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