Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Guess who?‏

Elder Dowley and I gave special emphasis to the Burgess/Brooks family this week and we were able to make a change there. First off we found out a very important concern that Leila (Karen Brooks daughter) was having. Then we did our best to help her out with that. We tried to get her to mutual which is a little difficult because very few active members that can give rides live in that area. We found one but they couldn't this week so next week she'll make it. John was able to go to a YSA activity with Jordyn and Alissha Dickey which was totally awesome. Then our efforts mostly paid off. They were able to get Jacob, Karen, and John to church. It was John's first time and he really enjoyed it. After the second hour he told our ward mission leader Bro. Lewis. That a previous church that he had been too told him that we are 3 dimensional and god is 4 dimensional. Good ol' apostasy. But their family is doing really well.
The Fays are doing awesome. We've been working with them a lot as usual and David and Crystal are still pretty ok with taking the lessons. Its really fun teaching them. Although through both of our faults they didn't make it to church which was kind of a bummer. But they're still progressing.
The best thing that happened this week though was being able to see Tyler Bennett pass the sacrament. That was a real blessing and I love seeing his change and what having the Holy Ghost has done for him. There is a very different and wonderful glow about him. Its a blessing.
Not to bad of a week at all. Which is good cause it's my last one here. We got transfer information last night and I'm getting the boot out of Ashtabula. Its weird I didn't think I'd be finished training by this point in the mission. But I'm excited for the change. I'll be in my new area tomorrow. Love you all.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion

Monday, March 21, 2011

Almost a vacation.‏

Had a pretty sweet week. Played some racquetball with Jordyn Dickey and Elder Dowley last p-day. It was pretty fun although I pretty much didn't score but had a good time watching Jordyn and Elder Dowley compete.
We've been doing our best to help the Burgess/Brooks family out. It's going well and it's not going well at the same time. Karen and Johnathan weren't at church but Jacob came so that was good.
Harold Christopher has been a little sick with some pretty heavy migraines. I think he called them cluster migraines or something like that. Hopefully with General Conference coming up we'll be able to get him there. But all of that depends on him.
Wednesday we met with some former investigators. They are all super great and there is potential there but I don't know how much. I guess we'll find out later.
Sis. Fay's funeral was also Wednesday night. The services went well and the awesomest thing about it is that Elder Dowley was able to give the Eulogy. I mean who can say they did that on their mission. But the ward did a wonderful job in organizing it in such short notice.
Thursday was basically the start of a rather diligent vacation. In the morning Elder Dowley and I went to Perry area in the Kirtland Stake. He stayed there with a newer missionary than him Elder Parkinson. Then Elder Barlow and I took of to go to Shaker Heights area where the K-town Zone Leaders Elder Baxter and Elder Richardson (the one who left my district recently) live. When we arrived there we then got in another car so we could go to the mission office for a 2 day Leadership Training meeting. It was pretty awesome being instructed by the mission leaders for a while and there was a lot to learn. The meetings were long and when it was done at 4. Elder Richardson and I paired off and we went to Shaker Heights and worked that area. It was kind of like being in a Black San Francisco. He's a super good missionary as well. That night there was 8 missionaries in their apartment and then the following day we were instructed by the mission leaders again. After which we all went back to our areas. It felt like a vacation. I liked it a lot.
Sunday Tyler Bennett was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. That was awesome.
Love you
(*)<~Elder Sumsion

Monday, March 14, 2011

Dunkage number 3!‏

I'm feeling quite a bit better than last week.
Elder Dowley and I have been having trouble teaching Investigators this week. The main ones Harold Christopher and the Burgess/Brooks family have been sick. So we weren't able to do much non-member teaching this week.
The week still went pretty dang well. On Wednesday we exchanged with the zone leaders and I was in Youngstown/Girard Ohio for the day with Elder Baird. He's from west valley and is just a couple transfers behind me. We had a good day and I met a lot of wonderful people down there.
We've been to the Fays quite a bit this week and I'm glad we did because Sis. Fay passed away yesterday after a very long and painful battle. We might be speaking at the funeral Wednesday.
The best and thing to happen this week was the baptism of Tyler Bennet. That happened Saturday and it was a very wonderful experience. I'm super grateful that I've been able to teach him from start to finish on that. That seems quite rare in this mission so that was a real blessing. The best part is that his family came and everything, so hopefully that will spark some interest there. The following day there was a another baptism within the ward and Tyler and Alex Broome were confirmed and it was awesome. Tyler should be getting the Aaronic priesthood here in a week or so and maybe he'll be passing the sacrament before transfers.
I love you all and thank you for your comforting letters.
(*)<~Elder Sumsion

Monday, March 7, 2011

Lance's current address

Elder Lance Sumsion
1636 E. 29th St.
Ashtabula, OH 44004
Its been a long week and I've learned a lot about myself. Tyler is progressing wonderfully well. He should be baptized this Saturday. We went to Kirtland with him and Bro. Jesson this week and had a great time.
I love you guys.
~Elder Sumsion