work:)

I love you all, ESPECIALLY YOU BABY!!!
Love, Auntie Em

I know that my Savior loves me

email 20 January 2015

Howdy ho howdy hey! 

This was a grand week! We picked up 4 new investigators! Sister Smith and I have been working so hard! Every night right when our heads hit the pillow, we are OUT. What a blessing!!! We just went bowling with a bunch of missionaries and it was super fun:) 

Sister smith is so bold and loving. I love her to death and we have SOOO much fun together! 

Sister smith and I were studying our scriptures and we came across 1 Nephi 1:7. It talks about how he felt the spirit so much that he had to lay down. That's why I always need to take nap on Sunday's! Haha I feel the spirit too much at church that I just need to lay down! 

We had a lesson with Sister Guillen (investigator) and we were talking to her about baptism. She had a few concerns about not being ready or prepared. But I had to opportunity to promise in the name of Jesus Christ that she would be ready. Right when I said His name I felt the spirit hit my heart like a ton of bricks. I knew that what I was saying was true. I knew that I was acting as His representative. I know that Sister Guillen could feel the spirit too. It was one of the most spiritual lessons I've ever been in. 

My new zone is awesome and my new district leader is really inspired! He always trains us on things that are perfect for us and our area. I can tell that he is being guided by the spirit to what he should train us on.

Last week we  got to teach sharing time in primary! It was so fun! We got to sing my favorite primary song, "I know that my savior loves me". It's such a simple message but that song really touches my heart. Not everyone knows that He loves them. Or that they are worthy of His love. Or that they even have a Savior. That's why I am here on a mission. And that's why each and every one of us is called to hasten the work! How much joy this simple message brings into my heart and my life. I KNOW that my Savior loves me. I know it without a doubt. And I want others to feel that and know that as well. 

Love, 
Sister sarlls 

Sniff and Snarls

email 13 January 2015

Sister Smith is AWESOME! We have so much fun together! (Sometimes too much fun.) I love her and her knowledge of the Book of Mormon. It's her favorite book and it is MARKED UP. I love reading all of her insights and notes. She is an inspiration to me!:) People call us Sniff and Snarls (Smith and Sarlls). It's fun haha

This week has been an awesome week of helping Sis. Smith catch up on the area! We didn't really have time this week to write our talks for sacrament meeting. There were A LOT of prayers going on right before. And of course, Heavenly Father provides because both of my talks were 15 minutes long! TENDER MERCY SUPREME! 

We just got back from paint-balling. SO FUN! It hurts! But i'm proud of my battle wounds because my team won every single game! :) AND I only got out ONCE! Missions change people in ways you wouldn't expect. 

We had a training yesterday with all of the Sister Missionaries that focused on the strength and power that we have as Women. It was really wonderful. They asked me to stand up and read my call letter to everyone. It was a truly spiritual experience. As I read it again, It just testified to me that I am a representative of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am here to do HIS work. I am here to bring people to HIM. What a beautiful calling! It's a wonderful feeling to know that I am working my hardest. That I am following the spirit and that I am doing all that He asks me to do. I feel successful in my calling and in my purpose because I can see the people we teach access the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I absolutely love my mission. The ups. The downs. The rainy days. The sunny days. They are all from Heavenly Father. Just embrace it!

Love,
Sister Sarlls

New Year=New companion

email 06 January 2015

The adventures of Sister Hadden and Sister Sarlls have come to an end. I'm still in Huntsville but I will have a new companion, Sister Smith! And tender mercy- she sings!!! I'm excited to start this new chapter of my mission. Of course I will miss Sister Hadden. But I know that Heavenly Father has things for me to learn from Sister Smith! 

For New Year's Eve we had a mandatory party. Haha we did a white elephant gift exchange and I brought gold fish. The animal, not the food. It was the hit gift!!! Haha it was funny too because we aren't allowed to have pets so now they have to figure out what to do with it. Haha

We slid off the road for the first time! Fun stuff! We live on a dirt road. Since they can't plow it, it is now an ice road. We were turning a corner (slowly) and we slid into a barbed wire fence! I was freaking out!!! The barbed wire was the only thing keeping us from sliding into a ditch! We were COMPLETELY stuck between two wooden posts and barbed wire. It took us about an hour to get us out. (With some help from neighbors of course.) But we've been praying a lot lately to be able to find the people who are being prepared. And the fence we ran into belonged to a part member family. So we went over there to tell them about the damage. We were talking about the fence when all of a sudden she told us that she would like is to come back and teach her 3 kids! I wish we could have found them in a different way ... but I'm so glad we found them! Heavenly Father really does have a plan for each of us. Sometimes we don't understand it. But I know His plan is perfect. No matter what it brings. 

I recently visited a Sister who's daughter committed suicide last summer. She said she got home and felt that something was wrong in the house and she couldn't find her daughter. She searched everywhere in the house and outside of the house. And eventually she found her in the daughter's closet. I can't imagine what this Sister has gone through. She went on to tell us that it was hard. But if she was supposed to live longer, Heavenly Father would've guided her to find her daughter before it was too late. Because she checked that room and didn't find her. She wasn't meant to find her. I can't comprehend what she has gone through. But I was moved to tears by the hope she has and her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to know that our families can be together for eternity. I'm grateful for our Savior that makes it possible for all of us to return home to live with Heavenly Father and our family. 

I'm so very grateful for the blessing in my life to serve a mission. I see His hand in my life everyday and in others lives as well. I see what His grace and His atonement can do for all of us. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know that it blesses every single aspect of our lives as we turn to Him faithfully. I know that what I am teaching every day is true. I know it with all of my heart. My heart is overflowing with happiness and with the feeling of Christ's love. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's love for each one of us individually is so amazing. I'm so grateful to be able to feel a little piece of that for all of the people in Huntsville. How great is their love for us! 

Love, 
Sister Sarlls

 

The Loss of a Loved One - His Grace