Blue Skies and Sunshine (or nah)

Once upon a time, I survived a tornado

let's talk about that

Today was one of the most nuts days ever

We visited a lady in our ward that doesn't come to church because she's older and has chronic pain from a car accident --way sad

but she has a ton of cats

and has been having a rough time because one of her favorite cats just died and 

she had to pick up his ashes

(she had him cremated) 

on her birthday.

I actually learned a lot from this experience because as myself I would think.. what the.. 

but when I saw what she was going through and the sadness she was experiencing I truly felt the Saviors love for her.  Even if He isn't into her collection of cremated kitties, I can honestly say straight up I'm not, He cares about what she cares about and He felt her pain in that garden, the least I can do is do my best to bring comfort to this sweet lady in any way I can. 

Bless my companions heart, today she vacuumed her house and found cat poop on the floor. (Grandma Pat, I bet you love this story;)  We told her about the poop and she informed us it was just a hairball and to vacuum it up.  So we did.

Later we reflected on the experience, and my comp and I decided that the fur ball was very much indeed poop.  Nevertheless, we vacuumed it up and prayed that the good feeling's we got from service would outweigh the odor in our nostrils.
Good news, prayers work.

Later that night at dinner, a raging storm hit. 

One of the most legit jobs I have as a missionary, and one that I take very seriously and work on all the time, is that of backing my companion.

whadafetch does that mean

let me tell you

It is part of mission rules, that whenever the driver is backing up a car 

and I mean when EVER

their companion must physically remove themselves from the car and use their arms to back them safely out off the parking stall/driveway/anywhere they are backing out of.

We had a whole day in the MTC learning how to do this 

so naturally I am a fabulous backer upper --on regular occasions

I don't even pay any mind to the onlookers at Subway that see me coaxing my companion in the car out of the parking stall like a butterfly out of it's cocoon.  Yes.  It is a beautiful experience and despite the looks of confusion and smiles of amusement coming from the car washers across the way, I did my job with dignity.

But this one night, the night of the storm things did not go so well.

I blame the MTC for not teaching us how to back our companions.... 

(ps. when I said earlier that they do, it was a joke)

It was stormy so that also plays a role in the events that occurred.

and the driveway was way long and super narrow..

I could go on and on but ultimately the biggest factor involved in what went down in regards to the car and the rest of the night was the orange tree.

Side note: the rain in Florida is like sheets of rain, drops don't exist. 

...so my comp could not see as she backed out of this super narrow long dark stormy driveway, 

I guided her the best I could until I saw the orange tree.

Florida:  State Fruit-Oranges. State Juice-Orange Juice. State Flower-Orange Blossoms. 

What better way to become initiated into Florida than to pick a fresh orange off of a tree in the middle of a tropical storm?!?!?!?!?!? 

Answer: none

...unless you're allergic to oranges which I happen to be. But only mildly, I told myself as I plucked an orange off of a branch.

I was so pumped to have picked an actual orange right off of a tree and to be in the beautiful rain (Utah is devoid of orange bearing trees and skies bearing water) 

That I forgot my vital duties as a car backer.

She had followed me to the tree and that most definitely was not on the path to the road anymore.  My comp got in a sticky situation where she was stuck in some trees and couldn't get back on the drive way to the road.  So she drove over the grass of the neighbors yard and over what I am pretty sure was a tree stump.

We finally got on the road and I peeled and tried my orange.  It wasn't ripe.  The end.

only not the end because the left side of my face started to swell and my tongue went all tingly on the way to the recent converts home.

I have never had this extreme of a reaction.. it's the first and last time I will because I won't be doing that again.

At the rc family's home I was graciously given a couple of Benadryl and informed that a tornado had just touched ground twenty miles away, headed in my direction going 55 miles per hour. 

Again. This all happened in one day.

So picture me flipping out on the inside, watching the news (I think that's allowed when a huge tornado is twirling it's way to your front door) The news was showing parents putting helmets on their little kids surrounding them with pillows in the bathtubs to stay safe. 

We were instructed to get to the middle of the house, and I fell asleep.

Catch'n some Zzzzzzz...

but Sister Saunders, how in the literal world did you fall asleep at a time like that?

 Benadryl.  I had never had more than one up until this night and two pills knocked me right out.

I awoke a few times to get updates and to learn that the huge tornado was projected to head further north instead of right at us.  It's coarse continued away from us.

The crazy thing about the storm directly above us, was that as soon as it passed over Gulf Breeze, 

it touched down as a tornado. 

It was like it went right over us and resumed it's madness after passing us. #ourfaithwassufficient 

The next day ish we went to help pull trees out of peoples houses, and collect fences and such that had been demolished.  It was such a culture shock. 

woah.  First house we drive by with damage had no roof.  NO ROOF and all windows were broken. Trees were skewering homes everywhere, the path of the vortex was evident,
and I was quite frankly, shocked.

It was so sad,
but so amazing to see the unity in these neighborhoods as we all joined together to help.

It was a full day of hard work, and I accidentally dropped a piece of fence on my foot with a nail carving my foot in a straight line. (hopefully I got my tetanus shot) I can honestly say I felt so good at the end of the day to look back and see what a days worth did.  We got a TON accomplished.  

It was touching to see complete strangers banded together, taking off of work to walk around strange streets and render service.

I also got to experience the most amazing steak slash meal I have ever had in my life in an Irish pub called McGuires with one of the most awesome sixty one year olds I know.  She took us out to eat for her birthday because her husband is in Africa and she said we are the next best thing.  How awesome is she?  It was hilarious and honestly like Irish Disneyland.  There was an insane line to get in and a bag piper that was plastered walking around talking about how he gets free beer but insanely enough he could play the pipes just about perfectly.  Naturally, I have to bring my dad here someday.  
It's on the bucket list.  
The women's restroom has a sign on it that says "not the mens restroom" and the mens has one that says "not the womens" which was a bit confusing but we figured it out.     

there are only two of these steakhouses in the world...

and they're both in Florida

add that to my list of why I was called to Florida

Dad, for you I plucked the tiny Irish flag out of my steak and taped it to the back of my name tag just like yours.

 (Da went to Ireland on his mission)

I feel super cool now. 

Spiritual time.

BY SMALL AND SIMPLE MEANS

What do Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, a mustard seed, you, and I all have in common?

each starts out small and grows into something great...
Jesus Christ who would grow to be the Savior of mankind was born in a stable and slept in a manger.

Joseph Smith the prophet who saw God and Jesus Christ, restored the gospel in these last days for the last time beginning the last dispensation of time on this Earth.  Began that journey as a 14 year old plough boy never exceeding that of a third grade education.

A mustard seed is the size of half of a half of a peanut.  It grows to be an immovable mighty tree with roots far reaching into the foundation of the Earth.

Us.  We start out even smaller than a mustard seed.  We grow but have forgotten where we came from.  All we know comes from the lone and dreary world.  We experience trials sadness loss guilt discouragement and pain.  We struggle to make good choices and we sin. 

Natural.

This scenario doesn't seem even close to the others.  We are nothing?

"For no unclean thing can enter into the presence of God"

spiritual death

We live we die

physical death

However

What we are should not be as often pondered as What we can become. 

What we can become with Christ and because of His atonement?

Like. Our. Father.

What can we do with Christ?

Move Mountains

What can we have if we repent and yoke ourselves with Jesus Christ strengthening our faith, repenting daily, keeping and making covenants, utilizing the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring well until the end.

ALL

"by small means the Lord can bring about great things."

Nephi 16:29

So keep praying start praying never stop praying

I've come to realize because of Him, because He lives

Spiritual/Physical death mean NOTHING

our potential as sons and daughters of our loving Heavenly Father means

EVERYTHING

I can never Repay Him but I sure as Heaven will do my best to Represent Him.

under 3 minute video from Easter 2014

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng

Florida State Sea Mammal~Manatee

I love you!

Make It A Good Day:)
Sister Saunders

Sister Saunders Serv'n

Sister Saunders Here

Reporting LIVE

From the Florida Tallahassee Mission.

OH YES I SAID IT

I am here like holy beans.

 Gulf Breeze Florida

sound like paradise? It is don't worry. (minus the tornadoes.. mom don't read the mission blog there are some pictures you won't want to see of a tornado that touched down a few miles away from me;) 

but it is BEAUTIFUL here. I am surrounded by water on three sides. 

problem of the day: I was in the MTC for five more days since the last day I wrote Ya'll so I have to mention some things from that experience before I get to Gulf Breeze and such.

Firstly I have a major shout out to discuss. Cory and Traci you have been heaven sent.  For real though.  The delicious treats, the sweet valentines from your family, I am just amazed. The most hilarious thing happened, Cory and Traci sent me a long rectangular box of (insert treat name here because I have no idea what those delicious things were called) but before I opened this long rectangular box everyone in my district was like

"it's the elder wand"

which made my whole day given the recently mentioned Harry Potter marathon I had before I went to the MTC.  We made a whole bunch of jokes about me being worthy to weld the elder wand even though I'm a sister (lol) and I finally opened the box to find heavenly cracker/caramel/chocolates of wonder.  

Even better than the actual elder wand.

also: I can't even imagine at this point... the kind of withdrawals the MTC is going through without my district of 9 humans dancing and singing to that song from the sound of music as we traveled down five flights of stairs belting "Doe a deer.  A female deer.  Ray, a drop of golden suuuuuuun" 

*twirling down the stairs sliding on the railing and feeling like we are literally in a musical.

Fave Sister Law moment: 

branch president "why do missionaries need to stay with their companions?"

Sis Law "so people can't accuse us of stuff."

Branch president "explain"

Sis Law "Like if someone leaves their companion and someone else tries to say something they didn't say about the other comp and it's like so-n-so said yackety shmack about joe shmo and it's a huge mess from there."

the rest of the district "Whaaaaaaa??"

Okay four last comments about the MTC.

The most hilarious human ever was in charge of our service project at the MTC. 

Which was.. cleaning bathrooms and whatnot.

She gave us some stellar advice in regards to clogged toilets that we may or may not come across. "Okay here's the thing. I know you now have those name tags.. and you feel empowered, and you want to save the world and all the things...  but don't touch the clogged toilets.  I always get these sweet sister missionaries running to me in panic mode, major duress, and they're like

I just wanted to fix it... it was full.. and the toilet... and just... poop everywhere... 

So no.  Let us handle it I beg you.  So we don't have to clean up tons of crap after you try to be a hero.  Love you and everything.. but yeah."

Then she gave us even better advice about how to stay healthy and fit on a mission.--"So basically I prayed straight up.  I said to the Man upstairs,

alright here's the thing about life right now.  I am being fed three dinners everyday of delicious Mexican food.  I will give my all.  My entire being.  Everyday.  I will learn this language of the Spanish kind even though I am a six foot tall blondie as white as snow if you will just please bless me..... not to come home....

looking like an actual.. literal whale."

She swears by this method. I think I'll try it out because 

1. the MTC adds fat to the food to fatten up people going to places where they will lose a lot of weight, leaving the rest of us like.... fetch.

2. I am in the south.  Average weight gain is 30 lbs. in the Florida Tallahassee mission. (prayers are needed) 

but all is well in zion.

Saying goodbye to the elders in Atlanta was so sad.  They are headed to Tampa and will be missed.  Talking to the fam on the phone was the hardest thing ever, but let me tell you something about landing in Tallahassee: Wow.

The mission home is absolutely beautiful, we got to take pics with the mission president and his wife, and stay the night there.  The dinner we ate was literally insane.  Home made mac-n-cheese to make a person pass out from happiness, pulled pork, home made rolls.. and cheesecake. 

I had my first interview with the President and it was exactly what I needed.  I love them so much.

I GOT TO SEE THE WILDES THAT NIGHT.

love them!

The next day was madness.

for reals. 

I walked into the chapel with my companion, we sat down.  Then all the trainers walked in and I singled Sister C out strangely enough, she was right after that announced as my trainer. 

Sister Christiansen is so amazing I can't even tell you.

After some minor difficulties getting my bike to stay on the bike rack (thank heavens for duct tape) We made the four hour trip to my first zone: Pensacola!!! I am living in a tiny town called Gulf Breeze. 

I love it. 

Had some amazing experiences in just the first few days.

I won't disclose names, but there is a family here that I love so so much.  We are there everyday because the parents are recent converts, two of the boys were baptized on Saturday (my first baptism;) jk.. and their daughter is now taking one on one discussions from us. 

That little girl is very special.  She has had a tough life for sure and she is not on board as much as the rest of her family, the pain in her heart is astounding because she is only 12.  Pray for her please.  She is amazing, and I know she knows this gospel is true.  I had the opportunity to learn of the spirit as we taught her, I felt like I had known this little girl for a very long time.  I could feel what she was feeling, and I opened my mouth.  The spirit took over I'm telling you it was the coolest thing.  We had been getting nowhere and as I spoke, she lifted her head for the first time and a tear came out of her eye.  Not of pain, but of peace. So thankful for the spirit and the opportunities I have had to bear solemn witness of Jesus Christ and His gospel. 

So powerful.  That's how I can describe my experiences of the past few days. 

Please pray for grandpa.  Grandpa is like the oldest dude ever, and he is so adorable.  He is our investigator that smokes and drinks coffee, but has made SOO MUCH progress in stopping that.  He has agreed to prepare himself for baptism.  Unfortunately he didn't come to church yesterday:( but he did take us out to get food on Saturday and we had a really awesome lesson at his home.  I love that stubborn old man. 

The baptism on Saturday was awesome, and I am really excited for the upcoming two that we have scheduled this month.  I have loved getting to know them, and the members.

There are a ton of members!  There are three wards in our building, and our ward is bigger than the ward at home.  This made me happy, and also a little sad. 

The members are super strong here, and the mission leader is awesome. 

One of my favorite things I hear down here in the south: bless your pea pickin' heart

My favorite line of the week. "Once J***** gets the priesthood, he's goin' to seal the dogs together."

"Welcome to the South"-Sister C

People love their dogs more than humans lol.

I have figured out one of the many reasons I am here in this mission.  Our major push is family history work. 

PEOPLE GET ON BOARD

https://familysearch.org/

President received some VERY strong revelation that teaching about family history work would change this mission.  I have seen evidence of this already.

H*****, the mom of the family that I love so very much, was baptized a few weeks ago and she is way ahead of the game.  She pulled up her family tree and she has so much royalty in her lines that they go back to times before Christ!!! 

SO MANY NAMES SO MANY TIMES "OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEMPLE WORK" POPPED UP BECAUSE LITERALLY NONE OF THEM HAVE THEIR WORK DONE

and it's basically all perfectly linked together with documents and everything.  She is so incredibly excited to go to the temple.

That just shows: When H***** was baptized because of the conversion she began with my trainer and her former companion, hundreds of people will be baptized.  And what if Sister C had not gone on a mission because she figured someone else could do it? 

So yeah... wake up and do something more people. ;) Family history work: claiming baptisms/temple work left and right without even going on a mission.

Anyways. This work is awesome. Southern accents are already creeping in on me.  Everyone believes in God.  These people can cook, and they aren't afraid to give their kids a whoopin' if they're disrespectful. 

One of my favorite little kids calls us ma'am, he's seven and he is the most adorable little angel. 

I also ate at my first Wafflehouse (they have Wafflehouse here like we have McDonalds, on every corner) with grandpa, and Sister C told me I'm officially initiated to the South. 

YES

LOVE YOU ALL~ MAKE IT A GOOD DAY

and if you're having a rough day, crack open Adjusting to Missionary Life in your gospel library because if everyone would follow that council, the world would be a much happier place missionary or not.

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/languages/AdjustingMissLife_Booklet_6-7-13.pdf

xoxo 

Sister Saunders