Week #74 - January 26th, 2016 - Jews Make the Best Mormons

Hello!!!!

    This week was great! We received countless calls of every southern baptist out there requesting a free bible, because they saw the Churchs add on their bible app. hahaha. The phone calls with them are so interesting, we always offer a Book of Mormon... then they go on " A Bible, a Bible... we don't need another bible" hahaha but we found some new!

Sister Sughroue, Sister Vasi, Micah & Janna

   The most exciting thing this week was the baptism of Micah! I have never seen anybody so happy after they came up out of the water, he literally glowed and just took a moment standing there smiling at everyone. When we first showed up someone left the font on and the whole level of the church was flooded.... so we all got our feet wet and got to participate! hahaha. On Sunday we got to go to his confirmation, and be there when he recieved the aaronic priesthood and ordainded a Priest. It was a really special moment for everyone there. On a side note, that was the most awkward mid singles ward I have ever been to in my entire life, hopefully the last. It was interesting. At least we know Micah is truly converted to the gospel! And I realized that I actually don't want to wait 10 years to get married. As a missionary you meet and teach people, and learn sometimes even more than they do! That was the case with Micah, because of his Jewish background and journey to find Christ, he totally understands the covenants he has made and the power of the priesthood he holds. He will do amazing things as a member of this church!  Micah and Janna are family to us now! They get married April 23rd, then sealed next year! We will be going. Micah bore his testimony and shared his story at the baptism so Sister Vasi and I will sum it up for ya...

 He talked of his journey in finding the true church. He asked his Rabbis about why there are no prophets after

Micah's Baptism

Malachi? No one could answer him, he noticed that there was a gap, where there was revelation from God & then they stopped, why? He wanted to know but no one could answer. So he went off to college. He tried to go to the Lutheran church, Catholic, Baptist, Calvinist, etc. He read about every religious text you can think of, from all different religions. He went to all these churches, they told him things he already knew, they talked of how we must believe in Christ, Repent! Every time he would sit and listen something inside of him was telling him that this was wrong, this is not the right one, I want you to be somewhere else. He said their message would pretty much say that he was going to Hell like everyone else. He would say to them, “Yes I know that I must repent, I have already accepted Christ, what next? What do you want me to do about that?” Usually there was just silence. He moved here from Colorado, he’s been here for about 2 years.  He had been warned about the Mormons and he didn’t want to date a Mormon.  He stayed clear of the Mormon ladies, well tried to as best as he could, but then he met a beautiful woman named Janna. They started talking and they fell in love, he was already interested in her by the time he realized that she was a Mormon! She asked if he would want to go with her to church. He said yes, and it’s like he just felt a familiarity as he sat in church, he felt like this was it, this is where God wants him to be, it’s true. But before he got to believing he made sure to ask God for signs to help him know if it be right. Every Sunday for about 8 consecutive Sundays he went to church with her. And each and every time, he received a witness and a sign that this was true. If he read about baptism the other day, that following Sunday they talked of Baptism. Sure enough every Sunday, there was a sign that was tailor made for Micah. If he was reading in the JSH, they would talk of Joseph Smith. He was reading about families they studied the Family Proclamation. And God knew Micah needed many signs to help him realize that this was right! After that Micah prayed Friday night to help him know what to do next, he knows that this is true, what next? So he asked Heavenly Father that night to help him know. He tells Janna randomly that he wants to go to Temple Square the next day. God answered his prayers he met Sister Vasi and her old comp Sister Chamberlain. Transfers and I was blessed to start teaching him with Sister Vasi. God directed Micah's whole life and journey. It truly is amazing. He is converted. And I am just grateful God let me be a small part of his journey finding Christ's church. 

My Tongan brother, Sione!

Other Highlights of the week (:

The world wide mission conference "Teach repentance and Baptize Converts" was amazing!!!!! Learned so much from the apostles and leaders who taught! 

Sione my tongan brother brought us dinner this week, cuz he's the best!

I ate chicken heart.... it taste exactly what you think it would taste like. bleh.

On a tour this week in the Beehive we heard noises upstairs, the guests got scared, we got scared and called security... they laughed and said it was the old heater upstairs, not sure if I believe that but its probably Karma from me scaring the sisters a couple months ago. 

Monday is transfer conference! My last one, I will find out my new companion and assignment. Geeeeez time flies. Not gonna lie I hate transfer conferences, with 200 sisters everyone has anxiety. hahaha. 

Much love, 

Sister Sughroue

The following is a sequence of pictures of Sister Sughroue eating her 1st chicken heart!

Week #73 - January 19th, 2016

Hello Friends and Family! 

    

Bountiful Temple!

This morning we went to the Bountiful Temple because the SLC temple is closed for cleaning for a while. It was beautiful, Sister Weidmann were is awe the whole time! We had a great week! The weeks go by so fast because they are so busy! We have found a lot of people this week, the only struggle we have is helping them progress because there is only so much we can do from here... but they will get there! So Last P-day Diana Hoelscher came and spoke to our zone... we were laughing, then crying from feeling the spirit and then laughing again, she is awesome! She encouraged all of us to set a rebaptism date, because every time we take the sacrament we are literally renewing those same covenants and becoming clean again. I've always known this, but after she said rebaptism I thought of how much it means to our investigators when they are baptized and its the same!!!!  Sister Weidmann decided that Sunday was the day, we spent the week studying the lessons in Preach My Gospel just as an investigator would learn to prepare for baptism. We talked about our rebaptism all week.... hahah we were so excited! Sunday came and we went to church, it was different because I was more spiritually prepared. My soul hungered

for the sacrament, and after I felt amazing. This wasn't the only sacrament I had felt like this, but it was truly eye

opening to me, that every Sunday can be like this, its just all on our part! So set a date and prepared to be rebaptized when you go to partake of the sacrament.

We gave a VIP tour this week to 12 Lutheran Pastors and Elder and Sister Snow of the Seventy.... Elder Snow is

Lutheran Pastors &
Elder & Sister Snow

THE Church Historian. Not gonna lie I was pretty intimidated...Sister Weidmann and I were nervous, but it was actually an awesome tour...with the help of the Lord (: It was kind of funny explaining our beliefs with 12 Lutheran Pastors staring straight at us (and you know what their thinking)..... and then I start to tell the History of the tabernacle with Elder Snow staring at us.... I was thinking, "Did I say the right date? O nooooo what if that pioneer story wasn't completely right...." hahaha but after the tour they thanked us! And headed off to dinner together to discuss doctrinal questions.... bet it was intense. They felt the spirit, and have many similar beliefs!
 

President and Sister Poulsen left Thursday, it was a sad goodbye! I went to shake Presidents hand, and he hugged me!!!!! Yayyyy I have waited for that my whole mission! hahah. We welcomed President and Sister

Saying Goodbye to
President & Sister Poulson 

Risenmay Fridaymorning they are amazing!!!! So happy and loving! They already love their new 200 daughters so much!!! President Risenmay use to be a mission President in the SLC south mission, then a member of the Seventy, and now we are so blessed to have him. We have had lots of meetings with him as zone leaders giving him a report on how the mission is doing. He spoke in church on sunday on the atonement, amazing. Seriously felt like I was in General Conference.

On Friday I got to attend Cassandras sealing in the Temple! It was so special to see her and be there for such a special moment. It seems like it was just yesterday we were cheering on the sidelines at Tylers football games. Gods plan is amazing, the Gospel changes lives and makes us happy!!! This Saturday Micah is getting baptized! Sister Vasi and I get to go on exchanges to teach his last lesson!  Tomorrow we have a Mission world

Cassandra's Wedding!

wide conference.... I am excited to learn!!!!!

MUCH LOVE,
Sister Sughroue 

Mosiah 2:41 What to be happy? 
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

Bob comes to Temple Square
everyday!

Tyler & Sister Sughroue at
Cassandra's Wedding!

Week #72 - January 12th, 2016

Hello! 

President & Sister Poulson

     

Brother & Sister Moore
(my mission parents)

We had another amazing week! Alexandra from Switzerland was baptized (i'll explain later)! We went on exchanges with our District Leaders this week and had a great time, learning and teaching with them! Getting to go out with different sisters is such a blessing. 

    

 This was President and Sister Poulsen's last week, they finish on Thursday and then we have a meeting with President Risenmay Friday morning. As a mission we decided to put together something special to thank the Poulsens. We all made a video saying why we love them, marked our favorite scripture and signed our name in a Book of Mormon and gave it to them. On Thursday, we have Relief Society, so it started out normal and when it came time for the lesson the AP's ask President and Poulsen to take a seat in the crowd... they

President & Sister Poulson
w/my MTC group

were so surprised! Different zones came up and sang songs, recited poetry and did skits dedicated to them. Our Zone combined with another and sang "For Good" from the Musical Wicked. We picked it because the Words were perfect for what we wanted to tell them, "Because I knew you, I have been changed for Good". When we practiced we got a little emotional, but when we stood there singing and President and Sister Poulsen started to cry, we lost it. They had such a huge impact on helping me become the missionary I am today, because of them I truly am changed. I am eternally grateful for them, and know that part of the reason I was sent to this mission was because of them. On Sunday they gave their farewell talks in church, and the chapel was packed! SO many returned Temple Square Sisters came back to support them so it was good to see them too! 

   

MTC Roomies
17 months later

  So for Alexandra's baptism.... Sister Weidmann and I have connected the dots since being companions. Almost 1 year ago I met a Swiss exchange girl, Alexandra on Temple Square, so I called for a Swiss German tour for her. Sister Weidmann came to take her around. They just happened to be from the same little village in Switzerland! At the time she wasn't super interested in learning more, but Sister Weidmann got her connected with her little Sister who was at home. In August, Sister Weidmann heard from her Sister that she was in contact with Alexandra, and actually going to institute and church with her every week! Her whole family was able to fellowship her and on Saturday she was baptized into Sister Weidmanns home ward in Switzerland! TEMPLE SQUARE MIRACLE.  We got permission from President to Skype because sister Weidmanns family would be there, and he said, "Well if its okay with you, Thats just icing on the cake!" haha. So we skyped and got to see her family and Alexandra, the chapel was packed... she was welcomed and very well taken care of in that ward! She bore her testimony and the spirit was so strong, I got tears in my eyes.... through skype you can still feel the spirit! haha 

MTC Companions &
1 Transfer on the Square
Sister Vasi & Sister Sughroue

  

I got my whole nose numbed this week, when I went to the doctors..... (strangest feeling in the world) and then stook a camera up there.... hahaha so I got to see what the inside looks like on a big TV. weird but awesome! lolz.

 We are having our Zone Activity! We are having mexican food, games and a guest speaker! Diana Hoelscher is a church motivational speaker (kind of like John Bytheway) and short story we got connections and she is town and volunteered to come speak to us! yayyy! 

   What cracks me up is when I ask members how missionary work is going... and they say, "Uhhhhh, there isn't much to do I live in utah and everyone I know is mormon."  ummm excuse me... I'm a missionary in Utah! What do you think I am doing? I wouldn't be here if there wasn't work to do! hahaha. If all your friends are mormon, branch out and say hi to people at the store! There are opportunities all around, we don't need to pray for opportunities to share the gospel, we need to pray for the spiritual sensitivity to be aware of them and the courage to act and open our mouths. Try it this week! 

Much love, 

Sister Sughroue

At the ENT at UofU Clinic
"It's my nose on the screen" LOL

Week #71 - January 5th, 2016 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Happy New Year! Hello 2016!

Sister Weidmann &
Sister Sughroue

 

Sister Weidmann my companion
and the
cutest Philippiana we have

 The Lights turned off Sunday night, and the Square has really slowed down.... so send people here!!! We are praying for it! There are still people to talk too, just sometimes they got bombarded by every sister on the Square, but hey the more times they are introduced to the gospel the better. We found out President and Sister Risenmay start on the 15th, so this week we are having a farewell for the Poulsens :( So sad to see them go! They both have been tearing up everytime we sing our Temple Square edition to called to serve lately!  New Year's Eve we bought some sparkling cider and had a little party with our roommates... still went to bed on time so we pretended it was midnight lol. I love being a missionary this time of the year because people are really looking to change and become better, and the only way it is possible is through Jesus Christ so we have been focusing on that! 

  This week we found some amazing new investigators on the square, God just led us right to them! I learned again that God's timing is perfect and different for everyone. Months ago while I was companions with Sister Eging, we met Michelle and her boyfriend who is a member of the church.. we started to meet with her and teach the lessons, she needed some time to study and think on her own... we were kind of sad but knew we would stay in touch. Yesterday I reached out to her and found out she wants to be baptized! Sometimes we just need to trust in God, he knows his children and will always take care of them!  (: 

Sister Zafarana from Italy in my zone! 

  

 I finished the Book of Mormon again. Honestly, every time I read it I just know its true. Ask yourself if any man could right such a book? Let alone a man with little education in the 1800's. It is of God, written by his prophets. It testifies of our Savior and contains the fullness of the gospel. I hope all of us continue to read it over and over... no matter how many times we already have. The spirit will always confirm to us the truthfulness and we will come come closer to our Savior and understand his plan for us. I wish every person who came to Temple Square left with a copy knowing they could feel the same way. 

     

Well that's about it for this week. 

Love you all!

Finished the Book of Mormon again.... it's true, once again(:

Sister Sughroue