Week #70 - December 29th, 2015

Hello Family and Friends!
       

   

Sister Sughroue & Sister Wiedmann
@ the Schmidt's for dinner

  I can't believe 2015 is coming to an end. This is definitely a special year for me as it was all spent serving the Lord and witnessing many miracles! I am very excited to see what 2016 has to hold as well. Looking forward with faith, hope and trust in Gods plan.  I hope you all had an amazing Christmas! We sure did! Sister Weidmann and I wore out Christmas light necklaces that light up and flash, we got lots of compliments! (thanks mom!) haha One of my favorite parts of Christmas is testifying to the crowds at the Christus. We pack people up there and and play the narration for them and then to get share our testimony of the Savior. Such a special experience to testify of the Savior, to so many at Christmas time, because he is the reason for it all! We decided to try something new and have little kids come up at the beginning and share what they love about Christmas.... as you can imagine we got a wide range of responses... some funny and but most were so sweet, simple and sincere. Children are so precious... no wonder Christ invites us to become like them.

    We had Christmas Dinner on Wednesday at the Schmidt family, they live in a beautiful

So many 1st's for my foreign
sisters! Gingerbread houses!

home up in the mountains and are from Germany. They got us Swiss and German chocolate, and loved talking with Sister Weidmann. We even helped them decorate the tree! Christmas Eve was a normal day of work, and when we came home we decided to get in the Christmas spirit and decorate a Ginger bread house! Since I am the only American in the apartment, every one else were 1st timers and had a blast. We woke up Christmas morning, made a yummy breakfast Got to skype!!! (The best Christmas gift ever) Then we had a Mission Christmas devotional consisting of many musical numbers in different languages and narration, it was fun to participate and sing carol of the bells in a flash mob kind of way!

Christmas morning!

Miracle of the week! We found a family of 4! We took a 999 tour (which means drop what ever you are doing and go because they have been waiting forever....) so we ran up to take it, and met the sweetest indian family. They are hindu but the wife was raised Christian and after the tour the husband basically signed the whole family up learn more and was so interested!!! 

   Sister Poulsen and President only have a couple of weeks left :( so sad!!! They don't want to leave either... tried convincing them to extend until my mission ends hahaha. We have spent lots of time this week in meetings and preparing trainings

Sister Beguette &
Sister Sughroue

to help the sisters give effective tours and use the inspiring history here! Especially in the Beehive house! Our history is who we are, and explains all of our beliefs.... they go hand and hand. I remember when I got my call I was scared because I knew little church history.... but I am grateful for the opportunity to become so familiar, it has strengthened by testimony!

MUCH LOVE, 

Sister Sughroue

Sister Ye (my trainer over a year ago) got married today!

Sister Rea from Australia caught
a pigeon...so redneck!

Week #69 - December 22nd, 2015

Sister Vasi & Sister Sughroue

Merry Christmas Family and Friends! 

Sister Weidmann &
Sister Sugarhouse

       

      Its snowing again!!! Looks like we are going to have a white Christmas! This week was crazy busy, we got no sleep as we had to wake up early for meetings everyday and are on a late christmas schedule, but its okay, some how the Lord gives me just enough energy to get through the day. If it typed about everything that happened this week and all that i learned, which is alot, my study jounral is full.. it would be way to long... hahah. We had transfers and I love my new companion!!! Sister Weidmann from switzerland, so now I have an excuse to go travel there some day! yayyy! So lets see, we had a meeting with the missionary department on our new ipad areabooks, Michael Wilcox, Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy, Beehive house training by Emily Utt the churchs main historian, Mission Leadership Council, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. I can't forget Elder Rasband coming to speak to us at church on sunday, we got there early got to shake his hand and chat for a little bit. He is the most down to earth, genuine man, he took the time to greet every person individually and gave an amazing message. He spoke on being a cheerful giver, serving with our whole heart. He bore his witness that this is Christ church and said, "The leaders of the church are no stranger to his voice." I know that's true. The spirit testified he is called of God as he spoke. 

    As a missionary you feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster.... the people you work with and teach take you with

Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Christmas Concert

them...  This week was full of that. When the people you love are happy, your happy, when they are hurt you are hurt. As a missionary you get a small glimpse of how our father in Heaven feels for his children. It makes me so sad to see how hard peoples lives are because they stopped doing the small and simple things in the gospel. I wish i could just fix everything for them, I would if I could, but they have their agency. Satan tries to fill our minds with doubt. Its normal to have questions, I mean all revelation starts with a question. We should seek, and diligently pray, remember however sometimes we may not understand all things, for if we did... whats the point of faith. "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith" On my mission I have never felt so much heart ache for others, but with that comes an overwhelming love for others as well. Its amazing. 

    This Christmas take 5 minutes and reflect the birth of our Savior and how he has changed my life. I know my Savior lives, and knows me and all of you. He loves us. His atonement is infinite and we are so blessed that through it we can change, have second chances and become happy. It is only through him we can have joy in our lives, be reunited with our families and reach our divine potential. He gave us all we have. What do we give him? What a wonderful time of the year

SLC Planetarium

to enjoy his spirit and celebrate his birth!

I love you all!!!!

Can't wait to skype this christmas!

Love, 

Sister Sughroue

SLC Planetarium

Sister Sughroue & Sister Vasi
SLC Planetarium

Week #68 - December 15th, 2015 - TRANSFERRRRRRS

Hello Friends and Family,

SIster Vasi & Sister Sughroue wish you a Merry Christmas!

 

Winter has come! Salt Lake City got dumped on these past couple days, it never stops

Winter has come!
Photo creds. to
Reed Woll
(Mom's cousin & Security
at Temple Square)

snowing.... the snow ball fights have begun....the square was flooded this week with every youth group in utah, 14 year olds running around everywhere, asking sister missionaries for their emails and hitting on them. Props for being really confident, but no. We also have had our meals bought for us 3 times in 3 days we are so blessed! I have never had my food paid for so much by members until I was comps with Sister Vasi, she has the secret touch. Hahaa its ridiculous how much it happens.

Sister Sughroue & Sister Vasi

  Yesterday we had transfer conference and got the big news! My new companion is Sister Weidmann from Switzerland! She is amazing!!! I was so excited when I found out! We were roommates last christmas and now we are companions! She was a District Leader in our Zone last transfer too! We will be Zone Leaders over EAST 1 zone, so staying in the beehive house! I rather be in there than outside most of the day so no complaints. haha. Plus it gives us a chance to get security back for scaring us the other night, payback. hahaha

     My P-day is still Tuesday! Sister Vasi will be training, lets just say its gonna be a rough break up We are the best of friends, and have gotten so close. But the great thing about missions is you become best friends with all your companions and from all over the world too! I grateful for each one of my companions and the time in my mission I was with them, that is exactly what I needed! So Sister Weidmann and I will be doing work, work, work this transfer and I can't wait to see what God has in store! 

   

Gilberto's baptism!

 On Saturday we drove Sister Vasquez and Jarvi to their investigators baptism! Gilberto and his whole family was baptized! It was in Spanish, I could understand them some! The spirit was so strong! I will send a pic! Perks about being American is you get to drive the  other sisters to their baptisms! 

     The biggest lesson I learned this past week was the importance of having the spirit with you. About 2 weeks ago we met an inactive return missionary, with his girlfriend who is not a member, our first contact with them was amazing, he was brought to tears, as he felt the spirit so strongly. We spoke with him about his mission, what he learned and taught people and how God needs him back. He agreed for us to help him and meet with him this week. This week he was touched again, as we focused on the

The Downing's stopped by
to say hi!

atonement and the ability to change. During our conversation he told us that for years missionaries have come by  and he just told them to leave. He said, "I have never met missionaries that walk with the spirit like you two do”.  Sister Vasi and I were almost brought to tears. He told us the only reason he agreed to meet with us again, is because he felt the spirit so strongly the first time we met and wanted that again. As missionaries we are nothing without the spirit, we can not change lives or hearts, the spirit does. The spirit is the one who converts, so if we don’t have it, we can’t help the

Sister Vasquez 1st time at
In-N-Out!

Lord with his work. I believe the reason that the spirit is so strong when we teach him is because we genuinely love him and care to get to know him, the essence of the gospel is love. People can feel if it is real or not, they can tell if you are a missionary just going through the motions or if you genuinely care about them. When we love them, they are able to feel the Saviors love for them, and then their hearts begin to soften and change.

     On a funny note. We met Jesus this week. I’ll explain. We have been seeing this inactive homeless guy hanging around temple square, he is in his late 20’s. The first time we met he was drinking beer by the reflection pool, and I told him to throw it out, committed him to read the Book of Mormon, then we said a prayer with him. Haha. We ran into him this week sitting by the temple, got into a good gospel conversation when sister Vasi asked him what he felt his purpose in life

Adam & Makenzie came by
to see the lights, & me!

is, he said “To atone for the sins of Jerusalem”  My eyes got big, I was so confused. Sister Vasi said, “Don’t you feel Jesus Christ already did that?” He said in all seriousness, “I am Jesus Christ.” Ahhhhhh!!!! I was so creeped out, the spirit was gone. And we both felt so weird. He went on about how his mission on earth is done and he is just waiting to go back… I didn’t know what to say so I told him to talk to his bishop and seek professional help. Hahahaha. Then we got out of there as fast as could. We just laughed and couldn’t believe what happened. I am not sure if he was trying to mess with us or if he is legitimately crazy.

 

Zone Conference Christmas
Party, Thanks mom!

  That pretty much sums up our week. I get to skype on Christmas next week, crazy that its already here! Love you all!!!!

P.S. This next week will be great, we are hearing from Lynn G. Robins on Friday and Elder Rasband and his wife (the new apostle) on Sunday in our ward!

MUCH LOVE,

SISTER SUGHROUE

Week #67 - December 8th, 2015

Hello Friends and Family!

Jamming on the uke, sunny winter days

Brother Ernie our recent convert! 

        Such a special week for our investigator Earnest, from Washington. He first met missionaries on chat and we had been teaching him over the phone. He is asweet man, we got to skype his baptism on Friday. Later that night he called us and told us how good he felt after being baptized, and said, "You can call me Brother Ernie now". hahaha we love him!

        

We got to attend the Christmas Devotional with Micah (our investigator) and his girlfriend Janna on Sunday. When he walked into the conference center for the first time his eyes just lit up with amazement.The talks were amazing, I loved Elder Bednars as I

Christmas Devotional with Janna and Micah (our investigator)

had just recently studied about Samuel the Lamanite in the Book of Mormon! Holidays are fun and exciting, but let us not forget the reason we really celebrate. Have a Christ Centered Christmas, he is the greatest Gift to all mankind. He is the source of all light, life and hope. We are so blessed to have this gospel, a gift we can give back to the Savior is to share it with those around us! 

    

Our zone is experiencing many miracles with baptisms this transfer, some sisters have been calling former investigators and finding out they got baptized! This is my

Singing on the Square
Thanks Jenna Koford!

last week with Sister Vasi, we keep trying to convince president but he laughs everytime.... hahaha o well. We can never stop laughing, we made up a song about the Christmas lights... still in the process but we send a video shortly.  With all the couples on the square we found the perfect scripture to share with them... "  9 ¶Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two stand together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?" hahaha they just laugh, or some feel awkward, most of the guys like it.  Shortest transfer ever so sad, but we are life long friends. On monday we have transfer conference and will get the big news. I will most likely be training a new zone leader but we will see.

The Woll's came by to say hi!
My Mom's Cousin!
Reed works security on the Square!

My Poly cousins!

    Wrapping it up with the most amazing miracle. We were standing up by the Christus (during Christmas its way crowded)and a sweet lady named Elida from Brazil came up to me with tears in her eyes and said, "I was sitting down over there and I felt like God really wanted me to come ask you to pray for me" I almost started to cry.... We sat down and got to know her story and said a pray with her. She introduced us to her children and husband too, she was so excited to meet us! haha Turns out about 1 year ago she was almost baptized in Brazil but couldnt because her husband and her aren't legally married, and he doesnt want to be. That is the only thing that stopped her, she knows its all true! She came back to SLC for an english program with her students and felt as she was sitting there that God is telling her again this is right and she needs to be apart of it. She said I will need to be strong and pray for a miracle to help her husband, but she will try! We got her info and will be teaching her over the phone. God always has a plan for his children, his timing is perfect, she was led back to his church! Miracles on Temple Square... they happen everyday.

Much love, 

Sister Sughroue

Sister Nancy Arenas came by!

 

Sister Vasi & Sister Sughroue!

Week #66 - December 1st, 2015

The Salt Lake City Temple!

Hello!!!!

The Christmas lights are on at
Temple Square!
Sister Vasi & Sister Sughroue

     So the lights are on and the square is flooded with people from all over to come and see them!!! Its been so much fun! We have been Christmas caroling, contacting and teaching like crazy. O and freezing. I love the new Christmas videos and we have been inviting everyone to share in on social media.... so do it too! This time ofthe year is so special, everyones hearts are softer than usual and are turned towards the Savior. What a great time for us to share the gospel with those around us, pray for opportunities and you will find them! Sister Vasi and I are determined to find a part member couple to teach, which shouldn't be too hard because the square is full of couples.... ehhhhh. We have felt prompted all transfer that we will find one, and we still have faith. 

Elder Sitatis & family

       I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving! We did! We went to Elder Sitatis for a yummy dinner with his family. We had a traditional thanksgiving dinner with some African dishes too that were yummy. It was a special experience to sit and talk with him about the gospel, our missions, the work we are doing, etc. After dinner he really wanted to sing hymns to express Gratitude towards God, so we sung 5 hymns then we gave a spiritual thought! Africans love to sing!

       We are trying to utilize the members on the square to find people to teach, I love

Our Fabulous Zone!

the members who are so involved in missionary work, it's not possible without them... I hope to be that after the mission!!!! So if you are planning to come "run into me" at temple square when the lights are on come prepared with some names for us to teach(: thanks! hahaha 

      Our People are still doing great, 2 of them will be moving their baptismal dates a little further back so they can be more prepared, but we are still planning for our other 3 brothers and sisters to be baptized! Our zone started the transfer with only 2 people on date for this transfer now we have 15+ on date for this transfer, miracles happen.

   

We met the man who played Joseph
in "A Savior Is Born"

We have been on exchanges with all the district leaders this week, which was fun! I love learning and teaching with other sisters! We had to prepare for our zone report to President Poulsen, it went well, and after I told him Sister Vasi and I needed to stay together because this transfer was too short, he laughed and said nope you can just say hi at Mission Leadership Council.  soooo sad! But we are making the most of it. President and Sister Poulsen leave in the middle on January, we are going to miss them! 

     I gave a talk this week in church this week and absolutely loved my topic, I reflected back on my life and learned so much as I prepared. I wish I had time to express all my thoughts. But I am grateful for the trials I have had in my life, they have given me time to become acquainted with God and become refined into a better person. Because we have the Gospel we have an eternal perspective, we are able to see a light at the end of the tunnel and continue to press forward with a brightness of hope and love for our Savior. Keeping an Eternal Perspective in life is key. 
Here is my favorite part of James E. Faust talk, " Here then is a great truth. In the pain, the agony, and the heroic

MTC Roomies!

endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner’s fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. In this way the divine image can be mirrored from the soul. It is part of the purging toll exacted of some to become acquainted with God. In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whisperings of the Divine Shepherd.

Sometimes you've just gotta
make it rain!

Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful. The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes about through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process."

Have an amazing week. 

MUCH LOVE, 

SISTER SUGHROUE

LOT'S OF COUSINS CAME BY TO SEE THE LIGHTS!

Amy Pulsipher (2nd cousin)

2/3's of the Hill's (Adopted cousins)

 

Uncle Daniel & Aunt Rebecca's family

Sister Sughroue & Sister Vasi
Maddy & Aly Pulsipher
(mini-me's)