Sister Waters' Homecoming

Facebook Event

Date:	Sunday, January 24, 2010
Time:	9:00am - 10:00am
Location:	LDS Church @ 347 South 200 West, Farmington, UT

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane!

Dear Family and Friends,

When I received my itinerary this week, I was quite relieved to see that they'd gotten me a seat in the non-smoking section of the plane. Actually maybe it would have been a good thing to be sitting there. I could have taught a few Word of Wisdom lessons on my way home. :)

Yep, the big day is coming. For you who have not heard or for those of you who have been kept out of the loop, here is my flight information:

I will be flying on Delta from Chicago, O'Hare with a non-stop flight to Salt Lake City. My flight will be departing 7:17 Illinoise time and arriving at 9:59 Utah time. A few hours after that, Sister Waters will be no more. Does anyone have a tissue?

Until next week...

Sister Waters

P.S. Some people are opposed to public displays, but I'm not going to stop anyone if they feel inclined to bring flowers, balloons, or signs. Let's have a party at the airport!

A Whole Lot of Craziness

Dear Family and Friends,

  Last week you got a "Live from Chicago" email with a promise from me that I would update you on all of the events of Christmas and the adventures of being in the Windy City.  My brain is feeling very scattered at this time, with all of the things that need to be done in the coming week running like maniacs through my head.  I wish I could get them to calm down, but knowing me it's only going to get worse.  My fingers are crossed that Sister Kolb will not have disowned me by the end of next week.  Bless her days!

  Before  I get into the details of the past two weeks, I'm going to take a few lines to possibly vent and to just get out some of the anxiety I'm feeling right now.  So feel free to just scan down to the good stuff or allow yourself to read some of the insights of a sister missionary's twisted mind, but consider yourself warned.

   Sunday of last week was our monthly fast and testimony meeting.  Having thought about it for quite a while and thus feeling prompted to do so, I got up to bear my testimony.  It was almost heartbreaking to say goodbye to some of those wonderful members, but I felt much more calm afterwards.  A few minutes later when I was back sitting with the congregation, CJ ( a recent convert) got up to bear his testimony.  Sister Kolb leaned over to me and whispered, "our little boy is growing up!"  Next, it was Sister Figueroa who stood at the pulpit.  Sister Figueroa is a single mother of three children who has been in the Navy for the past seven years.  Upon my arrival in this area, she was still considered slightly less active, but has progressed in leaps and bounds the past several months.  In her testimony she mentioned that she hadn't given one in 12 years, but had decided that she would do so before I left.  Looking directly at Sister Kolb and I, she thanked us for bringing the spirit into her home and for teaching her family about the gospel.  At that point, the tears that I had managed to hold back started coming.  This work is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's people like CJ and Sister Figueroa who make every slammed door worth it.  The people I've met and the experiences I've had these past 17 months have helped my testimony to be stronger than ever before.  I love those I've met during my service and I love knowing that they have a stronger love for this gospel.  It's true, it's real, and it's perfect.

  After the meeting, I got hugs from many of the members, including Brother Freeman; I almost went into a panic when he gave me the hug!  (Warning!  Awkward missionary will soon be returning!)  I still have some time left, but just the thought of leaving the Gurnee 2 ward makes my heart hurt.  How can I leave these people behind?  I'm pretty sure that task is going to be the next hardest thing I'll ever have to do.

  Okay.  I'm done and feel slightly less stressed now that I've gotten some of the inner workings out of my head.  You're probably waiting anxiously to hear about the other news so here you go....

   *Christmas*
*Elder Balhorn got his visa for Greece and left the morning of December 21, despite his hopes that he would still be around for the holiday.  Elder Miller then got Elder Lima for 3 days who was then traded in for Elder Anson.  Elder Anson served in Portugual but was transfered here for medical reasons.  I've never had a little brother, but both of them have adopted the role.  It's been fun.

*Christmas Eve was spent with Sister Clark and the Graham family.  It felt wonderful to be in a family setting.

*Christmas day brought us rain instead of snow.

*We had breakfast with Sister Clark, breakfast with the Child's, lunch with the Van Noy's, and dinner with the Bourgeois'.  The ward contributed different gifts so we would have something to open on Christmas day.  Most were practical things, but others really went out of their way to make sure we got things along the lines of our different personalities.  I've never been in an area that takes such good care of its missionaries.

*Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

  *Chicago*
*We took the early metra into the city with the Elders Miller and Anson.

*Our first stop was the Willis (Sears)Tower.  Jeremy Campbell was able to get us discount tickets through the military.  The tower recently added a sky deck:  about 5 feet of glass sticks out from the building so you can look down the 103 stories to the street below.  It was realized that Elder Anson is quite scared of heights.  The hermana's met us later and we went to the Bean at Millenium park, Buckingham Fountain- which is the border between the north and south missions, Gino's East for some Chicago style pizza, and then the Hancock Building.

*Found a store called "Bye Bye Chicago."  Very appropriate.

*Sometime after lunch, my right foot started hurting horribly but I chose not to say anything because I didn't want to cut the day short.  By 6:00 it was hurting so badly I could hardly walk and was very relieved to get on the train.  We had an appointment with Rita that evening, but we had to cancel it as we realized that my foot was quite swollen.  (Don't worry, parents.  It's nothing serious.)  After a few ice packs and keeping it elevated for a day or so it went back to normal.

*In the words of Frank Sinatra, "Chicago!  Chicago!  It's my kind of town!"  (I felt like I was back in New York.)

  *Other Stuff*
*A few days after Christmas, Sister Campbell told us that a new family had moved into the ward and that the mom had been less active but has the desire to return to church.  We also found out that she'd recently has serious surgery on her back.  Deciding to be the friendly neighborhood missionaries that we are, we stopped by to introduce ourselves.  Her husband and 3 children are not members, but she requested that we give her family refresher lessons to prepare them for baptism.  Knowing full well that we were in the elder's area, we had a pow-wow with them and decided that we would teach the oldest daughter and they would teach the husband.  They are an awesome family and so ready for baptism it isn't funny.  It's just sad to know that I won't be here to see their big day.  I guess that isn't as important as the fact that they are getting baptized.  Yay for baptisms!

*A few weeks ago we tracted into a young mother on Martin Street who invited us to come back and talk with her.  At that meeting, she told us that her brother had died earlier last year and she wanted to know if there is any purpose to life.  That's a missionary's dream question!  Sadly, we didn't have time to teach her then, but another appointment was made for a week later.  On Sunday afternoon we were able to share the wonderful Plan of Happiness with her.  At the end of the lesson, she told us that we had answered all of the questions most people had not been able to.  We left her with a Book of Mormon and, I'm sure, a greater peace of mind.

I love you all!  Next week will be the last letter from the one and only Sister Waters.  It's like the final episode!
 

 Until then...
               Sister Waters

Live from Chicago!

Dear Family and Friends,

  Sister Waters here, reporting to you live from the Apple Store in downtown Chicago!  The weather is currently snow with temperatures in the 20s.  In other news, it has been decided that Chicago is comparable to New York and no matter where you are, it's still possible to see a familiar face.  Next week's report will include a more detailed listing of Chicago adventures and also the excitement that was Christmas 2009.  Stay tuned and stay warm!

  This is Sister Waters, signing out!

Someday soon we all will be together!

Dear Family and Friends,

  If I were really creative, I would start off with another version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" but for some reason my mind doesn't feel like putting forth the effort so I'll just let you know that I was considering it.  After 17 months of my mind being filled with every possible kind of information, I'm looking forward to letting it rest a while next month.

  Anyway, this has been quite the week.  Two days in a row, Sister Kolb and I were up before 4:00 in the morning to teach seminary on Wednesday and then depart for Zone Conference on Thursday.  I'll admit that the conference was a surreal moment.  Since it was my last, I was asked to give my departing testimony.  That moment is something every missionary dreams of, but is never quite prepared for it when it arrives.  Wow.  I'll tell you what, wow.  I know I'm ready to come home, but the inevitable fact that I'll have to leave all of the amazing people I'm met during my service almost makes me want to stay forever.  On Saturday we attended a Christmas production put on by the Buffalo Grove stake.  While waiting for it to start, I was thrilled to see several people there from Woodstock.  We had a wonderful reunion and of course much of the conversation centered around the fact that I will soon be departing.  I still can't believe the big day is so close, but again, why do I have to leave these people behind?  Can't they come home with me?  I told Sister Kolb that she should ask President if she could get off early on good behavior.  Oh well.  Thank goodness for Facebook!

   Also within this week I celebrated the big 23.  Nothing about the day was too thrilling.  Sister Kolb asked the gospel principles class to sing to me and then we went over to the Child's for dinner.  Elder Child makes some yummy chicken curry and Sister Child made me happy with cheesecake.  However, the best part of that day was finding an investigator who is in need of this gospel.  Well, I guess everyone is in need, but she needs it so badly right now.  Her brother died earlier this year so we are very excited to share the wonderful plan of happiness.  Yay for eternal families!

  Other than that, it's been a pretty normal week.  I'm continuing to work hard and Sister Kolb is refusing to let me be trunky for more than a few minutes.  I think she's impressed with how well I'm accepting my impending "death."

  I'm sure many of you are wondering about the events of a sister missionary on Christmas.  I'm happy to report that our fame has preceeded us and we are booked on Christmas Eve and Christmas.  Chirstmas Eve will be spent with Sister Leonard, Sister Clark, and then Rita.  On Christmas we have the Child's, the Van Noy's, and the Bourgeois'.   As for the new year, that has yet to be decided.  The only definite thing is that we'll be welcoming 2010 at approximately 10:30.  I know.  Sister missionaries can really party hard.

  I look forward to talking to my amazing family in just 2 days!  I've been waiting for this day since Mother's Day.  Then, the next time you'll be talking to me will be at the Salt Lake airport.  Can I just say "woohoo!"  (Don't judge me for being excited!  What normal missionary wouldn't be?)

  My time has come to a close so I must get thee hence.  Until next time...

      Sister Waters

Did you see that sky today? Talk about blue!

Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 11:08 AM

Dear Family and Friends,
  Twas the week before Christmas and through the library, not a noise could be heard except for keys clacking.  The sister missionary came in in a flurry so decided to write family and friends in a hurry.  (Honestly, I really don't feel like writing today, so here is one of my speedy but amazing news-filled letters.  Enjoy!)

*Last Thursday we called for the weather and at 9:55 it was 2 degrees.

*Sister Leonard is enjoying her recent subscription to Facebook.

*Tracted while it was 6 degrees.  Looked around wondering if my ears had fallen off as I could no longer feel them.

*At the ward Christmas party last week, a member informed us that "our ward has some hot sister missionaries."  I have no idea why she feels that way, considering the fact that most of the time I feel like a nun.  Go figure.

*We stopped at the Bowker's on Saturday evening to deliver a Christmas card.  Brother Bowker invited us to help decorate the tree and then invited us to stay for dinner.  He turned on the song "I Want a Hippopotomus for Christmas" and started dancing to it.  I'm sure Sister Bowker's life is never dull.  He also went crazy for about 20 minutes looking all over the house for where he hid his special hot chocolate mix.  We saw them on Sunday and were informed that the search was eventually successful.

*Tracted into a guy who said he couldn't invite us in because cookies were in the oven.  When we got back into our car, he came outside and gave us a bag with and invitation to come back the next week.  If the cookies were poisoned, I have no idea.  We game them to the elders.

*Went to my first funeral as a missionary.  It was like something out of a movie:  rainy weather, black attire, women sobbing.  Seeing this, I came to the conclusion that I don't want to have a funeral.  (We can discuss that later.)

*Tracted into a creeper man.  If Sister Kolb hadn't been in my way, I would have bolted from the porch.  However, seeing that she was, I was quite tempted to push her out of the way and just run.  Thank goodness for companionships and for only tracting in daylight hours!

  There you have it.  More exciting news from the thrilling life of a sister missionary. And that's all I have to say about that.  Stay tuned until next week.  Maybe someone will call the cops on us.  Wait.  That happened already.  Hmmm.  I'll figure something else out.  Love you!

                Sister Waters

What is this feeling, so sudden and new?

Dear Family and Friends,

  So many things have taken place this week and it's hard to know where to begin.  However, Julie Andrews in "Sound of Music" tells us to "start at the very beginning" so I'll follow her example.  (Once a movie dork, always a movie dork-even after 16 months.)  Wait!  I know you're all anxious to know where and who with I'll be spending my last transfer so I'll have to start near the middle and then go back to the beginning.  The betting is now closed and here are your results:

    Sister Sara Elizabeth Glory Waters will be spending her last transfer in......Gurnee, Illinois!!!!!  Her final companion is......the amazing Sister Kolb!  In the words of Sally Field when she won her Oscar for "Soapdish:"  "[They] like me!  [They] really like me!"  (Dork title still stands and I'm sure no one will argue.)

  Actually, there is a funny/crazy story that goes along with how I managed to stay in Gurnee and with Sister Kolb.  Allow me to tell it to you.  Once upon a time there were two sister missionaries by the name of Sister Waters and Sister Kolb.  They'd been working together for five transfers and they knew that transfer number six was looming ahead.  Transfer number six would be the most intense because it would be the last for Sister Waters.  Both of them wanted to stay in a ward that loves them for Sister Waters' birthday and for Christmas.  Sister Kolb wanted the experience of killing her mission mom and Sister Waters wanted the experience of having her mission daughter kill her.  It would be a win/win situation.

  Tuesday morning arrived and no call came.  9:00 arrived and still there was no call.  At about 9:30, Elder Miller called the Sisters to see if anything had taken place.  Negative.  He told them to go ahead and rejoice, informing Sister Kolb that she would be with Sister Waters for her last transfer.  Those words hit Sister Waters quite hard, as she had yet to fully realize that this would be her last transfer as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  For about 30 minutes Sister Waters was in an emotional panic about leaving the mission, with Sister Kolb doing her best to calm her companion down.  Then....the phone rang again.  Why would the zone leaders be calling?  Not a good sign.  Sister Kolb answered and a few minutes later Sister Waters was the one playing comforter.  The news:  Sister Kolb would be leaving for Lake Villa and another sister would be joining Sister Waters.  Heartbreak!  Gathering her courage, Sister Waters made a call to their mighty mission president, President Doll to ask if this was really what was going on.  He confirmed the terrible news.  Noooooooo!

  Despite their tears, Sister Waters and Sister Kolb knew that the work must continue so they gathered their bags to run a few errands.  While making a purchase, the sisters received another call, this time from one of the President's assistants.  He asked Sister Kolb a few questions and then she handed the phone to her sad companion.  The elder asked Sister Waters a few very obvious questions and Sister Waters didn't try to hide the fact that she was annoyed.  When asked if there was anything he could do for the Sister's, Sister Waters replied with, "keep us together."

  Walking back to their car, Sister Waters had another breakdown.  This was not because her mission would soon be ending, but because her amazing companion would soon be leaving her.  This was supposed to be the best transfer and that couldn't happen with a complete stranger!  Was this to be endured?  It could not be!   (With tears falling down her cheeks, Sister Waters rued the day she had chosen to wear makeup.)  With words of encouragement, Sister Kolb convinced Sister Waters to call their president for a second time.  Sister Waters was unsure if it would do any good and had no desire to question his authority, but if there was a slight chance this duo could remain together, she would do it.  The result of the conversation was President promising to take into consideration all that was said and then call them back.

  The minutes ticked by slowly with the sisters agonizing over what the final verdict would be.  They jumped when the phone finally rang 30 minutes later.  What would he say?  Would he let the Waters of Kolob duo remain together until the death of Sister Waters?  Did he think Sister Waters was just a crazy weepy missionary?  Calmy answering the phone, President Doll gave his answer:  "have a wonderful transfer together and make it the best one."  After thanking that wonderful man profusely, Sister Waters and Sister Kolb shouted for joy and then offered a prayer of gratiude.  Bless the days of President Doll!

  For the rest of the transfer, the Sisters continued to work hard.  They went tracting, visited members, and did their best to be obedient.  Then the day quickly came when Sister Waters had to say goodbye to Sister Kolb so she could return with honor to her family and friends who had missed her so horribly.  And they all lived happily every after.  The end.

  Yeah. I think that is a pretty good story.   However, my time is short so I'll quickly fill you in on all the other happenings of this week.  Here's the news!

  *We taught the Restoration last week and while talking about the First Vision, I couldn't stop smiling.  It's true, it's true, it's true!

  *We got our first snow storm on Thursday.  Last week we tracted in 23 degree weather.  For the past several days, members have been warning us of an approaching blizzard that would give 7-8 inches.  When we woke up this morning, the grass wasn't even covered.  By the time we left our apartment, the snow had started again and has yet to stop.

  *At the pulpit on Sunday, Brother Mulford informed us that he would need a Book of Mormon for one of his coworkers.  Yay for member missionary work!

  *We tracted into a guy who informed us that God is in Mexico.  At least it's someplace warm.

  *Another woman shooed us away when we came to her door.  She didn't say anything, just shooed us away.  That's a new one.

  *Almost got eaten by a dog.  Not surprising.  Dogs and missionaries are not good friends.

  *Bishop Bourgeois gave us a VIP pass into the Boy Scouts breakfast on Saturday.  I love my nametag!

  So, there you have it.  More adventures from a crazy sister missionary and her even crazier companion.  Life continues to go well, despite being colder.  The layers and boots from last year have returned.  I'm quite excited for the day when I can go outside without looking like a rolly polly.  Other than that...I'm excited to talk to you in just a few weeks.  Sister Kolb and I are counting down the days.  I'll probably call on Christmas Eve to let you know what time your phone will ring on Christmas.  Be ready!  I love you and I love this gospel!

       Sister Waters