Hi everybody and my momma!
Life here is flying by. The days seem long but the weeks are going so quickly. But it seems like I'll be here FOREVER!! There were some missionaries in our branch that left a few days ago, and they came in the same day we did. That will happen four more times before we get to leave. So I thought I would share my schedule with you:
5am-wakeup because I need alot of Mongolian study time, but we're supposed to be up by 6:30am
7:45-Breakfast
8:15-Personal Study (scriptures, Preach My gospel)
9:15-Mongolian Class
11:00-Gym
12:30-Lunch
1:15-Comp. Study
2:15-Mongolian Class
5:30-Dinner
6:15-Language Study
7:15-Mongolian Class
9:00-Plan for the next day
10:30-Lights out!
So I thought that one could never fall asleep so early but on that scedule it is very easy. The days change a little bit and Sunday is a lot different because there is no class. We have a fireside on Sunday night and those are a blast! The speakers are laid back and it is in an informal setting. Also on Sunday is ice cream day, my favorite! Tuesday is the devotionals but we haven't had a apostle yet but we did have John Groberg last week. Wednesday we go to the Referall Center and on Thursday is P-day which is where we do laundry, personal study, comp. study, Temple, and class at night for a few hours. Friday we have a large group meeting for 2 hours where we talk about the gospel or some aspect of it. Saturday we do service in the morning. Usually we clean the bathrooms or vacuum. The MTC was really smart to do that because they don't have to hire as many janitors for that. The missionaries clean all the dorms and buildings. So that is what my schedule looks like. For gym, we have it with the elders in our branch and zone and some others. We are allowed to play with the elders in b-ball but girls can only guard girls and elders to elders so I pretty much play one-on-one and I can't find a girl who is good at b-ball. So I usually run, do the bike or weights. They have a small weight room but it's not to my satisfaction.
So last week we were supposed to teach our first lesson in mongolian. We show up at the TRC and there is no one there. My teacher realizes that it's Pioneer day and no one is coming in. We were so happy! But we have to teach tomorrow so it just it put off for a week.
The RC this week wasn't very exciting. No one called in and no one would answer their phones when we called out. Maybe next week.
Good news is that I'm over the cold and back to my normal self.
The food isn't bad here but they use the same menu every three weeks so we are going to see it four times. We can eat salads, wraps, sandwiches, soup and they usually have three main courses to choose from, and LOTS of desserts. I've chosen to only eat treats on Sunday when it's ICE CREAM DAY. On fast sunday, they don't cook or serve any food for breakfast or lunch and then everyone has dinner at the same time. It's going to be a madhouse! The food does start to get a little boring because it's cafeteria food and you can only get so good with that. It doesn't compare to homemade.
The interesting Mongolian fact for the day is that they LOVE free things. When they were ruled by the Soviets, they were given everything so they are use to it. My teacher said that they have to carry a ton of referall cards around because if they give it out to one person, everyone will want one. He said that he'll be talking to someone on the bus and give them a referall card. Someone will notice and they sneak a look at the missionaries and talk among themselves. Then they'll come up to him and ask for a card. And he can't just give a card to the parents but every person in the family has to get one. Some people will ask, "Can I have one for my kid?" and my teacher would think, "He's a 6-month old baby?! Why would he need a card?" but he would give him one anyway. Most of the time they don't read them but it makes it easier to give away. They don't like to give BofMs out in public because everyone would want one and most people wouldn't read it. I thought it was funny.
In our Large group meeting on Friday we talked about Faith in Christ and how our faith as a missionary can help someone else's to grow or strengthen. They showed a clip from Pres. Hinckley's talk of the three men who carried people across the Sweetwater River. They gave everything to serve the Lord and his children. The teacher then asked if we can have that same kind of service for the people we will serve. I thought about all the work I do in the MTC and how much I learn and what I learn will affect the people I'll teach. All my learning should be in the mindset that everything I do is for the People of Mongolia not me. I should work my hardest for those people. Because they are the ones that will be blessed by the gospel. I can change THEIR lives. This motivation will help me study better and work harder.
Sister Sumsion
Thursday, July 30
Thursday, July 23
AMBER'S 2ND WEEK IN THE MTC
Hi!
So I had been getting letters everyday until Monday, which was the first and only day so far that I haven't gotten an email. I was a little disappointed that I hadn't gotten anything. I know, that is so selfish of me when some of the sisters don't get any mail. Don't worry Dad, I still have time to read all the letters. I usually get my mail in the middle of the day but wait until after the day is over and we have an hour of time before bed. Carmen, Lizzie, the Uibels, Angela Merrick, Grandma Sumsion have written me. People have been very supportive of me and keep telling me to keep my chin up and press on!
Well, the first week was the hardest, which everyone tells me but after getting over that first week and going to the temple last Thursday has made all the difference. I'm use to the routine now and the work that is required, well, maybe not yet. It has been an awesome week! Me and my companion, Sister Adams hadn't really connected yet until after we did a session in the temple. I had prayed so hard for comfort and guidance to help me serve and love my companion, even though there is nothing wrong with her. But after that temple trip, I'm so open with her and she loves my dry sense of humor. She thought my handgun and pepperspray comment was funny;) We've bonded so well over the past week and also with the other sisters in our group.
Last Friday we did our first real lesson in the TRC, which is where we sit in a living room and teach an "investigator" (or volunteers). I was a little nervous for that which surprised me because I was expecting to be really nervous. But after we got in there and started teach, it seemed easy. We taught the first lesson on a non-christian background level. I didn't stumble over my words and I bore a strong testimony that of course involved crying. The spirit was so strong there! After we were done teaching we talked to the "investigator" (who had returned from a mission in Mongolia) and she said that was one of the best lessons she has had at the TRC. I was humbled by her comment because I knew the Spirit did the real teaching.
Yesterday, we went to the Call center again and I was very nervous because my last experience didn't go so well. But this time we took inbound calls from people who wanted to talk with us. My first caller was a 78-year old man from Rhode Island who had been a Jehovah Witness but didn't feel like that provided everything for him. We started talking and I told him that I could send him a free video and he said that he didn't have a player for it. I told him that I could send it with him anyway and he could find someone to watch it with. It was good with that idea and then he started asking me about the Second Coming and anti-christs. He was very knowledgeable of the scriptures but the amazing thing was I knew the scriptures that he was talking about and what they meant like "being born again" (baptism) and "the lion will lie down with the lamb" (second coming-peace). I invited him to take the missionary discussions but he didn't think that would be a good idea. So I invited him to church and gave him an address that he could go to. When I told him that the meeting was on Sunday, he said something about that being a pagan tradition. I told him that we worshipped on that day because of the creation being 6-days and the last day was a day of rest. He told me that we weren't sure on what day the day of rest was. It could be Saturday. My companion overheard my conversation and whispered to me about the resurrection being on a Sunday. So I told him that but then he said that it would have been a Monday because it was three days. Then I thought of a scripture of how it says that He will rise ON the third day. So I tell my companion and we both go flying through our scriptures to find it. I found one in Luke 24, i don't remember the verse. I read it to him and he was still confused. I said that the scriptures say specifically that he was died for a FULL three days. He then laughed and said that he would go along with me. He died on Friday, was dead Saturday and rose on the Sunday. He talked about Christmas and Easter being a man-made tradition. It seems that he still hung on to some of his Jehovah Witness' beliefs. After we were done talking for about 45 minutes about the second coming, marriage, Sunday worship, Christmas, the Restoration and etc. he thanked me for my time and said that he didn't really have anyone to talk with anymore. Sad! But that he felt a goodness from me. I don't know how you see that over the phone but I know how he felt it. I don't know if anything will come of it but I will never forget his name, Harold O'Leary from Providence Rhode Island. I'm so grateful for the Lord for that great opportunity to do missionary work and now I'm excited to teach. The church is true and stay True to the Faith!
Mom: Make sure to put this on the blog and email it to people.
Love Sister Amber Sumsion
Funny story: I have to write my Branch President every week
So I had been getting letters everyday until Monday, which was the first and only day so far that I haven't gotten an email. I was a little disappointed that I hadn't gotten anything. I know, that is so selfish of me when some of the sisters don't get any mail. Don't worry Dad, I still have time to read all the letters. I usually get my mail in the middle of the day but wait until after the day is over and we have an hour of time before bed. Carmen, Lizzie, the Uibels, Angela Merrick, Grandma Sumsion have written me. People have been very supportive of me and keep telling me to keep my chin up and press on!
Well, the first week was the hardest, which everyone tells me but after getting over that first week and going to the temple last Thursday has made all the difference. I'm use to the routine now and the work that is required, well, maybe not yet. It has been an awesome week! Me and my companion, Sister Adams hadn't really connected yet until after we did a session in the temple. I had prayed so hard for comfort and guidance to help me serve and love my companion, even though there is nothing wrong with her. But after that temple trip, I'm so open with her and she loves my dry sense of humor. She thought my handgun and pepperspray comment was funny;) We've bonded so well over the past week and also with the other sisters in our group.
Last Friday we did our first real lesson in the TRC, which is where we sit in a living room and teach an "investigator" (or volunteers). I was a little nervous for that which surprised me because I was expecting to be really nervous. But after we got in there and started teach, it seemed easy. We taught the first lesson on a non-christian background level. I didn't stumble over my words and I bore a strong testimony that of course involved crying. The spirit was so strong there! After we were done teaching we talked to the "investigator" (who had returned from a mission in Mongolia) and she said that was one of the best lessons she has had at the TRC. I was humbled by her comment because I knew the Spirit did the real teaching.
Yesterday, we went to the Call center again and I was very nervous because my last experience didn't go so well. But this time we took inbound calls from people who wanted to talk with us. My first caller was a 78-year old man from Rhode Island who had been a Jehovah Witness but didn't feel like that provided everything for him. We started talking and I told him that I could send him a free video and he said that he didn't have a player for it. I told him that I could send it with him anyway and he could find someone to watch it with. It was good with that idea and then he started asking me about the Second Coming and anti-christs. He was very knowledgeable of the scriptures but the amazing thing was I knew the scriptures that he was talking about and what they meant like "being born again" (baptism) and "the lion will lie down with the lamb" (second coming-peace). I invited him to take the missionary discussions but he didn't think that would be a good idea. So I invited him to church and gave him an address that he could go to. When I told him that the meeting was on Sunday, he said something about that being a pagan tradition. I told him that we worshipped on that day because of the creation being 6-days and the last day was a day of rest. He told me that we weren't sure on what day the day of rest was. It could be Saturday. My companion overheard my conversation and whispered to me about the resurrection being on a Sunday. So I told him that but then he said that it would have been a Monday because it was three days. Then I thought of a scripture of how it says that He will rise ON the third day. So I tell my companion and we both go flying through our scriptures to find it. I found one in Luke 24, i don't remember the verse. I read it to him and he was still confused. I said that the scriptures say specifically that he was died for a FULL three days. He then laughed and said that he would go along with me. He died on Friday, was dead Saturday and rose on the Sunday. He talked about Christmas and Easter being a man-made tradition. It seems that he still hung on to some of his Jehovah Witness' beliefs. After we were done talking for about 45 minutes about the second coming, marriage, Sunday worship, Christmas, the Restoration and etc. he thanked me for my time and said that he didn't really have anyone to talk with anymore. Sad! But that he felt a goodness from me. I don't know how you see that over the phone but I know how he felt it. I don't know if anything will come of it but I will never forget his name, Harold O'Leary from Providence Rhode Island. I'm so grateful for the Lord for that great opportunity to do missionary work and now I'm excited to teach. The church is true and stay True to the Faith!
Mom: Make sure to put this on the blog and email it to people.
Love Sister Amber Sumsion
Funny story: I have to write my Branch President every week
Saturday, July 18
Hi Everyone,
I'm so excited that it is P-day! I'm not allowed to write letters or emails on any other day. The first week has been a crazy roller coaster. First day I was on the verge of tears all day. Thursday and Friday were better because I was getting to know my sisters better. There is six sisters now and seven elders. The most sisters they've had going to Mongolia has been three. So we shattered that record out of the water. The first couple of days I wasn't really talkative but I decided that three months of being quiet was going to really stink so I decided to say whatever came to mind. On Friday, I had started to talk alot more but the ice breaker was my awesome movie quoting skills. I don't know how we got on this subject but Sister Turner (from Washington, an only child, adopted, and of polynesion ancestry who loves to laugh at everything, and never stops smiling and who is not my companion) was quoting one of her favorite lines from "She's the Man" and then I told her my favorite one, "Suck it up and be a Man!" Well, after I did that all of the Sisters burst out laughing. I still have the skills.
Saturday was the hardest day because there was so much classroom time where we learned Mongolian and our brains were starting to overload. After the afternoon class, our Mongolian group or district, went to dinner. I guess girls relieve their stress differently but we were laughing at everything and anything. It was awesome! And then you look at the other end of the table and the Elders all had a "I can't learn Mongolian, and I'm so depressed" face. The sisters all laughed about that too.
Sunday and p-day will probably become one of my favorite days because there is no class and on Sunday there is alot of spiritual activities like a fireside, church, district meetings, studying, etc. It was a great stress reliever. But over the first three days I was still thinking about my lack of teaching ability and my knowledge of the gospel. But my prayer was answered on Tuesday at the Devotional. A former 70s member spoke about missionary work and testimonies. It finally dawned on me that all we need is a testimony to preach the gospel. A testimony will bring the Spirit and the Spirit does the converting. The rest of teaching requires practice and study which I will have three months to do.
On Tuesday, me and my companion, Sister Adams (from Beaver, Utah; went to Utah State and is studying Economics; I'm about a foot taller than her; long brown hair) taught a short lesson to one of our Mongolian teachers, Brother Cannon. He told us that we will have to teach differently than we would a Catholic. The Mongolians know nothing about Christ and Buddha is their God. So we have to teach a primary-like lesson and define alot of words like Atonement, Prophet, Priesthood, Apostle. It went pretty well and I wasn't nervous which is a first but I stumbled over my words and cried when I read the First Vision in our lesson. I hope those tears come in handy when I teach to the Mongolians because it seems that I won't break the habit of crying everytime a say something spiritual.
Learning Mongolian has been hard but it amazing to see the Lord's hand in the work. My second day we learned the alphabet and by Sunday we could sound out words even though it would take longer. But after a week, we could sound out words faster and bear our testimonies in Mongolian. Next Friday, we're going to teach the first lesson in Mongolian. The Lord will have to show some miracles because that will be tough.
Yesterday we went to the RC where people call in about the commercials on TV and we ship them DVDs and Book of Mormons. Yesterday we made outgoing calls where we make sure people get their shipment. That was pretty frustrating because some people got angry at me because we kept calling or they weren't interested. We are asked by the MTC to try and bear our testimonies to them but I couldn't think on my feet on what to say next. It was quite frustrating and I still hate being that way.
(Mom my watch broke, I think it was one of the links, so I will ship it back to you and the other links that were taken off are in the envelope I gave you.)
Love you all,
Sister Amber Sumsion
I'm so excited that it is P-day! I'm not allowed to write letters or emails on any other day. The first week has been a crazy roller coaster. First day I was on the verge of tears all day. Thursday and Friday were better because I was getting to know my sisters better. There is six sisters now and seven elders. The most sisters they've had going to Mongolia has been three. So we shattered that record out of the water. The first couple of days I wasn't really talkative but I decided that three months of being quiet was going to really stink so I decided to say whatever came to mind. On Friday, I had started to talk alot more but the ice breaker was my awesome movie quoting skills. I don't know how we got on this subject but Sister Turner (from Washington, an only child, adopted, and of polynesion ancestry who loves to laugh at everything, and never stops smiling and who is not my companion) was quoting one of her favorite lines from "She's the Man" and then I told her my favorite one, "Suck it up and be a Man!" Well, after I did that all of the Sisters burst out laughing. I still have the skills.
Saturday was the hardest day because there was so much classroom time where we learned Mongolian and our brains were starting to overload. After the afternoon class, our Mongolian group or district, went to dinner. I guess girls relieve their stress differently but we were laughing at everything and anything. It was awesome! And then you look at the other end of the table and the Elders all had a "I can't learn Mongolian, and I'm so depressed" face. The sisters all laughed about that too.
Sunday and p-day will probably become one of my favorite days because there is no class and on Sunday there is alot of spiritual activities like a fireside, church, district meetings, studying, etc. It was a great stress reliever. But over the first three days I was still thinking about my lack of teaching ability and my knowledge of the gospel. But my prayer was answered on Tuesday at the Devotional. A former 70s member spoke about missionary work and testimonies. It finally dawned on me that all we need is a testimony to preach the gospel. A testimony will bring the Spirit and the Spirit does the converting. The rest of teaching requires practice and study which I will have three months to do.
On Tuesday, me and my companion, Sister Adams (from Beaver, Utah; went to Utah State and is studying Economics; I'm about a foot taller than her; long brown hair) taught a short lesson to one of our Mongolian teachers, Brother Cannon. He told us that we will have to teach differently than we would a Catholic. The Mongolians know nothing about Christ and Buddha is their God. So we have to teach a primary-like lesson and define alot of words like Atonement, Prophet, Priesthood, Apostle. It went pretty well and I wasn't nervous which is a first but I stumbled over my words and cried when I read the First Vision in our lesson. I hope those tears come in handy when I teach to the Mongolians because it seems that I won't break the habit of crying everytime a say something spiritual.
Learning Mongolian has been hard but it amazing to see the Lord's hand in the work. My second day we learned the alphabet and by Sunday we could sound out words even though it would take longer. But after a week, we could sound out words faster and bear our testimonies in Mongolian. Next Friday, we're going to teach the first lesson in Mongolian. The Lord will have to show some miracles because that will be tough.
Yesterday we went to the RC where people call in about the commercials on TV and we ship them DVDs and Book of Mormons. Yesterday we made outgoing calls where we make sure people get their shipment. That was pretty frustrating because some people got angry at me because we kept calling or they weren't interested. We are asked by the MTC to try and bear our testimonies to them but I couldn't think on my feet on what to say next. It was quite frustrating and I still hate being that way.
(Mom my watch broke, I think it was one of the links, so I will ship it back to you and the other links that were taken off are in the envelope I gave you.)
Love you all,
Sister Amber Sumsion
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)