In The Great Wide Somewhere

Heyyyyyyaaaalll

It's me Sister Saunders

shocker

Walking into the church yesterday morning at 7 for ward council and it was 85 degrees 100 humidity.

SEVEN IN THE MORNING.

The humidity heats up from the sun.

You know when you leave a water bottle in a hot car for a while and it heats the water up, well walking outside is like walking into a giant water bottle of sun heated water.

-boiling, sweaty, hot, and foggy.

Praise the Lord for air conditioning.

(people say Praise the Lord a lot here)

GUESS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN A WEEK?!?!?!?

that's right fast Sunday.

(oh yeah... happy fourth too)

#Iheartheroaringthunder #ofmystomache

What I used to think about fast Sunday^

Regular people: Fast Sunday is tomorrow! Hurry eat like a cave man.

Better People: Remember fast Sunday is tomorrow, start with a prayer and have a reason for fasting.

Me until recently: Fast Sunday is one week away which means I need to stock up everyday by eating four meals so that somehow I don't die of starvation on Sunday. And if the latter still happens, thank goodness for spotting the biggest piece of bread on the sacrament tray way before it is handed to me.

Yeah.. not a good idea I don't recommend it.

but because of the past few months and even more so the past few days, I have obtained something that is well overdue but still just as precious to me now as it would have been a few years ago:

A testimony of the divinity and power of Fasting.

In the beginning, God created man in His own image but it was more complex than even that. It was organized in the way of Spirit before Body.

He created our spirits first.

When we fast we are going back to that organization of putting spiritual needs, before physical needs.

(thoughts derived from Bro. McEwan quoted in Gospel Principles class by Sister Stubbs)

Fasting is discipline.

It's no secret, I think, that when we go without food and water for an extended amount of time our bodies will die.

Food and water is something that sustains our Life!

But we have been taught that if we will sacrifice it for twenty four hours a month (or more as needed)

2 meals

the blessings of heaven will pour out upon us.

Sitting in class yesterday I received some spiritual guidance as to the symbolism of fasting.

Jesus Christ came to the Earth, God's only begotten in the flesh, to be sacrificed for our spiritual AND physical needs.

Because of His sacrifice, our lives are sustained.

It's not hard to figure out the spiritual sustenance that comes from fasting: BLESSINGS

#blessed

#2blessed2beStressed

We all love blessings right?

But the saviors sacrifice resulted not only in spiritual life sustaining but physical as well. Immortality and Eternal Life with God.

Does fasting benefit us physically too?

YES

Apparently there's a rumor going around that Mormons are outliving the rest of the population.

Just look at John the beloved.

(that was a joke)

but for real, Mormons are living longer than others.

Well yeah, we believe in the Word of Wisdom so our health is better and stuff. So duh...

Not so duh.

Scientists have linked back the extra life of Mormons to our monthly 24 hour fasts from food and water. Apparently as we fast it brings blessings that extend even beyond the spiritual unseen realm, we are literally benefiting and receiving LIFE as we fast.

Fasting is not a cause to shrivel up and die after church because we just want to eat the nearest piece of food.

(Let's be real, even the old piece of Halloween candy that has been sitting on your desk for months starts to look amazing on Fast Sunday)

Fasting is a cause to rejoice--it is LIFE SUSTAINING

In reality it is not even a sacrifice at all to go without food.

(Sneaky Heavenly Father giving us commandments that are actually all gifts to us.)

When we forgo fasting we forgo the blessings both physical and spiritual and mental that come with it.

Spiritual: More in tune with the spirit's guidance in all things

Mental: Self mastery and control which results in more agency and power

Physical: More LIFE.

So my challenge for ya'll is to fast this Fast Sunday. Not just until you get home from church, but for 24 hours.

Go without food, go without water.

If you are pregnant or otherwise physically unable, fast from Facebook and electronics and music/tv that is not conducive to the Spirit.

My mom would fast chocolate/sugar when she was pregnant because there wasn't electronics to fast from and she wanted to sacrifice something she loved to show God He came first while still obtaining nourishment for her and her babies...one of them...ME:)

One thing I have not mentioned about fasting is the power to withstand temptation.

My dad taught me about when the savior was fasting in the wilderness and Satan came tempting Him to eat, to test His power and jump off of a roof, and to worship Satan. My father taught me the very real truth that Jesus Christ quoted scripture to find the strength to withstand Satan, but guess what else Jesus did? He kept fasting.

When you fast think about that.

Prepare to fast by having a purpose, having a prayer, pondering your purpose throughout the day, and then end with a prayer.

Prepare: Purpose Prayer Ponder Purpose Prayer then Prevail Progress and Perfect

Go Without Because What You'll Get Within Is Much More Than You Can Imagine

Now some fun stuff that happened this week.

We get to Lexi's house to have a lesson, her husband had been deployed the day after receiving his temple recommend and so it was Lexi and the kids. All of the sudden, we hear a ring.

"Oh that's Matt, I told him about the lesson so he wanted to facetime for it."

That's right.

Our recently baptized convert to Jesus Christ in a hotel room on his way to his destination of deployment facetimed us for the lesson.

Later when he hung up Lexi said

"Matt came home the day before he left after a meeting with the bishop, and he had a temple recommend! I was like, i've been a member my whole life (but not active since she was 14) and I have never had a temple recommend like.. What?!?!" She is so excited to get her own, but it was pretty hilarious to hear about that. She was also a little sassy about it because she is competitive, and her husband got a TR before her. ;) lol

Another really cool thing about this amazing family that I always rave about. Lexi had a dream that Matt got called to serve a mission in Africa (where he's deploying)

a mission within a mission

I don't think it was by chance, he will be such an example to those around him and I am so happy for all that lies ahead for this family.

BEN YOU'RE HOME hi. I love you. I love you. I loooooove you.

Happy Homecoming, please know how much I look up to you for your courage and testimony, thank you for being my cousin and my friend.

PS Remember when I got lost at Seaworld and you and grandma saved my life?

Welcome Home Ben!!! I told my mom to give you nine hugs

My cousins Boston and Ben before their missions (April 2013)...now they are both home and I am on MY mission...but without the growing a foot or two;)

My time is short, there is so much I want to share but it will have to wait.

I love you to the moon and back and around the world twice.

Make it a good day:)

<3 Sister Saunders

Hannah searching out her ancestors...https://familysearch.org/

"The Fart" hahaha

Wet hair don't care...the Florida rain tho

the things we find in our apartment...

Add caption

The "baby" Paul "saved" from Hurricane Ivin
--appropriately names Ivin.

But Faith Will Win

"You call me out upon the water. The great unknown, where feet may fail.. I will call upon your name, and keep my head above the waves. When oceans rise my soul will rest in your embrace.

I am yours and you are mine."

Hillsong United

This week was a battle. I won't go into detail, but it was. So I wrote a poem about it.

but first, this week I went on exchanges with Sister Carter and this is from her weekly email home to Cali,

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

"This week I discovered how much Satan hates us and how prideful he is as a being who will never progress but stay miserably the same. Sister Saunders, one of my Sisters in Zion, shared this on an exchange. It went something like this, she says it way better though "I used to wonder why Satan kept with his plan instead of Heavenly Fathers, doesn't he know that opposition is necessary to help us grow? But as I studied I realized that Satan is extremely prideful, so prideful that he refuses to admit he is wrong. His thought process is that if he can cause 1 child to stray and never come back to God then he can throw in Heavenly Father's face- "see your plan failed." He is willing to bring about all evil, as long as he can damn 1 soul. So interesting though that Jesus Christ was willing to suffer the sins of every human being that ever was and will be born as long as He could save 1 soul."

"The worth of every soul is great in the sight of God" It said in the December 2015 Ensign on page 66 in the article "Asking the right questions" what is the worth of a soul? well the worth of something is how much you are willing to pay for it. God sent His own Begotten Son Jesus Christ to suffer for us on an individual level. That makes our souls, in short, priceless."

Isn't she incredible?

She blew me away. Sister Carter taught me so much about asking the right questions and how important knowledge is for us to develop.

I have been studying Knowledge for the month of June and I created a catchy saying (at least I hope this hasn't been invented already... awk)

Knowledge obtained but not retained is: nothing

Knowledge obtained and also retained is: something

but Knowledge Obtained, Retained, AND Explained

is Everything.

Well, here's a poem about some things I have learned lately.

I Could Not Deny It

With this new realization there are things I cannot do

I can't deny this revelation

it's Him I belong to

I can't deny His existence

I won't defile His name

I'll serve with more persistence

this war is not a game

the fight is never ending

the chains unseen are tight

but chariots of fire He's sending

to battle day and night

I know Jesus has already won

the outcome was made sure

because of the only begotten Son

all we must do is endure

but first have faith though we cannot see

then repent He's by our side

baptism the first step to make us free

and the Holy Ghost to guide

because of this realization

I can say without hesitation

I believe in Jesus Christ

because of what I feel inside

though the world attacks this belief

He overcame all of our grief

He saved the world both you and I

Wonderful! Councilor! I can't and won't deny

and though I may lose some battles

He has already won the war

If I walk in faith my crooked path

through Him is made narrow and sure

He paid the price we could not pay

and broke the chains of death

so I'll fight for Him day and night

until my final breath.

I have been learning so much about opposition, and even beginning to be thankful for it.

My heart breaks every time we hear of how wicked and scary the world is becoming, but it also rejoices as the prophecies of old come to pass

He is coming. "Behold the Bridegroom cometh."

Christ will rule and reign forever

Here are some fun facts about the first six months of my mission

1. Yes I know I have not been out 6 months.

2. But they will all have been spent in the town of Gulf Breeze.

I am not being transferred!

This was a five week transfer and the next transfer will be a seven week transfer so by the time this one is over, I will have been on the mission for six months and therefore I will have been in Gulf Breeze for six months.

This place is a home away from home.

So here are some things about it :)

Gulf breeze is a tiny strip of land surrounded on three sides by the ocean, it hinges off of mainland Florida and attaches by bridge to Pensacola beach which is another strip of land in the gulf.

The worst thing about living here, is about every ten years there is a major hurricane that hits right here. The last was Hurricane Irvin and that strip of land surrounded by water called Pensacola Beach/Gulf Breeze was demolished.

Luckily it only happens about every ten years.

Unluckily this happens to be year eleven.

How exciting is that!?!?!? :)

Hurricane season lasts from June 1st to about September but does vary I am told by the locals. (Paul and Paula)

The best thing about living here is

the ocean (in our case to look at from afar)

the beaches (same^^)

the food (okay we defs enjoy the food)

the fact that it's not touristy because it's for the most part a hidden treasure

The warm weather starting from February

The local grown fruit

the locally grown people

and Sister Saunders and Sister Pyper live there

Some of the negative side affects are:

the bears

(yes I soon learned that Florida has more bears walking around and even attacking people than in Utah. What? Yes. I made that up I don't know how many people get attacked by bears in Utah, but we have been warned many times that there are many bears in the area and have heard of an attack nearby)

The couple of swarms of termites.

Hey sister Pyper, remember that one night we stayed up all night killing and disposing of hundreds of termites in our apartment the second day you got here? Then they disappeared forever? Yeah me too.

Snakes. See them all the time. Poisonous and not poisonous. There are also a plethora of lizards.

Basically every bug you can think of is twice as big and twice as abundant here.

The humidity that makes you feel like you're boiling outside and makes you sweat/swell but when you walk inside, because you're soaking, and Floridians believe in MUCHO air conditioning, you freeze your rear off.

But I get to go running every morning to a secluded dock by the ocean so... Life is good. <3

I'm serious though, the best thing about Gulf Breeze is not the tourist attractions (even though they are pretty amazing too)

(We went to Fort Pickens today and walked (goofed) around with our District family)

There's also the zoo, McGuire's, the protected wildlife park, the beautiful beaches,

the American history: The very first settlement on the continent was right here in Pensacola and technically this area was Spain until 1821 (right after Joseph Smith's first vision)

I could go on and on... but the ultimate best thing about Gulf Breeze/Pensacola/the Florida panhandle is the

*drum roll

FOOD

just kidding lol

(only not really, the food is amazing)

but the <PEOPLE>

SO MANY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE

One day we visited with a woman that was recently baptized but can't come to church for a while because she has such an intense schedule of chemo and radiation for her throat cancer.

She made me and Sister Pyper cry.

She told her radiologist she was Mormon and he started treating her different because he was uneasy about it. (some people from other religions are scared of Mormons)

well.. she tore him up.

"We believe in obeying the ten commandments just like any other Christian church, we believe in Jesus Christ and loving one another. There is NO reason to act that way around me. Do you know anyone else that takes up their bikes and cars and leave their families for a long time to preach the word solely because they love Jesus!?!? We are not strange, we love God and we ACT accordingly now do you have a problem with me or Mormons or any of that I've missed?!?"

he said: "You're exactly right." and apologized.

I love sister Moore :)

I learned a lot about the priesthood power this week

The priesthood is intended to help Heavenly Fathers children access the atonement. It can heal cracks in the heart.

"As we remember Jesus Christ we will remember the priesthood"

Last night we were privileged to go to Matts house as he was ordained to the Aaronic priesthood. He is deploying soon, but this was very important to him, he will also be getting his limited use temple recommend asap because even though he will not be able to go do baptisms for a while, that piece of paper is worth so much and he is understanding of that.

The spirit was so strong, and right as the ordination/blessing began I knew straight from the Spirits mouth that Lexi wanted a blessing.

After the ordination, I turned to Lexi and said "Do you want a blessing too?" She said "For what?" I just smiled because I knew she wanted one. She then said "Yes" and that blessing was so powerful as well.

No matter what the priesthood power blesses ALL

It is not for a man, it is for a man to bless and build others in the name of God.

Lexi is one of my heroes in life no joke, we also have a lot in common.

She loves U2 I love U2

she's amazing at shooting her pistol I want to be amazing at shooting a pistol

she sews and paints really well I want to sew and paint really well

really, we are just two peas in a pod ;)

NOW ONE LAST THING Y'ALL

to my daddy

Happy Fathers day dad

Remember when you read me stories as a kid and it was magical because all of the princesses had my name?

Or when you came home tired and beat from work and jumped in the pool with your clothes on and swam with us.

And how many times have you unclogged the toilet with a grin on your face pretending to touch us with the plunger

"I'm so glad when daddy comes home, glad as I can be clap my hands and shout for joy and climb up on his knee..

wrap my arms around his neck hug him tight like this, pat his cheeks and give him what? a great big kiss"

Remember when our roles reversed a bit and instead of that happening ^^ when you got home from work

You squeezed me half to death before letting me go for a time to do His work?

I love you. I miss your hugs and stories and life lesson talks, but I know there are many more to come.

p.s. bittersweet that this is the second Fathers day I have missed because I was in Martha's Vineyard last summer, and now I'm in the Lord's Vineyard for two.

#cheesy

Love Ya'll so so big

Make it a great day!

-ASisterMissiona(Ry)