This will be my last e-mail. A week from today I'll be having my departure ceremony and then the 10th I'll be flying to TENNESSEE! (yee-ha!) and then to Salt Lake.
It has been difficult this week to have investigators keep appointments. A few of our lessons have been just on doorstep or stop-by. But nonetheless it has been a very fulfilling week.
We had a Word of wisdom lesson with Josh and he seems very excited to quit. We've been following up with him daily as he agreed to let us do and he's been very honest and actually showing some progression in that area. I can definantly tell that since he first started taking the lessons he has become much more humble and repentant and family oriented. It's very heartwarming. He has to quit by the 7th in order to keep his date.
The Rowes are wonderful. We were able to go skating with the ward Wednesday and they came. It was pretty crazy because every little member wanted to skate with "THE MISSIONARIES!" and we were trying to keep an eye on Sierra. Plus i totally ate it and nearly smacked my head on a brick wall. It was way fun.
Anthony came to 4 sessions of conference and Sierra came to 3. She's progressing so well that we moved her date up to the 21st of April. She's a wonderful little girl and very excited to be baptized.
In fact yesterday we went to a member's home the Tuckers with the Rowe's for the last session of General Conference and we were able to teach their German exchange student about the Book of Mormon. It was just a small experience and she'll be going back to Germany in a couple weeks but it was really cool. (So that one is for you pops!)
General Conference was awesome by the way and I invite all of you to prayerfully consider and apply to your life the words of the prophets.
It's changed my life serving day after day. I know the church is true. I know the gospel is true and the only way that me and my current and future family can have lasting happiness. My focus has changed dramatically these past 2 years I wish I could just give you the love and comfort that Heavenly Father has given me. I have a testimony that if you pray sincerely for peace it will come. I'll remember this experience forever. I love you all so very much and I'll see you on the tenth.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Come listen to a Prophets voice.
“Every challenge you face, every hard thing you confront, every bad thing that happens to you, every unfairness, every conflict, every sadness, tragedy, every disappointment and heartache, every temptation and every opposition happens for one purpose only: to give you opportunity to respond by applying in your life the teachings of Jesus. As you do so you are changed to become more like Him.”
“The purpose and essential blessing of life is to be changed to become more like the Lord, to realize the full measure of your divine potential. This process of change, this process of evolving, becoming, is the object of the gospel. Change is the design of faith in Christ, repentance and baptism. Redemptive change happens by the power of the Holy Ghost. But it happens only if and when your heart is right. It happens only if you do not fight against God. It happens only if you unconditionally surrender your will to the Lord.” - Lawrence E. Corbridge
It seemed to be a difficult week at the very beginning but it was honestly necessary to have all that difficulty for the end of the week to work out as well as it did.
Josh is doing great and he came to church this week. We have been doing a joint fhe with him and another member family. It's going really well. The only thing I see holding him back would be the word of wisdom right now and that is partly because his wife has difficulty with that as well. We're going to teach about that this thursday.
A new family that we have been working with the Rowe's has been awesome. We are teaching Anthony(40's), Sierra(10) and Ashley(23). Anthony is a member and Sierra and Ashley both have dates now. Yesterday we went to go pick them up before church and Sierra was eagerly waiting to go with her scriptures in hand it was an adorable sight to see. Brought a wonderful grin to my face. Both her and Anthony came and we aren't sure why Ashley didn't.
Great things are happening in Lima. The other day Elder Higgins and I were prompted to tract a specific street and we talked to very few people handed out a Book of Mormon with some high school age twins and even met one of the rudest women I've met in a long time. But we left the street with basically nothing. A couple days later 2 members came up to us and talked to us about the twins we gave the book of Mormon we gave and about another door we knocked on and how someone saw our card and went to the site and really liked it. Hopefully more great things come from that.
A missionary's prayer offered long ago was answered at church the other day. On April 8th a little 8 year old member boy will be baptized. A long time ago I prayed that I would see a baptism before I left this area (even before I got to it) and that prayer has been answered. Our Heavenly Father loves us and answers our righteous petitions no matter how small or how unexpected they may seem.
I love you all very much.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
“The purpose and essential blessing of life is to be changed to become more like the Lord, to realize the full measure of your divine potential. This process of change, this process of evolving, becoming, is the object of the gospel. Change is the design of faith in Christ, repentance and baptism. Redemptive change happens by the power of the Holy Ghost. But it happens only if and when your heart is right. It happens only if you do not fight against God. It happens only if you unconditionally surrender your will to the Lord.” - Lawrence E. Corbridge
It seemed to be a difficult week at the very beginning but it was honestly necessary to have all that difficulty for the end of the week to work out as well as it did.
Josh is doing great and he came to church this week. We have been doing a joint fhe with him and another member family. It's going really well. The only thing I see holding him back would be the word of wisdom right now and that is partly because his wife has difficulty with that as well. We're going to teach about that this thursday.
A new family that we have been working with the Rowe's has been awesome. We are teaching Anthony(40's), Sierra(10) and Ashley(23). Anthony is a member and Sierra and Ashley both have dates now. Yesterday we went to go pick them up before church and Sierra was eagerly waiting to go with her scriptures in hand it was an adorable sight to see. Brought a wonderful grin to my face. Both her and Anthony came and we aren't sure why Ashley didn't.
Great things are happening in Lima. The other day Elder Higgins and I were prompted to tract a specific street and we talked to very few people handed out a Book of Mormon with some high school age twins and even met one of the rudest women I've met in a long time. But we left the street with basically nothing. A couple days later 2 members came up to us and talked to us about the twins we gave the book of Mormon we gave and about another door we knocked on and how someone saw our card and went to the site and really liked it. Hopefully more great things come from that.
A missionary's prayer offered long ago was answered at church the other day. On April 8th a little 8 year old member boy will be baptized. A long time ago I prayed that I would see a baptism before I left this area (even before I got to it) and that prayer has been answered. Our Heavenly Father loves us and answers our righteous petitions no matter how small or how unexpected they may seem.
I love you all very much.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Monday, March 19, 2012
But with great kindness will I gather thee.
Been a great week full of a lot of great miracles. We were able to get back in contact with the Washington family which was something I've been hoping and praying for quite a while. They are so great and there is so much that there family can do for this ward. Hopefully we can get Denise to come to church next week.
Just a little bit after we got back in contact with them we basically just walked right into a great teaching appointment with the Wright family. We had tracted into Arthur a couple weeks ago and he said to come back later. Well this was later and we taught his mother and his other two siblings. It was way cool. We are going to do the best we can to keep helping them. His mother Shana said that she has a very crazy disease that keeps her pretty much from eating food.
Then 2 days later we were stopping by a referral from the Sylvania Elders. Well we get out of the car and this man sitting on a porch called us over. Turns out that he is a member of the church and we ended up teaching him and two of his relatives living there. Then we went across the street and taught the referral named Kristina. She has been taught before and wants for her and her 3 boys to be taught. Just a very great experience for both Elder Higgins and I.
Thank you for the love and support you all give me. Missionary work is such a blessing and I know lives are blessed from service for God.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Just a little bit after we got back in contact with them we basically just walked right into a great teaching appointment with the Wright family. We had tracted into Arthur a couple weeks ago and he said to come back later. Well this was later and we taught his mother and his other two siblings. It was way cool. We are going to do the best we can to keep helping them. His mother Shana said that she has a very crazy disease that keeps her pretty much from eating food.
Then 2 days later we were stopping by a referral from the Sylvania Elders. Well we get out of the car and this man sitting on a porch called us over. Turns out that he is a member of the church and we ended up teaching him and two of his relatives living there. Then we went across the street and taught the referral named Kristina. She has been taught before and wants for her and her 3 boys to be taught. Just a very great experience for both Elder Higgins and I.
Thank you for the love and support you all give me. Missionary work is such a blessing and I know lives are blessed from service for God.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Monday, March 12, 2012
"Forget the mistake, remember the lesson." ~EQPres. Rulon Smith
It has been a good week. We are working with our investigators still but they have been difficult to meet with due to sickness or just very busy.
Austin has been very sick this week and we were unable to go a meet with him and it kept him from church as well. We are still very hopeful that his situation will change but until then we will continue to visit and strengthen him. We are trying to see if we can get some of the members out there to try and befriend him and his grandparents.
Meeting with Shanin this week was not the type of lesson I would prefer it to be and she missed church this week as well. She's been very busy with school and she's about to start drivers ed so we probably won't be able to meet with her for a couple weeks.
We had some improvement with the Washington's. We had a feeling to stop by the hospital and see if she went back there, because it has been so difficult to get in touch with the family. We were right and it turns out that she went back and had just barely been released the previous day for the second time. Hopefully this will help us get back in that home.
Josh Johnson came to church yesterday and it was just great. The ward really reached out and he's really trying to be better. Very excited to see what happens with him in the future. His date is currently for April 28th because of work. He's a great guy and were also able to work with him this week and his member in-laws. They needed some bricks moved so we went and helped with that.
The best tender mercy to hear about came from my old comp Elder Stevens. He called us and told us that Leonard Banks had been baptized. I taught him pretty much the whole time I was in E.Cleveland. Just a really great thing to hear about.
Love you all.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Austin has been very sick this week and we were unable to go a meet with him and it kept him from church as well. We are still very hopeful that his situation will change but until then we will continue to visit and strengthen him. We are trying to see if we can get some of the members out there to try and befriend him and his grandparents.
Meeting with Shanin this week was not the type of lesson I would prefer it to be and she missed church this week as well. She's been very busy with school and she's about to start drivers ed so we probably won't be able to meet with her for a couple weeks.
We had some improvement with the Washington's. We had a feeling to stop by the hospital and see if she went back there, because it has been so difficult to get in touch with the family. We were right and it turns out that she went back and had just barely been released the previous day for the second time. Hopefully this will help us get back in that home.
Josh Johnson came to church yesterday and it was just great. The ward really reached out and he's really trying to be better. Very excited to see what happens with him in the future. His date is currently for April 28th because of work. He's a great guy and were also able to work with him this week and his member in-laws. They needed some bricks moved so we went and helped with that.
The best tender mercy to hear about came from my old comp Elder Stevens. He called us and told us that Leonard Banks had been baptized. I taught him pretty much the whole time I was in E.Cleveland. Just a really great thing to hear about.
Love you all.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Monday, March 5, 2012
"It won't matter when we have to say Good-Bye to our loved ones, if we make and keep Temple Covenants." ~Pres. Smith (Toledo Ohio Stake)
It was a little bit of a harder week to teach people but honestly it wasn't to bad because we did do quite a bit of work. The first few day we were either getting cancelled on left and right or we were doing stuff for transfers.
However the investigators we are working with haven't had much progression this week.
Josh is a busy father who has had his heart softened over the years and if he would come to church it would defiantly help him with quitting smoking, from what we can tell he follows all of the other commandments.
Shanin and Jared will be looking we've asked the young women's president to have her young women write testimony letters of finding truth and that should help her feel more comfortable and help her be more involved in the ward.
Austin however has hit a stopping point. He is in all ways ready to be baptized tomorrow. But he talked to his grandparents and they won't let him make any major decisions until he is 18. He turns 16 pretty soon so it's kind of a bummer. We continually pray for softened hearts and i ask that everyone at home do so as well. We are trying to see if we can offer service or fellowship the grandparents to help that happen earlier. Also though it seems that Austin knows a lot of people and kids in Ada that we might be able to help which is awesome sauce.
Let's see Elder Woomer was transferred to Medina (which was awesome because I totally called it) on Wednesday. That whole day I spent my time with Elder Judd in Findlay. It was awesome, I was able to see Nick Rackley and the Morrows, plus Aaron and Mandy Vermllion I was very happy to see them all and others. At the end of the day my new companion (and murderer) that was sent to me is Elder Higgins. He's from St. George and he's very skinny and played soccer. I like him a lot.
Yesterday was stake conference and Pres. and Sis. Sorenson spoke as well as the stake Presidency. President will be leaving in July so they announced that too.
Love you all to bits.
(*)<~ Elder Lance Sumsion
However the investigators we are working with haven't had much progression this week.
Josh is a busy father who has had his heart softened over the years and if he would come to church it would defiantly help him with quitting smoking, from what we can tell he follows all of the other commandments.
Shanin and Jared will be looking we've asked the young women's president to have her young women write testimony letters of finding truth and that should help her feel more comfortable and help her be more involved in the ward.
Austin however has hit a stopping point. He is in all ways ready to be baptized tomorrow. But he talked to his grandparents and they won't let him make any major decisions until he is 18. He turns 16 pretty soon so it's kind of a bummer. We continually pray for softened hearts and i ask that everyone at home do so as well. We are trying to see if we can offer service or fellowship the grandparents to help that happen earlier. Also though it seems that Austin knows a lot of people and kids in Ada that we might be able to help which is awesome sauce.
Let's see Elder Woomer was transferred to Medina (which was awesome because I totally called it) on Wednesday. That whole day I spent my time with Elder Judd in Findlay. It was awesome, I was able to see Nick Rackley and the Morrows, plus Aaron and Mandy Vermllion I was very happy to see them all and others. At the end of the day my new companion (and murderer) that was sent to me is Elder Higgins. He's from St. George and he's very skinny and played soccer. I like him a lot.
Yesterday was stake conference and Pres. and Sis. Sorenson spoke as well as the stake Presidency. President will be leaving in July so they announced that too.
Love you all to bits.
(*)<~ Elder Lance Sumsion
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
"And that's the point."
This week has been rather incredible. Elder Woomer and I have been doing a pretty good job at re-committing ourselves to be better.
We were able to get back in contact with an investigator named Felecia that we haven't heard from in about a month. She seems still interested but seems to be just like any other teenager her age. Very interested in being with her friends and dealing with the stresses of school. In fact three of our investigators are all in school and dealing with those same stresses.
Austin's difficulty right now is getting permission for him to be baptized from his grandparents. However he did bring a friend of his with him to church! Her name is Liz, we taught her and she might start investigating depending on her parents.
Shanin could use some prayers. Things could be better but she's still pressing forward.
The change in the Bishopric is very good. Bishop Talbot is great, his example has been just shinning ever since I got to this ward. I think great things will begin to happen in the Lima ward.
Lastly our investigator from a part member family Josh Johnson is going well. He's a good guy and I think he'll keep progressing. Both him and his wife are really trying to start becoming active in the church.
Well it is transfer time again. Tomorrow I find out who my murderer is in the dreaded 17th transfer. Elder Woomer my wonderful companion will be leaving me to go a bless someone else with his cheerful attitude. I love you all very much and I don't want to be reminded of the end please. There is just far to much to do.
We were able to get back in contact with an investigator named Felecia that we haven't heard from in about a month. She seems still interested but seems to be just like any other teenager her age. Very interested in being with her friends and dealing with the stresses of school. In fact three of our investigators are all in school and dealing with those same stresses.
Austin's difficulty right now is getting permission for him to be baptized from his grandparents. However he did bring a friend of his with him to church! Her name is Liz, we taught her and she might start investigating depending on her parents.
Shanin could use some prayers. Things could be better but she's still pressing forward.
The change in the Bishopric is very good. Bishop Talbot is great, his example has been just shinning ever since I got to this ward. I think great things will begin to happen in the Lima ward.
Lastly our investigator from a part member family Josh Johnson is going well. He's a good guy and I think he'll keep progressing. Both him and his wife are really trying to start becoming active in the church.
Well it is transfer time again. Tomorrow I find out who my murderer is in the dreaded 17th transfer. Elder Woomer my wonderful companion will be leaving me to go a bless someone else with his cheerful attitude. I love you all very much and I don't want to be reminded of the end please. There is just far to much to do.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
"I know that what is strange at first becomes normal and home." ~Sis. Nash
Comparing this week to my other weeks in Lima it was the most difficult week we've had. We were doing our best to set stuff up but things just got in the way and we couldn't seem to keep those appointments and many cancelled usually just before we were about to head over there. However we did experience many blessings.
Zone Conference was just great, it was my last one and they had me bear my Testimony with another 2 missionaries at the end. I am so grateful to be in this mission and to be apart of spiritually uplifting and inspiring situations like that. I really just love this mission and all of the people I've met here. They have really just changed my focus on a lot of things.
Austin Hadley is still going well. We committed him to talk to talk to his grandparents about baptism and when we followed up he hadn't done so yet. He is however still reading and praying and starting to really get some relationships with the members in the ward and area where he lives.
Shanin Holland is great. There was success in getting her a date for Mar. 10th. She's a good person and has a lot of potential and I feel very privileged to be teaching her with my wonderful comp-y Elder Woomer.
The Washington's are doing ok. Denise is still in the hospital and really makes us worried sometimes. We came by and she was with Glen. We ended up teaching some of the Plan and Glen loved it. He just really ate it up and you saw a person who wanted to change but didn't know how at the end. Just a really great lesson and opportunity. However until Denise is out of the hospital I don't think much will happen there progression wise.
We picked up a former investigator Josh Johnson last night and taught him and his member wife Jessica. They are pretty cool, I'm excited to see what happens with them as time goes by. We set a date with him for the 24th of March.
I really just love my mission its absolutely wonderful in so many growing ways.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Zone Conference was just great, it was my last one and they had me bear my Testimony with another 2 missionaries at the end. I am so grateful to be in this mission and to be apart of spiritually uplifting and inspiring situations like that. I really just love this mission and all of the people I've met here. They have really just changed my focus on a lot of things.
Austin Hadley is still going well. We committed him to talk to talk to his grandparents about baptism and when we followed up he hadn't done so yet. He is however still reading and praying and starting to really get some relationships with the members in the ward and area where he lives.
Shanin Holland is great. There was success in getting her a date for Mar. 10th. She's a good person and has a lot of potential and I feel very privileged to be teaching her with my wonderful comp-y Elder Woomer.
The Washington's are doing ok. Denise is still in the hospital and really makes us worried sometimes. We came by and she was with Glen. We ended up teaching some of the Plan and Glen loved it. He just really ate it up and you saw a person who wanted to change but didn't know how at the end. Just a really great lesson and opportunity. However until Denise is out of the hospital I don't think much will happen there progression wise.
We picked up a former investigator Josh Johnson last night and taught him and his member wife Jessica. They are pretty cool, I'm excited to see what happens with them as time goes by. We set a date with him for the 24th of March.
I really just love my mission its absolutely wonderful in so many growing ways.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Monday, February 13, 2012
"Distractions Erode Faith" ~Pres. Sorenson
So the other day we were at a members (The Hartleys) for dinner. Somehow being an organ doner got brought up. Jessica (one of the people there said "They can take anything from me but not my eyes. They can't have my eyes." I pondered that for a just a second and then I said "I think I would rather have my eyes in somebody else's head, than being eaten by bugs out of mine."
Had a lot of good experiences this week. Somehow we have been able to get in contact with a decent amount of Less-actives this week and set up an appointment. Quite often when we get there we discover that there is a non-member there.
This week we met with Jordan Trujillo and when we arrived there we met his friend Josh and they both joined in a lesson in which we testified of the Book of Mormon mostly. He lives basically walking distance from the church and didn't even know it was there so hopefully that helps in getting them to church.
Funny story, while we were on our way to Jordan's the roads were very icy and Lima didn't salt those particular roads. So we nearly slipped off the road and then I got control of the car. Elder Woomer says "Um, you might want to move, the guy behind is slipping all over." Sure enough he was and was coming very close I hit the gas but obviously did it to hard and couldn't get traction. When I finally did the car moved a little bit and the guy behind us swerved into the ditch. Well we went to go help him out and while we were doing so Elder Woomer got covered in mud.
We've also been teaching the Coopwood's and there is quite a bit of family to work with there. Johny the father is a member and a little confused about doctrine but he's a good man and we have been helping him understand. Along with various other members of his family.
Austin Hadley one of our investigators in Ada, Ohio is very promising. He told us the other week that he felt a burning in his bosom after reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. He has read it twice now and is even testifying to other people that it is true. He has researched the church a lot and honestly I feel is very close to being ready spiritually to be baptized. We invited him to talk to his Grandparents about permission to do so and he is working on that. He wasn't able to make it to church this week because he attended a friends baptism in another church. He's just doing great though.
Shanin Holland is progressing. She has started reading the book of Mormon. However she comes to church quite easily even when she's out late at night and getting home at 230. She still came to church. She's progressing well and is starting to take the church more seriously. She's fun to teach and her boyfriend is a good example.
Well I love you all to bits and Happy Birthday Alissa!
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Had a lot of good experiences this week. Somehow we have been able to get in contact with a decent amount of Less-actives this week and set up an appointment. Quite often when we get there we discover that there is a non-member there.
This week we met with Jordan Trujillo and when we arrived there we met his friend Josh and they both joined in a lesson in which we testified of the Book of Mormon mostly. He lives basically walking distance from the church and didn't even know it was there so hopefully that helps in getting them to church.
Funny story, while we were on our way to Jordan's the roads were very icy and Lima didn't salt those particular roads. So we nearly slipped off the road and then I got control of the car. Elder Woomer says "Um, you might want to move, the guy behind is slipping all over." Sure enough he was and was coming very close I hit the gas but obviously did it to hard and couldn't get traction. When I finally did the car moved a little bit and the guy behind us swerved into the ditch. Well we went to go help him out and while we were doing so Elder Woomer got covered in mud.
We've also been teaching the Coopwood's and there is quite a bit of family to work with there. Johny the father is a member and a little confused about doctrine but he's a good man and we have been helping him understand. Along with various other members of his family.
Austin Hadley one of our investigators in Ada, Ohio is very promising. He told us the other week that he felt a burning in his bosom after reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. He has read it twice now and is even testifying to other people that it is true. He has researched the church a lot and honestly I feel is very close to being ready spiritually to be baptized. We invited him to talk to his Grandparents about permission to do so and he is working on that. He wasn't able to make it to church this week because he attended a friends baptism in another church. He's just doing great though.
Shanin Holland is progressing. She has started reading the book of Mormon. However she comes to church quite easily even when she's out late at night and getting home at 230. She still came to church. She's progressing well and is starting to take the church more seriously. She's fun to teach and her boyfriend is a good example.
Well I love you all to bits and Happy Birthday Alissa!
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Monday, February 6, 2012
"The truth of God will go forth..."
It has been an interesting week. The work seemed very slow at the beginning of the week. Mostly because we had to do quite a bit of biking because our car was in the shop.
Towards the end of the week it turned out to be much better. The investigators that seem to be pushing through and progressing are Shanin a girlfriend of Jared a member out here. Also a headquarters referral named Austin Hadley.
Shanin is kind of taking it seriously but I don't know how much she's applying the gospel to herself. She's really great though, she's coming to church very consistently.
Austin is studying a lot about the church. I think he's taking a bit to much meat before milk, we have talked to him about focusing on the Book of Mormon but we will again. Our last lesson was a little difficult because we taught him with his grandparents. I don't know if they will give him permission to be baptized either we will have to see. However he is just wonderful and I love how intent he is on investigating. Just amazing.
The Washington's are going great. Denise is finally on the mend from her recent Kidney issues. We've been visiting her in the hospital a lot and have met much of her family. Hope and pray their family comes to church when she's finally better.
Our other investigators have just been difficult to meet with but we are working on it. We also tracted into a couple that we should be able to start teaching soon.
I really like Lima, I love seeing the happiness that we've brought to the people here.
I love you all.
(*)<~Elder Sumsion
Towards the end of the week it turned out to be much better. The investigators that seem to be pushing through and progressing are Shanin a girlfriend of Jared a member out here. Also a headquarters referral named Austin Hadley.
Shanin is kind of taking it seriously but I don't know how much she's applying the gospel to herself. She's really great though, she's coming to church very consistently.
Austin is studying a lot about the church. I think he's taking a bit to much meat before milk, we have talked to him about focusing on the Book of Mormon but we will again. Our last lesson was a little difficult because we taught him with his grandparents. I don't know if they will give him permission to be baptized either we will have to see. However he is just wonderful and I love how intent he is on investigating. Just amazing.
The Washington's are going great. Denise is finally on the mend from her recent Kidney issues. We've been visiting her in the hospital a lot and have met much of her family. Hope and pray their family comes to church when she's finally better.
Our other investigators have just been difficult to meet with but we are working on it. We also tracted into a couple that we should be able to start teaching soon.
I really like Lima, I love seeing the happiness that we've brought to the people here.
I love you all.
(*)<~Elder Sumsion
Monday, January 30, 2012
L.ost I.n M.iddle A.merica
Honestly it has been a real good week. Elder Woomer and I have been working hard and doing pretty good at finding people to teach, (which also includes lots of driving and not just normal driving but rather boring and un-entertaining driving until you reach the next city which seems to just go by so very fast) thanks to the help of a couple YSA's in the ward, plus some efforts on our part.
First off we ended up tracting into a part-member family (which i think I've already mentioned) and they have been away from the church for about 10 years and Denise the member has been having some kidney issues so we have been visiting her about every other day at the hospital and we found this out Monday night when we went back and ended up talking with her husband Glenn and picking him up as an investigator along with one of their sons Jacob. It's been a little difficult to teach Glenn and Jacob again but we have been teaching Denise in the hospital and bringing various members by as well which has been great.
Andrea Crites a recent convert that I actually interviewed for baptism in like march or something like that. She has been helping us out (a ton) and introduced us to two of her friends from school, Isabella and Felecia. They are both about 16 and are kinda caught up with the cares of the world because so was I when I was a teenager. However, I think they recognize that the church would be a really good thing in their life. They both came to the ward social Friday night.
Plus we have started actively teaching Shanin a girlfriend of Jared a member out here. At first she was very shy but I think she's warming up to us because since the first lesson she has been communicating with us much more. She actually kinda bore a small testimony that the church teaches good stuff after a ward party to Isabella. It was pretty sweet. She's coming along and coming to church and has been 3 times already which is way cool.
Also yesterday a head/quarters referral came to church that we have been having difficulty getting a hold of because the name was wrong. On the text message we received it said Markus. So we called and asked for Markus and the person said "Sorry wrong number" and then Good-bye. Well his name is Austin Hadley and he's been studying about the church on-line and just studying theology in general. He's planning on writing a paper about religions. He's pretty cool, we taught him yesterday after church and he said he would be baptized if he knew the Book of Mormon was true. Pretty neat kid.
That was pretty much my week. Love you all. Good things are happening.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
First off we ended up tracting into a part-member family (which i think I've already mentioned) and they have been away from the church for about 10 years and Denise the member has been having some kidney issues so we have been visiting her about every other day at the hospital and we found this out Monday night when we went back and ended up talking with her husband Glenn and picking him up as an investigator along with one of their sons Jacob. It's been a little difficult to teach Glenn and Jacob again but we have been teaching Denise in the hospital and bringing various members by as well which has been great.
Andrea Crites a recent convert that I actually interviewed for baptism in like march or something like that. She has been helping us out (a ton) and introduced us to two of her friends from school, Isabella and Felecia. They are both about 16 and are kinda caught up with the cares of the world because so was I when I was a teenager. However, I think they recognize that the church would be a really good thing in their life. They both came to the ward social Friday night.
Plus we have started actively teaching Shanin a girlfriend of Jared a member out here. At first she was very shy but I think she's warming up to us because since the first lesson she has been communicating with us much more. She actually kinda bore a small testimony that the church teaches good stuff after a ward party to Isabella. It was pretty sweet. She's coming along and coming to church and has been 3 times already which is way cool.
Also yesterday a head/quarters referral came to church that we have been having difficulty getting a hold of because the name was wrong. On the text message we received it said Markus. So we called and asked for Markus and the person said "Sorry wrong number" and then Good-bye. Well his name is Austin Hadley and he's been studying about the church on-line and just studying theology in general. He's planning on writing a paper about religions. He's pretty cool, we taught him yesterday after church and he said he would be baptized if he knew the Book of Mormon was true. Pretty neat kid.
That was pretty much my week. Love you all. Good things are happening.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Monday, January 23, 2012
Biggest area say what?
Kind of an interesting start to this new area. Wednesday was spent driving to my new area with Elder Judd my new ZL and Elder Lincoln a pretty funny missionary who will now be serving with my son Elder Dowley who was also in the car with us. I'm super excited to be in the same zone as him again by the way.
I've been enjoying my time here these past few days and I'm grateful to have been sent here. It was kinda cool because when I was in Findlay i came on exchanges here like 2 or 3 times. I'm grateful for that because the area is the biggest in the mission and it was a bit overwhelming to come into it at first. This area is bigger than the Kirtland Stake which just totally crazy. Needless to say I've been doing a lot of driving recently.
We've been pretty much just been knocking doors the whole time and we've succeeded for the most part. A couple doors we've gotten into and one of them may be some less-actives that have fallen off the radar of the church because of moving a couple time and not being active after moving the first time. Their names are Glen and Denise Washington a good couple and hopefully they end up going somewhere. The other door we got in was just yesterday but the wife was just not as interested as the husband. There is a lot of people to work with here and I'm grateful to be serving with Elder Woomer. His giggly attitude just brightens my day no matter what. When I got to East Cleveland Elder Woomer was just starting his mission just right next to my area in a place called Euclid. He was only there for 2 transfers and has been here for 2 transfers as well.
The ward is just great here and someone that use to live here said she was related to Sumsion's. Her maiden name is Humphrey (not sure if it's spelled like that. I'm not even sure if that's the spelling I'm related too). Anyway they moved, and it was Bro. and Sis. Monday, I met them when I was in Findlay on exchanges with Elder Warner here.
Well I love you all to bit's. My 7th area is called Lima and you wouldn't know that until right now unless you cheated and scrolled to the bottom of the page. : P
Love you
(*)<~Elder Sumsion
My new address is:
Elder Lance Sumsion
2092 Edgewood Dr.
Lima, OH 45805
I've been enjoying my time here these past few days and I'm grateful to have been sent here. It was kinda cool because when I was in Findlay i came on exchanges here like 2 or 3 times. I'm grateful for that because the area is the biggest in the mission and it was a bit overwhelming to come into it at first. This area is bigger than the Kirtland Stake which just totally crazy. Needless to say I've been doing a lot of driving recently.
We've been pretty much just been knocking doors the whole time and we've succeeded for the most part. A couple doors we've gotten into and one of them may be some less-actives that have fallen off the radar of the church because of moving a couple time and not being active after moving the first time. Their names are Glen and Denise Washington a good couple and hopefully they end up going somewhere. The other door we got in was just yesterday but the wife was just not as interested as the husband. There is a lot of people to work with here and I'm grateful to be serving with Elder Woomer. His giggly attitude just brightens my day no matter what. When I got to East Cleveland Elder Woomer was just starting his mission just right next to my area in a place called Euclid. He was only there for 2 transfers and has been here for 2 transfers as well.
The ward is just great here and someone that use to live here said she was related to Sumsion's. Her maiden name is Humphrey (not sure if it's spelled like that. I'm not even sure if that's the spelling I'm related too). Anyway they moved, and it was Bro. and Sis. Monday, I met them when I was in Findlay on exchanges with Elder Warner here.
Well I love you all to bit's. My 7th area is called Lima and you wouldn't know that until right now unless you cheated and scrolled to the bottom of the page. : P
Love you
(*)<~Elder Sumsion
My new address is:
Elder Lance Sumsion
2092 Edgewood Dr.
Lima, OH 45805
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
"Prepare and prevent rather than repair and repent." Bish. David Vineyard
"If you want something to be special, you have to treat it differently."
It has been such a good week honestly. The people we have been working with and have found are a little bit better than they were when we found them and one in particular is almost ready for baptism.
Chris Davis is our best investigator and he is going full speed ahead to his baptismal date of January 28th. The only issue I can see with him is attending the ward he's supposed to be going too. His godmother is a member of the shaker ward and she is the one that helped him start investigating in the first place. So he's attended that ward 3 times and ours once. I think that he'll come around though when he really starts developing stronger friendships with the members in the 3rd ward. He has been off smoking for almost 2 weeks now and coffee as well.
We found another great person named Mike Thomas and we taught him a week ago and he says some of the best prayers I've ever heard. We taught him on the 9th but for some reason we haven't been able to contact him since the 11th. I have very high hopes for him as well.
Other investigators that we have not taught in a while have let us into their home and though they are still busy they do want to progress and change their lives they just have to make time for God honestly.
Well we received transfer information last night...after a great Monday of work. Elder Stevens and I had 3 pretty much awesome lessons just happen in a row which forced us to skip our dinner and move it to a later time in the day. First was with Chris Davis and then we visited Tiffany Sumner (both of these lessons were with the help of Bro. Tyler Smith). Then we finished our night with Amanda and one of her friends Chris. We taught in Deweys Coffee shop, which is always a fun place to teach. The atmosphere would be 100 times better without one thing. But oh well, the lesson went well and then we walked with both of them home because they live in the hood. Which is pretty much this whole area.
Anyway...
Yeah I'm being transferred tomorrow to almost positively my last area. I feel very bittersweet about the whole thing I love it here but change is very, very necessary. It has been a real treat to be here and I've seen some of the difference me being here has made mostly with less-actives coming back to church, but Pam Payne should be getting baptized in the Shaker Ward soon and Elder Prince and I were the ones to start teaching her. I will have many, many memories of working in this part of the vineyard.
I really do love it here.
Love you all so much.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
It has been such a good week honestly. The people we have been working with and have found are a little bit better than they were when we found them and one in particular is almost ready for baptism.
Chris Davis is our best investigator and he is going full speed ahead to his baptismal date of January 28th. The only issue I can see with him is attending the ward he's supposed to be going too. His godmother is a member of the shaker ward and she is the one that helped him start investigating in the first place. So he's attended that ward 3 times and ours once. I think that he'll come around though when he really starts developing stronger friendships with the members in the 3rd ward. He has been off smoking for almost 2 weeks now and coffee as well.
We found another great person named Mike Thomas and we taught him a week ago and he says some of the best prayers I've ever heard. We taught him on the 9th but for some reason we haven't been able to contact him since the 11th. I have very high hopes for him as well.
Other investigators that we have not taught in a while have let us into their home and though they are still busy they do want to progress and change their lives they just have to make time for God honestly.
Well we received transfer information last night...after a great Monday of work. Elder Stevens and I had 3 pretty much awesome lessons just happen in a row which forced us to skip our dinner and move it to a later time in the day. First was with Chris Davis and then we visited Tiffany Sumner (both of these lessons were with the help of Bro. Tyler Smith). Then we finished our night with Amanda and one of her friends Chris. We taught in Deweys Coffee shop, which is always a fun place to teach. The atmosphere would be 100 times better without one thing. But oh well, the lesson went well and then we walked with both of them home because they live in the hood. Which is pretty much this whole area.
Anyway...
Yeah I'm being transferred tomorrow to almost positively my last area. I feel very bittersweet about the whole thing I love it here but change is very, very necessary. It has been a real treat to be here and I've seen some of the difference me being here has made mostly with less-actives coming back to church, but Pam Payne should be getting baptized in the Shaker Ward soon and Elder Prince and I were the ones to start teaching her. I will have many, many memories of working in this part of the vineyard.
I really do love it here.
Love you all so much.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Monday, January 9, 2012
Why don't you ask for yourself?
"It is the Holy Ghost that, as you speak in hostile venues, puts into your heart what you should say and fulfills the Lord’s promise that “you shall not be confounded before men” (D&C 100:5). "
~Elder D. Todd Christofferson
It has been a great week...I would say. Lots and lots of talking to people, it got to be very exhausting but we were able to find and teach somehow. I still discover that when we work hard things happen. A lot of the people that we come in contact with are either crazy, overcome by the world and the traditions of their fathers; but every now and then we finally find someone really in tune with the spirit or someone that want's to follow God and because of their circumstances they haven't.
There is a guy named Mike that when we started talking about prayer he said can I say one. So right there we did a prayer circle thing and it was honestly a very sincere and completely correct way of praying. Both Elder Stevens and I were very impressed with him, we are going to teach him tonight and I'm pretty excited about it.
Chris Davis got back in contact with us and we taught him and that went really well, he said he would come to church and he did but for some reason he went to his Godmothers ward.
Another very interesting thing that happened this week is we went to a lesson with a member with this person named Tyrone and his family. When we got there he had forgotten that we were coming and he was currently being taught by two Jehovah Witness'. Well they told us to come in and so we did and they shared a nice message about the Lords prayer and then they said we could teach. So we wanted to start with a prayer like usual but there was a dispute with them wanting us to start by saying Dear Jehovah. They took us to some scripture is Psalms that said Jehovah in capital letters, Elder Stevens handled it very well and after a little bit more calm disputation we were able to pray like Christ in the Lords prayer ;). Then we just testified of the Book of Mormon before any other contentions could come back up and invited everyone to read it, prayed again and got out of there. It went very well. Last night we taught them again and sang with them and it went very very well.
Also yesterday while we were teaching a lady named Keshelle a friend or relative of hers named Phil came up and caused a slight bit of contention and we were pretty sure that he was a little buzzed from alcohol. He eventually left without anything really bad happening.
Well next week is transfers again so we will be emailing on Tuesday and I might get the boot out of dear old Cleveland.
Love you all.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
~Elder D. Todd Christofferson
It has been a great week...I would say. Lots and lots of talking to people, it got to be very exhausting but we were able to find and teach somehow. I still discover that when we work hard things happen. A lot of the people that we come in contact with are either crazy, overcome by the world and the traditions of their fathers; but every now and then we finally find someone really in tune with the spirit or someone that want's to follow God and because of their circumstances they haven't.
There is a guy named Mike that when we started talking about prayer he said can I say one. So right there we did a prayer circle thing and it was honestly a very sincere and completely correct way of praying. Both Elder Stevens and I were very impressed with him, we are going to teach him tonight and I'm pretty excited about it.
Chris Davis got back in contact with us and we taught him and that went really well, he said he would come to church and he did but for some reason he went to his Godmothers ward.
Another very interesting thing that happened this week is we went to a lesson with a member with this person named Tyrone and his family. When we got there he had forgotten that we were coming and he was currently being taught by two Jehovah Witness'. Well they told us to come in and so we did and they shared a nice message about the Lords prayer and then they said we could teach. So we wanted to start with a prayer like usual but there was a dispute with them wanting us to start by saying Dear Jehovah. They took us to some scripture is Psalms that said Jehovah in capital letters, Elder Stevens handled it very well and after a little bit more calm disputation we were able to pray like Christ in the Lords prayer ;). Then we just testified of the Book of Mormon before any other contentions could come back up and invited everyone to read it, prayed again and got out of there. It went very well. Last night we taught them again and sang with them and it went very very well.
Also yesterday while we were teaching a lady named Keshelle a friend or relative of hers named Phil came up and caused a slight bit of contention and we were pretty sure that he was a little buzzed from alcohol. He eventually left without anything really bad happening.
Well next week is transfers again so we will be emailing on Tuesday and I might get the boot out of dear old Cleveland.
Love you all.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Christmas Week and New Years Week.
Christmas Week!
“What you get by achieving your objective is not nearly as important as what you will become by achieving it.”
I had a good week. It's nice to relax and learn from the spirit how much your loved by your leaders, by your friends and also by your family. We had a decent bit of difficulty this week due to the fact that we either couldn't get appointments with those we are teaching or we couldn't get members to come out with us because they have gone west or they are busy with the Christmas season. Tuesday was really great, I enjoyed growing in unity as a mission and just feeling the spirit. Very few times in my life will I have opportunities like Christmas in Kirtland.
The investigators we have been working with have once again stopped answering their phones and doors. So we are yet again back to the beginning of finding and praying for miracles and also praying that the ones that have dispersed will get in contact with us again.
Caroling on the 24th was a wonderful experience, I never thought I would end up in the home of Bro. and Sis. Anderson. It was a great experience and I think we really touched some hearts.
Christmas day was wonderful and I will never forget it. I'm glad to be out here testifying of the Restoration. My family could not be more proud of me and that feels good. I know that people here have needed me in someway that I will never fully understand but I've seen. I love seeing people grow and become better.
New Years Week!
"That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased."
~Pres. Heber J. Grant
Sorry this e-mail is so late by the way. We have had exceeding difficulty getting to the library this week due to closure on Monday and because we have been busy.
It has been quite the week. We have had to shift a lot of our focus towards finding because we can't seem to get members out with us this season. They have been very busy and or out of town but nevertheless we try our best. We have spent a significant amount of time just talking to people on the Cleveland bus system. Due to that we end up handing out a decent amount of referrals but we have found some really good people that we will hopefully start teaching soon.
A promising girl named Amanda walked on to the rapid a couple weeks ago and a week ago we were able to teach her. She is very intelligent and I'm hoping things keep progressing with her. She's a little shaky about making life changes which has made it difficult for us to obtain further teaching appointments. But she believes in Jesus Christ and is following him as much as she feels she can right now.
We were able to get back in contact with Chris Davis this week and we have an appointment with him Friday night. He has an Obamaphone with limited minutes and he had run out making it difficult for us to contact him. However he could've made more of an effort to get in contact with us during the few weeks we haven't heard from him. I am very grateful that he did call us because he is a very good guy.
Lots of other people on the radar because this is Cleveland and there is lots of people, but I don't know how things will turn out with them yet so we will see.
I love you all, Jesus Christ lives and this is his one and only true church. Stay chipper because he loves you too.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
“What you get by achieving your objective is not nearly as important as what you will become by achieving it.”
I had a good week. It's nice to relax and learn from the spirit how much your loved by your leaders, by your friends and also by your family. We had a decent bit of difficulty this week due to the fact that we either couldn't get appointments with those we are teaching or we couldn't get members to come out with us because they have gone west or they are busy with the Christmas season. Tuesday was really great, I enjoyed growing in unity as a mission and just feeling the spirit. Very few times in my life will I have opportunities like Christmas in Kirtland.
The investigators we have been working with have once again stopped answering their phones and doors. So we are yet again back to the beginning of finding and praying for miracles and also praying that the ones that have dispersed will get in contact with us again.
Caroling on the 24th was a wonderful experience, I never thought I would end up in the home of Bro. and Sis. Anderson. It was a great experience and I think we really touched some hearts.
Christmas day was wonderful and I will never forget it. I'm glad to be out here testifying of the Restoration. My family could not be more proud of me and that feels good. I know that people here have needed me in someway that I will never fully understand but I've seen. I love seeing people grow and become better.
New Years Week!
"That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased."
~Pres. Heber J. Grant
Sorry this e-mail is so late by the way. We have had exceeding difficulty getting to the library this week due to closure on Monday and because we have been busy.
It has been quite the week. We have had to shift a lot of our focus towards finding because we can't seem to get members out with us this season. They have been very busy and or out of town but nevertheless we try our best. We have spent a significant amount of time just talking to people on the Cleveland bus system. Due to that we end up handing out a decent amount of referrals but we have found some really good people that we will hopefully start teaching soon.
A promising girl named Amanda walked on to the rapid a couple weeks ago and a week ago we were able to teach her. She is very intelligent and I'm hoping things keep progressing with her. She's a little shaky about making life changes which has made it difficult for us to obtain further teaching appointments. But she believes in Jesus Christ and is following him as much as she feels she can right now.
We were able to get back in contact with Chris Davis this week and we have an appointment with him Friday night. He has an Obamaphone with limited minutes and he had run out making it difficult for us to contact him. However he could've made more of an effort to get in contact with us during the few weeks we haven't heard from him. I am very grateful that he did call us because he is a very good guy.
Lots of other people on the radar because this is Cleveland and there is lots of people, but I don't know how things will turn out with them yet so we will see.
I love you all, Jesus Christ lives and this is his one and only true church. Stay chipper because he loves you too.
(*)<~Elder Lance Sumsion
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