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. 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. You can read her previous emails here.
Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had the best first week of November ever! This week for me was great! I hit my 2-month mark of being a missionary! Where has the time gone?! That’s crazy! But it also feels like I’ve been here forever. Missionary time is weird!
I’ve learned lots in the past 2 months but here are 2 main things. First, God loves every single one of His children. I’ve been able to see a small glimpse of that as a missionary & it’s really cool! And a lot of times, God will use YOU to help someone else know that. Pay attention to the promptings you receive! Especially ones that involve helping other people. You might just be the reason they start to feel God’s love in their life.
Our Mission District
Second, Heavenly Father answers prayers. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed as much as I have these past 2 months. We say prayers every morning and night but also every time we leave the house, begin and end a lesson, and every other time in between. Prayer is POWERFUL!! Here’s a small example from my week. On Monday night, I was really stressed about something. I prayed so hard that night and the next morning that I could feel calm and know what to do.
Well, the next morning during personal study, as I was reading my scriptures, 2 verses stuck out to me. As I read them, I felt like that was an answer to my prayer and God’s way of talking to me and relaying a message I needed right then. PRAY PRAY PRAY! And then get to work and do everything you can to receive an answer.
This past week was a little rough as far as lessons goes. We had lots of cancelations this week and not much success with finding new people, sadly! But this week is a new week and we just keep on trying our best!
Susan! One of our favorite friends.
We had interviews with our mission president on Thursday. I LOVE President Gentry so much! He is such a kind man and also loves to have a good time. It’s so cool to me that he takes the time to drive all around the mission and meet in person with every missionary once a transfer. So honored! He had some great advice for me. I’m so thankful for leaders!
Our toilet has been broken for 4 days now…so we’ve been going to Walgreens or the church to use the bathroom. That’s been interesting!
We’ve been meeting with a returning member named David a lot these past couple weeks. He’s the most sassy old man I’ve ever met but we love him. A couple lessons ago, we were talking about how he doesn’t feel like God loves him. I felt inspired to share Doctrine & Covenants 18:10 with him, but have him replace the word “souls” with “David”. So I want to invite you to do the same thing!
“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” Put your name in there to make it more personal. You are worth SO MUCH in the eyes of God! Hold onto that!
Transfers are on Wednesday! Pretty much 99% sure I’m staying in Auburn but you never know. Exciting! I love you all!! Have the best week!
Grandpa Chet
Thursday 11th of November 2021
Absolutely love reading missionaries' letters! In many ways, they're similar to the apostles' epistles - if Paul was a teenager in the 21st century.
Kim
Wednesday 10th of November 2021
Your daughter is awesome and inspiring!! I absolutely love reading her emails and feel like I know her. Please let her know she is not only a missionary in New York (I think that’s where she’s at) but in Upland, Ca as well! I feel uplifted and motivated every time I read her emails. ☺️
Bob Stalcup
Wednesday 10th of November 2021
I am a fan of "Piano Gal" but I'm even more of a fan of your precious missionary. She's learning great lessons and uplifting even those of us following via your newsletter.
Thank you.