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.

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

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

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