Editor’s note: Many are familiar with my daughter, Sara Arkell, also known as The Piano Gal. Sara has been called to serve in the New York Syracuse Mission and arrived safely in New York on September 28, 2021. This is a series on her weekly letters that we will be posting on the site for those who wish to follow along with her mission. Sara sent this letter on the morning of September 28th. You can read her previous email here.
I SHOOK ELDER GONG’S HAND!!! Last week, Elder and Sister Gong were the guests for our Tuesday night devotional. When the devotional was over, he literally stood there to shake EVERY SINGLE MISSIONARY’S hand as they were leaving. There are over 1000 of us! When I shook his hand, he looked me in the eyes and said “So good to meet you.”
Sara and her companion with Elder Marcus B. Nash and his wife.
It was a special moment and I’ll never forget it! I also sang in the MTC choir so that was cool as well! Then after the devotional, I got to go into the “green room” to talk to Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy because he is related to my companion. That was awesome!! He’s so kind!
On Thursday night, Sister Gallman and I started blow drying our hair at the same time and it blew out our breaker so all the lights went out in our rooms. Oopsie! Luckily we just went to the information desk and they fixed it a little later but that was kinda funny.
Sara performing during the Sunday Night Fireside
I played a special musical number, “Let Zion In Her Beauty Rise”, for all the MTC missionaries at the Sunday Night Devotional. I was so nervous but I think it went well! Lots of elders and sisters on campus have been telling me how much they enjoyed it. I’m thankful for music and the Spirit it can ALWAYS bring!!
It’s crazy that my time here at the MTC is already over. I’ve already been a missionary for over 3 weeks – I can hardly believe it! I have already changed so much and I can’t even imagine how much different I’ll be in 6 months, 1 year, 18 months from now. This gospel really changes us into the best people possible! I am SO THANKFUL.
Spiritual Thought to Close
We focused a lot on faith this week – go read President Nelson’s talk “Christ is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains.” It is an AMAZING talk!! One of my favorite quotes from it is, “Faith in Jesus Christ is the greatest power available to us in this life…The mountains in our lives do not always move how or when we would like. But our faith will always propel us forward. Faith always increases our access to godly power”.
A depiction of the parting of the Red Sea in the Provo MTC.
OUR FAITH + GOD’S POWER = MIRACLES!!!!
Have an amazing week! Soak in everything you feel during General Conference this weekend – I can’t wait to hear all of your takeaways!
Sara is a joy to read about. What a great inspiration she is. She's definitely an angel ministering for God in His vineyard, taking the Restoed gospel to His children here on earth. Much respect and admiration for Sara and her fine devoted parents who have raised her to be aware of her meaning and purpose in life.
Your hearts must be filled with joy for this lovely daughter and her righteous choices for herself.
My prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Sister Brenda Morrison
Conroe TX
Oak Ridge Ward
Spring TX Stake
Ben Arkell
Tuesday 5th of October 2021
Thank you so much for your kind comment!
Terry A Gunn
Wednesday 29th of September 2021
Go and sow the White fields praying for you keep us up to date
Carl Morgan
Wednesday 29th of September 2021
What a GREAT inspiration you are to me and probably MANY people! Shaking an apostle's hand is TRULY a moment that gets ingrained in one's memory. I'm SO proud of you and wish you all the best when you head out to New York. Being in the field is SUCH a cool, new, challenging, and AMAZING experience. Go let New York know not of YOUR goodness but that of Christ! =) Keep playing that WONDERFUL music; it TRULY brings the spirit into ANY meeting or setting and, once the Spirit is present, it can then testify of the truth spoken at the meeting. Yeah, playing in front of a lot of missionaries CAN be intimidating, however sharing your talent with them, and being God's instrument in helping them hear such BEAUTIFUL music, is DEFINITELY a great blessing that a church missionary pianist can receive! =)
Brenda Morrison
Monday 4th of October 2021
Sara is a joy to read about. What a great inspiration she is. She's definitely an angel ministering for God in His vineyard, taking the Restoed gospel to His children here on earth. Much respect and admiration for Sara and her fine devoted parents who have raised her to be aware of her meaning and purpose in life. Your hearts must be filled with joy for this lovely daughter and her righteous choices for herself. My prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Sister Brenda Morrison Conroe TX Oak Ridge Ward Spring TX Stake
Ben Arkell
Tuesday 5th of October 2021
Thank you so much for your kind comment!
Terry A Gunn
Wednesday 29th of September 2021
Go and sow the White fields praying for you keep us up to date
Carl Morgan
Wednesday 29th of September 2021
What a GREAT inspiration you are to me and probably MANY people! Shaking an apostle's hand is TRULY a moment that gets ingrained in one's memory. I'm SO proud of you and wish you all the best when you head out to New York. Being in the field is SUCH a cool, new, challenging, and AMAZING experience. Go let New York know not of YOUR goodness but that of Christ! =) Keep playing that WONDERFUL music; it TRULY brings the spirit into ANY meeting or setting and, once the Spirit is present, it can then testify of the truth spoken at the meeting. Yeah, playing in front of a lot of missionaries CAN be intimidating, however sharing your talent with them, and being God's instrument in helping them hear such BEAUTIFUL music, is DEFINITELY a great blessing that a church missionary pianist can receive! =)