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.
Hey y’all!! This week was nothing short of exciting, it was quite the adventure!
We had interviews with President Gentry! Man, I am so grateful for him. He gives such great advice and is such a loving mission leader. I’m blessed with the best!
On Thursday night when we came out of a lesson with one of our friends and our driver’s side mirror was totally smashed. The glass was shattered in the road and there were scuffs and dents all along the side of the car. We just can’t get enough, haha.
So now we’re driving with a duct taped mirror and working on getting into a body shop to replace it! You really do learn how to adult on your mission.
I went on exchanges with cute Sister Rowley this week, too! It’s always so fun being with her. It’s cool to see how far we’ve come since my first transfer when we were roommates in Auburn!
Church on Sunday was quite the adventure to say the least. There are 2 little girls who ran up on the stand by the Bishop to play the piano while we were trying to sing a musical number and they were yelling to their moms from the pulpit. I’m pretty sure I didn’t hear a single word of the talks because we were trying to keep them occupied. After church I got a lot of pictures with the ward members. These members are some of my favorite people ever. I feel like Rome is my second home honestly!!
Me and the Polands
Last night as we were on a Zoom call with the mission leadership, a MOUSE scurried its way across our carpet and into our bedroom. We spent 2 hours trying to find it. Eventually found out it was in Sister Aston’s closet so we ended up getting it out of there and somewhere else in our apartment that we don’t know of but at least it wasn’t in our bedroom. We probably slept a total of one hour because of that and the anticipation of transfer news…
Which is this…I am leaving Rome and heading to LOCKPORT in the Buffalo zone, in a trio with my TRAINER (SISTER DEAN) and Sister Dustin!!!
I am so excited to be back with Sister Dean but my heart is definitely in Rome, New York so I’m heartbroken to leave. But I find comfort in knowing that I’ll definitely be back to visit after my mission. Probably more than once! I’ve been here for almost 6 months, so I’ve grown so connected to these people. I’m so grateful God sent me to Rome!!
Missions are the best! What an adventure they are! I wouldn’t want anything less though! Aww, I love it here.
-Sister Sara Arkell
NEW ADDRESS:
261 Beattie Ave #2
Lockport, NY 14094
Paralee Eckman
Wednesday 20th of July 2022
Thanks for this missionary letter! I love missionary letters and I'm getting them from others in the US and in Sweden, Brazil, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (a wonderful Afican missionary from Nigeria!)
Ben Arkell
Friday 22nd of July 2022
They are awesome!
Ron Shinnick
Wednesday 20th of July 2022
Thanks for sharing these wonderful letters. Missions are great blessings. Something that will be a source of strength and encouragement all your life.
Ben Arkell
Friday 22nd of July 2022
You bet! Glad to do so.