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.
We had Zone Conference this week which is always amazing!! There is something so powerful about sitting in a chapel with about 80 missionaries. The Spirit was so strong! I learned so much and I’m so grateful for my mission president, his wife, and the zone leadership that are full of so much knowledge and power! Sister Thompson and I got to do a musical number. She was so nervous but she did a fabulous job!
Zone Conference
I went on exchanges this week with Sister Gillette! It was so cool because we came to New York together and talked before our missions and then got to go on exchanges together! It was fun.
Ready for a cool miracle?! So, for those of you who don’t know, my dad has a pretty awesome blog and he put an ad out a few months ago for a free book that was written by M. Russell Ballard – “Our Search for Happiness.” When I was in my first area, Auburn, a lady named Linda requested one and her address was in Rome. My companion at the time had just come from serving in Rome so my dad told us and we thought that was pretty cool!
Well then I got transferred to Rome and my dad reminded me of Linda and gave me her address. We were able to visit her this week. She had talked with missionaries before and was interested in talking more! I asked her about the book she received and she said she had started reading it a little bit. I just thought that was super cool because what are the odds that I get called to Rome and was able to talk to Linda. Thanks Dad for helping us find people!
My companion got some really hard news from home this week so please keep her in your prayers .
I found this scripture this week and it is my new favorite! It’s Alma 29:9-10 in The Book of Mormon (my favorite book ever)
“…this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.”
Missionary work = JOY!!! The good far outweighs the bad. I’m so thankful for all the opportunities I get to be a part of out here in New York. The blessings are never ending. GO ON A MISSION!