Hi!
This week has been another hard week. We are still working with Peter, the one I talked about in last week's email. He is really hard to get a hold of because he doesn't have a phone and he's work schedule is crazy. He was planning to coming to church yesterday and he even had his own ride set up but he never showed. That is the point we are trying to get to, which is to get an investigator to church. We've haven't been able to get one to church since I've been here. It is quite frustrating but we are keeping our heads up and trying to "bear our afflictions with patience."
We are teaching a young couple where the Elders cast out real evil spirits out of their home. We taught them a 1st lesson and committed them to baptism. They wanted to be baptized but wouldn't pick a date because they had a crazy schedule. Their son is having to go to the hospital all the time because he got sick and they are trying to figure out the cause. The husband also goes to the doctor's for treatment of his epilepsy. They didn't show up for church either.
So me and Sister Yancey have been praying hard to find someone who will keep their commitments and come to church. But Satan is still pushing us hard. We like to call ourselves the "golden investigator but won't come to church" whisperers because those are the only people we find. We meet them and they seem like they are so ready to accept the gospel and they believe it's true but won't come to church. We've had so many like that. But we keep telling Satan "to get off of my back".
On to a happier note, we got the whole day of Thanksgiving off! We got to watch two movies from an approved list. So we went to the church and made ourselves comfortable with a tv and snacks and enjoyed ourselves. But I've realized that I've been a missionary for a long time because I was relating everything in the movies to the gospel. We watched "Hercules" and I was thinking, "Um..this is kind of like the plan of salvation. First the fall of Adam from an immortal state, then our life on Earth as we try to follow God and prove ourselves on Earth and then we return to our Father's presence." It was weird. We then planned basketball for a couple of hours in the gym and had dinner with a member.
We also had zone conference this week and the focus was the Book of Mormon. The President had come across an amazing way to mark the BofM according to the lessons in PMG so one could find them really easy while in a lesson. We marked some scriptures at Zone Conference but I'm still going through the BofM marking things I could use in a lesson. I've come to realize how much information is in the BofM, how much it contains everything we teach and everything we need to gain salvation and to learn about the gospel. The Book of Mormon is so jammed packed with the gospel! I love it!
This week I've been studying about the Atonement the past couple of weeks because we have an investigator you feels that he's done so much wrong that there might not be a way to correct it. My love for the Savior continues to grow as I realize, more and more, what exactly the Atonement means for us. Christ came and suffered for our sins so that we could repent and be cleansed of our sins. He also suffered for our sorrows, heartaches, pains and afflictions so that He would know exactly how to help us. Because of the Atonement, He can heal us spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. I am forever indebted to Him and my Father in Heaven for that great act of mercy.
Well, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! The church is true so keep the faith!
Love Sister Sumsion
Monday, November 30
Wednesday, November 25
Missionary work is a rollercoaster!
Hi!
Sorry about the letter last week. I was letting Satan bruise my heel. Last week was one of the hardest emotional weeks that I've ever gone through in my life. Something is coming and Satan doesn't want me to accomplish it.
My purpose is to baptize and I should EXPECT to baptize but if I don't then I shouldn't let Satan get to me. I will just punch him in the face next time and get back to working hard :)
During that hard week, we experienced an amazing miracle. We were tracting and we were walking past this house and this guy was just standing out on his porch. So we went up and talked to him. We easily fell into a discussion about the church and the Book of Mormon. We gave him a copy and scheduled a return appointment. When we came back the next day, he asked and asked us so many questions. But the amazing thing was that we could answer all of them and he agreed with our answers. Peter is is name, and he has been plagued with so many trials and heartaches in his life. He's had several of his friends die and he's tried to kill himself several times. But he said that God won't let him die because he feels like God has a purpose for him. His been in jail 32 times and he feels like he's done so much wrong that God couldn't forgive him. He loves the Bible and can quote from it. But the funny thing is that he hates the Catholic church and tells is family that they worship idols. He said that he's been to different churches seeking the truth but hasn't found it. So me and Sister Yancey testified to him that we have the truth. Then he said that he knows that this is true. (We haven't even taught him a whole discussion yet-amazing!) He said that when we were walking up to him the first time that he knew that there was something different and special about us. When we were walking up to him, he said that he felt peace and was really happy. When he said this, I just wanted to run down the street screaming how much I love God and the gospel. Peter so desperately needs the gospel and the Atonement in his life. I'm so blessed and grateful that I can be the means of teaching about our Savior to him. He might be on parole or probation because his only 38 years old and has been in jail 32 times. That would be disappointing but I'm still so happy that he can finally find the truth and can work towards being forgiven.
I love this work and this gospel. Even though this is the hardest thing that I've ever done, I know that is worth every second. I will work where ever the Lord wants me, either in Colorado or Mongolia.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love, Sister Sumsion
Sorry about the letter last week. I was letting Satan bruise my heel. Last week was one of the hardest emotional weeks that I've ever gone through in my life. Something is coming and Satan doesn't want me to accomplish it.
My purpose is to baptize and I should EXPECT to baptize but if I don't then I shouldn't let Satan get to me. I will just punch him in the face next time and get back to working hard :)
During that hard week, we experienced an amazing miracle. We were tracting and we were walking past this house and this guy was just standing out on his porch. So we went up and talked to him. We easily fell into a discussion about the church and the Book of Mormon. We gave him a copy and scheduled a return appointment. When we came back the next day, he asked and asked us so many questions. But the amazing thing was that we could answer all of them and he agreed with our answers. Peter is is name, and he has been plagued with so many trials and heartaches in his life. He's had several of his friends die and he's tried to kill himself several times. But he said that God won't let him die because he feels like God has a purpose for him. His been in jail 32 times and he feels like he's done so much wrong that God couldn't forgive him. He loves the Bible and can quote from it. But the funny thing is that he hates the Catholic church and tells is family that they worship idols. He said that he's been to different churches seeking the truth but hasn't found it. So me and Sister Yancey testified to him that we have the truth. Then he said that he knows that this is true. (We haven't even taught him a whole discussion yet-amazing!) He said that when we were walking up to him the first time that he knew that there was something different and special about us. When we were walking up to him, he said that he felt peace and was really happy. When he said this, I just wanted to run down the street screaming how much I love God and the gospel. Peter so desperately needs the gospel and the Atonement in his life. I'm so blessed and grateful that I can be the means of teaching about our Savior to him. He might be on parole or probation because his only 38 years old and has been in jail 32 times. That would be disappointing but I'm still so happy that he can finally find the truth and can work towards being forgiven.
I love this work and this gospel. Even though this is the hardest thing that I've ever done, I know that is worth every second. I will work where ever the Lord wants me, either in Colorado or Mongolia.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love, Sister Sumsion
Tuesday, November 17
Stayed in Pueblo!
Hi!
So I'm staying in Pueblo, all four sisters are, which surprised us all. But we are getting a new district leader this week.
This has been a hard week. It all started with Kelsey disappear off the face of the planet and then our new investigator Amy disapperring too. Kelsey has always answered her phone before and she was always home. But now she's never home and she doesn't answer the phone. We can't seem to get any potential investigators as we are tracting or ITLing and we hardly taught any lessons. Is the problem me? I worry that I'm not saying the right things because people have rejected us so hard this week. I try my best to be myself and follow the spirit. But I'm afraid that I'm not doing my best. The worst was after district meeting because everyone else is having success and it's looking bright for the rest of our district but our success is going south, fast. I try so hard not to base my success off of the stats but I've always graded myself by my stats. As a basketball player, the best was the one with the best stats, especially points. I know that is how the world bases success, by numbers, stats and money. But it is hard when even your zone leaders and district leader is telling us that we need to baptize, baptize and if we are not then we aren't working hard enough. Well, they didn't say that straight out.
I got a priesthood blessing from Elder Prior for comfort which greatly helped. The Lord told me that I'm experiencing trials so that I will be pushed to become my best. He also said that He was pleased with my efforts and the sacrifices I had made to come on a mission.
But this morning I was reading through my study journal and reading all the talks and firesides which I had attended when I was at the MTC. I what I got out of it was that it is up to us on how many people we baptize or how successful we are. I read that it is not decided in heaven on who you will baptize. But I always thought that was only to a certain point because God is in control and maybe we aren't baptizing because He wants to test us. But we need to keep working our hardest and then He will bless us but maybe not in the way we feel is right. But how do I know if I'm working my hardest? But then I've always heard that there are only certain people that I can baptize. So my emotions, feelings, and thoughts are torn different ways. But don't worry. I will keep pressing forward as I always have and will work to serve my God with all my heart, might, mind and strength.
My testimony of prayer has been strenghtened the past couple of days. During our interview, you told me to teach from the heart like I was teaching a friend so I've taken that to heart and have been praying for help to do that. I've also been praying about talking to people from the heart, to help get over my shyness. And I've started to see the change. When I try to teach what I feel, I teach better. The spirit is there more strongly. I know that I have a strong testimony and strong feelings of the gospel but I have a hard time putting them into words. So I've been growing as we are going through this rough patch.
The church is true so keep the faith!
Love Sister Sumsion
So I'm staying in Pueblo, all four sisters are, which surprised us all. But we are getting a new district leader this week.
This has been a hard week. It all started with Kelsey disappear off the face of the planet and then our new investigator Amy disapperring too. Kelsey has always answered her phone before and she was always home. But now she's never home and she doesn't answer the phone. We can't seem to get any potential investigators as we are tracting or ITLing and we hardly taught any lessons. Is the problem me? I worry that I'm not saying the right things because people have rejected us so hard this week. I try my best to be myself and follow the spirit. But I'm afraid that I'm not doing my best. The worst was after district meeting because everyone else is having success and it's looking bright for the rest of our district but our success is going south, fast. I try so hard not to base my success off of the stats but I've always graded myself by my stats. As a basketball player, the best was the one with the best stats, especially points. I know that is how the world bases success, by numbers, stats and money. But it is hard when even your zone leaders and district leader is telling us that we need to baptize, baptize and if we are not then we aren't working hard enough. Well, they didn't say that straight out.
I got a priesthood blessing from Elder Prior for comfort which greatly helped. The Lord told me that I'm experiencing trials so that I will be pushed to become my best. He also said that He was pleased with my efforts and the sacrifices I had made to come on a mission.
But this morning I was reading through my study journal and reading all the talks and firesides which I had attended when I was at the MTC. I what I got out of it was that it is up to us on how many people we baptize or how successful we are. I read that it is not decided in heaven on who you will baptize. But I always thought that was only to a certain point because God is in control and maybe we aren't baptizing because He wants to test us. But we need to keep working our hardest and then He will bless us but maybe not in the way we feel is right. But how do I know if I'm working my hardest? But then I've always heard that there are only certain people that I can baptize. So my emotions, feelings, and thoughts are torn different ways. But don't worry. I will keep pressing forward as I always have and will work to serve my God with all my heart, might, mind and strength.
My testimony of prayer has been strenghtened the past couple of days. During our interview, you told me to teach from the heart like I was teaching a friend so I've taken that to heart and have been praying for help to do that. I've also been praying about talking to people from the heart, to help get over my shyness. And I've started to see the change. When I try to teach what I feel, I teach better. The spirit is there more strongly. I know that I have a strong testimony and strong feelings of the gospel but I have a hard time putting them into words. So I've been growing as we are going through this rough patch.
The church is true so keep the faith!
Love Sister Sumsion
Monday, November 2
Kelsey has a Testimony!
Hi!
Last week we went to Kelsey's house and we decided to teach her the importance of Book of Mormon and going to church because we feel like the fire in her is dying because we hadn't taught her for almost two weeks because she had the swine flu. I was all pumped up, with the spirit of course, and I was feeling really bold. We asked her if she had been reading the Book of Mormon and she said that she hadn't had the time. We told her that we understood that it's hard to take time out of our busy schedules to read. Then I started to bear testimony of how important the Book of Mormon was. The Book of Mormon was written for our day and it contained all those precious truths that were lost during all those translations of the Bible. I then told her what exactly we do as missionaries. I said that we can't see our families, call them and we only get one hour to email them everyweek. We teach, preach and work all day long, seven days a week. I then told her that we do this because we know that the Book of Mormon is true. We know that this is Christ's church. We are out here to bring those blessings from the gospel to others because we want them to experience those blessings as well. I then told her that we are there teaching her because we love her. Man, I surprised myself by how bold and honest I was with her. I told her that I missed my family so much (I started to cry too) but I knew that I was doing an important thing. I started right into her eyes as I bore my testimony to her. I said that she should try to find at least five minutes a day to try and read it. I then went into the importance of the sacrament and I told her flat out, that she couldn't get baptized if she didn't come to church. The policy is that the investigator has to come to church at least twice before getting baptized. She seemed to grasp the importance of it and she her attitude towards us seemed to change. She was nice to us before but she started to act even nicer to us.
We taught her a few days later and she had been reading the book of Mormon. Yeah! We watched the Joseph Smith movie with her. I was praying the whole time that she would feel the spirit. We wanted to strengthen her faith in Joseph Smith and the restored gospel before teaching her the word of wisdom. Afterwards, we asked her what it meant to her to know that Christ's church is on the earth. She said that it is mindblowing to think about and she said that it will always feel like that. But she said that it is comforting to know that there is a prophet on the earth. She has a testimony! We were so excited because we know that she knows that this is Christ's church.
I thought that as a missionary that we would be able to see her testimony. But in reality we have to ask her what she believes for us to know. But she seems to be changing. The spirit in her home is different. Her spirit is different. She seems to be really changing. It's amazing!
My testimony in the Book of Mormon is growing so fast. I'm starting to realize that any concern or question that we have can be found in the Book of Mormon. My love for it has become so strong and I just love reading it. I know that God loves his children and wants them to be happy so He gave us the Book of Mormon which contains all the way that we can return to Him. It contains the fullness of the gospel and the way to reach true happiness.
Remember the church is true so keep the faith!
Love Sister Sumsion
Last week we went to Kelsey's house and we decided to teach her the importance of Book of Mormon and going to church because we feel like the fire in her is dying because we hadn't taught her for almost two weeks because she had the swine flu. I was all pumped up, with the spirit of course, and I was feeling really bold. We asked her if she had been reading the Book of Mormon and she said that she hadn't had the time. We told her that we understood that it's hard to take time out of our busy schedules to read. Then I started to bear testimony of how important the Book of Mormon was. The Book of Mormon was written for our day and it contained all those precious truths that were lost during all those translations of the Bible. I then told her what exactly we do as missionaries. I said that we can't see our families, call them and we only get one hour to email them everyweek. We teach, preach and work all day long, seven days a week. I then told her that we do this because we know that the Book of Mormon is true. We know that this is Christ's church. We are out here to bring those blessings from the gospel to others because we want them to experience those blessings as well. I then told her that we are there teaching her because we love her. Man, I surprised myself by how bold and honest I was with her. I told her that I missed my family so much (I started to cry too) but I knew that I was doing an important thing. I started right into her eyes as I bore my testimony to her. I said that she should try to find at least five minutes a day to try and read it. I then went into the importance of the sacrament and I told her flat out, that she couldn't get baptized if she didn't come to church. The policy is that the investigator has to come to church at least twice before getting baptized. She seemed to grasp the importance of it and she her attitude towards us seemed to change. She was nice to us before but she started to act even nicer to us.
We taught her a few days later and she had been reading the book of Mormon. Yeah! We watched the Joseph Smith movie with her. I was praying the whole time that she would feel the spirit. We wanted to strengthen her faith in Joseph Smith and the restored gospel before teaching her the word of wisdom. Afterwards, we asked her what it meant to her to know that Christ's church is on the earth. She said that it is mindblowing to think about and she said that it will always feel like that. But she said that it is comforting to know that there is a prophet on the earth. She has a testimony! We were so excited because we know that she knows that this is Christ's church.
I thought that as a missionary that we would be able to see her testimony. But in reality we have to ask her what she believes for us to know. But she seems to be changing. The spirit in her home is different. Her spirit is different. She seems to be really changing. It's amazing!
My testimony in the Book of Mormon is growing so fast. I'm starting to realize that any concern or question that we have can be found in the Book of Mormon. My love for it has become so strong and I just love reading it. I know that God loves his children and wants them to be happy so He gave us the Book of Mormon which contains all the way that we can return to Him. It contains the fullness of the gospel and the way to reach true happiness.
Remember the church is true so keep the faith!
Love Sister Sumsion
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