Sacramento - Week 17

Due to the new security measures requested by the Mission leaders, the names of all investigators and people that Sarah comes into contact with will be replaced with the name of a well-known character from a children’s movie. This will keep the identities of people safe as well as make it easier to keep everyone straight. The name given is in NO WAY intended to reflect the personality, looks, or circumstances of the individual(s).

“SPLASH!”

Tuesday May 21, 2013

MARY POPPINS GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!! How great is my joy! Last week was such a roller coaster leading up to her baptism. She was all in one moment, and then doubting herself the next. We just kept telling her that she was ready, that she had a testimony, and that she was worthy. We fasted all day on Friday that she would show up for her baptismal interview and she did!! And she passed! And she was excited! 

We woke up bright and early for her baptism at 8am on Saturday. We had to be at the church at 6 to fill up the font. It was the most beautiful baptismal service. Her fiancée gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, and the spirit was so strong. A recent convert from our ward and Mary Poppins' fellowshipper also spoke and she shared her experience about her baptism. Again, we were all hit with the most awesome spirit, testifying to all of us about the important covenants that Mary Poppins was making. 

Sister Roberts and I with Mary Poppins and her Fiancee!

She was confirmed on Sunday and she showed me her journal entry from the day before. It basically said that right after her baptism she didn't feel that different and she started doubting whether or not she had made the right decision, but then she was driving to work later on and felt this overwhelming sense of peace. She wrote down her testimony and said she knew that the church had been restored through the prophet, Joseph Smith, and that she was so excited to make more covenants with her Heavenly Father. Mary Poppins is a miracle. I am so grateful to have her in my life! 

Now, on to planning her wedding on June 8th! 

Also, Elder Doolittle, aka Christopher Robin, did have to come home for surgery, but it has been a week filled with tender mercies and we are quickly seeing all the miracles that are happening because he is here. He is the best kind of missionary! We are putting him to work with us, and it's awesome to get to know him and pick his brain. Also, we have a 6'3 body guard to follow us around. Maybe people won't whistle at us from their cars anymore (even though it's good for my self esteem haha) He is going to be here at least 6 weeks rehabbing so we are looking forward to a fun transfer.

At the temple!
L -->R   Elder Christopher Robin Doolittle; Bro. Doolittle; Sis. Doolittle;
Me; Sis. Roberts; Sis. Loli

We went to the temple this morning and it was awesome. Go to the temple. It is worth all the sacrifices to be there. It is God's house, and it is AMAZING. We got to be there with all the Doolittles and Sister Loli and so many of the missionaries I have served with as well as all the girls from Green Valley who are leaving on missions. What an awesome day. 

Funny story from the week: We were walking through an apartment complex in our area and these 8-9 year old boys were having a water gun fight. I yelled, "Truce! Sister Missionaries coming through!" Of course, they took that as a cue to plaster us with water. We spent the rest of the day wet, but we turned it into a contacting opportunity. Missionary work is fun! 

Lost in deep, deep Placerville....

We also got to drive a 2013 Toyota Corolla this week for 24 hours while our car was in the shop. Of course this was the day we went to deep, deep Placerville in the mountains to have dinner with Mary Poppins and her Fiancée. It made for an adventure down dirt roads when we got lost and the GPS took us way off the grid. We had to call our Zone Leaders to come and find us and show us where the house was. Good times. The car, in case you were wondering, made it just fine. Just a little bit dusty....

Sad news, our ward missionary, Sister Cullen, moved back to Idaho! She and Brother Cullen left on Friday. They got to see us and Christopher before they went home though. The Cullen’s are a perfect example of making marriage work. They have this song they sing together and the deal is that if one starts to sing it, no matter what, the other one has to sing too. It goes "I love you more today than I loved you yesterday. But I must confess, today I love you less, than I will tomorrow." How cute and Celestial is that?! 

Small world moment: A girl I worked with at Writing Fellows at BYU is marrying a boy whose parents live in Green Valley, so she was in church on Sunday and we got to chat. She sent a picture of us to our old boss. 

Well, I think that about wraps it up from Green Valley this week. Now, we just have to go out and find somebody else to teach.....yay! The church is true and missionary work is the best work ever. 

Love, 

Sister Burchett