Less than 14 days until departure!

Hey Everbody!!!

The time is flying at the MTC. This week we started our Speak Your Language challenge where we only speak Mongolian to everyone, even to the missionaries not learning Mongolian. We would tell them in Mongolian and then we could translate it into English. On Monday, that only lasted till after dinner. It is very hard and very frustrating to do especially with everyone in the MTC speaking English. My companion, Sister Ellison and Sister Staib were the only three going strong. I snapped about an hour after dinner. I guess the stress got to me because I was in a really hyper mood and I got my companion rolling with laughter. My companion was a little frustrated with everyone else who was speaking english instead of Mongolian. She had put in her planner to be more patience. Well, I thought she was trying to be more patient because I was driving her crazy. It crushed me! I stressed about until the next night where I asked her about it. She said that the teacher had told her to study patience because she would have companions in the field that would try her patience. Man, I should have asked her earlier! Communication is very important so never assume something.
Last week at the TRC there were so many volunteers!! There was about four volunteers for every companionship (six total companions). There was also a cute little Mongolian family with a three year old baby. She was so cute!!! When I saw that family I could feel what it will be like in Mongolian. I felt a love for them even though I did not know them. It was quite exciting to feel that way.
We started our progessing investigator this week. Where one of the teachers acts like someone who is investigating the church. We adjust the lessons based on his needs and problems. We make several appointments with him and get to know him (or the person he is pretending to be). So far we taught him about God, how the gospel can bless families, prayer and a little about the Holy Ghost. That's all we had time for and he was pretending to be a Buddist so we have to start out about who God is and how to pray. We won't talk about the Restoration or the Book of Mormon until next time we teach him.
When I got my mission call, I was happy that I was learning a new language. I thought that since I was learning a new language that I wouldn't cry when bearing my testimony when speaking that language. I always, always cry or choke up when talking about my feelings and my feelings about the gospel. Well, when we were teaching the progressing investigator, I was bearing my testimony about how God can help strengthen families and how my family has been strenghtened. Man, I was choking up and it made me happy that I was! I feel like I'm more sincere when I cry. I think others can see that the gospel means a lot to me when I show my true feelings.
This week I've been reading the Old Testament. I decided to read the story about Solomon and the two women who claimed the same child. In the beginning of 1 Kings 3, Solomon is praying for wisdom and knowledge to judge and rule the country righteously. In verses six through 9 is where he asks. In verses 11 through 14 is God's answer. When I read these verses it brought to mind how we should pray and how God answers our prayers. In verses 6 and 7, Solomon shows humility, faith and realizes that his strength comes from God and how loving God is towards him and his father. Then in verse 9, Solomon is not asking for himself but for the benefit of the Lord's people. God replies in verse 11 and says that he is pleased that he asks not for himself and that he doesn't ask for riches and wealth but for spiritual things and worthy things. Then in verse 12 he says that he will answer his prayer and give him what he desires. Then in verse 13 and 14 he says that he will give him even more blessings, blessings that he didn't even ask for. Then in verse 14 he says that if Solomon is righteous he can keep this blessings that he has given him. This is how God is. He wants to bless us and to help us. He gives us more than we deserve. He has always and will always give us more than we deserve. He has blessed us with a body and the opportunity to learn and to grow and to reach our fullest potential. He sent his son to die for our sins. How hard must it have been to watch his perfect, sinless son suffer all the sins, afflictions, sorrows and sufferings of the world! But still he did not stop for he loves us and was merciful enough to give us an opportunity to return to him. He is merciful to even those who don't follow him and keep his commandments in his plan of salvation. I love my Heavenly Father so much and Jesus Christ who both love me enough to be patient with me and my weaknesses. They have blessed me with a wonderful family and wonderful friends. They have blessed me with this gospel and with the Atonement. I get the chance to take this wonderful message to the people of Mongolia who have never heard of Jesus Christ or a Heavenly Father.
The church is true, God loves you so keep the faith!

Love, Sister Sumsion